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Steve
Abbott First, Columbus needs a grander vision, one that looks farther into the future and allows it to take on multiple projects at once and see the building of a community as a long-term project that demands insightful and possibly uncomfortable decisions that will take decades to realize. Our political and business leaders need to think on a longer and larger view. For example, for more than 25 years local leaders have avoided confronting the issues of mass transit and urban sprawl. The result has been increasing de-urbanization and stretching of public services over a larger area, increasing costs and straining the capacity of local government to meet community needs. This has occurred at the same time that the city is working to reinvigorate the urban core, with the result that city goals work at cross purposes. While leaders have dithered, available land and federal support for mass transit has disappeared. The growth of local businesses is limited by how much parking is available near them, so mass transit cannot be ignored. Relying on cars for every transport need has imprisoned the young and the old in our suburbs and turned parents into taxi services. We have to recognize and develop our local school system, from kindergarten to college, as an EDUCATION system, not simply a glorified form of job training. Although job training is important, the function of schools at all levels must be to create informed citizens who understand how to be part of a great experiment in self-government. It’s amazing to observe that people in countries far less democratic than our own are more active in participating in controlling their own lives than our own citizens. Life is about more, the poet Wordsworth noted, than “getting and spending.” It’s time we taught students that THEY are the government, not some group of businesspeople and the politicians they dine with. Finally, Columbus needs a Public Clown. This individual’s job would be to attend public political, civic and athletic events in the garb of a jester and whose purpose would be to challenge, on behalf of thinking people, the fatuous proclamations of public figures. The Public Clown (PC for short, to note his role in confronting the renewed political correctness of invoking God for every lame purpose, and even a few venal ones) would sound an obnoxious, fartlike horn at the mention of God or “values” in any political speech or after-game sports interview. If the speaker continued, the PC would slap a cream pie in the speaker’s face, and the evening news could devote a brief segment of each newscast to the day’s PC actions in place of the endless self-promotional and cross-promotional “stories” run on local TV. BACK TO THE LIST OF RESPONDENTS Bret
Adams Light rail transportation system that is cost effective and actually works, not a San Francisco type trolley that a few tourists may jump onto. Development of a mentality that there is life beyond OSU football; wars, famine and healthcare are of far greater importance. Fully funded sports commission that can compete on an even keel for national events as we are unique with two recently built 18,000-plus seat venues. BACK TO THE LIST OF RESPONDENTS Gloria
Ann Zebbs Anderson Columbus needs jobs with family-sustaining wages, located within the city limits and on bus lines. I believe that these jobs could be achieved by bringing “green” industry into the city. Columbus needs to get green by increasing the number of sidewalks so we can become a walking community. Columbus needs to create a program that will help teach families about family budgets, wealth-building and prioritizing their spending practices. Columbus needs to increase homeownership. Columbus needs to help landlords by offering programs that will empower renters with home-maintenance skills. BACK TO THE LIST OF RESPONDENTS Sharon
Archie Raise the standard: Until we raise the standard of life, justice, integrity etc., Columbus will never be the “all-American city” that we would like for it to be. When “God” is taken out of the schools and disregarded altogether to appease a group of persons who have the authority in high places such as the government etc., a city will reap just what is happening in Columbus . . . crime on top of crime. And it will not get better. Those in authority who make and change laws that should be enforced in our city need to take a good look at reality. No matter how much new land is developed or how many new condos or houses built, or even how many people move to Columbus to start a business, the lack of reverence to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, God Almighty, Columbus still will not be what it could be! Enforce the law: Crime is running rampant in our city, therefore we need to enforce the law regardless of what the crime is (white- or blue-collar crime). To respect of persons regardless of their ethnicity, social status and/or geographic location: Instead of relocating the homeless, the transient and others who may be less fortunate than some of us to one or two areas/neighborhoods, we should, as a model city, find shelter for them throughout our county/city. One or two communities should not absorb it all! BACK TO THE LIST OF RESPONDENTS Paul
Astleford Collaborative, long-term strategic vision leading to a compelling and inspirational articulation of our shared picture of the Columbus of tomorrow. A way to physically connect the various districts that make up our expansive downtown. Instilling in our leaders a marketing mindset essential for creating a sustainable, competitive image distinction for Columbus in the very competitive marketplace. BACK TO THE LIST OF RESPONDENTS Kathleen
Bailey Housing, housing and housing. A variety and a mix, not all gentrification or Section 8. A good cross-section for community and commercial development. BACK TO THE LIST OF RESPONDENTS Gary
