Northwest Ohio/Toledo secede to form new state. (Columbus, Cleveland: home, employment)

[czb2003]

Just starting the thread to propose the idea that Northwest Ohio become a new state with Toledo as its capital. I believe that this is what Toledo really needs to turn its economy around. One of the reasons that the city struggles so much is that the state government gives more attention to the 3 C's. Northwest Ohio consistently has higher unemployment rates than most metro's in the state. We missed out on thousands of solar jobs under the current state government despite national recognition for our resources and local effort. With Toledo as a capital of a new state, Northwest Ohio, we would bring the state jobs that we support in Columbus back home. We would have a state government that is 100% focused on improving the condition of Northwest Ohio. With that focus Toledo would be given the boost that it needs to improve the local economy. Any thoughts? If we propose the idea locally could it happen?

[strudel42]

What would you call it??

Interesting, though. I am from Ohio and I really don't think about that area when I'm envisioning my home state. It does seem isolated, for some reason, from the rest of the state. I somehow doubt that the NW has enough population, i.e. tax base, to sustain itself as a separate entity... and I hope you wouldn't propose Joe the Plumber for President...

Anyway, maybe that new casino will help out.

[czb2003]

In 2000 Northwest Ohio had a population of over 1.6 million people, which would make it the 39th largest state, just behind Nebraska and ahead of Idaho.

[Buckeye in SC]

I think there are cities in every state that feel that get the 'short-end of the stick' so to speak when it comes to fair representation from the rest of the state. For instance, people in Charlotte constantly complain about NC b/c they think Raleigh gets all the attention from state leaders and they ignore Charlotte's needs - for instance, Raleigh is having it's second outer-loop constructed right now, meanwhile, I-485 which is Charlotte's outer-loop still is not complete.

I always considered the Toledo area part of Ohio even though I grew up in NE Ohio. I can't say whether they have or haven't gotten the short-end, but I will say, whether it was by the state or federal government, they have as good a road system as any city around their size in the state and probably country. Between having the OH Turnpike (major US east-west routes in I-80 & I-90) & I-75 which is one of the main north-south interstate routes, as well as having I-475 around the city, I-280 as a spur into the city and now even US-24 is in the process of being upgraded to a 4-lane expressway all the way to Ft. Wayne, and US-23 as an expressway to Ann Arbor.

Beyond that, Toledo's economy has been hit a bit harder than the 3 C's b/c it is more similar to Detroit in the sense that they had a major portion of their economy in the auto industry, and have lost thousands of jobs over the years due to the industry's major decline.

[czb2003]

In trying to think of something that could turn Toledo's economy around I figured that state capitals typically have stronger economies. If a state capital was put in Toledo it could give the city the push that it desperately needs. If Northwest Ohio was its own state, the government would pass laws favorable to businesses in the area and focus on attracting solar companies to the area. This is constitutional as well. Any state can be partitioned with the approval of the state government and the United States Congress.

[ryansmith]

Everyone gets the short end of the stick next to Columbus. When I lived in Cleveland they had like 105 inches of snow and it turns out that Columbus, which gets a small fraction of that amount of snow and has a smaller metro population, gets more O-DOT snow plows. I think there is some merit to keeping NW Ohio dollars in NW Ohio, but I don't think it means a rebellion... I-75 is the most congested interstate... ever (dont ask me for stats on this one).. and yet it seems everything else in the state is higher up on the list.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by Buckeye in SC

Beyond that, Toledo's economy has been hit a bit harder than the 3 C's b/c it is more similar to Detroit in the sense that they had a major portion of their economy in the auto industry, and have lost thousands of jobs over the years due to the industry's major decline.

This. Toledo's biggest problem has been itself and, in particular, its leadership that remains stuck in its automotive past. Policies coming out of Columbus won't change this. Under Finkbeiner the city constantly bent over for Jeep and went all-out trying to lure Jeep suppliers rather than trying to diversify the base and shed some of the union mentality. I know there's a push to grow an alternative energy base there now -- part of a push to diversify the economic base -- but Toledo is a bit late for the party.

I'm as proud as anyone to be a Toledo native and proud of its manufacturing history. But if Toledo/NW Ohio wants to improve, it needs to look within and not worry about the three Cs.

[NicePolishBoy]

Cities like Toledo tend to be hurting from a lack of employment diversification, not because of the other cities.

[czb2003]

I think that having a state government in Toledo would give it the concentration that it needs to diversify its economy. It would add government jobs and would bring politicians who can focus on improving the quality of life for people in Northwest Ohio. I don't believe that the bigger cities in the state are hurting Toledo's economy, I do think that having to compromise on policy with cities that may have competing interests does hurt our economy. Forming a new state doesn't mean a rebellion. All it takes is popular support from Ohio so it can pass a state vote and then pass the Congress.