SpringfieldNewsSun.com

By Aunt

June 19, 2007 7:02 PM | Link to this

I live outside of Springfield and claim no great loyalty to it. I go there only for shopping and food and such. Even with that I find myself more drawn to Dayton or Columbus. But can I ask… A) why is every god damned thing on bectle ave. and B) is 1, let alone 2 super Wal Marts really needed? Also, while I was growing up my friends and I had little better to do than to ‘drag’ main street and roam the isles of meijer… is it any wonder kids do stupid things?

By Aunt

June 19, 2007 7:02 PM | Link to this

I live outside of Springfield and claim no great loyalty to it. I go there only for shopping and food and such. Even with that I find myself more drawn to Dayton or Columbus. But can I ask… A) why is every god damned thing on bectle ave. and B) is 1, let alone 2 super Wal Marts really needed? Also, while I was growing up my friends and I had little better to do than to ‘drag’ main street and roam the isles of meijer… is it any wonder kids do stupid things?

By Aunt

June 19, 2007 7:02 PM | Link to this

I live outside of Springfield and claim no great loyalty to it. I go there only for shopping and food and such. Even with that I find myself more drawn to Dayton or Columbus. But can I ask… A) why is every god damned thing on bectle ave. and B) is 1, let alone 2 super Wal Marts really needed? Also, while I was growing up my friends and I had little better to do than to ‘drag’ main street and roam the isles of meijer… is it any wonder kids do stupid things?

By Deb

June 18, 2007 11:44 PM | Link to this

If we think Springfield is bad now, just wait until all the huge Army Helicopters make their new home at the Springfield Airport! The noise the helicopters will create will be about 100 times worse than the F-16s. Even the most dedicated Springfield residents will want to bail ship.

Both the police and sheriff response time to top level emergencies such as “life threatening assault in progress” is completely unacceptable by national standards. Most cities shoot for an 7 minute or less response time and Springfield/Clark County’s is about DOUBLE that. If you call our 911 they will tell you to expect someone to arrive in 20 minutes. I do not feel safe here with that type of response time.

I just don’t understand why the city doesn’t enforce basic laws to make our city safer, but we citizens need to take some responsibility as well. This winter, 4 days AFTER a large show fall, while driving the south side and notice that about 1 in 20 households shoveled the snow on their side walk. I saw dozens and dozens of children walking home from school in the streets causing traffic problems and serious safety issues. It’s only a matter of time before an innocent child is struck by a car because of this. If I were an outsider house hunting in this area and saw how little residents and law officials cared about this issue I’d immediately turn my search to another city. On the surface it may seem like a simple insignificant problem, but when you really think about it non-snow removal from the sidewalks impacts not only safety but is a very poor reflection on our city.

Some of my dear friends, that are Doctors, are not onboard with the new hospital, and I fear that they may choose to leave the area. About the only attraction Springfield has left is the Art’s Counsel, but when the Army Helicopters arrive we will probably not be able to hear the grand performances the Art Counsel sponsors. Please write Senator Hobson about this issue as he is sponsoring the Helicopter unit arrival.

By jc

June 13, 2007 10:16 PM | Link to this

Yeah city fathers, you need to build something else downtown to point at and say “Look what I did!” Now take your guests on a tour of the rest of the city. How about south on Limestone, lovely how they board up all those houses isn’t it? You could come back on Yellowspring St amd admire more empty boarded up homes! But don’t forget to visit the west end, even 34 tears ago when I left Springfield it was showing its age, but now it qualifies as a toilet! I bet that would be an interesting tour.

By gene r

June 12, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this

i came to this town and was shocked what a hard, nasty, dying city it was. Now next year we are leaving and I cannot wait. This town is for losers

By JONI

June 12, 2007 8:07 AM | Link to this

I left Sringfield for 10 years, when I returned I felt like I was coming back to a dark dungeon, everything had changed for the worse!

By dmorris

June 12, 2007 7:33 AM | Link to this

The problems that plague Springfield are common of many cities of similar size and the country as a whole. The decline is likely to continue due to offshoring.

The midwest was built on industry and manufacturing which has shifted overseas and the jobs with it.

