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What's your wishlist for the city of Toledo?

Now that were in a new decade, what would you most like to see happen with our city over the next 10 years?

Here's my wishlist in no particular order:
1. More business in our downtown (companies, dining, market, entertainment and shopping)
2. A UT, BGSU, and/or Owens satellite campus downtown.
3. Better public transportaion, perhaps a rail car.
4. An ice skating rink in Promenade Park during the winter months.
5. An NBA D-League
6. A thriving economy
7. A normal trash collection
8. More police and fire
9. A completed Marina district
10. An expansion of the Toledo Zoo

created by AquaMan22 on Feb 02, 2010 at 03:45:38 pm     Comments: 39

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Comments ... #

jobs
better roads
revived river front
a public that supports what it has

posted by upso on Feb 02, 2010 at 03:52:57 pm     #



UT btw, has satalitte office and such in the Seagate center. Been in the offices, and have family working there first hand.

posted by OhioKimono on Feb 02, 2010 at 03:54:23 pm     #



#1 - Less ubran spawl, and more focus on preserving and building up what we already have. Why keep growing out and out...building more and more buildings when we have many vacant and unused?

#2 - More culture and arts.

#3 - Sustainable downtown developments.

posted by OhioKimono on Feb 02, 2010 at 03:55:50 pm     #



Another 100,000 residents, so the rest of us would not be stuck paying the costs of maintaining a city infrastructure that has far outgrown a declining population base.

posted by historymike on Feb 02, 2010 at 04:02:47 pm     #



FYI - Owens has a satellite campus downtown at 1301 Monroe in the same building as The Source. It has been here for about 2 yrs. We have thousands of people who take classes here.

My Wishlist:
More cultural amenities
More pride
Better drivers
Renovation/rehabilitation - NOT new construction
JOBS!!!

posted by Marna on Feb 02, 2010 at 04:41:36 pm     #



The wishlist is great so far...and historymike, I think you summed things up in a great and simple way.

posted by dino on Feb 02, 2010 at 04:41:38 pm     #



Ohiokimono & Marna... in regards to culture and arts...
what specifically are you looking for?

posted by upso on Feb 02, 2010 at 04:50:57 pm     #



All quality of life improvements, for those of us living here currently and to help recruit new residents:

Alternative/Arts/Foreign film theatre.

Improved roads.

Improved fire/police forces.

Riverfront events, downtown (ice skating rink is a great idea).

posted by toledolen on Feb 02, 2010 at 04:52:09 pm     #



Culture and arts....

Honestly, more support for the likes of the Toledo botanical Gardens and ARt museum would be a start. These are very fine establishments, world class on their own right that deserve more attention. No need go and create new museums and the likes when rather we can support what there already is.

Beyond that, the lack of over all worldly culture and respect is pretty staggering. Soemthing so simple as activies societies of different cultural interests would be a start.

I am not in favor of creating more museums, at least not right now. We simply can not support and sustain such a thing. All the same, there are several cultural events here in toledo that exist, have been running for a while, and deserve support. A great example of one such cultural event is....the annual dragon boat races.

I could ramble for hours about this issue. Do not create more, but support and foster what we have so that when we can afford to grow and do more...our core foundation (Art Museum, etc) is very stable and will provide a lauching point.

posted by OhioKimono on Feb 02, 2010 at 06:04:39 pm     #



A first step toward progress would be for public officials to stop adhering to the principles outlined in this book.


"Less ubran spawl, and more focus on preserving and building up what we already have. Why keep growing out and out...building more and more buildings when we have many vacant and unused?"

In my opinion, sprawl is caused by a failing urban public school system and dunderhead officials in the urban center who make decisions that drive residents and businesses out of the city. The term is "Detroitification."


Preserving old buildings is noble, but if a business wants to tear down an old building and build a brand new one, why the obstacles? They could say the hell with it and build a brand new one in a soybean field outside the city.

Our small West Toledo home was built around 1950, so it's not that old, but it's designed wrong, in my opinion. It has all this wasted space with the big dining room that is rarely used, and hardly any space in a tiny kitchen that gets used a lot. A small home is fine if designed well. And I'm not going to gut the home. So I can understand why people flee for a corn field so they can get the home design they want. And some people don't want to maintain and upgrade a 60- to 80-year-old home in the city.

A person can get a 10- to 15-year property tax abatement by buying a condo or townhome in downtown Toledo, but why not offer those same tax breaks to homeowners living elsewhere in the city who have lived in Toledo for more than 20 or 30 years as an incentive to keep them from leaving?

