JFS relocation makes sense from a business standpoint

JFS relocation makes sensefrom a business standpoint
EDITOR:
I was pleased to read in The Vindicator that the Rev. Edward P. Noga, pastor of St. Patrick Church, lent his support to the relocation of the Department of Job and Family Services, formerly the Mahoning County Welfare Department. Additionally, Mahoning County Commissioner Vickie Allen Sherlock has made the relocation of JFS her No. 1 priority before leaving office. Positive action on this important relocation is long in coming.
One factor making the relocation a necessity is the present cost and, subsequently, the future cost. When the JFS was first relocated, sometime in 1987, a 10-year contract was signed by the seated commissioners with the Cafaro Corp. The JFS was relocated to the McGuffey Plaza, 709 N. Garland Ave., at a cost of $377,652 a year.
Recently, I made a call to Delores Crawford, director of Job and Family Services, and was informed the rental cost, on a month to month basis, is $37,464. The yearly cost now totals $449,689. I did a little math and determined the total cost to the county taxpayers is $6,548,869. Also, the county agreed to repair a building not owned by the county. This agreement is still in effect.
The second part of the equation has to do with the loss of downtown businesses when the county employees were moved to the Garland location. Some of the West Federal Street businesses that were reliant on the county employees and welfare recipients to stay in business had to close their doors after the JFS relocation. I know this for a fact; one business was owned by a friend of mine.
The last part of the relocation was -- and still is -- a morale factor. The JFS employees -- certainly not all -- were not and still not happy with the Garland Avenue location. The time for returning the JFS to downtown Youngstown is long in coming but a flickering of light is upon us.
With the exception of some half-dozen leases, the county owns most facilities. I believe strong consideration should be given to owning rather than leasing. After all, if you're going to pay for repairs, why not own? With the money crunch confronting our county, I think it important that consideration be given to consolidating more county employees into fewer buildings. It's smart business.
PATRICK STRANGE
Campbell
Honor 'Greatest Generation' by treating members fairly
EDITOR:
Memorial Day brought out the politicians in droves, all praising the "Greatest Generation" that survived the Depression and won freedom for all in World War II. With choked up voices and tears in their eyes they asked how could they ever thank and repay them for their sacrifices!
First, most of us were born in the so called "notch years" and our Social Security benefits are figured at a lower rate than those born after us. Our spouse gets a reduced amount also. We ask simply to be treated the same as those born after us. The politicians don't answer our requests. A worker in a local office said, "It's because you are not a big voting bloc and you are dying off at over a thousand a day and real soon you won't be a problem!"
Second, I remember President Roosevelt telling us he had signed a "Social Security" bill that would assist us when we got old. But he cautioned us, "You must work hard to prepare for your golden years." I, for one, listened and usually had two jobs and even three. One was teaching school. It was a bitter blow when I was informed that because I was a teacher or fireman, etc. my Social Security would be reduced even more! If I had goofed off and lived on welfare, my Social Security would be doubled!
So, politicians, you want to know how to repay the "Generation"? No special treatment. Just fair treatment. Time is running out!
EDWARD BRIENZ
Farmdale