ARENA HEARING

ARENA HEARING
Other thoughts
Other comments about the proposed downtown arena:
Council should stand its ground and hold onto all the $26.8 million in hand until somebody comes forward with the cash to support the building once it's up, said Herman "Pete" Starks, a former city councilman.
"If you really want something that will help our economy in Youngstown, it will take an off-track pari-mutuel betting parlor with slot machines," said Pat Mackondy of Beaver Township, a Vindicator Web site reader who sent the comment by e-mail. "Nothing else will work with this limited amount of money we have to spend. Especially an arena. It will not make enough money to support itself. It will just be another expense burden to the community."
There must be more planning, such as how a hotel will fit into the project, said Arlette Gatewood of Youngstown.
The community-use angle of the civic center should be better emphasized, said Holly Burnett, a downtown preservation advocate.
Jeffrey Clark, owner of Ross Radio, said nobody has approached him about his business, near one of the west end sites. He wanted to know what's happening.