<a href=http://blog.efficientgovnow.org/?p=62>Summaries of the 65 Project Abstracts Submitted to EfficientGovNow</a>

 

The Fund for Our Economic Future, a collaborative effort to strengthen regional economic competitiveness in Northeast Ohio, received 65 project abstracts from partnerships of governmental entities looking to compete for EfficientGovNow awards. Summaries of the project abstracts, which will be posted in full on the EfficientGovNow web site on May 1 for public review and comment, can be viewed <a href=http://blog.efficientgovnow.org/?p=62>here.</a>

Those who know Chris, know he is not just blowing smoke for some job.  He truly loves this place.  And I hope when the time comes, there are enough people who understand that will vote for him...

 

NE Ohio must change course and adopt a smart growth strategy

by Chris Ronayne

Sunday April 26, 2009, 5:00 AM

Ronayne is president of University Circle Inc.

 

Northeast Ohio is a microcosm of a growing American problem. We've spread our metropolitan region and its shrinking resources dangerously thin. We're sprawling without growth, when we should be growing smarter and together.

 

Since 2002, we've consumed more than 100,000 acres of farmland in Cleveland's metropolitan area without any growth in population. Instead of becoming stronger, we've grown outward and away from one another. And schools, retailers and places of worship have followed the people. This painful reality hit home recently when the Diocese of Cleveland announced the closing or consolidation of more than 50 Catholic parishes by 2010, with 92 percent in urban centers.

 

More at

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/04/ne_ohio_must_change_course_and.html

If he ran for mayor, I would personally move to Cleveland just so I could vote for him.

This was in the News Herald yesterday.

 

Lake mayors not sure on revenue sharing

Published: Tuesday, April 28, 2009

 

By David W. Jones

I just read the Ronayne article and thought it was absolutely great.  I just wonder if he underestimates how impossible it will be to do this, though.  While it would be awesome if you could, you can't force people to think with foresight.  Thus, while he rightly points out the possibility that Westlake will face problems in the future, he would be wrong if he thinks its residents will realize this.

Thus, while he rightly points out the possibility that Westlake will face problems in the future, he would be wrong if he thinks its residents will realize this.

 

I have had this discussion with exurbans.  I find it's more that they don't care that their suburb will eventually face problems.  They view it as being far enough down the road that they'll worry about it at that point, and just pick another suburb to move to (further from the city).

While it would be awesome if you could, you can't force people to think with foresight. 

 

I would argue and say that it would be difficult, but not impossible. If it's impossible, then the Cleveland region deserves to go down in flames because people have to get over their stubborn inability to think holistically.

 

I have had this discussion with exurbans.  I find it's more that they don't care that their suburb will eventually face problems.  They view it as being far enough down the road that they'll worry about it at that point, and just pick another suburb to move to (further from the city).

 

I think that can be a huge problem for the region at large, definitely. I would go even further to say that it's a me, myself and I problem. People can't think outside of themselves, and it's all about how comfortable THEY are, instead of wanting to contribute to something that's much larger than themselves. People can have such little vision, especially some people in the suburbs. Why do people tend to move to suburbs? To have the little house with the white picket fence and pop out 2.5 kids. AND??

 

I mean, people in the NEO region can be a huge catalyst for change. The region can be so much bigger and better and more impactful than it is now. And that's not saying that it isn't now. But it can go much further and become much stronger. But I think if people were really honest with themselves, they don't want it to.

 

And obviously, I'm not talking about everyone. I'm generalizing based on my own experiences of many people in the suburbs, especially. But I think this inability to work as a region for the future is a big problem.

