We always kind of chuckle when the rest of the nation freaks out a bit of bad luck. Ours started in the 70's! You know that line in "New York, New York" that goes, "If I can make it there, I'm gonna make it anywhere"? Well, it's actually true, here in Youngstown. Stop by sometime so you can feel better about where you live. :)

The rest of us (liberals, progressives, democrats) kind of have a soft spot for you from OH, we have seen your representatives ~ and they are not pretty!

this is a good sign. i say hit the banks just where it will hurt them the most and thats there bottom line!

SPECIAL TOPIC

650,000 Americans Joined Credit Unions Last Month — More Than In All Of 2010 Combined

By Zaid Jilani on Nov 3, 2011 at 2:50 pm

Youngstown once was a steel capital of the US.

Unemployed or underemployed pick and sell scrap iron,old cars, roofing, refrigerators etc. , to be ground and sent to China...

I'm from Youngstown and this is not surprising but so nuts. Growing up a block from a Youngstown Sheet and Tube plant people had good jobs and knew opportunities for their children would be even better.

You're right about the decline starting in the 70's - I've always believed that Youngstown was the test to see how far purely financial, quick profit companies could go without consequence. As we've seen there is no limit to the misery & destruction. Going home just breaks my heart.

You know, if these economic disasters happen often enough, maybe someone will figure out what is causing them.

This thing happened during the 1930s, and we called it the Great Depression when Mexican Repatriation put most of the Native Americans on trains at gun point and sent them to Mexico. then that collapsed the housing market, then the banks, and then wall street.

This time, Bush passed racist laws in 2007 at the same time that the Chinese invested $billions$ in Mexican factories to build cars that will be sold in the US.

Then the housing market collapsed in California when millions of people went south of the border seeking those jobs and taking mandarin classes (2007 if memory servers correctly). We added a little sub-prime mortgage to the mix and financial deregulation for good measure.

Shortly afterwards, the economy in the rest of the US exploded and followed California down the toilet.

Including Ohio.

So ... I'm just curious.

How many times before A is connected to B?

Racism and a good economy are mutually exclusive.

I was raised not far from Youngstown and left to find work.

I never moved back since there never was any work there.

Here is Bruce Springsteen telling the story of Youngstown:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTEVSulBDaA

Horray for Ohio Republicans! Make it more difficult for people to vote! Repeal collective bargaining rights for union members who earn between $18,000-$40,00 annually! Ban gay marriage! Ban abortions! What else will you ban, you absurd zealots?

Went to the Zanesville Kasich meet and greet this week in Zanesville. Was disgusted by Kasich touting more lies. Kasich said that we need to end binding arbitration because we don't need to fly in people from Los Angeles to decide what goes on in Ohio. Where does he get this stuff? In Ohio's public worker negotiations arbitrators are always from Ohio and are struck from a list by employees and employers. Can Kasich ever back up anything he says with fact? Vote no on issue 2.

Another buzz in Muskingum County today... a report was filed with the Muskingum County Sheriff's office today against Juvenile Court Judge Steven Buck for stealing Vote no on 2 signs. He returned them stating " I was cleaning out the ditch." He should be removed immediately. Fine example he is setting for juveniles.

We need Micheal Moore to catch a ride to Ohio with Ed. Big money is pouring money into ads and we need help to stop them.

I'm one of the ones in the photo above. I live in Youngstown.

Our job crisis started at the close of the steel mills, the Rust Belt being a once shining example of the effects of profits over people, of profits without regard to the long term socioeconomic consequences of corporate actions. For forty years, our citizens have been struggling to get by, struggling with foreclosures, and learning about income inequality firsthand.

We do what we can. The article referenced above gives a poverty rate of nearly 50% - which actually seems a bit low to me. As of 2009, our per capita income was about $15k, and our median income was about $24k - well within 150% of poverty levels for a family of three. The Youngstown Vindicator article linked above quotes a city official regarding job creation - and while his statement may be able to be viewed as accurate, a very significant portion of these jobs are low paying service industry jobs, for example a call center that opened downtown, which employs large numbers, but not at livable wages, and with an equally high turnover. This is a city who's mayor applauded a McDonald's hiring event, citing the opportunity those jobs would provide. Roughly 800 available jobs, many of them part time positions, and this resulted in stores pulling in 100-200 applications per day, because something is better than nothing.

The active posturing of companies pushing part time positions to keep with their corporate policies, particularly with regard to benefits, results in large numbers working multiple jobs, unable to afford healthcare, and still struggling to get by. 60 hours a week at low wages is like 20 - 30 hours a week at a livable wage.

