Santa Claus parade

The real problem is Middletown city leaders and the Main Street crowd blame the musa site for stifling the propaganda all the problems with the reputation of the city is caused by individuals, the wrong type of people, negative minded residents, instead of the city leadership neglecting fundamental services and spending cash for its management faster than it came in. It doesn't make the pig prettier by applying lipstick, the make-over,  and  the new and improved town, is on display. Any truth Joe Mulligan and Dan Picard got Thorn Hill Lane paved by the city before Joe bought his $275,000 residential house on the street. Physician friend said it was. Not sure.     

If middiemom had simply commended the parade then that is fine. But her post definitely smelled of one of the downtown backers who are pushing an agenda. Saying how many good things are going on down there without mentioning the multiple failings and the treadmill pace of progress is in effect promoting the groundless feel-good hope and change that the downtown crowd wants to sell everyone. And the problem with that is it leads to muzzled voices and little criticism the next time an idea comes out of Donham Abbey (to borrow acclaro's phrase) or the Main St crowd. These decisions have been made with far too much fluff, hope, and desperation than anything resembling data or a business plan.

processor, would you mind defining and characterizing all the good happening in Middletown now? I remain amazed those whom have an objective vantage and critique the obvious, are deemed '"negativism."  From my perch, I see business as usual, a few who make money or fame from the city, shouting the city is returning, making a comeback, when the numbers I see downtown, just don't support such assertions. The foot traffic has not been notably improved, and saying it will be so, does not make it so. Of course, everyone wishes it was booming, and Middletown was Indian Hills, but it isn't.

With apologies, but having an added gas station that Mr. Robinson sold does not characterize an economic boom. Frankly, Middletown is barely keeping pace with Hamilton in renovation.   

The "undesirable" label can be applied by anyone to anyone. Your biblical "scholars" look through the prism of anyone not Christian being "undesirable". That, in and of itself, would render the family of Jesus "undesirables" since they were Jews! They holy family lived in a state that was occupied by Gentiles which would again make them "undesirables". A woman about to give birth was turned away from the inn because there was no room? No room for a woman in labor? The real point is that to stand on a public street while breaking the law (yes, alcohol consumption on the street is illegal) and complain that there are people who shouldn't be allowed to be there because they somehow don't fit a persons definition of "proper", seems to defeat the entire purpose of the season. So unless you subscribe to the notion that Christmas is a secular holiday that is for making money, a parade to celebrate Santa shouldn't be turned into a referendum on who should be allowed to attend.

TonyB wrote: ". While you're getting the "warm fuzzy" feeling from lording over those you feel should not even be allowed to attend a public event, it might not hurt you to remember that the family of Jesus would have fit your "undesirable" label.

Oh really?  I think there are several biblical scholars that would disagree with this statement.

GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DO: Congradulations to Sam Ashworth and Roger Miller for being recognized for their sharing of our history for us all to enjoy.

I think I too may have been misunderstood.. I AM also FOR ANY business downtown to be successful. I think a lot of our posts are really coming from total frustration. The lack of vision from city hall .If you don't have the answers then step aside or bring in new blood or at least LISTEN. The same old same old isn't working. I really do not think ANYONE on this forum would NOT want a business to succeed. Keep city hall out of it and let the private sector do what they do best. JMO

Middiemom
I’m really glad that you and your friends support and enjoy all the new businesses in the downtown area. However I do believe that you are missing the point of the many messages that have been posted on this forum concerning your new downtown area.
I do not want these new businesses to fail…however…I do strongly object to City Hall using millions of taxpayer’s dollars to set up and support these downtown businesses time and time again while the rest of the business community in Middletown get no support at all. We have spent millions of dollars in the downtown area and how many jobs has it really created?
I also strongly object to the misleading and sometimes false statements made by City Hall concerning the true cost of these projects and those close friends involved in these special deals.
Sooo Middiemom before you start slamming what is being posted on this forum by the naysayers maybe you should take a long hard look at the City of Middletown’s financial situation.
Maybe you should ask your good friend at City Hall what the real cost and impact is going to be concerning the HUD Section 8 Program being moved.  