It's kind of sad, but you need to appeal to the here and now, rather than the future.  Look at Washington, DC - they've put us in a black hole of debt that we'll never get out of, but they can sell making it worse by phrasing it with nice sounding words like stimulus and recovery.  I actually think one of the most effective arguments put forth by Ronyane here is <i>"In one vote, Cleveland, as a unified Cuyahoga County, would rise from the 40th largest city to the top 10 all over again."</i>

 

People in Westlake and Beachwood still on the whole see themselves as Clevelanders, I believe.  They have tried as best they can to divorce themselves from the problems of Cleveland proper, but for most long-time residents of the region, they still identify with "Cleveland", and remember when it was a big city, or they've heard stories about those days from their parents.  Appeal to the inferiority complex and say, "This CAN be done, and if we do it, we put this town back on the map."  It will people in this town feel like a player again - the 7th largest city in the country, and like they are part of something big.  Is that the "best" argument for what we're talking about?  Absolutely not.  But I think it is the most likely to get people really thinking about it.

The people need educated to understand how this works before they will buy into it.  The logical place of course is the paper, but they are too busy with brain drains, and how they can throw a wrench in the medical mart.  Imagine picking up the paper each sunday and seeing giant headlines like: "What is regionalism?"  "How does regionalism work?"  "How can regionalism improve Northeast Ohio"  They could even run case studies on how this played out in Indianapolis and what the positive results are.  Will they do this?  Probably not.  But they need to.

 

Bottom line, a lot has changed in the last 200 years.  The days of the antiquated and separated areas with 59 cities in 1 county are over. It's a broken model.  It won't work.  Most of the cities that enjoyed success in the last 20-30 years were the "new" sunbelt cities that were all basically founded as regional places.  In almost every instance, the county is the city or damn close.  That enables governments to use money where it's needed.  Instead back here in the stone ages we have 59 "cities" and basically 30 haves and 29 have nots.  While some people think life is grand and get free trash cans, some places have bridges that are unuseable and crumbling roadways.  Great system.

Unless you give the 30 haves a reason to submit to the wants of the 29 have nots, you're not going to get anywhere.  You cannot get an American to see 10 years into the future.  The PD has been talking about regionalism for quite a while.  Not with the focus of the Brian Drains and the FCE Newsletter, mind you, but they have.  I've never seen anything specific, though, no explanation of the process, and what's in it for the areas that are better off.  The mention of boroughs in the Ronyane op-ed is important.  It tells the fiefdom folks that they will still have some control over their areas.  More specifics are needed.  What stays the same, what changes, and how are the things that change BETTER for everyone involved?

Exactly.  The PD obviously is in favor of regionalism, and it makes guest appearances in editorials. But they have never once explained to the masses who are afraid of it "what regionalism is".  Nor the benefits.  Doesn't that seem like a much more productive use of our paper than what we typically get?

Well, I think that's the big problem. No one really knows what it looks like in Cleveland because no one's really come up with a concrete plan or even rough sketch and said, "This is what I think we should do .. what do you all think?" There's been small attempts at joining forces on little things here and there, but they are NOT enough. Discussion and conversation needs to be opened where ideas can be presented in an open, respective forum. I mean, wouldn't that be an obvious first step towards regionalism? You can't do it by beating people over the head.

 

I think that the BENEFITS of regionalism really need to be hammered out and presented to people. I think people's fears need to be calmed. Show them that this can be a beneficial, progressive way to move the region forward. Right now, I think it's still very much a buzzword, and there hasn't been any serious leadership or even discussion on the matter.

 

I also think people are afraid of the fact that their communities' identities will be erased, and I think that's a somewhat valid fear. I think that any in-fighting that has occured in the past needs to get put aside, and a hand of reconciliation needs to be given across the region. Working as a team, TOGETHER, is a much better way than each community trying to go it alone.

The people need educated to understand how this works before they will buy into it.  The logical place of course is the paper, but they are too busy with brain drains, and how they can throw a wrench in the medical mart.  Imagine picking up the paper each sunday and seeing giant headlines like: "What is regionalism?"  "How does regionalism work?"  "How can regionalism improve Northeast Ohio"  They could even run case studies on how this played out in Indianapolis and what the positive results are.  Will they do this?  Probably not.  But they need to.

