Yes it is almost time for another Urban Nights in Downtown Dayton! This twice-per-year event showcases all that Downtown Dayton has to offer and has become one of the most popular events in the entire region. For more info, check out the clip below:
Downtown Dayton
WSU Annual Military Appreciation Game
The Wright State Raiders will square off against the University of Dayton Flyers for WSU’s Fifth Annual Military Appreciation Night at Nischwitz Stadium on Wednesday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Military ID holders and one additional guest will be admitted free.
The WSU Athletic Department will recognize members of the Jr. and Sr. Cadet Corps between innings. A raffle, interactive games and prize giveaways are scheduled before the game.
Regular admission for the event is $2.00 per person, discounted from $5.00. Student admission is free.
For additional information, please visit www.wsuraiders.com or call 937-775-2763.
City seeks name for new recreational center
The City of Dayton Department of Recreation and Human Services is seeking public input on the naming of a new recreational facility located at 2014 W. Third St.
The 45,000 sq.-ft. multi-purpose rec center, slated to open in late summer, will house a fitness facility, indoor running/walking track, a senior lounge, a game room, an indoor family aquatic center and a computer room.
Submissions must be received by Apr. 19.
Guidelines and additional information can be found here:
Author behind movie ‘Precious’ to speak at WSU
The author of Push, the novel that became the Academy Award winning feature film ‘Precious’, will visit Dayton this month.
Novelist/poet Sapphire, is scheduled to speak at The Ervin J. Nutter Center, Wright State University on Monday, April 12 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
A few days before the presentation, the Neon Movies in downtown Dayton has two free screenings of ‘Precious’ scheduled for April 10 at noon and 3 p.m. Tickets are required and will be available on April 2 at the theater.
Push, Sapphire’s 1996 debut novel, tells the story of Precious Jones, an obese, functionally-illiterate 16 year-old mother struggling to escape a harsh life of neglect, abuse and incest.
In 2008, the book was adapted into the film ‘Precious’, and premiered (with much acclaim) at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. The film attracted the attention of Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, who signed on as executive-producers of the project in an effort to boost the project’s visibility in Hollyood.
After being picked up for distribution by LionsGate Entertainment, the film was released on November 6, 2009. Though the film was originally slated for limited theatrical release, critical acclaim, positive reviews and the star power of Perry and Winfrey propelled ‘Precious’ into the national spotlight.
‘Precious’ received six Academy Award nominations and won in the Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress categories.
Sapphire’s presentation is part of Wright State University’s celebration of Minority Health Month. For additional information regarding this event, please visit here.
Improve Dayton neighborhoods through the 2010 Dayton Mini-Grant Program
Dayton neighborhood groups are encouraged to think creatively and collaboratively to propose neighborhood improvement projects for possible mini-grant support.
The City of Dayton’s Department of Planning and Community Development will accept applications through May 14 for projects such as neighborhood Web sites, home tours, physical improvements and more. Neighborhood associations, block clubs, Priority Boards and other established community improvement organizations are eligible to apply.
For complete information, go to www.cityofdayton.org.
Information provided by The City of Dayton.
South Park Sculptor’s Work on Permanent Display at Airport
Local metal sculptor, Hamilton Dixon, recently unveiled his latest public railing installation in the new Boston Stoker Coffee shop, located in the lobby of the Dayton International Airport.
Dixon, creator of the Dayton Art Institute railing, explored a new dimension with this railing fabrication, producing an outcome that is both fluid and multi-dimensional. The railing itself runs 30 feet in length, and it swoops and bows at a variety of heights and depths, complete with hand-forged interior components that seem to reflect an “Earth meets Sky” theme.
According to Dixon, the inspiration for this design came primarily from Don Dean of Boston Stoker, who makes a point of celebrating the local artists community. “I appreciate the opportunity that Boston Stoker has given me to have my work seen by so many people arriving to and departing from the Dayton airport, “ said Dixon.
