Recently, electric cars have been getting a wealth of media coverage. This is most likely due to the announcement that a new electric car will hold a government rating of 230 miles per gallon. To put this kind of mileage into perspective, it would be 180 more mpg than any car currently on the road. However, it should be noted that to achieve this type of mileage the car would have to be electrically recharged and that new standards of measurements were created to come up with the aforementioned rating. Given the current media hype, what are your thoughts on electric cars? Do they constitute a significant improvement from gas or hybrid powered vehicles? Will parking meters also double as filling stations? How might they influence a city’s infrastructure and built environment? Please share your thoughts.
GreenLight Zine
The GreenLight Zine is a local resource for D.I.Y. environmentalists, specifically in the northeast Ohio region. GreenLight’s goal is to empower youth to promote environmental sustainability in their communities, with the intent to educate and provide an outlet for young environmental writers. The GreenLight Zine is Cleveland based and it was started in the summer of 2007 by Lora DiFranco and Emma Bishop at Oberlin College. So far they, with the help of their friends, have released five issues, the most recent Spring 2009 issue is the D.I.Y. Guide to Cleveland. Other issues have covered the topics of water use and local foods. They visit local high schools and colleges, and also spread the message through the Cleveland music scene as well. Since Lora and Emma graduated in 2008, they have been putting the zine together in their spare time in the evenings and weekends. Their mission is about environmental sustainability, but also community building as well. This is a terrific resource for northeast Ohio, especially for young people who want to get more involved in these issues. To learn more, check out their website at: http://www.greenlightzine.org/
Ohio's Fiscal Situation
By Gene Krebs How bad is the fiscal situation in Ohio? It depends who you talk to and how well informed they are in this area. In reality, there are only fourteen people (yes, that exact number) who understand how Ohio is put together as a fiscal construct. In talking quietly to several of them or reading the news reports, you get one overwhelming sense; it is bad. If current economic conditions maintain, we are looking at a $ 8 billion deficit for Oho in FY 2012, some reasonable people believe it will be $ 13 billion. If we only fund debt service (about 5%) and keep the prisons open, continue to care for senior citizens in nursing homes, and fund all levels of education (if the state slashes support to local schools they will go on the ballot, potentially raising your property taxes) and eliminate all other aspects of state government (the state parks, the governor, the legislature etc.) we still can’t make the books balance. We are going to have to target our resources in a more strategic manner where Bobby and Betty Buckeye get the most bang for their buck.
Oh, and ODOT is going broke also, and cash for clunkers is making it worse. More on that later…
Update: Ten Living Cities
This past weekend Dayton hosted the Ten Living Cities Symposium. The event was well attended and brought together a diverse group of public leaders, community activists, and artists representing each of the ten cities listed on the “fastest dying” cities. The day began with opening remarks by Josh Zumbrun, who authored the Forbes.com article that inspired the event. Through his remarks, he clarified that the article was an economic analysis and was intended to bring about public awareness to the plight of these cities and not meant to portray these as hopeless places. Following Zumbrun’s remarks, representatives from eight of the ten cities (Scranton, PA and Springfield, MA were not formally represented) gave presentations that highlighted the unique assets of their city and also provided examples of innovative and creative projects and programs taking place in each locale. The presentations communicated the overriding theme of the day: although each city on the list suffers from negative statistical trends, they are still home to many vibrant people and places who are working to improve their city’s quality of life.
The second half of the event called for more dialogue and participation amongst attendees in which ideas, advice and best practices were openly exchanged. The day ended with a recap and reflection of the main take away messages from the event with a collective understanding that there is much more work to be done. Overall, the symposium offered the residents of these cities the chance to meet and exchange ideas and to also showcase positive aspects of their cities, ones that often go unreported by the media.
Keeping it Local
An article from the Economist magazine from the first week of August cites a study that shows that it pays to shop local. The study conducted in Austin, Texas by Civics Economics, a consultancy, found that for every $100 spent at a local book store and record store, $45 stayed in Austin. And for every $100 spent at a typical Borders store, only $13 went back into local circulation. This study bolsters the idea that it benefits the entire town to shop locally. There are plenty of other reasons to shop locally: reduced carbon emissions, supporting the downtown, and preserving unique local flavor. But during these difficult times, the economic argument is more salient than ever. Whatever the reason for shopping locally, it’s an issue that is gaining more support all the time. And for the sake of Ohio’s core communities and downtown areas, we certainly hope it continues.
Ten Living Cities
Last year, on this day, Forbes.com released an article that ranked America’s top 10 “fastest dying cities.” Cities were ranked based on an analysis that considered population change, economic growth, unemployment rates and other socio-economic indicators. According to the article, this list represented the ten cities that have faired the worst since the start of the 21st century. Based on their analysis, Forbes concluded that Ohio and its cities have struggled more than any other place in America. Ohio accounted for four (Cleveland, Youngstown, Canton and Dayton) of the ten fastest dying cities, by far the most of any state. Like Ohio’s cities, the other six cities that made the list had strong roots in the manufacturing industry. Fast-forward to one year later. Generally, the socio-economic conditions have not improved, and have likely worsened, for these ten cities. However, rather than wallowing in their collective sorrows for the past year these cities have, instead, mobilized to prove that they are all but dying. This joint effort is set to culminate this weekend at the Ten Living Cities symposium and arts festival in Dayton, Ohio. A collection of artists, activists, public official, local leaders and concerned citizens from each of the ten cities will travel to Ohio (appropriately) to share innovative practices, ideas and local artwork. All this is designed to demonstrate that although these cities may suffer from some negative trends, they are still home to creative and lively individuals who are dedicated to transforming these trends. For more information visit the Ten Living Cities website.
