Save the West End Artists and Tenants poster

I was very amused to find this poster by Shawn Kriech yesterday. I think Deb Weaver can probably provide more details about the campaign. What I understand is there were artists living in some of the buildings in downtown Youngstown as late as the 90s (right? I’m fuzzy on the dates) and they were basically evicted by the city. Some tried to squat, but the city shut off water and utilities to force them out. Presumably several events like a “Party in the Parking Lot” at The Beat on Friday, August 19th (I’m guessing 1994) were held, with raffles and other sales benefiting the S.W.E.A.T. (Save the West End Artists & Tenants) campaign. The following Friday was a “Public Forum regarding West End Development.”

Based on the plans for redoing the West Federal Street road, I can only imagine what their plans for “West End Redevelopment” were, when the result was kicking out all of the people we’re trying to get back there.

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