Mayor's parochial, short-sighted view of Dayton is troubling

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Updated 11:23 PM Tuesday, August 24, 2010

I read Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell’s letter chastising the Dayton Daily News for reporting — inaccurately and misleadingly, in his view — news about businesses leaving “Dayton” when they were actually located in Harrison Twp. and Springboro.

Leitzell criticizes the paper for “bashing” Dayton because it suggests to the public that businesses are leaving “Dayton.”

The DDN is reporting facts that are neither inaccurate nor misleading. The mayor’s reaction, however, is troubling. Dayton is the center of our region. To suggest that the newspaper should refer to Dayton only by its geographical boundaries is nonsense.

For years, the Chamber of Commerce and other economic development interests have advocated for the Dayton metropolitan region, including surrounding townships, suburban cities and villages, that are all part of what is commonly referred to as “Dayton.”

As the Austin Pike development adds jobs to our community, it benefits Dayton as well as Miami Twp. and Miamisburg. Many people work (and pay taxes) in Dayton, but live in other communities.

Mayor Leitzell’s parochial and shortsighted view of “Dayton” highlights one of our area’s fundamental problems — the lack of regional leadership and a plethora of jurisdictions within Montgomery and surrounding counties that cannot see beyond their own boundaries.

We need leaders who can speak for the area and rise above political jurisdictions. The mayor of Dayton should see this better than anyone.

While I appreciate his candor, it is a sad commentary on the quality of his leadership that he sees the city of Dayton in such a limited way, and then blames the press for his own lack of vision.

D. Jeffrey Ireland

Oakwood

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