Growing up in Campbell was great, staying there, well ...

Growing up in Campbell was great, staying there, well ...
EDITOR:
I was born, raised and went to school in Campbell and Youngstown. I hate to say it, but thank God I left! This is not a slam at the great people of Campbell and it's surrounding communities, but a slam at the lazy and crooked politicians. If I would have stayed there, it would have been a dead-end street for me and my family.
Being raised in Campbell offered the perfect up-bringing. Great family values, wonderful and safe streets, churches on every corner, wonderful parks, good jobs for our parents, and a wonderful college and medical system.
Most of that ended in the early 1980s. There were no jobs, crooked politicians became prevalent (or shall I say became exposed), the schools were antiquated, crime increased and on and on. I was forced to leave to seek the better life in South Carolina. Again, I am not bashing the great citizens of the Youngstown area, but I am trashing the political system. The prominent object in every politician's mind is.. What can I do to better myself, rather than what can I do for my constituents.
Why has the South flourished with thousands of jobs from BMW, Michelin, and other huge companies? Because they knew what it took to attract these companies for the long term. They gave them property and waived taxes for a few years. It all resulted in thousands of great paying jobs. The incentives were too good for those companies to pass up. What happens when thousands of jobs are brought to an area? Real estate goes up, schools flourish, other businesses grow and are attracted to the area. Shall I go on? Why can't the city of Youngstown and the surrounding leaders find a way to give these companies similar packages?
Hey, I would love to move back and raise my family in an area that offers us the things that I had growing up. Campbell, Ohio, is still my home, and I will forever be fond of its people. But when I come home to visit family and friends, all I find are terrible roads, dilapidated homes, closed businesses on every corner, crime and a lot of old, good memories.
Fortunately, there is a good point to this letter. It is not too late. Put people in power who have the vision to grow the area and seek help from experts. Go learn how other cities have flourished and attracted businesses. Take away the & quot;what's in it for me & quot; attitudes in the community leaders and install minds and egos that are focused on serving rather than being served. Hey, people, let me tell you a secret: you elect those people. You can vote them out just as easily as you voted them in.
There is a hope for Youngstown, Campbell, Struthers, Lowellville and other cities. It's never too late.
NICK HARALAMBIS
Columbia, S.C.
That was a good one, David
EDITOR:
Clearly David Skolnick's politics column of July 11 shows him to be a comedy writer of the 1st degree. To write about state Sen. Robert Hagan "getting out of politics entirely" is the funniest line I have read in your paper since Commissioner Sherlock was allowed to write her mea culpa.
SAMUEL M. MOFFIE
Boardman
Have faith in Youngstown and city will be revived
EDITOR:
The writer of the June 27 letter, "When looking to the future, look outside Youngstown," is part of a negative, pessimistic group of people who live in the city but don't believe it will ever come back.
Instead of seeing the positive changes in the city, they keep on harping about the past and how the city will never change from within.
This is the prevalent lie of hopelessness and the helplessness that hangs over the city.
Youngstown will recover and those who believe in God will see it with their own eyes.
As a visitation minister, I have gone through all of the city and have seen many changes over the past nine years. Friends and family have also come here from New York and enjoy life in the inner city.
Let these people move to the Bronx, where we came from, and they will stop complaining about Youngstown.
We believe in Jesus and that God said that the vision will come to pass and that if it tarries, wait for it.
Live in the city, work in the city, worship in the city and raise families in the city and God will bless this city and bring revival to Youngstown. No demon, devil or negative people can stop what God has ordained for the city of Youngstown.
LEO FEHER
Youngstown