Clevelanders express discontent, worry about neighborhoods

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Becky Gaylord

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

It's little surprise that Cleveland residents are less happy with neighborhood schools, crime or traffic noise than those in surrounding areas. But Cleveland lags other big cities, too, new data show.

 

On key quality-of-life questions, Cleveland failed to measure up to other major cities, such as Atlanta, Pittsburgh and St. Louis, according to recently released U.S. Census Bureau figures.

 

Either way, the results for Cleveland are grim: One-third of Cleveland city dwellers reported an abandoned or vandalized building within one-half block.

 

Full story at:

http://www.cleveland.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/113852716392640.xml&coll=2

Here we go again with one of Cleveland's main news outlets focusing on only the negatives of the city.  I'm getting sick of it. 

 

Believe in Cleveland?  Not the PD. 

"The Plain Dealer.  The undisputed leader in promoting perceptions of inadequacy in Clevelanders since 1842."

like death and taxes, the peedee is at it again. how do those people live with themselves at that paper? bring back the cleveland press!

Read Sun Newspapers instead....  :wink:

It's sad to see the PD continually print stories like this.  It just amazes me how Cleveland's hometown paper can seem so anti-Cleveland at times; if they see the opportunity to take a good jab at the city, they take it.

I think I've said this before, but the PD does not think about the psychological affects it has on the city.  This is Cleveland's main daily newspaper and even though circulation is down, many, MANY people still read it.  It is because of our news media outlets that we have an "inferiority complex".  Think about it.  If our news media did not put the city down every chance that they had, would we feel the same about our town?  Hell no.  But if you keep calling a child ugly, over and over again, sooner or later that child will start BELIEVING that he or she is ugly.  The PD sure knows how to push that belief down this region's throat.

 

 

i generally don't have a problem with people identifying problem areas or areas of improvement.  i think it is important for our city to benchmark ourselves against other cities we admire or aspire to be, or at the very least to validate that we are functioning as a city/region in providing the services and quality of life that our residents demand.

 

what i think the PD as well as other media outlets in the area don't seem to do is:

1) propose solutions/answers to the perceived problems;

2) spend time discussing initiatives that are tackling the perceived problems;

3) identify some positive momentum toward solving whatever the perceived problem is.

 

don't complain if you aren't going to propose a solution and participate in fixing a problem.  this causes stagnation around negative energy imo and perpetuates the feeling of helplessness and inferiority that so many complain about. 

Nicely put

 

don't complain if you aren't going to propose a solution and participate in fixing a problem.  this causes stagnation around negative energy imo and perpetuates the feeling of helplessness and inferiority that so many complain about. 

 

At least the PD has some insight from well informed intellectuals like Connie here...and apparently all you have to do is ask her...

 

Deep thoughts...by Connie Frey

 

Just ask Connie Frey of Strongsville, who likes it here.

 

"Try being from Toledo," she says. "That is something to be down about."

 

 

^^I agree with what you have said. We know when the inferiority complex started, as some would place it back in the 60's with the river burning which really got it going.  Not to mention the anti-urban sentiment which was sweeping across the nation, racial tensions, white flight, etc.  We know it culminated back when the city went into default.  But what has kept this inferiority complex going into the next millenium?  Is it that the city is doing nothing in regards to trying to reinvent itself and it's economy, or that the news media focuses too much on the negatives?  What happens to the minds of the readers who for years read a majority of negative news about the region?  Will they feel good about the region, or will they feel that other places offer better living?

 

I will give the PD credit for getting some of the minds of our elected leaders moving in the right direction. For example, the "quiet crisis" series was a needed discussion for the region.  However, as in your post, I don't feel that they proposed any solution to the problems that they were reporting on.

 

Am I going to participate in solving the problem?  Actually yes.  I'm currently in college and am majoring in urban development.  I would like to be a part of the discussions about the problems that the region faces, but would like to know more about the history of the problems of urban areas and solutions to those problems before I go out and voice my opinions in those discussions.  I view this board as a positive entity and enjoy reading others posts who are interested in the problems of the region and also any solutions.  Since I am still learning about urban issues, I don't really reply much to posts (I'm a lurker), but read most of the posts on this board, especially those pertaining to Cleveland.

Oldmanladyluck----- I appaud your effort. Although, I hope your effort says in Cleveland. So many of our residents are born, raised, and college educated in the City of Cleveland. But, They find work elsewhere. Also, I can't blame those individuals who cannot find work here. I hope more can find quality jobs here.