Setting the record straight on historic district in city

Setting the record straighton historic district in city
EDITOR:
As a relatively new resident of Youngstown's North Side, I have come to love the neighborhood that my wife and I choose to call home. The combination of historic architecture, mature trees and friendly people attracted us to the area when we made the decision to purchase our first house. Ignoring the advice that many of our friends and colleagues gave urging us to buy a home in the suburbs, we decided to commit to living in the city of Youngstown in the hope of contributing to its revitalization.
It is for this reason that I am extremely disappointed by a resident's Aug. 31 letter to the editor, which objected to the Wick Park Historic District and displayed an unfortunate lack of knowledge. The Wick Park Historic District and the boundary extension that the writer opposes have already been put into place by the federal government. He lives in a historic district. This is not a matter for discussion. At question is whether the city of Youngstown should amend the North Side Historic District Ordinance to reflect said boundary extension, giving the North Side Historic District Preservation Commission design review oversight of an area in need of stability.
Ignorance and apathy can no longer rule the day if Youngstown wishes to make a recovery. I urge fellow residents to question statements made by those in our community who claim to know the facts, yet do not present quantitative evidence in support. I could easily devote an entire page in The Vindicator to the rebuttal of the letter's flawed arguments because I READ THE ORDINANCE! Had he done the same before making his comments to the city planning commission and in The Vindicator, he would have realized that the North Side Historic District Preservation Commission does not have either the authority or the intent to force residents to install "only wood windows" or "create more bureaucratic steps to take down properties that are in disrepair."
I would strongly encourage anyone residing in the Wick Park Historic District to acquire copies of both the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation (www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/tax/rhb/index.htm) and the North Side Historic District Ordinance before forming an opinion as to the merits of the historic district in which they currently reside. In the absence of an informed discourse on this and other issues facing our city, I fear that the nativism and ignorance displayed by some people will hobble any chance Youngstown has for revitalization. It is well past time for all of us to realize that the blighted conditions in any of Youngstown's neighborhoods, like cancer, affect the well-being of the entire city.
JAMES BOYD
Youngstown
Cutting fire department is a bad way to balance budget
EDITOR:
Recent news reports have stated the city of Campbell has plans to restructure, reorganize, or dismantle its Fire Department. How often, it seems, when a municipality faces monetary problems, the firefighters are the first employees to feel the heat. Communities often become complacent and take fire safety for granted when it has been a while since the last major conflagration or other community disaster.
Citizens need to recognize that many disasters are averted by quick response and professional actions by their local fire department. It is definitely not in the best interests of a community to resort to volunteer firefighters or the creation of a fire district to relieve financial burdens.
We all know what a beautiful city Campbell is, and we recognize the many resources possessed by the city. Perhaps the citizens of Campbell should demand more from their elected officials and require them to attract new commerce to their city or remove them from their jobs.
MICHAEL WALSH
Boardman
Democrats provide humor
EDITOR:
I don't know about you but I find the Mahoning County Democratic Party thoroughly entertaining. I mean here's this organization with a long and proud tradition of endorsing criminals for public office becoming highly indignant when one of their own (let alone the mayor of Youngstown) has the unmitigated gall to endorse a Republican. This amuses me. Thanks, George -- I needed that.
JOHN ZEDAKER
Poland