spiderjohn wrote: BOY O BOY I am happy that the downtown group did another Santa parade. At least someone did something(nothing from Kroger, Mejier, WalMart etc?). Vet, pal--u come off a little negative and grumpy here. Why rip the few trying to make that struggling area work? They are vested there, and doing what they should be doing. So let's give them respect due. I don't see much activity anywhere else here(and honestly not much there either). Do I see the former downtown area booming? NO I DON'T(I am there or pass thru most days). We have collectively paid for most of what has happened there over the last 20 years. It is time for the area to stand on it's own and make it or bust. I hope that it makes it. I have no problem going there, and like a lot of those trying to make it work. Are they lining their pockets? Hardly--for some it has been a lot of expense. The restaurants and bars are too quiet. The Pendleton seems to be struggling. The Sorg Opera House makes little sense for the $$ and may well be a pipe dream. But---you can't be-little and slam the residents and owners trying to make something work. It is seldom easy or quick. It WILL get better---not sure just how much or how quickly. Hey--it can't get much worse than it was. If the lady went there, supported the businesses and had a good time--then that can only be a good thing. Maybe Vet, acclaro and over the hill should meet me at the brew pub for a fancy beer(my treat)---middiemom is welcome to join us to see that we are all human wanting something enjoyable and better! on the subject of MIDDIES--went to the game last night. Huge crowd that should have had somewhere approximate to go afterwards. Downtown was locked up tight. Middies are an exciting work in progress. Jump on the bandwagon now, because it should be very good by mid-season. And nothing about the event in our sham of a newspaper--so disappointing--Luke in the house that Luke built on the Wade E stage--the strong Middie underclassmen---and the most incredible halftime show in my memory that was worth twice the time and cost of admission. I am disgusted by our division by neighborhood area. We need to support this community in it's entirety. One area alone probably won't be attractive/strong enough to bring us back. It is proven that the former downtown and arts alone won't do it. We have waited long enough. Time to support every area of the community, and those surrounding us. If a few make it and the rest don't, we all lose. jmo--flame me but remember--I am fireproof!

Spider, I said my piece with as much civility as is in me as I deal with impossible management demands at work and the no-win situation I have at home. Work is no escape from home and home doesn't cure the working ills nowadays. Nowhere to run. (See Martha and the Vandellas song) You and alot of other people that have been around a long time know the situation. What it was. What it is now. We all can logically compare the change. It is only the people who seem to ignore the facts, figures and incredibly what their own eyes allow them to see. In reading your post, I believe we both said the same things, yours being more "kinder/gentler/diplomatic" which I don't believe in using. I did not attack middiemom on a personal basis. I did no worse than her placing me in the "grouchy old man" category. She will be there one day when she has seen enough nonsense in this city. Just not her time as yet.

Having an upscale brew at an establishment downtown you say? Given my comments about the yuppie/artzy thinking, wouldn't that make me a hypocrite if I took you up on the offer? Still, I would enjoy talking to middiemom to understand why she sees the same situation in a totally different prospective. As a matter of fact, I would like to sit down with many who are on the other side of the fence to see why they think the way they do. Optimist/pessimist- glass half full/half empty ongoing battle I guess.

Middiemom mentions that she has talked to a city official who reads the comments on here and who claims he can do nothing to please anyone here. Very simple concept. Start doing the right thing for the city and change your stripes and the criticism will stop. It is abundantly clear within the pages of this forum what many think is acceptable as to city direction. Still, the same person who has taken the forum abuse seems to maintain the posture drawing the criticism. His choice. Start doing what is right for the people and drop the city mantra which has proven to be a disaster for decades and he just may find he has more support here.

lol mike--they let me in(though some eyebrows raised), so you should be good. Flash a twenty and they will love you. I thought that concept might wake you up.

middiemom--I was here for that nostalgic past--it wasn't that incredible but much more liveable and less dangerous than now. Just got my holiday hair cut, and upon leaving, walked right past a drug transaction involving a group of very nasty looking people.

EVERYONE reads musa whether they admit it or not. no pity for city officials from me---their actions often defy sensibility. THEY have put us in this--not musa postings.

Reading about raiding the public safety funds for the reasons mentioned chaps me to no end. I would like someone involved to come here and explain(since it won't show up in our newspaper). An explanation is not asking much, and should come without asking imo.

Well said Spider! It's hard to try when there are those that complain no matter what happens. I recently ran into an official who is trounced here on an almost daily basis. I was speaking to him about community involvement and if he reads postings on this site. He said he stopped because no matter what he does NOTHING is good enough. He said he could find a million dollars for every taxpayer in the city and people on here would complain.Spider I agee with you about not focusing on particuliar neighborhoods when all should be our focus. Just like our focus should be on the brighter future not the nostalgic past. I just get excited when there are new establishments that my circle of friends can frequent and right now those appen to be downtown. Spider you are a voice of reason, so many others are either stuck in the past or seem so wrapped up in other people and their lives. If these views about our current council, whether right or wrong, I suggest you stop complaining and do something about it instead of complaining about what one woman's opinion is. 

middiemom:
Why do you care what my friends and I like to eat?

I DON'T

middiemom:
We support these establishments

THAT'S FINE IF THOSE INTERESTED SUPPORT WHAT IS BEING OFFERED. MY POST SIMPLY MENTIONS THAT WHAT IS BEING OFFERED DOES NOT APPEAL TO THE MASSES IN TOWN. WRONG FORMAT FOR THE WRONG DEMOGRAPHICS.

middiemom:
There are still Mc Donald's and KFC for those of you that don't like it

CORRECT BUT THE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT WHAT IS OFFERED DOWNTOWN, NOT AROUND TOWN. WHILE YOU ARE ON THE SUBJECT OF MCD'S....YOU PUT A MCDONALDS DOWNTOWN AND IT WILL BE THE BUSIEST EATING PLACE DOWN THERE. WHY? BECAUSE IT OFFERS THE TYPE OF FOOD THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY LIKE AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. IE...IT MATCHES THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY POPULATION.

middiemom:
"Allthe same old tired voices offering up nothing but negativism"

RE-PHRASE THAT. "ALL THE OLD TIRED VOICES FRUSTRATED AND FED UP WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY, THE DESTRUCTION OF A ONCE PROUD, VIABLE. RESPECTABLE CITY REPLACED BY SLUM LORD SECTION 8 IMAGE DESTROYING POLICIES OF THE LAST 30 + YEARS.

middiemom:
"Your solutions are what?"

