Last year I was forced to re-write our company policy to cover (literally) tatoos and body piercings. Some of our applicants seemed to have no idea what they looked like, or sounded like. Try to imagine the girl applying for a position where she will be answering the phone, with muddled speech, because she had not yet mastered her newly pierced tongue! Our customer base is generally the 35 and older group. They are not particularly appreciative of body art. Also by requiring all tatoos to be covered by standard work clothing I don't have to deal with any lewd or controversial content issues. When the 35 and older crowd becomes the pierced and tatooed crowd then maybe we will adjust the standards, but not before.
posted by holland at 11:34 A.M. EST on Tue Sep 13, 2005 #
Agreed. Businesses have to have some leeway to set dress/appearance codes that conform with community norms.
While tattoos and piercings have become more mainstream, there are still plenty of people who find them disturbing (historymike has two tattoos, both out of day-to-day public view).
However, I think that tattoos and piercings, where there is no compelling safety or customer service element in the job, should not be categorically forbidden just because some GM or owner has a personal bias against them.
posted by historymike at 12:13 P.M. EST on Tue Sep 13, 2005 #
A recap of an economic development meeting for southeast Michigan.
"Horowitt spoke in very Richard Florida terms, of not chasing after big companies, but cultivating talent and letting the companies come to the talent. He made the claim that “technology transfer is people”, and described knowledge and innovation as using people as “viral carriers” to spread through the economy."
"Rubin especially spoke of avoiding local competition within a region, and encouraged regions to look at themselves as allies against common competitors – China being the easy example for manufacturing."
"When asked about how a state with bans on stem cell research and same-sex health benefits can recruit young, talented workers (a question that drew some snickers from the audience), Horowitt cited Florida’s “tech, talent, and tolerance” as the keys to innovation, while the other two shrugged off the question."
"When asked what advantage Southeast Michigan has over other regions, Pescatello gave the (interesting to this site) answer that a major benefit is the absence of a single, strong, central city. Lots of firms want to put operations in one-story buildings with plenty of parking at the periphery of a city, and Southeast Michigan has lots of space that fits that description. (Horowitt disagreed somewhat, looking at the economic clusters around strong central cities like San Francisco and Boston.)"
"All three stressed the importance of regional cooperation in economic development – no part of the region stands on its own. In order to be regionally competitive, we need to eliminate intra-regional duplication. Don’t compete within the region for business. Work to combine and streamline governmental functions – Ficano mentions the possibility of a multi-county jail to ease the regional crowding problems, rather than each county expanding jails independantly."
posted by jr at 01:18 A.M. EST on Thu Sep 15, 2005 #
"A five-year investigation has culminated in the indictment of 21 people charged with involvement in a Toledo-area drug distribution network."
Five years for 21 people. I hope they were big dogs. But that's not the point of posting this in a local business thread. The "distribution network" part is the reason for posting it here.
Even drug dealers understand the vital importance of Toledo's location to major transportation arteries. Maybe one or two of the people arrested should be hired by Toledo or the Port Authority to promote Toledo and Lucas County to attract new business. Legitimate business, that is.
posted by jr at 09:20 A.M. EST on Thu Sep 15, 2005 #
jr, Toledo/Lucas County has a regional jail - it's the Correction Center of Northwest Ohio (CCNO) in Stryker. Several counties have joined together to build, fund and use this facility.
Lucas County also has a regional approach to law enforcement computer systems - we all share the system and the data across jurisdictions. We've actually been acknowledge as one of the most integrated criminal justice systems in the midwest.
And the County jail downtown serves all of Lucas County - but is still overcrowded because of the number of federal prisoners held there for extended periods of time.
Too bad the speakers didn't know what we've already done...
posted by intrepid at 09:47 A.M. EST on Thu Sep 15, 2005 #
The Development News is a free monthly publication produced by the Toledo Business Journal, and you can find it in some businesses around the area.
The September issue contains an interview with John S. Szuch, chairman of the board, Fifth Third Bank, Northwestern Ohio. The topic was economic development.
Some excerpts from the interview:
----
TBJ: What do you see as the most important need in the business community?
JS: One of the most significant needs is the lack of leadership from the business community. Toledo used to have a network of the major corporations and banks headquartered in Toledo, which provided an ability to coordinate a group of powerful and influential leaders who exerted quite a bit of influence over economic development.
JS: I think this leadership void has been the single largest flaw that we've had. However, at this point, I think the privatization of the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) should give business a concerted and focused voice. If the business community speaks out as a group through the RGP, it will have much more influence over events affecting our economic development. Revitalization of the RGP might be the single most significant event in the development of the economy of northwest Ohio in the last decade or more.
----
(Wow, you mean revitalizing Westgate or Southwyck or the Erie Street Market or building a new arena wouldn't be the most significant event in the development of northwest Ohio's economy? More from the interview ...)
----
JS: We also need to decide what we are. We're hub at the intersection of 80/90 and I-75, we have good rail, an underutilized airport, a dynamic port authority -- we really need to focus on distribution and our location to move forward. There are huge opportunities here.
----
(See, the drug dealers knew what this area offered. Hub at the intersection of 80/90 and I-75, distribution.)
----
JS: Also, there are technology companies being formed through research efforts at the Medical University of Ohio and The University of Toledo, and we need to focus on increasing research funding and technology start-up companies. I think it would be highly favorable if MUO and UT were merged into one mega university. The additional research dollars that would flow would be large, and that would help spawn additional business formation in Toledo.
JS: Attracting foreign talent to local universities and businesses has historically been a huge part of our talent pool, and we need to rekindle it by promoting our universities and companies abroad. President Dan Johnson of UT has recently made a recruiting trip to China. We need more of this type of effort.
TBJ: What advice would you provide for advancing the economy in our region?
