Gerberry and Schiavoni try to enlist others in fight to get $500K payment

AUSTINTOWN — Two Mahoning Valley state legislators are trying to rally leaders in other communities with racinos to help get a promised $500,000

annual payment out of the new state budget.

So far, their efforts have not garnered much support.

In fact, the lack of legislators working with the Valley delegation on the issue is a mystery, said state Rep. Ronald V. Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th.

“I think there should be at least 10 to 15 state reps crying over here saying, ‘Why haven’t these communities gotten their money?’” said Gerberry. “I don’t know why there isn’t more of a push from every racino community. ... Don’t you think you would have gotten involved? Actively involved?”

Gerberry is continuing to work with state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, and Sen. Bill Beagle of Tipp City, R-5th. Beagle will be meeting this week with the office of Republican Gov. John Kasich about the racino payment issue.

Austintown Trustee Ken Carano was approved last week by township officials to draft a letter to the other racino locales to try to organize a summit with local and state officials from each community eligible for the payment.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com