1. FIND OUT WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WANT FOR THEIR CITY
2. PLAN AROUND THOSE DESIRES AND START ATTRACTING THOSE TYPES OF BUSINESSES, EATERIES AND A JOB MARKET THAT TARGETS OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THOSE WANTS AND NEEDS TO HELP PEOPLE THRIVE HERE
3. COOPERATE AND BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO ASSIST ANY LEGITIMATE BUSINESS THAT WANTS TO LOCATE HERE. REMOVE THE BARRIERS THAT HAVE HINDERED GROWTH FOR NEW BUSINESSES
4. START A PR CAMPAIGN TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE CITY AND IT'S IMAGE AND REPUTATION WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. START ACTING LIKE THERE IS A SEMBLENCE OF CLASS IN THIS TOWN INSTEAD OF BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE ATTRACTION MAGNET FOR ALL THE LOW LIFES TO FILTER INTO TOWN
5. LET THE ARTS PEOPLE DEVELOP THEIR OWN BUSINESSES AND STOP THE PRACTICE OF CITY INTERVENTION INTO WHAT SHOULD BE PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
6. GET NEW PEOPLE IN THE ECON DEVELOPMENT DEPT THAT ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEY"RE DOING. WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS INEPTNESS DRAWING A PAYCHECK PRODUCING NO RESULTS WORTH MENTIONING....FOR YEARS NOW.
7. EITHER CHANGE DIRECTION IN THE CITY BUILDING OR GUT THE ENTIRE GROUP DOWN THERE AND START OVER WITH SOME COMPETENT PEOPLE WHO THINK LOGICALLY WITH THE INTENTION TO DO RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY
8. WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, PICK A SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY WITH LIKE DEMOGRAPHICS AND EMULATE THEIR SUCCESS BY DOING COPYCAT THINGS.

THERE YOU HAVE IT middiemom. YOU ASKED FOR A PLAN. YOU GOT IT.

middiemom:
"Youngpeople want things like what is happening in the new Middletown"

WHERE IS THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS TRUE? SPECULATION AT BEST ON YOUR PART.

middiemon:
Youall sit on this site and criticize people trying to make you so proud of your home town and what it can become

NO, I KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND IT WAS A HELL OF A SIGHT BETTER THAN IT HAS BEEN THE LAST 30 YEARS. THE POWERS THAT BE HAVE SEEN FIT TO RUIN A ONCE PROUD ALL AMERICAN CITY AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO GHETTO STATUS AS WE SPEAK. I DOUBT YOU WERE AROUND IN THE 50'S AND 60'S WHEN THIS TOWN WAS A THRIVING HEALTHY COMMUNITY, RESPECTED BY IT'S NEIGHBORS.

middiemom:
The new slogan says it all. There WAS a bright past but there IS A BRIGHTER FUTURE with or without you nattering naybobs of negativism

KOOL-AID DRINKING STATEMENT middiemom. DON'T BELIEVE THE HORSECRAP THEY'RE SHOVELING YOUR WAY. THEY HAVEN'T PRODUCED BUT A FRACTION OF THE PIPE DREAMS THEY HAVE BEEN SPEWING THE LAST THREE DECADES. THE SCHOOLS ARE IN SHAMBLES AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY. THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE NO MATTER WHAT THE LEADERS SAY. IT IS WHAT IT IS. YOU ARE BELIEVING THE MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR THEY ARE PRESENTING.

middiemom:
The future is young new families not grouchy old men
"GROUCHY OLD MEN" HAVE PUT IN THEIR TIME AND PAID THEIR DUES. TRY RESPECTING THAT ASPECT OF THINGS MOM. THE ROAD HASN'T BEEN EASY. YOU'LL FIND THAT OUT AS YOU AGE.

middiemom:
Even you can agree there is more going on downtown than ten years ago

NOT NECESSARILY TRUE. THE MAJORITY OF THE BUSINESSES ARE STILL UNOCCUPIED. THE ARTS COMMUNITY OCCUPIES A SMALL FRACTION OF THE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN. CINCY STATE IS A SHELL OF WHAT WAS ADVERTISED AS TO STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND DOWNTOWN FOOT TRAFFIC. RESTAURANTS CLOSE AS FAST AS NEW ONES OPEN. EVEN THE SUB SHOP (CAN'T THINK IF THE NAME AND 59 DEGREES WERE SHORT-LIVED. NO REAL LONG TERM SUCCESSES IN ANY NUMBER DOWNTOWN TO DATE.

WE WILL JUST AGREE TO DISAGREE ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA. FAIR ENOUGH?