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The Study Took How Long...? I have no doubt that this study, "IMMIGRATION AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: IMPLICATIONS FOR GREATER CLEVELAND," conducted by Sanda Kaufman and William Olson from CSU's College of Urban Affairs, was worth every dime put out by sponsor the Ruth Ratner Miller Center for Greater Cleveland, and required every moment of the ten months it took to complete. But, I could have figured this out in about fifteen minutes last weekend, between packing away most of the winter clothes and dusting off the grill, and I haven't even completed my MA (yet):

Cleveland could reverse a population decline and re-energize its economy by luring select immigrants ...They suggest that a city built by immigrants look to its past for strategies for growth but reach out to smarter, wealthier immigrants from new places Historically, waves of often-poor immigrants from Europe poured into Cleveland and staffed an industrial powerhouse. Today, the region would be better served by immigrants who bring money or education and place few demands on social services

You mean bringing IN people would reverse the population decline? And since Americans aren't all that interested in Cleveland, we should look to immigrants? And the best immigrants to bring in would be rich and/or well-educated? No kidding.

I have to agree with Eric. A study like this takes too long and cost too much. Where are the tangible action items. I noticed in the PD article:

They suggest the region seek immigrants who either are skilled or belong to a cultural group able to help them assimilate... Kaufman and Olson do not suggest which groups Cleveland should target, but they do propose strategies for luring immigrants. They say the region should study what other cities are doing and copy promising models. They suggest working with existing immigrant communities to lure newcomers, since immigrants usually seek their own people. And researchers say the government and the schools should prepare residents to accept a more diverse, cosmopolitan community. "We need to get the word out that Cleveland is a wonderful place, otherwise the immigrants don't know to come here," Kaufman said.

Duh. Who's going to find the immigrants that are skilled? What is skilled? How the heck do we find them if we don't have a clue who they are? Oh, that's brilliant. "Study other cities". For one thing, that does absolutely nothing to differentiate us from those cities. Not too mention I'm tired of "The Government and The Schools" preparing us to do anything. I'VE been the one who's prepared myself for anything I've accomplished, thank you very much. Maybe we need to prepare the government and the schools for what THEY should be doing. That way they wouldn't waste OUR time and money paying academics for half-baked answers. Your comments?

Obviously, it's up to you and me to get the word out. More and more people I know are starting their own blogs. Maybe you should start your own. I'll be glad to help. Just ping me.