I realize that alcohol is a serious problem, especially is used by our safety forces. However, after reading about the Finance Department's continuing failure to comply with the recommendations of the State Audit, maybe a drinking police officer can do a better job as Finance Director. This, too, should not be tolerated in City Hall.
As far as I am concerned, all fingers point to Dave Bozanich. How long can one person maintain a dynasty in Youngstown, or is this a rhetorical question? First came the Phar-Mor/Strouss Building fiasco (the City lost over $500,000 on a joint venture deal involving the Erie Terminal); then the financial mess over the Chevrolet Centre with those wonderful people from Arizona; don't forget the original B&O train station financial aid given by Kubic and Bozanich; and of course now the yearly audits by the State disclosing such insignificant oversights like failure to monitor overtime and accrued vacation time of the police department and lack of control over time cards. By the way, has Anthony Saadey ever been required to pay back any of the money "loaned" to him for either the B&O, Anthony's on da River, or Silverado Studios, or were these all "grants". Recently the City forgave over $30,000 in demolition charges to local property owners. Maybe Youngstown needs a Budget Czar.
Someone pinch me, please. This is 2008, correct? Why does Mahoning County still practice the "who you know" rather than "what you know" political process? I hope that the victor in the Senate appointment provides free drinks in all the local bars, because that is what we will need to tolerate the next choice...who may just end up under the bar, her/him self.
When will the State Fire marshall start investigating the near-nightly vacant home fires in Youngstown? It only took one small fire in Austintown last Friday to get the State involved. Could this be part of the Youngstown 2010 demolition plan?
A bigger concern for the City should be the amount of low interest loans and grant money Frangos has received, or will receive as a result of his ownership of most of the habitable (and primarily vacant) buildings in Downtown. Since Frangos first made his presentation for the Realty Building renovations in 2001, how much money has he personally put into this project? The key issues for the City should be: will all the money the City provides Frangos be used on the applicable projects, will the loans ever be repaid (will this be another Global Entertainment?), what will be the City's return on its investment, and lastly, will the Finance Department monitor these projects as closely as it monitored Global during the first year the Chevrolet Centre was operating? Frangos is no dummy, just ask him how much money he made the first year on his parking agreement, and how much the City lost. Hopefully, he does not become another Jeff Moffey.
I just can't wait for Marc to take his rightful place next to Dave Betras as co-anchor of "The Dave Betras Show" and "Legally Speaking". Watch out Ohio Supreme Court Disciplinary Committee.
Posted on August 18 at 10:34 a.m.
I realize that alcohol is a serious problem, especially is used by our safety forces. However, after reading about the Finance Department's continuing failure to comply with the recommendations of the State Audit, maybe a drinking police officer can do a better job as Finance Director. This, too, should not be tolerated in City Hall.
Posted on December 18 at 12:14 p.m.
As far as I am concerned, all fingers point to Dave Bozanich. How long can one person maintain a dynasty in Youngstown, or is this a rhetorical question? First came the Phar-Mor/Strouss Building fiasco (the City lost over $500,000 on a joint venture deal involving the Erie Terminal); then the financial mess over the Chevrolet Centre with those wonderful people from Arizona; don't forget the original B&O train station financial aid given by Kubic and Bozanich; and of course now the yearly audits by the State disclosing such insignificant oversights like failure to monitor overtime and accrued vacation time of the police department and lack of control over time cards. By the way, has Anthony Saadey ever been required to pay back any of the money "loaned" to him for either the B&O, Anthony's on da River, or Silverado Studios, or were these all "grants". Recently the City forgave over $30,000 in demolition charges to local property owners. Maybe Youngstown needs a Budget Czar.
Posted on December 18 at noon
Someone pinch me, please. This is 2008, correct? Why does Mahoning County still practice the "who you know" rather than "what you know" political process? I hope that the victor in the Senate appointment provides free drinks in all the local bars, because that is what we will need to tolerate the next choice...who may just end up under the bar, her/him self.
Posted on December 18 at 11:53 a.m.
When will the State Fire marshall start investigating the near-nightly vacant home fires in Youngstown? It only took one small fire in Austintown last Friday to get the State involved. Could this be part of the Youngstown 2010 demolition plan?
Posted on June 17 at 10:56 a.m.
A bigger concern for the City should be the amount of low interest loans and grant money Frangos has received, or will receive as a result of his ownership of most of the habitable (and primarily vacant) buildings in Downtown. Since Frangos first made his presentation for the Realty Building renovations in 2001, how much money has he personally put into this project? The key issues for the City should be: will all the money the City provides Frangos be used on the applicable projects, will the loans ever be repaid (will this be another Global Entertainment?), what will be the City's return on its investment, and lastly, will the Finance Department monitor these projects as closely as it monitored Global during the first year the Chevrolet Centre was operating? Frangos is no dummy, just ask him how much money he made the first year on his parking agreement, and how much the City lost. Hopefully, he does not become another Jeff Moffey.
Posted on May 15 at 11:14 a.m.
I just can't wait for Marc to take his rightful place next to Dave Betras as co-anchor of "The Dave Betras Show" and "Legally Speaking". Watch out Ohio Supreme Court Disciplinary Committee.