2010 Checkup

I've been thinking some this weekend about the 2010 plan. I've gone back through its vision statement, which is comprised of four simple, yet potent, elements:

Accepting that Youngstown is a smaller city.
Have we accepted this? If we didn't do it initially, we've done it by now. Whether or not local media have sufficiently driven this home, the national and international media certainly have. Why is this important? It's actually the critical step that sets us apart from other struggling regions elsewhere. It's the proverbial first step in the twelve-step road to recovery.

Where do we go from here? How about recognizing that an abundance of resources with only modest drain is a key advantage? Youngstown has abundant space and a relatively small population consuming it. We've got room to breathe.

Defining Youngstown’s role in the new regional economy.
The 2010 report cites the following as the key industries that we'll be riding to this new role: "the university, the health care sector, industrial clusters and the arts community". I would never argue these aren't important, even critical, assets that should continue to be supported and expanded upon. But the most important economical component to my eyes continues to be that which has shown the most growth and promises the most growth potential: Youngstown Business Incubator companies like Turning Technologies, Zethus, M-7, GreenEnergyTV, SSI, Empyra, the list goes on...

What I don't hear enough of is the connection between our past and our present and future. Youngstown has been a hotbed of innovation since its inception, and that tradition continues today. The exploration and mining of the area's natural resources took tremendous skill and entrepreneurship. The processing and refining of those resources took phenomenal ingenuity and engineering, in addition to the oft-lauded brawn. And today's technology leaders employ the best in creativity and computer science.

Improving Youngstown’s image and enhancing quality of life.
The attention already paid to 2010 has, in itself, done good work towards improving Youngstown's image in the nation. Ironically, it is here at home that the most work remains to be done to deal with image. The very fact that some asshole has to start off the discussion for any Vindy.com article with "Y-town is hopeless" is just one of the many ways we shoot ourselves in the foot. When we were preparing to move back, we made a few calls to various city bureaus to get information. When we said we were moving back, we invariably were asked, "Why?" And not in that "I'd love to hear your story, we're so glad you're moving here" way; more like "Why the hell would you want to move to Youngstown?"

Until we put a priority on our priceless heritage, we won't be able to come to grips with what Youngstown can be. The city, the CIC and Lou Frangos have failed to protect buildings under their care and prevent them from ruin, and this is absolutely inexcusable. If we can find money to demolish buildings beyond the point of repair, we should be able to prioritize preserving irreplaceable historic structures.

A call to action.
I'm not aware of an established method for the people coordinating the 2010 plan to communicate with the community about its status or progress. The Web site is somewhat static, though new news items are posted regularly enough when the 2010 plan appears in various media outlets. But what deliverables are a part of the plan and when can we expect them? A broad timeline saying that implementation has begun and will continue is not really sufficient.

Also, what happens in 2010? Is that just a convenient name? It suggests 2010 as a milestone of some kind. But is it a finish line or one of those checkpoints in racing games where you get evaluated to see if you gain additional time to compete? If it's just a convenient name to show "we're forward-thinking," I think that needs to be communicated better so everyone's expectations are in line.

Summary
2010 is good, no question. However, if it's truly going to be the signature effort of the city, there needs to be more communication and coordination. And nothing is going to get done if public safety isn't taken care of. The community planning meetings that have happened on the North Side, from reports I heard, were full of questions about policing and safety. Not "where are we going" but "what about the present?" As long as we're playing catch-up with crime and education, we're going to struggle taking that next step towards renaissance.

mushroom MUSHROOM!!

Just to make your weekend a bit more interesting, I'd like to share something bizarre with you. Please let me know your reactions.

Death Knell for Death Penalty

Just ran across this story that N.J. is expected to repeal the death penalty: "New Jersey is set to become the first state to legislatively abolish the death penalty since the Supreme Court restored it in the mid-1970s. Opponents of capital punishment hope the state's action may prompt a rethinking of the moral and practical implications of the practice in other states."

This is an important step for the country in keeping up with international norms. If death isn't cruel and unusual, I don't know what is.

Feastoon: A holiday challenge

So, I feel like a real schmuck. I was asked to plug the then-upcoming appearance at Jimmy's of the "Feast of the Seven Fishes" that Shout dutifully covered. I pledged to do it and didn't.


