Valley should benefit from $1.73M being spent by feds

While Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and other city officials have reason to wonder about the spending priorities contained in the $787 billion federal stimulus package, the reality is simply this: the $1.73 million being directed to two federal courthouses to make them energy efficient cannot be used for anything else.

So, while Williams and Municipal Court Judge Elizabeth Kobly bemoan the fact that the city’s request for $8 million in stimulus money to relocate the court has not been met, we’re confident they aren’t suggesting that the feds take back the $1.73 million.

Indeed, Youngstown is just one of a long list of cities sharing in the $4.27 million “High Performance Green Building Program” developed by the U.S. General Services Administration.

“From a universe of over 200 projects that met the criteria of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, GSA selected the best projects based on two over-arching criteria: Ability of the project to put people back to work quickly, and transforming Federal buildings into high-performance green buildings,” the agency said in a document detailing the program.

To us, the key words are put people back to work quickly. That’s what President Barack Obama gave as the underlying reason for such an enormous expenditure of federal dollars. The recession has caused economic havoc throughout the country and as the jobless rate soars, communities big and small are scrambling to keep from imploding.

If Washington wants to spend $1.18 million on the Thomas D. Lambros Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse and $601,000 on the Nathaniel R. Jones Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, who are we to question such wisdom?

Local benefit

On the other hand, the Valley should make sure that local companies and local residents are given first consideration by the General Services Administration. The money should benefit the region — and not some other part of the state or country.

We urge Congressman Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, to closely monitor developments of the green program so than when the contract requirements are made public, companies in the Valley can respond quickly.

“We are ready to move forward with speed, tempered by careful consideration of our responsibilities and accountability of the American taxpayer,” the agency stated in its program description. “GSA worked hard to choose projects that meet the intent of the Act and to review them with due diligence; however, it may be necessary to update this plan due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Regardless of what the agency ends up doing, the ultimate goal must be to ensure that the $1.73 million will directly benefit the tri-county area.

As for Mayor Williams’ request for $8 million to relocate the municipal court from city hall to the city hall annex, it seems far-fetched that the folks in Washington can’t find that tiny amount in the huge $787 billion package.

Indeed, a review of the spending categories reveals two possibilities: Health, which has $19 billion, and local clean water projects, with $6 billion.

Why those two? Because Judge Kobly has made the argument that the court’s air conditioning units don’t work properly and the court has experienced flooding.

There are stains on its floors, carpets, ceiling tiles and walls. Talk about a health hazard.

“My God, it’s just disgusting,” the judge said recently. “It’s just nasty, nasty, filthy. We’re akin to a dungeon.”

Perhaps Congressman Ryan can invite officials of the department of health and human services and the environmental protection agency to visit the municipal court. That might prompt some non-bureaucratic thinking.