Nothing New: D'Avignon to Remain?

You couldn't be more off on your assessment of the situation.

First of all, there was nothing to "fill out." This wasn't a form that needed a couple boxes checked.

Here is the link to the grant announcement and instructions from HUD.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/neighborh oodspg/pdf/nsp2_nofa.pdf

You'll notice that it is 94 pages long. You'll also notice that it was announced on May 4 and had a deadline of July 17. This includes a mandatory 2 week public input period prior to submission.

On June 11, after a month's work on the application was already done, HUD issued a notice that certain aspects of the NSP2 application were modified.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/neighborh oodspg/pdf/nsp2_correction_nofa.pdf

In other words, a man who is already stretched thin because he must oversee two city departments due to chronic budget issues, went out of his way and above and beyond his job description to create an innovative program to help alleviate 3 decades of neglect and decay in the Mahoning Valley. Furthermore, he was able to get 9 different cities organized, on the same page, and fully supportive of the project totaling $33.2 million. IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.

Mr. D'Avignon achieved a level of government collaboration and cohesiveness the likes of which the Mahoning Valley has arguably never seen. Collaboration between 9 different cities, 2 counties, and many organizations and financial institutions. IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.

Here is the link to the proposal which the Brookings Institute chose to highlight, out of nearly 500 other applications, as the national standard for regional collaboration and neighborhood development.

http://cityofyoungstownoh.com/Uploads/2009813122424_MISC-NSP2%20FINAL% 20DRAFT.pdf

You'll notice that it is 37 pages long, and not a 2 page standard form that only requires you to sign and date by the X. You'll also notice (if you had read through the 94 page NSP2 announcement and subsequent 8 page revision), that these 37 pages only represent the narrative portion of the application. The additional required supplemental documentation totals 50+ pages IN ADDITION to the narrative.

So for you to state that someone failed to "adequately fill out" some forms shows how unfamiliar you are with how much work goes into applying for federal assistance programs, and specifically, NSP2.

And another fact that seems to escape you and others critical of the failed application is that NSP2 was NOT an entitlement program. We were not guaranteed ANY amount of money, even if it had been successful. We did not have $33.2 million in the bank taken from us. This was a voluntary competitive program that Mr. D'Avignon volunteered to work on on behalf of the City of Youngstown and subsequently 8 other cities in the Mahoning Valley. Why did he do this? BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE STEPPED UP.

Furthermore, the city was not secretive about the application and held several press conferences about it that was covered by virtually all local media outlets. And as I stated before, there was a 2 week public input period in which the application was available for scrutiny BEFORE being submitted. Funny how everyone is all of a sudden an expert on federal grant writing and can pinpoint all the deficiencies contained in the grant 6 months after the fact...

Although I don't agree most of the time with you politically, I wouldn't read your blog (which I regularly do) if I didn't have some level of respect for you or your motives. However I do believe it would serve you well to do some basic research on your topics before posting, especially with local issues.

I would also invite you to consider the spirit of your most recent post on Wolford and the perception of Youngstown before issuing subjective attacks on individuals on this site. There are very few people in the local public sector who carry out their respective duties politically neutral and with the community's best interest first and foremost. I can assure you that Mr. D'Avignon is one of these few individuals.

...innovative program to help alleviate 3 decades of neglect and decay in the Mahoning Valley. Furthermore, he was able to get 9 different cities organized, on the same page, and fully supportive of the project totaling $33.2 million. IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.

Mr. D'Avignon achieved a level of government collaboration and cohesiveness the likes of which the Mahoning Valley has arguably never seen. Collaboration between 9 different cities, 2 counties, and many organizations and financial institutions. IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.

Here is the link to the proposal which the Brookings Institute chose to highlight, out of nearly 500 other applications, as the national standard for regional collaboration and neighborhood development.

http://cityofyoungstownoh.com/Uploads/2009813122424_MISC-NSP2%20FINAL% 20DRAFT.pdf

You'll notice that it is 37 pages long, and not a 2 page standard form that only requires you to sign and date by the X. You'll also notice (if you had read through the 94 page NSP2 announcement and subsequent 8 page revision), that these 37 pages only represent the narrative portion of the application. The additional required supplemental documentation totals 50+ pages IN ADDITION to the narrative.

So for you to state that someone failed to "adequately fill out" some forms shows how unfamiliar you are with how much work goes into applying for federal assistance programs, and specifically, NSP2.

And another fact that seems to escape you and others critical of the failed application is that NSP2 was NOT an entitlement program. We were not guaranteed ANY amount of money, even if it had been successful. We did not have $33.2 million in the bank taken from us. This was a voluntary competitive program that Mr. D'Avignon volunteered to work on on behalf of the City of Youngstown and subsequently 8 other cities in the Mahoning Valley. Why did he do this? BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE STEPPED UP.

Furthermore, the city was not secretive about the application and held several press conferences about it that was covered by virtually all local media outlets. And as I stated before, there was a 2 week public input period in which the application was available for scrutiny BEFORE being submitted. Funny how everyone is all of a sudden an expert on federal grant writing and can pinpoint all the deficiencies contained in the grant 6 months after the fact...

