High Gas Prices Could Help....

[Towntalk]

It would discourage moving further out into the countryside away from already developed urban areas into land formerly farmland.

Old maps of Mahoning County showed numerous farms in Mahoning County and how these once productive lands were eaten up by commercial and real estate development over the years. If the cost of gasoline and natural gas keeps climbing as experts predict, we might very well see this urban sprawl come to a halt.

When I first moved out here, I can recall going out into the country with my Grand Parents to buy fresh produce from farmers at numerous stands south and west of the city.

Hopefully this gas crisis can spark a renewal of traditions like this.

[jay]

I watched an interesting story on the ABC News this evening.

The high cost of fuel and transportation is causing some manufacturers to move production back to the United States.  The cost of transporting a metal shipping container from china to New York used to be $2,000.  The cost is now $8,000.

Let's benefit from this situation.  The city administration should be targeting industries plagued by high transportation costs and luring them to our existing underutilized industrial facilities.

[jay]

Could the high price of gasoline actually help the city of Youngstown?  I believe the high cost will nudge us in some different directions.  Below are some examples.  Please add your own thoughts to the list.

INCREASE IN LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION
Shipping food from California and other parts of the world will become more expensive as gasoline prices rise.  It will make economic sense to grow vegetable crops in the city.  We have the available land.  (Why do we buy garlic from China anyway?)

A HEALTHIER POPULATION
Our citizens just may start walking more.  Increased physical activity will lead to an individual's weight loss and improve their general health.

INCREASED USE OF MASS TRASNPORTATION
The WRTA and eventually AMTRAK will see an increase in ridership.  As demand increases, service will also improve.

MORE GOODS PRODUCED IN OUR CITY
Shipping costs may just provide the opportunity for some manufactured goods to be more cheaply  manufactured in our community again.

REPOPULATE THE CITY
Just think if many of the people who currently work downtown actually lived downtown or lived on a city bus route.  Someone who drives to work downtown not only pays for the gasoline but also pays for a place to park their car.

LESS ROAD CONGESTION
Fewer miles driven = fewer cars on the road at any one time

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PRODUCTION
The high price of gasoline will force us to develop some alternative sources of energy.