Cleveland Development Discussions (safe, driveway, drive)

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by Cleverfield

I'm telling you Jackson's administration is all about getting things done. Total culture change from what Cleveland was like for the 30 years before he took office.

Not sure how much of a role Jackson's administration had to do with this given it's a private developer for a student housing project adjacent to a large state university on privately owned land being sold in an arm's length transaction. Regardless, it's great news for downtown and another sign of Cleveland becoming a good place to invest. Next up, new residential construction.

[Peregrine]

As much as I am not a Jackson fan, you can't argue that a lot of really great things have happened since he has been at the helm. Total coincidence maybe, just good timing possibly, but it does make him look good.

[Cleverfield]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

As much as I am not a Jackson fan, you can't argue that a lot of really great things have happened since he has been at the helm. Total coincidence maybe, just good timing possibly, but it does make him look good.

What I like about him is he's a man of good character; served in Vietnam, stayed in his declining community even though he had the opportunity to leave, served his ward loyally for many years, decided to run for mayor not for personal power or glory, but because he thought that things could be run better, he has a good education, works hard, and is thoughtful and good at planning for the future. He always balances the budget, provides the level of city services that the city can afford while still being fiscally responsible, and encourages business growth and development. The business community loves him, because unlike administrations in the past he is consistent, and doesn't demand ***-kissing or kickbacks. He also cares deeply for the poor, and has commissioned street re-paving in some of the worst off areas that probably had been completely forgotten in previous administrations. He is a good, no great mayor whose tenure has brought Cleveland out of the doldrums and back into the light.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by Cleverfield

What I like about him is he's a man of good character; served in Vietnam, stayed in his declining community even though he had the opportunity to leave, served his ward loyally for many years, decided to run for mayor not for personal power or glory, but because he thought that things could be run better, he has a good education, works hard, and is thoughtful and good at planning for the future. He always balances the budget, provides the level of city services that the city can afford while still being fiscally responsible, and encourages business growth and development. The business community loves him, because unlike administrations in the past he is consistent, and doesn't demand ***-kissing or kickbacks. He also cares deeply for the poor, and has commissioned street re-paving in some of the worst off areas that probably had been completely forgotten in previous administrations. He is a good, no great mayor whose tenure has brought Cleveland out of the doldrums and back into the light.

Personally, he seems very mediocre to me. If you look at the positive developments in the city, they are happening from private investments largely. The progress also began before Jackson showed up. He took office in 2006, but the seeds of progress in some neighborhoods were definitely already planted. I guess the best I can say is that he doesn't usually actively try to crush progress in the city, which is definitely a positive trait- knowing when to not interefere is something a lot of people don't learn.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by Cleverfield

What I like about him is he's a man of good character; served in Vietnam, stayed in his declining community even though he had the opportunity to leave, served his ward loyally for many years, decided to run for mayor not for personal power or glory, but because he thought that things could be run better, he has a good education, works hard, and is thoughtful and good at planning for the future. He always balances the budget, provides the level of city services that the city can afford while still being fiscally responsible, and encourages business growth and development. The business community loves him, because unlike administrations in the past he is consistent, and doesn't demand ***-kissing or kickbacks. He also cares deeply for the poor, and has commissioned street re-paving in some of the worst off areas that probably had been completely forgotten in previous administrations. He is a good, no great mayor whose tenure has brought Cleveland out of the doldrums and back into the light.

Cleveland's been in the doldrums since the 1950s and has been back into the light since the 1980s. If Jackson is a great mayor, how has he reduced, for example, the poverty rate in one of the top poorest cities in the U.S.?

[Cleverfield]

How is it within a mayor's power to reduce the poverty rate? He has improved the quality of life in poor neighborhoods, but the government can't make the poor not be poor. He has worked on the things to help them eventually climb out of poverty, with the school reform plan (which has some very promising and well tested elements, such as the portfolio schools idea), and other programs for training and helping ex convicts find jobs. He has put the pieces in place for reform, though we probably won't see results for 20 years. Cleveland's problems are deeply ingrained and cannot be transformed overnight, or even in 8 years.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by Cleverfield

How is it within a mayor's power to reduce the poverty rate? He has improved the quality of life in poor neighborhoods, but the government can't make the poor not be poor. He has worked on the things to help them eventually climb out of poverty, with the school reform plan (which has some very promising and well tested elements, such as the portfolio schools idea), and other programs for training and helping ex convicts find jobs. He has put the pieces in place for reform, though we probably won't see results for 20 years. Cleveland's problems are deeply ingrained and cannot be transformed overnight, or even in 8 years.

Reduce the poverty rate by leadership on job creation. For example, Toledo's ties with China are way ahead of Cleveland's and Toledo scored some major stimulus money for its port. As far as the schools go, have a mandatory uniform and teach the three Rs. Cleveland's problems are the result of some deeply ingrained War on Poverty programs from 50 years ago. Cleveland doesn't have another 20 years to start seeing results.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by Cleverfield

What I like about him is he's a man of good character; served in Vietnam, stayed in his declining community even though he had the opportunity to leave, served his ward loyally for many years, decided to run for mayor not for personal power or glory, but because he thought that things could be run better, he has a good education, works hard, and is thoughtful and good at planning for the future. He always balances the budget, provides the level of city services that the city can afford while still being fiscally responsible, and encourages business growth and development. The business community loves him, because unlike administrations in the past he is consistent, and doesn't demand ***-kissing or kickbacks. He also cares deeply for the poor, and has commissioned street re-paving in some of the worst off areas that probably had been completely forgotten in previous administrations. He is a good, no great mayor whose tenure has brought Cleveland out of the doldrums and back into the light.

Is anyone else thinking that Cleverfield is Frank Jackson?

[Cleverfield]

Originally Posted by Kamms

Is anyone else thinking that Cleverfield is Frank Jackson?

Hahaha, nope I'm Mike Polensek. Close though.

[Peregrine]

Originally Posted by Kamms

Is anyone else thinking that Cleverfield is Frank Jackson?

No. I actually agree with some of what he said.
Now, Kasich on the other hand.....

Dismal numbers on Ohio job growth reflect need to invest in education: Brent Larkin | cleveland.com

"As 2013 drew to a close, Gov. John Kasich crowned his beloved JobsOhio program “the most important economic development tool in America.”

Kasich must know something that more than 11 million other Ohioans do not.

Because, by any measure imaginable, 2013 was a year in which the JobsOhio results didn’t remotely match the rhetoric."