Trending
WARREN -- Downtown development, providing recreation for youth and finding ways to help the homeless were some of the topics residents brought up during the sixth and final citizen-focused public meeting discussing the $28 million American Rescue Plan funding the city is receiving over the next two years.
Warren already has been awarded half of the federal money and will be allocated the remainder sometime in 2022. Mayor Doug Franklin over the last month has been conducting a listening tour around the city to find out how residents would like the city to use the money.
The city also is conducting a survey on its website and through its utilities billing to solicit comments from residents about ways the money should be used.
"Once all of the surveys are done and calculated, we will work with city council to determine how we will use these funds," Franklin said. "We know some ways we may want to use some of these funds that fit within our strategic plan."
Curran Redd, 30, owner of The Redd Zone Barber Shop, 533 E Market St., said he would like to see some of the money used for further downtown development.
"I've been fortunate to travel to a lot of other cities, such as Chicago, and their downtown is very clean," Redd said. "You don't see a lot of vandalism.
"Warren has to be a place that people want to be," he said. "Some of my peers, with night life, they travel everywhere but Warren."
Redd said Warren was on the cusp of a recovery just prior to the pandemic with the opening of several businesses, such as the Robins Theatre, the Riverwalk and CharBenay's Wine on the River.
"When I was growing up, downtown was basically a ghost town," he said. "Now, per the downtown revitalization plan, you actually see foot traffic down there. It feels like a real city."
He said he has seen the growth of downtown Youngstown and said Warren can have a comparable resurgence.
"There are small things that can be done to make the city more attractive," he said. "I think downtown development is very important."
Redd also said he would like to see more youth recreation programs.
"Youth involvement has to be nurtured," he said.
Franklin said other cities, such as Toledo and Dayton, also are having public meeting and surveys.
Councilman Ron White, D-7th Ward, made a pitch for some of the money to be used to upgrade the city's sidewalks.
"We have to do something to help homeowners," White said.
Safety Service Director Eddie Colbert described one woman who spoke at an earlier meeting saying when she was growing up, she saw the path going to Packard Electric, GM Lordstown, GE and the steel companies.
"Today's youth are trying to be entrepreneurs," he said. "We need to help young entrepreneurs. We have the opportunity to help young people flourish. We can help existing businesses and help new businesses. We can't keep thinking that these factories are going to save us."
Franklin said they have to do the right things with the ARP funds.
Councilman Gary Steinbeck, D-at Large, said global warming is causing an increased amount of rain, which is overwhelming city sewers that were put in more than 100 yeas ago.
"We are fortunate we are going to have some money to invest to improve them," he said.
Franklin said the city can use this money to save money for decades to come, if the city smartly invests the funds.
James Baer, 69, of Warren, questioned whether the city has been keeping track of businesses that closed during the pandemic.
Franklin said the Community Development Department has spent $155 million of the CARES Act money to help keep small businesses open.