Although I don't agree most of the time with you politically, I wouldn't read your blog (which I regularly do) if I didn't have some level of respect for you or your motives. However I do believe it would serve you well to do some basic research on your topics before posting, especially with local issues.

I would also invite you to consider the spirit of your most recent post on Wolford and the perception of Youngstown before issuing subjective attacks on individuals on this site. There are very few people in the local public sector who carry out their respective duties politically neutral and with the community's best interest first and foremost. I can assure you that Mr. D'Avignon is one of these few individuals.

...NSP2 announcement and subsequent 8 page revision), that these 37 pages only represent the narrative portion of the application. The additional required supplemental documentation totals 50+ pages IN ADDITION to the narrative.

So for you to state that someone failed to "adequately fill out" some forms shows how unfamiliar you are with how much work goes into applying for federal assistance programs, and specifically, NSP2.

And another fact that seems to escape you and others critical of the failed application is that NSP2 was NOT an entitlement program. We were not guaranteed ANY amount of money, even if it had been successful. We did not have $33.2 million in the bank taken from us. This was a voluntary competitive program that Mr. D'Avignon volunteered to work on on behalf of the City of Youngstown and subsequently 8 other cities in the Mahoning Valley. Why did he do this? BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE STEPPED UP.

Furthermore, the city was not secretive about the application and held several press conferences about it that was covered by virtually all local media outlets. And as I stated before, there was a 2 week public input period in which the application was available for scrutiny BEFORE being submitted. Funny how everyone is all of a sudden an expert on federal grant writing and can pinpoint all the deficiencies contained in the grant 6 months after the fact...

Although I don't agree most of the time with you politically, I wouldn't read your blog (which I regularly do) if I didn't have some level of respect for you or your motives. However I do believe it would serve you well to do some basic research on your topics before posting, especially with local issues.

I would also invite you to consider the spirit of your most recent post on Wolford and the perception of Youngstown before issuing subjective attacks on individuals on this site. There are very few people in the local public sector who carry out their respective duties politically neutral and with the community's best interest first and foremost. I can assure you that Mr. D'Avignon is one of these few individuals.

...and held several press conferences about it that was covered by virtually all local media outlets. And as I stated before, there was a 2 week public input period in which the application was available for scrutiny BEFORE being submitted. Funny how everyone is all of a sudden an expert on federal grant writing and can pinpoint all the deficiencies contained in the grant 6 months after the fact...

Although I don't agree most of the time with you politically, I wouldn't read your blog (which I regularly do) if I didn't have some level of respect for you or your motives. However I do believe it would serve you well to do some basic research on your topics before posting, especially with local issues.

I would also invite you to consider the spirit of your most recent post on Wolford and the perception of Youngstown before issuing subjective attacks on individuals on this site. There are very few people in the local public sector who carry out their respective duties politically neutral and with the community's best interest first and foremost. I can assure you that Mr. D'Avignon is one of these few individuals.

...neutral and with the community's best interest first and foremost. I can assure you that Mr. D'Avignon is one of these few individuals.

And maybe also allow for more text to be entered into the comment boxes...

Thanks for the comments. I will try to figure out the whole comment text problem, but you did write quite a bit so I am not surprised it was broken up into multiple comments.

In regards to the HUD Failure, someone is at fault for the failure to get federal funding, in my eyes it is Bill D'Avigon. Why should we continue to allow someone to be on the job after a failure of such major proportions.

For this area to succeed, things need to change. Keeping him on the job is the same old politics as usual.

I'm sorry, but I just don't believe you are in any position to cast judgment. Like I said before, this was a project that D'Avignon took on completely on his own accord. He was not asked to do it. He was not instructed to do it. His position with the city does not require him to do so. If he demonstrates negligence in regards to his duties as CDA director, then by all means, reprimand him. But to demand someone be reprimanded for volunteering to take the lead on something that was a long shot to begin with is downright insane. Should you have been reprimanded because Skybus did not locate to Vienna?? There were 8 other cities that were involved in, reviewed, and signed off on the proposal. Are you calling for the resignation of them as well?? How about the local financial institutions and organizations as well?? What about the council members who didn't even bother to review the proposal before it was submitted?? HUD awarded funding for only 16% of applicants. Should those involved with the 403 that got rejected all be fired as well??

Steve, you must work for this guy or something. How can you sit here and defend him? Everyone made a big fuss about not getting the federal funds as they pointed their finger at this one or that one.

You may not like to realize it, but the guy responsible is this guy: D'Avignon.

Like Mr. Metzinger said, it will be awful sad if this guy remains on the job. If we want this area to improve, tough decisions, like retaining a person like D'Avignon, will need to be made.

Nice website btw.

Steve makes valid points Metz. If he was not required to do it then why should he get fired? Plus if it was not guaranteed then why do you think Youngstown is entitled to that money?

Tim, it is your objective to disagree with me on just about everything. If it were a sunny day, you'd tell me it was cloudy. If it was snowing, you'd tell me it is raining.

I am not saying we are entitled to get anything, but if the grant application had details of where the money would have gone, chances are our odds of getting money would have been a lot better.

Don't come lashing out at me, it was the Democrats in our area that stormed to the White House demanding answers because they believe we were entitled to the money.

So you are mad at them why? And sorry I think playing in the FBS is better than playing in the FCS and Dwayln made the right decision.