The forging process used by Dixon is similar to that of an old-world blacksmith. He begins his process with sticks of mild steel bar, either squared or round, then places them in a forge until they are red-hot. He then manually removes the heated stick, and with hammer and anvil, hand-forges the steel into its intended shape. Each and every element of this one-of-a-kind railing was hand-forged by the artist.
Dixon has been sculpting steel as an art form for 20 years. He began working with metal as a welder on an offshore oilrig in the 1980’s. He then attended Turley Forge School in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he learned basic techniques in forging steel, and in 1991 he relocated to Dayton, were he lives with his family in the historic South Park neighborhood.
He has produced a wide range of public art, installed throughout the Miami Valley; Dayton Art Institute Rotunda, Serenity Pines (University of Dayton), Aids Resource Center Kuntz Building, Cooper Loft Lobby, Kettering Delco Park, as well as private installations around Dayton and throughout the U.S. For additional information about the artist and his other installations in the Dayton area, go to www.hamiltondixon.com.
To celebrate this most recent installation, Dixon has produced a line of limited edition, commemorative bracelet, which is currently on display at the Airport Boston Stoker. Bracelet is made of pure, solid, sterling silver,
hand-hammered by artist himself, numbered and signed for $180. Purchase inquiries can be made by calling the artists’s studio 228-3555.
The railing at the Dayton International Airport is a permanent installation and can be seen anytime, preferably with a hot latte in hand.
Economic Impact of Revitalizing Cooper Park
The Trust for Public Land published a report in 2009 that measured the value of urban parks to the communities they serve. The report identified seven measurable economic drivers of parks.
- property value
- tourism
- direct use
- health
- community cohesion
- clean water
- clean air
Not all of those factors are easily quantifiable with respect to Cooper Park, but property value, direct use and community cohesion can be measured. The following estimated economic impacts for Cooper Park are based on applying the formulas sited in the report when used in other cities of similar regional make up.
Property Value/Hedonic Impact
Over 30 studies have been done on the impact of urban parks on property 
values. Typically people are willing to pay more for a home that is near or overlooking a park due to the “hedonic value.” This means that the value of a property is affected by the home’s proximity to the park and the quality of the park itself. The report measures the value of a home within 500 feet of the park but states that the economic value of the park on property values has been measured at distances up to 2000 feet.
The Cooper Park neighborhood is generally understood to comprise of Cooper Place townhomes, Ice Avenue Lofts (aka Ice House), Cooper Lofts and the Litehouse townhomes on Canal Block. These are the residences that are adjacent to the park and all fall within 500 feet.
Parks that are poorly maintained or unattractive are marginally valuable and dangerous parks can reduce property values. Parkland adds 5% value to the assessed value of dwellings within 500 ft. Excellent parks add 15% to the value of a dwelling while problematic parks reduce the assessed value by 5%.
The values of the Cooper Park neighborhood have been negatively impacted in recent years due to the housing collapse and the vacancy rates of downtown Dayton office buildings. Quantifying that impact can be difficult due to the limited number of sales that have occurred in the neighborhood. Generally, the real estate values peaked for the neighborhood in 2005-2006. Based on research of home sales over the last four years
- Cooper Place has lost approximately $6.80 per square foot from 2007 to 2009 (2009 average: $67)
- Ice Avenue has lost approximately $21.00 per square foot from its peak in 2006 to 2009 (2009 average: $101)
- Cooper Lofts has lost the most from its peak in 2006 to 2009 with $38.47 per square foot (2009 average is $92.17 with only one sale on record since 2006.)
The quality of the park currently is likely adding minimal value to the adjacent properties in its current state. It is so under-whelming that most real estate listings do not even mention its proximity as an amenity and visitors to the area hardly even notice it, despite its large size.
Due to the currently depressed home values, at minimum developing the park will aid in the recovery of prices back to the peak price points of the Cooper Park neighborhood. Hopefully the park will become an amenity that directly increases the values of the homes. Since the neighborhood sits directly between the Riverscape expansion project and Cooper Park, the economic impact of having two urban parks within 1000 feet should be greater than the averaged 5% referenced in the study. In addition to helping the home owners, the increased tax base would help the city.
