Downtown Youngstown’s Penguin City Brewing Co. hosted its first Youngstown Votes registration party Oct. 4.
The event encouraged people to register to vote, and meet candidates for Youngstown mayor, including Mayor Jamael Tito Brown and his opposing candidate, Derrick McDowell.
Penguin City cofounder Aspasia Lyras said the event’s purpose is to raise voter awareness and give citizens a chance to meet candidates in person.
“We wanted to create a nonpartisan event where people can meet candidates from all parties, talk to them face-to-face, get registered to vote and learn the importance of voting all under one roof,” Lyras said.
Youngstown State University’s Student Government Association attended the event, along with the League of Women Voters and a variety of local politicians who will be on this year’s ballot.
Brown, who has been Youngstown mayor since 2017, said the city has made notable improvements since his administration took over.
“When we took over office in 2017, we were facing a financial emergency. Crime was up, investment was down and we didn’t have a real path for our kids for the future,” Brown said. “[It’s a] safer city, cleaner neighborhoods and a brighter future for our next generation.”
While Brown has high hopes for the future, McDowell said it’s time for a change.
“I’m a firm believer that there’s a time and season for everything … I’ve observed [the] administration for eight years, and I believe that we’re still missing something that’s vital for the city of Youngstown,” McDowell said.
As founder of the Youngstown Flea, McDowell has a background in business, and said communication is key to improve the city’s businesses.
“One of the biggest things we can do to help the business landscape is actually listen to the folks who are running the business,” McDowell said. “Poorly planned construction has impeded their ability to do business … continuous construction [on] multiple streets, confusing entrances and exits downtown. We’ve got to get things downtown that bring us here in the daytime and nighttime, and everywhere in between.”
Though the candidates had different views on what direction to take the city, both candidates shared similar sentiments of YSU as a critical component in Youngstown’s future.
Brown, a YSU alumni, stressed the importance of creating job opportunities for the next generation.
“Industry is growing. We want to make sure when we educate our children, they have somewhere to go,” Brown said. “We also want to make sure the path is clear for opportunities for them to stay here.”
McDowell, on the other hand, said he hopes to see YSU students get involved in the community and stay in the city after graduation.
“We have folks right from the city of Youngstown and folks coming from other areas … once they start getting a taste of the beauty of the city of Youngstown and its opportunities, we’re a diamond in the rough,” McDowell said.
Both candidates also stopped at YSU on Oct. 6 for Coffee and Candidates hosted by SGA.
