Youngstown 2010 plan is progressing in its goals

Youngstown 2010 plan isprogressing in its goals
EDITOR:
This Dec. 16 will mark the one-year anniversary of the unveiling of the Youngstown 2010 planning process. On that extraordinary and unforgettable evening, more than 1,400 people gathered in Stambaugh Auditorium to participate in putting together the first piece of a very complex puzzle.
While some initially questioned the longevity of Youngstown 2010, I can happily report that in the one year since, it is very much alive and well and scores of additional people have been involving themselves in the process. Others questioned the ability to marshal financial resources to move the project forward. Well, one short year after its unveiling, with the pending federal legislation, we now have the potential to leverage significant financial muscle to begin carrying out some of the fundamental elements identified within Youngstown 2010.
By accomplishing some of the fundamentals early on, we increase the opportunities for success for many years to come. Let us dare not underestimate the significance of the fact that via Youngstown 2010, we now have a framework to guide our coming decisions to ensure that they achieve maximum long-term benefit. This further solidifies the importance of having Youngstown 2010 serve as an endorsed and recognized long-term road map for our development.
No one particular event will make or break Youngstown 2010, nor will any single project secure the future prosperity of Youngstown. Success will be achieved through the linking of multiple projects and events, never-ending community involvement, and an unwavering commitment to follow, and keep relevant, the plan. All of those things will help achieve a synergetic effort that will begin to feed off its own ongoing successes. Successes we intend to celebrate and promote time and time again. Join us!
Youngstown 2010 is not a panacea or a magic bullet; there is still a lot of work to be done. However, if genuinely committed to, it has the potential to be the medium that serves as a fundamental catalyst of change and rebirth of the image, thinking and prosperity of Youngstown and ultimately the Mahoning Valley.
JAY WILLIAMS
Director of Community Development
Youngstown
Austintown residents don't know which figure to believe
EDITOR:
We residents of Austintown are caught up in an imbroglio. It seems there is a question of how much money the township has to spend. The township clerk and the current trustees tell us the amount is $11.1 million. Some residents say they were told by County Auditor George Tablack that the amount is over $14 million.
I respectfully ask Mr. Tablack to go on the record as to whether he has been accurately quoted, or misunderstood, as I suspect he has.
As we may soon be asked to vote again for a police levy, it is important to have an answer to the question: "How much money does Austintown have to spend?" so we can make an informed decision.
I have seen the audits for the last three years done by the state auditor's office, whose lawful responsibility it is to do township audits. They have consistently shown our township's books to be correct.
I believe the $11.1 million figure to be accurate.
And because I support our safety forces, at the polls and every other way, unless Mr. Tablack unequivocally states the higher amount is correct, I will again vote for the police levy so that we in Austintown can have fully staffed safety forces.
I call upon our trustee-elect to publicly state her view for the record on the police levy.
WILLIAM CRAWFORD
Austintown