Commentaries

These are all critical questions, and I am grateful for those who are trying to find ways to answer them. However, if we are going to be successful in creating a more peaceful city, we have to look at the bigger picture and ask ourselves some hard questions.

Primarily, how are we modeling respect for life, every life, in our community? People move to violence when they are desperate. Violence is rarely the first choice or the preferred option. People choose violence because they have tried other ways because they are tired of the way things are because they have nothing to lose.

In early July, the federal government attempted to leverage international student visas in an effort to force colleges and universities to hold classes face-to-face. On July 6th, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rescinded a policy that permitted international students to maintain their visas even if their programs shifted to online instruction due to the pandemic. The earlier policy was to have remained “in effect for the duration of the emergency.”

Youngstown must become more “autobiographical”. Our way forward relies on it. So let me explain why. I chose the word ‘Autobiography’ as a polite way of saying to anyone hearing this, that in my attempts to #DefendYoungstown, the city of my birth and full affection, that those attempts fully include a passion and drive to call out as many of the “outside” inaccuracies and “damaging” accounts of life here in the city of Youngstown as I can.

Once again as a nation we find ourselves in a crisis of compassion. In the wake of

the government shutdown, the closing of car plants, the uncertain economy,

some of our family and friends are in trouble. And it is in times like these when we

are called by whatever we believe in to become more than we are, to be our best

selves. It is in times like these we see people’s hearts. And sometimes it is

disappointing.

While I have my opinions on all of the crises we face, this is not a political