Matthew Yglesias, the upstart economics bloggers for Slate, has penned a column arguing that the tech giants of Silicon Valley ought to relocate to Cleveland en masse. Yglesias contends that the San Francisco Bay area is no longer a happy or economically compatible host.
“The Bay Area is sick and tired of the antics of entitled techies,” writes Yglesias, “and the nouveaux riches want a place where they’ll be appreciated.”
Someplace exactly like Cleveland, he says. Obvious upgrades in office space and housing are Yglesias’ key selling points, but the logistical benefits of a major airport and the ever-growing amenities downtown are touched on briefly as well.
“All you need is a city that has bigger problems than douche-y Facebook posts, creating plenty of room for local housing investment to become a win-win rather than an engine of displacement,” Yglesias writes.
In his imagination, Google, Apple, Facebook and Twitter would migrate at the same time, creating an instant tech hub on the North Coast and allowing the Bay Area’s economy to “cool down considerably.”
Sounds like a pipe dream, sure, but existing infrastructure (economic development agencies, small-scale start-ups, huge anchor institutions with ties to medical technology) makes this seem sort of viable.
What do you think? Could Cleveland, a city without a daily newspaper, which has been sluggish and resistant to things like alternative transportation, really become a tech hub?
This article appears in Dec 18-24, 2013.
fantastic – I look forward to a local internet porn industry in Cleveland
The Greater Cleveland Area has already been ‘branded’ as the Home of the Environmental Art Movement by the International Center for Environmental Arts (ICEA) to be used as a ‘Cultural Industry’, to foster civic identity, cultivate jobs and tourism, and brand Ohio Environmental Arts and Culture District in the Bioregion.
“Throughout history, various movements in Art have taken place: impressionism, Modernism, Abstract Art, Photo-Realists to name a few. Recently Pop Art debuted in the 1960’s and now at the beginning of the 21st Century, socially aware artists with a vision in Cleveland are a difference in Art History. The pioneer artist of this new genre of art, David Jakupca, calls this type of expression this the “Environmental Art Movement”. He is also the founder of the: International Center for Environmental Arts (ICEA)which is exclusively devoted to environmental and humanitarian concerns facing Mankind in the 21st Century”. Art Critic and Writer, Priscilla Cinadr
ICEA was organized into three divisions: Environmental, Humanities, Arts and Culture, this acts as an umbrella organization of affiliated groups that support related agendas with the idea of creating a prototype NGO that is easily replicated in other communities, cities, states and countries.
ICEA’s mission is the Theory of Iceality on Environmental Arts, that is to “Assist in understanding of the relationship between Humans and their Environment through Arts and culture ultimately promoting a sustainable global Culture of Peace between all Living Things (Human, Plant and Animal Kingdoms)” As the first professional art organization to be solely dedicated to this endeavor, this has made ICEA a leader in the Environmental Arts Movement and a force for socially responsible activity.
The Theory of Iceality on Environmental Arts (ICEALITY*) was enthusiastically embraced by the United Nations and by 1992 was featured in many of their World Conferences;
The result of this major global public promotion at the United Nations level, is that the Theory of Iceality on Environmental Arts is now considered as the cornerstone of the modern sustainable global Environmental Art Movement and this concept is now replicated by artists, architects, urban planners and sustainable organizations throughout the World, reflecting a still growing global audience.
Google Search: Theory of Iceality on Environmental Arts
Could Cleveland, a city without a daily newspaper, which has been sluggish and resistant to things like alternative transportation, really become a tech hub?
And a Mayor that can’t even talk proper English & it’s crooked politicians?
Like you said a pipe dream.
Forget about it……unless Jackson tosses out some form of tax abatement like Santa on Steroids.
Why the fuc not? It’s a grand idea!
Steven Gordnoshnka:
Was the phrase: “And a Mayor that can’t even talk proper English & it’s crooked politicians?” supposed to be ironic? Even if I give you the benefit of the doubt and call starting a sentence with “and” a stylistic choice, I can spot three usage errors in that sentence.
1. Unless the mayor is an inanimate object or an animal, it should be “A Mayor who can’t” (also, mayor shouldn’t be capitalized unless you’re referring to the title of a specific position)
2. You don’t “talk” English, you “speak” English.
3. It’s = it is; its = possessive pronoun
I usually keep my grammar complaints to myself, but in this case I couldn’t resist calling the kettle black.
They could take over all of Scranton Road in the Flats bridging Ohio City, Tremont, and Downtown!!!! These companies would help finish the towpath trail and this would all be magical!!!
As someone who lived and worked in the tech industry in the SF Bay Area for 18 years, believe me, I don’t think you want all those folks coming here…..
Could be a magical time for Cleveland. A grand revitalization led by casinos, tech companies, and rebounding, newly competitive sports teams. Cleveland could have it all. A great place to visit or call home. If only…
please no i just moved here from SF