Trump’s visit to the Valley has us hoping for the best

Platitudes don’t put food on the table, which is why we’re hoping for a speech of substance from President Donald J. Trump when he addresses his supporters at a rally this evening at the Covelli Centre.

We’re well aware that an event such as this is designed to get the president out of the political cauldron that is Washington and among true believers who share his view that there’s a grand conspiracy to undermine his tenure in office.

Given that, we expect Trump will feed the crowd the red meat that was the staple of his highly contentious primary and general-election campaigns. His personal attacks on his Republican opponents for the party nomination and on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and his racist, homophobic, chauvinistic, anti-immigrant rants brought out the worst in many of his followers.

But that was then. Today, Trump is the leader of the world’s lone superpower and, therefore, what he says during a presidential address or at a political rally has far-reaching consequences.

Thus we urge him to take the opportunity today to talk about his vision for old Rust Belt regions like the Mahoning Valley. We look forward to hearing how his administration plans to revive the economies of once mighty manufacturing centers through the adoption of technologically advanced means of production.

We have no doubt the president has been briefed on the fact that on Sept. 19, the Valley will mark the 40th anniversary of the demise of the steel industry, which for generations had provided high-paying jobs to legions of blue-collar workers in the Valley.

The region is still feeling the economic shock waves that were triggered by the shutdown of virtually all the major steel mills in the area.

That’s why we hope the president’s speech tonight is about the future and not the past.

It is foolhardy for anyone to believe the return of the huge steel-making factories is a realistic goal, just as it’s hard to imagine General Motors returning to the good old days of car production at its Lordstown complex where more than 10,000 workers earned a very good living at the assembly and fabricating plants and the paint shop.

UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR GM LORDSTOWN

Today, GM’s Lordstown facility, which produces the top-selling Chevrolet Cruze, employs about 4,000. The future is uncertain at best.

President Trump, who has made strengthening the American auto industry a top priority, must be aware GM has eliminated the third shift at the Lords- town complex and has instituted weeks of production down time.

Late last week, the Reuters wire service reported GM has characterized the Lords-town complex and the Hamtramck assembly facility in Michigan as “underused.”

What does that mean? Simply that Trump’s pledge to force American car manufacturers to invest billions of dollars in their domestic operations and to bring back jobs that have been sent abroad has not benefited the Mahoning Valley.

We aren’t blind to the reality that buyer preference largely governs the auto industry. The demand for well-designed and well-made compact cars such as the Cruze has fallen victim to the relatively low gas prices at the pump. As a result, sales of SUVs and trucks have exploded.

The answer, therefore, is to have more than one model being built at Lordstown.

We previously have called on the president and on Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich, also a Republican, to meet with GM’s decision-makers, including Chief Executive Officer and Chairwoman Mary Barra, to urge the expansion of the Lordstown complex.

On Monday, we suggested that as the president flies into Youngstown, Air Force One should make a sweep over Lake Erie so he understands why his plan to cut funding for the Great Lakes is so short-sighted.

Today, we would like him to spend a few minutes after Air Force One lands at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station to ask about the importance of the 910th Airlift Wing to this nation’s defense capabilities and the Air Force Reserve’s economic impact on the Valley.

Trump can ensure that one of the most cost-effective and efficient military installations in the country is rewarded with the assignment of the new C130J transport planes to replace the current C130H models.

The president is coming to Youngstown for a political rally, but even his most ardent supporters will acknowledge he must begin to deliver on his campaign promises.