Flying Away

The first week of the New Year a friend of mine flies off from Cleveland to Phoenix in search of a satisfying and appropriate position of employment which he was unable to find in Cleveland. We had a going away party for him at Grovewood Tavern on Friday and I sure am disappointed that he had lost a vision of hope in Cleveland; but, when one has been looking for two years, you have to “do what you gotta do.” I am not disappointed in his decision, but in the situation that led to his leaving and I wish him well.

A mutual friend of ours is currently a community/civic leader there and is starting him off with a number of contacts in his network. The report is that Phoenix does not have the supportive communities that Cleveland does which is probably because Phoenix is one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

I am firmly embedded in Cleveland although I have been in his situation. As a sixth or seventh generation Clevelander my social networks continue to grow and my communities are tremendously supportive. I thoroughly enjoy what I am doing and the people I work with in all my endeavors.

Cleveland View from Fairmount & Coventry

Applied Technology

One of biggest problems is that we are so easily impressed with new technology and we haven’t yet learned to fully apply that which is current. For that reason, those older cities that are so reliant on manufacturing, when much of that industry moves away, the cities seem to be at a tremendous loss as to how to move forward. We need in all our regions to use our brainpower, to learn how technologies and manufactured goods can be best applied.

Lets learn how to use what we have and how use it better and in new ways. Like open source in software, opportunity and money is in the application, not in the software itself.

It is important to look for new innovative products, which is where the flash is, but we need more of how to use products to their best advantage.

Regionalism

There is a definite problem with code words and possibly misleading misuse of words. Let's be clear of what we mean when we have discussions. Words and practices can all be misused and abused: look at regionalism, networking, collaboration, teamwork.

Let’s look at regionalism. When someone says "Regionalism" what do they mean?

Are they talking about a new regional government overseeing the operation of the region?

Are they talking about an old regional government overseeing the region?

Are they talking about a new non-profit organization doing the regional thing for all the participating local bodies?

Are they talking about local bodies openly collaborating for the betterment of the region?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each of the above?

I certainly believe that maintaining the individuality of the local organizations and having them work openly together is the best way to improve Northeast Ohio. We don't need another organization doing the collaborating work that individual organization should be doing. We need organizations and individuals teaching and encouraging all in the civic space to build open networks of collaboration.

Rather than merging towns, cities, businesses, we should consider working together in an open collaborative way in which costs are reduced but individuality is maintained.

How can the City of Cleveland expect regionalism to work when it is still having problems with its own internal regional politics: the ward system? Perhaps the city should consider having its council elected at large so as to lessen the infighting that continues to distract from many of the real problems. Or at least learn and practice open collaboration.