A City of Hacks
The article "Ghost Writers" [October 2o, 2010] points out a fact: A lot of the city's current graffiti writers blow. Seriously, it's okay to suck — just don't share it with the rest of the city. Sit in your room and draw ... and draw ... and draw. Come back and see us in a couple of years. Skills matter, so go get some.
Graffiti: Still Free
I had been hoping to read a Scene article on graf, but I was really disappointed with the lack of personal insight it contained. Where were the interviews with actual artists? This article is searching for answers about Cleveland's ranks when it should be telling everyone that graffiti is meant to be seen, not understood. It's global ... It's one of the few truly free things a person can be a part of.
Josuah_wds
Crime & Punishment
I agree with the punishment ["Filming High School Girls' Fight Lands North Olmsted Student in Trouble," at clevescene.com's Scene & Heard blog]. People are pre-planning these types of fights in order to get them posted on social websites. For those who do not think there was a problem with him posting the fight on Facebook, I'm sure it would be a problem if your child, brother, or sister was the one getting the crap beat out of them. It's about preventing this type of behavior from spiraling out of control. A ten-day suspension will make others think twice.
JohnT
Certain Inalienable Rights
Excuse me ... but WHAT CRIME DID HE COMMIT? The last time I checked, the Constitution ensures us the right of free speech. How is filming a fight illegal? I have seen much more egregious videos posted on YouTube.
Scottyg527
The Next Spielberg
This is a ridiculous punishment for what this kid did, and it should be reversed. His parents ought to bring a lawsuit against the school. Shooting a video and putting it on Facebook is hardly a crime, and the old farts who handed down this punishment need to get a grip. Maybe he's the next Steven Spielberg in the making!!!
NJ
What Became of the Girls?
Just curious: What was the punishment for the girls who were in the fight? Will they be getting a recommendation for expulsion? The student wouldn't have had anything to film or post had those lovely ladies not been in a brawl.
KAT
The Age of Enlightenment
North Olmsted needs to lighten up. Teens are going to fight, there is no place on earth that there is no violence, and all this suspension/expulsion crap is what is making them look bad. Let the kid back in school, suspend the girls for three days, and be done with it.
I'msoberforlife
Keeping Business in Cleveland
As a grant recipient from the Civic Innovation Lab, I can safely say that I would have moved out of Cleveland years ago if CIL hadn't pulled me back in ["The End of Innovation?", September 29]. The powers-that-be in NE Ohio should put more resources toward "doing" and less toward "talking about doing." Every time I read about yet another grant going toward advancing Cleveland through a study, symposium, think tank, white paper, luncheon, feedback session, field tour, marketing program, or brain drain initiative, I flinch. The Innovation Lab is all about "doing," which is exactly what Cleveland needs.
Lois
Last Resort for Small Entrepreneurs
What people need to understand is that no other organization gives grants at the level the Civic Innovation Lab does or to the type of grantees the Lab has. Many programs in this area (Jumpstart and BioEnterprise are good examples) will only invest in your idea if you have the potential to make multi-millions in the first 5-10 years. This is not who the Lab is helping. The Lab's grantees are people who have no other options to get funding, but who make Cleveland a better place to live, provide jobs that many people can fill, and attract other people who have the same entrepreneurial spirit to our city. This program has certainly proven that it can be successful, and if The Cleveland Foundation hopes it will quietly go away, I hope they are wrong.
Jill Speegle
It's the Parents' Fault
When are parents and teens going to accept responsibility for their actions? Actions have consequences, both good and bad. All parties involved in this need to accept the consequences of their actions.
Shiloh
Civic Innovation...
This is a program that should be getting more funding not less, The CIL is a true financail outlet for small and innovative business ideas. My hope is that the Cleveland Foundation and possibly other funding partners find a way to increase the capacity of the CIL
Dawn Arrington
Cleveland
What Happens Once the Talent's Gone?
It makes no sense at all to end a program that obviously makes Cleveland a better place to live. Cleveland is a city that most of the talent leaves because of the lack of opportunities. If it goes away, then so goes the rest of the talent, little by little.
Tiffany Southall
