Youngstown mayoral candidates debate COVID-19 relief funds, crime
YOUNGSTOWN — Democratic mayoral candidates discussed the city's key issues in a debate hosted by 21 WFMJ-TV on Monday.
Incumbent Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, 1st Ward Councilman Julius Oliver and businessman Ryan Kelly met at Stambaugh Auditorium to debate the increased crime rate, a citizens' review board, inequality issues and the American Rescue Plan.
Here's a recap.
American Rescue Plan
Youngstown is expected to receive $88.6 million in federal stimulus funds as part of the American Rescue Plan. The city will receive the first half of the funds in May with the remainder in 2022. Funding can be spent through 2024.
Brown said the city is waiting for the U.S. Treasury to release the specifics on what the funds can be used for. However, the funding will be a "legacy opportunity" for Youngstown.
"We need to make sure that we measure twice and cut once," Brown said.
Brown said he plans to hire a designated compliance manager to ensure the funds are spent appropriately under U.S. Treasury guidelines.
A comprehensive plan is needed to have input from everyone in Youngstown, including the mayor, city council, residents and public and private community partners, Brown said.
The funds are an opportunity to focus on youth employment and social issues like food insecurities and infant mortality, the mayor said.
Kelly said he would come into office with a long-term plan.
"If you don't have a strategic plan ... you have no idea where you are now, where you're going to go and how you're going to get there," Kelly said.
He said he would get a needs assessment for every department and assess the city's infrastructure.
"I would want to know that we would have the foundation to handle $88 million being infused into our budget," Kelly said.
When asked if city council members would lobby for the needs of their individual wards for the $88 million, Oliver said city council members work well together to achieve the goals Youngstown needs.
"I think council's mindset right now is we need a very strategic plan to spend this money," Oliver said.
Through the council's experience with city budgeting, he said the council's focus would be on the needs of the people of Youngstown. Oliver said each council member wants to focus on improving quality of life and neighborhood infrastructure for their ward.
"With that thinking together as one, I think we can improve Youngstown greatly with $88.6 million," Oliver said.
Citizens review board
Brown and Oliver both spoke in favor of a proposed citizens review board for the Youngstown Police Department.
A citizens review board is separate from a police department's internal affairs division and consists of citizens outside the department. The board would review complaints about police officers on duty and make recommendations that are referred to the police chief and the mayor.
Although still in the early stages, Oliver said the city council safety committee has already been working on the concept. Brown said everyone needs to be involved in creating the board beyond the administration and police department.
Kelly said he supports the board only if there was a citizens police academy to inform the public about police training.
He said he believes there is a good relationship between YPD and citizens and would not want to see further divide caused by the board.
"I don't think it's division to check anyone on behavior that may be wrong or affecting the community the wrong way," Oliver said.
Kelly told Oliver that he would probably be upset if someone walked into his car wash and told him how to wash and detail a car.
"I think that's where the potential division could be caused," Kelly said.
"If someone walked into my detail shop and told me how to detail a car, I would take what was good and leave what was bad," Oliver responded.
Oliver said he would use the opportunity to learn, and it would be the same for the police department with the review board.
"They can improve the way they police [based on] what the citizens are saying," Oliver said.
Biased-free policing
Candidates also discussed the Youngstown Police Department's new biased-free policing policy, which will emphasize fair and bias-free treatment for all. Officers can be disciplined for violating the policy.
Kelly said there has to be a standard for quality in policing. He said he doesn't want to take any time away from officers policing and interacting with the community.
"I think that's the most important," Kelly said.
Oliver said he believes the policy is a start and something that can be built on.
"In order to fix the situation ... you are going to need a culture shift even within Youngstown city police department," Oliver said.
Brown said the biased-free policing policy should be included in union contracts so that it can be carried on beyond one mayor's administration.
When Kelly asked the other candidates about the basis for biased-free policing, Brown seized the moment, telling Kelly: "There is an uncharted conversation for those who have never have had to live in the skin that I am living in."
Brown said he knows people who have been pulled over for the color of their skin or the type of car they are driving. He said if people don't live in minority neighborhoods, they don't feel that pressure.
"With my 31-year-old and my 11-year-old [children], I am still having the same conversations with them as to how to act when police pull you over," Brown said.
He said it pains him that the policy has to be put in place in 2021. However, he wants to make sure the law enforcement has equality across the board toward everyone in the city.
Oliver said he agreed with Brown.
"In order to be an effective mayor in a city like Youngstown, Ohio, you would have to have a better understanding of the people and the situations that they deal with on a daily basis," Oliver said.
This story was originally published April 13, 2021 at 3:52 AM with the headline "Youngstown mayoral candidates debate COVID-19 relief funds, crime."