Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com
On Nick Kostis (See Cool Cleveland Interview with Nick Kostis here) I worked with Nick Kostis in another life. Education. In fifteen minutes he could take a group of angry PTA ladies and have them singing his praises. Nick would just smile when I asked him how he did it. A Greek leprechaun, he is. A nice guy, too.
from Cool Cleveland reader Fran Martin martin5638ATsbcglobal.net
On a new convention center (See Yr Turn letters here) Saying that a behemoth of a convention center isn't a good idea for Cleveland isn't displaying a can't-do attitude; it's facing facts. There are many, many things that hold bright promise for our city----our arts and culture scene is witnessing an incredible blossoming, it looks as if we're finally starting to get with it in embracing cutting-edge technology, and we have world-class museums as well as fabulous eateries and one-of-a-kind shops. Indeed, we should revel in our good fortune in living in Cleveland, and should all be PR people for the community. None of the above, however, can alter the fact that convention and tradeshow attendance IS decreasing (as just one example, the biggest industrial tradeshow in the country is now down from five days to three, and has moved to a smaller venue on the outskirts of Chicago), and will continue to decrease as gas and fuel become scarcer and more expensive, versus vast improvement in conferencing, webcasting, and webinar technologies. There's simply no reason to think this trend will ever reverse; it exists, it's not old news, and has nothing to do with "can-" or "can't-do." Further, why should Cleveland merely aim to copy other cities? Why would we spend $350 million to have a new convention facility just for the sake of saying we have it? Especially since those new convention centers in Pittsburgh and Indianapolis are plummeting further and further into the red every year----they are examples of what to avoid, not what to emulate. Besides, we already have two convention facilities available: one which, with refurbishing, would be fine for regional events, which are holding their own; and the other, the I-X Center, deemed the premier venue in the country for several types of tradeshows. It can remain useful as long as it's still profitable to keep it open. Wouldn't it make much more sense to capitalize on what we already have? And why would we not want to come up with a way to attract more business as unique as our city? There are much better ways to really make a difference if we're going to spend that much money. On a totally separate note, it's all well and good that there's to be another public meeting about the Innerbelt project. Too bad it's being held on a Tuesday morning, when many, probably most, people can't get there. Suppose that's the idea?
from Cool Cleveland reader Denise Donaldson zoonorthATnetzero.com
On the film industry in Cleveland (See Who needs Hollywood? here) Your naive question, "Is the film industry wising up?" Scott Sabel records in Ohio, who cares? Some two-bit actor from Dayton testifies in front of the Ohio Legislature? Do you really think the industry looks to Ohio as a solution? They are not looking for a solution. Do you really think that most major studios would travel here rather than shooting in Los Angeles or New York? Come on! The Ohio Legislature debate giving tax breaks for shooting film in Ohio is a road that has been traveled down many times before. Ohio was too stupid then to approve it and they may be even more Bushwacked to approve it now. As long as they make "family-friendly films," that is.
from Cool Cleveland reader Tim Harry, Cleveland Cinematheque tharryATclevelandart.org
This is a great subject. I work for a company in Crawford County (about 70 minutes south of Cleveland) called Precinct 13 Entertainment (www.p13entertainment.com). The company president, Robert Kurtzman, is an Ohio native who spent 20 years in LA, forming the esteemed KNB FX Group. Growing tired of life out west, and not wishing to raise his family there, he bravely decided to come back home to set up his own FX/Production house in Ohio. This has proved to be a wise move. In the last 18 months, Precinct 13 has undertaken CGI work for the following motion pictures: The Devils Rejects (Rob Zombie); Hostel (Eli Roth/Quentin Tarantino); The Toolbox Murders (Tobe Hooper); 2001 Manics (Tim Sullivan); In addition, we are currently working on animation clips for MAD TV, The Disney Channel, AND we are making our own motion picture right here in Crestline, The Rage (www.theragefilm.com) which was funded entirely by local dollars. We have our own 13'000 foot facility, in which we also house a full service Advertising Agency where we produce cutting edge, award winning commercials for clients all over the mid-west. So, who needs Hollywood? Clearly not Hollywood... all our motion picture work was captured on a hard drive and Fed Ex'd to us! We are not alone in bucking the trend. Director Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) has a similar set up to ours in Texas, and does ALL his movies there. In addition, there are also some really good film makers here in Ohio, some of which work for us on our projects. Precinct 13 recently had productive discussions with the Ohio Film Commission with regards to Bill #155, and desperately hopes that something fruitfull can come of it. Ohio has so much to offer, not just in expertise, but also in locations and a relativley low overhead. Great things can be achieved here, we are proof of that.