Several apartment complexes also would be positively affected by the Cooper Park revitalization:
- Jefferson Place Apartments: approximately 500 feet west of the park on Second Street
- The Cannery: approximately 1000 feet from the park, east on Third street.
- St. Clair Lofts & Lofts on St. Clair: approximately 1000 feet to the park, south on St. Clair.
Direct Use
The numbers for direct use of a park try to capture the value to the consumer. These numbers are pulled from the same report and are a good basis for Dayton area urban parks. To better quantify this we would need to determine in usage levels of Cooper Park throughout the year.
- Direct use: $1.91 average value per visit to the park (walking the dog, sitting on a bench, playing on the playground, etc.)
- $9.33 average value per use for programmed activities such as concerts, plays, festivals, gardening.
Social Capital
Social capital refers to the community cohesion economic development factor. This puts a dollar value to a volunteer’s hours devoted to park improvements, education and development. It also captures the donations and grants that are made to improve parks. Finally, it assesses the value of creating a neighborhood within a city by having a unifying goal and community driven programming. Hourly value of volunteerism for parks in the study was $18.17/hr. To determine the annual social capital figure for Cooper Park we will have to wait until next year when the volunteer hours contributed and fundraising campaign can be assessed.
A study done by the Wallace Foundation in 2004 discusses the broader value of programming in urban parks as a way to engage youth, provide entry level employment, improve residential health, and develop social capital. All of these things can be broader goals of the Cooper Park revitalization effort. The underlying point of all the studies was that urban parks are vital contributors to the achievement of wider urban policy objectives.
Neighborhood Leadership Institute Now Accepting Applicants
Dayton residents who have an interest in civic affairs and want to make a difference in their neighborhoods are encouraged to attend The Neighborhood Leadership Institute (NLI) for their annual twelve-week program .Workshops are held at various locations and presentations cover topics such as Dayton’s History, The Role of City Government, The Criminal Justice System, and Cultural Diversity; skill-building components such as Public Speaking and Small-Group Dynamics; and a day-long bus tour of Dayton neighborhoods. Class members also complete field assignments to expand their knowledge of Dayton, City government and the community at large. It encourages participants to develop a citywide perspective and establish a network of activists across the City.
Eligibility and Application
Any adult resident of the City of Dayton may apply; however, each class is
limited to 25 people.
Any adult resident of the City of Dayton may apply; however, each class is
limited to 25 people.
Cost: Your Time
There is no charge for participation in the program. Your cost is the time and
effort you spend. The program consists of 14 evening and/or Saturday sessions
over a three-month period. Classroom and/or workshop sessions are held at
various locations related to the session topic. Presenters include current
neighborhood, business, and government leaders. Each participant must attend
all of the sessions in order to be certified as having completed the program. In
addition, outside field assignments are required.
Please spread the word to help recruit participants for the 2010 NLI class. Follow the link for brochure, tentative schedule and application. The deadline to sign up is Thursday, February 11, 2010. If you have any questions, contact Kathleen Riggs at 333-3671 or Verletta Jackson at 333-3288.
CNN Analyst Roland Martin to Deliver Message of Inspiration
The 2010 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Holiday Celebration and Presidential Banquet will feature CNN’s Roland Martin as the keynote speaker, on Monday, Jan 18th at the Dayton Convention Center. His appearance is a collaboration between the Dayton Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the University of Dayton. Tickets are $60 and are available to the public. Contact Robbin Casto at 937-259-7930 for purchasing information.
He will also speak at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the University of Dayton’s Kennedy Union for the University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast. The event is open to University of Dayton faculty, staff and students.
“During the 2008 presidential campaign, Mr. Martin was very visible. He continues to be a prolific speaker, he has a relevant message and inspiring story,” said Lynnette Heard, executive director of the University of Dayton’s president’s office, adding that the events provide an opportunity to reflect on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and his message of social justice.
“Looking at the past enables us to understand how to move forward,” she said.
