Clarification

Clarification

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams takes issue with an editorial two weeks ago that criticized him for raising the potentially divisive issue of revenue sharing between the city and suburban communities at a time when voters in those communities were being asked to support a countywide mass transit tax.

To the extent that the editorial suggested that Williams publicly pursued or initiated comment on the agreement in the days immediately prior to the vote, clarification is warranted. While acknowledging that members of his administration were doing ground work on a proposal in late February, Williams says the administration was trying to be discreet so as not to stir-up anti-Youngstown sentiments among suburban voters. The city’s efforts toward a water agreement were reported based on inquiries that were made, and properly so, by a reporter. He was following a tip he received about the city’s proposal, not reporting on any overt action by Mayor Williams.