> Now, Youngstown’s approach to economic development is coming under greater scrutiny as the city’s former finance director and a prominent developer prepare to

> Now, Youngstown’s approach to economic development is coming under greater scrutiny as the city’s former finance director and a prominent developer prepare to face trial on public corruption charges. At the heart of the case are allegations that officials steered taxpayer funds to favored projects in exchange for bribes. Corruption runs deep in Youngstown. Search for "Youngstown corruption" and you'll get a grab bag of "mob/mafia/politicians/FBI" from any decade post-WWII to present. FTA: > Among the offenders are Enviva Materials, a tire recycling operation; Industrial Waste Control, a pressure-washing and waste handling business; and Domestic Linen Co., a uniform laundry and rental operation. All received 10-year tax abatements without creating a single new job or substantially missing their employment targets. Some firms, like Allied Consolidated Industries Inc., a steel erecting and dismantling company, received back-to-back incentive packages, even after reneging on their initial agreement. I think corruption is Occam's Razor here. Source: grew up in Cleveland reading about Youngstown's corruption and watching clowns like former Congressman James Trafficant [0] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Traficant#Trial_and_expulsion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Traficant#Trial_and_expu...