Martin is a CNN political analyst and commentator for TV One Cable. In August 2007, he joined Essence Magazine as a special correspondent. In October 2008, he joined the Tom Joyner Morning Show as a senior analyst.
Ebony magazine named Martin one of the 150 Most Influential African-Americans in the United States in 2008. He is also the 2008 winner of the NAACP Image Award for Best Interview for “In Conversation: The Sen. Barack Obama Interview.” He has won more than 20 professional awards for journalistic excellence.
Martin is the author of Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith, and Speak, Brother! A Black Man’s View of America.
He is a 1987 graduate from Houston’s Jack Yates High School-Magnet School of Communications, a 1991 graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in journalism. He also has a master’s degree in Christian Communications from Louisiana Baptist University.
Martin is part of an all-star line-up of guests filling the University of Dayton’s 2009-2010 Diversity Lecture Series roster, which includes Nobel Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and activist, author and actor Hill Harper.
The University of Dayton’s Diversity Lecture Series is part of a larger strategic plan to increase inclusion and diversity on campus and prepare students, faculty, staff and the Dayton community for success in a global society. Past speakers include Andrew Young, Coretta Scott King, Spike Lee, Kirk Franklin, Clarence Page, Nikki Giovanni, Soledad O’Brien, Azar Nafisi and Johnnetta B. Cole.
The University’s commitment to diversity is founded in its Catholic heritage of social justice and the Marianist tradition of equality and being inclusive of people from all segments of society.
The Diversity Lecture Series is co-sponsored by the offices of the president and provost, with the generous support of such community partners as The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ); Dayton Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; United Way of the Greater Dayton Area; YWCA Dayton; Victoria Theatre Association; Markey’s Audio Visual; Ross Buick-GMC-Hummer; RTA; Cannell Graphics; University of Dayton’s Media Production Group; Dayton Daily News; WDTN-TV; WDAO-1210 AM; and 92.1 WROU.
Downtown Two-Way Street Conversions = Good Urban Design
Over the past several weeks, work crews have been busy cutting out curbs for new turning lanes and installing new traffic light poles all over Downtown Dayton in preparation for the two-way street conversions that will be completed over the first few months of 2010 (view a map of the changes here). This major change to downtown’s street grid was first introduced in 2003, and initial plans were introduced in public sessions in 2007 – with fierce opposition from downtown business owners who rightly argued against the loss of the majority of street parking spaces that came with the plan. Consultants and engineers went back to the drawing board and came up with a final plan that converted fewer streets but also maintained the majority of parking spaces. As a downtown resident and business owner, I am happy with the changes that we will soon see.
As noted in this article from Governing Magazine, downtowns didn’t have one-way streets until after World War II when civil defense planners began to worry about nuclear war and the citizens’ ability to evacuate urban cores quickly. In the 60’s and 70’s when the masses fled to the suburbs, one-way streets offered the quickest way out of downtown and back to suburban neighborhoods. But while these mini-expressways may have been good for suburbanites trying to get out of the city as fast as possible, they also helped kill downtown vibrancy by making streets less pedestrian-friendly.
Eventually in past couple decades, cities started converting streets back to two-way with positive results. Just read this excerpt about what happened when Vancouver, WA did it last year:
Over the past couple of decades, Vancouver, Washington, has spent millions of dollars trying to revitalize its downtown, and especially the area around Main Street that used to be the primary commercial center. Just how much the city has spent isn’t easy to determine. But it’s been an ambitious program. Vancouver has totally refurbished a downtown park, subsidized condos and apartment buildings overlooking it and built a new downtown Hilton hotel.Some of these investments have been successful, but they did next to nothing for Main Street itself. Through most of this decade, the street remained about as dreary as ever. Then, a year ago, the city council tried a new strategy. Rather than wait for the $14 million more in state and federal money it was planning to spend on projects on and around Main Street, it opted for something much simpler. It painted yellow lines in the middle of the road, took down some signs and put up others, and installed some new traffic lights. In other words, it took a one-way street and opened it up to two-way traffic.
