2002: The year of picking pockets

By any measure, the top political story of 2002 in the Mahoning Valley was James A. Traficant Jr.'s transformation from nationally known congressman to nationally known criminal behind bars.
His eight-year prison stay in a federal penitentiary in Pennsylvania will forever define this region's politics.
It doesn't matter whether Traficant's successor, Tim Ryan, grows up to be an outstanding member of the House of Representatives (don't hold your breath, you might suffocate), stories about him will invariably include this line: Ryan replaced Traficant, the first congressman to be expelled from the House since the Civil War.
Just about everything that can be said about this poor excuse for a public official has been said. He was the most talented politician to come out of the Mahoning Valley in recent memory and could have served in Congress for as long as he wanted. But, Traficant just couldn't rise above the criminality that has been so much a part of this region.
Still, the rise and fall of James Traficant Jr. wasn't the only political story of significance in the Valley this year.
Income tax increase
The passage of the 0.5 percent income tax increase in the city of Youngstown also warrants special notice because of what the vote represented: The creation of a special category of individuals who work in the city. Hostage taxpayers.
In addition, the placement of the tax increase question on the ballot -- it was done through initiative petition organized by members of the police and fire departments -- has rendered the mayor and city council irrelevant pertaining to the control of the public treasury.
The passage of the tax -- it increased the city rate from 2.25 percent to 2.75 percent, the highest in the state of Ohio -- will have far-reaching implications.
First and foremost, the way many voters viewed the tax sets the stage for future campaigns by city employees. The turnout on Nov. 5 was one of the largest in recent memory in Youngstown. Why? Because many of those who showed up at the polls knew that their "yes" vote wouldn't cost them a dime since they aren't working.
It is a truism that the majority of city residents do not pay income tax because they're either on Social Security or are unemployed. A significant portion of the income tax revenue comes from individuals who work in the city but live in the suburbs. These suburbanites have no voting rights in Youngstown. Thus, on Nov. 5, they and many city resident who do work got slam-dunked by Youngstowners who do not contribute to the city's economic well-being.
But the tax increase vote goes beyond the issue of fairness.
City officials undoubtedly calculated the effects on the taxpayers who must pay the highest rate in the state. The conclusion they must have reached is that there is a large group of workers who can't go anywhere, even if they don't want to pay the tax. They are the hos-tages.
These are individuals who work for large employers such as St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown State University and other private companies that have a huge investments in the city and cannot just pick up and move to the suburbs.
Therefore, even if some lawyers and small business owners decide to leave, the amount of money generated by the 0.5 percent increase from the hostages will more than offset any losses.
But Mayor George M. McKelvey and city council may have shot themselves in the foot in their eagerness to stick their hands in the taxpayers' pockets.
Precedent-setting
Given that members of the safety forces persuaded registered voters to sign the petitions to place the tax increase on the ballot, what's to stop the street department employees from doing the same thing?
All they have to do is to sell residents on the idea that they can have streets paved with gold and it won't cost them a dime.
That's why this is one of the most important political stories of 2002.
It's ironic, really. Traficant was indicted, tried by a jury, convicted on 10 criminal charges, sentenced to eight years in prison and must pay a $150,000 fine for sticking his hand in his employees' pockets and taking money from constituents in return for interceding on their behalf with the federal government.
On the other hand, city officials are being hailed as conquering heroes for picking the pockets of individuals who also couldn't say no.