What's up with WRAP in Warren?
WARREN — Community development leaders are touting the Warren Redevelopment and Planning Corporation’s successes in 2006, even as one city council member is concerned that WRAP is not doing enough for the city.
Councilman Robert L. Dean Jr., D-at large, said several citizens, including a Warren GROWs board member, have expressed concern about WRAP’s role in the city.
Warren GROWs (Grassroots Revitalization of Warren) is an umbrella organization of WRAP whose goal is to make city’s downtown a nationally recognized historical center. Warren GROWs recently took steps to become an independent organization.
“This is a person for whom I have the utmost respect,” Dean said of the Warren GROWs board member, whom he did not identify name because the board member sent him a personal e-mail. “If this person has questions about WRAP then I have questions. The proof is in the pudding and I want to see what WRAP has accomplished.”
Dean said his concerns led him to ask council President Robert Marchese to call a meeting of council as a whole at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Although Dean credits WRAP with working to bring the Leedsworld factory to Warren and with helping Diane Sauer Chevrolet expand, he said he knows of little else the agency has recently done.
“This is nice quiet time of the year,” Dean said. “I think it’s a good time to sit down and take a look at things and have a discussion.”
Read more about this debate in Monday's Vindicator and on Vindy.com