Question of the day

[Youngstownshrimp]

Don't worry Rick, as the steel mills come back to manufacture the oil and gas pipe again, your museum will be a hot tourist spot.

[Rick Rowlands]

Yes Shrimp, I am quite frustrated.  Frustrated that people cannot see what is right before their eyes, that the country is going to fail big time and do it soon.  Frustrated that congress can't cut a pitiful amount of money over a ten year time period, frustrated that after 30 years of decline in this valley when our savior finally comes all we want to do is make it go away.  Why has half of this country gone insane?

[Youngstownshrimp]

Rick,

You go man!  lately you have been writing like I have, with disdain and frustration towards the entitled.  Good, you are right on, the parasites are the problem and we are going to chain gang 'em soon, laying gas and oil pipe is going to be a big project here, we need to have the savages dig ditches.

[Rick Rowlands]

Most of the people living in the city don't have a civic bone in their body to give a rats ass one way or the other as long as their govt. check arrives on time every month.   Right there is the reason why Youngstown will never fully recover.  We have to get rid of the parasitic, do nothing and don't care hoards that are scaring the middle class away.  Get rid of the projects, get rid of section 8 housing, sell off large swaths of neighborhoods to developers who could then build new gated  developments that cater to people who have money and who take care of their property.

[jay]

The biggest problem is the apathy of the residents of the city.

[jay]

Keeping these facts in mind, how can we expect to reduce the unemployment rate, bring back confidence in the cities viability as a place where businesses can come to and feel safe and welcoming, and make it a place where families can come and raise families?

These are some things the average resident could do to help.

1.  Spend your money in Youngstown.  Most of our neighborhood restaurants are starving for business.  Buy items Made In Youngstown.

2.  Participate in a neighborhood block watch or neighborhood association.  These groups have increased in number over the past few years.  Some groups are now involved in marketing their areas and the city to the outside world.

3.  Participate in our government.  Attend city council meetings, council committee meetings, redevelopment code meetings and more.  (many of these meetings are listed on the Forum)

4.  Participate in community educational programs.   YSU often brings in speakers who address development and quality of life issues.

[Towntalk]

Historically Youngstown has never had a sterling reputation, and this dates back to its earliest days, yet at one point it was one of the wealthiest cities in the state, yet for all its wealth and industry, it was also one of the most corrupt.

Gambling, and prostitution, coupled with police corruption throughout the years was well documented in the pages of the Youngstown Vindicator as far back as 1904 and continued on through the years up to the demise of the steel industry, when the abundance of ready cash dried up, and the leading figures in organized crime were either killed off, died a natural death or were sent to prison.

Today it is plagued with gangs of small time hoodlums who have turned the south and east sides of the city into war zones with their criminal activities over into the north and west sides of town as well as into the suburbs.

Keeping these facts in mind, how can we expect to reduce the unemployment rate, bring back confidence in the cities viability as a place where businesses can come to and feel safe and welcoming, and make it a place where families can come and raise families?