Here's a link to the Facebook thread that you reference. People can read it and come to their own conclusion regarding if they think the opinions contained therein are 'uninformed'.
"We're willing to sell it. Maybe we'll turn it over to a non-profit. We don't have the money to demolish it" is not a plan. That is an ambiguous statement...one which many people in Youngstown have heard many times before. The translation typically ends up being: this isn't a priority right now. And Youngstown gets stuck with another vacant commercial structure...of which there are nearly 260 that ALREADY NEED DEMOLISHED. There isn't a demand for such space. There isn't a demand for the amount of housing we have. People who are involved in Youngstown matters know this. Even many who are not know this.
And the residents and community organizations you speak of are a collection of RESPONSIBLE, CIVIC-MINDED individuals in the community who care as much the condition of the city at-large as much as they do their own property.
If the structure was in your hometown of Canfield and that was what you were told (or worse, read in the newspaper), I'm sure you'd be as equally concerned.
But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I've set an email notification alert (with a link to this story) for one year from today's date. We'll check then and see where things are at.
I don't think the plan for annex should be left to ambiguity. There should be a timeline established and funding escrowed for a contingency plan (such as demolition). Ex. If the building is not sold with in XX months, it will be demolished.
The county cannot leave Youngstown holding the bag regarding this structure. It has enough blight to deal with.
Residents and community organizations will be keeping an eye on this situation.
One correction: The Charter Review Committee is not recommending the abolishment of Park & Recreation Department. We are recommending abolishing the COMMISSION that governs the department / having the Park Director report directly to the Mayor.
Remarkable how things get done when you ENFORCE BASIC CODE. Apply this city-wide and imagine how much improvement Youngstown could (physically) make. It's just one aspect of revitalization but an important one, nevertheless.
This situation also highlights why inspection websites for the public are important as well. The inspection process needs to be transparent and everyone from the Mayor to an inspector to the average citizen should be able to review a case and see where it's at in the process.
Case in point: this deck sat in violation for over a year until it was brought to the attention of the city that there had been no follow up. And it 'poses an imminent danger to the public'.
Each City Council member appointed a person to the CRC. The Mayor appointed three. The process is fair.
Every recommendation was based on community input. All recommendation were vetted and based on a legitimate 'justification' (not just opinion). Each recommendation was voted upon by the full Committee.
This is not easy work. There is A LOT of information to process, research and debate: 2-3 hour meetings each week since the beginning of February. 5 public meetings. Meetings with Council, Department Heads and the Mayor. Sub-committee meetings to conduct research and devise recommendation reports for the full body to discuss.
It's a volunteer assignment and - while rewarding - it's extremely time consuming and, frankly, overwhelming at times.
This process happens once only every 4 years. The last time it took place was 8 years ago. It's important.
That being the case, if City Council or any other elected official attended ANY of our meetings - literally ANY of them - they would have a clear understanding of the 'justification' of each recommendation. But they haven't.
So, I say let the CRC do their job (to include determining how many issues should be placed on the ballot). City Council should pass those recommendations and let voters decide what type of government they want.
7 people - some of which don't even think we need to redistrict despite being in constitutional violation - should not speak for 66K when it comes to some of these issues (especially those that may effect City Council).
Just one Committee person's opinion...but I'm not alone.
No one is going to buy a convention center that makes a $100K profit a year. Fact. The city can't pay $900K interest & principle. Two things are going to happen: the city will pull from the General Fund to cover the payments (which means less money for demolition, cops, streets, etc)...or the city will eventually default and the Covelli will sit vacant.
The center caters to the REGION, not just city residents. Therefore, after 7 years, I think the voters of Mahoning County should be allowed to determine its fate. If they vote down a one-time tax to pay off the principle and let it die on the vine, so be it. But I think it's a valid option.
By the way FLICK: The WRTA is an asset for many (especially in this economy). It's ridership is at an all-time high (over 1 million riders last year alone). Mill Creek Park is most certainly an asset. The airport is doing exceedingly well with is current Florida detestation packages. And with as much economic development that is taking place in this area (natural gas & oil; GM; downtown technology), the airport will serve as very vital role for business travel (at minimum).
Convention centers - by and large - are not (significant) profit generators. This why they are publicly owned. The city screwed up royally when it borrowed more money then it was allocated to complete the project as well as the corruption that ensued when City Council took a payoff to move the facility from the west end of Federal to its current location while also giving city control of overseeing management.
