WEST SIDE MEETING Residents say youths need to realize what city offers

Engaging youths is the key to the city's future, residents tell planners.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Young people need to have a sense of pride in and responsibility for their community for it to reach its potential, speakers said at a Youngstown 2010 community meeting on the city's West Side.
"Try to do something radically different. Try to invite our young people into our places of business, into our corporate offices, into our government council and school board meeting rooms with the purpose of enabling them to become active," urged Thomas L. Dailey of Schenley Avenue. Young people should be actively engaged in the 2010 planning process, he added.
"There are so many good things about this town. Be appreciative for what we have, and teach our children to be responsible for their future in this town," said Claudia Sturtz of South Hazelwood Avenue, who noted the low cost of housing here and the proximity of shopping and health care. "We've got to take personal responsibility to make this town better."
They spoke at a community meeting on the 2010 city plan, which was conducted Tuesday by city officials for the Kirkmere neighborhood of the West Side at Volney Rogers Junior High School.
The meeting, which was attended by more than 40 people, differed from other Youngstown 2010 community meetings in that the discussion was held in a smaller, more intimate setting in the school library without microphones and PowerPoint presentations.
"I don't think they realize what they have, and, as young kids, they have such negativism. We have to get our children to understand what is here," said Mary Ann Huzicka, a teacher at St. Christine School who resides on Baymar Drive. "This is the best place to be, and our kids don't understand it."
"You have a big education job to do with your kids and your grandkids," agreed Hunter Morrison, director of urban and regional studies at Youngstown State University, who served as the meeting moderator. "If you start out teaching your children that their future is not here, when they turn 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, and leave, there's no surprise there."
"We need the kids to take ownership," said Sandy Lang of Chaney Circle. "If they get that, then that's contagious."
"I think part of that is this process here -- having a plan that they can buy into," replied Bill D'Avignon, city planning director, referring to the 2010 plan.
Sewer system problems
Another major topic that emerged in the meeting was what some participants said was an inadequate sewer system and drainage problems on the West Side.
"Probaby one of the biggest issues in this whole area is the sewer system. Many of the neighborhoods are plagued with flooding problems. This has been going on for years. Last year's rains just amplified the problem," said Laureen Scahill of Glen Oaks Drive.
Sewer improvements should be a high priority for maintaining future neighborhood stability "because people aren't going to tolerate being flooded very many times before they decide to move out," she said.
"The roads are terrible," said Veronica Foster of Canfield Road, who complained of the rough condition of Canfield and Bears Den roads.
The next community meeting concerning the Youngstown 2010 plan will be at 7 p.m. June 29 at Hillman Middle School, 164 W. Myrtle Ave.
After 11 meetings in different neighborhoods, planners will write plans for each of the neighborhoods. Those plans together will become the 2010 plan. A draft of the full plan is to be unveiled in mid-December.