Mayor Bell is proposing an entertainment tax. Mayor Bell is proposing an increase to the income tax. TPS is considering a new tax levy to help offset their incompetence. If these taxes get passed, that's not going to help bring residents and businesses into Toledo.

It would nice if Toledoans stopped voting for every damn tax that's on the ballot. And it would be nice if Toledoans stopped recycling politicians and stopped re-electing the people that cause problems. Be like George Costanza and do the opposite for a change.

"Another 100,000 residents, so the rest of us would not be stuck paying the costs of maintaining a city infrastructure that has far outgrown a declining population base."

Toledo's population over the years:

Census Figures
1920 : 243,164
1930 : 290,718
1940 : 282,349
1950 : 303,616
1960 : 318,003
1970 : 383,818
1980 : 354,635 -7.6%
1990 : 332,943 -6.1%
2000 : 313,619 -5.8%

Estimates
July 2002 : 309,106
July 2004 : 304,734
July 2005 : 301,285 - 301,728
July 2006 : 297,806 - 298,446
July 2007 : 295,029


In June 2006, Toledo City Councilman Frank Szollosi said about Toledo's declining population:

"It's an indication that taxes are too high in Toledo."

posted by jr on Feb 02, 2010 at 06:19:22 pm     #



I just saw the JR post, and the drawing. That shit is awesome. At some point, we should do a thread discussion based all on drawing we do.

posted by OhioKimono on Feb 03, 2010 at 03:45:08 am     #



How much federal money does the city of Toledo stand to lose, when the next U.S. Census reports that Toledo's population is below 300,000 ?

posted by WalterAnthony on Feb 03, 2010 at 06:38:25 am     #



Stop spending money on the downtown and use it for the neighborhoods.

posted by deere1 on Feb 03, 2010 at 09:52:46 am     #



FIX THESE DAMN STREETS !!!!

posted by AlvinLee on Feb 03, 2010 at 10:00:06 am     #



!!! And dont hire drunks to do it!!!

posted by billy on Feb 03, 2010 at 01:26:42 pm     #



Have someone teach Phil Copeland how to speak English, even if only a rudimentary version. And maybe how to lose a little weight.

posted by Wulf on Feb 03, 2010 at 01:59:03 pm     #



more living wage jobs
balanced budget
return of old garbage routine
No increase in the income tax
Making ALL animal shelters "no kill."
Toledo Blade closes/new daily newspaper opens with objective reporting and no connection to the Blocks.
Cable bill goes down (The rate is increasing next month, by the way), or bringing in more competition.

posted by bikerdude on Feb 03, 2010 at 02:36:29 pm     #



not a lot the mayor could (or SHOULD) be able to do with the local paper and cable company.

posted by billy on Feb 03, 2010 at 03:38:35 pm     #



My wish list is simple:

FISCAL CONSERVATISM AT ALL LEVELS OF SOCIETY

Everything else that follows is a desirable outcome, even the errors.

posted by GuestZero on Feb 03, 2010 at 04:21:43 pm     #



I think Mayor Bell has it all worked out now, if the voters will just listen to reason. Here's a few items that may help. Bell may want to add these to his list.
1. Tax on entering a gas station $2.00 per car getting a fill-up or $5.00 if you don't top it off.
2. Fast food drive-ins $2.00 per car plus $0.50 per person in car.
3. Car wash $2.00 per car extra for the City
4. $1.00 toll at every exit into the City from the expressway.
5. Add $5,000 to all building permits.
6. All parking $5.00/hr. or $25.00 for all day (8 hrs. max)
We may be able to empty the City completely within a couple of years.

posted by AmericanPie on Feb 03, 2010 at 06:21:06 pm     #



....wut.

posted by OhioKimono on Feb 03, 2010 at 08:00:46 pm     #



OhioKimono, I think AmericanPie is sarcastically expanding on Toledo's taxing ways.

Possibly being implemented this spring for real:

  • $1.00 entertainment tax if approved by Toledo city council to help reduce the city's $44 million deficit.
  • May 4 vote by Toledoans to increase the income tax from 2.25 to 2.50 percent if city council approves the idea later this month. Tax increase will help reduce the city's $44 million deficit.
  • May 4 vote by Toledoans to pass a new property tax levy for the Toledo Public School system to help TPS reduce its $30 million deficit.

Mayor Mike Bell who has been in office for only about a month said the income tax increase would be temporary. Bell said the increase would expire at the end of 2012. Yeah, right.

