Good-bye!

I hate to burst the perverbial "feel good" balloon that Becker, Schiavone and the rest of the clueless club members are floating, but Murphy's tenure as Economic Development Director left alot to be desired. There were numerous occasions where we all read about jobs locating to surrounding communities and opportunities lost for Middletown. His claim to fame would be the Quaker Chemical expansion and job number increase. Occasionally, we would read where a company would be "expanding" by adding 10 or 15 jobs at $10/hour during his stint. No major company of any notoriety was considered and jobs that would provide a livable wage were not on his radar.You can't live on $10/hour anymore and have anything decent to show for it. No, sorry Becker and crew, but Murphy lacked the connections, drive and focus to initiate the job growth that Middletown desperately needs.Hopefully, you'll learn from this and hire an economic devel. director that will research the nation for the types of DIVERSIFIED jobs that will offer opportunities for the people of this town , be smart enough to devise an enticement program and have the areas prepared to support the enticement. We need a stronger effort than what we have had since 2005.

Vet, I'm curious to know what sort of progress will satisfy you.  In other words, what have you expected to see in the past few years that you haven't seen?  Middletown's rise to the "glory days" you've posted about - ie, when you write about how you remember how Middletown once was - didn't happen overnight. 

In fact, it didn't happen in a few years.  It was the result of decades of effort by people whose stories I trust you know better than I do. 

That said, the economic changes that have affected Middletown did not occur overnight either.  They are also not unique to Middletown but have negatively affected many cities of our size with our economic structure (ie based on manufacturing).

This is not meant as an attack on you, but sometimes I'm perplexed by people's response to this town.  I don't know what will make people satisfied that progress is occurring.  Oftentimes, I think that nothing will.

What does Middletown have that other cities of our type do not?  Call me biased, but we have one of the best darn universities in the country...right here! 

This just came out The 2009 U.S.News & World Report college rankings lists Miami University 26th among the top public universities in the nation.   That's amazing!  And before you or someone else writes, "Well, that's Oxford, not MUM," I respectfully disagree that the ranking does not apply. 

I'm a faculty member whose department is in Oxford; my tenure is decided by Oxford.  I teach primarily in Middletown.  Most faculty who teach in Middletown are tied to Oxford departments.  Sometimes people get the impression that the schools are distinct; it's the same university, but two locations (add Hamilton and VOA into the mix and there's 4).  I love teaching in Middletown; I'm proud of MUM and what we accomplish here.  But I also recognize my connection to Oxford.  The point is that MUM is a resource for change in this community.

I think a key to this city's future is what happens with MUM.  This fall MUM has announced a four year degree program that I think can serve to strengthen the educational base of this area.  If you don't know about it, I suggest you read about it.  There are many other things that MUM has done and is doing that I think will improve this town and the surrounding areas.  I can tell you that the staff and faculty really work hard often underappreciated. 

The Dean of MUM, Dr. Cowan, has a great deal of energy, drive, and enthusiasm for the university and its role in this community.  She's also brilliant.  An accomplished researcher, she was also regarded as one of MUM's best teachers; the textbook on microbiology she wrote is considered the definitive textbook in the field. 

So, one of my "solutions" to the problems of Middletown is very simple:  get an education.  You talk about wanting to attract high-paying jobs to this area?  Well, employers need employees.  The reason why a company like Amylin puts a $400 million dollar facility in West Chester and not in Middletown may have something to do with West Chester's access to multiple universities and a well-trained employee base.  We can attract those companies with a better infrastructure but also with a better educated workforce.  MUM can and is trying to do something about that.  It needs to be supported. 

Look at the statistics for the number of Middletown residents without a high school diploma or a GED.  Even more discouraging for attracting those high paying jobs you mention, look at the percentage of residents with college degrees.  Those are statistics that major companies look at when they look to locate in a community.

Before I ramble any more here, I just want to reiterate my first question:  what change have you expected to see that you haven't seen? And perhaps more importantly, how would you have brought this change to pass in this community?   I respect your concerns and your views, but I do think many people in this community are making a difference - however slight and unsatisfying to others - and those are things we should build on.

 

