Youngstown council expected to pass ordinance for oil, gas drilling

YOUNGSTOWN — Despite hearing the pleas of 30 people not to approve legislation to permit drilling for oil and gas on city-owned land, city council is expected Wednesday to support it.

Council had a public hearing today with 32 of the about 50 people in attendance speaking on the issue.

Only Tony Paglia, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s vice president of government and media affairs, and Mike Chadsey, director of Energy in Depth, a gas-and-oil industry outreach group, spoke in favor of the ordinance.

Plenty of others who spoke at the public hearing said short-term money for what they contend are long-term health and environmental problems isn’t worth the risk.

Lynn Anderson of Youngstown, a vocal opponent of fracking, told council members at the hearing: “You’re going to kill your citizens.”

A majority of the seven-member city council has already said they’re going to vote Wednesday in favor of the plan.

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com