08-04-2025
Youngstown mayor prepares for State of the City address while local business owner criticizes his focus
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – As Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown prepares for another re-election campaign, he is offering a preview of his upcoming 'State of the City' Address this Wednesday.
'We're gonna talk about some of the things that we've been able to achieve,' Brown said.
The mayor said his focus is on reducing crime, as well as creating affordable housing in city neighborhoods and attracting new businesses downtown.
'Those are things that are in front of us, but I think when we talk about the innovation hub and what we're investing in downtown, those are things that are gonna lift up downtown,' he said.
But downtown restaurant owner Mark Canzonetta argues that the mayor isn't doing enough to help the inner-city core.
'It's like it doesn't exist in Youngstown. I don't know why, but it's off their radar for some reason,' said Canzonetta, who owns Casa Di Canzonetta.
Canzonetta said the administration was too slow in trying to revive downtown following the COVID-19 pandemic and then later with the explosion and demolition of the Realty Building, saying work to rebuild major roads in the area resulted in fewer places to park and far too many empty storefronts.
'It's a Hollywood movie; it's a Greek tragedy down here, what's happened,' he said.
While the mayor says the reviving of downtown will take time, he plans to talk Wednesday about spending millions sprucing up the city's parks.
'In the next two years, we're gonna finish the American Rescue Plan dollars, where you'll see the improvements in your parks and we'll give you a preview of what some of those parks will look like in the end,' he said.
'Number one, who's gonna maintenance them? Where's the funds coming from to maintenance them? What's the long-term for that maintenance, the costs, and are they gonna fall into disrepair again?' Canzonetta asked.
Canzonetta stresses there have been successes and congratulates the mayor for them, but he thinks there's a lot more that could be done, and he plans to publicize them.
The State of the City Address begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the DeYor Performing Arts Center. The address is open to the public.
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