Well, it sure didn't take Bell long to earn the title of Jackass. He must really think Toledoans are idiots to buy that line of bull. Local government rescind a tax increase??? No way would the city ever part with the increased tax revenue.

If the tax increase passes on May 4, and when the end of 2012 is near, we'll get sob stories from local pinhead officials about how the city cannot afford to repeal the tax increase. Before the May 4 election, we'll get a lot of fear mongering and outright lies from local officials about the dire consequences facing Toledo if the tax increase is not passed.

posted by jr on Feb 03, 2010 at 09:09:34 pm     #



My wishlist:

1) More residents who pay taxes
2) A government that spends within its means. No means? No spending!

Really, this is applicable to all levels of government, not just Toledo.

posted by Mesmerix on Feb 04, 2010 at 05:56:02 pm     #



The tax increase from Mike Bell is ironic considering his "tax man" commercial claiming it would be his opponent, Wilkowski, who would raise taxes. What a liar.

http://www.youtube.com/user/flspr#p/a/u/0/rzWNwKrMcIM

posted by toledolen on Feb 04, 2010 at 06:22:47 pm     #



When does the mayor get his magic wand and make all these things happen?

Instead of all these "fantasy" requests, we should try to work together and make our neighborhoods better, watch for crime and try to supervise some kids to do something productive.
-form roadway, park and park clean up parties
-volunteer to help put together a basketball, baseball, softball, roller or foot hockey weekend and/or week night activities for kids
-watch for crime using neighborhood watch and/or citizen patrols
-take some time to meet the neighbors on your street, help them, let them help you.
-try to be more courteous to other toledoans. Smile, wave hello especially in traffic or when walking
-get involved with community activities and show support
-maybe, just maybe support the mayor and his ideas to help the city instead of just slamming him or criticizing without offering a constructive solution

I know it sounds silly, hard, awkward and maybe even unpleasant, but if the citizens work together and start to change the impression and image of Toledo, then we all will benefit.

posted by hockeyfan on Feb 05, 2010 at 03:53:28 am     #



i wish the unions would have much, much, much less influence within our local govt.

posted by Postal on Feb 05, 2010 at 08:08:46 am     #



"just maybe support the mayor and his ideas to help the city instead of just slamming him or criticizing without offering a constructive solution"

So support Bell's tax increases, eh? Just fall in line and obey government. Government knows best. Here's an alternative solution: Don't raise taxes. Counting TPS, two more Toledo tax increases will be on the May 4 ballot. Defeat them. That's one "small" way to improve Toledo. Higher taxes have obviously not helped Toledo in the past, so why would you think more taxes will help Toledo now? Force city government and TPS to make real cuts.

Higher taxes will cause more residents and maybe small businesses to flee Toledo. The fleeing citizens take their spending power with them, which hurts the small, local independent businesses those residents may have supported. And even if residents don't move, they may have to change their spending ways and spend more at the cheaper chain stores to offset tax increases.

posted by jr on Feb 05, 2010 at 10:15:07 am     #



Boy I could go on about what I'd like to see in the city of Toledo.

- A big thing of mine I would like to see is more access to capital. I would like to see a few more financial institutions or a few venture capitalists set up shop downtown.

- I would also like to see a collaboration between one of the universities and a private entity to do R&D here in the city regarding the Lake. I've said it in another thread but an acquarium/research laboratory I think would be a good idea downtown or in the "Marina District"

- Lower taxes and fees for residents and businesses so they have more money to spend in the area. Actually run the city like a business and make cuts where they need to be made.

- The citizens actually be proud of where they live. Every place has a downside to live. If there's something you don't like, do something about it. I guess that would mean more community involvement from the citizens.

Just a few of many...

posted by avinsurer on Feb 05, 2010 at 11:13:51 am     #



On top of Mike Bell wanting more in taxes,I see the schools are now clamouring for more money.They are talking about an income tax increase also.It would be a .75% increase.Add that to Bells .25% and we will get a 1% total increase.I can't support such an increase.When companies are cutting back and not giving raises or worse yet,laying workers off,it would be foolish.I am not in the mood for any tax increase or will I vote for one.The company I work for has frozen wages,decreased benefits,stopped paying bonuses and have layed people off.It is about time that people in the public sector have to realize they need to cut back also.I am tired of funding their retirements and their wages and benefits all while the private sector is cutting the wages and benefits of its employees.Why do they have this feeling of entitlement?When the rest of us that pay for their early retirements and double dipping have to work until 65 or 66 to get what they want at age 52.Just say no to tax increases!

posted by buckeye278 on Feb 05, 2010 at 11:18:18 am     #



I wish Bell would become a student of Hazel McCallion of Mississauga, ON.

http://www.citymayors.com/interviews/mississauga_interview.html

Hazel McCallion is a committed follower of a pay-as-you-go philosophy and, in 1991, she became the first mayor of a major Canadian city to submit an annual operating budget to its residents for their input and scrutiny.

