Public commenter raises concerns about fentanyl and foreign influence during Mahoning County meeting
Summary
A member of the public who said she is a U.S. citizen after seeking asylum in the U.S. described personal experiences with repression in China, expressed concerns about fentanyl and foreign influence and urged vigilance across government levels. Commissioners acknowledged the comments but made no formal action.
Sherry Wu addressed the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners during public comment on Oct. 30, recounting that she came to the United States as an international student and later sought asylum after persecution in China. Wu urged continued vigilance and raised a range of concerns including fentanyl, alleged foreign influence and past incidents she linked to state-directed activities. She recounted classroom instruction about "unrestricted warfare" she said she witnessed decades earlier and tied that memory to contemporary worries about pandemics, fentanyl and other threats.
Commissioners and attendees thanked her for speaking; one commissioner noted the continuing challenge posed by fentanyl and the need for federal action on issues such as SNAP and program funding. No county action or policy change resulted from the comments during the meeting.