As the economy of the rest of the nation catches up with places like Youngstown, Flint and Detroit, and Gary, Indiana, it is profoundly difficult for those of us living here to watch, not only because we know what others will have to face the further they fall. But also because many of us saw it coming. We've been talking about it for decades.

Until things drastically change, we do what we have to to get by. Working together on re-appropriated abandoned lots and in our own backyards to grow our own food whenever possible, setting up community toolsheds, block watches, and neighborhood clean up days.

Those who refer to Occupy protesters as socialists, communists or beggars would do well to pass through Youngstown. We do not want handouts, or assistance programs, which are not dissimilar to those that bailed out the banks. We want jobs that pay a livable wage (which isn't much in Youngstown), we want accountability with those who sold us out to gamble with our tax money, our economy, our environment, and our health, and we want politicians who listen to those whom they are elected to serve, rather than those who can make a big campaign donation or promise a cushy job later on.

Born and rasied in Youngstown, a proud " South Sider" It was very sad to see Tim Ryan alone. Tim Ryan along with Bob Hagan have always been a fighting for us and as proven no one is listening. The segment broke me down to tears and showed a perfect example of what happens when jobs are sent else where and Americans are used for greed. I am indeed heartbroken and my family is hanging on - barely but they are still there tuffing out whats left of thier homes and lives. I hope Youngstown can be used as an example to those better off that if changes in our government are not made we will be seeing a lot more "Youngstowns" through out the country. Thank you Ms Maddow - keep exposing our nation to political injustice, much love!

I still love my town!

You will be updated on our movements Rachel.... We highly consider you joining our cause.

Unfortunately, Youngstown is the gleaming trophy of the policies that have led to the death of this country. Not until, this country makes the decision to reverse these policies will there ever be jobs in america again. You can't destroy complete industries in the country and expect it to survive, but that is exactly what greed has sown in our country. Get rich, quick, at the expense of all others. The REAL ENEMIES of america are those who have raped the country for their own gain. Our government has forsaken the people and sold out to those who just want to use them to make more money. It is about time that we take this country back and install a government, which will protect the Country and the People. However, I am afraid that it will require more than just voting. And while republicans and democrats are both to blame, anyone who would vote republican today, in my eyes, is an enemy of America!

I'm Youngstown born... but it's all about the jobs. The Democratic politicians have let Y-town down. Lower taxes and become a pro-business city. Cain for President 2012 :)

Proud YSU grad from nearby suburb...lived through the Steel crash in the 70's--we even had to interview laid off workers for political science course. And yes, many of us left. I still have family & friends there, and go back often enough to see the place still doing well in some aspects. The people are the best, hard working and hearty.

Thanks Rachel for your post and story--it's been great to read all the posts, and I appreciate you! Ytown is a great survivor.

South East Kansas has a 50% poverty rate. I think it is common in a lot of areas. The media just doesn't report it.

I'm just northeast of Youngstown, in Erie, PA. We have a 30% poverty rate in the city- 43% of the children in our town live at or below the poverty level. The Erie School District just received some kind of subsidy or grant for the entire district to receive free breakfasts and lunches, regardless of economic status, because there are so many students who qualify. Now, at least, when school is in session, these kids are getting two decent meals a day.

What is totally appalling is that the GOP/Tea Party/Libertarians don't CARE. They'll cut govt funding of assistance, education, etc, because it's not THEIR problem that children are dying of starvation on their doorsteps.

Born and raised in this town and have the heart of the people with me EVERY day. It's been 35 years since I left and I'll never forget when the city was ravaged by the mills closing down because of foreign steel. Generations of families, including mine, had worked in those mills and all lost their jobs. What has happened to that once booming city is a disgrace. To let this city corrode is a disgrace. To not help this city is a disgrace. Shame on every one that let it fall but pride to EVERYONE that has stayed to try and bring it back. OCCUPY YOUNGSTOWN!

I feel your pain Brian, and stopping by Youngstown won't make ME feel better.  I live in Ashtabula!!!!!  You're the left armpit of Ohio and we're the right one.

Whenever I think our state sucks, I look to Ohio and realize there is hope, here.

You guys can't even count on your voting boxes not to be rigged. My heart goes out to you.

Youngstown is a unique place indeed. Many of the problems here have existed due to corruption and an unwillingness to try anything different. Why did Pittsburgh, PA and B'ham, AL recover after the crash of the steel industry? Unfortunately, the current generation is paying the price for the "we've always done it this way" mentality here.