 

Bottom line, a lot has changed in the last 200 years.  The days of the antiquated and separated areas with 59 cities in 1 county are over. It's a broken model.  It won't work.  Most of the cities that enjoyed success in the last 20-30 years were the "new" sunbelt cities that were all basically founded as regional places.  In almost every instance, the county is the city or damn close.  That enables governments to use money where it's needed.  Instead back here in the stone ages we have 59 "cities" and basically 30 haves and 29 have nots.  While some people think life is grand and get free trash cans, some places have bridges that are unuseable and crumbling roadways.  Great system.

 

I firmly believe that propaganda can be a very important tool.  However, if the PD started printing an inordinate amount of pro-regionalism articles in an effort to further regionalism, how is that any different than them printing an inordinate amount of pro-Tower City articles in an effort to further the possibility of the MedMart being located there?

 

 

I firmly believe that propaganda can be a very important tool. However, if the PD started printing an inordinate amount of pro-regionalism articles in an effort to further regionalism, how is that any different than them printing an inordinate amount of pro-Tower City articles in an effort to further the possibility of the MedMart being located there?

 

I agree. It would be the same thing, unless it's actually an attempt to balance out their negative reporting on regionalism. Then it's necessary to balance out their negative bias.

 

And I'm not even saying there has been any. I can't remember what the PD's general stance has been on the idea.

I'll tell you why.  It's bc people in Westlake or other areas that have good public schools do not want their schools to be turned into the low-performing schools that characterize the CMSD (and I don't blame them for having this fear).  That is what I thought was the beauty of Ronayne's article.  Allow each municipality to keep their own identity in certain ways.

 

I think it is perfectly understandable (not necessarily reasonable) for someone from Bay to compare their community to Cleveland's, and say "thanks, but no thanks."  I would be worried about losing political power, too.  Thus, if regionalism is to work, it better allow local municipalities a lot of say with what goes on in their area.

Indianapolis was set up almost identically to us and has benefited greatly.  So why can't the paper just disect it.  We need to educate people on all facets of this, if we ever want it to happen.  Regions with so many municipalities are a dying breed.  Plain and simple.  We'll figure this out or we will die.  People are afraid of change, education can eliminate fear.  The best way for mass education is the newspaper, but they've yet to pick up on it.

I firmly believe that propaganda can be a very important tool. However, if the PD started printing an inordinate amount of pro-regionalism articles in an effort to further regionalism, how is that any different than them printing an inordinate amount of pro-Tower City articles in an effort to further the possibility of the MedMart being located there?

 

I agree. It would be the same thing, unless it's actually an attempt to balance out their negative reporting on regionalism. Then it's necessary to balance out their negative bias.

 

And I'm not even saying there has been any. I can't remember what the PD's general stance has been on the idea.

 

I remember a huge discussion in the PD in the summer of 2007.  If that was the last major article to be printed, then yes, there should be a new round.

I'll tell you why. It's bc people in Westlake or other areas that have good public schools do not want their schools to be turned into the low-performing schools that characterize the CMSD (and I don't blame them for having this fear). That is what I thought was the beauty of Ronayne's article. Allow each municipality to keep their own identity in certain ways.

 

I think it is perfectly understandable (not necessarily reasonable) for someone from Bay to compare their community to Cleveland's, and say "thanks, but no thanks." I would be worried about losing political power, too. Thus, if regionalism is to work, it better allow local municipalities a lot of say with what goes on in their area.

 

I don't think anywhere merging school districts has been mentioned.  nor should it be.

I didn't say it was.  But people are fearful of such things.  They need guarantees it won't happen.

Which is exactly why they need to be educated on what regionalism is.  Education calms fears.  And we're right back to my point that the PD should be doing in depth reporting on this subject.  We have zero chance of succeeding if we don't regionalize.  Zero.

Two questions:

 

1) Who were the leaders in the move to regionalism for cities like Indianapolis, Minneapolis?  Mayors, city council, suburban mayors, etc?

 

2) Any identifiable trends in their path to regionalism that seemed to bring success?

Seems to me those would be excellent questions to be brought up and answered in a series of giant cover stories in the local paper for all to read. :wink:

Two questions:

 

1) Who were the leaders in the move to regionalism for cities like Indianapolis, Minneapolis?  Mayors, city council, suburban mayors, etc?