The industrial revolution is over, the technological revolution is upon us, and this too, is being offshored and competing in a global economy will become increasingly more difficult.

Read “The World is Flat” by Thomas L. Friedman

By Jacks Mom

June 11, 2007 10:55 PM | Link to this

What i see is the amazing amount of crime in this city. i do not let my children out of the backyard. Remember when we could ride our bicycles all over town and always feel safe? I’m in law enforcement…believe it…we are in a fatal decline.

By Bonnie

June 11, 2007 8:34 PM | Link to this

One should go visit city market to see what we once had here, go to the first floor and see the downtown layout to see we really were a busy, lively,interesting downtown. For some odd reason everything you bring to town HAS to be out close to the mall or on Bechtel Ave. Seems the only ones that realize there are people in the east end was Chaekers(spelling) and now Walmart. Go after some industry, why don’t you???

By Tedd T

June 11, 2007 8:28 PM | Link to this

I LIVED IN SPRINGFIELD AND GRADUATED FROM SPRINGFIELD HIGH IN 1949. IT WAS A GREAT TOWN BACK THEN. I MOVED TO CALIF. AFTER SERVING IN THE AIR FORCE AND HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THEN. OVER 50 YEARS. I THINK ABOUT IT OFTEN AND ALL OF THE GREAT MEMORIES. TOO BAD THAT IT NEVER SEEN THIS GREATNESS AGAIN.

By Bonnie

June 11, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this

It sickens me every time I arrive in what once was my “hometown”. I come up from Florida every summer to visit family and am appalled at what has happened to the town. No wonder the town has so much crime of all sorts. There is nothing for people to do here. there are no significant jobs, they’ve torn down the downtown instead of trying to rehabilitate it. The last time I lived here I, too, had to go to Dayton to find a job I could just barely live on.

By Karen

June 11, 2007 7:19 PM | Link to this

Springfield can’t get out of the 70’s when IH brought in enough tax base that they just kept riding the hog. The citizens are stuck in the “Cuntry Club” attitude that if you are not “blue blood” (your dad owned a broom manufacturing company, ie) you were not welcome into the Springfield world. That’s why I left.

By Resident

June 11, 2007 7:04 PM | Link to this

The headline “Springfield’s No. 87!” sounds like a backhanded compliment to me.

By William Gravenkemper

June 11, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this

Good grief! Bert Sperling and Peter Sander need to spend some time in Springfield, Ohio. After they do Springfield would be rated 374th out of 373.

By William Gravenkemper

June 11, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this

Good grief! Bert Sperling and Peter Sander need to spend some time in Springfield, Ohio. After they do Springfield would be rated 374th out of 373.

By William Gravenkemper

June 11, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this

Good grief! Bert Sperling and Peter Sander need to spend some time in Springfield, Ohio. After they do Springfield would be rated 374th out of 373.

By Gary L

June 11, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

The union environment has also discouraged manufacturers from locating in Springfield in spite of favorable real estate cost, location to I-70 and I-75, and established infrastructure.

By shannon

June 11, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this

We are definately a community that used to be more appealing, I believe we are a community that is somewhat striving to have those amentities back. I do not agree that we are a better town than Boston, Dallas or Honolulu. Have you ever heard of someone talking about Spfld. OH as a vacation spot? Yea, me either. We are a town very high in crime, and also quick to belittle what we do have. We need to pull together and make it better. Lets all try to be proactive in how we can be a higher rank.

By Dennis

June 11, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this

If you could get rid of all the townships and combine the city and county governments in Clark County, THEN, the whole area would start booming as it has done in other areas where this has been accomplished (think of Indy and Omaha as two cities that are exploding in growth right now). Unfortunately, the chiefs of each little township fiefdom could care less what happens to Springfield, little realizing their own area’s downfall lies closely behind Springfield’s not so rosy future.

By Thomas Roth

June 11, 2007 2:41 PM | Link to this

Down town is not attractive even if you build the new hospital.You have all those old run down houses surrounding the hospital.You are going to tell companys who can build around the hospital.You will have restricions that will run companys away like you been doing over the years.Then to top it off we the tax payer`s are footing the bill for the hospital,lincoln park project,& any other pet project.If it was not for hand outs by the Turner Foundation and others this town would be in trouble.