JS: To really move forward, we need to promote ourselves as a region, not a group of several localities. That's why the new privatized RGP, which will hopefully take economic development in northwest Ohio out of the parochial interests of the individual governmental units, should have a huge impact.
----
(He's talking about regionalism not unigov. Ford, Gerken, and others support unigov, which is only focused on Lucas County.)
----
JS: We're too narrowly defined by the governmental jurisdictions, which is a major impediment to economic growth. Regionalization would really help. Other problems we have include relatively high labor and utility costs, which makes attracting new business more difficult. We are also falling behind other areas of the country in education, which isn't enough of a priority in Ohio.
JS: Right now we have suburban governments that have city councils and administrations where a businessman attempting to get something approved is generally appearing before professionals and business-oriented people in governments who are empathetic to helping business. The same is not always the case with the City of Toledo.
TBJ: What is the number one thing that you personally would like to accomplish?
JS: Increasing the level of regionalization and job creation in northwest Ohio. I want to see this town prosper.
TBJ: Please indentify a community organization that needs more support.
JS: All of the civic and charitable organizations need more support in many ways. Supporting groups like the United Way, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Symphony, and all the social programs throughout the community is very important.
JS: Education is key to winning the battle. Right now Ohio and Toledo are going the wrong way in the number of individuals with degrees. Only 16 percent of northwest Ohio students complete a two or four year degree. Too many Toledo high school students are not even graduating. We are not going to be competitive unless this changes. I'd like to see significant improvements in the education of our youth. This is probably priority number one.
----
I guess I posted more than a few excerpts, but pick up your own copy to read the entire interview.
posted by jr at 10:06 A.M. EST on Thu Sep 15, 2005 #
"Too bad the speakers didn't know what we've already done..."
I wonder if anyone from northwest Ohio was at that southeast Michigan conference?
posted by jr at 10:09 A.M. EST on Thu Sep 15, 2005 #
"Too bad the speakers didn't know what we've already done..."
I wonder if anyone from northwest Ohio was at that southeast Michigan conference?
The regional criminal justice computer system shares info into southeastern Michigan - especially on domestic violence and sex offender issues.
posted by intrepid at 01:43 P.M. EST on Thu Sep 15, 2005 #
Could the new president of RGP be a more imporant person to the area than whoever is mayor or on council? I'll say yes.
Sep 16 Blade story:
"In northwest Ohio just five days, the region's newest economic development chief has decided that the area is afflicted with "Eeyore syndrome." "
"Like the gloomy, blue-gray donkey in the children's story Winnie the Pooh, people here are too focused on the area's problems to recognize the value of its assets, said Steven Weathers, recently installed president of Toledo's Regional Growth Partnership [who was the] former president of the Greater Tucson Economic Development Council."
" "...Be a little more proud," he advised area residents in a luncheon speech yesterday at the Toledo Club to 100 members of the Toledo Area Small Business Association."
"Efforts would be better directed identifying and attracting businesses that can turn a profit in the area, he said."
"As he read about reaction to the planned [Owens Illinois] move in Toledo, he said he thought "they really should be celebrating that that company wants to stay and grow" in the metro area."
"Similarly, he said, he doesn't think it is a loss for the region when a locally-based company decides to expand elsewhere, such as The Anderson's decision to build an ethanol plant in Albion, Mich. While regrettable that the firm bypassed Toledo, he added: "They're importing those dollars that are being spent here, and that creates economic benefit." "
Weathers summed it up with:
"I'm really going for quality. I don't want to say, 'Close the door.' But if you could stop the population where it is now and then increase the educational level, increase the job level, increase the quality of the wages, you'd have a great community."
posted by jr at 10:59 A.M. EST on Fri Sep 16, 2005 #
Weathers and the RGP will far surpass the mayor, the LCIC and other economic development efforts of government. They will rely upon government and these other groups for certain tools to help economic development, but the RGP will become the driving force for growth...but only if they do it without catering the whims of politicians and the Blade.
posted by intrepid at 03:25 P.M. EST on Fri Sep 16, 2005 #
Jr, I noticed that you avoided this particular quote from the same article concerning that boob Steven Weathers:
"Even if exiting companies can't be persuaded to stay, the effort will be valuable because it will provide feedback about where the growth partnership should concentrate."
In response I must say to Mr Weathers:
Valuable? NO! If companies can't be persuaded to stay, then the RGP is a pack of welfare mothers who need to get real jobs instead -- you know, like being "productive"?
Ever hear of productivity, Weathers? I'm sure you've read about it. Too bad a guy like you is not personally acquainted with it.
Jr, these folks are more of the same parasites that are keeping Toledo's expenses VERY HIGH while income is collapsing.
Somebody get these welfare queens off the monthly government check and into productive society. But of course, we'd then have to admit that such productive jobs are leaving the area ... and won't return until they can exploit a Third World level of workforce in the area, which will require a collapse of at least Detroit's intensity.
Since Toledo's citizens seem susceptible to fantasy mindsets and self-delusion, then it seems then we're just paying some wealthy guys good salaries to blow enough smoke around so that we don't feel so bad about things.
There's nothing intrinsically terrible about government. But it must be sharply limited. If Toledo had a real government that kept the water flowing, the pavement repaired, the trash swept up, and the police on the streets, THEN the tax environment would be so cheap that the area would be very attractive to employers. Privatizing such things is NOT the solution -- especially since the word "privatize" is not honest about what's going on and will continue to go on. Using the word "privatize" in this context is as dishonest as using "deregulation" to describe what happened to the electric system. For a REAL privatized effort, no government money should be used no matter which level it came from.
posted by GuestZero at 11:12 P.M. EST on Fri Sep 16, 2005 #
GuestZero, I didn't avoid anything. I didn't feel like quoting the whole damn article.
