Letters to Editor
Will We Ever Learn?
Even a limited attack on Syria with drones or bows and arrows will end up showing the rest of the world that we consider ourselves the world’s police-men.
Because Assad may have used poison gas on his own citizens does not entitle us to perpetuate more killing and destruction.
We don’t need more enemies, which our military actions will surely gua-rantee. With all the opposition and little support from other nations, it’s no shame to back away from the “red line.”
If Pres. Obama is turned down by Congress, it is no attack on his prestige or reputation. In fact, since Congress is the representative of the people, and that’s the way our democratic system is supposed to work, this would be a good move. We take away car keys from drunk drivers and Mr. Obama appears to be tipsy on this issue.
The president has lots more going for him beside action or inaction on Syria. His health care plan will benefit millions, and is a big plus. Other important policies in his favor are job training, education and voting rights.
Proceeding militarily in Syria can taint an otherwise great presidency before the real start of his second term.
Elliott Berenson
Chester Township
Thanks Val, And Good Luck
I wanted to recognize and thank Valerie Timmons publicly for her efforts and passion as a member of the Berkshire Schools Board of Education.
I was disappointed to hear that she decided to stand down from her position.
Val took her position to heart and her passion for the job was evident and admirable.
She, working with the sitting board members have accomplished quite a bit for our small district, in keeping the district’s head above water n the face of a bad ecomomy and slowly diminishing tax base, and the loss of state funding.
Val, I know that I am joined by a multitude of others in our district in saying thank you and good luck with your future endeavors. Your passion and commitment will be missed.
Mark Rhoades
Burton Township
Treacherous People
If you could grasp what the letter from Skip Claypool was all about then you know that NOACA (Northeast Ohio Coordinating Agency) is a bad, really bad group that wants to mess up rural areas, take away local leadership and create cities with apartments condos and low income housing to expand Cuyahoga County into Geauga.
Ron Cotman and the Chester Observer are for NOACA. When Cotman was a Chester trustee in 2008 he voted for a Sustainable Communities Grant from NOACA. (Judy Caputo voted against it.) That should seem odd to all of you since Cotman claims he is against grants and wants to protect our zoning.
The so-called meetings the master plan steering committee had were nothing but a ruse to convince the public that what he was doing was a good thing. Far from it.
Cotman and his group have been lying to the public for the last eight years about their intentions. The only reason he is gunning for the two trustees in office is a simple one: He wants to sabotage our zoning from the inside.
Ken Radtke is his protege and wants to see the same thing happen. It amazes me that he has gotten this far with this scam on the good people of Chesterland. One more Cotman crony in office and our large lot zoning and semi-rural way of life is over.
So Skip maybe in your next letter you can tell all of us why you had no clue about any of this and tell us what you really think of Ron and Ken. All of the proof is in public records, if you had bothered to ask or look.
For all the people of Chester, if they get their way Chester will become a city. Anyone who works here will pay an income tax. For homeowners, you will see your taxes go up and your property values go down. Red flags should be up for all of you who love our county and townships and want them to stay open and free of uncontrolled development.
It only takes once case lost in court to break our zoning.
Chester zoning is the only thing that can stop NOACA from forcing us to become a part of Cuyahoga. Our zoning has remained firm for the past 30 years and that makes it very strong. That is why this group of individuals are working so hard to convince you that Judy and Mike are wrong for Chester.
Cotman and his people should not to be trusted. The proof will be their response. They won’t address my accusations because they are facts and part of the public record. Instead, they will make personal attacks directed at me. This should show all of you how treacherous these people truly are.
Gary Paoletto
Chester Township
Fight for Rural Values Redux
In the Chesterland News, Sept. 4 publication, page 7, it goes that Skip Claypool is a member of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA).
Ron Cotman voted in favor of NOACA planning for Chester.
NOACA is a grant receiving think tank of sorts, created to assist civil government seeking to “improve” the curb appeal of a community.
Ron Cotman supports a mix of NOACA proposals, all of which require changing zoning to accommodate heightened commercialism.
Ron Cotman and Skip Claypool being friends, and seemingly control Ken Radke, a lone Chester trustee, and guide him to favor a Cotman and Claypool vision for the Chester Township.
Q: What do they along with former township fiscal officer Karen Austin have in common?
A: 730 days of attack on the character and competence of Mike Joyce and Judy Caputo, the only two trustees who stand against zoning changes that a few profiteers benefit financially and for the township voters who will suffer the financial burden that will ultimately fall to Chester Township taxpayers to make happen.
Enter the planning document, The 2008 Geauga County NOACA Board and Chester Township Workshop Notes, page 13. Therein lies the core reason of the liberal hate tactics being used by a bitter handful of wannabe civic leaders to kill the character of those putting up a strong resistance to protect this township from becoming a city with a liberal commercialization agenda, at the heart of which, is the deconstructing of Chester Township zoning to make it so.
Mike Joyce and Judy Caputo are the last line of defense against those hateful interests bent on changing Chesterland into a nightmare of out-of-town financial pirates out to make a buck on the back of township residents through grants, tax favors, eminent domain land seizures, high density housing initiatives, industrial zoning and new commercial property zoning.
Sounds fantastic to you as a reader? It is buried in the Chester Township Workshop Notes for you to discover for yourself. The bottom line found within these notes as written by Group 1 is, “Zoning needs to be modified.”
There are a lot of people waiting in the wings of Chester Township to take center stage and change the way of life in Chesterland. They are meeting in private to overthrow Mike Joyce and Judy Caputo, and make their vision of a city come true.
Ask yourself why Mike Joyce and Judy Caputo have been painted as the enemy of Chester Township. There are no scandals. There is no malfeasance in their business of running the township. But if you listen to Ken Radke, Ron Cotman, Skip Claypool, Karen Austin or their minions, you would think the sky is falling and their hair was on fire because of these two.
This is not the leadership Chesterland deserves
J.A. Frank
Chester Township
