DEAR EDITOR:

Youngstown City Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, has been shortsighted in pushing for a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) across 3.4 acres of downtown access.

So, more police presence, even on overtime pay? A budget breaker. Will West Federal Street be blocked off to traffic during such hours? A hazard. At close of such hours at 11 p.m., who will go through with large black trash bags or rolling trash cans to clear the cups and send people back into the venues where they obtained their purchases? Or will people just leave for home? Good luck.

The result will be groups of intoxicated people hanging out on the streets, and trouble will ensue. Take an example from Beale Street in Memphis. They roadblock the street until close of hours for all. That is usually 2:30 to 3 a.m., when all restaurants and bars have to close. It is not feasible to say drinking hours are until 11 p.m. and then clear the streets while the bars are still open in Youngstown.

Any somewhat intelligent teenager could figure out how to collect the cups, take them home and then next time fill it with their own booze to bring in, bypassing a legal purchase.

This is a disaster waiting to happen. And time will tell.

KIMBERLY CAPEL

Austintown