Ryan, Mayors Push Northeast Ohio for FBI HQ
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and the mayors of 10 cities in his congressional district Friday urged President Trump to build a new FBI headquarters in northeastern Ohio.
The letter is in response to recent reports that the Trump administration is seeking nearly $2 billion in the latest COVID-19 stabilization bill to fill a funding shortfall for the renovation of the dilapidated FBI building in Washington, D.C., which originally was slated to be moved to the D.C. suburbs, according to a news release from Ryan’s office.
According to the letter to Trump, the payroll associated with the approximately 8,000 FBI jobs “would go much further in Northeast Ohio” than in the nation’s capital. The approximately $3 billion project cost would mean as many as 25,000 design, engineering and construction jobs for the region, which is home to more than 8 million people.
Among the mayors signing the letter were Jamael Tito Brown of Youngstown, Doug Franklin of Warren and Steven Mientkiewicz of Niles.
“We are fully committed to helping to aid in the job growth of the region. The potential investment and influx of thousands of jobs would have an astronomical impact for not only the region, but for the state of Ohio and neighboring Pennsylvania,” Ryan and the mayors wrote.
“In a time of great income inequality and many American communities being left behind by globalization and automation, this is an opportunity for your Administration to show its commitment to those areas that are still struggling,” they continued. “We urge you and your staff to consider Northeast Ohio for the location of the next FBI Headquarters Building.”
The full letter follows:
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Trump:
We write regarding the recent news that your administration is seeking nearly $2 billion in the latest COVID stabilization bill to fill a funding shortfall for the renovation of the dilapidated Federal Bureau of Investigation building in Washington, DC. We want to urge your consideration of an alternative idea. Rather than spending billions to repair a building that was originally slated to be moved to the DC suburbs, we urge moving the location–and the many jobs associated with it—to Northeast Ohio.
The payroll these approximately 8,000 FBI jobs bring with them would go much further in Northeast Ohio than they currently do in the Washington, DC region, and moving the building to the Midwest would show your commitment to creating opportunity in a region that desperately needs the economic stimulus that such a move would bring. Furthermore, a total project cost of approximately $3 billion would mean as many as 25,000 design, engineering and construction jobs for the Northeast Ohio region.
The Northeast Ohio region is home to over 8 million people. Many of these individuals and families live within an hour commute of a major metropolitan area, including Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, and Pittsburgh.
This region is within 600 miles of 60% of the entire U.S. population as well as 70% of all U.S. and Canadian manufacturing. Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania have easy access to highways and four major airports. The region has an extensive web of renowned colleges and universities that would could provide talent that would be critical to the success of the FBI’s mission. With strong support from state and local governments and economic development organizations, Northeast Ohio would be an ideal location for a new FBI headquarters.
We are fully committed to helping to aid in the job growth of the region. The potential investment and influx of thousands of jobs would have an astronomical impact for not only the region but for the State of Ohio and neighboring Pennsylvania. In a time of great income inequality and many American communities being left behind by globalization and automation, this is an opportunity for your Administration to show its commitment to those areas that are still struggling.
We urge you and your staff to consider Northeast Ohio for the location of the next FBI Headquarters Building.
Sincerely,
Tim Ryan, Member of Congress
Dan Horrigan, Mayor of Akron
Jamael Tito Brown, Mayor of Youngstown
Doug Franklin, Mayor of Warren
William B. Judge, Mayor of Barberton
Don Walters, Mayor of Cuyahoga Falls
David G. Kline, Mayor of Tallmadge
Frank Seman, Mayor of Ravenna
Jerry Fiaia, Mayor of Kent
Glenn M. Broska, Mayor of Streetsboro
Steven Mientkiewicz, Mayor of Niles
Pictured: In this Nov. 1, 2017, file photo, traffic along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington streaks past the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters building. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
