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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2008 > March > 26 > Entry
‘Creative Class’ guru loves Dayton
Richard Florida, author of “The Rise of the Creative Class,” gave an interview recently in which he said great things about Dayton. Florida’s Toronto-based consulting group is working with the region’s creative-class types to imagine, organize and realize initiatives that excite especially young and talented people, but that also make a community a better place for everybody.
The full interview doesn’t break any new ground if you’re familiar with Florida’s work. Here’s the part about Dayton:
“I was just in Cincinnati and in Dayton, another city I love. They’re historical centers of innovation, every one from steel innovation to aluminum innovation, to electronics, to the Wright Brothers, to the car. This is one of the greatest innovative and entrepreneurial centers in the world.
“They have probably one of the greatest clusters of universities in the history of the planet. They’re producing phenomenal talent, but, unfortunately, that talent leaves. So, in The Rise of the Creative Class, I said the one thing that it needs to become is more open-minded and tolerant. It needs to be more diverse and inclusive. …
“Another thing the region suffers from is really poor leadership. And I think the reason that is, it really bears the imprint, that as the economy is changing to newer things, away from manufacturing, the leadership still reflects that top-down, vertical, 1950s organization mentality. So you get these conflicts between old-style democratic political machine and business-led organizations.
“Those conflicts become very dysfunctional. I think one of the other things is that if older cities could achieve better leadership, leadership that was more in tune with the future.
“We were working with 30 community catalysts in Greater Dayton a couple weeks ago, and I was blown away by what’s happened in downtown Dayton. It’s a more interesting and exciting place, filled with arts and restaurants and renovated houses and buildings. But, too, (about) how these 30 catalysts — black, white, young, old, Hispanic, Latino — how much they cared about making their city better. And I think that’s the kind of thing you see in parts of Ohio and Illinois, there’s this incredible sense that people care, and I think unleashing that energy in people is really key. …”
Florida knows something about Dayton, having given a speech here several years ago and tailoring his remarks then to what was and wasn’t happening. His company is being paid $150,000 for its current work, but there’s no reason to think the guy’s opinions are for sale — and you can’t buy this kind of praise.
As for his criticism, he has a point.
Permalink | Comments (37) | Post your comment | Categories: Dayton Creative Class Initiative
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By Stephanie
March 27, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
If you are interested in hearing what this initiative “DaytonCREATE Creating Regional Excitement, Action, Talent, and Enthusiasm” is working on visit www.daytoncreate.org
By Stephen Lahanas
March 27, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
I’m glad Mr. Florida is impressed with us - but then again he should be. There’s nothing he’s discussed in his theories that we haven’t already accomplished here. The problem for us is sustainability. He’s also right about our leadership, but that seems to be changing, both with the creative class efforts and also perhaps with a grass-roots exploration into economic development: The Miami Valley Economic Development Council - wiki: http://mvedc.wik.is/ Blog: http://miami-valley-usa.blogspot.com/ .
By Sarah Abernathy
March 27, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
To Ms. Belcher and Mr. Florida: I take great offense to your comments about the leaders in my city. I know well how committed they are to Dayton and you do a great disservice by perpetuating the myth that government is bad. Ms. Belcher, it is easy to criticize. How about you try being part of the solution?
By tg
March 28, 2008 6:59 AM | Link to this
Sarah - I don’t believe Mr Florida was refering to the PEOPLE in positions of leadership, just the STRUCTURE of our system here. In order for our region to be more successful and to make the shift from manufacturing to high tech, we will need to become more bottom-up (aka grassroots oriented) than the traditional top-down approach. It will take a more collaborative, regional approach to problem solving to move us forward.
By Sarah Abernathy
March 28, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
That’s great. Try being more clear in your story. Apparently, you misrepresented his intent. Our leaders are making great strides in regional cooperation. It would be nice to hear about the work being done and how citizens can encourage such efforts.
By Washington Township
April 1, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this
“Our leaders are making great strides in regional cooperation”…. This is pure baloney. “Our leaders” have a tough time developing support for something as simple as consolidating 911 emergency dispatch. Then there is the failure to reduce duplication in economic development departments, which the DDN editorialized on back in December.
By Tara_Reid
April 8, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
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By Ice Bandit
April 11, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this
Richard Florida? Wasn’t he the dude who said the Miami Valley wouldn’t revive until we had more gay bars? Just the kind of socio-babble far left editorial writers love. I suggest lowering our state’s tax rates would do more to inspire business creation and relocation than any of Florida’s tin-foil hat theories…
By Mark W
April 14, 2008 1:46 AM | Link to this
Re Ice Bandit’s gay bars comment. Our Seattle paper had an article about Florida this week and wrote: “Some of Florida’s ideas were misunderstood and criticized. But he never, as some would have it, saw an economy of latte-sipping poets living in gay neighborhoods. Rather, he argued that for advanced nations in the 21st century, most wealth in the economy would come from the work of creative professions, from designers and architects to software engineers and financial service innovators. And those highly mobile workers would be drawn to places that valued talent, innovation and open-mindedness.” What it boils down to is that employers don’t want to lose out on talented innovators to their competitors by being located in a place that doesn’t appeal to those innovators. It isn’t about hiring gays or other minorities. But if a city repels talented gays and minorities, and if it has little to offer talented singles, a company located there will have a smaller emerging talent pool to draw from. And that puts it at a talent disadvantage against companies located in more appealing areas.
By bob
August 27, 2008 1:59 AM | Link to this
There is a valid point to drawing gays into the community. First of all, they typically bring more income. Most are 2 income, no children families…with more disposable income to support local businesses. Secondly, with no kids, they have more spare time to devote to the community and maintaining their properties. They raise property values and have fewer tax breaks. Plus, they pay school taxes without burdening the system with more kids. Sadly, Ohio is the least gay friendly state in the nation…thanks to the voters of 2004. Why are we surprised that the economy is suffering? We make knee jerk decisions out of fear without considering all the issues. I don’t think gay people left the state in droves in 2004…but I think a young gay couple with 2 incomes and no kids is not likely to consider Dayton or Ohio as a great place to buy a house and invest in the local economy.
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