YOUNGSTOWN – Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said he wants to “finish the job” he started seven-plus years ago while 3rd Ward Councilwoman Samantha Turner, his opponent in the Democratic primary, said the city needs to go in a different direction.

The two will face each other in the May 6 primary. No Republican filed for the seat. At least two independents — Derrick McDowell, founder of the Youngstown Flea, and John White, who didn’t qualify for the mayoral ballot four years ago and is the husband of Councilwoman Amber White, I-7th Ward — say they plan to run in the Nov. 4 general election.

Brown, who is seeking his third four-year term, said he wants to see the city create a “real time data center,” make sure the projects from Youngstown’s $82.8 million American Rescue Plan allocation are implemented, and “continue seeing that we get greater improvement in our economics, definitely with our tax base, our income tax revenue and make sure that we can continue attracting businesses that we’ve been able to get them to expand and grow.”

Turner, who is serving her second term on city council, said: “Right now as it stands, I feel like the city can use a different direction. Not that our mayor is a bad guy. I just do not feel like he is taking the initiative to move the community in the direction that it should go.”

She added: “I’ve been working hard to bring the community along and help them to understand that this city belongs to them and they have voices and that has been silenced for a number of years. I’d like to lead this community in a different direction and to help people know that they can stay here and grow and thrive in this area.”

Brown said he is proud of how his administration prioritized ARP funding with about $27.5 million of it going to neighborhood and economic development, including housing programs. He also pointed to a $62.2 million innovation hub for aerospace and defense, which received $27.2 million in state funding, that will be centered in downtown Youngstown.

“Over the last four years, we have experienced an unprecedented amount of community and economic growth and investment with our public, private and philanthropic partnerships,” he said.

Regarding the ARP projects, Turner said: “The city has had a lack of a plan and vision to move that forward so we do not have the sustainability that we need. The main problems we’ve had with these ARP dollars, where we could have some sustainability and we could see some real strategic growth across the entire region, we didn’t have that. We will just see pockets of things happen.”

The housing focus is important, but it’s not a complete approach, Turner said.

“It’s putting a Band-Aid on it if we’re not doing comprehensive home services for our community,” she said.

Turner said she wanted to see more ARP funds used for city infrastructure.

While the city has experienced economic challenges, Brown said it is emerging stronger with companies moving to Youngstown while others are growing.

During Brown’s administration, he was able to wrest control of the stalled Chill-Can property on the lower East Side through legal action. Brown said he envisions the development of a smaller industrial park at that site.

Turner said a focus on zoning is vitally important to the future growth of the city.

“We have cluttered corridors that are issues,” she said. “We have to buckle down on zoning.”

Turner also said the city’s 2.75% income tax hinders economic development, and it is realistic to look at efforts to reduce it.

CRIME REDUCTION

Brown said that since he became mayor “crime reduction has been the No. 1 priority for our administration no matter where you live or work in the city of Youngstown. We have remained committed to ensuring that citizen safety is paramount.”

During the past four years, Brown said the city’s homicide rate has been reduced by 40% and the police department is “committed to fostering trust and building greater partnerships and relationships throughout our community.”

Brown said crime is being reduced through “prevention and intervention that we’re doing with some of our young people. As mayor, I’m out there talking to them. I’m going to the schools as well as what we do with our marches through the neighborhood. I’m very hands on when it comes to building those relationships. It’s about trust, and they trust me.”

All city officers received body cameras through ARP funding, which has “proven to increase operational efficiency and reduce the number of citizen-initiated complaints, adding greater transparency and accountability,” Brown said.

Turner also sees addressing crime as a top priority saying she wants to focus on drug activity, have a strategic presence in high-crime areas and work with the court system to encourage “swift fair justice.”

Turner said: “Who’s committing the murders? It’s the younger generation and the biggest thing that we have to focus on is reducing the juvenile crime. That happens with partnership. That happens with mentorship. We focus on the juveniles and what we can do to reduce their propensity to commit crimes.”

While murders are terrible, Turner said, “What’s happening to people inside of the communities, that crime is far worse. That’s drug activity. That’s the drug houses, that’s the larceny, all of those things happening in the community. People inside of those neighborhoods are experiencing a different type of crime. A drug house across your street for more than a day is a lot for people to stomach.”

Turner said she is running for mayor “because our city deserves transparent, accountable and responsive leadership. For too long, residents have felt disconnected from the decisions that shape our future. It’s time to change that. As mayor, I will ensure that the government works for the people — not behind closed doors, but in full view of our community.”

Brown said the quality of life of Youngstown residents has gotten better since he’s been mayor.

“Our public-private, city-county, state-federal partnerships have been a crucial component to the success of our city,” he said. “It is evidenced by the reduction in crime, increased safety in our neighborhoods, greater public, private, philanthropic investment, which has improved the quality of life with greater investment in housing, youth and senior citizens.”

He added: “These shared values will remain a priority in my administration if we are going to sustain and attract the next generation who want to call Youngstown home.”