Youngstown, Cleveland to build stronger ties

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams says his city and Cleveland face similar challenges: economic development, public infrastructure, housing, crime, education, among other issues.

“You name it, we’ve got similarities,” Williams said.

Because of that, Cleveland and Youngstown, northeast Ohio’s first and third most populated cities, will work to develop a closer and more productive relationship, and to collaborate on issues that impact them, Williams said.

A formal memorandum of understanding will be finalized shortly between the two cities.

Although a document will be developed, it will not be a binding contract that requires either city to do things its officials don’t want to do, Williams said.

“It establishes a relationship between the two and provides an opportunity to work on many things,” he said. “There are some lessons to be learned from each city. There are limitless things we can do.”

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator or vindy.com