YOUNGSTOWN 2010 East Siders express frustration

One resident called for zero-tolerance policing.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- East Siders voiced concerns about numerous topics, including public safety, illegal refuse dumping, housing, and shopping and recreational opportunities during Tuesday's Youngstown 2010 forum.
"Until the police department works with us, we're not going to get anywhere," said Victoria Valentin of Craiglee Avenue, who lamented the demise of the community police program, in which specific officers were assigned to particular neighborhoods. The neighborhood planning meeting, attended by about 30 people, took place in the cafeteria at East Middle School.
Valentin complained about police driving by groups of 20 to 30 young people loitering on the sidewalk without stopping. "If they don't want to work with us, they should put their badges down and go somewhere else," and be replaced by diligent officers, she said.
She also mentioned the July 4 fireworks riot on the South Side, in which several of those charged with crimes were from Boardman. She observed that nothing like that would have happened in Boardman, where police practice a "zero tolerance'' policy. She said she'd like to see zero tolerance enforced in Youngstown.
Attitude changes needed
"If we want zero tolerance, that might mean my kid or your kid, if they're out doing something they shouldn't be doing," would be cited, replied Jay Williams, the city's Community Development Agency director, who served as a forum facilitator.
"It's important that we get to that point in the community where the attitude then changes and [wrongdoers say] 'Let me think twice before I go and do this in Youngstown,'" Williams added.
Raul Valentin, Victoria's husband, complained of shoddy construction on some new homes being built for low-income people on the East Side. "Instead of helping the area, they're destroying it," he said.
Capt. Eduardo Feliz of the Salvation Army on Fruit Street lamented that Lincoln Park has a reputation for being unsafe and suggested the city should establish playgrounds on vacant East Side land, where mothers can feel safe with their young children.
Josephine Hulett of Himrod Avenue complained of illegal refuse dumping in East Side neighborhoods. "Take a look at Wilson Avenue with all those [scrap] tires," she said.
"We, as a city, have to stop tolerating that," Williams replied.
Retailers wanted
Sandra Harden of East High Avenue said the East Side needs more retail shopping opportunities.
Williams said attracting retailers would be a challenge because they make their decisions largely based on population and income figures, and the city has been losing population and its residents generally aren't wealthy. "We're not going to be able to have as much retail as we had before," but city officials will have to make a case to retailers to locate in certain targeted areas, he said.
"It is a process by which people can say, 'We're taking back the control of the city. We are going to set the priorities,'" Williams said of Youngstown 2010, a long-range planning process designed to improve the quality of life in the city.
The next 2010 planning meeting will be at 7 p.m. July 27 at Chaney High School.