Weed & Seed effort makes lawmaker’s list

YOUNGSTOWN — The North Side Weed & Seed lawn mower program made it into U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn’s “2008: Worst Waste of the Year” report for 2008 federal spending.

Weed & Seed is a federally funded program that aims to reduce violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity in a target area. The second part of the program provides community-based services.

Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, is ranking member on the Senate subcommittee on federal financial management. His 49-page report issued last month lists 65 examples of what he termed wasteful government spending that total $1.3 billion.

“The waste highlighted in this report is only a fraction of the more than $385 billion the federal government throws away every year through waste, fraud and duplication,” Coburn said on his Web site.

Under the Weed & Seed section, Coburn listed several examples of how some of the $32.1 billion appropriated for 2008 was used, such as a “shred-a-thon” in North Carolina where outdated personal papers were shredded for mulch for the Community Peace Garden; hip-hop classes in Allentown, Pa.; a talent show in New Mexico; and lawn mower maintenance classes in Youngstown.

Read the full story in Monday’s Vindicator and on Vindy.com