Hazel McCallion told City Mayors that her city needed sustainable sources of revenue to fulfil its responsibilities. “We cannot simply rely on property taxes to pay for the future needs of our city,” she said.

posted by billy on Feb 05, 2010 at 11:22:18 am     #



I guess that I just don't understand some people. I hear plenty of people on here don't want taxes raised and I agree. But recently, Toledo approved an increase in taxes for the zoo and cosi. While I realize that levies aren't the same as taxes, but both are ways to cover-up or make up for the misuse of funds.
If we, as a society, are ever going to show politicians that we are tired of giving money to cover up their blunders, we have to stop these levy approvals too.

posted by hockeyfan on Feb 05, 2010 at 05:16:45 pm     #



Hockeyfan, I think the problem is that the majority of Toledo's aging population has no problem going out and voting for tax/levy increases. Many are untouched by such increases and see no problem voting for such misappropriation of funds. Add Mike Bell to the facts and we have a city that will become doomed. No incentive for business, no incentive young citizens and a corrupt government. Welcome to Flint, Michigan...damn... I thought I got away from that place.

posted by JJFad on Feb 05, 2010 at 05:35:33 pm     #



"While I realize that levies aren't the same as taxes ..."

Levies are property taxes. Maybe you meant to say property taxes are not the same as income taxes. But both are taxes.

For Toledoans, around 60% of your property taxes fund the Toledo Public School system.

Even renters probably endure a property tax increase because the landlord has to pay more property taxes, and it's possible the landlord passes that tax increase onto the renter.

Toledo government will have an issue on the May 4 ballot to increase the income tax.

TPS will have an issue on the May 4 ballot to raise taxes too. TPS, however, has not decided if they will push for a new property tax levy or a new income tax increase.

posted by jr on Feb 06, 2010 at 12:26:55 pm     #



If the government wanted to eliminate urban sprawl, it could. Check with the elected officials who control zoning and building permits, but don't expect to get anywhere.

Cutting services to match city revenue is fine, right up until the time that the service cut affects you. Then things aren't so fine anymore. Personally, I'd advocate cutting salaries of everyone in management and I'd make huge cuts in benefits for city employees - including police. Okay, especially police.

posted by madjack on Feb 06, 2010 at 12:36:22 pm     #



I am not impressed with the police or the job that they've done. When they were laid off and promoted increased crime, there really wasn't any so all that showed me was we can do with less.
Cut the fireworks. I've seen street sweepers doing the streets that really don't even need it, cut that too. Maybe do a trash study and cut trash to every other week if possible.
Any decision is going to be met with anger and frustration like posted above, cuts are great until they affect you.

posted by hockeyfan on Feb 06, 2010 at 02:33:56 pm     #



Billy, AquaMan22 said "Now that were in a new decade, what would you most like to see happen with our city over the next 10 years?" Since I'm thinking it isn't mayor or council related, it's just my desires for the city. But if we're talking about the mayor and council. they indeed could do something about cable. Council is the one that passes the contract that gives BuckeyeCable a monopoly on the city. I would like to see more choices locally. Not flaming on Buckeye, but as with all monopolies, they can charge you whatever they want and give you channels you are not pleased with, etc. As for Buckeye's customer service, they are pretty good. I'll give them that.

posted by bikerdude on Feb 06, 2010 at 05:27:38 pm     #



I was afraid this might happen. I received an e-mail alert that a new edition of 'the book' is out.

posted by jr on Feb 06, 2010 at 08:40:24 pm     #



No tax increases or fee hikes. That would do it for me.

posted by gemini on Feb 07, 2010 at 07:48:11 pm     #



hockeyfan said: “ Any decision is going to be met with anger and frustration like posted above, cuts are great until they affect you. ”

No, cuts are great since they affect you by either reduced taxes or no increase in taxes.

If the services that are cut are felt by you directly, you still enjoy the reduction or lack of increase in your tax load. That's what you should be keeping in mind.

posted by GuestZero on Feb 09, 2010 at 12:39:13 am     #