Strickland’s Urban Problem

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Strickland’s Urban Problem

Ted Strickland promised to improve Ohio’s cities as a patchwork effort of his Turnaround Ohio plan, but the proof is in the pudding as Ohio’s cities are now in worse shape than before Strickland took office.

“[F]rom his first days in office, Ted Strickland has worked so hard to strengthen the foundation of Ohio's cities.” [Lt. Gov Candidate, Yvette McGee Brown, Campaign Speech, Columbus, 6/22/10]

Then:

Strickland: “We’ll Never Be a Healthy State Until We Have Healthy Cities.”

"We'll never be a healthy state until we have healthy cities." [Call & Post, 5/18/06 – 5/24/06]

Strickland: “The Sad Fact is that Our Cities and Our Towns are in Trouble.” “‘The sad fact is that our cities and our towns are in trouble,’ said Strickland, citing job losses and population decline.” [Dayton Daily News, 8/22/06]

Now:

Brent Larkin, Cleveland Plain Dealer: Strickland “the Worst Governor for Cleveland in My Lifetime.”

“Strickland is, by no small margin, the worst governor for Cleveland in my lifetime. He has consistently tried to put out of business the charter schools that do heroic work educating city youngsters. He has watered down the Third Frontier - the one state program with the potential to help revive the region's moribund economy and the single-most-important jewel in Taft's legacy. And his Ohio Department of Transportation has repeatedly - and disgustingly - shortchanged Greater Cleveland on its pressing highway needs.” [Editorial by Brent Larkin, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/28/09]

In Mid-2006 Strickland Still Had Yet to Put Together an Urban Agenda

Lacking Specifics, Strickland Touted His Turn Around Ohio Plan Would Address Urban Problems.

“In the initial volleys sent across the bow, Blackwell has already said that Strickland has no policy for addressing the problems of urban Ohio. Strickland has said that his ‘Turn Around Ohio’ program will address those concerns; we hope to see his specific recommendations.” [Editorial by Call & Post, 5/4/06 – 5/10/06]

Strickland Hadn’t Yet Formulated His Urban Agenda, because He Wanted “the Strickland-Fisher Urban Agenda to Percolate from the Urban Areas.”

“Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland told an audience at the Columbus Urban League Monday that he hadn't really formulated his ‘urban agenda’ yet. That would come, Strickland said, after he met with the Democratic mayors of the state's major cities, and gave them the opportunity to share their input with him. ‘I want the Strickland-Fisher urban agenda to percolate from the urban areas, because we have to work in partnership,’ Strickland said.” [Call & Post, 5/18/06 – 5/24/06]

Strickland: “I’m Talking with Many of the African-American Leaders in the State Regarding Concerns They Have about an Urban Agenda.”

“After the meeting with the clergy, Strickland said he would develop partnerships with mayors to develop strategies suitable to each city. He said he was still developing specifics. ‘I'm talking with many of the African-American leaders in the state regarding concerns they have about an urban agenda,’ said Strickland, whose 6th District stretches from southern to a rural part of northeast Ohio along the Ohio River. ‘I am from a part of the state that is unfamiliar to some of the leaders in our cities.’” [Associated Press, 6/2/06]

Strickland to “Pay Needed Attention to Issues Affecting Ohio’s Cities.”

“Strickland and McLin both said that as governor, Strickland would pay needed attention to issues affecting Ohio's cities.” [Dayton Daily News, 6/2/06]

Coleman Complained that the Strickland Campaign Had Not Focused Enough Attention on an Urban Strategy.

“[Mayor Michael] Coleman publicly complained that the Strickland campaign had not focused enough attention on an ‘urban strategy’ for Ohio. And the tensions continued in January 2006, when a fight among the Democrats over who would replace Denny White as Ohio Democratic Party chair - either State Rep. Chris Redfern, whom Strickland backed or Montgomery Party Chair Dennis Lieberman, who was supported by several others, including Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, erupted into a bitter fight between some of Redfern's supporters and McLin and Tubbs Jones.” [Call & Post, 6/22/06 – 6/28/06]

Strickland’s 2006 Urban Plan Met with Low Fanfare

Michael Douglas, Akron Beacon Journal: Strickland’s “Little Ball” Plan to Aid Cities, “Modest and Familiar,” “Will Proceed very Slowly.”

“The Strickland strategy of little ball was evident recently with the unveiling of his plan to aid cities. The proposals are modest and familiar, small tax incentives, a nod to broadband, a call for state and local partnerships. … [The ideas in the plan] suggest, along with earlier attention to the likes of higher education, public schools and health care, that his Turnaround Ohio will proceed very slowly, the elements of revolution at evolutionary speed.” [Editorial by Michael Douglas, Akron Beacon Journal, 9/3/06]

Ohio’s Cities Have Not Fared Well Under Strickland’s Administration

“Ted Strickland and I understand the life-changing, spirit-raising, city-building power of good jobs.” [Lt. Gov Candidate, Yvette McGee Brown, Campaign Speech, Columbus, 6/22/10]

Unemployment in Ohio’s Major Cities:

Dec 2006 May 2010 Change

Cleveland 7.0% 11.3% 4.3%

Columbus 4.5 8.7 4.2

Cincinnati 5.6 9.9 4.3

Toledo 6.4 12.1 5.7

Dayton 6.8 12.3 5.5

Akron 6.0 11.0 5.0

Youngstown 7.9 13.3 5.4

(Source: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Bureau of Labor Market Information, website accessed 6/22/10)

“… Ohio is unique. We are not a city-state, we are a state of cities.” [Lt. Gov Candidate, Yvette McGee Brown, Campaign Speech, Columbus, 6/22/10]

Population Trends in Ohio’s Major Cities:

July 2006 July 2009 Change

Cleveland 442,409 431,363 -11,046

Cincinnati 332,185 333,013 828

Toledo 316,792 316,238 -554

Dayton 156,740 153,857 -2,883

Akron 209,470 207,216 -2,254

Youngstown 75,033 72,433 -2,600

(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Project, website accessed 6/22/10)

“When the housing market is strong in a city, it tends to bolster the entire region.” [Lt. Gov Candidate, Yvette McGee Brown, Campaign Speech, Columbus, 6/22/10]

Yearly Foreclosure Filings in Urban Counties:

2006 2009 Change Percent Change

Cuyahoga 13,610 14,171 561 4.12%

Franklin 8,875 9,499 624 7.03%

Hamilton 5,876 6,714 838 14.26%

Lucas 3,618 4,491 873 24.13%

(Source: Ohio Supreme Court, website accessed 6/22/10)

“[R]esearchers have shown that when income growth is up in a city, it tends to rise in the surrounding region.” [Lt. Gov Candidate, Yvette McGee Brown, Campaign Speech, Columbus, 6/22/10]

Ohio’s Urban Per-Capita Income Increase Compared to US Per-Capita Income:

2006 – 2008 2006 – 2008

Per-Cap Income Per-Cap Income

Increase OH Increase U.S. Diff

Cleveland (MSA) 2,085 2,468 -15.52%

Columbus (MSA) 1,723 2,468 -30.19%

Cincinnati (MSA) 1,635 2,468 -33.75%

Toledo (MSA) 1,442 2,468 -41.57%

Dayton (MSA) 1,692 2,468 -31.44%

Akron (MSA) 2,187 2,468 -11.39%

Youngstown (MSA) 1,763 2,468 -28.57%

(Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts, website accessed 6/22/10)

Countdown To A Real Turnaround

Strickland’s Urban Problem

Sign the Petition to Turnaround Ted

@TurnaroundTed on Twitter