 

2) Any identifiable trends in their path to regionalism that seemed to bring success?

 

hint:  World Wide Web  ;)  ;)

Mr. Mts, that could be a tough thing to find on the internet.  Mc is a huge proponent of regionalism, and it is very likely he knows of similarities, etc.  At this moment, I don't have time to read a bunch of scholarly articles/case studies. 

 

**Sorry, I only read MTS post.  I will try to look into it, too.  Maybe it can provide a blueprint for how to try and garner more support.

To be honest pali, I'm not sure who lead the charge and got the ball rolling there.  I just know the end result.  And I know that their municiple make up looked almost identical to ours to start with.  And I also just know this makes sense.  There is a reason that newer cities simply are that size, and there is a reason those communities have money available to get things done that improve their areas... and their is a reason their roads don't look like something out of kabul, afghanistan.  Simply put, we should all benefit from having a great company like Progressive here.  Instead some communities build palacial community centers, while some communities can't even pay to keep their basic emergency services intact.  And in an effort to lure as much tax revenue as possible to each little fifedom, we property tax cut ourselves into oblivion, and everyone tries to build their own stretch of retail.  It never stops we are kicking our own ass for absolutely no reason. Together we are the 8th largest city in the country with a powerhouse line up of corporations and geographic assets.  Divided we are all infighting trying to slice up the pie into pieces barely large enough to sustain life.  Once we cross that hurdle and no one is trying to steal the companies and retail from each other we can start comprehensive planning for what makes the most sense. 

I mean, regionalism will stop the need for this competition against these smaller communities, which can be a good thing because the entire region of NEO needs to move forward into the future in a greater way .. and not just now, but in a sustained, prolonged manner. Instead, why not WORK TOGETHER, join forces and wield a mightier power in attracting companies to an ENTIRE REGION .. a REGION where everyone benefits somehow, and the need for self-preservation is eliminated .. or, at least, decreased???

 

But people can't see it that way because people are so afraid to challenge their own ways of thinking. This is the way things have always been done. Well, I think it's time to wake up. This HAS to change.

 

I'm not saying that regionalism is necessarily the cure-all for the region, and it shoudn't be marketed as such. I don't think it is, in and of itself. But I think it should be seriously considered as one PART to a GREATER plan to help the entire region move forward.

I think the next census may put the idea of regionalsim into better perspective for this region.  Let's face it folks:  with this next census we're gonna be taking a big hit, no doubt about it.  And I'm not just talking about the City of Cleveland, but the entire county as well.  This may be the catalyst to get this region to truly begin working together instead of against each other, to move ourselves forward towards future growth instead of current decline. 

 

I'm young, and would love to see this region succeed.  However, I personally can't take too much more of this, and would rather not spend my whole life in a city with ongoing negative pessimism.  I believe our stagnation has something to do with this since our region hasn't grown for 50 years.  I know that this would not happen overnight, but I at least want to see the seeds planted towards regionalism, instead of mere talking or constant "planning".   

hint: World Wide Web ;)   ;)

 

Isn't that what the "www" in http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,3595.270/topicseen.html#quickreply stands for?

I'll tell you why.  It's bc people in Westlake or other areas that have good public schools do not want their schools to be turned into the low-performing schools that characterize the CMSD (and I don't blame them for having this fear).  That is what I thought was the beauty of Ronayne's article.  Allow each municipality to keep their own identity in certain ways.

 

I think it is perfectly understandable (not necessarily reasonable) for someone from Bay to compare their community to Cleveland's, and say "thanks, but no thanks."  I would be worried about losing political power, too.  Thus, if regionalism is to work, it better allow local municipalities a lot of say with what goes on in their area.

 

I don't think anywhere merging school districts has been mentioned.  nor should it be.