However, those days are behind us. The decision was made. The facility is here and most would agree it's been a value add to the community. If we want to keep it open, the community at-large is going to have to determine its fate.
A ticket or county entertainment tax is likely the only way pay down the $900K interest / principle as well as reserve funds for inevitable improvement. Otherwise, the city is going to eventually default and the center will sit vacant.
I say put it on the ballot for a one-time, 4 year special entertainment tax to pay off the principle. Let the people of Mahoning County decide its fate.
P.S. By the way: this was discussed at a Finance Committee meeting in the AFTERNOON. Why are these committee meetings not being posted on the city's website or in the Vindicator? Why are they being held during the day when (the majority) of the public can't attend? This happens often and it's wrong, City Council.
So, you bought a parking deck which was structurally unsound (which your own engineer confirmed) yet you had no financial means to bring up it up to code? And now you want tax-payer dollars to help you out or you will sell?
Folks: this is why code enforcement and community pressure is important. This owner would have not made the type of (basic) improvements necessary if it wasn't for those two things...sucking up what money he could make...then walking away (like with so many other structures in the city) and leaving us with another eyesore. The next owner will make the improvements or they won't be able to open the deck.
Welcome to the new Youngstown: we have standards and they will be enforced.
I'm still at a loss as to why some members of City Council (incorrectly) think that redistricting has something to do with issues or geography. It is purely a matter of population (equal representation). This is a fact. It's not a debatable. Each ward should have aprox 9,500. They do not. Not even close. It's time to redistrict. If not, you're going to be facing an embarrassing lawsuit in which the courts will tell you the same.
Workers for city taken to task
Mark Sweetwood:
Here's a link to the Facebook thread that you reference. People can read it and come to their own conclusion regarding if they think the opinions contained therein are 'uninformed'.
http://www.facebook.com/phil.kidd.9
P.S. Vindy.com posters: If you haven't figured out yet that UticaShale is Ron Eiselstein, then I'm happy to be the one to break the news.
May 21, 2012 at 7:04 p.m. permalink suggest removal
County looks to close South Side Annex this fall
Alexinytown:
"We're willing to sell it. Maybe we'll turn it over to a non-profit. We don't have the money to demolish it" is not a plan. That is an ambiguous statement...one which many people in Youngstown have heard many times before. The translation typically ends up being: this isn't a priority right now. And Youngstown gets stuck with another vacant commercial structure...of which there are nearly 260 that ALREADY NEED DEMOLISHED. There isn't a demand for such space. There isn't a demand for the amount of housing we have. People who are involved in Youngstown matters know this. Even many who are not know this.
And the residents and community organizations you speak of are a collection of RESPONSIBLE, CIVIC-MINDED individuals in the community who care as much the condition of the city at-large as much as they do their own property.
If the structure was in your hometown of Canfield and that was what you were told (or worse, read in the newspaper), I'm sure you'd be as equally concerned.
But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I've set an email notification alert (with a link to this story) for one year from today's date. We'll check then and see where things are at.
May 16, 2012 at 4:24 p.m. permalink suggest removal
County looks to close South Side Annex this fall
I don't think the plan for annex should be left to ambiguity. There should be a timeline established and funding escrowed for a contingency plan (such as demolition). Ex. If the building is not sold with in XX months, it will be demolished.
The county cannot leave Youngstown holding the bag regarding this structure. It has enough blight to deal with.
Residents and community organizations will be keeping an eye on this situation.
May 16, 2012 at 11:07 a.m. permalink suggest removal
18 Youngstown charter changes go to council
One correction: The Charter Review Committee is not recommending the abolishment of Park & Recreation Department. We are recommending abolishing the COMMISSION that governs the department / having the Park Director report directly to the Mayor.
May 16, 2012 at 9:16 a.m. permalink suggest removal
A-1 Parking owner OKs $186K pact for deck repairs
Remarkable how things get done when you ENFORCE BASIC CODE. Apply this city-wide and imagine how much improvement Youngstown could (physically) make. It's just one aspect of revitalization but an important one, nevertheless.
This situation also highlights why inspection websites for the public are important as well. The inspection process needs to be transparent and everyone from the Mayor to an inspector to the average citizen should be able to review a case and see where it's at in the process.
Case in point: this deck sat in violation for over a year until it was brought to the attention of the city that there had been no follow up. And it 'poses an imminent danger to the public'.
May 12, 2012 at 3:06 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Reaction to Youngstown charter proposals is varied
I'm a member of the Charter Review Committee.
