Renters take pride in their neighborhoods, too
In recent public meetings and online forums related to the Pizzuti development of the old Giant Eagle near German Village, there have been several anti-renter comments. The perception that renters are less proud or less active members of their neighborhoods than those who own is based in classism and stereotypes about renters.
As a renter who takes pride in where I live, I also make it a point to be involved in my neighborhood. Property ownership is a privilege inaccessible to many. With rising home prices and the amount of cash needed to secure a home, many will never be able to attain “the American dream.” Many people were explicitly excluded from homeownership through racist zoning laws and homeowner covenants.
We must end the stigma associated with renting and acknowledge the racist past of redlining and the lack of affordability for many. Additionally, we face a looming housing shortage. In a recent study, Columbus firm Vogt Strategic Insights concluded that central Ohio should be adding 14,000 to 21,000 new homes and apartments each year to accommodate demand.
We should welcome developers who want to build smartly in our neighborhoods lest we face unknown consequences. Our neighborhoods should have a mix of affordable housing, market rate rentals and homeownership. As a neighborhood we can be welcoming to new residents and smart new development. My hope is that we’ve not forgotten our “Midwest nice” values, and that as proud residents of Columbus we can look to the future together.
Rob Leis, Columbus
For someone, somewhere, death by virus is certain
Sometimes a little perspective helps. Given the onset of fall and some people’s reckless virus behaviors, I’m not surprised by the surge of COVID-19. But I was stunned by this statistic: We have had more COVID-19 deaths in America than the total number of people who died as a result of the combined nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. American deaths are currently somewhere north of 220,000 fatalities. The average estimates of deaths occurring at and in the four months following the two Japanese bombings is 180,000.
In Erik Larson’s book “The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill,” he hauntingly describes what it was like during the German bombing raids against English cities, in particular in London: “The odds that any one person would die on any given day were slim, but the odds that someone, somewhere in London would die on any given day were 100%.” And so it is with the coronavirus.
William Sims, Hillsboro
Appalachia could prosper with a new Conservation Corps
The Oct. 11 Dispatch article “How does a former coal mine town reinvent itself?” provides an encouraging and forwarding-thinking vision for rebuilding rural Ohio with development in ecotourism.
Hocking Hills, which residents from Columbus frequent to escape the city, is becoming crowded and expensive. Towns like Shawnee and others in Perry County could step in to fill the gap. The article highlights the New Deal initiatives of the 1930s that established the Wayne National Forest with the Civilian Conservation Corps but didn’t bring up current efforts underway to launch a new Civilian Conservation Corps.
Many Ohio organizations are joining up with the Reimagine Appalachia coalition to support such a program. A New Deal — a federal jobs program — would help everyday residents in Appalachia have what they need to build infrastructure critical to the future of their own communities. They could repurpose coal
plants, build camping areas, clean lakes and build the desperately needed broadband infrastructure to service all of southeast Ohio.
This area needs a New Deal that works for Appalachia and relaunching the CCC is a great first step.
Wendy Tarr, Columbus
Only the short-sighted can overlook Trump’s flaws
I found Marc Berman’s Wednesday letter comparing Trump to a foulmouthed plumber interesting. Apparently Berman would tolerate the plumber’s behaviors, even if the plumber came into his house with muddy boots. Berman would overlook the plumber breaking grandmother’s antique vase, as long as the toilet is fixed. Helping himself to beers and leftovers in the refrigerator would be acceptable, as long as the clogged sink is fixed.
Playing video games and doing online betting while on the clock would be acceptable, as long as the outdoor faucet is replaced. No problem with overlooking the pass made at his wife or teenage daughter, as long as plumbing issues are addressed.
No problem, no problem at all, because Berman, like many Trump supporters, has tunnel vision.
Joe Finocchi, Columbus
Schaffer is responsive, empathetic lawmaker
As a political Independent and business owner, I normally keep opinions on politics to myself. I am libertarianminded and fiscally conservative. This year, however, I feel the need to break from precedent and express an opinion for one candidate: State Sen. Tim Schaffer.
Back in May, we began to have serious concerns about the future of our family business. Like most Ohioans, we understood at first when Gov. Dewine shut down our economy. But as two weeks turned into two months, we began to question the rationality of the lockdown.
As our frustration grew, we began contacting our state representatives. I called Sen. Schaffer’s office at 4 p.m. on a Friday. His assistant returned my call within an hour, listened to my concerns, said that he would relay our conversation. At 8 p.m., I received a personal phone call from Schaffer. We spoke for approximately an hour and he listened empathetically to my concerns.
Since then, he has checked in regularly to see how our business is recovering. I don’t agree with Schaffer on every issue and that is fine with me. Candid, respectful debate should be the path forward. We need more public servants who serve their constituents and not their own self-interest. We have that in Senate District 20.
Kevin Pavlik, Pickerington
Trump should be personally liable for separated kids
I know of 545 kids who should be given amnesty and citizenship plus receive stipends until 18, personally paid for by millionaire President Donald Trump, who ordered them separated from their parents.
Because the Trump Administration intentionally separated these kids from their parents and then deported the parents without their kids and lost track of the parents or children, the Trump Administration should be held responsible and liable. The one caveat is these kids can never sponsor any relative into the United States. I feel it is a safe bet these parents do not want their kids back into the environment they left in the first place. Would you?
John M. Lorenz, Upper Arlington
This GOP voter is disgusted with GOP vote suppression
Un-american — that’s what our incumbent Republican legislators and President Donald Trump are showing themselves to be due to their outrageous and evil voter suppression actions across this nation.
Republicans are knowingly working to disenfranchise fellow Americans. Examples are numerous and include the limitations of one ballot box per county in Texas and the Trump administration’s verbal attacks on our Postal Service followed by the removal of critical mail processing equipment.
Two federal judges intervened and one commented that Trump was “involved in a politically motivated attack.” This 82-year-old veteran and lifetime staunch Republican donor, volunteer and activist will not be voting for any state Republican incumbents this time around. Also, I will be actively supporting the “Republicans for Biden” campaign. Yes, I will remain in the Republican party so I can work arduously to restore our traditions and core values.
Dick Schirato, Newark