Youngstown council holds off again on passing anti-loitering law

YOUNGSTOWN — City council opted again today to not approve an anti-loitering ordinance with some members still uncomfortable with the legislation.

Council postponed the vote even though members agreed at a June 23 committee meeting to approve it.

Council will consider it again at its Aug. 17 meeting, but will first meet to discuss concerns with the proposal.

The proposal would make it illegal to sit, lie down or loiter on downtown sidewalks, streets or within 50 feet of a business.

The proposal came after numerous downtown business owners complained to city officials about large groups of people blocking the entrances to their stores and restaurants, saying that some were selling drugs, drinking alcoholic beverages and being disruptive.

A vote on a proposal to let a movie group borrow up to $2 million to make two films in Youngstown was also postponed.

The loan would only be given if the companies obtain an irrevocable letter of credit from a lending institution. If the companies were to default, the lending institution would be required to pay back the loan.

The companies – Odyssey Motion Picture LLC of Santa Monica, Calif., and Alpha Pictures of Melbourne, Australia – still need to finalize a deal with a bank.

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