vulcana

Yes lobbying alone will not matter, but when you have the commute numbers to back it up it makes the process that much easier, as the OBM does not have to deal with opposition. At 38 per cent commuting between Summit and Stark counties, Akron/Canton comes well within the required 25 per cent threshold required by OBM {Office of Budget and Management}. So barring some other unknown factor, such as a recent increase in Summit/Cuyahoga commuting, or the undeniable power of politics it stands a good chance of happening. Also i would think that determining commuting would be based on where one lives and works, as they would not know when you were working from home, or in the office.

Akron and Canton are not lobbying against merging now, both of their County, Cities , and business leadership are in agreement on becoming one Metro called the Akron/Canton Metroplex. We will see if it happens when the Census Bureau designates it soon.

I am not so sure people in Summit or Portage county will accept being called Cleveland or Greater Cleveland. We have been down this path before, Lorain, Medina, Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties yes but people are not going to be calling Greater Akron Cleveland. no way.

Its all very interesting how these numbers are computed. NOACA itself which is pursuing a Cleveland Akron/Canton Metro designation states that (currently) 17.7 percent of commuters from Summit/Portage or Akron Metro commute into the Cleveland Metro area , and that Akron metro commuters into Cuyahoga county is 14.6. That is far from the threshold of 25 percent. At the same time currently the Akron/Canton officials seeking a Akron/Canton Metroplex currently state there is a close to 40 percent commute of workers between the counties. I guess you could say the Census bureau will of course have to sort this out..

Bracken countys situation is not a good comparison to Akron/ Cleveland MSA scenario because Akron is already a Metropolitan area whereas Bracken county is only a small outlying county in the Cincinnati Metro area. So trying to add another Metro into yours is a totally different scenario than having an outlying county added. Also Akron and Cantons commuting percentage is much greater in 2020 than it was in 2010, whereas Summit and Cuyahoga county has decreased slightly or remained stagnant at best. And I would add its not Akron/Summits resistance but Akron and Cantons agreement that might rule the day .Will be interesting to see....

I disagree, I think Akrons profile is raised by being Akron/Canton.

I believe Summit and Stark meets the threshold but not Summit and Cuyahoga.The governments threshold is 25 percent, Summit and Cuyohoga counties are at about 18 percent whereas Summit and Stark are at about 39 percent. Summit and Stark both have many employers in relatively close proximity, even from West Akron to the Canton area by way of interstate 77is a breeze. Also I would guess that with the opening of the Amazon warehouse not far from 76 or 77 that the Akron/Canton commute will be even higher.

The irony of NOACA trying to incorporate Akron/Canton into Clevelands MSA is that Akron/Canton govt and business officials are lobbying the census bureau in 2020 to become a single Metro area. With nearly 40 percent commute between the two Metros of Akron and Canton and a population combined of over 1.1 million it would be called the Akron/Canton Metroplex. Could it be that NOACA is launching a Hail Mary to pre-empt it from happening as it seems these two metros want no part of being combined with Cleveland..we shall see..

Excellent point, plus of the so- called Cleveland suburbs in Northern Summit county, after all these years living in Summit County, in 2018 who knows where their sentiments lie. I would guess close to 50/50, who really knows, after all Akron is the county seat so they have some contact.

With the popularity and usage of cable television, i wonder how much advertisers are really influenced by local Television markets size alone. Other than for local news and some sports programming, cable television has put a big dent in local televisions influence.

No use pretending that Akron is part of Cleveland. What part of not is not understood. You cant make something true because you say it. Most people I know in Akron visit Cleveland once or twice a year if that much. Akron, yes has minor connectivity with Cleveland, but is independent and not desiring to be a part of Cleveland in any way. Akron looks south of the Ohio Turnpike, to New Philadelphia south , to Wooster west as its area of influence. I believe the Census Bureau understands this clearly, along with the fact that Cuyahoga Valley National Park provides a natural barrier. Maybe people are confusing Akron with Lorain/ Elyria.

I agree, one of the best analysis of what we have in N.E. Ohio that I have heard thus far. This being said I hope the best for Cleveland and its downtown, and Akron and its downtown and let N.E Ohio benefit from both regions. Somehow in a way this area reminds me of the S.F Bay area, with San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and many other smaller surrounding cities, albeit on a smaller scale, a little bit of everything minus mass transit that you find in the Bay area..

Akron and Cleveland closer connectivity would be nice, but they are both moving in two different directions.With Cleveland attracting Myers Industries from Akron, and Akron attracting Babcox and Wilcox from Barberton, its every city for itself now. Northeast Ohio is just too complicated and broadbased for a singular unified strategy. That's just what we have. Akron leadership is not going to submit to Cleveland , and Cleveland leadership will not submit or coordinate with Akron .So we have these numerous enclaves in N.E Ohio all with their own visions.

Truth be told , in no way is Akron a suburb of Cleveland. Akron in so many ways is moving farther away from being aligned with Cleveland and much more with Canton. Culturally, economically, and socially this is true. Akron is and always have been self- sustaining, Goodyear, Bridgestone, First Energy, nearby Timken, Diebold, Hoover and many other smaller companies , and a growing technology and new business development scene. Too many people confuse Akron with Parma, or Brookpark, or some other Cleveland dependent suburb, it couldn't be further from the truth. If Akron was not a Cleveland suburb when Cleveland had 876,000 population in the 60s, what makes one think it would be one now when Clevelands population is closer to 350,000 and Akrons pop is 200,000? You cant say its growth. Also so-called Cleve suburbs in Summit County is more a testament to Akrons influence than Clevelands, as they are moving further away. The Census bureau HAS IT RIGHT.