Thoroughfare not enough to help city's downtown

Thoroughfare not enough to help city's downtown
EDITOR:
So much has been discussed about the future plans for Federal Street. The recurring topics discussed always seem to be parking and traffic. With these topics in mind, I would like to take your readers back about 10 years.
At that time, in the winter of 1991-92 the cool place to work was at the "national corporation" located in downtown Youngstown. It didn't seem to matter that many of the jobs there were minimum wage. You were a step above the rest because you were employed at the corporate headquarters of Phar-Mor. Supervisors didn't worry about employees quitting or the need to let someone go because there was a steady list of applicants from all over Mahoning County waiting to fill any employment vacancies offered.
At its peak in '92, more than 800 people from Phar-Mor alone were part of what was a very busy central business district. Also at that time, employee parking was at a premium. People may have complained about where they had to park, but it didn't stop people from wanting to work downtown. Many of PharMor's employees parked up on Wood Street and Rayen Avenue. Any further expansion back then would probably have sent them parking farther away than that.
In researching plans to make a through way or keep a landscaped median on Market Street, I feel that no matter how many spaces are created on what is presently the plaza, there will never be enough.
Some will always complain because they cannot jump out of their car and into their office. Someone will always complain because they have to walk somewhere. When traffic was busy in earlier years, it was amazing that everyone found a route to get to work on time.
If the time comes that we are laden with traffic problems because our downtown revitalization has worked too well, I'm sure we will figure it out. We should be blessed with such a problem. Until then we should maintain the center island as a circle or perhaps even an oval similar to what is there now. This way the area is preserved as a & quot;heart & quot; or & quot;centerground & quot; for our city. This also preserves its integrity for the monuments placed there honoring the past.
I do not have any problem with opening up the rest of Federal Street and removal of the amphitheater area. I consider a center island on Market Street enough of an area for a public gathering spot for future events. This will also maintain a bit of the greenspace that will be lost when the roads are opened.
As for maintaining the area -- cooperation with the Streetscape committee in landscaping and design could create a showplace area that would also be easily maintained.
The idea is to improve the area to bring people downtown. Creating a road for people to drive through downtown with little to pique their interest won't. It is just not enough.
SUE MARSHALL-JONES
Youngstown
Better laws could protect nursing home residents
EDITOR:
I am writing in response to a Nov. 21 letter addressing elderly care. I applaud its writer for directing our attention to nursing home care. What is happening to these United States citizens? They are stripped of their civil rights and nobody seems to care. We must take a stand and speak out on this injustice.
State regulations protect the nursing homes because of lobbyists and the legislators whom we elect. The human beings in nursing homes need our voice. Our media needs to inquire and report the truth. The time is now to change laws to protect these citizens' rights.
I have filed complaints with the state of Ohio over concerns with my 83-year-old mother's care over infractions she had endured. I received total disregard as though I was the nuisance. Please come forward and help the elderly have a voice again. Write your congressman, senators and George W. Bush. Make them responsible to the citizens and not to big business.
MARLENE FARKAS
Youngstown