The merchants on Main Street had high hopes for this change. But none of them were prepared for what actually happened following the changeover on November 16, 2008. In the midst of a severe recession, Main Street in Vancouver seemed to come back to life almost overnight.
Within a few weeks, the entire business community was celebrating. “We have twice as many people going by as they did before,” one of the employees at an antique store told a local reporter. The chairman of the Vancouver Downtown Association, Lee Coulthard, sounded more excited than almost anyone else. “It’s like, wow,” he exclaimed, “why did it take us so long to figure this out?” – Governing Magazine, “The Return of the Two-Way Street”
While two-way streets alone won’t magically turn Downtown Dayton into a thriving vibrant urban core, they are a significant piece to the puzzle. And that is only the beginning; in the next couple months we will find out if the 3C/D rail will get funded, and if so then a brand new passenger train station will be built at 6th and Ludlow/Wilkinson. There are serious talks about getting a streetcar system connecting UD, Tech Town and the CBD. City planners are busy working on several other placemaking projects that will make downtown more inviting and pedestrian friendly, with a focus on Patterson Blvd and Fifth Street. And soon, people may start complaining about something rarely seen now as they travel in both directions on our downtown streets – too much damn traffic. And yes, that will be a good thing!
Nominations Sought for “Jewels of the Gem City”
The Woman’s Club of Dayton Foundation, the YWCA Dayton and the Friends of the Dayton Arcade have teamed up on an initiative aimed at honoring and preserving Dayton’s unique history. They have formed the “Jewels of the Gem City” Committee to select “individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the historic preservation of Dayton.”
The public is invited to nominate those who have made financial, educational, cultural, promotional or restorative contributions to Dayton’s heritage. Nominations will be reviewed by a selection committee, and the “Jewels of the Gem City” will be announced in March and honored at an event on June 4, 2010. Nominations are due by February 1, 2010, and can be made by downloading a form from www.thedaytonwomansclub.com, www.ywcadayton.org or www.daytonarcade.wetpaint.com. For more information, call 937-432-1957 or email [email protected].
Historic Holiday Home Tours
It’s Christmas Time in the city! Last week, Downtown Dayton had their annual Holiday Festival that included the popular tree lighting. And over the next couple weekends, two three of Dayton’s most popular historic districts will be presenting their own holiday home tours. If you have ever wanted to see some beautifully restored historic homes, there is no better time than around the holidays – and these tours give you an opportunity to see several.
First up this coming Saturday December 5 is the 2009 Historic South Park Holiday Home Tour. Eleven homes will dazzle and delight, including grand Queen Annes, quaint cottages, and majestic Victorians. Carolers in Victorian garb will fill you with memories of Decembers past.
This self- guided tour begins Saturday at 12N and ends at 7PM. (The ticket window will close at 5PM.) Cost is $10 in advance and $15 the day of the tour. Admission price includes a sumptuous dessert buffet at the beginning of the tour. Plan to spend two hours enjoying the sights.
To reserve tickets, please visit www.historicsouthpark.org or call (937) 603-4893. (Tickets will not be mailed.) On Saturday, pick up your tickets and begin your tour from Hope Lutheran Church, 500 Hickory Street. (Turn west off Wayne Avenue onto Hickory. Enter through the church parking lot.) Park free at Hope and Emerson Academy across the street. A shuttle will be available to transport guests back to the parking lots from the most distant home. Check out the WDTN Bucher’s Beat story with our good friends Bill & Amy, whose house is on the tour:
Next, Dayton’s Oldest Historic District would like to invite you to be part of its annual Holiday Candlelight Tour on December 7, 8, and 9. A liveried guide will escort you as you tour beautifully decorated historic homes. The last home on the tour will offer you Victorian Sweets, Champagne Punch and Coffee. Four of the District’s finest restaurants are participating in a dinner/tour option. They are: Jays Seafood; Thai 9; Coco’s Bistro and Pacchia. Check out their website for more details.