So what do you suggest, oh wise man of the mountain? You're king of the county. What do you do to bring new business to the area and keep the business that's here? How do you get more than 16% of northwest Ohio students to graduate from a two or four-year college? How do you encourage more UT grads to invest in the area? How do you address our area's high utility and labor costs?
You must also be in complete disagreement with everything that John S. Szuch, chairman of the board, Fifth Third Bank said, right?
Szuch said:
"I think the privatization of the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) should give business a concerted and focused voice. If the business community speaks out as a group through the RGP, it will have much more influence over events affecting our economic development. Revitalization of the RGP might be the single most significant event in the development of the economy of northwest Ohio in the last decade or more."
Is Szuch somehow connected to a secret government?
What do you do? You're in charge now. What's your solution besides witty sentences of criticism? Give us a GuestZero multi-step plan to "Turn Toledo Around" Wilkowski style.
posted by jr at 11:37 P.M. EST on Fri Sep 16, 2005 #
GuestZero seems to have lost touch with a bit of reality in his rant...Some companies will choose to leave this area between now and when we're able to make improvements. What improvements should we make? Depends upon what the companies say are the reasons for leaving...DUH!
The RGP described as a bunch of welfare mothers??? You've got individuals coming forward with their company support - finances, dedication, resources - to make this area a better, more successful & productive community and you're complaining???
What if they go to a company that's planning to leave and they say - what can we do to help you stay and the response is lower the tax rates? The RGP has no control over tax rates and they're not going to be able to effect changes in the rates in the short term. But having that information will be vital in communicating with the local, state and federal governments about what changes do need to be made.
You're absolutely right about limited government, however. The problem is that everytime there is a demand to limit government to the functions of government, some group gets their panties in a bunch and DEMANDS that cuts/reductions/eliminations be restored...then the politicians bow to the public pressure and restore unnecessary funding.
Since when did it become okay for government to collect our tax dollars and then give them out to charities based upon the personal preferences of the elected officials? This is done every year and anyone who's complained that this isn't a function of government has been raked over the coals for being "uncaring" and "anti-social programs" and not "responding to the needs of the community" or of being "stingy." Those elected officials then go around taking credit for such donations by saying "see how much we care about you???"
I just wish, GuestZero, that you'd be as vocal about those kinds of activity as you are critical of private industry.
posted by intrepid at 11:14 A.M. EST on Sat Sep 17, 2005 #
We hear about people wanting to bring more technology to Toledo. Back in June, an Intel study ranked Toledo number five on the list of most "unwired cities," which is a good thing. Toledo was on the list with some heavies that you would expect to be in the top 10.
Frank Szollosi said:
"An unwired city is a good carrot in our hunt to attract jobs and investment. Wireless districts, along with targeted education and training programs, can also help bridge the "digital divide" to economically depressed citizens of Toledo. We met at the University of Toledo's Urban Affairs office two years ago - not long after I became a councilman & around the time Richard Florida spoke at the Peristyle - to discuss municipal wi-fi districts in Toledo. The top folks over at Buckeye Cable really are the ones who took the lead and made the investment in our library system and some of our public spaces."
HeyHey said:
"I do wish Toledo city government would blanket downtown with wireless internet. Talk about a huge motivation to get young people to move downtown and work out of their apartments!"
Dayton offers free WiFi access to a one square mile area of downtown.
"The move makes Dayton the first city in Ohio to initiate citywide, edge-to-edge WiFi coverage. Dayton also becomes the first city nationally to offer a public-private partnership WiFi model that is not funded by taxpayers and comes at no charge to the end user."
Dayton City Commissioner Joey Williams said:
"The opportunities available through WiFi technology are tremendous. The easier we make it for residents and businesses to access the Internet and related electronic mediums, the more competitive we become. We also believe offering this type of exciting, pioneering service will go a long way toward helping Dayton attract that ‘creative class’ of people who will help fuel our community’s future success."
Dayton City Commissioner Matt Joseph said:
"In addition to offering Internet access for free to residents and visitors, I am excited about the economic development opportunities this new venture presents. This type of technological asset will help attract businesses and workers interested in the open environment Dayton will offer. This has long-term implications for Dayton’s continued growth as a center for technology and innovation."
JP Nauseef, Chief Operating Officer of the Dayton Development Coalition said:
"Offering wireless capabilities in the city will only strengthen Dayton’s position as a destination point for high-tech and cutting-edge companies. The Dayton Development Coalition certainly applauds and supports the City’s aggressive steps to go wireless. I cannot overemphasize the strategic value such a move creates for marketing Dayton as a great place to live and work."
We already know that the Dayton area does a much better job than the Toledo area in attracting or at least keeping private-sector professional, scientific, and technical services jobs, such as engineering and advertising. From 1998 to 2003, employment in these types of jobs grew in the Dayton area by 16% while the Toledo area lost 11% of these jobs. Dayton offering free widespread WiFi access to their downtown can only help attract more of these types of jobs.
Another story:
"[Ann Arbor] is considering developing a wireless network that would serve all of Washtenaw County, although they claim that it will not require public funds, or private grants. The resolution has been tabled and should be discussed in upcoming meetings."
And now Google is getting into the WiFi service business.
Funny, comparing Toledo and Dayton. Toledo wastes time and money on a smoking ban that gets ammended by the public while Dayton has taken a wait-and-see attitude on a smoking ban and instead implements a free WiFi service.
Which city is the real leader here? Toledo bragged about being the first city in Ohio to implement a strict smoking ban, even though Bowling Green did it first. But Dayton is the first to implement something that actually can help attract and keep businesses and improve a city's economy. Toledo's smoking ban hurt Toledo's economy. The obvious leader here is Dayton. Time for Toledo and Lucas County to follow once again.
