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The cost of cowardice at City Hall

The tragedy of Youngstown is not that its problems are unsolvable. The tragedy is that those entrusted with solving them have become experts at managing decline while pretending to fight it. For years, residents have been subjected to a continuous performance of political theater — press conferences, photo opportunities, studies, committees, strategic plans, and carefully crafted talking points. Yet beneath the spectacle lies a city still burdened by poverty, unemployment, abandoned neighborhoods, population loss and growing despair. The mayor’s recent virtual town hall was no ...

The anti-socialists strike back

Those of a certain age — meaning roughly 65 or older — will recall the “Bicentennial Minute.” These were one-minute homages to the mostly good history of America that ran on CBS 1974 through 1976 to mark America’s 200th anniversary. Politicians, celebrities and average Americans of all political stripes appeared in the videos. It was a mostly unifying time following the divisive Vietnam War and the political scandal known as Watergate. As socialism appears to be sweeping big cities and universities as we approach our 250th anniversary, a small organization has decided to ...

Orchids & onions

ORCHID: To Mary Ann Franklin, the compassionate grand dame of Warren, for her years of devoted and selfless community service to the city. Franklin, at a spry 99 years young, rightly received a key to the city and a proclamation of honor last week from Mayor Doug Franklin (no relation to Mary Ann). Over the years, she has worked tirelessly in instilling pride in the city, beautifying urban areas with community gardens, reinvigorating Quinby Park to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars, serving on city boards and advocating strongly for Juneteenth observances in the community ...

State board must deny parole for Valley cop killer

If all goes the way of one Fred E. Joseph Jr., that violent, psychopathic, unrepentant and incorrigible killer of a respected Niles police officer could be free to menace Mahoning Valley streets again as early as Sept. 1. That frightening scenario must never be allowed to play out. That’s why the Ohio Adult Parole Authority must unanimously and unequivocally deny parole for Joseph at his upcoming July hearing. As many older Valley residents will readily recall, Joseph, then 17, and his accomplice Randy Fellows, 18, arranged an undercover meeting on local drug activity with Niles ...

A word from the other side

President Trump and Vice President Vance spent most of last week trying to convince Americans the “Memo of Understanding” (MOU) with Iran is a good deal for the United States and world peace. That’s not what Iran believes. Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, has hailed the MOU as a major “victory” for Tehran. The “greater jihad” would now begin, he promised, according to a speech aired by Iranian state media last week. You read that correctly. The greater Jihad. To some this might sound like the same ...

We should vote on ideas, not physical likeness

MS NOW commentator Ali Velshi was not alone in complaining that women are “underrepresented” in Congress. It is true that women account for 51% of the U.S. population but only 29% of the House members. To which I say, “So what.” Basing the notion of fair representation on racial, gender or ethnic identity needs to be put in a folder — a paper folder stored in a dusty steel file cabinet. Most of us have additional identities — as electricians, teachers, environmentalists, grandparents, bus drivers, stock investors, union members. Who would represent me under this ...