There's a larger role for YSU to play in Valley resurgence

There's a larger role for YSU to play in Valley resurgence
EDITOR:
In last Thursday's article, "Professor: Recovery in Valley lags state," Ned Hill indicated that greater economic development is occurring in the larger cities of Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati and less in communities such as Lima, Mansfield, and the Mahoning Valley. The article goes on to state that it's not that the state is losing existing companies as much as it is that we are not forming new companies as fast as other states. In this matter, I feel that the Mahoning Valley has the potential to be more like the larger cities and less like Lima or Mansfield.
In the 21st century, new companies are more likely to form around the state's universities. Lima and Mansfield do not have an asset like Youngstown State University. Most see a university as a source of well-trained and educated graduates. Today, it is equally important for universities to also be a source of experts and facilities that act as a magnet for new high-tech companies. Currently, too many graduates need to seek employment outside the Mahoning Valley because YSU is great at its first role, but less effective at its second.
A good example of a university's ability to attract new businesses is provided by the efforts of the University of Akron's Polymer Institute. Formed as a reaction to the declining industry, the Polymer Institute, through its research into types of polymers other than rubber, has been a catalyst for the development of many businesses and jobs in the Akron area.
YSU's metallurgists in the School of Engineering had a national reputation and anchored the local steel industry, which benefited from their expertise. In hindsight, YSU could have made a similar transition from steel to advanced materials such as ceramics, but did not. However, it's not too late. The state's Third Frontier Initiative will provide significant financial support for universities to attract new businesses. YSU only needs to develop several centers of expertise to take advantage of this opportunity.
DARYL MINCEY
Department of Chemistry
Youngstown State University
Decision on residency rules should be made by residents
EDITOR:
The recent debate over the residency bill that was voted on in the Ohio House prompted many political leaders to speak out. Mayor Jay Williams and many other mayors across the state who are planning on contesting the issue in court do so for a very good reason. All cities should be able to decide what the best decision is for their community and their employees.
The state is interfering with local matters by prohibiting any city from requiring that its employees to live in the city. The city should have the right to decide whether or not employees should live there.
Every city and town in Ohio is not the same, and therefore the same rules should not apply. The dynamics and make up of Youngstown differ from that of Cleveland, so why would the same rule apply? How can the state know what will work best in each city throughout the state?
City employees, especially those that have a greater impact on the residents, will lose touch with the residents. How can the police chief who lives outside of Youngstown understand the problems of a South Side resident?
There are more people to think about in this issue than just the city employees and politicians. The residents of the city also deserve a voice in this issue. In cities throughout the state, residents deserve the right to have a well structured and properly working city.
This issue needs to be more clearly thought out before it begins to affect the lives of citizens in the state of Ohio. Lawmakers, politicians and the governor should have looked at the people whom they represent before making a decision on the residency law.
ADRIENNE SABO
Youngstown