GM has been a poor investment for private shareholders be cause the biggest shareholder is the government - & a government that gives in readily to unions .
Up 0% in a period when the overall market rose 32% is hardly something to boast about !
When investing , always stay clear of governments & overly strong unions
Full marks to Mr Shehadi for at least recognising the need for objectivity in the demolition program .
However , the only reason vacant house demolition has become a Council problem is that Council policies over many years have conspired to make Youngstown land almost worthless.
The very policies implemented to protect "women,children & the poor" have ended up protecting nobody.
The Council ethos has been that private profit is morally wrong & the purpose of business is to devote all its profit to subsidising the non productive sector . ( .. and they wondered why few businesspeople turned up at their Newport meeting ! )
Youngstown will be a much better city for everyone when an important part of its success measure is how profitable its private businesses are . Actively support private developers to reuse Youngstown land & the demolition "problem" will be taken care of automatically with little or no public spending required.
It may seem strange to some , but Youngstown is decades overdue for a burst of "supply side economics" to get its economy working so that it can afford decent neighborhoods. ( Hint: Look at the way most of the rest of America operates )
Construction costs are escalating in the Valley due to resource constraints & high demand . This budgetary pressure will be the death knell for the current unweildy Council structure .
As for the fire force : They have accepted they need 20 fewer positions , but instead of stretching the reduction over 5 years , they should do it now & concentrate on officer reductions . Their current 1 officer to 1 firefighter ratio stands out like a sore thumb . Police cut their numbers by 17.5% to align with a smaller City & the Fire Dept ought to do likewise . They have also been told in the efficiency audit that Youngstown needs only 6 stations instead of 8. Sell 2 or 3 stations & build 1 new one . Why not work on joint service level agreements with neighboring municipalities & rationalize station sites across municipal boundaries . I hope this gives some ideas as to how Youngstown can still afford a great fire force at a reasonable cost .
I can't recall seeing these closures advertized previously . Also , why does it seem that both traffic lanes are always closed ? There needs to be more recognition of the needs of business & commerce in the City when utility works take place .
I am very surprised the children were taken to the anachronistic Youngstown City Hall as an example of how local government is run . Surely the youngsters need better advice on meeting conduct than Mayor Sammarone can provide .
Their visits to Turning Technologies & Avalon Pizzeria however , would have reanchored them in the real world .I would have directed the students to Boardman or Warren as examples of more modern & progressive municipalities .,
Why isn't there just one fire dept for the whole Valley ? Stations could be located to be closest to people , rather than having to duplicate because of political boundaries .
GM stock rises above $33 for first time in 2 years
GM has been a poor investment for private shareholders be cause the biggest shareholder is the government - & a government that gives in readily to unions .
Up 0% in a period when the overall market rose 32% is hardly something to boast about !
When investing , always stay clear of governments & overly strong unions
May 17, 2013 at 8:27 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Commissioners, children services board to discuss merger with JFS
Commissioner Chairwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti said "we are going to take our time over this" .
Everyone understands the welfare of vulnerable children is at stake & there must not be rash choices .
However , Commissioners should not leave a big budget decision like this open ended . It would be businesslike to fix a deadline .
May 17, 2013 at 12:54 p.m. permalink suggest removal
YSU student's model ranks vacant homes for demolition
Full marks to Mr Shehadi for at least recognising the need for objectivity in the demolition program .
However , the only reason vacant house demolition has become a Council problem is that Council policies over many years have conspired to make Youngstown land almost worthless.
The very policies implemented to protect "women,children & the poor" have ended up protecting nobody.
The Council ethos has been that private profit is morally wrong & the purpose of business is to devote all its profit to subsidising the non productive sector . ( .. and they wondered why few businesspeople turned up at their Newport meeting ! )
Youngstown will be a much better city for everyone when an important part of its
success measure is how profitable its private businesses are .
Actively support private developers to reuse Youngstown land & the demolition "problem" will be taken care of automatically with little or no public spending required.
It may seem strange to some , but Youngstown is decades overdue for a burst of "supply side economics" to get its economy working so that it can afford decent neighborhoods.
( Hint: Look at the way most of the rest of America operates )
May 16, 2013 at 5:50 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Youngstown council considering citywide park plan
Where's the money coming from to pay for this ?
Are the mayor & Councilpeople making a pay sacrifice ?
May 15, 2013 at 1:22 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Youngstown mayoral vote splits mostly along racial lines
The thing that's most concerning is that this extreme racial divide ioccurs within the membership of the local Democratic Party .
It raises questions about its suitability to lead .
May 13, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Youngstown mayoral vote splits mostly along racial lines
No comments ? Hmmm everyone still looking eyes averted while an elephant stands in the sitting room
May 12, 2013 at 6:10 p.m. permalink suggest removal
All 8 proposals for new Youngstown fire station will be tossed
Construction costs are escalating in the Valley due to resource constraints & high demand . This budgetary pressure will be the death knell for the current unweildy Council structure .
As for the fire force : They have accepted they need 20 fewer positions , but instead of stretching the reduction over 5 years , they should do it now & concentrate on officer reductions . Their current 1 officer to 1 firefighter ratio stands out like a sore thumb .
Police cut their numbers by 17.5% to align with a smaller City & the Fire Dept ought to do likewise .
They have also been told in the efficiency audit that Youngstown needs only 6 stations instead of 8. Sell 2 or 3 stations & build 1 new one . Why not work on joint service level agreements with neighboring municipalities & rationalize station sites across municipal boundaries .
I hope this gives some ideas as to how Youngstown can still afford a great fire force at a reasonable cost .
May 11, 2013 at 7:14 p.m. permalink suggest removal
North Phelps, Lincoln closing Monday for utility work
I can't recall seeing these closures advertized previously . Also , why does it seem that both traffic lanes are always closed ? There needs to be more recognition of the needs of business & commerce in the City when utility works take place .
May 11, 2013 at 1:10 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Liberty students tour city hall, downtown
I am very surprised the children were taken to the anachronistic Youngstown City Hall as an example of how local government is run . Surely the youngsters need better advice on meeting conduct than Mayor Sammarone can provide .
Their visits to Turning Technologies & Avalon Pizzeria however , would have reanchored them in the real world .I would have directed the students to Boardman or Warren as examples of more modern & progressive municipalities .,
May 10, 2013 at 4:07 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Main Boardman fire station project hits snags
Why isn't there just one fire dept for the whole Valley ? Stations could be located to be closest to people , rather than having to duplicate because of political boundaries .
May 9, 2013 at 4:36 a.m. permalink suggest removal