Ryan, Brown introduce $350M bill to aid 30 cities

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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles

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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Avon)

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Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams

By David Skolnick

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams says the proposal is ideal for the city.

Legislation introduced in Congress by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown would provide $350 million in federal money over three years directly to 30 cities impacted by major population loss and high unemployment, such as Youngstown, for property demolitions, creating green space and city planning.

The legislation would have to pass in both the House and Senate and then be signed by the president before becoming law.

“Cities [such as] Youngstown in my district that want to pick themselves up and begin growing again need help getting started,” said Ryan, of Niles, D-17th. “These funds and these programs would help cities become leaner and give them a chance to be competitive again in our national and global marketplace.”

The Community Regeneration, Sustainability and Innovation Act would provide $100 million to 10 cities annually — half with populations of 150,000 and greater and the rest with populations under 150,000 — for the demolition of vacant buildings, removing bad infrastructure and creating new green space.

The bill would also provide $25 million in 2010 and $12.5 million in 2011 and 2012 to those same cities for urban renewal planning.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development would select the cities, 10 a year for three years beginning in 2010.

“It would provide a significant boost to Youngstown and cities like Youngstown,” said Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams of the bill.

When asked if there’s concern having HUD decide which cities would receive the money, Williams said, “It’s an issue we always wrestle with.”

HUD made the decision late last year to provide $2.7 million to Youngstown under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to help with the housing crisis. Youngstown officials and citizen groups objected to the amount, a fraction of what cities with lower foreclosure rates than Youngstown’s 14.7 percent received under the program.

To be eligible for the funding under the new proposal, a city or metropolitan area would have to experienced at least a 20-percent loss in population since 1970. Youngstown meets that criterion.

Cities that have had “significant population and employment loss occurring over a period of years which has resulted in widespread property vacancy and abandonment” would also be eligible, said Brad Bauman, Ryan’s spokesman.

The proposal includes $24 million a year for three years to establish a council of planning experts that would offer technical assistance to cities dealing with vacant- property issues.

skolnick@vindy.com