NAH!!!  That's just a coincidence!!!

 

 

I dare not explain here and now, or one of them will quickly "borrow" this obvious goal as their own, since it SHOULD have been in the picture all along.  I'd hate to be responsibile for getting one of them re-elected or retained in their job.

 

We have the land to develop for technology centers. Property behind Target and Lowes and Walmart, Towne Mall can be leveled, and the Downtown area. Those old buildings are eyesores They smell, and are totally useless. In case you have not driven down there, take a ride. The downtown needs redone. Bulldoze it and have new business rebuild it. If presented right, in partnership with Atrium, AK, and Miami it might be possible. Forget Auntie Ann and the pom poms

 

Smartman the Whole City does little to promote itself in the best light for a major business to want to locate here versus mason, Monroe, West Chester, Springboro, etc.  In case you haven't noticed we have:

 

22+% Poverty

 

Local Schools which lag behind every other school district in the county

 

Section 8 which is out of control gonna be cut , not gonna be cut, council has no clue

 

We lack any large acreage to even handle a large facility if they wanted to come here.

 

Infrastructure which is from the horse and buggy days and at the current rate it is being updated, we will be living on the moon before it is done.

 

We lack even the basic amenities that people expect in their city's today

 

Not even the City employees live in the City, why would we expect a major business to come here and then live in the city, diluting the income tax revenue.

 

And after listening to last night forum most of the above items were not even mentioned by any of the candidates.  It is fine to say we need jobs, but no one asks and answers the question as to why we can maintain and keep jobs and why we are most likely at the bottom of the list to even be considered for jobs.  The next question is why won't you own employees live in your city.

 

The truly sad part of this is most Middletown residents see none of the above as issues detrimental to the city and have little desire to even make any changes as to what the problems are.  They think 22% poverty is well just OK.  Excessive Section 8 is just the way it is.  The fact that businesses are leaving daily, oh well.  the fact that if a business does come here most employees live elsewhere, so what.  Citizen apathy is rampant in Middletown.  Being content with the way the city is is OK with many just listen to City Council and "Middletown has a bright future" Gilleland.  there is no drive among a majority of Middletown Citizens to do anything about the problems, ,many don't know any better, many don't care, and the rest don't have any leadership to pull them together to make changes.

 

A City Manager should be working to promote the city they run, encourage businesses to locate here, offer plans of improvement, be involved in economic development. I don't see that happening. Day to Day operations of the city still need to be on the plate. If they can't all of that then get out! No business development, no job for the city manager

 

Perhaps they didn't have enough flowers???