Gulf is wide between 2010 believers and cynics

YOUNGSTOWN — Seven years ago, they said the Youngstown 2010 plan could change the city’s fate.

Blight could be converted to park space, industrial graveyards into wetlands. Despite the loss of half its population, the city could repair its landscape and restore quality of life to those who remain.

That concept resonated with broad segments of the community. It drew area residents to planning meetings as many as 1,300 at a time. And it helped make the city’s community development director, Jay Williams, its youngest and first black mayor.

Then, in rapid succession, Youngstown 2010 was featured on the pages of USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Still, in 2008, the gulf runs wide between 2010 believers and cynics.

For more, see Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com