An entry in the Years Ago column on Page A5 of Thursday's Vindicator is a testament to the incompetence of local government. Here's how the entry reads: "Julian Suso, a development consultant hired by the Youngstown Revitalization Foundation, says the entranceways to the city have to be cleaned up."

It is significant that Suso was not from the Mahoning Valley when he was hired by the YRF, a quasi government entity created to lead the rebirth of Youngstown's central business district.

And, it is revealing that Suso wasn't alone in his assessment that the first impression visitors have of the city is a negative one because of the crappy condition of the entrances.

But after 25 years, there has been little progress made in getting rid of the crap.

What should be done? It may well be that government's failure to address this condition is due to a lack of creativity in City Hall. Therefore, it's time for residents of the Mahoning Valley to get involved. If you have any ideas, send them to the mayor's office.

It isn't just the public property that's an eyesore. Private landowners must clean up their act as well.

Twenty-five years is a long time to wait for the public sector to act.