Has anything changed since this video? (Cleveland, Westlake: sales, income, property taxes)

[AGuyFromCleveland18]

Drew Carey and reason TV meets with Cleveland City Council.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ-vLM0mK1Q

It seemed to be a pretty productive meeting. Do you think anything has changed since? Do you think we need to put more pressure on our legislators to change some of the excessive regulations?

[Alaskapat528]

Good question.

[Cleveland_Collector]

The truth is, the regulations aren't excessive. Also, the 'car wash sign example' was downright feeble. Regulations like that are in place to keep major thruways from looking like dog-patch central. Most suburbs which are considered to be thriving have much more astringent regulations than Cleveland.

Mr. Polensek hit the nail on the head. For the past 30 years, this area has been struggling with disinvestment (something most of the suburbs know nothing about). The transition away from heavy industry is a difficult one and competing with $0.42.hr is impossible. The simple fact of the matter is that Cleveland has done as good of a job as any of the former industrial centers with regards to reinvention. Its just that some apparently expect every success to happen instantly.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by Cleveland_Collector

Most suburbs which are considered to be thriving have much more astringent regulations than Cleveland.

That's because they can get away with it. Cleveland can't. Cleveland isn't Moreland Hills or Westlake. If Cleveland is going to attract new investment, it needs to stop thinking that it can do the same things that the suburbs are doing. Cleveland is not a bedroom community.

[Cleveland_Collector]

So, your professional reccomendation to Cleveland would be to let businesses operate in free-for-all mode because, unlike suburbs, they shouldn't have any regulations in place to ensure basic aesthetics? Then, when asked to fortify your recommendation, you would say, "Because you're not a bedroom community." Yep, that makes a TON of sense.

[tom11011]

No, nothing has really changed. The reason for this I believe is because the powers that be really don't want change. If they wanted it, they would be all over it. You have to be realistic with how you are going to compete. Let's say for the sake of arguement that there are 50 metro areas in the country and Cleveland is one of them.

You have to ask yourself why the city continues to rank 45-50 in every category. Cleveland needs to find it's niche. It has to dominate an area that no other city dominates.

It's not going to be weather, it's not going to be beaches, it's not going to be tourism, its not going to be silicon valley, it's not going to be manufacturing.

It has roots in finance and orchastra, but I don't think those are enough to propel it.

If I were the decision maker, I would make Cleveland THE most business friendly location on this planet. Zero income and property taxes for business, zero red tape for business. Money would be earned from sales taxes and resident income and property taxes. I believe this to be the path forward for this city.

[Cleveland_Collector]

Hey, Great!! Let's offer them free water, slave labor, and let them turn the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie back into their own corporate cesspools again while we're at it.

Cleveland's niche is medical, biotech, and everything that comes along with it. The next step is to push our able workforce towards high-tech, renewable energy, and other high value manufacturing fields. It's already beginning to happen and we have the educational institutions available to help with the training/re-training that will be required.

[tom11011]

Originally Posted by Cleveland_Collector

Hey, Great!! Let's offer them free water, slave labor, and let them turn the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie back into their own corporate cesspools again while we're at it.

Cleveland's niche is medical, biotech, and everything that comes along with it. The next step is to push our able workforce towards high-tech, renewable energy, and other high value manufacturing fields. It's already beginning to happen and we have the educational institutions available to help with the training/re-training that will be required.

I really and truly hope you are right. I've been told all my life to just wait and see what this place will look like in 10 years.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by tom11011

I've been told all my life to just wait and see what this place will look like in 10 years.

LOL, Tom. I couldn't have said it better myself.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by Cleveland_Collector

So, your professional reccomendation to Cleveland would be to let businesses operate in free-for-all mode because, unlike suburbs, they shouldn't have any regulations in place to ensure basic aesthetics? Then, when asked to fortify your recommendation, you would say, "Because you're not a bedroom community." Yep, that makes a TON of sense.

Cleveland has no cachet. It is not playing with the same deck as the suburbs or many other cities. It needs to do everything it can to make itself more attractive, business-wise, than the other places with which it is competing. The point is that Cleveland cannot get away with a lot of the same strict rules and regulations as its suburbs, because ceteris paribus, businesses and people are going to choose the suburbs.