Perceptions of Lake County (Indianapolis, Fort Wayne: live, suburbs, money)

[msamhunter]

When will lc residents learn that the perception the outside world sees of them is whatever perception Gary has. Unfortunately, a Metropolitan Statistical Area is only as strong as its core city. That's Gary. While the area is part of a consolidated area in Chicago, it's not Chicago, nor does anyone actually think of NWI as Chicago. Instead of constantly bashing Gary on what appears to be an hourly basis nowadays across the internet, why don't some of the non-residents try to make good. Gary didn't get like this overnight. It's not the current generations fault for how the city is right now. It may be one of the reasons why it STAYS like it is, but they didn't create the situation. They didn't force the jobs to leave. The jobs left on their own, mainly due to Hatcher being elected Mayor. It's not their fault the steel industry just collapsed, even though North Lake County is still the money maker while Southern Lake County reap the benefits of that. Even for myself as a teenager and becoming more informed about the community around me, it's expected that non garyites will not do anything but spit in the face of Gary. It's expected and resentment breeds resentment which just leads to further division. That's one of the things about Fort Wayne, Evansville and Indianapolis that is so different from Lake County. City and suburbs are able to put their differences aside for the greater good of the community when they need to. Lake County doesn't and honestly can't due to hatred.

So while Clay is a joke of a Mayor, there is still something to extending an Olive Branch. Not to benefit Clay, but for the benefit of the citizens of Gary who are hard working people. Who knows, that could be the starting point in booting out Clay and the city counsel members who've been on the counsel for 35 years and the city can begin anew.