David Milenthal: 'Columbus is what every city would die to be'| Letters
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The major league city of caring
The advertising agency that I founded nearly 50 years ago developed the theme "Ohio: the Heart of it All" for the state's economic development and tourism efforts.
It stood for 16 years under two state administrations (governors Richard Celeste and George Voinovich). So clearly, I have a strong expertise in branding communities. Shortly after that successful long standing brand launch, I was asked to submit a proposal to do the same for Columbus and central Ohio.
More: George Voinovich remembered as 'the father of Cleveland, the father of Ohio'
We embarked on a ton of anecdotal and scientific research with business and civic leaders and citizens as a whole.
We found that Columbus was viewed with these unique qualities:
an abundance of affordable, closely tied communities that come together as individual neighborhoods and in collaboration to grow and prosper
an equal abundance of academically strong public school systems including the Columbus urban school system which compared to other urban systems is far more stable
a predictable, solid economy with no drastic swings in unemployment
a moderate, welcoming political environment with far less bigotry and divisiveness that plagues so many other municipalities
a metro easy to travel with limited gridlock and comparatively easy commute times
Most importantly, a giving city which, as Chair of the United Way campaign, I once called "The Major League City of Caring."
Columbus and central Ohio has grown a lot over the decades, but its historical virtues remain the same.
No, Columbus is not a jazzy city that people have on their tourism bucket list. Though it has become more tech savvy, it's not a high-tech capital of elitism with its own divisive caste system.
Columbus is what every city would die to be: the best place for young people to securely, safely and comfortably raise their families.
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That's what attracts people to Columbus and that's the identity we should celebrate.
David Milenthal, Columbus
We live Columbus, feel Columbus and enjoy Columbus.
When we come home from Florida after four months there, our Florida friends ask why we are coming back to Columbus. My wife and I basically grew up here and stayed and raised our family. Advertising with “come to Columbus you will love it here” probably doesn’t work.
But, living here is different.
We live Columbus, feel Columbus and enjoy Columbus.
Joe Berwanger, Columbus
More: How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch
Columbus should be about more than financial gain
My Columbus mayoral campaign website has been up and running for several months now.
The “How we can make Columbus the innovative city it was always meant to be” seconds in the "Joe Plan" tab reads:
“As a city, Columbus’ priorities should not be waving great fanfare about the latest unattractive, new, gentrifying, market-rate apartment buildings or tall skyscrapers in downtown Columbus. Columbus has always lacked something that can truly identify itself with the rest of the country.”
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“I want Columbus to be a city that we can all be proud of. I want other cities to look at us because of our innovative and thoughtful ways of how we address our social and economic problems. Caring for our homeless, seniors, and marginalized populations. Providing affordable housing solutions, safe neighborhoods, community policing, 21st century transit and mobility, and an open city democracy.”
From a lifelong resident of Columbus, “Joe’s Plan” reflects my platform as mayor for all the people of our great city.
It describes solutions on how a city identifies itself without deliberately trying only to market itself for economic gain. But instead, to distinguish itself as a city whose pride is centered on humanity and its moral compass.
Joe Motil, Columbus mayoral candidate
Love the heart of it all
Re "Ohio is, once again, the heart of it all, " May 12: Love it, nothing could be better, never should have changed it, some things are simply the best! Thank you for returning something none of us wanted to change.
More: With cringeworthy 'Find it Here' dust, Ohio should act like 'Heart of it All' | Amelia Robinson
Sandra Hammond, Columbus
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: We live Columbus, feel Columbus and enjoy Columbus.