 

I don't see why merging school districts is the third rail of regionalism.  I'm not proposing that Cleveland City Schools merge with Solon, but I could see similar quality suburban districts being merged.  Why shouldn't Bay and Westlake merge?  North Olmsted and Olm Falls.  Cuy. Hts and Independence.  Richmond and Lyndhurst-S. Euclid.  Do we really need 31 separate districts and superintendents and boards of education in Cuyahoga County?  Berea schools serve three municipalities (Berea, Middleburg, and Brook Park), Mayfield serves Highland Hts, Mayfield, May. Hts, and Gates Mills, so there are examples of successfully crossing municipal lines with one district.

 

http://www.puc.state.oh.us/pucogis/newcntymaps/sd035.pdf

<a href=http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26010/>Getting Communities to Collaborate is a Challenging Task</a>

Posted Friday, May 1, 2009

Topics: Politics

<a href=http://audio2.ideastream.org/wcpn/2009/05/0501osborne.mp3>Download MP3</a>

 

The Fund For Our Economic Future put out a challenge to northeast Ohio communities. The group offered to give $300 thousand toward a development project, with just one catch. That project has to be a collaboration between multiple communities. 65 proposals have been submitted. The public will help decide the winner later this year. As this process rolls on, the group has brought in a nationally known expert. David Osborne is the author of several books on the topic of regionalism. He spoke with ideastream®'s Eric Wellman.

From the <a href=http://blog.efficientgovnow.org/?p=98>EfficientGovNow Blog</a>:

 

Qualified project abstracts posted; Public comments wanted

 

In March, the EfficientGovNow program issued requests for proposals to local governmental entities throughout Northeast Ohio. The program received 65 abstracts (summarized in a <a href=http://blog.efficientgovnow.org/?p=62>previous blog entry</a>) from partnerships across Northeast Ohio seeking to accelerate government collaboration and efficiency. We at the Fund for Our Economic Future are thrilled by the response from these local government officials and applaud all their efforts!

 

Of the submitted abstracts, 45 were found to meet the minimum qualifications of EfficientGovNow and move on to the full proposal stage. Now, all 45 of those abstracts have been posted in full to the <a href=http://www.efficientgovnow.org/Proposals/>“proposals”</a> section of this site and we want to know what YOU think of them.

 

Review and comment on any or all of the posted abstracts. Be constructive! Your comments and suggestions will allow local government officials to strengthen their collaborative work and understand what is important to the residents of Northeast Ohio.

 

Full proposals are due May 31 and finalists will be announced July 1. Throughout the month of July, the public will vote to determine which projects receive funding.

 

With the officials’ work and your help, our communities will come together to advance Northeast Ohio.

The Morning Journal (morningjournal.com), Serving Northern Ohio

 

News

 

NOACA to decide on disputed voting rule

Friday, May 8, 2009

 

By JEFF GREEN

[email protected]

 

CLEVELAND — The board of the Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency will decide today whether to change a rule that allows members of larger cities and counties to have more influence than others.

 

NOACA, an agency that distributes federal money to Lorain, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Medina and Lake counties, will consider requiring two of the counties' board of commissioners to invoke its "weighted voting" rule. Presently, a single mayor or commissioner on the 38-member NOACA board can have it apply...

 

Post edited 9-4-09 to comply with terms of use

 

URL: http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2009/05/08/news/mj1012513.prt

 

© 2009 morningjournal.com, a Journal Register Property

 

An interesting article highlighting regionalism in New Jersey.  We need to face facts Cleveland- the next census is not going to be good to us (or the county for that matter).  I expect to see Euclid's population drop below 50,000, along with Cleveland Heights (officially, since this number has been debated by the city).  This county has experienced MASSIVE population loss, partly due to shifting demographics, the economy (which never recovered from 2001, as shown in another thread), and the housing crisis.  If people don't realize by now that as Cleveland goes, so does the region- this next census should be a wake-up call.  Time for action.

 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Towns-find-obstacles-to-apf-15270722.html?sec=topStories&pos=2&asset=&ccode=

 

Towns find obstacles to saying 'I do' to mergers

Down economy prompts cities to discuss mergers -- sense of identity, independence are obstacles

 

    * David Porter, Associated Press Writer

    * On Saturday May 16, 2009, 2:45 pm EDT

 

CHESTER, N.J. (AP) -- It's a response to the recession and dwindling state aid that seems deceptively logical: Neighboring towns can merge into one to streamline services and save money.

