Lieutenant governor will visit Youngstown and neighborhoods

YOUNGSTOWN — Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher will spend a day in Youngstown next month to experience the positives and negatives in the city and its neighborhoods.

A tentative date of Feb. 17 for Fisher’s visit was announced during the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative Vacant Property Campaign news conference today in Youngstown City Council chambers.

Fisher’s visit is part of the effort to get Youngstown more Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds from the state, said state Sen. Joe Schiavoni. D-33rd, noting that “the people of Youngstown felt slighted” when the funds were allocated.

Ohio received $258 million with $141.2 million awarded to 22 cities and counties in September 2008. At that time, it was announced that Youngstown would get $2.7 million from the NSP, which is a federal program administered by the state.

When ODOD released the list in December of which areas would receive portions of the remaining $116.8 million, Youngstown was left out.

“It will be really important to show the blighted areas, but also all the positives,” said Schiavoni of when Fisher visits.

It has been estimated that in order to revitalize neighborhoods and properly administer a demolition plan for vacant properties it will take about $20 million to $25 million, said Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams.

“We know we’re not going to get that in one shot,” he said.

“I’m happy that Lt. Gov. Fisher will be in Youngstown so we can show him there are distressed neighborhoods, but there are also strong neighborhoods,” said Williams.

For the complete story read Friday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com.