Valley faithful get more of the same old, same old

Valley faithful get more of the same old, same old

EDITOR:

Before all Kelly Pavlik’s fights, a montage shown. There’s dramatic music in the background. The sun is rising over the skeletal remains of a dirty, rust filled, abandoned steel mill. Running along side of it is the one remaining hope for the Mahoning valley, Kelly Pavlik. As he runs through the streets of the South Side, the people are out on their porches cheering him on, waiting to get a glimpse of The Ghost. The same people who have lived in these homes for 30 or 40 years. Scraping every nickle and dime together to try to give their kids a better life.

The same people who are now going through tough economic times and record unemployment went out last Saturday in a blizzard to support Kelly. The same people who traveled to Atlantic City or Vegas or spent $50 to watch his fights. These were the fans waiting out in the cold. The 200 or 300 people in line were very festive, considering the conditions. That ended at about 10:01 when they were told there were $200, $300, or $500 tickets left. Most people in line could only afford the $50 or $100 tickets, but were not even given the opportunity to spend the money.

The people who left the lines were not angry or hostile, they were very docile, like beaten down dogs. This is what they have come to expect in the Valley. Throw all your love and support into something and get nothing in return. Now I understand “Team Pavlik” was not behind this, and I will continue to support Kelly. All I ask is for the mainstream media to stop exploiting Youngstown as a rusted out hell hole and leave us with some kind of dignity. Don’t use us to create a “rusted out steel mill boy done good” angle. Thanks for putting on a fight so close to home that nobody can afford, but no thanks.

P.S. Ticket brokers were selling the tickets at 10:15 for double the face value. The usual treatment for the Youngstown faithful.

RYAN JAMES

Austintown

Suburbs aren’t the problem

EDITOR:

I read four letters in this space last Sunday. I will respond to one, and I will use the other three to support my response.

One person writes about residents of Canfield, Poland and Boardman who “always” respond to strangers’ questions related to where they live, as living in Poland, Canfield or Boardman and not in the Youngstown area. Let’s be realistic; it isn’t possible for this one person to know that we always respond this way. Virtually no one from outside the area would have any idea where those suburbs are located in Ohio. The conversation would go much more smoothly and efficiently by saying I live in the Youngstown, Ohio, area which is, I am sure, what most people do. One letter on Sunday was written by a woman who says her grandson in the military was the recipient of cards and things from the “Youngstown area” She didn’t say from Canfield, Boardman, or Poland.

His last paragraph states we should stop complaining and do something constructive. This is bizarre; he doesn’t describe who is complaining or about what they are complaining. He appears to be the one complaining.

The letter from a lady at Beatitude House describes the volume of Christmas donations being so great that they were able to share items with other organizations. Now I have no way of knowing for sure, but my judgment tells me that most of those donations came from residents of Canfield, Boardman, Poland and other suburbs. Those who benefited most from those donations were from Youngstown. Is that constructive enough?

The last letter I reference is from the lady who writes about Crandall Park’s demise. She tells of the desecration of the historic house, the lack of care for the ducks, and the rubbish left on the grounds. This mess was most certainly not caused by residents of Canfield, Boardman or Poland. This is the type of problem that should be drawing outrage from residents of Youngstown, but I am not hearing or reading about any complaints, except from this one woman who says she picks up trash from time to time.

Finally, the mayor and his administration are attacking many issues in Youngstown; some with a great deal of success and some with little success. He just needs more help from the citizens of Youngstown. He doesn’t need someone using misguided comments that tend to irritate people from the suburbs of Youngstown. We all worked for what we have, and clearly, the negative press drives us farther apart.

FRANK PETRETICH

Canfield

Blinking lights make sense

EDITOR:

During a recent late evening drive on Main Street in Poland, I noticed all traffic signals were switched over to an amber flasher. I was not inconvenienced with an 80 second wait at a red light where there was no cross traffic in sight.

I’ve always had this complaint commuting the night shift through Youngstown to the waste water treatment plant on Poland Avenue where I’m employed. Too often, I have observed vehicles, including city police, slow down but not stop at red lights late at night.

Years ago I would voice my concerns about the night time traffic signal dilemma when I’d see my friend Jim at the downtown YMCA. Jim, who is now retired from Youngstown traffic engineering, would always joke about the arrogance he experienced in his department. Jim agreed it was foolish and a huge expense to the city operating all traffic signals 24 hours a day. He explained, a flashing signal will consume 70 percent less energy and reduce maintenance on the signal’s controller and lamps. A flasher stands out and will eliminate stop and go traffic on main thorofares. This saves fuel and reduces both noise and air pollution. And, at one time the city did have a schedule for signals to flash at night. Jim said that all changed when the fearless leader, Carmen Conglose, was appointed deputy director of public works. He adjusted operations of traffic signals to his specifications. No adjustments to the signals were allowed without his approval.

However, times have changed. The economy in the area looks bleak. Our communities continue to experience population declines, budget deficits and now layoffs of public employees. Thanks to a whistleblower, and no thanks to a mayor whose platform promised change, this fearless leader is now gone. But those traffic signals in Youngstown remain on 24 hours.

I commend the village of Poland for taking the initiative to implement a simple cost saving measure. I urge Youngstown and all area public officials to take notice and implement cost reductions immediately. They should remember, come Election Day, we public citizens will implement action on how we vote.

MARIO J. POLUSE

Youngstown