City Growth and Positivity

The fearfulness and scare-mongering stop here.

The city of Cincinnati is not shrinking, nor is the crime rate even close to what the hype would have you believe. You've heard people muttering negatively as they talk about safety and their subtle comments about property values and 'those people' and uncertainty about the city and where things are headed.

This has everything to do with perceptions, and nothing to do with reality. The census numbers were completely wrong and the crime rate isn't nearly as bad as originally thought. The implications are immeasurable for the future of Cincinnati - how it markets itself to businesses, investors, and young people. And there's a large and immediate financial benefit in terms of federal aid.

But the perception problem begins with how you, your neighbors and the folks at the office talk about these things. Too often it's the ladies lunch news network or the backyard barbeque gossip that wants agreement and validation of living decisions that others may not embrace - they've moved to a subdevelopment that used to be a cornfield. Why wouldn't you consider it with where things are going? You have a few kids and you want a roomy kitchen with neighbors you can trust, not strangers walking down the street. (Right?)

If city neighborhoods aren't your cup of tea, you've got plenty of options. It's not 1950 anymore even here in Ohio, but if you want an ersatz approximation you can find it in the exurb areas. More power to you - it's a reasonable choice. Just do the rest of us a favor and knock it off with the badmouthing and misinformation because you've made the tradeoff. It's always seemed more negative than necessary, but now it also happens to be factually wrong.

Finally, the city is changing - and real challenges remain. This won't ever be a place with flawless, homogenous neighborhoods that some people remember from their youth. Housing will always offer different options than the sprawling, spread-out areas North and West of town. There are renovation projects and condos - but also many older, smaller homes on closer lots that were constructed differently than their modern equivalents. And the crime rate in some areas still needs a constant response with law enforcement and citizenry in partnership. Everything isn't all roses.

But with effort, investment, and momentum - and with a shutdown response to any grinding, unnecessary negativity - this city can become something better than the memories of yesteryear and something newer than the off-the-shelf communities. With a younger and more dynamic population, businesses that take risks, a respect for community heritage, and diversity of all kinds (cultural, economic, professional) this can continue to be a great place to live. And it begins not with the politicians or bean-counters, but with the citizenry. Do your part.

Tags: Cincinnati, Growth, Population, Crime