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Written by Carty Finkbeiner | | letters@toledofreepress.comRecognizing some ‘meaningful, positive facts’
To: Michael S. Miller, Editor in Chief;
Thomas F. Pounds, President/Publisher
Dear Mr. Miller and Mr. Pounds:
I have had the opportunity to read some of your recent articles. I have a few rather meaningful facts I thought I’d share with you and your readers. Some of Mr. Miller’s comments, of late, are filled with quite a bit of spite and venom.
I’ll stay positive.
Fact 1: The country is in severe financial condition.
Fact 2: Ohio and Michigan are the two most negatively impacted states in America.
Fact 3: Neither Ohio’s governor nor Michigan’s governor caused the recession and certainly no mayor did!
Fact 4: While in this recession, I’ve had to cut $30 million from the city’s budget — that’s 11 percent of the general fund budget. And that’s not fun.
Fact 5: While other cities are going bankrupt and Forbes Magazine just declared four Ohio cities as “dying,” Toledo has been named a Top 10 City of the Future and the Third Most Livable City in the World.
Fact 6: While in this recession, Toledo’s mayor and city council just had both of the city’s bond ratings improved — for the first time in 50-plus years. I’d like to see if any other city in America accomplished that in the last year.
Fact 7: Since taking office, crime in Toledo is down 18 percent, according to Uniform Crime Reports.
Fact 8: The city just received a first place “Champions” award from the America in Bloom organization for the beauty of the flowers and appearance of the city. According to America in Bloom officials, Toledo had one of the highest point totals in recent years.
Fact 9: The city, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and the state of Ohio just finished working, over 18 months, to keep HCR ManorCare in Toledo, saving 700 jobs in Toledo and 9,200 statewide. At least 50 new jobs — good-paying jobs — will be added.
Fact 10: This mayor successfully worked to keep both Jeep and Owens Corning, as well as build The Docks, expand General Motors Powertrain with $1 billion of new investment, create the Marina District (which is now being built) and lure Tetra Tech to consider a $300 million investment in Toledo.
Fact 11: The following buildings were vacant before I first took office — Commodore Perry, Hillcrest, Toledo Trust, Macy’s and Lasalle. Now they’re largely filled with people living Downtown. Additionally, One SeaGate had lost its major tenant, and more were leaving. It is now the home of Fifth Third Bank, and more tenants are moving in.
Fact 12: In 11 years as mayor, the city’s development department has created 18,608 new jobs and retained 25,102 existing jobs, including 3,754 new jobs and 7,215 retained jobs, during the last three recessionary years. The capital investment in Toledo on my watch equals nearly $4 billion.
Fact 13: I also acted politically to initiate the process that led to the building of the new Veterans’ Memorial Skyway Bridge. In addition, we have emphasized infrastructure improvements, including the rebuilding of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge while repairing 40 street miles annually and tearing down 300 dilapidated houses each year.
Fact 14: ProMedica and Mercy Health Care Systems have grown and improved their campuses dynamically the last few years.
Fact 15: The city has struck Joint economic development districts with Sylvania, Maumee, Monclova, Perrysburg, Perrysburg Township, Rossford and Oregon, which share economic gains and water to boost our economies.
Fact 16: The city has partnered with the University of Toledo and the Regional Growth Partnership to grow the Technology Corridor.
Fact 17: Finally, in this term, CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and London Times have all highlighted Toledo as the Solar Capital of the United States.
In a recent speech in Columbus, to a group of state-wide economic officials, Gov. Ted Strickland praised Toledo’s efforts in boosting our economy and our community, at least a half dozen times. Once again, a prominent outside voice said “Well done, Toledo.”
No other Ohio city was mentioned this many times.
I have, joined by city council, the county, the port authority, the Regional Growth Partnership, the University of Toledo and many others, helped Toledo reinvent itself, while some media voices criticize, carp and complain. You’re dead wrong, men! We are creating — in a very difficult economy — a new, safe, clean and dynamic city.
Toledo Free Press started as a pro-Toledo paper. I suggest you get back on track — if you’re in this for the long haul — and support Toledo’s ongoing revitalization.
From Toledo — an international award-winning city!
Carty Finkbeiner, Mayor
Well isn’t it just splendid that Toledo has scored “points” for having beautiful flowers.And what exactly does Michigan’s financial condition have to do with Toledo?
This comment was posted on October 10th, 2008 at 8:09 amAre these facts or interpretations of facts.
- The entire world may be in a difficult financial situation, but that does not explain why Toledo has consistently performed worse in unemployment than the state and national average.
- Cutting the budget probably isn’t fun, but it is required if we are to live within our means, something that many of us have already learned the hard way. The fact that we are projecting a 7 million dollar deficit in the current budget however, seems to point to the fact that we have not entirely learned the lesson.
- The MLK bridge may not be a project the mayor wants to point to, as it was rife with construction delays and cost overruns. As for the Skyway bridge, we will need to see how it fares in shedding ice in the coming winter.
- The Marina District has thus far seen nothing but the investment of taxpayer dollars. When it sees otherwise, we will all cheer. As for Tetra Tech, this is little more than idle speculation at this point, and in the current economy is in serious jeopardy.
- As for the praise of our governor, I pay little credence to politicians of the same party (either one) praising each other in an election year.
There are many positive things going on in Toledo, almost in spite of local government. They are a tribute to the indefatigable spirit of the people of the area. Government serves best when it intrudes least. Politicians serve best when they do so unobtrusively.
This comment was posted on October 10th, 2008 at 12:49 pm