Implementing a Dayton-like WiFi network in Toledo should be near the top of Toledo's to-do list. To hell with this talk about revitalizing Southwyck and the Erie Street Market. Those places had their chance. They will still be on Toledo's pipedream-vision list, but it should be below the WiFi network. Seems to me enough support for a downtown WiFi network could come from Buckeye Express and the downtown businesses and developers.
posted by jr at 11:05 A.M. EST on Tue Sep 20, 2005 #
CISP had an ad in the Toledo Fade, wanting part-time ISP tech support people.
The pay? $7 to start, $7.50 after probation.
I know someone in Atlanta doing the exact same work for one of the much, MUCH larger ISPs. She makes $13 and change an hour.
Go ahead and tell me that $6 an hour is "cost of living" difference between Toledo and Atlanta. Please, someone step up to the plate and do it for me, so I can post embarassing statistics.
This area can't attract any tech jobs because what we have pays absolutely CRAP. They could run fiber optic to every home, blanket the city in Wi-Fi, and put in the bestest recreation for the techie crowd on the planet, and it wouldn't matter. Nobody's gonna come to Toledo to get paid half what they'd make in a much nicer city.
Meanwhile, Marielora and the rest of the Jeepies enjoy their $25/hr plus benefits, and cry about the suppliers paying half that. I'm sorry, but a hearty middle finger to ALL of the auto-worker whiners, because you don't know what you've really got.
Oh, and I'm waiting for the Convergys escapees to weigh in on how much they made and how badly the difference hurts them. Convergys raped the Toledo labor market, hands down. Nobody screamed, because nobody here had a clue what the job is really worth.
Faced with a decision between $7.50 an hour to be yelled at by customers, many of whom caused their own problems (or really have no problem) by being totally ignorant about computers and unwilling to learn, or the same amount to stock shelves, guess which job gets my vote.
And especially faced with a decision of $7.50 an hour at tech support or $13 an hour at a Jeep supplier, or at Costco, if/when they show up, guess which line I'll be at the front of.
And that's REALLY DAMN SAD, because on the whole I personally prefer the challenge and rewards of helping people's days go easier by getting their computer back into shape.
Toledo's "brain drain" is caused by the piss-poor wages prevalent in the area, and it's time for the excuses to stop.
posted by anonymouscoward at 11:46 A.M. EST on Tue Sep 20, 2005 #
"This area can't attract any tech jobs because what we have pays absolutely CRAP."
During my Sunday tour of downtown, I visited the building that's currently the home of Communica, which is an advertising and marketing communications company. The building was built in 1877, so naturally it was fun to walk through. But the company also has done an awesome job of creating a fabulous work environment. I noticed some pretty high-end computer equipment on some desks. I'm guessing Communica pays more than seven clams an hour.
From their website: "We have our share of transplants on staff. From Florida, Boston, San Diego, Chicago. But we're refreshingly Midwest."
I guess some out there like coming to Toledo. One of the services Communica offers is "Web Site Design and Development site strategy, design, copy, programming." Yeah, they pay more than $7/hr.
Another tech company downtown is Internet Payment Exchange. Back in July, they had a job opening for a PHP programmer, which I'm sure pays more than $7/hr. A little research would probably turn up several tech or professional services companies in downtown Toledo.
And the WiFi network idea is not meant to only attract hard core technology companies like a software shop. A lot of companies use technology.
Another cool building I walked through on the tour was built in 1895 and is home to Knight Crockett Miller Insurance Group. Maybe an insurance company or some other professional service company can find a use for free WiFi access. If not the businesses, then the people living downtown could.
The guy who owns or operates the Bakery building told me about a guy who worked at Northstar Steel in Delta and lived in Swanton. But he hated Swanton, so he moved into a loft downtown in the Bakery building. He was a reverse commuter. He intentionally made his drive to work longer, so he could live somewhere with more excitement.
Not everyone who lives downtown works downtown. And the opposite is true. A free WiFi network downtown would be attractive to either the business owner or the resident and possibly both.
It's easy to be a gloom-and-doomer who always spotlights the negatives. Locating and exploiting the positives requires work, but it's rewarding for those who put forth the effort.
posted by jr at 01:10 P.M. EST on Tue Sep 20, 2005 #
Oh wow Toledo features a marketing company that also does website design. Color me excited.
Christ, everyone is a friggin' webmaster now. I was busy doing it when HTML 3.2 was the hotness. I have an IE3 t-shirt in my closet. Since then, what's really changed? Oh, now the "webmasters" require Flash in order to navigate the site (stupid design mistake #1) as well as Javascript (#2) and some real morons require IE (see also FEMA) (#3). I don't do site design now because I absolutely lack the artistic bent for it & I get pissed off because while there's an actual set of standards out there on how XML/XHTML/HTML/CSS/etc., nobody gives a damn about them, especially not Microsoft. So you got to test with 50 versions of 20 browsers, or otherwise send a message that you just don't care about anything but IE and maybe Firefox. Or go back to ancient HTML standards and sacrifice the prettiness that recent "standards" bring.
As for Communica, they fail. Simple test: look at their "news" page. Note dates. REAL GOOD JOB OF COMMUNICATION, THERE! Sheer comedy gold. A marketing company that can't even effectively communicate how great their company is. Seems to round out Toledo really well.
You know, my attitude sucks. It sucks because one of my first jobs ended up being at an ISP (which no longer exists) that shall remain nameless. I was a customer at said ISP and I lost track of the number of times I had to go in and tell the owner/administrator exactly where and how his servers/network/configuration were screwed. You know, like complete access to the password file, or routing problems, failure to set up reverse DNS (PTR) records, stuff like that. And then they decided to hire me, and I got used for my brain, and to bail them out when they promised the world to customers and failed to deliver.
