Austintown has enough industrial land already

Austintown has enough industrial land already
EDITOR:
After cruising Victoria Road, Hendricks Road, and Meridian Road counting empty lots, there seems to be 55 to 60 percent of the property already zoned industrial that needs the attention of our elected officials to bring businesses there. However the Austintown trustees and the zoning and planning board would rather bulldoze 400 acres at the west end of Lanterman Road, extending toward Route 46. Land presently zoned residential and agricultural will soon look like these other industrial areas, barren. The developers stated they have no one lined up to move in and will be in direct competition with already established industrial parks.
I am a very fortunate man, having 23 years at General Motors. I worked overtime. I lived in inexpensive fixer-upper homes. I did not buy new cars, motorcycles or other luxuries, settling for used. Laura and I finally achieved the working class American dream by purchasing our home on Rural Benton Street in 1994, planning to spend the rest of our days there in this park-like setting.
This dream is about to become a nightmare when the zoning change to industrial is passed by the yrustees. There are six other G.M. families that I know of within two blocks of this unneeded industrial park. Also Packard employees, cable TV guys, auto mechanics, landscape, construction & amp; electrical people live here. Did we work hard all our lives to achieve this dream just to have the rich ruin it for us blue collars? Our property values are about to go the way of retirement plans nationwide.
The claim that I don't care about jobs for others is nothing more than dirty politics in light of all the industrial area already unused. Industrial areas that pro-mised the same consideration for the local residents as this bunch had to be sued, with court injunctions enacted just so locals could sleep at night.
GARY PREST
Austintown
Throwing money around isn't a good idea anytime
EDITOR:
I am writing to respond to the recent promotional efforts of Mr. Winner to attract shoppers to downtown Sharon, Pa. First, the idea of giving money away from the roof of the Winner Department Store building or any building will attract people. Did they really think free money being blown off a building would attract serious shoppers? I don't believe one day of pandemonium with the injuries the people in the crowd experienced could help contribute to the revitalization of downtown Sharon. The idea of enticing people with free money, especially $2 bills, makes a person wonder what were they thinking? Was it the scarcity of a $2 bill to add to one's coin collection or spend in the store? A man in the crowd said he was going to use the money for food. Was the amount of money wasted by being lost or ripped ever a consideration?
It's not bad enough that the first idea failed, the next event will use patriotism to give credibility to the revitalization efforts to attract shoppers. The crowd has to dress in red, white and blue to receive random envelopes possibly containing $100, $50, $25, $10 and $5 bills. There will be an age restriction to add order to the event, and if you carry the club (anti-theft device for your car), the individual receives an extra envelope. It makes me wonder who's promoting what? These events will continue for the month of October every Saturday morning. The Winner name represents innovation and great business savvy, but there has to be a better way to promote revitalization of downtown Sharon. Times have changed. Or have they? Looking back at history the Romans were also great promoters of special events.
BARBARA LYRAS
Youngstown