What We Got

Cleveland is well-known (at least to residents) for many "facts": We're poor, unsafe, losing population, losing industry, losing jobs in general, and corrupt.

That list is in actuality very long, very detailed, and very depressing, but I'm not going into detail because that "Cleveland sucks" attitude is what is holding us back. Everything is focused on the negative, how "good it was," the inability of our sports teams to win championships, how high the taxes are, and it's almost like we're in a stalemate. Even when large investments are made in "box projects" (i.e. Rock Hall, Science Center, Stadiums, Medical Mart & Convention Center, Casino), we barely gain from it. Cleveland's gone about things all wrong for about fifty years, and it's time for a younger generation to take the by the reigns city and tap into its potential to do great things.

So, if we're so crappy, how do we turn the city around?
This is a complex situation, and the focus of my blog.
I don't believe we'll ever be a true tourist destination, so we need to stop catering to tourists who aren't here and won't be here until America hears of the great comeback we're going to make (when it happens).
In theory, a city's vitality to me revolves around eight important factors:

1. Excellent K-12 education and strong resident college communities
2. An economic environment encouraging growth and new businesses/industries of all sizes
3. Anchor industries and institutions that are based in the city at all stages of production
4. Safety: (low crime levels and increasing public's "sense of security."
5. Strong public institutions
6. Proper utilization of land in redevelopment
7. A regional network of certain public services which provides greatest efficiency.
8. Infrastructure, transportation, and utilities network which encourages growth

These are going to be my main topics of discussion. Many ideas will be proposals. The main thing to note is that if we fight for what we want, we will be able to attain the resources necessary to create change.

I promise this will be the most all-over the place blog in this series.

As I further my education and hopefully dedicate myself to Cleveland, here are my plans:
1. Graduate from Urban and Regional Studies at Cornell
2. Either join Jesuit Volunteer Corps, volunteer at Saint Ignatius, or join the US Peace Core then enter the workforce.  (This step is skippable)
3. Enter the workforce in Cleveland, somewhere.
4. I would like to pursue a Masters in Urban/Regional Planning, and Masters in Business Administration and/or attend Law School.
5. Become Cleveland's City Planner or Cuyahoga's Planner
6. Run for office when my time expires in one of the jobs
7. Teach at Saint Ignatius in the History Department.

THE POINT OF THIS WHOLE POST:

What DO we have? What problems do we NOT have that more "desirable" cities have?

Resources

• Lake Erie
• Cuyahoga River
• Salt mines under Lake Erie
• Sun (sometimes)
• Wind
• Relatively Flat Land

Problems other cities have, which we don't.

• Lack of fresh water (Atlanta, Southern California, Nevada, Southwest)
• Flooded with illegal immigrants (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California)
• Looming threat of a mega-earthquake (California)
• Threat of Hurricanes (Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Carolinas, Texas)
• Under or at current sea level (NYC, Florida)
• Threat of sinking into empty aquifers and oil deposits (Texas cities)

Sustainable Anchor Institutions in city limits (Local Economic Engines)

• The Cleveland Clinic (#4 hospital in USA, #1 in heart care for 13 straight years)
• University Hospitals (Top ranked)
• KeyCorp
• Cliffs Natural Resources (Continuous growth through recession)
• Case Western University (41st undergraduate program in USA)
• Sherwin Williams
• Cleveland Browns
• Cleveland Indians
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• PNC-Cleveland (formerly National City)
• Cleveland State University
• Parker Hannifin
• Ferro
• Medical Mutual of Ohio
• Lincoln Electric Holdings
• University Circle, Inc.

Regional Institutions

• Eaton Corporation
• American Greetings
• Progressive Insurance
• Goodyear Tire & Rubber (Akron)
• Aleris International
• Diebold (North Canton)
• PolyOne (Avon Lake)

Main Tourist Attractions

• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (#1, summer 2010)
• The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame (#2)
• The Cleveland Museum of Art (#3)
• Great Lakes Science Center (#4)
• West Side Market (#5)
• Impending Casino
• New Convention Center
• New Medical Mart
• Sports Teams
• Neighborhoods, civic history, etc. (list further below)
• Christmas Story House
• Lake View Cemetery
• The Cleveland Play  House (Largest connected theater district in North America outside of Broadway)
• Tower City Center
• Football Hall of Fame (Canton, 1 hour south)
• The Lake Erie Islands (1 hour west)
• Cedar Point (#1 amusement park in the world; 1 hour west)
• Amish Country (largest Amish community in the US; 1 hour southeast)
• Seasonal: (Ingenuity Festival, Christmas Celebration, Air Show, St. Patrick's Day Parade) 
• Cleveland Cultural Gardens
• Cleveland's restaurant & cuisine scene, recognized nationally. Led by Michael Simon & other renowned chefs 

Cultural Institutions, Public Services

• Cleveland Metroparks (one of the top urban park systems in the nation)
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park (#1 traveled national park)
• The Cleveland Orchestra (Arguably #1 in the world)
• The Cleveland Museum of Art (Renowned free art museum undergoing multimillion renovation and expansion)
• The Museum of Natural History
• Cleveland Botanical Gardens
• Western Reserve Historical Society
• Cuyahoga County Library System (Ranked #1 in the nation of libraries serving populations of +500,000)
• Cleveland Public Library (one of the top systems as well)
• Ohio has the 5th best public education system in the country
• Incredible private schools 
• Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (#1 in North America in 2007)
• Civic Landmarks:
• Public Square
• Bridges
• Guardians of Transportation
• Terminal Tower
• West Side Market
• Soldiers & Sailors Monument
• Cleveland Fountain of Eternal Life
• Cultural Gardens

Neighborhoods worth Visiting

• Little Italy
• Ohio City
• Tremont
• Detroit Shoreway

Any Cleveland resident can recognize most of these institutions and their importance to the city.

As the population decline is finally starting to pan out, there's an opportunity to develop the lakefront, encourage business growth, connect the great attractions, and develop new industries. There's a lot of potential here. I know it. Many Clevelanders know it. To reap the benefits of this potential, we need smart land use, new ways of thinking, a different economic climate, new industry, regionalization, fixing the education system, immigration encouragement, and smart equity planning. If no one else will, I want to be the guy to tie these all together.

Thanks for reading!

Next up: The Lakefront