And excuse me for having character flaws, if having assloads of integrety when it comes to doing a complete and utter quality job can be considered a character flaw. I can't let a problem go unsolved. It drives me nuts to the extent that I tried to get some sort of help/diagnosis about it. The (admittedly few) friends I have WILL tell you how willing I am to help them out with most things, how I'm absolutely crazy to the extent that I'll do things like drive through a friggin' blizzard to fix their computers and give them a hand with something, to the point of disregarding my own health and safety.
That kind of drive and devotion is not something that can be put on a résumé.
And then the downside is that most other people quickly determine that I'm going to pick up their slack and cover for them... and I'm too damn nice to say NO!
I'll tell you why I don't go into business for myself. It's cause I'd be working 18 hour days 7 days a week, and I'd feel guilty asking for what my time and work are really worth. Then I'd ultimately end up putting myself out of business, because I'd do my job so well that there wouldn't BE any return customers... as I'd damn well make sure they'd leave with the knowledge on how NOT to get their computers screwed up again.
I can't work for peanuts and be ordered/forced into doing a hurry up, zero-quality job. You and everyone else seem to read that as me having some sort of overinflated ego, or big attitude, but it's not. I would grow so mad and frustrated from being held back from excelling that I'd snap, or I'd go depressed and slit my wrists. Nor could I take lots of money and recognition, because I'm not some sort of materialist that has to have lots of stuff to compensate and I especially don't care for all the expectation that comes with recognition. And I really don't want everyone else having it in for me because I'm better than them. I don't think I'm better than anyone. I have to work REALLY HARD to let things NOT bother me. Why is it hard for people to understand that?
posted by anonymouscoward at 03:32 P.M. EST on Tue Sep 20, 2005 #
Well, AC, since you asked...
You complain about not being paid what you're worth because the work you do is of such high quality that there's really no way you could actually charge for what you're worth if you were in business for yourself.
While complaining about not being paid what you're worth you then you say your not some sort of materialist and you don't care for the expectations that come with recognition.
Then you say you don't want everyone else having it in for you because you're better than them...then you say you don't think you're better than anyone, but you had to bail out your previous employer when they made promises and couldn't deliver...
You're a 'walking' contradiction between what you say here versus what you say there. (okay so it's a website and you can't be a contradiction between what you say and what you do...)
Most people have to work really hard not to let things bother them...it's just different things bother people to different degrees. Everyone does understand that.
I've never 'met' anyone with more excuses for why you're not doing what you want to do....
posted by intrepid at 10:20 P.M. EST on Tue Sep 20, 2005 #
or perhaps you are...maybe giving everyone here the impression that you're bitter about your employment (or lack thereof) IS what you want to do....
posted by intrepid at 10:21 P.M. EST on Tue Sep 20, 2005 #
"The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Government will host the annual transportation summit from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at Owens Community College. The opening session will focus on TMACOG’s long-range plan, “On The Move: 2007-2035 Transportation Plan.” "
posted by jr at 12:14 P.M. EST on Wed Sep 28, 2005 #
Toledo Free Press story:
"City officials are scrambling to keep a 128-year old business Downtown. Roulet Company, a small, family-owned jewelry manufacturing and sales company that has been located in the heart of Downtown since 1877, reported it is considering moving its business out of Downtown or closing its business forever."
" "Downtown business stinks," said Gary Wahl, Roulet’s owner. He said the rising costs of doing business prompted the action."
posted by jr at 12:17 P.M. EST on Wed Sep 28, 2005 #
Blade story titled: Ford urges student aid to deter 'brain drain'
"Pitching it as an initiative he would tackle in a second term, Toledo Mayor Jack Ford yesterday proposed raising a $1 million fund from private donors to help local students pursue their education locally."
Any reason why it wasn't tackled in the first term? The 'brain drain' thing didn't just start this year. It's been around for a while.
"[Ford] said the idea would help stop "brain drain," the flight of promising young people because of a lack of opportunity. It also would encourage young people to consider enrolling at Toledo-area colleges instead of going out of town."
One Ford idea:
"Offering more internships in city agencies to help students earn money and develop relationships and experience in career fields. He said he would urge businesses to do the same. Mr. Ford said he would set up a foundation to collect the money and award it as grants to help students and their parents make up the difference in affording a college education."
"Students would have to agree to stay in the Toledo area five years if they accept the grant."
Ford did respond to his first-term 'brain drain' tackling:
"Mr. Ford defended his record on brain drain during the last four years. He said his youth enterprise program was aimed at brain drain. That program raises private funds to help local teenagers get started in businesses, such as mowing lawns. And he cited his behind-the-scenes involvement with area colleges and universities."
Even Wilkowski had something to say about Ford's next-term initiative:
"Mr. Wilkowski, knocked out of contention for mayor in the Sept. 13 primary, said he was flattered that Mr. Ford adopted a version of one of his ideas. The proposal contained in his "Five-Part Turnaround Plan for Toledo" was to grant 100 percent tax relief for one year to people making up to $100,000 who agree to live downtown for two years."
posted by jr at 09:02 A.M. EST on Thu Sep 29, 2005 #
"Mr. Wilkowski, knocked out of contention for mayor in the Sept. 13 primary, said he was flattered that Mr. Ford adopted a version of one of his ideas. The proposal contained in his "Five-Part Turnaround Plan for Toledo" was to grant 100 percent tax relief for one year to people making up to $100,000 who agree to live downtown for two years."
Actually - that wasn't an original idea from Wilkowski...I'd heard someone at a public meeting last year suggest that what we really needed downtown was higher income people because they have disposable income to spend in the types of retail stores needed to develop the downtown as a destination point. That people with money living downtown would attract businesses and companies to cater to their wants - which would help the concept of downtown as a destination. The man also suggested a period of time with no income taxes for them if they'd live downtown for 5 years.