Then the following weekend on December 11-13 head over to St. Anne’s Hill for “A Dickens of a Christmas in St. Anne’s Hill” with guided tours of some of Dayton’s most beautiful historic homes. The tours are led 
by guides costumed in period dress and feature live entertainment followed by a visit to the beautiful homes in the historic St. Anne’s Hill neighborhood, each decorated for the season. The tours will conclude with a delicious old-fashioned dessert and a visit to the gift shop.
Tours begin every half hour, starting from 4:30-8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 11th; 1:30-8:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 12th; and 1:30-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 13th. Tours last approximately two to three hours, including entertainment, home tours, and dessert. Tickets this year are $18 each, and may now be ordered online at www.stanneshill.org. Due to the popularity of the event, the schedule of tours sells out quickly and advance tickets are required.
The 2009 tour will begin at the High Street Gallery, located at 48 High Street. The tour will conclude with a tour of the popular Bossler Mansion, a landmark structure built in 1869. This magnificent home is considered Dayton’s best example of Second Empire architecture. Guests can snack on a classic dessert, browse Victoria’s Parlor Gift Shoppe, walk by the newly renovated Stivers School for the Arts, and enjoy a view of Downtown Dayton.
“A Dickens of a Christmas In St. Anne’s Hill” is the Miami Valley’s oldest continuously running historic home tour, having debuted in 1983. Proceeds from the tour will benefit the St. Anne’s Hill Neighborhood Association, and are used to maintain the neighborhood’s historic character.
So which tour do you plan to take? Of course, you can always do both!
Hiring Incentives For Local Businesses
Dayton-area businesses in targeted growth industries may be eligible for financial assistance in employing dislocated workers.
Project Hire, a State of Ohio program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, may provide stipends of up to $6,000 per hired employee to assist with training expenses.
By packaging job seekers’ existing skills with a tax credit and additional training, these individuals will become more attractive to prospective employers, beyond what the job seekers could have accomplished on his or her own. The job training will be funded through the use of Ohio Learning Accounts (OLA), which will provide dislocated workers short-term training resulting in an industry-recognized, portable credential to expand employment opportunities. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal credit administered by the state that employers can take for hiring workers from the following disadvantaged groups: unemployed veterans, disconnected youth in need of skills, member of a family receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), long term family or food assistance recipient, person living in a federally designated empowerment zone, summer youth program employee, vocational rehabilitation referral, ex-felon, and supplemental security income (SSI) recipient
Total Funds: The initiative will be funded with $8 million from the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act Statewide Workforce funds in Fiscal Year 2010.
The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Montgomery County, will hold a workshop on Tuesday, December 1, to help employers determine their eligibility. It will be held at Sinclair Community College’s Building 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
To register for the December 1 event, visit www.daytonchamber.org.
For more information on Project Hire, contact Chris Wimsatt at the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce at 226-8293.
Grand Opening of Deconstruction Depot
Featuring more than 5,000 square feet of reclaimed building materials including doors, window frames, oak lumber, fireplace mantels, fixtures, The St. Vincent de Paul Deconstruction Depot will feature a diverse inventory of used building materials for architects, contractors and homeowners alike at bargain prices.
Deconstruction represents an attractive alternative to traditional demolition. If a bulldozer flattens a structure, the building materials can — at best — only be recycled. However, if a trained crew systematically dismantles it right down to the ground, many of the materials — not just the fixtures and finishes that typically are salvaged — can be returned to the marketplace. The process is called deconstruction. And while selective salvaging and/or recycling have long been part of the demolition process, total deconstruction is the latest — and greenest — way to go. In the United States, building construction consumes 60 percent of our raw materials and accounts for 40 percent of the solid waste stream. Deconstructing buildings rather than demolishing them allows these materials to be reused in other building and renovation projects, diverting waste, creating jobs and protecting natural resources.
Proceeds from the sales of the materials will fund the deconstruction of additional homes in the community. The Deconstruction Depot will be open for shoppers Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 9am to 5pm. It’s is located at the St. Vincent de Paul Community Store at 945 S. Edwin C. Moses Boulevard in Dayton, next to The Job Center.
