DEAR EDITOR:

It is never legal to do something illegal. Thank you Maggy Lorenzi for your accurate letter to the editor on Aug. 10-11, 2024.

Maggy explained Mayor Brown and his board of control ignored state statutes and violated the law by not acquiring a demolition permit for the vault work at the Realty Building.

Charles Shasho, the city deputy director of public works, incriminated himself when he announced on July 3, 2024, the Realty Tower demolition can begin when the permit is submitted. The law requires a permit for all demolition work for safety reasons. It automatically contacts utility companies to disconnect service to the structure.

It is my opinion this was another fabricated project to put tax money in the pockets of city officials while ignoring the city lockout-tagout safety rules. With no permits, no bond and no signed contract, who would know how much of the $140,133 Greenheart would collect using unskilled labor?

I have observed this scenario played out many times during my 25-year employment as a plant operator at the Youngstown sewage plant. I call it the “Three Can Rule.” Make as much money as you can, any way you can, by doing the least amount of work you can. This time they got caught with an open six-pack.

As a licensed stationary engineer, I can speculate the third pipe cut by the workers was between a closed isolation valve and an open main valve coming off the main gas line in the street. Fortunately, there was an air space in the gas line that prevented a spontaneous explosion. Workers got out and pulled the fire alarm. The main gas valve was open because the vault was not demolished during the reconstruction of Federal Street 15 years ago.

Akil Drake was witnessed going back into the building just before the blast. His death was no accident. It was caused by criminal negligence. The city is liable for everything. Brown, Shasho and the board of control should be fired and their pensions denied!

This is an outrage! Brown offers no apology. The dolt fire chief didn’t allow residents to retrieve their belongings and rescue pets left to die. Bob Hannon’s misuse of charity funds. The city should have paid to relocate the International Towers tenants. Absurd lawsuits filed by attorneys Betras, Kopp and Joseph against defendants who are victims of this negligence. And politically appointed Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova — silence. This November voters need to clean out the courthouse of these phony, transparent incumbents.

My message to Councilman Oliver and his comeback party. Stick a fork in it! Youngstown is done! No thanks to the money-hungry, white-bearded clown named Tito Brown. The mayor who caused the explosion that ruined our downtown. Now that the building is down, no help will come from Sherrod Brown. When the indictments come down, that will bankrupt the town.

MARIO J. POLUSE

Youngstown