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Why was the Valley overlooked by the feds?
Published:Friday, June 5, 2009
GATHERING OF DEMOCRATS: The Canfield Federated Democratic Women’s Club is holding its 2nd annual dinner and Chinese auction at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the ITAM, 115 S. Meridan Road in Youngstown. The guest speakers are Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, Mahoning County Democratic Chairman David Betras and state Sen. Joseph Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd. Tickets are $10 each with checks payable to the Canfield Federated Democratic Women’s Club, 3890 Alvacardo St., Canfield 44406. What’s in a name? Speaking of Schiavoni — well, actually writing about him — his last name must be difficult to spell. Almost every time I see his last name somewhere, it ends with an “e” rather than an “i.” Schiavoni told me it’s been a problem he’s encountered for a long time. In the telephone book, there are about 15 Schiavones and only 3 Schiavonis. Being outnumbered 5 to 1 could be a factor. Skolnick is apparently a difficult name to spell as well. It’s become a running joke in my family. Every time we go to an event for my two kids, we check the program to see what creative way our last name is misspelled. The most common is Skolnik and Skolnich. By the way, there aren’t any Skolniks or Skolnichs in the phone book. skolnick@vindy.com |
To explain the federal government’s efforts to help save the struggling American automotive industry, President Barack Obama sent administration officials and members of his Cabinet to “visit auto communities” from Tuesday to today.
They made stops in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Lisa P. Jackson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, visited Columbus and Cincinnati on Wednesday to discuss federal stimulus money for clean diesel programs.
Also that day, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Ed Montgomery, Obama’s auto recovery czar, visited Cleveland to, according to a White House e-mail, “discuss how Cleveland and other auto communities can use [public and private] partnerships to spur growth and new reinvestment in manufacturing sites.”
Solis also visited Perrysburg and Maumee earlier in the week.
Eaton and Lima were stops for Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Small Business Administrator Karen Mills.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar spoke Tuesday at Cuyahoga Valley National Park asking Americans to visit national parks this summer. With gasoline at $2.79 a gallon and climbing, that should be a fun trip.
The feel-good visits are fine.
I’m just wondering why the Mahoning Valley was completely ignored by the Obama administration on these stops through the Midwest.
The General Motors complex in Lordstown isn’t exactly thriving at this point.
Only last year, the plant had a third shift. Today, it’s down to one — and that one shift has had a number of forced stoppages because of declining car sales.
Staffing went from 4,500 to 1,800 in less than 12 months.
When GM declared bankruptcy earlier this week, the Valley received good news. The company plans to add a second shift at some point in the future. An executive said he wouldn’t rule out a third shift in 2012, but don’t count on it.
The plant isn’t going to shut down as it will be the American home of the Chevrolet Cruze, GM’s next generation small car.
But perhaps the point that the plant isn’t shutting down, but has lost two-thirds of its shifts in such a short period of time, is a reason for the Obama administration to focus on Lordstown.
It’s terrible that auto plants are closing nationwide, including Chrysler’s stamping plant in Twinsburg.
We have a plant in Lordstown that has been devastated by the country’s economic collapse in an area with an incredibly high unemployment rate. The reality is an economic recovery isn’t around the corner, particularly for the Mahoning Valley, and the federal stimulus package isn’t going to be much of a help to this area.
No reply
I e-mailed the White House media affairs office earlier this week to find out why the Valley was ignored. Like they did with the area, my e-mail was ignored. Maybe they were too busy booking the next tour.
I did receive information through back channels that it was decided that coming to a facility that is still operating wouldn’t be looked upon in a positive light by residents of Twinsburg or other communities that are losing plants.
That would make sense if Lordstown hasn’t seen such a reduction in its staffing level. This is a plant that has a chance to succeed, but it’s also a facility that needs help.
While we’re optimistic and hopeful for the future of the GM plant in Lordstown, there are no guarantees for its future.
A quick hello from a Cabinet member won’t turn around the Valley’s economic situation.
But a little acknowledgement couldn’t hurt.
Comments
Dave,
the State and Federal Democrats are not coming here until next year. They always over look the MV in odd numbered years. And when they do they will make promises they know they are not going to keep. Wake up and smell the BS.
Mr.Skolnick....The gist of your article seems to be about the Obama administrations slight of the valley and his stimulus package wont be much help to the area. The guy has been President less than five months. Below is a list of a few things he has done for the area in less than five months.
He bought stock in GM which saved an area auto plant and 1,800 jobs with the potential to put another 2,700 to work.
Below are some excerpts from some recent articles in the Vindy. That's the local newspaper.
From the "Opinion News" by Bertram de Souza. Feb. 22, 2009.
Headline: "Make the GOP beg for stimulus". First paragraph: Ohio stands to receive 8.2 billion from the stimulus package passed by congress-with no Republican backing in the House of Representatives and only three Republican votes in the senate. Not one of the GOP members of Congress from Ohio- eight representatives and a senator- voted for the bill.
From the "News Home" section. March 9, 2009.
Headline: "Federal stimulus funding on the way to Mahoning Valley schools." The article goes on to say that the local school districts will receive 21 million from the stimulus package.
From the "News Home" section. by Denise Dick, March 11, 2009. "Youngstown- Work is expected to begin on 9.3 million worth of transportation projects in Mahoning and Trumbull counties to be funded with federal stimulus money."
From the "News Home" section. By some guy, David Skolnock, March 19, 2009.
Headline: "Area agency to get stimulus funds to feed elderly."
Second sentence: "About $250,000 from the federal economic stimulus package is going to fund programs that provide food to senior citizens in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties."
That's some of the things Obama has done for the area in less than five months. Maybe you should do some of that cracker jack reporting to compare what Obama did for the valley in five months to what Bush did for the valley in eight years.
Jimmy Olsen is rolling over in his grave.
David....I spelled your name wrong when referring to your March 19th article. My apologies.
Cambridge,
No need to apologize. If you read the on the side portion of my column, you'll see you're not alone in spelling my name incorrectly.
Most of this column was about the Obama administration ignoring the Mahoning Valley when they came to the Midwest to talk about efforts to help the struggling automobile industry.
I would disagree with your assertion that "The gist of your article seems to be about the Obama administrations slight of the valley and his stimulus package wont be much help to the area."
There was this one sentence toward the bottom of the column: "The reality is an economic recovery isn’t around the corner, particularly for the Mahoning Valley, and the federal stimulus package isn’t going to be much of a help to this area."
While the area has received federal stimulus money - and I should know because I've written a number of articles about it - that money isn't going to turn around the area's economy.
Also, much of the money coming from the package to this area is formula driven, meaning we get it based on our population, poverty rate and other factors.
We've also been awarded money for other projects. Most notably would be $20 million for the relocation of Norfolk Southern railroad to help the potential V&M Star Steel expansion project. But if you compare the money coming here to the hundreds of millions awarded to other areas of the country, and even other areas of the state, and you'll see we're getting shortchanged.
Thank you for your comment and your insight.