His message lives on, Mayor Williams says

The city is being held hostage by a small group of people, the mayor said.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Although Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams was born after the 1968 death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil-rights leader's message of fighting racism and violence with peace, tolerance and unity resonates with him.
"His message is applicable today to the city of Youngstown," Williams said Monday at the 23rd annual community workshop honoring King's life and legacy. "He serves as a source of inspiration."
"King's Mandate: Increase the Peace!" was the theme of an event held Monday on the official observance of King's birthday, which was actually Sunday.
The event and two others held over the weekend were sponsored and organized by the Martin Luther King Planning Committee of Mahoning County. Monday's observance took place at the First Presbyterian Church on Wick Avenue.
"We know Martin Luther King as a great man of words, but he was a greater man of actions," said Williams, born in 1971, three years after King was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. "I will have many opportunities to speak ... but I want to spend these next four years [as mayor] taking action."
Criminal minority
Williams said 90 percent to 95 percent of people living in Youngstown, a city with a high per-capita crime rate, are good, law-abiding citizens. But, he said, the city is "being held hostage" by the 5 percent to 10 percent of those "who refuse to honor the law."
The perception of Youngstown is defined by that small minority, who are allowed to give the city a bad reputation because many residents are too busy leading their own lives to do anything about it or don't believe they can help, Williams said.
If the city is going to turn the corner, its public officials, church leaders, nonprofit agencies and citizens must cooperate to end violence in Youngstown, he said.
"If we are sitting idly by, then it is we who have committed the greater sin," Williams said.
Police department changes
Changes will be made in the police department, Williams said. The mayor and Jimmy Hughes, whom he appointed police chief two weeks ago, want to increase police presence with foot and bicycle patrols in the communities.
Response time by officers also will improve, Williams said.
"If we don't respond in a timely and responsible manner, we lose the confidence of people in this community," he said.
Dr. Wendy Webb, Youngstown schools superintendent, also spoke at the event.
Webb said she has seen improvements in the involvement of the community in the education of Youngstown kids.
But there are many obstacles to overcome, she said. For example, almost 89 percent of children in the Youngstown school system are at or below the poverty rate.
"I believe my generation has failed today's children," she said. "If people have no interest or value in something, they have nothing to lose. We need to become part of the change."
School attendance of Youngstown kids is improving, as is performance, but more work needs to be done, Webb said.
skolnick@vindy.com