Lack of organizer ends city’s Night Out

By David Skolnick

YOUNGSTOWN — A 20-year tradition in the city won’t see its 21st year next week.

Youngstown isn’t participating in National Night Out, an event designed to focus on increasing crime and drug awareness, strengthening police-citizen relationships and generating support for anti-crime programs.

As part of her responsibilities as Youngstown’s block watch supervisor, Annie Hall organized the city’s National Night Out. Hall retired in January from the voluntary position.

“Somebody was supposed to take over, but I guess nobody wanted to do the work,” she said. “The city should have stepped in. It makes the city look bad to not have” a National Night Out.

Youngstown was among the first cities to participate in the national event, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next Tuesday.

Jason Whitehead, the mayor’s chief of staff/secretary, said he didn’t know the city held the annual event — even though he attended it last year — and didn’t know anything about organizing this year’s National Night Out.

Phil Kidd, the city’s downtown director of special events and special projects, said he was under the impression that Hall was still organizing the event. He didn’t know until Monday that she wasn’t organizing this year’s event and that she’d retired six months ago.

“The city has nothing scheduled” for National Night Out, he said.

Kidd said he’d make sure National Night Out returns to Youngstown next year.

“It’s sad the city won’t have one this year,” Hall said. “I feel bad about it.”

If city officials had contacted Hall earlier, she said she would have worked to coordinate the event. But it’s too late now to organize it, Hall said.

The event includes a picnic, parade and safety demonstrations.

“It brings the community together” in an effort to fight crime, Hall said.

About 10,000 communities hold the annual event, which attracts more than 35 million participants, according to the National Association of Town Watch, which created National Night Out.

Other communities in the area will hold National Night Out events Tuesday. They include New Middletown, Vienna and East Palestine. Warren is holding its event Sunday.

skolnick@vindy.com