I recently visited Las Vegas and Detroit. First lets talk about Detroit. Detroit has many problems but one thing I can say is there is always plenty to do. There is theatre, casinos, a variety of restaurants and clubs, museums, and festivals galore. You cannot go to Detroit in the summer and not have a FREE festival going on downtown. Would you believe I actually saw Stevie Wonder perform FREE downtown Hart plaza. Did you know that the Cincy Jazz festival passed right by Cleveland and went to Detroit and became the Detroit Music festival. Who went? Me and many other Clevelanders. At one point I was in Detroit every other week for their cultural festivals something every weekend. Now if Detroit can do it surely Cleveland can.

Now for Las Vegas- First let me say that Cleveland is closing over 10 Schools and Las Vegas is building over 10 NEW schools to be opened this year. There is NO comparison between Cleveland and Las Vegas but while I was there I met Lindsay Hebberd a world reknowned photographer and after travelling all over the world she decided to live in Las Vegas. The excitement, beauty and cultural presence there is incredible. But what she told we was that Las Vegas was the safest city she has ever lived in not only is it safe but the entertainment value is unsurpassed. Where else in America can you go and see top entertainers i.e., Gladys Knight, The Temptations, The Whispers, David Copperfield, in the same weekend. On top of that you can enjoy many free activities day and night at venues like Bellagio's the Dancing Fountain Conservatory, the Venetian, Alladin, Treasure Island, and the Fremont Street Experience and where else but in downtown Las Vegas does a African American man own the tallest building (Fitzgeralds Casino Hotel). Many people in Cleveland are so slow, so unprogressive in their thinking this is why nothing is really consistently happening here. This is the reason why we are # 1 in poverty- that is an embarassment.

This is also why the young movers and shakers are leaving here or are planning to leave here. This city needs to diversify everything. Those holier than thou folk who believe casinos will bring crime, prostitution etc. they need to open their eyes it is already here people and it will not leave and I can only see it getting worse as people continue to lose jobs. It is time to think out of the box and realize that if we continue to do the same things we will continue to get the same results. Hello.

I think the Mayor is on point-at least she is thinking-Cleveland could be a wonderful entertainment destination. We have the Lakefront, we have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, there's Playhouse Square, and University Circle, the Wearhouse District and the Flats. We need to diversify and build bridges and work together and understand the connectedness we have we each other. Cleveland needs more entrepreneurs who create and innovate and make things happen. from Cool Cleveland reader Tammy L. Kennedy tamlynken69@yahoo.com (:divend:)