The Studio Incubator is not the entire piece of the puzzle needed for a Film Industry here, but it is a start. First we have to recognize the Industry is not here, and then we move forward with the potential. So here, I will chart the progress of the Studio Incubator.

The devastation of whole neighborhoods of New Orleans raised the most uncomfortable race and class issues inherent in our cities.  This forum will explore the fundamental question:  What does the exposure of deep-seated race and class issues and the ambivalent national response teach us about the value we place on our nation’s cities, the people who live there, and the public policies that helped to shape those cities?

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Midtown Wednesdays forums are a place for people to gather and exchange ideas. Here is last week's social network map of the people who contributed a completed short survey (click on the JPG below.)

An environment with diversity, creativity and endless opportunities to participate in new business mediums.

Linked in this book (see contents below) are articles on one of the most important public improvement (or disruption) projects of the next decade: the redesign of the I-90 bridge over the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland and the route of I-90 through the Cleveland "Inner-belt Trench".

Cleveland's WIRE-Net is one of five programs cited in this national report on innovative city partnerships. The report came out this week. The report is available here. The press release is available here.

I just received an email from "Citizen" Ed Hauser, the man who saved Whiskey Island, which he sent to 100s of community leaders and members of the press and government, which challenges the process that is being followed in determining the fate for Cleveland's I-90 bridge, Inner-belt trench, and ultimately the entire look and feel of our city.

So often economic development focuses on job creation, new venture creation, and the connection of resources to opportunity.  While these are all important drivers of economic growth, we must also consider the impacts of sound ethical consumer and business practices.  On the consumer side, customers of businesses need to understand the terms of business transactions and employ sound money managment techiques to ensure transactions are conducted resource efficiently.  This enables consumers to save more, and in time not only enhance quality of life but  accumulate  savings which eventually have greater economic impact and contribution - allowing the consumer to spend more, generate greater tax revenue for all levels of government, inspire diverse investments or even new business ventures.

Ohio Congressman Bob Ney is certainly entitled to have the facts proved before he’s considered guilty, but it’s a disservice to voters to claim the charges against him are “just politics” or “the way things work in DC.”  By asserting that these allegations are “the way things get done,” supporters drag politics and government lower and give disgusted voters more reasons to give up on government.  To really understand the accusations and why the allegations are more than routine, readers need to understand the nature of the charges and the facts at hand.

I was reading a series on the working poor from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (you know, Cleveland had two newspapers once--Seattle has the Times and the P-I--but I digress) and I thought of a way to (1) jumpstart Ohio's economy and (2) bring bright, motivated people to Ohio. 

How about this:

The First Suburbs Development Council will host its first event in a series. Economic development directors from our fifteen Northeast Ohio member-cities will be present to discuss potential office and industrial opportunities and to provide details on their communities' zoning and building codes.

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Those of you who are interested in championing CityWheels in your neighborhood, building, workplace or extended community, this is your chance to meet with us, get your questions answered, and learn what we’re planning for your area. We will also give you all the information and materials you need to hit the ground running.

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Steve Rugare, Public Programs director, Urban Design Center of Northeast Ohio will discuss, Tales of Two Reconstructions, an examination of post-war and post-communist urbanism in a group of cities in Poland and the former East Germany. Free and open to the public.

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Inputs and outcomes from the January 24, 2006 Excellence Roundtable at the City Club featuring East Cleveland Mayor Eric Brewer.

At the 01.24.06 Excellence Roundtable at the City Club, a standing room only group of diverse area citizens came together to discuss the future of East Cleveland with newly elected Mayor Eric Brewer. If Mayor Brewer can deliver on his promise, potential and the opportunities offered in redevelopment of this unique community, he will be a hero in this region and in many respects in the country. I believe everyone left this roundtable expecting this will occur.

Last week, we learned that Cleveland is the only U.S. city to be named as a finalist for the Intelligent Community of the Year award. (Others in the running are Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea; Ichikawa, Japan; Manchester, United Kingdom; Taipei, Taiwan; Tianjin, China; and Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.) Read more.

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01-29-06: Notes from this session can be downloaded (see below)

REALNEO operates on a free open source software (FOSS) computing platform of Linux, Apache, mySQL and PHP, where a number of FOSS applications manage data and content as a virtual community. REALNEO offers users a wide range of tools and capabilities provided by this technology. They are briefly described at the links below.

A.J. Rocco's Bar will be hosting a viewing party from 7-9 pm for the Citizen Hauser video that will air at 8 pm on WVIZ (PBS).  A.J. Rocco's is located at 812 Huron Road in the Caxton Building (across from the Winking Lizard near E.9th).  Feel free to come early and and stay late.

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Citizen Hauser airs on WVIZ (PBS) Channel 25 at 8 pm.

The Citizen Hauser video was produced by local independent film makers Jonathan Shick and Ryan Rodriguez, with Blue Hole Productions.  The video is unique both in its approach and subject matter as it directly highlights the struggle of one citizen participating in the public process to make Cleveland a better, more sustainable place to live. 

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