Day 1 of the city's future

The large turnout means people want to take control of the city's destiny, one official said.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Etch Dec. 16, 2002, into your memory.
That's the night 1,000 people from the city and suburbs came to Stambaugh Auditorium on a cold, cloudy night to start shaping Youngstown's future.
One day, that very act of showing up will be looked upon as the first spark in making the future happen, according to one man at the center of Cleveland's comeback.
"It's an action that can move this community forward," said Hunter Morrison, Cleveland's former planning director who now heads the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at Youngstown State University. "Tonight's a very special night."
About 1,000 people turned out Monday night to hear and comment on the vision for the city's future, called Youngstown 2010.
The vision will be the basis for a comprehensive city plan. The plan is a document for future mayors, council members and other city leaders to follow. The plan is supposed to reflect the type of city that people want and contain steps needed to achieve it.
Voicing views
After the vision presentation, at least 100 people took to microphones to voice their views on how they want to see that vision reshaped, too. Dozens more people stuffed a suggestion box with their thoughts.
Speakers talked about ideas they think should be emphasized, on everything from social services to business development.
For example, Sister Patricia McNicholas, executive director of the Beatitude House in Youngstown, said the vision needs a more clear focus on addressing the problems of the poor.
Dan Kuzma, a YSU student from Austintown, said the vision needs to better focus on developing entertainment for young people beyond bars and clubs. He liked how the vision relies on reusing old buildings and industrial sites.
Clyde Williams of Youngstown criticized the vision as a step toward regionalization. Williams, who is black, said such a move would dilute gains made by blacks over the years.
Cynthia Wright of Youngstown liked what she saw in the vision. What Wright, who is black, didn't like was not seeing more blacks and minorities in the crowd.
A substantial number of blacks attended, but not in proportion to the city's population makeup of 51 percent whites and 44 percent blacks.
The vision must reach out to more minorities, Wright said.
Vision's developer
The city's consultants, Urban Strategies Inc. of Toronto, Canada, developed the vision, which is based on suggestions gathered in the fall from about 150 key leaders in Youngstown's public, private and nonprofit sectors.
Ed Hahn and his son Mark, 13, of Canfield, came as part of a Boy Scout citizenship project. Mark was glad to hear so much talk about youths and the future. His father liked the outlook he saw and heard.
"I saw a lot of positive tonight," Hahn said.
Denise Jennings of Youngstown liked the vision and, more importantly, the commitment she saw to making it happen. So did her friend, Cynthia Carter of Liberty. People need to understand that the suburbs and city need each other, Carter said.
Dan Dinello, a letter carrier who delivers in Youngstown, said the vision didn't give eliminating blight a high enough profile.
Gratified officials
Just seeing and hearing from people was gratifying to city officials.
Monday night would tell one of two stories, said Jay Williams, director of the city Community Development Agency. People either would come together to focus on the future or ignore the opportunity and leave the coming years to fate.
Williams drew strong applause when he asserted that the turnout showed that residents will pilot their future.
With the fervor of a preacher, Williams exhorted audience members to cooperate and make happen whatever emerges from the vision.
"We have to make this bigger than any of us," he said.
Citizens show they care
City officials wanted to fill the 2,554-seat auditorium but said last week that 1,000 people was their hope.
The greatest fear was that few people would show up and leave the impression that nobody cared, said Bill D'Avignon, city deputy director of planning.
"I'm going to start sleeping at night again," he said. "We really poured a lot into this. Seeing a thousand people here means they care."
A copy of the vision remains available on the Internet -- at www.cc.ysu.edu/psi/vision_2010.htm -- for people who want to read it and make comments to the city. The city will take comments into February.
Early next year, the second phase starts by turning the vision into the comprehensive plan.
rgsmith@vindy.com