StowCbusCleveland

I would love to see the state of Ohio host a Summer Olympics. Combining the completion of Ohio Hub with something as awesome as the Olympic games would be incredible. The 3 C's and company could more than handle an Olympics if they shared the load.

I wonder if there is an "Ohio State effect" that helps the ranking. I have to think having the biggest school in the country nearby would add a nice positive bounce. Lots of highly encouraged and occasionally mandated volunteerism as a result (i.e. my fraternity requires 10 hours of community service/volunteerism each quarter).

I'm assuming the Houston comment wasn't so much about high-walkability as the fact they've been tops on most lists lately talking about cheapest housing, best "value", best place for singles whose favorite day is Thursday, etc. My apartment in the north campus area of Ohio State earned me an 82. On Sep 1st, when I move like 5 blocks south, my score sprints ahead to an 83!

MTS, I agree that ultimately the best thing you can do for the homeless is to not give them a cent directly, and make donations to programs that give the homeless a fighting chance at rejoining society. Handouts from one person to another don't make meaningful change. Teach a man to fish...

^All excellent points. We need to remember that ultimately homelessness is the problem, not those who are homeless. The things that some homeless folks do that frustrate/annoy us should be seen as the symptom of a larger problem.

^^I'd go with generally misinformed for the vast majority of people opposed to Amtrak spending. I don't think people realize that the extra funding necessary to move Amtrak from survival mode to expansion mode would be cheap for the government but make a big difference for the future of the service and the country's infrastructure future. I still have the optimism that if the facts could be reasonably communicated to the masses, most people would be on board with moving the country's transportation/infrastructure policies into the 21st century.

I couldn't agree more! Just make sure to stay on the eastside :wink: Ah, the legendary East-West rivalry. Gotta love it.

The photo threads of Cleveland are some of my favorite threads in the forum universe ATM. They are part of what got me comfortable with the idea that Cleveland was a place a non-threatening, suburban white kid could want to live!

I know, it's a long way off... ...but 2009 will bring me to Cleveland! I'm 22 and an Ohio State student currently (studying economics...let me know 'bout them jobs!), and after having lived in the suburbs for my first 18 and the city of Columbus for the last 4+, I can safely say I want to live in the city. The ability to live a car-free lifestyle, to be near large numbers of people, to have interesting options for food and shopping, to be near work, living in the middle of the action...city living is definitely for me. So help me, if I live in a place where EVERYTHING is a 10-minute drive away, I will flip my lid. I've always associated myself with the city of Cleveland (as you must when dealing with non-Ohioans who don't know where Stow is, or Akron for that matter), and now I'm looking to start there. Between my regular Googling for different information, and the steady lurking of this website, I'm pretty much set on beginning my working life in Cleveland, should the employment deities allow it. Anyway, I guess I don't have any specific questions at the moment, but I wanted to let the forum regulars know that this website, and this portion in particular, does wonders for teaching about what life in Cleveland is like. I don't graduate until probably the summer of 2009, so I have a ways to go yet, but the finish line is in my sights. Just wanted to throw down a big thank you for all you Clevelanders who share your insight about the city; the best ambassadors for Cleveland are its content inhabitants!

^Thanks for that KJP. I'm gonna check them out now.

Yes, I believe so. I imagine the heartland of America takes some level of pride in being the United States' pantry. We can take pride in being the sink. :)

Got it. http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=8373281&ch=4226720&src=news

I can't figure out how to post an actual link to this specific video, but right now on Yahoo!'s front page, one of the 4 primary links is to a video of a Good Morning America segment called "U.S. Suburbs Losing Residents, Advantages." Sounds like America is catching up to most of you guys in realizing that the advantages of dense living, public transit, short commutes, etc. are worth coming back to the city for. I'll see if I can find a link to the actual segment instead of just directing you to Yahoo.com for now.

So glad the ban passed. I understand the philosophical argument about "private businesses", but I have to say that it doesn't pass the sniff test. It makes tons of sense to be allowed to smoke, but in places that allow non-smokers to move throughout the city and to frequent businesses without having to deal with a public health hazard created by smokers.