I was supposed to tell you that it's "salty", "racy" but most of all "honest". I was also supposed to mention it has a rabid following. But I did none of those things, instead I was out of town all last week, then I worked all weekend and ignored my family. Some guy, eh?

I am genuinely impressed by the unique format of the book, though I admit I thought there might be more recipes. I will want to try the recipe for "Deep Fried Fish or Shrimp" (even though the recipe actually calls for "Shirmp") and maybe some homemade "Basic Tomato Sauce". I'm sure it's quite fine, but I will not be attempting "Fried Smelt" or "Marinated Eel".


Here's the challenge: Write a cartoon that celebrates the holiday season in the Mahoning Valley. Since I believe constraints are the seeds of creativity, please limit your strip to four frames. If you're not up to drawing, just describe the scenes and actions in your frames to accompany the dialog.

Post in the comments or e-mail me, if you don't have a place to post your strip. (tylersclark at gmail dot com) All entries will get voted on Monday, 12/17. Deadline for entry is Saturday (12/15) at midnight. Winner gets a copy of the "Feast of the Seven Fishes" to call their very own.

The Map: Redux

A while back I posted a map of downtown Youngstown with several local businesses and landmarks identified. I invited folks to send in their own lists of things to add and I'd take care of it. Well, that never picked up any traction. It's understandable, as what I really wanted to provide was a map we could all individually edit at our leisure.

Well, Google has complied. I've opened the map up for collaboration for all. Here's what to do:
1) Visit the Think Youngstown Map.
2) Log in and look around.
3) Click the "Edit" button on the left, next to the map's title, then you can right-click anywhere on the map and add a marker.
4) Customize it with an appropriate icon (you can see some of the ones I've tried out and use those or others) and additional details.

Go nuts!

Blah, Humbug

I don't want to douse anyone's holiday cheer with yellow snow, but I've got to say that I'm not feeling that old Christmas spirit this year. Have you noticed how many pathetic Christmas songs there are on the radio, blaring at you relentlessly as you make your way down the street or through shops. I typically favor my iPod over the radio, and I work from home mostly, so I can avoid having to hear whatever Clear Channel is pushing these days. But this week I'm in Alexandria, so I take breakfast at a Bruegger's on King Street (free WiFi, and a Washington Post dispenser out front; I did this morning's crossword in 30 minutes, thank you very much), and this week there's been an incessant stream of pop puffery masquerading as seasonal seasoning.

Each song laments the absence of a loved one, desperately hoping they'll return before the stroke of midnight and pleading with Santa or Jesus to help out in the cause. Or it hails the arrival of snow and marvels at pink cheeks, blazing fires, hot cocoa, rich presents, vapored breath, twinkling stars, and familial togetherness, pining for perpetual Yuletide. There are subtle differences, but make no mistake about it: they all have chimes.

I suppose one problem is that I feel I've heard enough about how baby Jesus was born to last a lifetime. Or perhaps seven lifetimes. I'm no longer smitten with camels; wise men; stars in the east; gold, frankincense and myrrh; stables or inns. I would be interested to know just how much of that really happened. Maybe a boy named Jesus was born, but the early Christians celebrated it variously in January, April and May. December 25 was convenient because it co-opted the pagan celebration of the winter solstice.

As it happens, a number of earlier traditions observed December 25 as a feast day for their deities, including Phrygian Attis (who, incidentally, was a shepherd born of a virgin), Greek Dionysus (who, incidentally, is the child of a god and a mortal and traveled to and returned from the underworld, and his followers ate and drank his "flesh" and "blood"), Egyptian Osiris (who, incidentally, was known as "Lord of Lords", "King of Kings" and "Good Shepherd" and was sacrificed and resurrected) and Persian Mithra (you get the idea).

Maybe I'll put up a Dionysian bacchanal scene in my front yard to balance the numerous nativities around? In fact, I think a bacchanalian holiday is something I could really get into. I could see OutKast, Prince, and Gnarls Barkley coming up with some cool songs for that holiday! And I think I would be more inclined to play them on my iPod than "Angels We Have Heard on High". And they'd surface on shuffle, right after the Vince Guaraldi soundtrack to "A Charlie Brown Christmas".