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- George Nemeth said “How about requiring CDC employees to live in the CDC's service area?” on Cleveland’s failed leadership
- Michael DeAloia said “We should create a new "progressive movement" in Cleveland. The leadership is so out of ...” on Cleveland’s failed leadership
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George Nemeth · links for 2009-01-05
January 5th, 2009
Ed Morrison · Cleveland’s failed leadership
January 4th, 2009
It’s hard to imagine which is worse.
On the one hand, we have a county commission that is having the worst time putting together a 30-year-old idea that is 10 years late: building a convention center.
The commission has gone ahead to finance the project with public money with no business plan: a process no businessman or banker in their right mind would follow.
The result is one of the goofiest public investment projects to come down the pike in a long time. (Recall that since the Commission’s decision to finance this project last summer, the financial markets have melted and the economy is heading for a prolonged recession. Not a peep from the Commission that they have evaluated these dramatically changed circumstances.)
On the other hand, we have the self-serious Plain Dealer editorial writers who insist that a medical mart is vitally important for the future of city, even though we don’t even have a business plan that explains the concept. (Recall also that reporting by Jay Miller of Crain’s raised serious — and still unanswered — questions about the economic viability of the medical mart months ago.)
Both are examples of failed leadership.
It turns out, as the Cleveland Federal Reserve economists have pointed out on numerous occasions, educational attainment is a key driver of economic development.
Apparently, too few of of Cleveland’s leaders have read the basics as set forth in the Cleveland Fed’s 2005 annual report.
It appears none of our leaders have read the excellent work done by by Paul Gottlieb and Mike Fogarty at REI in 1999 on the role of educational attainment and metropolitan income growth. (Their nationally recognized work won the Milken Institute Award for Distinguished Economic Research.)
The County would be far better off investing its sales tax revenue to provide college tuitions to Cuyahoga County residents.
Take a look at the Kalamazoo Promise. Or, the Davenport Promise. Or, the Pittsburgh Promise. Or, the Texas Tuition Promise Fund.
Just as important, we could invest in early childhood education as an economic development strategy, since, as this morning’s paper outlines, we have one of the best programs in the country.
The Minneapolis Fed has outlined the economic case. The prestigious Committee for Economic Development in Washington has set the policy priority. Nobel laureate James Heckman underscores the opportunity to innovate in public education.
I could go on, but you get the idea.
It’s our tax money, but it’s not about us. It’s about them. Who gets the deal. Who controls the contracts. Who gets bailed-out.
It’s time to defend Cleveland against failed, burned-out, cynical leadership.
George Nemeth · An urban environment that fosters serendipity in Cleveland?
January 4th, 2009
From our friends at ClevelandSGS:
Mrs. Soonja “Sue” Kim and her family owned and operated Hair Plus Beauty Supply in downtown Cleveland for approximately 25 years… Mrs. Kim reported to Cleveland SGS that her closing had nothing to do with declining sales. She loved doing business at her Arcade location; however the present owner of the Marriot Residence Inn (an 85% owner in the Colonial Arcade) refused to renew her lease for the year 2009. Other tenants in the Arcade told Cleveland SGS essentially the same story. Older tenants believe that they are being moved out in an effort to redevelop the Arcade as an upscale shopping and entertainment facility.
Much of commercial redevelopment mystifies us. When asked, most people link a city’s vitality to an urban environment that fosters serendipity. The current development trend of creating a uniform shopping experience seems to go against everything we learned and loved about viable city centers…
Apparently someone isn’t learning and loving Cleveland.
George Nemeth · links for 2009-01-04
January 4th, 2009
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"One of the most fascinating things about my work as a freelance writer and communication specialist is the fact that most of my business does not come from my hometown of Cleveland."
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Roldo: "Seems to me a lot of space to fill with visitors rather than spend $1 billion more on a new convention center with no assurance that it can be filled enough days to pay for the cost."
George Nemeth · links for 2009-01-02
January 2nd, 2009
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Another great post from my friend Mr. Tony
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Projected gaps for FY2010:
Michigan $1.6 Billion
Minnesota $2.5 Billion
New York $13.7 Billion
Ohio $2 Billion
Wisconsin $2.9 Billion -
YES!
Ed Morrison · Bad timing
January 1st, 2009
New Year’s Day…
…and we wake to see…
County extends Medical Mart deadline
Psst, leaders, today is for hope, inspiration, a spirit of expectation. Good luck food, like noodles or black-eyed peas.
Someone please step forward with a sense of direction…
Addendum
Here’s an example of a leading edge mayor giving a sense of direction by looking back at 2008. Notice how Mayor Abramson uses his top ten list to build themes about where Louisville is heading.
George Nemeth · links for 2009-01-01
January 1st, 2009
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"The group Mayors Against Illegal Guns has a released a new report chronicling how guns used in crimes move within the United States. The report, The Movement of Illegal Guns in America, examines the movement of illegal firearms across states by comparing state sale laws, how frequently illegal guns are recovered after being used in crimes and where those guns originated."
Douglas Craver · Rise up Cleveland and support Startup Weekend!
December 31st, 2008
When I fired up my email this morning I shouted WOOHOO at the following news I got via an email from Andrew Kavanaugh. Great news to start off the pending New Year!
I know I’ll be getting involved and I hope Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown and the general NEO area will rally around this. Done right this could be the tipping point for the region from a tech standpoint. If CSU and Case Western Reserve University are smart they’ll lend full resources to Startup Weekend Cleveland.
Startup Weekend is an intense 54 hour event that brings together developers, graphic artists, business & marketing, legal and more for a fun filled weekend of pitching ideas and bringing the popular ideas to life. There have been nearly 30 Startup Weekend Events in the United States, Canada and, most recently, in Greece - including an event in our backyard (Columbus). After a great run of votes on http://startupweekend.com/cityvote/ - I’m happy to announce that we’re bringing the party to Cleveland.
If you’d like to read Andrew’s full email and find out how you can get involved and help, click here to visit my blog techbytes.biz.
George Nemeth · Congress votes itself a raise?!
December 31st, 2008
Seriously? The Dems need to show some leadership and implement some austerity measures, starting with themselves:
With the economy in a recession and millions of Americans losing their jobs, however, members are under fire to rescind the pay hike, which will increase their base salaries to $174,000, roughly a 2.8 percent raise.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California will get a larger raise of about $6,100, though it’s about the same percent increase…
Via Anita Campbell
McClatchy Washington Bureau | 12/31/2008 | One group that still is getting a raise — Congress
George Nemeth · links for 2008-12-31
December 31st, 2008
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here i thought they found scandalous pics on his computer
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whodathunkit?
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"The budgetary impact of legalizing drugs would be enormous, according to a study prepared to coincide with the 75th anniversary of prohibition’s end by Harvard economist Jeffrey A. Miron. He estimates that legalizing drugs would inject $76.8 billion a year into the U.S. economy — $44.1 billion through savings on law enforcement and at least $32.7 billion in tax revenues from regulated sales."
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I like Gloria & Tim's collaborative approach to blogging. I talked to her on the phone the other day—she sounds amazing!
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back up your computers please!
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No predictions on FTTH from Bill though
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"Local development nonprofits have challenging missions and can't be subject to the added pressure of being asked by a public official to act like a private bank." Good comments too!