Guess there's really nothing new under the sun.
posted by intrepid at 02:52 P.M. EST on Thu Sep 29, 2005 #
A recent Arbor Update posting:
"Michigan Business Review cites the organizers of [this] week’s UMich/Urban Land Institute Real Estate Forum as considering reinvestment in Detroit crucial to Michigan’s economic health."
posted by jr at 11:43 P.M. EST on Sun Oct 16, 2005 #
"While cities around the country are battling over plans to offer free or cheap Internet access, this lonely [Oregon] terrain is served by what is billed as the world's largest hotspot, a wireless cloud that stretches over 700 square miles of landscape so dry and desolate it could have been lifted from a cowboy tune."
"Similar wireless projects have been stymied in major metropolitan areas by telephone and cable TV companies, which have poured money into legislative bills aimed at discouraging such competition. In Philadelphia, for instance, plans to blanket the entire city with Wi- Fi fueled a battle in the Pennsylvania legislature with Verizon Communications Inc., leading to a law that limits the ability of every other municipality in the state to do the same."
"While his [Oregon] service is free to the general public, Ziari is recovering the investment through contracts with more than 30 city and county agencies, as well as big farms such as Hale's, whose onion empire supplies over two-thirds of the red onions used by the Subway sandwich chain. Morrow County, for instance, pays $180,000 a year for Ziari's service."
"Even as the number of Wi-Fi hotspots continues to mushroom, with 72,140 now registered globally, only a handful of cities have managed to blanket their entire urban core with wireless Internet access."
If possible, Toledo should think about a Dayton-like downtown WiFi project before Wood County does something that gives more people and businesses a reason to flee Toledo for the farmlands.
posted by jr at 12:12 A.M. EST on Mon Oct 17, 2005 #
Apparently I missed updating this thread back during my time-out in early September.
Jr, I've waxed eloquent before about the perils of catering to the yuppies, and about how pointless it is to realign city finances towards a professional elite. I hardly need to mention all that again.
Since you continue to harp on this WiFi crap, let me tell you that in Toledo, WiFi is more of the same yuppie sh*t with a wide expense footprint and a tiny benefit radius.
I mean: Jeebus, Jr! Toledo employers are routinely handing out wages at $8 to $12/hr, and you're concerned about a highly marginal luxury like WiFi.
WiFi is not going to stop several of my friends from getting their homes forclosed on.
WiFi is not going to stop another North Side race riot.
WiFi is not going to convince my current #%$#$^#$ employer to pay me more than 22c/mile for the use of my vehicle.
Every hear of this phrase, Jr?:
"It's the economy, stupid!"
And beyond that, we have another of Toledo's very serious problems: the rich people around here are retards.
I've never before seen (with business-adjusted eyes) so many small and medium businesses run like private piggy banks.
As the anon poster said and implied before, his job was relegated to being a patch-up boy for some (assumedly) rich f*ck who didn't know how to run his own tech business.
A gaming store owner summed it up nicely for me in 2001; to paraphrase him:
"A lot of Toledo's companies are run like hobbies, not businesses."
THAT is one of Toledo's EXACT problems. Capital is well heaped in the hands of people who may as well be congenital morons.
I've seen it too many times. I've submitted my résumé too many times to people like that. And I even worked at Convergys, too, in the depths of my desperation.
Toledo is a backwater. Desperation is a hallmark of such a society. Capital is in the hands of truly inept people, and on top of that, public capital is being routinely wasted by (or on) people with similar mental retardation.
All this is why I have the social foci that I hammer on again and again in public, and on ToledoTalk, Slashdot, Kuro5hin, and other places.
The RGP should be disbanded. After years of no effect whatsoever upon Toledo's significant decline, any fool can see that paying RGP salaries and expenses is a waste of money. But the elite in this area are consummate money wasters. And so Toledo's degradation proceeds apace. And hopefully I'll be able to see Toledo's metaphorical mushroom cloud in my rear-view mirror one fine day.
posted by GuestZero at 01:01 A.M. EST on Mon Oct 17, 2005 #
That's a nice rant you got their GZ, but I'll have to read it a few more times to see if there's an ounce of sense in it, but then again, why waste my time? Did you read the WiFi project in Dayton that I posted above? I'm guessing not.
According to Dayton officials, their project will help retain and attract businesses and residents to the area. And guess what GZ, they pay TAXES! That tax money goes toward city services. Did you know that?
When businesses leave downtown Toledo, did you know the taxes go with them? And who runs these businesses that hire people? Your yuppies.
It's the economy stupid.
What are you stuck in the past? Did you ever hear of moving to where the jobs are? Think Columbus, Ohio with their unemployment rate around 5%. What the hell are your friends still doing in Toledo if they are having that much trouble? What's preventing you from just up and leaving for another city? Are you lacking courage to make the move?
I'll never understand the mindset of you, GZ, and others like you that do nothing but tear down and bitch and whine and yet you still continue to live here. The government should spend some of our tax dollars to study people like you to figure out what the hell is the matter with you.
If I pound my hand with a hammer and complain about the pain, the sensible thing to do is to stop pounding my hand with a hammer. But you, GZ, like to keep on smashing your hand and blame the hammer manufacturer or the screwdriver on the table.
And beyond that, we have another of Toledo's very serious problems: the rich people around here are retards."
That's such an assinine statement, GZ, you should be ashamed of yourself. Give us some names or examples of these wealthy retards.
"A lot of Toledo's companies are run like hobbies, not businesses."
Cite examples or stop your trolling.
"THAT is one of Toledo's EXACT problems. Capital is well heaped in the hands of people who may as well be congenital morons."
You're the one making the moronic accusations. I mention a tech-thingy that another city is doing to improve the city, and you offer nothing but bitching. You're in the way. You're an obstacle. You are definitely part of the problem and nowhere near anything that could resemble a solution.
"I've seen it too many times."
Then list the companies. Convergys, that's it?
