Riposting the Posts

I'd like to take a bit of time this morning to discuss some of the feedback I've received on Brewed Fresh Daily. Having seen various "I'm leaving Cleveland" articles over the past few years, I've been curious to see what kind of response I would get. I'm flattered that BFD noticed and linked to my post, and people have posted a lot of insightful comments to which I'm eager to respond.

(A bit of background, in case you missed my previous post: After 5 years in Cleveland, my fiancee and I are moving to Minneapolis in a few weeks. The decision is based, in part, on some of Cleveland's deficits and, in turn, Minneapolis' assets).

• Jay-c reminds us all that it's important to focus on choosing a place that makes you happy. Hard to argue with that! He also points out that Cleveland, like any city, is an "unfinished product." That metaphor sums it up nicely: let's all remember that cities constantly evolve and change.
  



• Phil Lane correctly points out that Minnesota is becoming a market leader in bio-fuel development. This is exactly the sort of progressive, smart growth perspective that attracts me to that state. Of course, I'm perfectly aware that there is definite progress in Ohio as well: fuel cell research in NE Ohio, as well as wind farm development looming ahead. I hope that both those projects move forward, since we'll all benefit from such developments.
  



• Adam Harvey doesn't like my negative attitude. Ah well, what can I say? I'm focused on potentials: what Cleveland can become. In order to carry out that analysis, you have to be willing to take a hard look at reality. Also, if you want to see some "positive" posts, check out Repurposing Space and Cleveland Booster Edition.
  



• Ben has some good points that we should recognize: He notes that both Target and Best Buy, though headquartered in the Twin Cities region, are not actually located in either of the cities themselves. This is indeed a problem facing many metropolitan areas: suburban corporate campuses (think Progressive). Suburbs offer competitive tax incentives and face few legacy costs (think demolition) when pitching offers to potential corporate tenants. We need a long-term solution to this! He also notes that the medical device field is actually pretty strong in our region. He's right--but I should point out that there are several strong regional markets for medical devices, including Minneapolis (also California and MIT). Lastly, Ben talks a bit about public spaces and why he think Little Italy qualifies. I'll address this issue in more detail in tomorrow's post--there's a lot to be said on the subject and I'd like to devote a full post to it.
  



• Gloria Ferris doesn't like my negativity. Like I said, I don't see it as negativity--I see it as honest criticism that should be debated. I'm happy to hear your counter-arguments and listen to them.
  



• Phil Lane brings up the under-reported problem of a lack of skilled labor in the region. I've only heard rumblings on the issue, so maybe Phil could fill (pun intended) us in on the details...?
  



• Christine very thoughtfully reflects on her goals in leaving Cleveland and, I imagine, why she might return some day. She talks about "creative projects", and though I don't actually know what they are it's clear she has a lot going on in her life to which she's dedicated. She wants stable work, but not necessarily demanding, wake-you-up-at-2am work. It would appear, then, that Cleveland is well-equipped to provide her with that. As the earlier poster noted, being happy is the most important concern when selecting a place to live.
  



• The OC thinks I'm myopic and misinformed, especially on Crocker Park. I'll try to discuss Crocker Park more thoroughly in my next post.