2010 Reflections

Hello! It's been WAY too long.
My last post was during finals? yikes

Classes start in two days and I'd like to report my findings from my 4-week homecoming (winter break).

Dang, our media is SO negative. From afar, reading the Plain Dealer's articles online through last semester, it looked like Cleveland was free-falling through space and time. Huron trauma center was closing, the statistics kept getting worse, our sports teams are all the bottom of their leagues for the first time in my lifetime, SEWER BILLS ARE EXPECTED TO TRIPLE, taxes kept getting higher, 3-C rail was shot down, we're going to lose our Continental Airlines hub, old-name politicians were elected to the new county council and secret meetings ensued, more corrupt county employees were weeded out. . . . . . . . .

So, when I arrived in Cleveland I expected the worst.
And I was surprised with the staleness I felt in Cleveland for the first time.
Yes, 2010 was a year about reinvestment in things that'll effect us in 5 years: Innerbelt Bridge is moving along, Medical Mart broke ground, a new county government was instated, a casino was approved, Detroit Shoreway established itself as a complete cultural hub/neighborhood, etc. And yes, these are investments in our construction and minimum-wage economy. They have potential to spur either short term or long term development, creating spinoff jobs, etc.
I'm also optimistic about the grassroots movements growing: the LEED corporation moving to make us a hub in the wind turbine movement, local retailers moving to East 4th street in the first move of its kind in decades (Looking forward to Dredgers Union visit this summer), reinvestment in small businesses and biomedical firms, the blossoming of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, etc.
There ARE great things happening.
And I'm highly optimistic that Cleveland is still a great place for me to live.
Cleveland does have a brighter future than it may have seemed to have 5 years ago.
People like Terry Schwarz at the Kent State Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative are working at new solutions for controlling our shrinkage and making us a greener city again.
Even the city is setting up an International Welcome Center, trying to collaborate with businesses again, and disillusion people into thinking publicly-funded projects are going to save us (We are STILL paying off the stadiums. . .).
ALSO: websites like coolcleveland.com and theciviccommons,com are displaying our positive side and willingness to collaborate as a united Northeast Ohio.


Yet despite my optimism, I'm a realist.
And Cleveland felt STALE. It felt like nothing was happening, despite my knowledge of the huge growth in University Circle and reinvestments in downtown.
And because of this, I'm reconsidering running for mayor.

SOMEONE needs to be in charge who will:
--> be independent
-->not be corrupt
--> be creative, with new solutions
--> engage the community in issues from safety, to services, to schools, with transparency and a willingness to listen to the people AND consulted experts
--> be willing to work with local cities & businesses to spur regional growth and GDP output
--> balance the needs for HUGE social and economic reinvestments
--> offer lower tax rates in response to economic and population growth
--> finally tackle the lakefront and river valley
--> reform the education, safety, and justice systems
--> clean up the streets, providing premium experiences downtown for residents & visitors, making downtown competitive with the suburbs and other cities in the world
--> provide a young progressive face symbolizing the future of the city
--> cut the red tape, rezone the city, quicken processes for business-owners, and rid the law books of crazy laws
--> provide equal investment in neighborhoods of all races, representing Cleveland's population in government with a balance of credentials and non-quota'd diversity.
etc.


and I think I can be/do that. And in running for mayor and establishing my platform, I'd rely on others and collaboration to get things done. I'd provide the credit necessary to all the people who helped get movements going, the people who led grassroot movements, the Clevelanders who make the city who it is, no matter the race, religion, or sexual orientation.

We are all Cleveland. We all need a helping hand.
And if I am to make a run at office, there'll be a platform I'd attempt to pursue while in office. Which I'll publish a preliminary report on my next blog ;-)

Stay cool Cleveland
the air isn't really THAT stale
and it's in the negative degrees in Ithaca. fun!

-Ken