Check out the mental stability known as GuestZero:
"Toledo is a backwater. Desperation is a hallmark of such a society. Capital is in the hands of truly inept people, and on top of that, public capital is being routinely wasted by (or on) people with similar mental retardation."
And you have lived here for how long? If it's more than a year or five years, who's the retard here?
posted by jr at 03:28 P.M. EST on Mon Oct 17, 2005 #
And beyond that, we have another of Toledo's very serious problems: the rich people around here are retards.
-------------------------------------
Sounds like you're describing a certain newspaper owner. :D
Sorry, jr, but in my eyes, just about every word GZ ever says is true. I can't afford to leave on a fixed income, and many are in the same boat. I guess I'm just too old to start over, as well. Don't get me wrong, if I had money falling out of my ass, I'd be in say, Swanton-maybe Maumee. Wouldn't go too far, as all my family,kids & grandkids are in this area. . Maybe GZ can't move for various reasons. Number one, he's still in the workforce, so-first thing he'd need would be a job lined up to go to. And if all we bitchers & slowly disappearing remnants of what was once considered the 'middle class' were to leave in mass exodus, what would be left? The yuppies & the gangbangers, basically. I've got a feeling that's the way it's going to be one day, anyway. Said this before, jr-WHY does it ALWAYS have to be the yuppies who are CATERED TO? Not just by the media, as GZ says (and he IS correct, as J.R. Block proves), but by our politicos and many here?
You can NOT have a strong country without MAKING something. Name one country that's done it. Even Afghanistan cultivates poppys to make drugs. All Americans can't be software engineers. That's just a fact. We (and every other state/area) need ALL TYPES of better-paying jobs, not just white-collar ones. How about SOMEBODY in this town -ANYBODY-giving a shit about attracting BLUE-COLLAR jobs of any sort?? GZ is right again-those people are shunned, and now seen as somehow 'unclean' in this country. If this board isn't meant to rant, what the hell is it good for?? Why'd you bother to start it? I agree with you also most of the time, but not on this. Not everyone's going to always agree with you, any more than you will with me. And to me, that's what makes for good discussion. Which is what boards like this are for, a group of people with different backgrounds & different ideas. I don't always agree with Intrpid, AC, Marie, Psyche, Babbleman, and others-but, I like them. It's called an intelligent (well, most of the time) exchange of ideas. Why the hell SHOULDN'T GZ and I bitch?? I paid taxes to these pr&%*s for about 50 years. Babbleman bitches, too. Maybe he should leave town. Maybe we all should. If we all left, don't you think they'd be able to get away with even more, since a lot of us are 'watchdogs'?
I AM getting very tired of throwing my time away every election day, though. I know all of the same people will get in again (possibly ONE exception), so really, the only reason I've bothered for most of the last 20 years is for the issues. I agree with you on your views on most issues. Which means I vote pretty much the same way. Would you like me to leave, so that vote is gone?
posted by Foolkiller at 05:18 P.M. EST on Mon Oct 17, 2005 #
jr, states:What are you stuck in the past? Did you ever hear of moving to where the jobs are? Think Columbus, Ohio with their unemployment rate around 5%. What the hell are your friends still doing in Toledo if they are having that much trouble? What's preventing you from just up and leaving for another city? Are you lacking courage to make the move?
jr, It's NOT that easy to pick up and LEAVE...my daughter for instance...her earnings are greater as a Server (Waitress)...the Resturant business here in Toledo as persay to a year round Tourist Town, she would make more dollars in that Tourist Town...but, how can she MOVE? My grandson's father is here, his cousins, her Aunts, Uncles and best of all ME!!! We're all here...
She cannot LEAVE...but, she complains as I do at the "ideas" some of our Politicians come up with to make Toledo the City a Business friendly place...
Foolkiller states people with different backgrounds & different ideas. I don't always agree with Intrpid, AC, Marie, Psyche, Babbleman, and others-but, I like them.
Thankyou, I like you too, Foolkiller, and most always like what you have to say...
Also, GuestZero was quoting a comment a Sports Store Owner had said about running a business as a hobbie not a business...
With all that said...I too believe Toledo needs to charm white collar business more...we are a changing country...blue collar jobs are moving overseas...
posted by MARIELORA at 07:02 P.M. EST on Mon Oct 17, 2005 #
Yes-we need to try to attract ALL types of business. And there ARE still manufacturing firms left, usually smaller ones, but perhaps some could be enticed to come here. Of course, the rep of 'union town' might keep 'em away, but you never know if you never TRY. We cannot survive as an entirely white-collar nation, and I don't know why we have to. Why can't we have job 'diversity' as well as people diversity? Hell, unless you work at Jeep or Chevy-OR unless you're white-collar-the only thing LEFT here is bar-tending, waitresses, or cooks, or janitors. We can't survive on a nation of bars & restaurants, either. Once the crash comes, (and it will) ONLY well-paid folk will be able to dine out/drink out all the time. Another luxury, as GZ said. As this town has more bars & restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the U.S. (source: USA TODAY, 2002) a lot of them will then close. And, no, Marie, I have nothing against people in those jobs. God bless 'em, because they work their asses off. Every damned yuppie should be forced to tend bar or wait tables for a month, or, better yet, clean toilets (as I also have done several times in order to survive) for low pay. Maybe they'd develop a less-smug attitude. I worked on both sides of the fence throughout my working life-from mailrooms to custodian to office, to IT to factories, to pumping gas (remember when they did that? Along with checking your oil? :))you name it. I did whatever I had to to survive. I worked at three places that closed. Not one. Not two. Three. I look down on NO ONE. Only those who have never had to worry about anything, have always had it their way, and have plenty of money do that. And, no, Not putting jr or anyone else here in that category. By the way, Intrepid, sorry for the typo-mispelled your screen name. :D
posted by Foolkiller at 08:57 P.M. EST on Mon Oct 17, 2005 #
Tue Oct 25 New Urbanism meeting 5:30pm - 8:00pm at Downtown Latte. Round Table discussion. Guest speakers: David Dysard and Richard Gee.
