CITIES NEED KIDS

Submitted by johnmcgovern on Wed, 08/17/2005 - 10:32.

OUR CITIES NEED KIDS

This article makes a convincing argument for cities in general and especially those like Cleveland that are rebuilding their urban social fabric. In brief, the article makes the critical point that cities cannot thrive and sustain themselves by simply marketing to singles, DINKS (dual income no kids), and retired folks.

The relocation of Barbara Booker Montesorri from Detroit Shoreway to Tremont is a move in the right direction that may enable Tremont to become the first gentrified Cleveland neighborhood in which urban pioneers send their kids to a public school, thereby creating a true community. stay tuned to this school year to find out more...

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Kids with parents

  I recently had a very disheartening conversation with a cabinet member of the City of Cleveland, and a parent with kids, who can't be bothered to enforce the same standards he would apply to his own kids to the kids in the city.  This is where it starts.  Wash your hands, kids.

Many times a day, to avoid lead poisoning!

You are so right... washing kids hands and getting them to wash them themselves is a very important lesson for parents in pre-1970s houses, as dirty hands are how much lead gets into kids. I make Claes wash his hands every time he comes in from playing outside, before eating everything, and a few times during the day for added safety. I also explained to him I wash his hands to protect him from lead poisoning so he doesn't need to have more blood tests, which he hates... so he sometimes washes his hands himself now to avoid the pain of a blood test, which works for me.

Disrupt IT

Metro Hospital

  Norm--You and I need to get together with Cleveland's Dr. Phil (Fragassi) and Dr. Needlman, pediatricians at Metrohealth hospital.

I went to school at Miami University with Phil Fragassi.  It was interesting to note his editorial today.  I don't quite get the plea.  Also, just how bad is the financial health of the County Hospital?

Cleveland's medical professionals need to start listening to the pulse of their physical neighbors.  Especially, Metrohealth and the Cleveland Clinic.  It would help, if some of their employees actually lived here.  But, both institutions like the status quo--which guarantees low adjacent property values and allows them to put in more parking as needed.

The Clinic's push for an Opportunity Corridor is a not-so veiled effort to subsidize the rich, so the docs can drive themselves to work--and deliver rich folks to the high-end, tax-freeloading, nominal "non-profit" Cleveland Clinic.  How about prioritizing the real opportunity corridor--Pearl Rd., the old Medina & Wooster Turnpike? 

Can we see some investment in this corridor?

a most excellent proposal

Laura, this sounds good to me. Let's also tie in the idea of mass transit, on Pearl, out Euclid, and on the train tracks in the Cuyahoga Valley.

 

There's no real need for grand projects. We merely need to revitalize and streamline what we have, given current technologies.

 

Remember that the real reason for the "oppofrtunity" corridor is to minimize contact with the denizens of our fair city, and to create some temporary jobs for some dying unions, whose members believe more in the power of collective bargaining and conferred rights than they do in the idea of excellence and earning a reputation for quality. They're on a different type of welfare and haven't figured it out yet.

How do we deliver patients?

Let's consider that problem--