Ohio and the Stimulus
A newly released study by Good Jobs First, a Washington D.C. based research group, ranked Ohio’s website that tracks stimulus spending among the nation’s top ten. The purpose of the study is to monitor how well the stimulus package is working and also to determine if states are providing the transparency and accountability that President Obama promised. To achieve this, the study concentrated on the detail, depth and amount of information contained within each state’s stimulus spending website.
It is promising to see that Ohio is doing an above average job in providing information about its use of the stimulus funds. However, the study also reveals that Ohio is lacking transparency in some of the most important measurements of success. Ohio’s website does not provide information detailing the number of jobs created by stimulus funds and also fails to compare where money is going against economic need. Since the stimulus package was designed to quickly create jobs and simultaneously transform our nation’s infrastructure, it is disappointing that we do not have the necessary information to measure Ohio’s performance in these objectives.
Please share your take on Ohio and its allocation of stimulus funds. Do you think the state is providing adequate transparency in the process? Is Ohio making the most of this one-time money? How could Ohio better leverage its funds to create a more prosperous future?
Local Government Reform Commission Hearing on Friday
The Ohio Commission on Local Government Reform and Collaboration will hold a public hearing on Friday, July 31, 2009 at 10:30 am at the Worthington Board of Education Building located at 200 E. Wilson Bridge Road in Worthington, Ohio, 43085. This is the first of five hearings that will be held throughout Ohio seeking public input.
Testimony and input is being requested in three main areas:
1.) Recommendations that will encourage and incentivize local governments to collaborate;
2.) Identification of local and state tax structure changes which would encourage collaboration or improve service effectiveness; and
3.) Identification current/alternative service delivery models.
If you are in the Central Ohio region and are concerned with the issue of local government efficiency we strongly encourage you to make the short drive to ensure that your voice is heard. If you cannot attend this meeting you might also consider preparing written testimony.
Greater Ohio, and its partner the Brooking Institution, have identified governance reform as an important issue to be considered as we work to restore prosperity back to Ohio. Governance reform falls within our larger agenda that is charged with increasing Ohio’s economic competitiveness and quality of life by focusing on the four drivers of prosperity in the 21st century economy: innovation; human capital; infrastructure; and quality of place. Again, we ask you to voice your opinion if you feel, as we at Greater Ohio do, that regional collaboration and efficient governance are critical to building a more competitive and prosperous Ohio.
The Local Government Reform Commission is legislatively created and consists of 15 members ranging from local officials to business people. It is charged with researching and writing a report that recommends reform and collaboration measures in order to improve local government operations and service delivery to create cost savings for taxpayers
For more information about the Commission visit its website at www.ohioreformandcollaboration.org.
Call to Action
In House Bill 2, the Ohio Department of Transportation Budget Bill that was passed earlier this year, Greater Ohio worked with legislative leaders, specifically Rep. Peter Ujvagi (Toledo), to insert language requiring ODOT to complete a study looking at the cost to maintain state routes within city limits. We recognize that these costs are a heavy burden on our cities and are hopeful that ODOT will take a serious look at taking back the maintenance of state routes.
The Ohio Department of Transportation Central Office is working with its District Offices to compile the report, and we strongly urge you to meet with your local ODOT Deputy District Director to share your budget costs in this area and provide input on the study. You may wish to include your mayor, city councilperson, state senator and state representative, and your economic development official as part of this meeting. We think it is also important to share your funding priorities, assuming this money is freed up at the local level, which may include funding of city police and matches for multi-transit projects. ODOT is required to complete the report by December 15, 2009, so timing is critical
If you need further information to make your visit more productive please let us know. Also, after you have met with your District Offices we would like to hear your feedback and encourage you to contact us.
Actual language requiring the report from House Bill 2:
SECTION 755.50. The Department of Transportation shall compile and produce a report on the financial and policy implications of the Department assuming primary responsibility for all state routes throughout Ohio regardless of local government jurisdiction. The report shall review the range of possible participation in the paving and maintenance of these routes by the Department. The Department shall submit the report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Governor not later than December 15, 2009.
Ohio’s Place in the Alternative Energy Sector
Two weeks ago we posted a blog entry that touched upon the potential role of alternative energy as a primary driver of economic development in Ohio. To this end, it thought that the alternative energy industry would create new jobs in Ohio’s manufacturing sector and also, improve our economic competitiveness in the globally competitive economy of the 21st century. Since this is an emerging industry, Ohio has the opportunity to become a leader in the research, production and exportation of alternative energy products and knowledge.
A recent report by the Pew Charitable Trusts shows the impact of the clean energy industry on job growth in a state by state manner. According to the study, Ohio has a strong presence in the alternative energy sector. In fact, Ohio ranked in the top ten for number of jobs, number of businesses and number of patents in the clean energy sector. Additionally, the Great Lakes Wind Network has an interactive map of the United States detailing the location of businesses involved in wind energy production. This map offers an interesting visual tool that shows which states, and regions, are leaders in the wind energy industry.
Reports and information, such as these, are encouraging signs for Ohio’s economic future and also provide validation that the alternative energy industry can be a source of job growth in Ohio.