Comments by YoungstownKidd
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Posted on January 21 at 4:59 p.m.
Hey, I'd absolutely love to meet and discuss the issues with anyone on this site who'd like to do so. As much as you may think that I have only a "pro agenda", that couldn't be farther from the truth. If we had the opportunity to speak in person, I'd think you'd see this. This isn't "my" downtown/city - it's "ours"...and at the end of the day, all I want is to be able to be transparent and eliminate as much of the b.s. that has led to a great deal of our stagnancy. I want as many of the opinions/facts on the table as we can reasonably fit on it because I'm certainly far from completely informed - none of us are. When any of us begin to think we are, I think you have the leadership of the last 30yrs (as WesH. points out). Bob Mackey, WesHightower, etc., please name a time, date and place and I'll make the time on my end, no problem. I'd really like to meet you guys and get down to some serious topic discussion. If we end up agreeing to disagree on some points, so what? At least we are getting it on that table rather having it being lost in distant circles of discussion elsewhere, leading only to worthless cyber sparring among the group as a whole later. What the hell is that? So, this Saturday there's a group known as "Thinkers and Drinkers" meeting at Rosetta Stone (time not set yet - will get back to you on this). Basically, this is a round table of folks from all different types of backgrounds who discuss a variety of topics regarding Youngstown. We are inviting Maggie Lorenzi to this one so it should be good discussion. I'd really like for you guys to make it, if you can (if not, we'll find another time). Let me know.
Phil K.
P.S. My email is DefendYoungstown@yahoo.com and my phone is 330.519.8712 if we want to coordinate this outside of the comment board.
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Posted on January 19 at 3:57 p.m.
3. Establish/reestablish a business and entertainment monthly meeting/forum. This can/will include the reactivation/further development/consolidation of the Downtown Merchant's Assoc. and YAEDA and will, of course, also be open to the public for contribution. The point is to establish a legitimate monthly meeting where downtown stakeholders and the public can and will begin to communicate and begin to assemble a strategic agenda for downtown. We will post the budget and we will agree, together, how the budget should be spent as a downtown community. Before the end of the month, I will meet with each business owner downtown and notice will be sent regarding the first meeting (to take place w/in the next 30 days).
So, in addition to having to learn all the "formal" aspects of my job (permits, security, contracting, etc.), I'll be working on these initiatives and hope to have most of the bulk completed within the next 30 days. It's an incredible initial challenge being that virtually no operational infrastructure exists or has existed in this position which is simply mind-blowing given all the demands of the job (at least, if you want to do the job correctly)...and I am a one-man operation at this point! However, we will accomplish this because a transparent, successful model is critically important. We need to be organized, open, and, yet, aggressive throughout the whole process (or as best we can be) and we need to be able to give other folks the equal chance to be successful should they assume this role one day down the road.
Thanks again for the great article, Katie and thanks for the support guys (I’ll need it). I'll see you guys downtown.
Defend Youngstown!
Phil K.
Posted on January 19 at 3:57 p.m.
Thanks, everyone:
So, let me start me saying that I "officially" began the job Tues. the 15th, however, have been hard at work getting the ball rolling on some important preliminary stuff that I'll/we'll need in order to be organized and effective at getting as many individual voices/ideas to the table as possible and to plan as many successful events/projects as possible.
Initially, there are 3 important things we need to do:
1. Build a staff. To do this, I have called upon the YSU School of Business (Marketing and Advertisiting/Public Relations). Interns from this department will be brought in to serve as professional assistants and will take ownership of the creative and powerful marketing strategies we want to employ. Incidentally, this will also provide YSU students a unique opportunity to become informed and involved in the downtown scene as well as give them a sense of ownership, further helping to decrease the large disconnect between the 13,000+ only a few hundred yards away (and getting closer).
2. Create an interactive website, blog, event calendar, email/mailing list/suggestion box, MySpace/Facebook. These tools will serve as the core of our marketing strategy and will not only include a comprehensive list of events but will also discuss the events in detail (times, locations, things to check out, q&a, etc). All Youngstown related websites and blogs will be linked (including this site). Event calendars will be attached and a listserv will be used for weekly email mailing of a weekly "downtown newsletter" that will include a list of events (as well as some relevant economic development news). This will be an ever evolving process/tool. Probably a bit raw at first but will improve over time.
Posted on October 25 at 12:08 p.m.
The cold, hard truth is that there is no short term solution for today's citizens who have been left behind. There is certainly more we can be doing but the reality is it took 30yrs of political b.s., urban sprawl, and lack of diversification of the economy (among other things) to get to where we are at today (and a big reason why the young people can't let it happen any further)and there is/are going to continue to be a lot of victims as a result of it. While we can fight as hard as we can to stop as much of the bleeding as possible, at some point, you have to find a way to move forward for survival sake, as well. Finding the balance is challenge.
Young folks have to accept that the fights we fight now and the investments we make are, in large part, fought for the next generation, not necessarily us. That's a reality of living and fighting for Youngstown..but because it is, the kind of people that it draws to that kind of fight is one of the reasons why you either love Youngstown or don't. There so much more I could go into on this but, based on all of my experience, this is what I find to hold the most truth at the base level.
Keep up the great writing. I really enjoy reading your work.
Phil
Posted on October 25 at 12:08 p.m.
Excellent post (per usual), Alicia. The most important question you ask is:
"The skeptic in me wonders if it will be enough...Enough to convince the people in those houses, the ones who don’t have blogs or great jobs or the will to do anything but get up and go to work every day and come home, the ones who still have some cloud of resignation hanging over them, the ones looking through the dull, dirty windows, that the articles and promotion and buzz are not all glitz and hype. That life in the Valley is more than just a slogan that will be shouted for a season then fall silent."
And that is really the most difficult challenge that we face as young people looking revitalize Youngstown. Mentality change is important and, arguably, the first step in the process but it's just a step. Youngstown is so extreme in so many ways because of its total "dying off" from the previous 25+ years that we are faced with having to - as young folk - look towards making the types of investments that must be made to keep us here (or return here)and to sustain the Valley while having to address the present issues of the older generation (the majority)left behind by the collapse of the economy and the extreme poverty (and all the horrible byproducts of it)that has followed. It's really difficult and it takes A LOT of effort, research, communication, and flat out ass-kicking - both in and outside of the Valley - to attempt to get things done.
None of us, as individuals, have all the answers. However, that is what is unique: As young people in Youngstown, there is an actual calling for us figure it out. It's the fact that Youngstown has begun to attract people who want to stay/return, create and solve vs. those who want to leave and consume that is/will end up making the difference over time, in my opinion.
(cont.)
Posted on August 14 at 3:22 p.m.
This was a great set. One of my favorites of the evening. Penny should strongly consider continuing the hip/hop - rock - funk - fusion. It works very well. I'd venture back to any location in the city to see a longer set with the same players.
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Posted on May 3 at 10:39 p.m.
Great stuff, guys. Thanks to the Zou for kicking it all off. Great article, Sarah. See you guys this Friday!
Phil
On UPDATED WITH VIDEO: The Zou kicks off Fridays in Youngstown