Major Problem

[kitten44505]

As everyone knows, the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department will be running with a bare bones force, and the jail population greatly reduced, which means that local police will not have backups when needed, and those communities that do not have their own police force will be left vulnerable to crime.

As everyone also knows so far this month, there have been 6 killings, and yesterday (Tuesday) there was a gunfight where a child was shot and the windows of an ambulance shot out.

Again as everyone knows, it looks like the State of Ohio will be forced to step in and take over Mahoning County government because the county is going into default.

At the heart of the problem is the refusal of the voters to vote in a HALF PENNY sales tax.

This is UNFORGIVEABLE!

It is unforgiveable that a small minority should place the entire county at risk over a half penny, yet this is precisely what is happening.

What do you think that companies and small businesses think when they see this happening? Does anyone seriously think that someone will want to invest in opening up a business in a bankrupt county that can not even guarintee their safety?

If the state does step in, that sales tax will be imposed whether we like it or not, and they will not let the Anti-Sales Tax crowd play mind games with it. Moreover, you can bet that the tax they impose will be more than a half penny.

All of us on this board have a concern for our communities, there is no question about that, so it is up to us to stand up vocally and make our voices heard over the clammer of those that want to see Mahoning County go completely broke just because they have a grudge against officials long out of office.

We could be the next victim of a robbery, or killing. It could be one of our children that are caught in the crossfire of a gun fight.