Only retarded yuppies and dimwit business owners are allowed to attend. The discussion will focus on how politicians are the only means to saving the city. That's why it's so vitally important to vote because politicans are the only people that can move a city forward. The group will also continue its discussion on how to eliminate as many blue-collar jobs as possible. So if you're a retarded wealthy person who enjoys looking down on people paying less taxes than you, this meeting needs your input.
posted by jr at 06:59 A.M. EST on Tue Oct 25, 2005 #
Oct 24 Blade story titled "Technology corridor moving slowly."
"For more than two years, University of Toledo President Dan Johnson has been pushing his signature concept for the creation of a technology corridor as a way to diversify the Toledo area economy. Yet more than four months after a self-announced deadline, there is still no executive director or outside financial backing in place for his estimated $25 million-plus proposal to link UT with other universities, industries, and area assets to attract technology, research, and jobs - in part through a proposed people mover system."
Probably because Johnson's plan would be a real example of regionalism, and the Toledo empire is only interested in unigov, not regionalism.
UT does follow Toledo's lead when it comes to hiring consultants for who-knows-what.
"Meanwhile, a consultant hired by the university to promote the effort has racked up more than $41,000 in expenses. [The consultant], meanwhile, has spent time traveling to communities where successful technology parks exist, namely the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina."
"In late December, Mr. Johnson announced the start of a search for an executive director to head the proposed Northwest Ohio Science and Technology Corridor. The corridor would include UT, Medical University of Ohio, Owens Community College, and Bowling Green State University, as well as other industries and businesses, and ultimately could extend to Findlay, Sandusky, Detroit, and Ann Arbor."
See, Johnson's plan involves more than Lucas County and the Toledo rulers are not interested in that. Johnson would be better off pitching his idea to the nearby Michigan counties and the other Ohio counties.
A possible problem to the whole plan may be found in this paragraph:
"[The consultant] also had meetings with a number of community leaders, including Mr. Hartung; Tom Palmer, port board chairman; Toledo mayoral candidate Carty Finkbeiner, and John Robinson Block, publisher and editor-in-chief of The Blade."
JRB lives in Pittsburgh, but he's called a community leader. What community, by the way? Toledo/Lucas County or northwest Ohio? Was the consultant ordered to meet with JRB, and was the meeting held in Pittsburgh?
Here's maybe another reason why not much has happened:
"Besides being UT's consultant, Mr. Nicholson also is the chief fund-raiser for Mr. Finkbeiner."
Also from the Blade article:
"The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority board last month endorsed a study developed by the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council on Governments that recommended developing a transit connection between downtown Toledo and the corridor."
"The corridor plans include initial transit service between UT, Toledo Hospital, and the Medical University of Ohio along an existing railroad corridor that is inactive north of Dorr Street and lightly used south of there. The cost to implement the corridor for a partial portion between Toledo Hospital and the Scott Park campus is estimated at $25 million, according to TMACOG."
"Congressman Kaptur said she's been working to increase research dollars to UT and other area institutions of higher learning, a focus of the corridor concept. Last fiscal year, UT reached another record year with federal research funding at $33.8 million."
"Miss Kaptur said UT is already involved in laudable research efforts that impact the local economy, including studies of alternative energy sources and the greenhouse industry."
posted by jr at 07:20 A.M. EST on Tue Oct 25, 2005 #
posted by jr at 07:25 A.M. EST on Tue Oct 25, 2005 #
Another example of the People's Republic of Toledo in action.
"The city of Toledo’s impound lot is up and running but the dispute with tow truck drivers isn’t over. Several tow truck operators have banned together and filed a formal complaint against the impound lot. They say the city is in violation of several Toledo Municipal Codes."
Yes, Toledo is violating its own codes. The same codes caused some private tow-lot owners to lose business or to incur costs to upgrade their lots to be in compliance with the city's codes.
More from the WUPW story:
"The complaint says the city’s impound lot doesn’t have a monitored electronic alarm system or inside storage space: things [the private owners] were required to have at their tow lots in order to do business with the city."
And the kicker ...
"Attorneys for the city of Toledo say the city is exempt from the Municipal Codes."
posted by jr at 07:33 A.M. EST on Tue Oct 25, 2005 #
One example of Mayor Ford's first-term accomplishments:
"When Owens Illinois moves to Perrysbury next Fall, hundreds of people will be leaving the One Seagate building in downtown Toledo. Businesses around OI are expecting a big drop in sales when the move takes place."
"Marian's Bakery has been around for decades. It's located in the basement of One Seagate and has been there since the building opened over 21 years ago. Sliva says the Bakery has become a landmark, one that she's sorry she can't keep."
"Sliva says with the uncertainty of what's going to happen with the building, she has to leave the bakery. OI leaves in September and no other business has announced they're moving in. Sliva is so worried about would could happen to Marian's, she won't even pass the business along."
"So Friday will be the last time you can get a lemon jelly ball, a donut, a chocolate chip muffin, or any other item Marian's offers."
Ah, come on. We know the real reason the bakery is closing. The owner is probably a retard who doesn't know the difference between a hobby and a business and is obviously managing the bakery like a private piggy bank. OI moving is a convienent excuse for the bakery owner.
Mmmmm, this Toledo backwater kool-aid produced by GuestZero and Foolkiller is mighty tasty. I can't wait to vote in a couple of weeks because I know that will solve all the problems.
posted by jr at 07:45 A.M. EST on Tue Oct 25, 2005 #
"Downtown Latte"?
posted by Foolkiller at 11:26 A.M. EST on Tue Oct 25, 2005 #
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