Cleveland Ranked #1 as Nation's POOREST Big City Oncetagin

[sigtau305]

Originally Posted by CrimsonTide4

ETA: How things have worsened in Cleveland since 2000

there's got to be a better way.

[BlessedOne04]

Whats really sad is that two of the ten cities are in the same state!!! The Ohio legislature needs to get on the ball. What was interesting was that New Orleans was not in that category being that most of their residents were financially wiped out by Katrina. How is it that we as a country are always braggin about being the most powerful when we have people who don't eat, are homeless, etc!

[ykimber]

Originally Posted by CrimsonTide4

Cleveland again nation's poorest city

8/29/2006, 12:14 p.m. ET By JOE MILICIA
The Associated Press CLEVELAND (AP) — The city returned to the top of the U.S. Census Bureau's ranking of poorest big cities, reclaiming the unwanted title from Detroit.

Cleveland had 32.4 percent of its 452,200 people living below the poverty level in 2005, according to the American Community Survey released Tuesday.

"I'm shocked," said Myron Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland. "We're stuck with it and we've got to do something about it. It just seems that we as a community have got to pull our resources closer together and try to move together to come up with a concerted effort. We're so fragmented."

Read the rest here: http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/c...list=cleveland

I still live in the Cleveland area, and I was watching the news the other day and there was some discussion on how Cleleveland made it to the top of the llist dispite the fact of Hurricane Katrina and its effects on New Orleans. There was arguement that Cleveland, should not be at the top of the list. I will have to see if there is a summary of the discussion on the net.

[ScholarOn]

Originally Posted by ykimber

I still live in the Cleveland area, and I was watching the news the other day and there was some discussion on how Cleleveland made it to the top of the llist dispite the fact of Hurricane Katrina and its effects on New Orleans. There was arguement that Cleveland, should not be at the top of the list. I will have to see if there is a summary of the discussion on the net.

Now that would really be horrible considering the damage and devastation Katrina bought. One of the reasons statistical information is misleading, there may possibly be a new study being conducted that will show different results.

[Japan357]

Man this is some sad stuff. I don't know what my age range compares to others here (I am 25) but I graduated from Shaker in '99. At the time, to me and my friends Cleveland seemed like the shit! The indians were competitive, the browns had just come back, I think the cavs still sucked but at least the downtown scene was jumping! We used to go clubbing multiple times per week...millenium, trilogy (which changed names a million times, I lost track after Metropolis) Europa, Top of the Flats, whatever. It seemed like it was always jumping and somewhere to go. It was definitely a rough city but it still had positives. Randall was the spot to be!

Then I moved to Atlanta, the mecca of big city fun and entertainment and when I go back home now I am in shock. Everything I knew is closed down or gone, and it is one big ass slum. My mom is trying desperately to move down here with me, but she works for the city gov't up there. Its crazy how rough parts of Ohio are but people from other places never believe it! I have two good friends one from Brooklyn and one from Oakland and I bet each of them that Cleveland was rougher than either city and neither believed me. If you look at the top 25 roughest cities in the nation 3 are in ohio (new york isnt even on the list, last I checked it was on the SAFEST city list) and Cleveland was significantly higher on the list than Oakland. They were shocked!

I don't know what the solution to the problem is, but a lot of people are just giving up and leaving. An article from the plain dealer in '05 said 58,000 people moved from cuyahoga county in 2005 alone. If that number is consistent over the past few years its easy to see why things are getting worse.

[Lady of Pearl]

I saw an article in the Washington Post about the poverty rate in various cities and it ranked Fresno California #1 and New Orleans #2 and Atlanta #3 with Cleveland about a number 9. I was surprised about Atlanta and its poverty ranking-I think this had to do with the number of people who have been displaced because of Katrina and people going to these cities to affect the overall demographics and economic situation in them. No one can say that the inner city does not have its share of economic woes. What can be done to alleviate this situation? Heck even the middle class are feeling the brunt of the economy when they can't afford housing in their areas!

[CrimsonTide4]

I just read on cleveland.com that the mayor supports putting on the November ballot a vote to add slot machine parlors in Cleveland, well throught out Cuyahoga County.

http://www.cleveland.com/casino/plai...810.xml&coll=2

[Japan357]

Well, they need to do something to raise some money up there. The lottery raises millions every year and that is a form of gambling, maybe a casino or two will help bring some tourism in or something. That almost doesn't seem possible when I say that, but hey they gotta try something.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by Japan357

Well, they need to do something to raise some money up there. The lottery raises millions every year and that is a form of gambling, maybe a casino or two will help bring some tourism in or something. That almost doesn't seem possible when I say that, but hey they gotta try something.

LOL @ tourism, but I agree. From what I read in the article, people in Cleveland and surrounding counties travel to either Indiana, Michigan, or West Virginia to gamble to the tune of $900+ of revenue.

I just hope that not only do they add more in terms of hotels and restaurants, but they fix the roads and schools as well.

Plus the article mentioned jobs will be created which is always a good thing.

[Japan357]

Originally Posted by CrimsonTide4

LOL @ tourism, but I agree. From what I read in the article, people in Cleveland and surrounding counties travel to either Indiana, Michigan, or West Virginia to gamble to the tune of $900+ of revenue.

I just hope that not only do they add more in terms of hotels and restaurants, but they fix the roads and schools as well.

Plus the article mentioned jobs will be created which is always a good thing.

THAT IS THE TRUTH!!!! Man I got pissed off when I was up there last cuz I forgot how awful the roads were! There are a million potholes, uneven pavement, bumps, construction cones, crackheads, and everything else all over the freaking place up there!

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by Japan357

THAT IS THE TRUTH!!!! Man I got pissed off when I was up there last cuz I forgot how awful the roads were! There are a million potholes, uneven pavement, bumps, construction cones, crackheads, and everything else all over the freaking place up there!

Yes, the roads are in bad shape. I know they are still working on Euclid Avenue and another major street in the Cleveland Heights area but I forget the name right now.


If they build up Cleveland well enough, maybe our fraternal organizations will once again convene there on the national level which will boost Cleveland's economy but downtown needs restaurants and hotels. The last org to meet there were the Kappas (you ) in 2001.

[Japan357]

Thats true too. That was before my Nupe time, but I definitely remember. A lot of my friends were Nupin and I was on the sidelines...lol. Historically Cleveland is a pretty big Kappa town, there are some big time Nupes from up there like former Mayor Mike White and both Stokes brothers.

Also, I remember when the NBA All star game was up there too, that was pretty tight. I want to say Baseball all star game was too but I'm not really into baseball so I can't say for sure.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by Japan357

Thats true too. That was before my Nupe time, but I definitely remember. A lot of my friends were Nupin and I was on the sidelines...lol. Historically Cleveland is a pretty big Kappa town, there are some big time Nupes from up there like former Mayor Mike White and both Stokes brothers.

Also, I remember when the NBA All star game was up there too, that was pretty tight. I want to say Baseball all star game was too but I'm not really into baseball so I can't say for sure.

I was there hanging with the Kappas. More in the role of Cleveland ambassador.
You're right about the city being heavy with Kappas historically.

I did not know the NBA All Star Game was in Cleveland. What year was this?

I wonder how soon they will announce which city will host the Republican National Convention in 2008. I know Cleveland bid to be the host city last month.

[sigtau305]

Originally Posted by CrimsonTide4

I did not know the NBA All Star Game was in Cleveland. What year was this?

1997

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by sigtau305

1997

Oh okay. 1997 I was still in college and in the midst of other stuff.