Youngstown's money crunch requires tempered response

Now isn't the time for the police union in the city of Youngstown to be warning of dire consequences if there is a reduction in the force brought about by the projected $1.7 million deficit in the general fund. The McKelvey administration's crime-fighting strategy seems to be working, and residents are beginning to feel safer in their neighborhoods. We do not believe that criminals will run rampant in Youngstown's streets if a small number of police officers are laid off.
In fact, it is even premature to discuss specific furloughs because the mayor and city council only Wednesday began the arduous task of dealing with the overall issue of work force reduction. As a first, important step, council moved quickly to appoint a replacement for Finance Director Barbara Burtner, who has tendered her resignation and will be out of city government next week.
Experience
By naming David Bozanich to the post, McKelvey and lawmakers made sure there would be no interruptions in the operation of the finance department. That's because Bozanich has about 20 years' experience in city finances, served in the top position in the Patrick Ungaro administration and currently holds the job of deputy finance director. Bozanich knows his way around City Hall and the city's ledgers.
While we can appreciate the concerns expressed by Patrolman Barry Ervin, president of the Youngstown Police Association, about the department already losing six officers through a buyout program, we would suggest to him and his colleagues that neither the mayor nor city council will do anything to place Youngstown residents in harm's way.
All city officials should temper their rhetoric about the dire effects of layoffs and, instead, join together in developing a fiscal recovery plan that is fair and that does not require any one department to bear the brunt of the revenue shortfall.