For many years, the clarion call has bellowed for change with increasing verve. From within the city and its diverse and at times divisive geographic constituency, a common theme has been heralded -- to stop Cincinnati's slow degradation into the abyss of a has-been metropolis unable to rectify, amend and deal with its inherent flaws.
An endless promenade of studies, surveys, academic papers, panels, blue-chip commissions, legislative resolutions and proclamations signal that Cincinnati's wheel is broken. "What to do?" has unfortunately become an all-too-familiar chorus.
With the new "strong mayor" system of local government beginning to emerge from its nascent state and morph into early adulthood, hope springs eternal for our community's luster being restored.
But our fundamental civic structure still remains the underpinning to long-term success and triumph. A sense of incrementalism remains nestled in my mind, and I'm left wondering: Are we bringing a knife to gun fight?
We have conditioned, perhaps even deceived, ourselves into believing that change must be slow and incremental. Implementing the governmental overhaul our community needs is far too monumental in scope and beyond our ability to contemplate.
Occasionally, references are made in the media to other communities and the success they've achieved. Beyond the jealous pale of admiration, however, we're unwilling to accept the possibility that the engine driving our community needs more than a tune-up and oil change.
Perhaps it's time to begin looking at trading up to a vehicle more suitable for transporting us into the future -- something that will roll on all four wheels and fire on all cylinders. At best we're treading hard right now, maintaining position while other communities seemingly pass us by.
For some reason, it's been ingrained in our collective psyche that the only way to solve our problems is without any eternal assistance or guidance. We'll go so far as to invite expensive academics and professional experts from various disciplines who specialize in diagnosing what ails communities like ours. Their solutions and recommendations are always well received, but many of the ideas proposed are too theoretical and radical for us to consider.
They're fun to look at on paper and make excellent fodder for academic teas and political fundraising, but nothing more. We believe that our situation is different and cannot be compared to anyone anywhere.
Au contraire, mon frere! One needs only to look to our brethren up north in Montreal -- yes, Montreal, as in Canada -- to see and, more importantly, to learn how a city completely overhauls and reinvents itself.
On the surface and at first glance, the differences between Cincinnati and Montreal might seem monumental. Upon further examination, however, the similarities of our problems both economically and socially are remarkable and will be the subject of subsequent columns.
I can think of no better place to begin my discussion and at the same time close this week's column than with the "vision statement" as it was adopted by the Montreal Transition Committee. After reading it, see if you can find any Waldos that might apply to our area and what we might need to examine, think about and improve.
Vision
"Montreal is internationally recognized as a center of knowledge, culture and innovation offering a dynamic, safe environment and exceptional quality of life. It is a cosmopolitan city that stands out because of the social harmony it has achieved through the contribution its cultural communities have brought to its identity as a large, French-speaking urban centre.
"The new city will have a municipal structure enabling it to build on its main strengths and to benefit from its cultural diversity, thereby positioning itself, in concert with its partners, to exercise the leadership that is appropriate to a large economic and cultural metropolis.
"The organization of Montreal into a city with 27 boroughs will allow it to develop in a coherent and strategic manner while relying on its strength and vitality, as well as the distinctive character of each borough. The boroughs will offer citizens easy access to their civic administration and will ensure the flexibility needed to allow the provision of local services that meet the needs by residents."
Next week: The players are interchangeable but the game is the same.
STEVEN J. LOWENSTEIN, a native of Cincinnati, is a Realtor with Coletta & Associates Realtors. He's a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and holds a Master's degree from North Texas State University.
