Positivity In Middletown

Earlier today I received a phone call from a local business owner and someone I consider to be a friend. I was asked why I have become so negative in my postings, it was explained to me that when I meet this business owner close to two years ago that I was very enthusiastic about Middletown and explained to them that MUSA was a positive web site and that is the news we focused on. While I stand by that when it comes to the main page and news stories posted there, I would agree that the forum has taken a turn for the negative, when it comes to posting, my posting included.

 

I was asked why I never post any of the good things going on in town, like the Greentree Project. My return comment was “you are welcome to post about any and everything you want on the site, why don’t you post about it?” If there is something going on in Middletown that you would like to see talked about post it, MUSA is a site for the people by the people.

 

Although I agree I should be posting about these things only because they are projects that can help our town and I am all about helping Middletown. I was then asked why I am so against the Cincy State campus and PAC? I would like to clarify that I am not against either of these projects, I am against the city using tax money, that could be spent on fixing roads or other projects. In my opinion if Cincy state and Pac think that Middletown is such a great place and they see such promise in moving here than they should have had no problem using their own money to fix up or even buy buildings. This is not what happened, we the tax payers are footing the bill in the hopes of this working out and in the end if it does not work out we are left holding the bag. My final argument was this, in a time when jobs and money is tight and with water bills being raised I do not like my tax money being spent on renovating buildings that will be used by two groups that have no ties or binding agreements to hold them here if this fails.

 

I did promise to work on posting some positive news, I just don’t see much at the moment. Do you?? 

Randy and Patti,

Here’s the thing:

The good things about Middletown are not the things that need immediate and critical attention. It is the things that are wrong with our city that need to be fixed, not the good things.

The good things have not brought us down, nor wrecked our economy, nor driven out employers , nor kept out new business, nor raised taxes, nor ruined our schools, nor let our streets crumble, nor failed to fix our sewers, nor increased our poverty statistics, nor raised our taxes, nor corrupted our government, nor spent us into oblivion, nor otherwise made us the laughing stock of southwestern Ohio. 

The "good things" are NOT the reasons that OUR interchange is the very LAST interchange on I-75 between Cincinnati and Dayton to be developed, nor are the good things the reason that there are actually other interchanges being built (at costs of hundreds of millions of dollars) and being developed BEFORE developers come here.

We can concentrate on the good things until the cows come home, but nothing will change--because the good things do not need “fixing”.

It is the things that are wrong--the BAD things--that need our attention. Those are the things that have negatively affected our city, and those are the things that must be remedied before we can reverse the terrible course we have taken.

To keep our heads in the sand by simply lauding the good things and ignoring the bad will do nothing but guarantee our demise.

We cannot solve our problems unless we first admit that they exist!!!

So, go ahead and: "Yeah, Yeah, Rah, Rah, Middletown!" all that you want, but it won't SOLVE anything.  To HELP, we have to address our PROBLEMS!!! 

 

I sincerely hope that this helps you to understand.

NO ONE wants to see this town flourish more than I do. I care what happens to this place and while it is hard to realize that it will never return to the town that brought such great times for me, it is not impossible for it to improve, using a different theme than the old industrial, blue collar theme. My frustration is generated from the mindset over the last 30 years, from the city leaders, and their apparent ablility to make incredibly stupid decisions in that time span. They have wasted so much money on projects which have been discussed here. We have had no council, since the 70's, that have been able to grow this town in a progressive manner. There doesn't seem to have been a game plan for development in the last 30 years, and they have now decided to rely on fed money to provide revenue, through programs that have lowered this town's stature to one of a welfare attraction. Basically, they have created a flea market/traveling circus/ghetto/handout atmosphere here as opposed to the hard-working, mostly middle-class, respectable residentsthat once comprised this community. The community leaders of the 50's and 60's would be shocked to see what the town has become. As shocked as I am. The negative things that are happening in this town so overwhelms the positive things, it is hard to maintain a positive attitude here. The only way to fix it, is to replace the entire hierarchy running this city from the city building to council to the influence of the chosen few and turn the ship in a new direction. One that makes sense. Let's face it, the current crew aren't getting the job done. JMO

My dear Patti,

1.  It is the PROBLEMS and not the "good things" that need fixing if we are to succeed as a city.

2.  There is absolutely NOWHERE else to go but here to speak of these problems

3.  Perhaps someone should try ADDRESSING the problems we raise, instead of merely calling us troublemakers for pointing out what our PUBLIC SERVANTS should be addressing!!!

To One and All~ Please do not misunderstand my point here. I love MUSA! I read it with great enthusiasm more than once a day. Of course all problems warrant discussion here. My complaint is the negative sarcasm that follows every post, whether the post started as a good thing or a bad thing. I challenge everyone to think of ONE good thing to say here every once in awhile. NOT to ignore the things that need change, but rather to remember the many good reasons for wanting them changed in the first place!

I don't know if this is a ploy to get more posting activity, or the realism that those wanting positive commentary simply cannot stand to face the reality associated with mindless decisions and lack of thought which goes into so many decisions made in the city called Middletown. Section 8 overload and inflation of the numbers was caused by the city with council not even knowing as they allege, they knew about it. That's a positive we can spin right? Okay, Middletown is a place that help sthose that need a hand---that can be done.

Lady Falcons, State volleyball CHAMPIONS!!!  (also posted during November)

Mike_Presta wrote: posted November 10 1:05 am PattiGal: It takes courage to undertake such a venture during times as unpredictable as those we are currently enduring. Please accept my wishes for success beyond your most optimistic expectations.

Here is some good news.Guess Mr.Mayor and his buddy  McCoy will have to scramble fast to come up with a soulution.

Thanx for the kind words--I actually spent an evening out "clubbing" with Robert Plant in Florida, after meeting him at the infamous Tiki Bar next to our Florida hideout. Believe it or not, Plant and his lady friend wanted to sing karaoke. Now--an old guy like me going into a red hot Fla.nightclub is very nbd UNLESS you walk into that club with Robert Plant. One unbelievable night to remember for my wife and me--plus we had up-front tix for opening night of the Robert Plant/Allison Krauss tour a couple of years back. Hope to catch his current Band of Joy tour on the final 2 nights in Nashville, considering the band also features Darrell Scott, who has played at my home.

Anything we can do for you Pac, let us know. Hope nothing serious for you. I too, have had positive experiences in the ER, and especially ICU with the wife's stroke. No better care in ICU from my experiences. She was there 9 days, then to rehab for a month. I agree, all seemed like good, caring people in these areas.

Glad you are ok Pac and great to have you back.

The timing of the video came out of the blue. I'd say many thought Randy was deliberately unermining the efforts of the city to move forward. Much has changed since that video was produced. Heck, the school was torn down, AK headquaters is gone., so there is alot of brownfielding. Middletown is really making progress.