willyboy

Cleveland is still one of the worst economically performing cities in the nation. Nothing has changed from the 1980s. Congrats on the downtown apartment conversions but there needs to be more employment options for the city to grow. Dirt tracks aren't going to cut it. Just my humble opinion. Also, the RTA/PS issue is grandstanding to the nth degree! Terrorism? C'mon. Yep, a dirt track is the only item in Cleveland's budget for 2017 :roll: :roll: OK, fine throw the dirt track out. Cleveland is still amongst the economic worst of it's peers. Hasn't really moved the needle out of that category despite Jackson having three terms to create change. The idea that Cleveland is improving is a also a bit of smoke and mirrors. Almost every medium to large US city is seeing positive changes in population due to the urban gentrification movement. So the idea that Cleveland is in some sort of grand new era is definitely open for debate. Cleveland still needs more jobs in the city. You could say that about any city.. I've watched the transformation of Baltimore and DC over the last 20 years. I've watched Cleveland fade away from them. Exactly what I'm saying. I got to witness being in DC at its worst, when Barry was mayor, but was also there during the transformation. That happened because of the leaders that came after Barry. Jackson is to Cleveland what Barry was to DC. The parallels of what has happened to both cities is apparent and obvious.

Certainly good news and about evens out the separate layoffs announce today by other companies.

No doubt about that. Just think of the what Cleveland missed out on during this period though, a rare period when city's in general saw renewed interest and increased vitality (which yes Cleveland still benefitted from). Starting in Jacksons first term I preached the value of having a mayor that had vision, was able to express ideas, build bridges, be able to communicate and schmooze when necessary.. All quality's that Jackson lacked. Instead we got 3 terms of someone that had no real vision, literally no drive, and lacked the perspective to really want or know that things should be better. He would literally say "it is what it is" when it came to things that most leaders would be out to change for the better. We have seen the majority of the neighborhoods continue to decline and functionality on the entire city level nose dive under his "leadership". Coming from DC it was easy to see the missing pieces here, but so many others coasted on the fact that some things were happening, and that Jackson is a nice guy. We need to do better than that, this region cannot afford 4 more years of him. Problem is, I don't know that we have seen better appear yet as a candidate.

Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but X is correct here. Oh and if you cant see the difference between E. 4th and downtown Cuyahoga Falls, then there probably isn't too much else that you would understand.

The place is pretty much meant for Sandy's friends and associates.

Whether Mr. Reed announces his own mayoral bid, or an endorsement of Mr. Johnson, neither one would receive a vote from me or many, many others in the circle of Cleveland residents I associate with. None of us are Jackson fans either. The city does not need a mayor convicted of a felony, or a drunkard, or one who looks after the interest of their grandson whom they believe is worth spending $2,000,000 of tax payer money on for a "playground". There has to be a candidate out there who could restore honesty, integrity, responsibility, accountability, to the office of mayor of the city of Cleveland. One who would do what is best for not only the residents of Cleveland, but those who work in the city, and visit the city. Cleveland needs another George V. Voinovich. Amen..... Can you not convince one of the Cleveland residents that you associate with to run for mayor? I'm sure we can get the business community behind them as well as anyone that wants the city to move forward.

But what does anybody expect from a city that rather consistently comes close to if not last annually in economic growth..?

Does anybody know anything about the others? Is Johnson really the best of the bunch thus far? We have to do better than Jackson. He has held this city back for far too long.

Ugh, that's idiotic. But there is an area down the center where its seems they once were. Were they originally there and removed?

The man has triplets to feed! Are you suggesting he would be wrong for being "all over" selective enforcement of this policy? Do you think a place of public accommodation should legally be allowed to selectively enforce such a policy? No, I'm saying if they did selectively enforce they would never get away with it.

That should have been happening regardless, along with more cameras in the parking lots. I actually think this is the best move in this case.

