GM worker incentive gets mixed response

By SHELBY SCHROEDER

Niles residents see pros and cons in a new homeowner incentive.

NILES — Area residents and real estate agents have mixed opinions about Niles Mayor Ralph Infante’s relocation incentive.

Infante wants to provide employees who transfer to the Lordstown General Motors plant a $500 grant — funded with taxpayer money — as a perk for choosing to move to Niles to work the third shift at GM.

“It’s a great idea,” said Jerry Altobelli, a Realtor for Altobelli Real Estate in Niles. “Anytime we can spend taxpayer money to help the taxpayers, it’s a good idea.”

Altobelli said that’s because the $500 of taxpayer money will be regained several times over in the new homeowner’s taxes, as well as their new business to the community.

Niles resident Chaz Waverly shares the same perspective as Altobelli.

“We need more taxpayers,” Waverly said Tuesday at Eastwood Mall. “Bigger cities have things that we still don’t [have],” he said. Waverly said Niles could benefit from new roads, newer schools and more businesses.

Yet some in the business of home purchasing disagree with Infante’s optimism for the plan.

Carmen Mazza, of Mazza Real Estate in Niles, thinks the idea is helpful, but that it won’t please residents.

“That offer sounds nice,” Mazza said. “Unfortunately, I doubt people will be happy with the government handing out their tax money.”

Mazza said he wasn’t in favor of using taxpayer funds, as in Infante’s plan, because it wouldn’t fix the larger problems government has created in the area.

“Everything that’s happened in this Valley is the fault of the government,” he said, adding that a real solution must be more drastic than a $500 incentive.

Donald Bell, a Niles resident, called the mayor’s plan a quick fix for a slumping regional economy.

“What about when production [at GM] slows — which it will — and the workers are laid off again?” Bell asked. “There are going to be a lot of foreclosures.”

Still, many area residents expressed confidence and support for Infante’s proposal.

“It sounds like a plan. Niles is a good place to live [and] the money will help,” said Theresa Angelo, of Niles.

Jenna Stryker, also of Niles, said the plan would benefit the economy.

A longtime friend of Stryker’s, and Niles neighbor, Lisa Ehric jokingly said, “I wish we would’ve been offered that to move here.”

Other residents remained skeptical of the offer, including Mike Stunn.

“What’s $500 when it costs so much to move anywhere anyway? It might help, but [the incentive] is just change,” Stunn said.

Infante’s proposal, which is scheduled for a vote at today’s special council meeting, stipulates that grant recipients must be new Lordstown employees working the third shift. They must have also transferred from outside of Niles and have chosen to purchase or build a new home within Niles zoning.

City council must approve the proposal, which would offer grants immediately.