Letters: While city helps those evacuated from squalor, Columbus apartments rent for $8,000

The tale of the same city

Could there be any more of a reminder of the gap between the haves and have nots than the April 26 article "What you get in an $8,000 apartment"?

One story features a new apartment complex with a $8,000 per month apartment. This is not a misprint. I had to read it several times before I believed it. This story was right next to an article about the residents who were evacuated from Latitude Five25 for deplorable living conditions receiving compensation from the City of Columbus.

These two stories say a lot about the many gaps that we face.

More: Latitude Five25 costs escalate for Columbus taxpayers as City Council OKs cash payments

Oh yeah, what do you get for $8,000 per month? According to the article you get a "postcard view of Downtown."  Any takers?

Charles A. Schneider, Dublin

Ohioans are rightly angry at Norfolk Southern

I’m grateful to the Dispatch editorial board for standing up for the people of East Palestine and communities across Ohio by endorsing the Brown-Vance Railway Safety Act (April 23 "Norfolk Southern has to do the right thing in East Palestine").

Over the past year, Norfolk Southern trains have derailed not just in East Palestine, but also in Springfield; Ravenna; Sandusky; Steubenville; Lawrence Township, Stark County; and Mad River Township, Clark County.

Our View: Still 'very angry' and 'sick.' Norfolk Southern must do right by East Palestine

Ohioans are rightfully angry about what the railroad companies are doing to our state. I share that anger – and will keep fighting the railroad lobbyists in Washington until we pass this legislation.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland

Bernie Moreno needs a history lesson.

The Dispatch article of April 26 "Candidate seeks reparations for soldiers' descendants" was a rude way to wake up.  I hardly know where to begin. As a veteran, I was shocked.

As a student of history, I was dismayed. As a keen observer of current politics, I was exasperated. It's quite obvious that Bernie Moreno does not comprehend the scope of slavery in the United States, the history of the Civil War, or understand the US soldier.

More: Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno suggests reparations for descendants of Union soldiers

The first slaves were brought to America in 1619, and the U.S. Constitution still allows slavery or involuntary servitude as a form of punishment to this day.

No other country in the world had to have a war to end slavery, and the U.S. war that ended (most) slavery was started when the Confederates bombarded Fort Sumter.

Only 5.54% of Union soldiers were drafted, the rest volunteered.

Volunteers, by and large, are not in it for the money. They serve out of patriotism and commitment to a cause. Widows of Union soldiers were paid a pension based on need. Reparations. such as they were, were made. Freed slaves were promised 40 acres and a mule.

That brings us around to political parties.

The party of Lincoln is not the Republican party of today. Nor is the Democratic Party the same as the Southern Democrats of the Civil War Era.

In fact, they have moved 180 degrees from where they were at that time. We are actually better served discussing Progressives and Conservatives.

Progressives wanted to end slavery (and still do); Conservatives did not.

Progressives today want to support veterans with healthcare, among other things.

Conservatives today want to cut VA funding by 22%. Reparations to the former slaves were ordered by Gen Sherman (40 acres, and later, a mule as well).

This order was overturned by Andrew Jackson, a Southern sympathizer/Democrat/conservative. Whose policy would Bernie Moreno support today?

Whining about "political correctness" is simply cover for offensive behavior.

Elaine S. Farrington Johnson, Columbus

More: How to submit guest opinion columns to the Columbus Dispatch

The tax code must be fair

It’s tax time and, sadly, millions of families with low incomes are going to see their tax refunds drop this year or disappear altogether. That’s because Congress let the expanded Child Tax Credit expire last year.

In 2021 Congress expanded the credit to all low-income families and sent it as monthly payments. Child poverty dropped by 46% and parents got more freedom to make ends meet. But the Senate let the expansion expire. Now, 19 million children in families with low-income will receive a much smaller Child Tax Credit this year, including 2 million who will get nothing.

That includes thousands of children in Columbus. Meanwhile, families making $400,000 per year will get their full Child Tax Credit.

Children should not have to grow up in poverty so we can make the rich richer. We need a tax code that works for all Americans. Congress must start right now by expanding the credit to families with low incomes in any tax legislation this year.

It's up to us to tell our Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance that we want the tax code to be fair.

Virginia Vogts, Columbus

Wildebeest tip of iceberg

The April 18 article “Ohio auditor: Former official spent $4,116 in public money on a wildebeest for his zoo” details how a former Vinton Township fiscal officer spent more than $9,000 in public funds to purchase two snowy owls and a wildebeest for his roadside zoo.

The Netflix docuseries “Tiger King” brought unprecedented attention to notorious roadside zoos, but thousands of such facilities continue to operate, consigning wild animals to a lifetime of suffering in miserable conditions while also jeopardizing public safety.

Ohio auditor: Former official spent $4,116 in public money on a wildebeest for his zoo

Caging exotic animals for entertainment and profit is inherently abusive.

While “public education” is often touted as a justification for roadside zoo displays, this excuse assumes that simply seeing exotic animals up close — no matter how unnatural the setting — fosters an appreciation for animals in the wild. Rather, the likely take-home message is that an exotic animal would make an intriguing pet — often leading to neglect, abuse, improper breeding, and attacks.

The federal Big Cat Public Safety Act, signed into law in December, took an important step in prohibiting cub petting at these exploitative facilities, but we must still refuse to support any attraction that derives profit from endangering the safety and welfare of animals.

Vicki Deisner, Columbus, Ohio consultant for the Animal Welfare Institute.

Stop and think before pulling out their guns

A few years ago, a teenager knocked on my condo door at 3:00 a.m. It woke me and my boyfriend.

More: Shootings over wrong door, wrong car, wrong driveway. The right answer? Always more guns.

I answered the door and he said he had been at a party and was in a car going home, when the other boys pushed him out. He had a cell phone but no money, he said and it was cold out. My boyfriend ended up taking him home but the boy asked to be left off at West High School.

We knew his story didn't add up but what does one do?

I would now call the police and ask them to stop by, and not let the person in because of our paranoia. People need to stop and think before pulling out their guns though, because that child could be your own someday.

Leslie Smith, Columbus

Niraj Antani only sorry he got caught.

Thank you for your April 24 article "Three Ohio lawmakers get the most traffic tickets."

It was especially poignant to me because you identify state Sen. Niraj Antani as the poster child for this and he represents me in the state senate.

I've already communicated my feelings to him before even writing this letter that I've always supported him; but now hope someone challenges him for that seat in the primary.

His response also fell way short of sounding contrite and I'm guessing was less than sincere which further distresses me. He sounds sorry, but only sorry that he got caught. And I don't care if it's the Queen of Sheba, how does anyone maintain driving privileges with that record?

Dennis Singleton, Dayton

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sherrod Brown: Ohioans are rightfully angry at Norfolk Southern