I’m not sure how well this is going to work. The civil rights lawyers are going to flock like crows to a stumbling deer in a median strip watching to see if it’s enforced shall-we-say “selectively”. So it’s likely to cost them money, and “younger” focused stores may bail for Legacy or Pinecrest. One dodge around this might be issuing prepaid cards good at any BP store, check it at a kiosk and you can shop unaccompanied. Yeah if it is selectively enforced they will (and my lovely neighbors the Chandra's) would be all over it, otherwise this blanket approach is likely the only thing that can be done in an effort to prevent such events and help the reputation of the mall. I highly doubt the youth attracting stores are going to be welcome at Pinecrest or at least some of the other places for that matter as that would defeat the purpose of their/Pinecrest's purpose and location. I would think If something like this isn't done I would expect a slow exodus of the non youth drawing stores as some of their target demographic are already staying away from the mall due to the kids and parking lot incidents.

State programs will just matter that much more. Btw pretty unlikely though considering Paul Ryan and all the moderate Repubs like pretty much all tax credits or they wouldn't exist, and the President-Elect is a high-profile user of the historic tax credit program himself. That's a good point regarding Trump as he received a $32 million credit on the Old Post Office alone, regardless of any conflicts.

Keep in mind I posted a link regarding a shooting death in Maple Hts. that happened within a day of the bar shooting in Bedford.

That would be correct Sherman, as we have also experienced with East Cleveland's very undesirable housing stock.... :roll: This is merely the east side of Cleveland continuing its extension out to the next area of affordable housing. Part of it was because of the type of housing, but it has just as much to do with proximity to the ever declining east side of Cleveland. We had talked about it at great length here over the years and even predicted it. Parma might have similar housing stock but has a longer road to getting there simply due to the different makeup of its west side counterpart/border neighborhoods.

Hard to believe, hardly a generation ago, places like Bedford Hts. and Maple Hts. were stable middle class suburbs. This one in Maple Heights. http://www.cleveland.com/maple-heights/index.ssf/2017/01/medical_examiner_identifies_ma.html#incart_river_home

What is wrong with these so called leaders?

Most certainly. And we have seen how those cultural conditions born out of poverty have translated to populations that are not necessarily associated with poverty (good example being rap and hip hop (the glamorization of thug life)). We have seen these behaviors in areas such as PG County Maryland and communities there such as Bowie which have fairly recently transitioned to predominantly black communities. These areas are interesting to look as they have the highest per capita incomes of any black community in the country, yet they haven't escaped these very cultural issues that are mentioned here. Unfortunately, I don't see too much being done to alter these conditions as there is always going to be too much diversion from the discussion (I have seen nearly 2o yrs worth from Hts121 alone, simply because he doesn't like the message) and you cant have a discussion of the topic without cries of racism. All the more reason why the mall incident especially bothers me as it helps to reinforce those very steriotypes and stigmatisms.

I think we are all perfectly aware how the spread of section 8 has affected these communities. You can likely blame many of the dozens of shoplifting incidents at B.P. on poverty but not so much the social media inspired frenzies brought on by all of these punks having access to an I-Phone. This certainly has more to do with cultural issues in the black community. As I'm certain that the people I work with that had kids, relatives and neighbors that took part would agree (as they would likely be offended by your characterization that they are in poverty)

Except this doesn't necessarily have to poverty as many of these kids were from areas such as South Euclid. These are cultural issues in the black community.

Yeah If the mall wants to remain relevant, they will need to do something. These little thugs have ruined enough, including former east side malls, Shaker and other communities fireworks as well as countless festivals.

Wow! I'm going to have to buy myself some gift cards! The good ones usually go pretty quickly, but it is well worth it to get them as they don't expire for 5 years or so.

I believe Cleveland Museum of Art membership gets you priority when tickets for Summer Solstice go on sale. Otherwise there are food tours that you could get her that include some of the fun ethnic restaurants, or maybe something related to Theatre. Cleveland Public Theatre is a good place to start there.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing as they were unable to come up with a plan good enough to win the catalytic. Certainly these guys are better at lobbying than coming up with a solid development plan and writing a successful application.

"To be honest, the reason for Clevelands hot run here has been because of its people...not its leaders." BelievelandD1, no truer words have ever been spoken here!