The excitement in the City Hall Rotunda was palpable on the evening of Wed 12/22, as Cleveland’s Global Urban Fusion Diversity party attracted over 500 folks to a space that probably was designed for half that many. The large group of people from every community, ethnicity and background in the county was brought together to break bread — something that is critically important — by a smaller group of dedicated citizens that have, for a number of years now, been pushing to make Greater Cleveland a more inclusive and welcoming place for everyone. While I did not serve on the committee that pulled this event together, I’m proud to have been involved with the umbrella group over five years.
As Richard (The Lion Hearted) Herman and Bob Smith of the PD posited in the book they co-authored, Immigration Inc., the areas of the country that embrace new citizens (along with their new ideas, wealth and ‘can-do’ spirit) are the ones that are going to thrive in the coming decades … that’s why many folks have been pushing hard for a Welcome Center for residents new to the area.
While naysayers attempt to characterize such a welcoming place as simply a site of refuge for undocumented workers and a threat to America, this envisioned center would also make foreign investors feel comfortable in the area.
The West Bank of the Flats is being redeveloped in part with funds supplied by individuals from strange-sounding places with strange-sounding names. Our challenge is to get over our xenophobia. If we don’t care to attract this type of investment here, rest assured that other locales around the country are rolling out the welcome mat.
Factor in the new Census figures and the urgency is more apparent. Ohio will lose two congressional seats due in part to shifting populations… from the Rustbelt to the Sunbelt. However, part of change is due to newly-arriving citizens eschewing our region for more welcoming environs. If we think we’re going to reverse the movement of folks from one part of the country to warmer climes we’re only fooling ourselves.
If we’re going to play catch-up we’re going to have to do it with new citizens moving from other countries. After all, in spite of our chilly winters, NEO could still look good to people coming from other countries.
Which makes it all the more curious as to why only four of our 19 members of city council were in attendance at the event? Yeah, this year I’m going to start naming names: Eugene Miller, Joe Cimperman, Brain Cummings and T.J. Dow were the only members to show up.
This lack of attendance, at least in part, stems from the antiquated notion of “Administration Events” and “City Council Events.” You see, our form of city government is supposed to have some degree of tension between the Administration side of City Hall and the Council side. They are supposed to act as a check and balance system… which is entirely good and proper.
However, this is all too often taken to silly degrees. The Administration sponsored this aforementioned event, so council members tended to feel they were not invited. If Council had sponsored it, few, if any Administration officials would have attended. It’s past time for this silliness to stop.
There are many issues, such as making Cleveland a more welcoming place, that is — or should be — of interest to everyone at City Hall (as well as the community at large) and everyone needs to sit aside past ways of doing business so that we can move our city… and the region… forward. My understanding is that another such event is already being planned; everyone from City Hall should be in attendance to show residents that such efforts have widespread support. The future of our city depends it. Come for the food, stay for the fellowship.
From Cool Cleveland correspondent Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com. Frazier’s From Behind The Wall: Commentary on Crime, Punishment, Race and the Underclass by a Prison Inmate is available again in hardback. Snag your copy and have it signed by the author by visiting http://www.neighborhoodsolutionsinc.com.