 

Problem is, it's rarely done, though the concept is being studied in many states, including New Jersey. But to make it work, towns have to be willing to reduce staff and services, and they risk losing their identities and their independence -- and few seem to be willing to do that.

 

An interesting article highlighting regionalism in New Jersey.  We need to face facts Cleveland- the next census is not going to be good to us (or the county for that matter).  I expect to see Euclid's population drop below 50,000, along with Cleveland Heights (officially, since this number has been debated by the city).  This county has experienced MASSIVE population loss, partly due to shifting demographics, the economy (which never recovered from 2001, as shown in another thread), and the housing crisis.  If people don't realize by now that as Cleveland goes, so does the region- this next census should be a wake-up call.  Time for action.

 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Towns-find-obstacles-to-apf-15270722.html?sec=topStories&pos=2&asset=&ccode=

 

Towns find obstacles to saying 'I do' to mergers

Down economy prompts cities to discuss mergers -- sense of identity, independence are obstacles

 

    * David Porter, Associated Press Writer

    * On Saturday May 16, 2009, 2:45 pm EDT

 

CHESTER, N.J. (AP) -- It's a response to the recession and dwindling state aid that seems deceptively logical: Neighboring towns can merge into one to streamline services and save money.

 

Problem is, it's rarely done, though the concept is being studied in many states, including New Jersey. But to make it work, towns have to be willing to reduce staff and services, and they risk losing their identities and their independence -- and few seem to be willing to do that.

 

In Utah, officials have discussed making one city out of five towns north of Salt Lake City, and the eastern Massachusetts towns of Hamilton and Wenham have studied a merger. In Idaho, a proposed union of the resort towns of Ketchum and Sun Valley was scrapped last month after strong resistance from residents of Sun Valley, a world-renowned ski resort.

 

Some New Jersey lawmakers believe they've found a solution in having their cash-strapped state act as an ersatz Match.com for towns looking to merge.

 

The state is offering to pay for studies and give a property tax credit to homeowners whose taxes would rise. The aim is to save money and escape Gov. Jon S. Corzine's plans to slash aid to more than 300 towns with fewer than 10,000 residents.

 

If that doesn't work, these towns risk losing state aid.

 

"Whenever we've tried to bring people to the altar it hasn't worked; what we need is a few shotgun weddings," said Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, D-Princeton, who wants "doughnut hole" towns -- small boroughs surrounded by larger townships -- to share services or merge within the next decade.

 

The small towns of Chester Borough and Chester Township, nestled in the rolling hills of west-central New Jersey, provide a good example of the problems in making these forced marriages work.

 

Relations between the two towns are friendly. Children in both towns attend the same schools and check out books from the same library. A single fire company handles calls for both towns. They pay for other services separately, including police and a total of two mayors and 10 council members.

 

The fact they are separate exemplifies what many see as a critical problem in a state where a whopping 566 municipalities vie for a shrinking pot of state aid and homeowners suffer property taxes that are double the national average.

 

Chester Township Mayor William Cogger called the issue "the 800-pound gorilla in the room" -- are towns willing to study a merger in earnest if it means one might disappear?

 

"From a sociological standpoint we're one community ... but if the economics don't work, the merger won't work," Cogger said.

 

Several pairs of New Jersey towns, including the two Chesters, already are studying mergers. Sussex Borough and Wantage Township, in the northwest corner of the state, could put the question in front of voters this November.

 

The weight of history is against them. There has been only one successful town merger in New Jersey since the 1950s, despite numerous attempts. That occurred in 1997 in Warren County when Hardwick Township absorbed Pohaquarry, population 7.

 

Previous attempts at town mergers in New Jersey have failed for any number of reasons; sometimes, as in dating, one town is just not that into the other.

