City, county do business as usual


Opinion: June 10, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

City, county do business as usual

Two articles in the May 29 edition of The Vindicator talk about politics as usual in the Mahoning Valley. The front page article talks about the V&M Star project. Apparently a portion of the project may go over budget and if we don’t meet certain deadlines we may forfeit the whole project. How generous of the federal government. If we don’t jump through a bunch of hoops we may lose the money for the whole project. It is our money coming back from Washington and we have to beg for it.

All the local and state politicians were falling all over each other to take credit for the project, and now there is a chance we may lose it. Obama came here recently and promised us the world at the V&M site. Politics as usual. Every election time local, state and federal politicians tell us they feel our pain and will help out. Just jump through the hoops for the money.

Another article talks about how the sheriff’s department is short of money again. This goes on every year with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department. We pass tax levies, and they need more money. Where does the money go? Our sheriff is way past retirement, and I think it is time he rode off into the sunset.

County officials are always crying about a lack of money. We give them more and they need more. Between the income taxes out of our checks, the high property taxes we pay and sales taxes going up, where is the money going for the local city and county governments?

Also it is well known that several Youngstown city unions are in contract negotiations with Mayor Jay Williams and other city administrators. Mayor Williams cries for a lack of money but he has the most cabinet officials since any recent mayor. Many of the people he brought in are from his church and have little experience in city government. Why does the mayor of Youngstown need such a large staff when the city population has dwindled and tax revenue is being mismanaged? Business as usual in Mahoning County.

Gary Gergel, Youngstown