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Youngstown mayor elected to another four-year term, talks about priorities ahead
Mayor Jamael Tito-Brown gave details on a vaccine mandate, money owed to the water fund, body cameras and some other priorities for his next four years in office.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -
Youngstown's Mayor made some major announcements tonight when Anchor Derek Steyer talked with him in a 6:40 special on the 21 News Facebook page.
Mayor Jamael Tito-Brown gave details on a vaccine mandate, money owed to the water fund, body cameras and some other priorities for his next four years in office.
For months Tito-Brown has waited on FDA approval for COVID-19 vaccines while considering a vaccine mandate for workers.
WFMJ's Anchor Derek Steyer pressed Brown for an answer.
"Once and for all can we get to an answer on mandates for city employees. Yes we're going to put a mandate together," said Tito-Brown.
The mandate expected in the next two weeks would include an option for workers who don't want the vaccine to opt for regular testing.
The mayor explained he wants to help keep citizens and employees safe but does not want to force anyone out of employment.
Mayor Tito-Brown explained he also had to consider whether the city could continue adequate police, fire, road repair, road plowing and other essential services if employees were not given a choice of testing.
Tito-Brown says there are six components to how folks want American Rescue Plan Dollars spent.
"The number one was community violence prevention, youth violence prevention, housing, neighborhoods, commercial corridors and public utilities and infrastructure. We are going to roll that out in the next 30 days," emphasized Mayor Tito-Brown.
He adds community policing and saturation patrols are helping reduce crime. Seventeen officers are testing body camera equipment now.
"We'll have body cameras, they're probably six months out for ordering," added Tito Brown.
Mayor Brown said the city will pay the money that the state owes to the water department. Whether general fund dollars or recovery act dollars are used will depend on federal regulations, and what is legal. Mayor Tito Brown expressed the city wants to do this the right way and get this behind the city.
He said of his next term Youngstown is not where we want it to be, but we're not where we used to be, and the mayor pledged to continue working to put citizens first.