 

Old-money Princeton Borough, home to Princeton University and $4 lattes, three times has voted down a proposed merger with surrounding Princeton Township, home to office parks and McMansions, the last time in 1996, despite some evidence that it would have derived the greater economic benefit. Opponents spoke of maintaining the borough's small-town atmosphere and having a greater say in local government.

 

The Chesters have been down the aisle before, too, but four studies and two votes in the 1970s and 80s failed to produce a merger.

 

Bob Romeo, owner of the Renaissance Barber Shoppe in the borough, has noticed opinion divided along demographic lines: Longtime borough residents tend to be anti-merger, while newer arrivals to the township often aren't even aware there are two towns. Those in between could swing a vote either way.

 

"Some people say they're afraid if we do it, more people would move here," said Romeo, whose front door faces a main street where several businesses have closed. "But is that a bad thing, especially for these businesses that are struggling?"

 

Earl Snook, chairman of the commission looking at a Sussex-Wantage merger, said he understands people are worried about losing a town's identity, but "I say you have to change with the times. You have to look at saving money somehow."

 

Tiny Corbin City, population about 500, also seems a prime candidate for a merger. Once a home to shipbuilders and sea captains along the Tuckahoe River, it sits about 20 miles southeast of Atlantic City on the northern edge of Upper Township, which has about 11,000 residents spread across 68 square miles. A state-funded study on a possible merger is under way.

 

The towns already share library, ambulance and fire services, and Corbin City's children attend school in Upper Township. The only service offered solely by Corbin City is trash removal, according to Mayor Carol Foster, one of two full-time municipal employees.

 

"I don't think there's a simpler consolidation than this one," Foster said. "This could be a very important pilot program."

 

Upper Township Mayor Richard Palombo didn't sound as hopeful, noting that his constituents could see their taxes rise to pay for schooling Corbin City's students, who currently pay tuition as a sending district to Upper Township. They also would have to pay for them to attend neighboring Ocean City High School along with Upper Township's students.

 

Gusciora, the assemblyman, said residents who complain about New Jersey's highest-in-the-nation property taxes can't have it both ways.

 

"People scream about property taxes, but when there's a realistic way to deal with that, everybody either shrugs their shoulders or finds an excuse not to do it," Gusciora said.

 

 

Next??  Could be??

 

Hell the last THREE census figures should have been a wakeup!  :whip:

^Agreed.

I really don't get this stubborn refusal in the region to move forward and innovate. I really don't.

 

That doesn't go for everyone, but it just feels like it's a culture in the region.

I really don't get this stubborn refusal in the region to move forward and innovate. I really don't.

 

That doesn't go for everyone, but it just feels like it's a culture in the region.

 

it's not just Cleveland it's all over the country, sans the regions which have already regionalised.

it's not just Cleveland it's all over the country, sans the regions which have already regionalised.

 

I'm talking about Cleveland in particular, though. Maybe I'm just more sensitive to it because it's where I was born and raised. But I think it's more than that.

 

Any region that isn't willing to change with the times and innovate and progress deserves the problems that come upon it.

Well then you are talking about most of the Midwest and Northeastern part of the country... You know, all the older cities (save of course a very small handful of cities... that's what america is devolving into). Note that article is about New Jersey.  It's difficult to get people to buy into a "greater good" mentality.  Most people are too concerned about their little plot in the world.

^ Exactly. It seems like most of the NEO suburbs take the "us against the other NEO subrubs" approach rather than the "it's NEO against the world."

I wonder if the formation of some sort of 501 c3 could be established specifically for educating the local public on the need for Cleveland to regionalize.  Yes, the issue has been pushed by the paper, but the paper hits a road block every time the school system is brought up.  Nobody wants to touch that issue at all.

 

If we don't change the way our local governments operate, I think we will continue to slide in population and economic importance. 

Always amazes me... the communities on the far outside always see themselves as "growing", and have no idea why they should be contributing to anything...

