Jay Williams Reflects on His History with Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Former Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams had a career in banking when he decided to go into public service, first as the Youngstown community development director.

Former Mayor George McKelvey tasked him with leading the 2010 plan, a framework for guiding the city from its post-industrial past to a smaller city. That plan involved the work of McKelvey, City Council and outside consultants with input from residents, businesses and community groups.

“There was a huge concern that this would be seen as a self-defeating sort of slap in the face,” Williams says of the Youngstown 2010 Plan, “that the citizens just spent considerable time and effort and energy, putting their voices to this plan, and then seeing that there was a mayoral election where this plan wasn’t front and center.”

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