L. Baker II It needs to be said, first and foremost, that Columbus is a great city. It always bothers me when I hear someone talking about there being nothing to do in Ohio’s capital city. I have some difficulty understanding the sentiment. Regardless of your interests, Columbus has a great deal to offer. We have a wonderful symphony orchestra, theatrical production companies and an opera company that more people should support. We have an outstanding museum of art, conservatory and science museum. Anyone interested in sports should never experience boredom. We have a wide array of dining opportunities throughout the city as well as ample shopping opportunities. We also have unique neighborhoods, which are the heart of our city. Our downtown is experiencing a renaissance. Did I mention we have one of the best mayors in the country? We also have an actively engaged City Council. We are a caring and giving community. Columbus is a world-class city. Anyone who can’t see that needs to open his or her eyes. I would like to see residents of Columbus display more pride about their city. Some say there is a typical Midwest “Aw, shucks” self-deprecating attitude in Columbus that appears to some as a case of low self-esteem. I don’t buy that. We need a boost of self-confidence. I don’t mean the kind of false arrogance one sees in some professional athletes. I mean the kind of self-confidence that allows people to feel good enough about their community that they brag about where they are from when they are out of town. Based on the items listed in the above paragraph, we have a great deal to be proud of. The Columbus Public Schools system continues to struggle. Despite improvements touted by Superintendent Harris, the public school system is the top reason people I know give for moving out of the city. Something needs to be done about this ball and chain around our city’s ankle. I know great teachers and administrators in the system and people who love the Columbus Public Schools their children attend, but these are exceptions. One wonders if successful schools and programs can be copied or modeled at other buildings. One complaint I hear is that school principals are no longer principals the way I knew them when I was a kid. They are administrators who aren’t allowed to exert ownership over their buildings or who are moved around too frequently. I would really like to see local media report some good news once in a while. Whenever something bad happens, the reporters and TV cameras seem to flock like buzzards. There frequently seems to be little sensitivity to accident or crime victims or their families. When I ask reporters and editors about this, I am told that the residents of the city have a right to know what is going on. I couldn’t agree more. There are more positive than negative things happening in our city. It would seem that most of what one should read in the paper and see on the local TV news would be positive and uplifting. This isn’t the case. No wonder Columbus sometimes seems to have low self-esteem. If you were told over and over again how horrible you are, you would eventually begin to believe it, even though you know better. Columbus needs to continue reinvesting in its older urban neighborhoods. The current administration and City Council have made this a priority. Mayor Coleman’s administration has put the prior administration to shame when it comes to providing needed support and services to the heart of our city. Initiatives too numerous to mention are breathing life back into our core. It is refreshing to have leaders who understand that allowing the heart of a city to decay will eventually kill the city. A great city is made up of great neighborhoods. Making sure that developers of new homes are paying their fair share is a critically important component of this understanding. BACK TO THE LIST OF RESPONDENTS Tom
Bedway More direct flights out of Port Columbus. There’s nothing worse than a delay on your Chicago or Minneapolis connector in January—on your way to someplace warm. Let’s fix the city schools. It’s really corny to say children are our future. But it’s not as corny as it is true. Everyone who lives in Central Ohio ought to have a sense of urgency about this—even if your kids go to the suburban schools or you’ve enough coin to send your kids to private. We ought to pretend the city schools are on fire, a slow burn that will fry all of us. Now is the time to commit the financial and mental resources to put out the fire. We need a real dim sum house. Rolling carts filled with those cool little dumplings. Counting the plates to total the bill. Power lunches fit for emperors/empresses, corporate VPs and middle managers. Mmmmmm. Dim summmmmmmm. BACK TO THE LIST OF RESPONDENTS John
M. Bennett A good public education system. The current system is currently seriously underfunded and is falling apart. A city, and a society, cannot function without good education, and to maintain our values as a democratic society, that education has to be publicly funded and available to all. A good public transportation system. The current system is poorly supported, provides poor service and no service to much of the urban area. An extensive, efficient and publicly funded transportation system would have numerous benefits, from reduction of congestion and air pollution to improved commerce and attendance at cultural and sports events to promoting an improved sense of civic identity. More publicly funded support for the cultural institutions such as museums and galleries, music events, festivals, the Greater Columbus Arts Council and so on. BACK TO THE LIST OF RESPONDENTS Leif
P. Bickel To maintain strong public safety forces so that citizens and visitors continue to feel safe as they participate in what Columbus has to offer. Properly equip each police officer to give protection to those that protect others. More downtown parking. Need I say more? |
