Between 1840 and 1940, Cincinnati became a uniquely progressive, economically and socially vibrant, American city with few equals. Now, in 2010, we are held captive by nattering nabobs of negativism whose only contribution is to point out why we can't accomplish things and, if we even dare to try, work simply to put obstacles in our way.
Think about the accomplishments and attributes that set Cincinnati apart from other US cities in the century spanning 1840 - 1940:
So what happened?
It's convenient, and may have some merit, to blame the combination of increasing popularity of automobiles and the rise of the highway system in dispersing Cincinnati's residents into the rapidly growing suburbs. This lead to fewer people supporting the public institutions (and tax base) that helped create the vibrant city that attracted so many and fostered such tremendous growth in the prior 100+ years. Dwelling on that is unlikely to help much, as cars and suburbs aren't going away any time soon.
An issue that can still be addressed, however, is potentially far more destructive to our future: the belief by some Cincinnatians that our city cannot, and possibly should not, even attempt to change...to adapt...to innovate.
Since I moved to Cincinnati in 1987, I've seen so many worthwhile initiatives shot down by a loud minority of citizens some have quite reasonably nicknamed CAVEmen (Citizens Against Virtually Everything), which exist everywhere, but seem to be particularly vocal in our fair city.
These individuals, for a variety of reasons that only they seem to clearly understand, have stood in the way of progress on multiple fronts: developing our downtown, building infrastructure (both transportation and communication), adopting more environmentally sustainable policies, investing in our educational and police systems, and even pursuing financial support for worthwhile projects from the federal government.
If we are to move Cincinnati back onto a trajectory of prosperity, growth, and advancement, we need to start ignoring these naysayers, pushing forward with necessary improvements, and fostering innovative ideas. Our city's population, economic viability, and future prospects have all suffered from this conservative posture we have taken towards new ideas. While it is easy to be risk-averse, it is rare that prosperity comes to those who always play it safe and avoid change. Said more simply, the only guaranteed risk is never taking any.
The Streetcar initiative and the Banks are clear examples of what we should be striving to accomplish as a community, but they have taken far too long and have consumed far too many resources to get to where they are today. We must be more effective, and efficient, at converting ideas into reality, goals into accomplishments.
So, to the leaders of the City of Cincinnati, I ask that you simply do two things: 1) pursue opportunity for advancing the public good more aggressively than you defend the status quo, and 2) promote an innovative vision with far more vigor than you seek compromise and consensus.
And, to the people of Cincinnati, I simply ask that you support our leaders, regardless of party or politic, in their attainment of those two objectives. If you can also contribute innovative thinking, capital, or sweat in helping improve things, then all the better, but the mere absence of obstinate obstructionists would do more to help accelerate our betterment than a thousand good ideas.
Our future is not yet written, and we have no reason to allow the world around us to determine our fate. But, if we do not take the task of reigniting within ourselves the progressive flame that impelled our once-mighty city, conservatism may very well douse our light entirely.
Think about the accomplishments and attributes that set Cincinnati apart from other US cities in the century spanning 1840 - 1940: - Meatpacking leader in mid-1800s due to massive German immigration
- Active hub on the Underground Railroad (through 1865)
- Cincinnati Enquirer (founded 1841) among first to publish a Sunday edition (1848)
- First US city to have a greeting card publisher (1850)
- First Jewish Hospital (1850)
- First municipal fire department (1853)
- First professional baseball team (1869)
- First public weather bureau (1869)
- First municipal university, eventually becoming the University of Cincinnati (1870)
- First annual industrial trade show (1870)
- First Jewish theological college (1875)
- Second public zoo in the US (1875)
- Music Hall funded by first public-private matching grant effort (1877)
- First female-founded and operated manufacturing company (1880)
- First (and only) city to build and own a major railroad (1880)
- Large public art museum built (1881)
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital founded, just the 10th in the nation (1883)
- Highest population density of any city in the US (late 1880s)
- First reinforced concrete skyscraper (1902)
- Birthplace of the Boy Scouts of America (1905)
- Birthplace of co-operative education (1906)
- Union Terminal built, one of nation's largest train stations (1933)
- First night baseball game at an artificially lit stadium (1935)
So what happened?
It's convenient, and may have some merit, to blame the combination of increasing popularity of automobiles and the rise of the highway system in dispersing Cincinnati's residents into the rapidly growing suburbs. This lead to fewer people supporting the public institutions (and tax base) that helped create the vibrant city that attracted so many and fostered such tremendous growth in the prior 100+ years. Dwelling on that is unlikely to help much, as cars and suburbs aren't going away any time soon.
An issue that can still be addressed, however, is potentially far more destructive to our future: the belief by some Cincinnatians that our city cannot, and possibly should not, even attempt to change...to adapt...to innovate.
Since I moved to Cincinnati in 1987, I've seen so many worthwhile initiatives shot down by a loud minority of citizens some have quite reasonably nicknamed CAVEmen (Citizens Against Virtually Everything), which exist everywhere, but seem to be particularly vocal in our fair city.
These individuals, for a variety of reasons that only they seem to clearly understand, have stood in the way of progress on multiple fronts: developing our downtown, building infrastructure (both transportation and communication), adopting more environmentally sustainable policies, investing in our educational and police systems, and even pursuing financial support for worthwhile projects from the federal government.
If we are to move Cincinnati back onto a trajectory of prosperity, growth, and advancement, we need to start ignoring these naysayers, pushing forward with necessary improvements, and fostering innovative ideas. Our city's population, economic viability, and future prospects have all suffered from this conservative posture we have taken towards new ideas. While it is easy to be risk-averse, it is rare that prosperity comes to those who always play it safe and avoid change. Said more simply, the only guaranteed risk is never taking any.
The Streetcar initiative and the Banks are clear examples of what we should be striving to accomplish as a community, but they have taken far too long and have consumed far too many resources to get to where they are today. We must be more effective, and efficient, at converting ideas into reality, goals into accomplishments.
So, to the leaders of the City of Cincinnati, I ask that you simply do two things: 1) pursue opportunity for advancing the public good more aggressively than you defend the status quo, and 2) promote an innovative vision with far more vigor than you seek compromise and consensus.
And, to the people of Cincinnati, I simply ask that you support our leaders, regardless of party or politic, in their attainment of those two objectives. If you can also contribute innovative thinking, capital, or sweat in helping improve things, then all the better, but the mere absence of obstinate obstructionists would do more to help accelerate our betterment than a thousand good ideas.
Our future is not yet written, and we have no reason to allow the world around us to determine our fate. But, if we do not take the task of reigniting within ourselves the progressive flame that impelled our once-mighty city, conservatism may very well douse our light entirely.