from Cool Cleveland reader Matt Jerrams mattATp13entertainment.com
On a signature Innerbelt bridge (See ODOT Midtown public meeting here) Mr. Proctor, Please take the necessary time to ensure that the bridge which will be erected in Cleveland is one that will impact our region positively. We've had too many public projects which were rushed into in this town that we are still trying to make right. I know you are getting a different viewpoint from our politicians, but please realize that it is the politicians themselves who have been selling our city short for decades. Please try to alleviate and not contribute to our problems. The fact that traffic might be slowed and/or diverted for a year or two is inconsequential when compared to the sense of pride a well done signature bridge would bring to the people of our city. You are a man with a lot of influence Mr. Proctor, please do us all a favor and use your position to improve the lives of generations of Clevelanders. I'd be happy to discuss this with you further if you have the time. Thanks.
from Kevin Patrick Murphy, Esq. kpmAThurtukdaroff.com
Gordon, The people of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and all of Northeast Ohio have been presented with an opportunity. It is an opportunity that comes around once in many generations and will have a dramatic effect on the future of the place that we call home. The Cuyahoga Planning Commission has proposed a southern alignment alternative that is more elegant, world-class and sustainable for spanning the Cuyahoga River Valley than ODOT's plan. The County Planning Commission’s concept for spanning the Valley also reconfigures the grossly inadequate collection of ramps that connect I-71, I-77 and provides access to downtown streets in the area between Jacobs Field, the Cuyahoga County Community College Campus, and the Central Post Office area south of the existing I-71 embankment. The County Planning Commission concept incorporates the following elements:
1. Replace the aging and unaesthetic existing steel truss Innerbelt Bridge designed and built in the 1950s with a new structure that embodies the world's state of the art bridge designs and technologies. We live in a new golden age of bridge aesthetics. Bridges are now designed as "structural art" and our Innerbelt Bridge should be such a world class design at little if any additional cost compared with building an unattractive design.
2. Relocate the Bridge and ramps to better serve downtown Cleveland of the 21st century.
The County proposed the concept of a new bridge alignment that would begin at the current bridge location on the Tremont side of the Valley and gently curve south of the existing bridge, and land considerably further south of Jacobs Field than at present. The proposal calls for lowering the elevation of a new bridge on the downtown side of the Valley, thereby aligning the Interstate highway with the elevation of the Innerbelt Trench. Doesn’t this make common sense??? These vertical and horizontal alignment changes would have multiple benefits: create an opportunity to eliminate the high Innerbelt embankment that both projects traffic noise and separates Jacobs Field from the large expanses south of the Gateway area; create new redevelopment opportunities; and allow for an efficient and aesthetic new ramp network for access to and from downtown. Thus, from an engineering and economic point of view, this is the right thing to do! I trust the County Planning Commission that all of these possibilities can be realized without any negative impacts on Tremont or other areas. I am an Orthodox Christian so I especially value the Greek Orthodox Church in Tremont. I believe that ODOT should take whatever time is necessary to present to the public designs that address the deficiencies of the current Innerbelt system, while seizing the opportunity to provide design alternatives that embody world class standards of bridge and highway design. Further, I believe the County Planning Commission that this alternative can be accomplished within the ODOT Innerbelt budget, and in some respects, may be less expensive in the long run. This is especially true if a truly sustainable bridge is built---one, for example, with solar power panels on the southern exposures to provide energy to light the bridge at night. I believe that you, ODOT has the obligation and responsibility to fully and impartially analyze this proposal. ODOT has the resources and is required by policy and regulations to perform these analyses. Please don’t drop the ball on this! Cleveland’s renaissance is at stake! We’ve got momentum, please don’t stick our City with a less than world-class bridge that isn’t unique, economically viable or appropriate!!!!
