Has Dayton Turned a Corner?

Dayton has turned a corner, or that’s what yesterday’s rally would have you believe.

In actuality I think the region HAS turned a corner. We’ve taken our hits with the economy, job loss, and the housing market.  Yesterday’s regional rally was designed to make sure we’re not beaten down. Speaker Stacia Edwards (from the Regional Workforce Transformation Consortium) reminded us that we can’t let bad news steal our opportunities or our potential. We have a community in which it is desirable to Live, Work, and Play.

I also think we have turned a corner because citizens and the private sector are stepping up to the plate and taking control. Many projects have been under way for a couple years (or longer). Many people in the audience have been part of those efforts. The rally fell flat as a rally but it did accomplish bringing all those people together even if it was to preach to the choir.

We heard about the size of the region, 13 counties and a 60-mile radius encompassing the 937 area code. We heard about urban revitalization. We heard about connecting assets and people and people to people and people to assets. We heard a litany of all the assets we have in our region. We heard about a desire to be more inclusive and to embrace diversity in our community and in our workforce. We heard about the significance of Wright Patterson Air Force Base’s (and the Springfield Air National Guard) role in the region. We heard from businesses that have started here, are growing here, and WANT TO STAY HERE. We heard about water and we heard about a talented, well-educated, creative workforce. We heard about the Metroparks and a vibrant arts and entertainment scene including theater, youth programs, individual artists, and sports.

Other bloggers and Facebook-ers have expressed feelings about some of the inadequacies of the rally. It was long and not well-paced even though the speaking was broken up to keep our interest. Some speakers effectively captured our attention, particularly Mike Ervin (Downtown Dayton Plan), Sean Creighton and Theresa Gasper (Dayton Create), Mike McDorman (Springfield Chamber of Commerce), Joe Sciabica (WPAFB), and Bruce Langos from Teradata who got his digs in at NCR!

Local leaders (loosely defined) have finally gotten some things right. Other communities, for a long time, have focused on themes around having and building environments that create appealing places to Live, Work, and Play (I blogged about it here in April, 2009). I still don’t Get Midwest. I like Springfield’s Dream Big campaign, inspired by Albert Einstein.

Speaking of leaders, I mentioned above that citizens and the private sector have stepped up to the plate. In addition to business leaders and a small amount of average citizens I was pleased to see elected officials and personnel from many surrounding jurisdictions. However, I’ll need readers to tell me if elected officials from Dayton were present. I suppose it was purposeful that no elected leaders from any of the communities spoke. But everyone wondered if Gary Leitzell, the new mayor, was there. Nobody I spoke with saw Rhine McLin or the commissioners or Phil Parker from the Chamber of Commerce or Jackie Powell from the Convention and Visitors Bureau (and there’s even a Water Innovation Alliance convention coming in May 2010). Feel free to comment or send me an email and I’ll update my post accordingly if corrected. Hopefully no one was snubbed. If we're going to be a region we need to act like one and work together like one. It's time to not only pay lip service to the idea of collaborating. We need to do more as citizens, as businesses, and as local elected officials who need to keep the big picture in mind and consider downsizing and combining governments.

Many of you are in the trenches, moreso than me. You didn’t hear anything new at the rally. You already know and celebrate that Dayton is a community in which to Live, Work and Play. Hopefully the rally showed the rest of the community what we’ve known all along. And hopefully you realize you’re not alone in your interest in our opportunities, potential, and desire to change perceptions.

Here’s a story from the Dayton Daily News. I can’t believe - with all the positive things that were said and promoted - that my post is actually longer than the article. Also be sure to check out Esrati.com.

Comments

[Jeff]

The DDN had a pic of Leitzel at the event, so I guess he did attend, which makes sense as he is the new mayor.

I think "hit bottom" might be as apt a description of where we are as "turned a corner", or, maybe the region is changing into something else.

[David Esrati]

I saw Gary Leitzell there- and Commissioner Williams was there-
While I appreciate your positive spin on the event- and the suggestion to check out my post, the reality is- who is in charge?
Who will lead? We need a commander- to set the way- and shouldn't they be elected- or at least rise through the system? (I have an idea forming about this- but it's too early to tell if it's ready for the light of day).
I had contacted the Dayton Development Coalition to ask if I could talk about my bike sharing proposition- and I was flatly turned down. So much for bringing new ideas to the table and giving us something to shoot for.
We'll get this train back on track, but first, we have to stop thinking of "Dayton Region" and just think of "Dayton"- the word "region" discounts us all.

[David Esrati]

and- the link to my very commented post is:
http://esrati.com/?p=3741