Comments for The Urbanophile

Comment on Downtown Cincinnati on the Rise by the urban politician

the urban politician — Sun, 27 May 2012 17:10:58 +0000

Matthew,

Yes, I indeed do ‘hate to break it to you all’. And I say this because I can’t stand the American attitude towards cities. In fact, I find it laughable.

Unfortunately, if cities want to attract the average American, they need to get into the minds of the average American. And the average American really has spent practically none of their life in an urban environment. It’s beyond just ignorance–it is the complete lack of acknowledgement. Watching TV, going to the mall, and eating at the local Red Lobster is the totality of life for a vast chunk of American society.

Comment on Downtown Cincinnati on the Rise by Tee

Tee — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:21:11 +0000

“…the semi-skilled middle class folks who don’t have the skills or income to take advantage of what Cincinnati increasingly has to offer.”

“They were holding Cincinnati back with their moderate incomes…”

“they don’t like to be reminded of how irrelevant they are to the economic prospects of their own home town.”

I’m sorry Mr. Hall, but I don’t see these as good things. Downtowns shouldn’t just be playgrounds for wealthy professionals, but useful for all it’s residents.

Central cities need to find space for all their people, not just the super-elites, since they’re supposed to be representative of the best of what the metro has to offer for it’s citizens.

The last line is especially troubling because having large numbers of people feeling irrelevant and powerless in their own city can be a recipe for disaster.

In regards to the actual news story, I’m not suprised people would speak like that about their cities. In large metros, it happens.

But it is cool to see people beginning to appreciate Cincy’s efforts be better.

Comment on Downtown Cincinnati on the Rise by Matthew hall

Matthew hall — Sat, 26 May 2012 21:48:59 +0000

Do you really hate to break it to us, urban politician?

Comment on Downtown Cincinnati on the Rise by Alex Pearlstein

Alex Pearlstein — Sat, 26 May 2012 15:46:24 +0000

Seemed like a broadcast from an out of town station. Hilarious.

Comment on Downtown Cincinnati on the Rise by the urban politician

the urban politician — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:19:26 +0000

I hate to break it to you all, but for most Americans (especially midwesterners), “downtown” really is a foreign place, even in larger cities like Cincy.

Americans have been cut off from downtown for so long that I’m not surprised by this attitude.

Comment on Downtown Cincinnati on the Rise by Aaron M. Renn

Aaron M. Renn — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:55:55 +0000

@TUP, I think the others basically already said it. It wasn’t that the anchors were negative, but they had a sort of “golly” attitude, as if downtown Cincinnati were some weird and foreign place and not the urban core of the actual region they live in.

Comment on Downtown Cincinnati on the Rise by Jake

Jake — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:56:21 +0000

I’m coming to Cincy for my first time for a conference in November and I’ll be really looking forward to walking the streets of downtown and OTR.

Even if the news anchors were treating downtown as a foreign place, maybe this represents the first awkward teething moments of the region coming to view the area in a new and different light.

It did seem a little weird, though, that every single person that the reporter spoke to was white.

Comment on Downtown Cincinnati on the Rise by Eric

Eric — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:12:14 +0000

Cincinnati has the narrow streets, architecture, and institutions to be a great city. Based on these factors, I think it’s the third best city in the Midwest to Chicago and Minneapolis. You really can’t find the building stock/architecture, pride for living IN the city, and amenities that Cincinnati has in any other Midwestern city other than these.

Comment on Downtown Cincinnati on the Rise by CityBeautiful21

CityBeautiful21 — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:24:25 +0000

Anonymous nailed it. The “we sent someone to downtown” line is almost like a group of mid-twentieth century anthropologists talking about a strange, mysterious tribe that they’ve recently discovered, that somehow seems to be thriving despite their unusual ways!

TV news doesn’t do depth, nuance, or detail generally, and local TV news is even worse because the caliber of reporter isn’t as strong on subject matter. But the pictures are nice and the interviews convey true, encouraging, first-person statements about the good things happening in Cincy. Definitely makes me want to visit.

For those making it happen in Cincy, nice job, and keep up the good work, no matter how strange your local tv station finds your efforts.

Comment on Downtown Cincinnati on the Rise by Matthew hall

Matthew hall — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:16:32 +0000

And ironically, they did so in a building on the edge of downtown with a view of it.
Quimbob, those are the old-timers who haven’t left the home, trailer, or institution they live in for years or the semi-skilled middle class folks who don’t have the skills or income to take advantage of what Cincinnati increasingly has to offer. And, of course, not one is a legal resident of Cincinnati. Frankly, getting them out of the way physically and politically is a big part of why cincinnati’s central neighborhoods are doing better. They were holding Cincinnati back with their moderate incomes but high demand for services, and rightwing reactionary politics. They react the way they do because they don’t like to be reminded of how irrelevant they are to the economic prospects of their own home town.