Reply #22: Traficant was owned by the Cafaro Family [View All]

[Rick Myers]

As exposed in the federal charges against him. Jimbo had a 20 year history of corruption, including escaping federal charges in the 80's even though the Feds has wiretaps and bug tapes of him taking 'payments' from organized crime.

I'm NOT saying that they are 'exactly' the same, but if you know Mahoning valley politiks, you know that ONLY Dems get elected, and the Dems are handpicked by a very few. Youngstown/Warren is more like some village in the Balkans than any US town.

Ryan is simply the New Face of the Old Guard. I could discuss this forever because I KNOW most of the players personally in one way or another... Both 'controlling interests' seek the same thing, funelling as much money into Trumbull County as possible, regardless of the effect on Youngstown and the rest of Mahoning County. This money is run thru 2 properties. The Cafaro development (Eastwood Mall, Cafaro Field, and coming projects) and The Airport, which is controlled and MAJORITY owned by the Chamber of Horrors. And the Chamber is literally the fourth arm of govt. They are the REGIONAL chamber, controlling both Mah and Trum counties.

The ONLY way you could enumerate the corruption in the Valley would be to count the NON-corrupt, which would NOT take both hands. Do you know how many former judges from the area are in prison. The former sherriff, half of the 'bidness' leaders of the past 15 years...

There is a VERY GOOD BOOK in this story, and I'd love to write it, but I don't really want a 22 round to the head...

Rick