Ohio's old-growth tree population have been destroyed by ODNR, DeWine

State's old-growth tree population decimated

On April 5, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued a press release celebrating its 75th anniversary with an announcement that the Division of Forestry will be planting young, native trees in all of Ohio's 88 counties. Gov. Mike DeWine states the plantings are "a great way to emphasize the work the Division of Forestry has done over history . . . these trees, which are native to Ohio, symbolize the importance of Ohio's forests."

Rubbish!

The governor, ODNR and the Ohio General Assembly have carried out a highly destructive "management" approach which promotes the commercial logging of all trees that even approach mature growth status, all at the behest of the timber and wood products industries.

Very few old-growth trees remain in Ohio, all victims of the aforementioned "sustainable and active management." And all this destruction continues despite a recognized, global climate emergency!

In light of the recent sale of Ohio's precious state parks for fracking to the highest bidders from the oil and gas industry, a photograph in the press release of Division of Forestry personnel planting a single tree in Hocking County is beyond an embarrassment.

There must be consequences. Such destructive, unenlightened and regressive approaches to public policy are patently unsustainable, and ultimately will effect all Ohioans.

Remember to vote!

David A. Lipstreu, Newark

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Zoning code reason for excitement

The updated zoning code presented to residents on April 4 is a promising start to bringing our outdated zoning code into the future.

As Columbus has grown, the ability to build new housing and improve our neighborhoods has been stymied by zoning that doesn’t allow for dense, mixed use corridors where residents can live, shop, and work.

Increasing the basic height allowance to 16 stories and removing parking minimums will greatly reduce the cost of building and help improve returns on investments for new developments, driving down prices and providing more options for renters.

More: Columbus' proposed zoning revamp is here -- what you need to know about it

As a lifelong resident of Clintonville, I’m especially excited to see how the zoning changes will help High Street continue to develop to provide residents, current and future, with more housing, more shopping, and more business opportunities.

While much more needs to be done to support more kinds of housing in our neighborhoods as well as along our major corridors, I’m confident that the proposed zoning changes will lay the groundwork for enabling more kinds of housing for all kinds of people across our city.

As a lifelong resident of Columbus, I’m excited for the future of our city under this new code.

Jordan Griffith, Columbus

Vance willing to do Trump's bidding on Ukraine, NATO

U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance says that aid to Ukraine is a Biden thing. Well, I guess we know where Vance stands on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The organization is supporting Ukraine. The un-elected leader of the United States (Donald J. Trump) decided Ukraine should not get another penny.

Ukraine has Patriot batteries but very few missiles. They need a few spare parts for Bradleys and other equipment.

While the rest of NATO is sending everything it has, Trump ties the hands of the House even though a clear majority would vote for Ukraine aid as the Senate did 75-25.

Vance thinks the world should be run by Putin, Zi, Mohammed bin Salman, Donald Trump and a few trusted advisors.

He thinks he will be one of those advisors. For the sake of us all I hope not!

Kevin Jennings, Columbus

The fascist are no longer under their rocks

When I was in my mid teens and the turmoil from Vietnam was at its height in the nation, my father told me something that left me scratching my head.

When my dad was in his mid teens and the country was in turmoil about possible involvement in a European war and still suffering from the effects of the Great Depression, his father told him that the country might need a dictator to solve its problems.

Why would my grandfather say that, I wondered?

We know now that Germany had a tremendous, expensive and effective propaganda campaign to keep America out of the coming war. Many American politicians were on the German payroll and allowed their franking privileges, the equivalent of today’s social media, to be used by the Nazis to spread their anti-Semitic lies across the country at taxpayer expense.

One of the richest American industrialists, Henry Ford, ran a publishing campaign attacking the Roosevelt administration and pushing German fascist white supremacy and anti-democracy ideas, leaving copies of his racist and anti-Semitic books and newspapers on the seats of each of his new cars.

America’s aviation hero, the anti-Semitic isolationist Charles Lindbergh, considered running for president with the support of the America First party which was underwritten by Germany. There were foreign influences trying to impact domestic policies and foreign relations; rich Americans using their great wealth to control media, spread lies and undercut democracy using a platform of fear mongering and “othering.”

It all seems very familiar.

What kept the United States from sliding into fascism? One thing: We were attacked by fascist Japan at Pearl Harbor and all across the Pacific. Japan had a treaty with fascist Germany who then had to declare war on the United States. Rising indignation and patriotism forced American fascists back under their rocks.

What will force them back under their rocks this time?

Richard D. Back, New Albany

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio oldest trees decimated by policies push by Mike DeWine, ODNR