By Bob H

June 11, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this

Some have cited Springfield’s lack of planning or whatever as responsible for the city’s problems, as though there was an obvious political solution. But most Ohio cities have had the same trend the past 50 years. I saw the writing on the wall then: Crowell Colliers, Mast-Foos, National Supply-White Motor-etc. all closed or struggling. The same was happening in Akron and other cities.

The nation’s heavy industry, Springfield’s bread and butter has gone. It’s all overseas.

By Mel

June 11, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this

I don’t know much personally about the police department, but am very frightened by the many statements of corruptness folks make who’ve lived here a long time. A neighbor who called many times on apparent drug activity across the street and the police never came. It was shocking as I would think you’d jump on any illegal activity with all four paws if you wanted a nice town. That’s for residents too in that at the first sign of living like trash, the rest on the block should pounce!!!

By foster

June 11, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this

Do I Now know what becomes of the tax dollars colected by the City of Springfield? IS IT CALLED PAYOLLA? If thats the answer, To bad the city did not offer the ranking committee more money. The city could have been closer to first. I have lived here for nearly 60 years and I have been witness to this cities continuous Demise. I don’t live here by choice.but by cercumstance!

By Karpis

June 11, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this

Of course it’s affordable to live inside the city. Because there are so few oppurtunities here that they have to lower the prices of everything to keep or attract people. Even a large percentage of city employees live in the various townships. Which is why the city continues to gobble up those townships. Springfield is affordable alright….a big affordable donut, with all the good stuff on the outside and a big, empty hole in the middle

By Sherry

June 11, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this

My heart is broken to have watched such a once-great city fall into such dismal despair. Magazine articles can’t fix the many problems of Springfield. It’s like putting a piece of bubble gum in a leaking dam. There are reasons that this town is so “affordable.” That is because it has to be. There are no jobs here. I have to say that I very much agree with Darrel regarding the IH history and fall. Many other small Ohio towns have fallen victim to the same careless planning and nearsightedness.

By witt2

June 11, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

wow, this article makes sense, who needs honolulu, dallas or boston when we have springfield Ohio. I think the authors just drove by on I-70 towards columbus rather than actually get off the interstate. I also like how the authors of this novel like how we preserve our historic buildings. in other words, how we have 19 unsuable and unworkable buildings that we for some reason do not want to tear down.

By witt2

June 11, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

wow, this article makes sense, who needs honolulu, dallas or boston when we have springfield Ohio. I think the authors just drove by on I-70 towards columbus rather than actually get off the interstate. I also like how the authors of this novel like how we preserve our historic buildings. in other words, how we have 19 unsuable and unworkable buildings that we for some reason do not want to tear down.

By Witt

June 11, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this

This place is unbearable

By Darell

June 11, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

When Springfield and “The Big IH” were married the city catered to them only and did not attempt to attract other similar industries. Now that “The Big IH” has broken your heart Springfield is listless and depressed. If you are a young person staying the only opportunity for them is retrieving the retirees carts at Waly World or serving them burgers. What a shame to have wasted so much potential in the former “Chamption City”.

By Blake

June 11, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

This is great for retirees… now if Springfield could attract more job opportunities other than food or hospitality services, and actually make a decent living possible for the people who live there, they’d be set!

By Erin

June 11, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

I agree with William. I live out in the township, and have been house hunting for the past couple months. I’d rather move out of county, increasing my drive time to work and school instead of buy a house in Springfield because it’s safer and quieter. When you drive around town and notice a lot of your high dollar homes are going up for sale, and companies won’t come here because they can’t find enough qualified people, there’s something desperately wrong.

By William

June 11, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this

High crime and a poor economy will always keep Springfield at the bottom of the most important list to me: My list.

By Bob H

June 11, 2007 8:29 AM | Link to this

Interesting… Springfield has virtually everything we retirees in Florida say we want, no population increase, little home appraisal (taxes) increase, cultural attractions, a mix of new and historic buildings. Now if you could just get rid of winter.