Consolidated Cleveland-Cuyahoga Pro's and Con's (Strongsville: homes, schools, quality of life)

[jam40jeff]

Thanks, Pserge27. As far as another city which annexed its suburbs and the region as a whole has seen great benefit since, I would say to look at Toronto.

And on that note, I am done with this thread. If anyone wants to reread the meat of the banter, it is on page 3.

[Chef Boyardee]

Bigger Doesn't = Better

Surrendering Your City's Independence Is Stupid

Doing that just because someone else wants to spend your city's tax revenue for you is freaking idiotic

[Pgserge27]

You think that suburbs are independent? You're wrong, they depend on Cleveland. Do you think anybody outside of Northeast Ohio knows where the heck Strongsville is? No! They know Cleveland, the Cleveland Clinic, The Cleveland Browns, The Cleveland Orchestra, for good or for bad Cleveland is known around the world. Tons of businesses in the burbs use Cleveland on their address so that people have some sense of where they are located. And what independence are you giving up, all suburbs are the same, with your Applebee's and your 1/2 acre lots. If we consolidate this county you will still have your suburban lifestyle, we are all just now working together to save money with consolidated services. Think of it, instead of Linndale cops handing out tickets they can now help where they are needed. They might make suburbanites feel safer when they come down to a Cavs game. Instead of cities giving up tons in tax incentives, fighting other local cities to get companies, we all benefit from the company coming to NE Ohio. This is not all just to benefit city of Cleveland residents, but if you would open your eyes you would see how much it would benefit the suburbs also.

[Beavercreek33]

Just curious, would this mean that Cleveland and Cuyahoga County would become one? I haven't really read this thread. So it would kind of be like the Louisville, KY thing?

[Chef Boyardee]

Like I said, Suburbs give up their money, to pay for city services IN OTHER CITIES!!!

REMEMBER, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN CLEVELAND, HAVE TO PAY TAXES IN CLEVELAND, WETHER THEY LIVE THERE OR NOT. IN LARGE PART, THIS IS ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY TAXES GOING TO A CORRUPT AND INCOMPETENT CITY GOVERNMENT. SO, THIS WOULD MEAN SUBURBS LOSING QUALITY OF CITY SERVICES THEY ARE ALREADY SEEING REDUCED, BECAUSE OF LOSING POPULATION AND THE RECESSION. AS FOR CLEVELAND, IT WOULD MEAN MORE MONEY TO BLOW ON STUPID CRAP, THAT IN TEN YEARS OR LESS, WON'T ADD UP TO A HILL OF BEANS! IT'S A WASTE AND WILL ONLY ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE AREA PERMANENTLY.

[jam40jeff]

No need to shout. I'm glad you finally wrote more than a single sentence follow by an emoticon, however.

WHat makes you think the Cleveland government is any more corrupt or incompetent than any other city's government, including its own suburbs? Every city has its problems. East Cleveland has had plenty, and it's a separate municipality. The Olmsted Township Police Chief seems to have some questionable characteristics. The point is that it's not like all bad government officials are imprisoned in Cleveland, and all good ones have been liberated to the suburbs, where rainbows and unicorns rule the day. There are problems everywhere. The occasional boondoggles by the Cleveland government (I don't believe it's as bad as the Plain Dealer wants you to believe) are more magnified because they have bigger decisions to make. That doesn't mean they personally affect a Clevelanbd resident any more than a suburban mayor making a terrible decision that may waste far less money, as that is spread amongst far less citizens. Spread those bad decisions amongst 59 separate municipalities in Cuyahoga County, and over 50 more in surrounding counties, and you have a collective mammoth waste and corruption amongst suburban governments as well. Regionalization will not promote more or less corruption. You will still vote for local officials and have the power to speak your mind on what they are doing in attempt to affect change. The waste of redundancy amongst over 100 individual municipalities in a single functional economic unit is what will be eliminated, and I think that would be for the greater good of the region, which helps us all, whether we live in the city or the suburbs.

[Chef Boyardee]

The bigger the government, the less control people have over it. It's one important reason why The United Nations is a very bad idea.

[jam40jeff]

So what size should local government be? Every neighborhood? Every street? Every block? Every 2 houses? No government at all?

[Chef Boyardee]

Originally Posted by jam40jeff

So what size should local government be? Every neighborhood? Every street? Every block? Every 2 houses? No government at all?

Well, there's two directions to go. One leads to things like Bank Bailouts and Pork Barrel Spending; the other leads to things like State's Rights, Independence, Autonomy, FREEDOM

[JR_C]

I'm not really into politics, but doesn't this make you an anarchist, Chef?