(1.) MY TALK TO ROCKY RIVER CITY GOVERNMENT ABOUT POPULATION LOSS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY AND IN ROCKY RIVER, OHIO! (2.) MY THOUGHTS ON ‘ROCKY RIVER POPULATION AND BUSINESS LOSS’ AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT!
(1.) MY TALK TO ROCKY RIVER CITY GOVERNMENT ABOUT POPULATION LOSS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY AND IN ROCKY RIVER, OHIO!
· At the end of the Rocky River council meeting Monday night (3/26/07) I addressed council and the administration. I told them I read in the Plain Dealer on March 22, 2007 - that Cuyahoga County lost 80 thousand people since the 2000 U.S. Census.
· I told them I was shocked and angered by the story. I purchased a home in 1990. Homes purchased in Rocky River at the time were scarce. If you were able to purchase a home you considered yourself fortunate. I was proud to be a Rocky River resident. I pointed out in the later 90's Rocky River was rated number one several times by Cleveland Magazine. Then a Rocky River elected official pointed out, it was three times.
· I mentioned about Mayor Don Umerley in Northern Ohio Live Magazine. He was pictured standing in front of Rocky River city hall. I said we were all proud to be Rocky River residents at the time.
THEN I MENTIONED THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED IN ROCKY RIVER.
· I noticed, as I went door to door in Rocky River’s neighborhoods to get signatures from residents on past Rocky River city issues and election campaigns. I would get to know what homes were occupied.
· Yet, when I would come back into those neighborhoods two years later on other city campaigns there was a change.
· I noticed empty homes.
· Then more abandoned and empty homes were popping up as years went by.
· Yes I wrote many times about people leaving. I even suggested ways to bring and to keep people in Rocky River.
· I told council I was very angry and surprised about Rocky River’s and Cuyahoga County’s population loss.
ROCKY RIVER, MY HOMETOWN, MAKE IT NUMBER ONE AGAIN!
· Finally I mentioned, Rocky River now reminds me about Bruce Springsteen's song "My Hometown". The song is about a love for a community that is in decline.
· Then in closing I told them, "I WANT TO SEE ROCKY RIVER NUMBER ONE AGAIN!"
(2.) MY THOUGHTS ON ‘ROCKY RIVER POPULATION AND BUSINESS LOSS’ AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT!
· Rocky River is a municipal corporation. Like any corporation it is in the business of creating a product. Rocky Rivers’ residents and businesses are that product.
· Furthermore Rocky River’s success hinges on how Rocky River attracts and keeps residents and businesses in the community.
· You do not need a four (4) year Cleveland State Degree in Urban Studies. Nor do you need a four (4) year Case Western Reserve University Degree in Economic Planning. To know Rocky River is losing population and businesses. Just look at the - for sale signs, deserted homes, empty stores and an almost empty Rockport Shopping Center in Ward 4.
· Rocky River ‘the municipal corporation’ is not working and is in decline!
· As the elected Rocky River city official pointed out, that Rocky River was once number one three times. That was the 90’s maam! This is 2007.
· Now on your watch maam! Rocky River’s population and businesses are leaving. To quote Bruce Springsteen’s Song “My Hometown”, "… and they ain't coming back.” Why is it failing under your watch maam?
HOW DO WE SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF POPULATION LOSS IN ROCKY RIVER?
· We must first publicly admit that we have a population and a business loss problem in Rocky River.
· Next, all elected Rocky River city government officials resign! Under their watch Rocky River has declined!
· Next, we have ‘all brand new’ candidates that will pledge to bring and keep residents and businesses in Rocky River. Make these candidates give a “No Decline Pledge” for the future of Rocky River.
· Then together “we all” fight the decline in Rocky River by ‘seriously seeking ways’ to stop this downslide and to turn it around! Make it our Number One Priority in Rocky River. It can be done. Please consider “Fred Sokol’s - Contract With Residents.”
FINALLY, WHAT WE SHOULD NOT DO!
· First, we are not going to solve the problem of ‘population and business loss’, in Rocky River by saying “We are victims.”, “It is not our fault.”, “Well the problem is worse in other areas of Cuyahoga County.” Or the most outrageous comment, “A unified government is region’s (this would include Rocky River) only hope.”
· It is further, a grave mistake to ignore the problem of population and business loss in Rocky River all together.
· If residents ignore population and business loss in Rocky River. We will empower those in Rocky River who through their watch, have brought us to this inevitable slide we are experiencing now.
· Residents might as well have just greased the skids of further decline in Rocky River and a possible ‘regional government’ that gobbles up Rocky River. If residents refuse to make those accountable that already brought us this decline!
IN CLOSING!
· Yes, we elect those who work in Rocky River city government. Yet when they do not do their job, we as electors have the right to replace them. If only, to save Rocky River.
· You will have that opportunity to save Rocky River, on Election Day Tuesday, November 6, 2007.
THANK YOU!
Fred I. Sokol - Resident – Rocky River,
Ohio - 440-521-5452 + scrdhrt2@cox.net
+ www.votesokol.com
CC: Rocky River City School District,
Rocky River City Government, Rocky River
Chamber of Commerce, WestLife , Sun
Herald, Plain Dealer Newspaper.
Westlaker Times, Fred Sokol’s Weekly
E-Mail Recipients +
www.votesokol.com
Paid by: Vote
Sokol Committee - Thomas J. Spagnoletti,
Treasurer - 1459 Prospect Avenue, Rocky
River, Ohio 44116