 

http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2009/05/19/news/mj1062193.txt

 

Two local mayors question regional planning project

Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009

 

 

By SCOT ALLYN

[email protected]

 

ELYRIA — The mayors of Avon and Sheffield Village were among those who questioned a new regional planning organization that met at Spitzer Conference Center yesterday to gather input on how to work together to benefit communities in 16 Northeast Ohio counties.

 

The Regional Prosperity Initiative started in 2006 as a study of revenue sharing among townships, cities and villages. In its second phase, the project is zeroing in on land use planning and ways to share the growth in income taxes and commercial and industrial property taxes in the years to come...

 

 

I think the only solution is going to have to come from the state or federal level, and it'll have to include some carrots and some sticks. Barring that, I can't imagine regionalization is ever going to happen on a significant level.

Consider it this way:  Ignore anything that is not within Cleveland Proper and view the city of Cleveland as a microcosm of the entire region, with it's various neighborhoods being the "suburbs", so to speak.

 

Where do you live?  Ohio City? Tremont? Shaker Square? Downtown? Little Italy?  Some other relatively gentrified area?  Well what if you're told the resources that make that neighborhood adequate for you to live in are going to be diverted to Kinsman, Union Miles, Clark-Fulton, etc. 

 

How would you feel about that?

 

Even within the city when they tried to consolidate wards/districts it caused tension.  Now toss in 25/30, or how ever many municiplalities there are, and ... stalemate...

Consider it this way:  Ignore anything that is not within Cleveland Proper and view the city of Cleveland as a microcosm of the entire region, with it's various neighborhoods being the "suburbs", so to speak.

 

Where do you live?  Ohio City? Tremont? Shaker Square? Downtown? Little Italy?  Some other relatively gentrified area?  Well what if you're told the resources that make that neighborhood adequate for you to live in are going to be diverted to Kinsman, Union Miles, Clark-Fulton, etc. 

 

How would you feel about that?

 

Even within the city when they tried to consolidate wards/districts it caused tension.  Now toss in 25/30, or how ever many municiplalities there are, and ... stalemate...

 

Honestly, as a city resident, I would be happy for other area's to see more concentration.  I think my neighborhood is strong enough to survive and still maintain it's roll as a destination if it receive less funds.

Well what if you're told the resources that make that neighborhood adequate for you to live in are going to be diverted to Kinsman, Union Miles, Clark-Fulton, etc.

 

I am pretty sure that already happens and I would be happy that they are targeting "at risk" areas of the city.  Remember, A rising tide lifts all ships...

 

Even within the city when they tried to consolidate wards/districts it caused tension.

 

Tension yes, but it was accomplished.  The citizens did overwhelming vote for it.  Though Cleveland made it seem more like a power play than a consolidation. 

A lot of the money supporting Shaker Square comes from the county in the form of RTA service.  I can't think of another Cleveland neighborhood (excepting downtown of course) for which this is true.  So there's a perfect example of the larger community helping one inner city neighborhood be all it can be.

I think shs96 is right in that we can't expect exurban communities that would end up paying into a system to just smile and say "sure," just because we think it's in their long term best interest.  Really, what should have happened was changes to state law 50 years ago back when the center cities still had enough clout to lock some kind of rational tax sharing policy in place.

 

As I understand it, the changes in the Twin Cities were a result of statehouse coalitions of older, low-growth communities and outlying communities that weren't attracting any commercial development, the combination of which effectively outvoted the smaller number of state reps from high growth corridors.

I think shs96 is right in that we can't expect exurban communities that would end up paying into a system to just smile and say "sure," just because we think it's in their long term best interest.  Really, what should have happened was changes to state law 50 years ago back when the center cities still had enough clout to lock some kind of rational tax sharing policy in place.

 

As I understand it, the changes in the Twin Cities were a result of statehouse coalitions of older, low-growth communities and outlying communities that weren't attracting any commercial development, the combination of which effectively outvoted the smaller number of state reps from high growth corridors.

 

So regionalism may have to be achieved through political force rather than a true meeting of the minds between city and exurb?  Not surprising.  Let's get going on the political force.

If the municipalities' politicians are even a fraction as corrupt as the county appears to be then it should be easy right?  :-)