Marianne- good points- here is my response- You are connected with MUM- I, too, went to MUM when it first opened in 1966/67. Left to go into the Air Force at the time. I always thought it was a first rate facility and that it enhanced the town in many ways. It still is a class act for the community. You asked "what about progress to satisfy me"- this all started back in the 80's when Armco started their dive into the abyss. When the city leaders saw the gradual decrease from 9000 employees in the 60's to the 3000 level we have now, why didn't they prepare to respond? Couple that with the absence of paper mill opportunities and you have exhausted the supply of decent paying jobs in town. I would have expected the city officials to see the obvious and to have started preparing to diversify the job selections similar to what one would do with their stock portfolios to protect against downturns in one area.Automotive parts plants, research facilities, communication companies, fiber optics companies, defense supply contractors, corporate warehousing operations, would all supply Middletown and surrounding areas with decent employment opportunities for those that choose to live in Middletown and for those that choose to commute. Ideally, all jobs would be held by Middletonians but realistically, there would be out-of-towners working here too. Bottom line, it would generate revenue, get money flowing and move a stagnated housing market here in town as people would obtain jobs, buy houses and cars, groceries, and spend money in the community. My frustration and my "perplexing response" is a reaction to the inablility of the past/present people in charge, to see and act on fixing what is wrong with this town. It is so obvious that it is almost inconceivable for me to imagine that they can't figure this out! I think they know, they just don't want to make the effort. Too much trouble, don't 'ya know!This lack of progress has been going on for the last 28 years. There has not been any significant growth in the jobs category in that time frame- rather, significant job losses in key higher paying positions. How did the "cow pasture" towns of Mason and Springboro vault to the top, and why did they have their town growth course charted for them and why was Middletown left in the dust, when we were the progressive community at one time? Could it have been that the leaders over the years weren't smart enough to keep up/change with the times? Could it be that they didn't care? Why is emmulating a successful town so taboo to our leaders? Why not identify and copy the successful towns around here? We sure have enough examples of success to follow, don't we? You mention that a key to success is MUM and educating the people of Middletown. That's part of it, but if Middletown doesn't offer decent employment after graduation,thus retaining those college educated people, they will leave town and we will be back to square one again.It must happen simultaneously.Bottom line- we need to raise the bar for expectations in this town. Right now, this town is a "Family Dollar- Odd Lots-Wal-Mart-pizza shop kind of town in thinking and job selection.We need to offer and motivate the citizens to upgrade their thinking, their goals, and their lifestyle to expect and pursue the corporate level, technical level, professional level jobs and stop thinking small time thoughts like lousy pizza jobs.At the same time, city leaders need to get with it in providing jobs for the college graduates to occupy.Perhaps MUM can design and advertise an " are you tired of thinking small" program to place in the paper, on the web, in the classroom and at various locations in town to alert/motivate people to get off their duff and strive for something better than flipping burgers the rest of their lives.I noticed that the theme of your post is concentrated on the academic side of life, which makes sense due to your vocation. My comments concentrate on the industry, research side and I am in the world that is the recipient of the students that are transitioning to the working world on their first job. Perhaps, these two worlds, coupled with the city leaders could make a difference, if only they could get together and talk openly to remedy some of these issues.

Sorry to interrupt.
 
But I just don't see the comparison between a town of 50,000 (Middletown) that has been incorporated for close to 100 years and two towns (Mason and Springboro) with populations 1/2 to 1/3 of ours that as you say were just cornfields 40 years ago.

VietVet:

Being in the center of a growing Metropolitan area of 25 million people is one reason why Middletown's future looks bright. Dayton and Cincinnati are growing together and we are right in the middle.

Also, the hospital will be a draw for medical oriented businesses.
Already businesses are seeing opportunities with a centeral location. Did you forget PAC Worldwide and PayChex? PAC Worldwide used to be called PAC National until they relocated here.

Paychex Consolidating in Middletown - MiddletownUSA.com

 
Pac National, Inc. bringing 155 jobs to Middletown - MiddletownUSA.com

I think there is a world of opportunity out there for Middletown. And we have a city manager who is pro-Business!

Open your eyes next time you drive down Central. I have had my Middletown business since 1987. We started at 800 1st Ave. I have never seen the downtown look better.

Quit bitchen that the boat is sinking, either start bailing or get on the repair team. Otherwise your just dead weight.

spiderjohn wrote: Why did you leave, Mr.B?

.308- "comparison of Middletown and 50,000 people and Mason and Springboro"- I was using the comparison to emphasize that Middletown was a fulfledged city when Mason and Springboro were just cow pastures and rural one traffic light burgs 40-50 years ago. Now, when comparing the same time frame, proportionately, Middletown has made little change while Mason and Springboro have grow at a much greater rate and have become very prosperous and upscale. I am NOT making the comparison that Mason/Springboro and Middletown have anything in common as to town makeup.Obviously, Middletown is blue collar and Mason/Springboro are white collar towns and have very stark differences as to income, business climate, education level of the citizens, development success and other areas.

Mr.B--I respect your decision to be in your current location. I believe that your outfit has helped me with puter situations in the past, and I am very appreciative. Still the CBL mess and your burned out neighbor are now embarrassing eyesores with no improvement plan on the horizon. I doubt the old Loft(rip) will be re-built. Besides I dined at the Parrot once in my life, though I really liked Mr.Rigas and Gary/Freda Bush.

Vet makes a good point the Cincy/Dayton middling. Been the talk for decades, while everything surrounding has landed the prize businesses. It should get better somehow sometime. Vet ain't the problem, even though he can beat the same drum incessantly.

John the Mall is not the only frustration.  If Middletown does not get its School System out of the bottom ranking where it is currently entrenched Middletown will not enjoy even 1/2 of the success that Mason, West Chester etc. have had.

When the city reaches a point where they are ready to entertain candidates for the Econ. Dev. Director, it would be nice to see the profiles on each candidate published so that we all can see the quality of individuals available to select from. We will also be able to better understand the logic used to choose the final contestant. Would be nice to see for a change, the internal workings of the selection process as city hall sees it, and to have open dialog between the city and the citizens for a change. It will be our tax money that will be paying for this person's salary. I believe that gives us a right to know who will be manning this position. The city may use the old "internal personel priviledge" routine on us, but, just once, I would like to see them share some information with the people as a "good will gesture" Probably wishful thinking on my part.

The problem is no matter who they hire, that person will have an uphill battle just as Mr. Murphy did.  I don't see any huge strides being made in the area of economic development until such time as the City of Middletown and the Middletown City Schools tackles some of the other issues in the City.