LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Boost, don’t joke about, Toledo

1/5/2014

In a story by the New York Times about Chinese investment in Toledo, Dean Monske, president and chief executive officer of the Regional Growth Partnership of Northwest Ohio, referred to our region as “little old Podunk, Ohio” (“Fit to print,” editorial, Jan. 1).

Can you believe that he would say that, even in jest? This is the exact image that we are trying to get away from.

Do we ever hear people from Columbus, Nashville, or Pittsburgh refer to themselves in this manner?

I have lived and worked in Nashville, Las Vegas, Memphis, New York, Columbus, and Toledo. I have learned that certain cities beat up on themselves needlessly. Memphis is not Nashville, and people in Memphis remind themselves of that every day.

Mr. Monske should never refer to this area as “Podunk” in any context. Perception is reality. People remember sound bites and quotes.

His job is not to further the nationally stereotyped image of Toledo as a Rust Belt city with its glory days in the rearview mirror. His job is to promote the area for investment. Toledoans don’t need him to join the chorus of those who demean this community.

CHRIS PALMER

Whitehouse

 

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N.Y. Times article on city positive

The New York Times article about Toledo was positive. It would be nice if The Blade would publish similar positive articles.

A positive image goes a long way toward solving many of the negatives that The Blade constantly focuses on.

JOHN MONOKY

Ottawa Hills