RubberBuzz || Akron Unleashed: If Davie G. Can Do It, So Can I

8.25.2005

If Davie G. Can Do It, So Can I

If figure if David Giffels can comment of Rebecca Ryan's suggestions, so can I.

1. Develop a true Web-based portal for all of greater Akron's ``after hours'' activities.

Okay, so she started off good. For the kind of cash she wants to devote to this project, I could do some killer things with RubberBuzz!

2. Design a compelling ``Come Home to Akron'' message and campaign to bring back people who grew up here or went to school/college here and then moved elsewhere.

Hey, you know why these people left? They found jobs. It's sad but true. If we want to lure people back, we have to do it with jobs not with campaigns.

3. Throw ``Come Home to Akron'' events in three to five cities with the highest concentration of Akron-area alumni.

Well, I guess throwing these events would create a few jobs.

4. Host ``Come Home to Akron'' events.

Again, it's a few more jobs.

5. Connect every resident of greater Akron to a public park, trail or recreation area.

Sure, why not? Again, where are the jobs?

6. Create protected bike and blade lanes in downtown Akron.

I've seen exactly one person on a bike on my way into work in the morning in the time that I've been working downtown. I'm sure she'd appreciate the bike lane.

7. Outfit city buses with bike racks so that commuters can ``bus and bike.''

I'll defer to Davie G.
Couldn't hurt. But I have a funny feeling it'll never catch on. Ohioans drive everywhere, even if it's half a block. Remember the downtown trolleys? They were really cool -- and perpetually empty.

You can bring the kids back to Akron, but you can't take the Akron out of the kids.

8. Staff a full-time executive director to serve greater Akron's young professionals groups.

If you do this, you gotta raise dues. If dues are too high, then no one's going to join. This could effectively kill the groups.

9. Develop multimedia tools that greater Akron's employers can customize for their talent attraction efforts.

Monster.com

10. Support municipal legislation for alfresco, or outdoor, dining.

Hey, Rebecca, have you ever been to Ohio? We have two seasons, Hella Hot and 8 Feet of Snow. For about one month out of the year this would be great, but aren't there more important things to focus on? *cough* jobs *cough*

11. Develop Lock 3 to get best use of the space.

Alright, I won't complain about this one.

12. Complete the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath trail.

This would actually be a nice tourist attraction for the history buffs that are out there. I won't say anything bad.

13. Convene employer roundtables in the industries (utilities, health care, etc.) in which talent needs are greatest.

Sure. This is a good idea, but it's tough logistically to get a group of business owners together.

14. Support the development of ``stroll districts'' in neighborhoods with high densities of young ``knowledge workers.''

Highland Square.

15. Support zoning and licensing for ``controversial'' tenants -- such as tattoo artists -- and/or applicants.

If tattoo is controversial, I'm not going to say the first things that popped into my head...

16. Build a ``stacked loop'' system -- adding new, challenging trails -- onto the current flat bike and hike trail.

This would be really nice. The current trails are great, but you get sick of doing the same few over and over again, and the extra challenge would be welcomed. But I don't think new trails are going to get young people to move back.

17. Start an annual U.S. or world golf championship for children.

It'd be fun for the kids and I'm sure ESPN2 would cover it.

18. Attract nationally televised outdoor events.

That'd be great, but how? We don't have a stadium; we don't have an arena. We've got facilities for golf, soap box racing, and women's pro softball. Two of those already get national attention. I think we're doing pretty good in this area.

Alright, I actually think numbers 1, 11, 12, 13, 16 and 17 would be good to implement. That's 6 out of 18, 33%. More then I thought I'd like, but I still don't think this can justify the amount of cash that was spent to bring Rebecca to town. She didn't address small business concern, she didn't address how to keep young people who are already in the city here. We've got two huge universities in the area, we should focus on keeping those people here. They've lived here, they've learned here, now we just need them to work here.

The BJ :: Rebecca Ryan's top 18 recommendations for the five-county greater Akron...

(joe :: If Davie G. Can Do It, So Can I)

Home :: Food :: Booze
Caffeine :: Shopping :: Arts
Events Calendar