O’Brien: Regionalism is a reality

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Warren Mayor Michael J. O'Brien

By Tim Yovich

The mayor says residents and businesses must feel safe to thrive.

HOWLAND — Warren Mayor Michael J. O’Brien says the regional approach to improving the economic viability of the area is not a choice, it’s a reality.

“For too long, we have competed with each other for economic growth. Now, we look forward to ways to share economic success regionally,” O’Brien said Friday.

His comments about the region and city were made during his State of the City address to members of The Regional Chamber at the Avalon Inn.

“As I have stated in the past, we must be collaborators, not competitors. Regionalism is not a choice, it’s a reality,” the mayor commented.

He pointed out he is an advisory committee member of the Northeast Regional Economic Revenue Study being done to promote and stimulate economic conditions in 16 northeastern Ohio counties.

The study is looking at successful communities throughout the country and how they achieved their goals so they can be applied to the region.

“We will be changing the way we think, that is, more regionally,” O’Brien said, noting the counties will be better able to position themselves for development.

The mayor said he believes that change, both good and bad, has never happened so rapidly. “We live in a time of a diminishing tax base, yet we live in a time where technology is accelerating at warp speed,” he added.

Although the city has aging neighborhoods, its residents can enjoy the arts and entertainment venues, and there is increasing interest in downtown business ventures, O’Brien said.

“We can never settle on what we have,” he commented.

The mayor noted that the safety forces are the key to a safe city.

“For any community to be successful, for any community to attempt to attract industry, for any community to retain existing companies, their customers, their employees, their service personnel must feel safe,” O’Brien said.

He called attention to the police department that now has 83 officers, the most in 11 years.

In the fire department, with the backing of the International Association of Firefighters, firefighters have become first responders to emergencies not directly related to a fire.

The union took the step, O’Brien said, to be more professional and better serve the community.

The mayor also called attention to many current and future projects that are being fully funded through state and federal funds.

They include the Parkman Road improvement project, from West Market Street to Linda Drive, this year at a cost of $2.25 million. In 2009, the work will continue to North Leavitt Road.

Improvements on East Market Street, from Mahoning Avenue to the eastern city limits, also will be done this year at a cost of $2 million.

A $750,000 project is the reconstruction of Willard Avenue, from Youngstown Road to Milton Street, to accommodate vehicles and pedestrians with the new K-8 Willard School.

During the program, the 2008 Upton Community Service Award was presented to the Trumbull Art Galley at East Market and Pine Avenue.

The gallery has been in existence for 50 years and has 550 members with 75 active volunteers, and it plans to expand.

yovich@vindy.com