How To Improve Youngstown

[rusty river]

#1. Change the perception and attitudes of those already living here. Ultimately, it is ourselves holding Youngstown back.

#2. Improve the schools. No one wants to raise a family in a city with failing schools.

I think that those two are the major pieces. Obviously crime is of concern, but that goes back to perception. Crime rates in the city are at the lowest they've been in years. Yet you wouldn't know it by talking to anyone in the city. Most of the violent crimes committed are not random acts. If you go looking for trouble, you'll find it. If people take more pride in their neighborhoods and organize and become proactive residents, the criminal element can be kept to a minimum.

The city's demolition activities under NSP grants will go a long way in helping to stabilize neighborhoods, property values, and crime.

The city has economic development programs and incentive packages that have proven to be successful in attracting new businesses and jobs to the city. Unfortunately, council does not fund these programs adequately and places more priority on paving streets, pandering to voters in their respective wards.
Yes the roads in Youngstown are bad. But why are they bad? Lack of funding. Why is there a lack of funding? The tax base keeps shrinking. Why does the tax base keep shrinking? See #1 and #2 above.

Address those two issues while placing a priority on economic development, and you'll see people and businesses flock to the city.

[northside lurker]

Improve the schools.

It would also help if the mayor could bring in/create jobs.  But, if the mayor had the majic answer to that problem, he wouldn't be mayor of a small city in Ohio.

[jay]

What should be done to improve the city to the point that most people (public AND private employees) would want to live there?