Your Morning Matters: Thanks for stimulus feedback!

Good morning and welcome to your Morning Matters.

It's Thursday, April 15, 2021, and thanks for the feedback after my Tuesday column about how the city might spend its $88.6 million in federal stimulus funds. I've received emails, texts, Facebook comments proving that most people are thoughtful — and know more than I do.

Facebook folks say "Borts field needs a redo ... pave the damn streets in downtown ... open up the parks ... "

Not everyone shared my view. Eric Broviak said in an email: "So instead of grand concepts like an enterprise zone (think Chill Can Plant) the city really could use some better roads and cleaned up areas."

Rick Ostheimer wrote on Facebook: "I have emailed the Mayor and my Councilperson suggesting the city use the windfall to fund the remaining sewer and wastewater treatment projects already agreed to in its consent agreement with the OH EPA. That would result in turning over the benefits to residents in the form of lower sewer bills than currently anticipated."

Always a Youngstown thought leader, Ian Beniston, executive director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, wrote: "I think significant funding needs to be spent on housing: blight elimination, home repair for low income homeowners, a housing construction and renovation fund to provide gap funding to developers to incite more and much needed housing development and vacant renovation, down payment assistance and additional code enforcement and rental registration inspectors."

Friend and entrepreneur Greg Bartholomew took my idea and expanded it: "... how about transforming the Covelli Centre into a more multi-purpose event center and try to land more events then just hockey and concerts. Youngstown could pull in smaller conventions that might have to use less cost effective venues in Cleveland and/or Pittsburgh and then we might need the need for a second hotel downtown. Or a third. Or a fourth."

Spanning the Need podcaster Anthony Spano suggests: "With the $88 and $29 million that Youngstown and Warren are getting, a task force of community members should be created with all stakeholders to create a vision for the future, similar to the 2010 plan."

Keep the comments coming! Let's make today count!

Now, here's what you need to know about the Mahoning Valley today:

The food service industry has weathered much throughout the pandemic. From operational adjustments to staffing issues, restaurants in the Mahoning Valley have changed — in many cases, permanently.

Today, reporters Jess Hardin and Justin Dennis take a deep look at the restaurant industry and talk to the folks who've weathered the past 14 months. Some of your favorite eateries are gone; new ones are arriving. And Mahoning Matters is launching a new section to document the re-emergence of restaurants in the Valley.

Pandemic facts

• In the U.S.: 31,420,418 confirmed cases; 564,388 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University & Medicine at 9 p.m. April 14.
• In Ohio: 1,044,945 confirmed or suspected cases; 18,917 deaths.
• In Pennsylvania: 1,087,792 confirmed cases; 25,522 deaths.
• In the Mahoning Valley: 20,777 confirmed or suspected cases in Mahoning County; 15,500 in Trumbull; and 8,515 in Columbiana.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Closed at 33,730.89, up 53.62 points, or 0.16 percent.

Other matters

State Rep. Al Cutrona of Canfield, R-59th, has formally introduced his bill prohibiting mandated "vaccine passports" in Ohio. We have the bill for readers to review. Mahoning Matters

State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan, D-Youngstown, signed on as a co-sponsor to a resolution that the Ohio Black Maternal Health Caucus is introducing to recognize Black Maternal Health Week in Ohio. Mahoning Matters

How does the coronavirus vaccine side effect experience compare for those who already had COVID-19? For some, the first vaccine dose may cause intense side effects. Here's why. Mahoning Matters

Canfield Local School District is seeking part-time drivers with the potential for full-time work that includes benefits and will host a job fair from 10 a.m. to noon April 23. WFMJ

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are hiring for game-day positions and will host a job fair from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Eastwood Field in Niles. WKBN

Girard Mayor James Melfi told city council this week that a pit bull has been running loose in the Tod Avenue area, and residents are complaining about the dog being aggressive. The Vindicator [May encounter paywall.]

A survey conducted by economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland shows most people expect to visit restaurants and hotels, attend crowded events and use public transportation once the pandemic subsides. The Business Journal [May require registration.]

In case you missed it

The U.S. Small Business Administration's $16 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program could be a "lifeline" for the cold, empty stages across the U.S., Valley venue operators say. They tell reporter Justin Dennis how they are faring as pandemic orders continue. Mahoning Matters

Your comments matter

"This [is] the first I'm hearing about this. It's awesome!!!"

— Patricia Hayek, on Common Goods Studio collaborating with The Back Rack to host a clothing swap Saturday.

Registered readers can comment on a selection of our stories, and all readers can comment on stories on our Facebook page. Opinions published here do not reflect the views of Mahoning Matters.

Story tips

Is there a story you think we should know about? Please tell us at news@mahoningmatters.com.

Let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful for you. Send your ideas and thoughts to mark@mahoningmatters.com. If you want to get this in your email inbox, sign up here.

This story was originally published April 15, 2021 at 6:55 AM with the headline "Your Morning Matters: Thanks for stimulus feedback!."