Paul, I have no idea who Mr. Presta is or what he may have contributed to this community. I ask questions to gain more knowledge about the people here. The term "ignorance" might be used to identify a person that chooses not to know something when the facts are right in their face. That is not the case in my situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps the greatest failing of city leadership over the past decade is -- dwelling on the negatives as insurmountable instead of beginning the task of turning negatives into positives.

 

In 2007 and part of 2008 a concerted effort was made to positively market Middletown as a community with excellent housing at much lower costs than surrounding communities.  It was a place where 300+ potential purchasers attended Home Buyer Education classes.  It was a place where 60+ purchasers were assisted via the Down Payment/Closing Cost Assistance Program.  It was a place where city staff reached out to and participated with local real estate professionals, mortgage bankers and home builders to promote Middletown.  It was a place where HUD funds were utilized to leverage private sector and other charitable funding sources.  It was a place where $650K of owner-occupied housing rehabilitation was emphasized to help address the plight of declining neighborhoods.  It was a place where the city partnered with People Working Cooperatively to leverage over $500K in minor rehabilitation projects in areas of greatest need.  It was a time when city staff and interested citizens worked to revise down payment/closing cost policies and procedures, revise owner-occupied housing rehabilitation policies and procedures, stop the unnecessary loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars via the long-neglected housing rehabilitation revolving loan fund, promote true citizen participation by providing an open door to the citizenry, demolish 15-20 derelict properties annually, etc.

 

The above improvements were halted by eliminating the messenger.  He was driven out because he did not adhere to Judy G. and her fixation with massive property demolition.  He fell into disfavor because members of the now-defunct Community Development Advisory Committee were fully informed of problems needing immediate corrective action.  Judy G. and GInger Smith stated that there was no need for the CDAC as it was constituted.  Over the past five years, millions of HUD funds were siphoned off for "downtown" and large-scale property demolition activities.  These measures have since dealt a terrible blow to Ward 2 and portions of Ward 1.  Also, matters such as the 54% poverty standard, thousands of vacant and/or dilapidated houses, the large numbers of Section 8 rental units have made Middletown the laughingstock of Ohio and a community with many, many similarities to Detroit, S. Bronx, etc.

 

If only Tony Marconi, Jim Armbruster and David Schiavone had been successful in securing a fourth city council vote to make critical changes to senior city management.

 

 

I salute Mr. Vance for a well written article!!!