3rd Time No Charm for Community Bill of Rights
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The charter amendment that aimed to ban hydraulic fracturing and wastewater injection wells in the city was defeated for the third time in Tuesday’s election.
The Community Bill of Rights lreceived 3,100 votes in favor of its adoption and 3,674 votes against it, according to the Mahoning County Board of Elections. It was the third time in the last 12 months that voters have rejected the amendment.
Proponents of the measure vowed to place it on the ballot a fourth time.
The Mahoning Valley Coalition for Job Growth and Investment, a collaboration of elected officials, business, labor and community leaders that advocated against the charter amendment, issued a news release that quoted the group's leadership.
“The Community Bill of Rights would have been a job-killer and put Youngstown far behind other cities in attracting new business to the city,” said Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally in the coalition's release. “Youngstown is making a comeback and this charter amendment would have stopped that growth.”
“For a third time on this issue, Youngstown voters have said they support jobs and opportunity in Youngstown,” added Tom Humphries, president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber. “We hope those supporting this legislation will now respect the will of the voters and not make yet another attempt that wastes tax dollars that could be wisely used elsewhere.”
Butch Taylor, business manager for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 396, also expressed his gratitude for the issue’s defeat. “Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 396 opposed this issue from the very beginning because it would have cost all of us hard-working, blue-collar jobs that Youngstown depends on,” he said. “We deserve more opportunities and a brighter future for all of our citizens and this law could have put that in jeopardy. That certainly includes shale oil and gas jobs, but also all manufacturing jobs.”
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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