Would Cleveland/Northeast Ohio Be Better Off if it Were Its Own State? (Columbus: employment, casino)

[Clevelander17]

The topic is pretty self-explanatory. As much as I love Columbus (and Ohio State), at times I feel like we send too much of our resources to Capital City, getting too little in return. Further I think there are a lot of anti-Cleveland policies coming from the state, including the redistricting fiasco that cuts our influence into pieces, the denial of the 3-C money, and most recently the delaying of our casino opening. It seems that those serving in Columbus have no understanding of the urgency of Cleveland's problems or how best to solve them.

So would Cleveland and the surrounding 12-15 counties (including Summit, Stark, and Mahoning) be better off if they were their own state?

[Peregrine]

I say that all the time. Cleveland doesn't belong in podunk Ohio.

I don't think the Columbus intentionally sabotages us though. That would be just ludicrous.

[costello_musicman]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

I say that all the time. Cleveland doesn't belong in podunk Ohio.

I don't think the Columbus intentionally sabotages us though. That would be just ludicrous.

You know, I just realized something. Whenever I'm visiting somewhere out of State and if someone introduces me as from Ohio, I always correct them with "well, Cleveland."

I guess I do subconsciously see "Ohio" as having the view as po-dunk, so I feel the need to fix their perceived mental image! LOL

Regarding State gov't funding/policies, I do not think that Columbus is out to spite Cleveland, BUT I do feel they end up with disproportionate amounts of tax dollars, whether it is done completely on purpose or not. Whenever I get time, ir would be interesting to see the per capita stats with tax dollars.

Originally Posted by Clevelander17

It seems that those serving in Columbus have no understanding of the urgency of Cleveland's problems or how best to solve them.

I also agree with this. Ohio state laws and policies tend to be are very anti-urban in nature, which does not help Cleveland at all.

Another example being at odds with the Columbus law Cleveland vs Ohio
(http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-cleveland-sues-ohio-trans-fat-ban-law-txt,0,4822489.story - broken link)

[Cleveland_Collector]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

I say that all the time. Cleveland doesn't belong in podunk Ohio.

I don't think the Columbus intentionally sabotages us though. That would be just ludicrous.

I don't think Columbus as a whole does, but I think a lot of the people elected to run the state have a vendetta against "liberal" NEO. There are legislators in this state that flat out hate the fact that Cuyahoga County's influence presides over 40% of the state's GDP. I've talked with reps from the rural areas and, listening to them, you would think that agribusiness rules all. In reality, it only accounts 1/5 of the GDP and 1/7 of the employment base -AND- it's also a heavily taxpayer subsidized industry which, given their chosen rhetoric, is both ironic and hypocritical.

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by Clevelander17

The topic is pretty self-explanatory. As much as I love Columbus (and Ohio State), at times I feel like we send too much of our resources to Capital City, getting too little in return. Further I think there are a lot of anti-Cleveland policies coming from the state, including the redistricting fiasco that cuts our influence into pieces, the denial of the 3-C money, and most recently the delaying of our casino opening. It seems that those serving in Columbus have no understanding of the urgency of Cleveland's problems or how best to solve them.

So would Cleveland and the surrounding 12-15 counties (including Summit, Stark, and Mahoning) be better off if they were their own state?

This crap again?

Unless anyone promoting this idea can prove any of the following:

1. That Columbus gets a disproportionate amount of the state budget...
2. That the Columbus representatives have more power than all other state elected officials and purposely try to hurt the Cleveland area...
3. Or that becoming your own state will do anything but break up the 7th strongest economy in the nation...

Than this thread is completely moot.

I also find it interesting that there are several people who refer to the rest of the state as "podunk" when it is so often the Cleveland area that gets the most negative attention from outsiders. The lack of statewide unification is a good reason why we have so many problems. Do you think a state like Texas has this problem?

[Ohiogirl81]

Every place else in Ohio complains about the same thing. Cleveland is special in many, many ways, but not this one.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

This crap again?

Unless anyone promoting this idea can prove any of the following:

1. That Columbus gets a disproportionate amount of the state budget...
2. That the Columbus representatives have more power than all other state elected officials and purposely try to hurt the Cleveland area...
3. Or that becoming your own state will do anything but break up the 7th strongest economy in the nation...

Than this thread is completely moot.

I also find it interesting that there are several people who refer to the rest of the state as "podunk" when it is so often the Cleveland area that gets the most negative attention from outsiders. The lack of statewide unification is a good reason why we have so many problems. Do you think a state like Texas has this problem?

I'm sorry but I wanted to engage in this conversation and the fine folks over at that other place didn't think it was appropriate. I think there is definitely something to discuss here, if you disagree then we can at least talk about it.

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by Clevelander17

I'm sorry but I wanted to engage in this conversation and the fine folks over at that other place didn't think it was appropriate. I think there is definitely something to discuss here, if you disagree then we can at least talk about it.

I have no problem discussing it, so long as the base point of contention, that Columbus gets an unfair share of the state budget, is supported by evidence. I recognize that this seems to be common belief in some areas by some people, but I've never actually seen any numbers to base it on. I've also argued as well that Columbus does not see eye to eye with state government that often either, with examples including the 70/71 rebuild and light rail.

However, if the base point can't be supported, the idea that the Cleveland area would be better off on its own loses the prime reasoning behind separation in the first place. Also, the idea that Columbus has that much power over the future of Cleveland suggests heavily that the Cleveland area itself is entirely blameless in its problems, which is crazy.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Every place else in Ohio complains about the same thing. Cleveland is special in many, many ways, but not this one.

Maybe...except few other cities (save Cincinnati) put as much in the kitty and get as little in return. In fact there are undoubtedly a lot of cities around the state that may be able to complain about state policies on other things, but can't really complain about the amount of return they get on their state tax dollars sent to Columbus.

[cali3448893]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

I say that all the time. Cleveland doesn't belong in podunk Ohio.

I don't think the Columbus intentionally sabotages us though. That would be just ludicrous.

Yeah it does all ohio cities belong in ohio sorry