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ORCHID: To the Mahoning County Board of Elections for its fiscally responsible plans to reduce the number of voting precincts in the county. Tom McCabe, board director, said last week the decision results from difficulties in recruiting sufficient numbers of poll workers for each of the county's 212 precincts. It also comes at a time when more and more voters are casting ballots early, lessening the strain on precincts on general or primary election days. The county also has the dubious distinction of having the lowest number of voters per precinct among counties of similar size. The reduction would not only produce greater efficiencies but would represent a cost saving to county taxpayers. Merging about 40 precincts also would save the board about $60,000 annually. We therefore urge the board to act quickly so the cuts are in place for the 2027 local election cycle.
ONION: To landlords who engage in despicable sexual harassment of their tenants in violation of federal law. The U.S. Justice Department last month filed a lawsuit against a Girard landlord who owns and manages several rental properties. It alleges he engaged in sexual harassment and intimidation in violation of the Fair Housing Act. In recent years, Justice has filed more than 50 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $19 million for victims of such harassment.
"No one should have to live in fear of a landlord making highly inappropriate advances," said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. "Housing owners and managers who engage in loathsome behavior and infringe on a person's right to feel secure in their own home will face justice." We urge Toepfer and other federal authorities to continue to aggressively pursue landlords who attempt to take advantage of and demean their victimized tenants.
ORCHID: To Youngstown City Schools Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor and district Treasurer Michael A. Rock for achieving commendably stable and fiscally responsible budgeting for the urban district. For the next three years, the school system has forecast millions of dollars in balances in its unreserved fund. That's a far cry from the estimated $17 million deficit that had been forecast for this period several years ago. Rock credits the amazing turnaround to Batchelor and him working together to proactively consider and explore all funding ideas to protect, preserve and grow the district's revenue stream. A noticeably jubilant Batchelor exclaimed, "We've flipped the forecast. I'm proud as heck." We congratulate the leaders and hope the same pleasantly surprising turnaround will soon wend its way toward the district's longstanding and unacceptably low student academic performance.
ORCHID: To Potential Development, a pre-K through grade 12 school system for students with autism, for its offer to buy the long-vacant, city-owned former Bottom Dollar grocery store on Glenwood Avenue. That plan to open a PD school there would be a win-win for the charter school and for the city. Renovating the store to include up to 15 classrooms and other specialized spaces to service students on the autism spectrum would end overcrowded conditions at Potential's existing buildings. For the city, the $350,000 purchase price and the substantial increase in city tax revenue from an additional 15 teachers and 25 aides expected to be hired would buttress Youngstown's tight budget. A brand new school also would complement ongoing revitalization efforts in the Glenwood Avenue corridor. City council should waste no time in approving the sale next month so that classes could begin there as soon as next fall.
ONION: To the statewide Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership program overseen by the Ohio Department of Development for that partnership's recent condemnation by the U.S. Department of Commerce. In its audit of MEP released last week, Commerce faulted the program for poor oversight of $20.9 million it received over the past decade in federal funding. The damning report casts a poor light on MEP, which focuses on job training and technology support for Ohio manufacturers. It cites a variety of waste, abuse and misspending in its operations. The program now faces potential termination as the audit recommends considering termination of all federal funding for it.
ORCHID: To the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task force for continuing its aggressive push against prostitution and trafficking and for proving one's familial or professional status will not stand in the way of their valiant crusade. The task force recently arrested Jed York, owner of the San Francisco 49ers and member of the prominent and philanthropic York and DeBartolo families, on allegations of engaging in prostitution at an East Palestine mobile home park. Though a plea deal resulted in reduced charges, the task force still got its conviction, one that sends a clear message to other would-be johns that they do indeed risk their reputations and livelihoods when stooping to such degrading and demeaning behavior.
ORCHID: To Margaret Shabella and Dora Galletta of Campbell, both 100 years young, for most fittingly serving as grand marshals for the town's recent 100th birthday bash during the annual Summer Fest. The two, who also received proclamations from the mayor earlier in the month, oversaw the grand parade from Tenney Avenue to Roosevelt Park. Mayor Bill Valentino could not have chosen more apt marshals as they embody the same resilience, grit and endurance that have guided Campbell through thick and thin since being carved out of East Youngstown in 1926.