[audio] WCPN Sound of Ideas on Regionalism

Want to know what others in our region are saying about regionalism? According to Mike McIntyre, who hosted WCPN's Sound of Ideas program this morning on the topic:

I have to say we had a lot of e-mails, calls and Web page comments from people who aren't very interested in the concept of sharing.

I have not listened to Shoring Up The Core yet but I am going to shortly. Here's the blurb:

As residents move out and businesses close in older cities like Cleveland, Akron and the inner-ring suburbs around them, they have little chance of renewal without help. So say some mayors in the region who are advocating that tax revenue be shared across city and county boundaries. Burgeoning Avon helps prop up withering Brooklyn? A pipe dream, or a partial solution for saving Northeast Ohio's older and newer communities? The debate Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. on 90.3.

Thomas Bier, senior fellow at Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University
Stephen D. Hambley, Medina County Commissioner
Lynn E. McGill, Mayor of Aurora

Now, WCPN also provides a link to the Regional Prosperity Initiative ("RPI") and without listening to the show, I wont' declare RPI RIP, but its website needs some resuscitation - last news item is from December 2009 and last report (only report I see) is June 2010.  Virtually demonstrating a regional concept would be a win-win. A website can be a terrible thing to waste.

Hattip to Mike McIntyre on Facebook for heads up on this show.  As he suggests, take a look at the comments at WCPN's page for this show.  Add yours there or here.

I've written and said before about regionalism: the money savings is a no-brainer. Very hard to argue with reducing redundancy, among other things. But it's the psychology of it all: if people can't envision it, and the taxpayers won't support it, in their backyard or anyone else's for that matter, then what? Political will? Anyone check on how that's working for the Regional Sewer District's storm water fee effort? (It's not.) And that was only going to be something like $50-60 per month per household throughout 62 suburbs with businesses, including non-profits, paying more depending on how much surface area they have. 

Anything can be done if we put our minds to it and champion it. But do not fool yourselves over what it means to convert people to something they don't find to be a very comfortable idea, especially for people who moved to where they are because of a distinct personality. It's like giving Sybil a chance to live a normal life - she had to kill off 15 personalities first in order to replace it with one integrated person.  Regionalism has some real similarities to that for those who are most resistant to the idea.

Really. The psychology, stupid, to quote James Carville - sort of.  Solve that - manage that, handle that, confront that - head on (no pun intended), and you've got yourself a regionalism game.  Ignore it, just demand what to some will feel like sacrifice, fail to persuade as to the benefits, even the necessity and the ROI, and there will always be a contingent of people who will simply not be sold on it.