Each City Council member appointed a person to the CRC. The Mayor appointed three. The process is fair.
Every recommendation was based on community input. All recommendation were vetted and based on a legitimate 'justification' (not just opinion). Each recommendation was voted upon by the full Committee.
This is not easy work. There is A LOT of information to process, research and debate: 2-3 hour meetings each week since the beginning of February. 5 public meetings. Meetings with Council, Department Heads and the Mayor. Sub-committee meetings to conduct research and devise recommendation reports for the full body to discuss.
It's a volunteer assignment and - while rewarding - it's extremely time consuming and, frankly, overwhelming at times.
This process happens once only every 4 years. The last time it took place was 8 years ago. It's important.
That being the case, if City Council or any other elected official attended ANY of our meetings - literally ANY of them - they would have a clear understanding of the 'justification' of each recommendation. But they haven't.
So, I say let the CRC do their job (to include determining how many issues should be placed on the ballot). City Council should pass those recommendations and let voters decide what type of government they want.
7 people - some of which don't even think we need to redistrict despite being in constitutional violation - should not speak for 66K when it comes to some of these issues (especially those that may effect City Council).
Just one Committee person's opinion...but I'm not alone.
May 2, 2012 at 11:44 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Mayor mulls selling Covelli Centre
No one is going to buy a convention center that makes a $100K profit a year. Fact. The city can't pay $900K interest & principle. Two things are going to happen: the city will pull from the General Fund to cover the payments (which means less money for demolition, cops, streets, etc)...or the city will eventually default and the Covelli will sit vacant.
The center caters to the REGION, not just city residents. Therefore, after 7 years, I think the voters of Mahoning County should be allowed to determine its fate. If they vote down a one-time tax to pay off the principle and let it die on the vine, so be it. But I think it's a valid option.
By the way FLICK: The WRTA is an asset for many (especially in this economy). It's ridership is at an all-time high (over 1 million riders last year alone). Mill Creek Park is most certainly an asset. The airport is doing exceedingly well with is current Florida detestation packages. And with as much economic development that is taking place in this area (natural gas & oil; GM; downtown technology), the airport will serve as very vital role for business travel (at minimum).
April 27, 2012 at 8:52 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Mayor mulls selling Covelli Centre
Here's the problem: no one is likely to buy it.
Convention centers - by and large - are not (significant) profit generators. This why they are publicly owned. The city screwed up royally when it borrowed more money then it was allocated to complete the project as well as the corruption that ensued when City Council took a payoff to move the facility from the west end of Federal to its current location while also giving city control of overseeing management.
However, those days are behind us. The decision was made. The facility is here and most would agree it's been a value add to the community. If we want to keep it open, the community at-large is going to have to determine its fate.
A ticket or county entertainment tax is likely the only way pay down the $900K interest / principle as well as reserve funds for inevitable improvement. Otherwise, the city is going to eventually default and the center will sit vacant.
I say put it on the ballot for a one-time, 4 year special entertainment tax to pay off the principle. Let the people of Mahoning County decide its fate.
P.S. By the way: this was discussed at a Finance Committee meeting in the AFTERNOON. Why are these committee meetings not being posted on the city's website or in the Vindicator? Why are they being held during the day when (the majority) of the public can't attend? This happens often and it's wrong, City Council.
April 27, 2012 at 7:59 a.m. permalink suggest removal
A-1 owner tries to get $250,000 for repairs
So, you bought a parking deck which was structurally unsound (which your own engineer confirmed) yet you had no financial means to bring up it up to code? And now you want tax-payer dollars to help you out or you will sell?
Folks: this is why code enforcement and community pressure is important. This owner would have not made the type of (basic) improvements necessary if it wasn't for those two things...sucking up what money he could make...then walking away (like with so many other structures in the city) and leaving us with another eyesore. The next owner will make the improvements or they won't be able to open the deck.
Welcome to the new Youngstown: we have standards and they will be enforced.
April 19, 2012 at 1:47 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Are city ward lines sacred?
I'm still at a loss as to why some members of City Council (incorrectly) think that redistricting has something to do with issues or geography. It is purely a matter of population (equal representation). This is a fact. It's not a debatable. Each ward should have aprox 9,500. They do not. Not even close. It's time to redistrict. If not, you're going to be facing an embarrassing lawsuit in which the courts will tell you the same.
April 6, 2012 at 2:29 p.m. permalink suggest removal