Decision saddles neighbors with Fedex project

The Union County Common Pleas Court’s dismissal of the appeal of the Jerome Township Board of Zoning Appeals decision for the Fedex project was a disappointment. The judge dismissed based on lack of standing.

Residents were unable to present their legal brief stating merits of their case to show how facts and evidence did not support the BZA’S approval. Regrettably, only two of five BZA members agreed with residents that this facility didn’t meet standards in the zoning resolutions. Fedex had burden of proof but failed to provide key evidence.

It failed to demonstrate how a 24-hour, 530,000-square-foot facility, requiring a 20-foot concrete sound wall, would be harmonious with and not change the character of surrounding areas.

The noise study recommendations were not fully enforced. In addition to sound walls, specialized backup alarms were needed to minimize transmitted sound to neighborhoods.

The BZA only required $678,000 for off-site roadway infrastructure improvements. Thankfully, the Union County engineer’s office acted in the interest of public safety and required $7 million for upgrades. There were no studies done on impact of increased roadway traffic to residential property values, nor on air quality and noise and potential health impacts.

Unfortunately, nearby families will suffer the consequences of the township’s decision.

Growth is inevitable, but we need smarter, more responsible development. We can change township leadership and elect trustees who respond to concerns of residents and not just developers.

Barry Adler, Plain City

Pediatricians do their part to reduce suicides in Ohio

Two articles in The Dispatch this past week ("Ohio’s suicide rate jumps 24 percent from 2008 to 2017, study says" and "More kindness, less cruelty helps kids combat rise in suicide") reported the shocking, scary and somewhat overwhelming rise in suicide among Ohioans — particularly children.

An 80% increase in suicides among children 14 and younger is not only horrific, it’s also unacceptable. More must be done to identify and address mental health in children and teens. In fact, 1 in 5 adolescents has suicidal thoughts each day and 25% feel depressed at any given time. The bottom line is: Because the adolescent brain is still developing, the risks taken and mistakes made by some children and youth may be impulsive and prove fatal in some circumstances.

That’s why the Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics and Ohio AAP Foundation are working with pediatricians to launch an expanded program of our Store it Safe initiative. We have determined there is an opportunity to prevent intentional injury as well by encouraging pediatricians to screen for depression, educate families about storing potentially lethal items safely from adolescents such as firearms, medications and alcohol and provide a free lockbox to store those items.

The goal is to put a barrier between adolescents and some of the mechanisms they might consider using when their thoughts are unstable. In short, we are working to reverse the trend of irreversible actions.

It’s going to take more than one program to make an impact, but Ohio’s pediatricians are committed to doing their part to help.

Michael A. Gittelman, M.D., president, Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

Cultural mindset makes it OK to discard unborn

One day as you are driving, you answer your cellphone and the distraction causes you run a red light, hitting a car coming from the cross street and killing the driver. As much as you would like to, it is not possible to put your auto in reverse and make it all go away.

Being a responsible person, going forward you accept all the civil issues placed on you and live with the mental anguish and retain your cellphone.

When it comes to abortion and a woman’s right to choose, there is no disagreement with that position but it is the time that the choice is made that is in question.

We have let those who promote permissive behavior lead us to believe the act of reproduction is merely sex not requiring love and marriage. Discarding the unborn parallels the loss of life during the auto accident. Who is to say that among 4 million to 5 million abortions in this country was a potential Jonas Salk sent by the Almighty, in answer to our prayers to provide us a cure for cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's and the countless other medical issues we face on a daily basis.

Dennis Coyne, Columbus

More political parties, more good ideas for US

Unless I am wrong, letter writer Mike Howard's version of America is a one-party (Democrat) system where no one with dissenting views will be tolerated (Friday letter). How incredibly dangerous and anti-american that would be! As a Libertarian, I want to see more Green, Democrat, Republican and Libertarian candidates take office across our country. There will be disagreements, arguments and compromise but that is the American way, not letting one single party rule.

To "eliminate the delusional Republicans" to "make America America again" is one of the most dangerous statements I have heard in a very long time. I hope I am overreacting.

Charles Miller,

South Vienna, Ohio

Community got behind brunch for homeless moms

We would like to thank the Columbus community for its amazing support of the 2019 Mother's Day Brunch for Homeless Mothers.

On Mother's Day, we served more than 400 mothers and their families a delicious brunch at LA Catering. We had numerous hardworking volunteers setting up on Saturday and Sunday serving the families. The Columbus community supported the brunch with volunteers, corporate donations and generous financial support. Our community's deserving mothers were appreciative, happy and smiling.

A big thank you to all of our Columbus supporters!

Kathy Buchen-barbara, Upper Arlington

Nuclear power has several safety issues

Advocates for nuclear power tout that it is clean, meaning, I assume, no solid, no air or no water pollution. However, no mention is made of radioactive pollution inherent in the operation of such a plant.

Spent fuel rods are stored on site in pools of water since the problem of what to do with them has yet to be solved. You then have millions of gallons of radioactive wastewater to deal with, plus solid waste resulting from

the standard operations of the plant in its radioactive environment (piping, valves, etc.).

Thermal pollution by the cooling water is another problem. This is all part of the equation. House Bill 6 does not address any of them. They all must be addressed in design, operation and decommissioning of a nuclear plant.

Art Levenstein, Reynoldsburg

Backyard fireworks pose dangerous threat

I thank The Dispatch for its Friday editorial “Keep Ohio children safe by rejecting bill to legalize fireworks.” Ohio Senate Bill 72 seeks to allow essentially an “anytime, anyplace” condition for high-grade backyard fireworks discharge in Ohio.

Should this bill become law, there will be an increase in fireworks-related injuries to children and adults. In addition to emergency medical and health groups, the broad coalition that is opposed to the expansion of backyard fireworks also includes the concerns of military veterans and animal protection.

Liberalized fireworks laws that allow the unpredictable “anytime and anyplace” approach to backyard fireworks can be seriously stressful for veterans dealing with PTSD. On July 4, some veterans even place signs asking neighbors to be courteous when it comes to blasting off fireworks.

Fireworks also cause our animal shelters to fill up over the Independence Day holiday.

Community-based professional fireworks shows are something many people can plan for and enjoy. Dealing with neighbors who blast away at random times is something most people do not enjoy.

Jenny Camper, board member, Prevent Blindness Ohio, Columbus