from Cool Cleveland reader C. Beau Daane beauATbalancedlivingmag.com
Now that Cool Cleveland is carrying the torch for the ODOT project, can it also get Fannie Lewis and the rest of Cleveland Council to see the forest for the trees? Business development in midtown (expansion of Myers University and other businesses) says growth area much more so than a jail!.
from Cool Cleveland reader Harriet Bauer hkbauerATyahoo.com
On annexing East Cleveland (See Time to annex East Cleveland? here) Regarding the recent column by Sam Fulwood in the Plain Dealer: I have been thinking for a while now that East Cleveland should be annexed by Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and Euclid. East Cleveland and it's neighbors would benefit by spreading the "problems" and the "benefits" around. Cleveland would acquire the valued property near University Circle. Cleveland Heights would gain much needed commercial property that is along Euclid Avenue, as well as the housing stock on and uphill of Terrace Road (and perhaps fix the split school district issue in that area). The city of Euclid would gain valuable residential and light industrial property to help it's tax base. The relative strengths of the three cities would in turn benefit the residents and businesses within the boundaries of East Cleveland.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jerry Mann jerrymannATjerrymann.com
On unhappy Cleveland people Since I came back to Cleveland from living in Akron 5 years ago, even though it is 45 minutes away, Cleveland people, most of them became more judgmental and ignorant because they don't like how a person talks or walks without a real explanation why. I am an artist with a speech and communication problem that sometime have problem expressing words correctly when I talk. Few months back at an art-opening, group of people said things about me such as calling me retarded, slow, and dumb. In addition would make fun of me while talking with their entourage. I went over there to talk to them (I am a person who want to interact with the instigators). They just ignored and walked away from me. Even some of my good friends couldn’t believe this (One of them went back to Europe because of such ignorance in Cleveland and elsewhere in Ohio). I can’t believe that here in Cleveland a diverse of people getting along well but they just want to overlook a good person who they don’t know well because of a speech impendent that is misunderstanding. I love Cleveland, but such ignorance need to be decrease for some tolerance and acceptance to come in judgmental Cleveland people minds even though there will not be an universal remedy for a long time. As a result, I will be happy to be leaving Cleveland by next year.
from Cool Cleveland reader Johnny Perkins propio72AThotmail.com
On Cool Cleveland I wanted to let you know how impressed I am with your web-site. I am moving back to Cleveland in june after a 20 year hiatus. Without hopefully sounding pompous, I am part of the brain drain returned. We bought a house in Shaker and look to be active in Cleveland revolution of change that is critical. I hope some of my 4 boys have the opportunities that I did not, and see Cleveland as a dynamic cool city to live in. I am leaving a very affluent area in Chicago , and opening a satellite sales office for our business in Cleveland Hanna bldg. It is more ideas and solutions then employment I hope to bring, as that is what has to change first in Cleveland. A headset change in my graphic terms. I was just at glidden house for the weekend,and amazed at the beauty and potential of the city as well as its cultural brilliance. I think your website invites what we need, youth ,culture, progress, growth and responsibility. Just add water!! All needed to change things. I hope that there are enough of us out there to create a positive trend and then success. Good Luck and best of fortune.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jordan Rahal, Rahal Foods, Oak Brook, IL JordanATRahalFoods.com (:divend:)