This new joint venture is a partnership between St. Vincent de Paul and Dayton Works Plus. Dayton Works Plus LLC is a partnership formed by East End Community Services, PowerNet of Dayton and Architectural Reclamation Company (ARC), a private architectural reclamation business. The goals of Dayton Works Plus LLC are to employ and train hard-to-place, entry level workers including returning ex-offenders and chronically unemployed persons, for on-going jobs — to divert materials from landfills and promote green practices — to create spin-off businesses (furniture, sheds, picnic tables, outbuilding construction) with
recycled materials — and to eventually establish related businesses including landscaping, asbestos and lead abatement, and weatherization
that will add employment opportunities in our community. The organization has hired 18 employees (15 laborers earning $9 an hour plus three crew chiefs at $12 per hour). On the job training will be provided.
Dayton Has A New Mayor – Gary Leitzell
Something happened yesterday that many did not think was possible. Despite being heavily outspent and going up against the Montgomery County Democratic Party that has dominated politics in this city for a long time, political newcomer and independent Gary Leitzell beat the incumbent Rhine McLin. The city is suffering from what might be the worst economy to ever hit this place (which is saying a lot), and just like how the majority of the country felt last November – there are many people in this city that simply wanted a change. Gary Leitzell represents that change.
Rhine McLin’s leadership capabilities have been hotly debated by many throughout the region. Her supporters saw her compassion and grassroots-level commitment to neighborhoods. Key supporters understand that she is politically astute behind the scenes and value her strong political connections. Many apathetic Dayton residents weren’t crazy about her but didn’t believe she could be beat, and thus simply went along for the ride. However, McLin’s detractors blamed her for not being in touch with the citizens OR businesses, and were turned off by her lack of presence and less-than-inspiring speaking abilities. Added to the city’s economic woes, the anti-McLin sentiments proved to be too much for her to overcome in the end.
While Gary Leitzell had some strong support among those that he has worked with as Chair of the Southeast Priority Board and President of the Walnut Hills Neighborhood Association, he just barely beat McLin (14,923 to 14,045) and faces his share of challenges. There are many who are unhappy with some things he has said on this very website, and others that voted for change versus a candidate. Leitzell most definitely has his work cut out for him.
And the Democratic Party still has a stronghold on the commission as a whole. Incumbents Nan Whaley and Joey Williams won re-election over challenger David Esrati, and the other two seats are held by the party that Leitzell went up against. Gary Leitzell will now have to demonstrate leadership within the team in order to fulfill his promise of change as he needs at least two of their votes to pass anything over the next four years – including the most important decision right out of the gate: recruiting a new city manager. With limited power to push major changes through and a city budget in shambles, Leitzell may soon be on the receiving end of the same criticism that McLin has faced over the years. However, Leitzell’s outsider perspective may prove to be an asset and allow him to push for bold new ideas that this city needs.
The City of Dayton has turned the page on a long chapter, one filled with many ups and downs. And as the new chapter begins with a new mayor and soon new city manager, we have important opportunities ahead of us. We have an opportunity to improve how City Hall responds to the needs of the citizens and businesses in this community. We have the opportunity to try brand new approaches in an effort to make our city more attractive to citizens and businesses alike. We also have the opportunity to strengthen our relationships with the rest of the region so that we can move the regionalism conversation forward. A stronger core city is important to the region now more than ever, and only as a strong unified region can we thrive in a global economy.
I congratulate Gary Leitzell, Nan Whaley and Joey Williams on their wins as I admire all of the candidates including Rhine McLin and David Esrati for their commitment, passion and courage. As for advice to our new mayor, I’ll leave that up to all of you – what advice would you give Gary Leitzell as he embarks on this difficult mission? What kinds of things do you think he and his fellow commissioners should focus on moving forward?
Dayton Mayor/Commission Race Poll
Next Tuesday, voters across the Dayton Region will be going to the polls to vote for (or against) levy renewals, state initiatives, trustees, city councils, school board members, commissioners and mayors. And though the City of Dayton has a city manager form of government in which the mayor is actually a part-time position that has no significant power and is in fact simply one vote out of five, it is still considered an important position because whoever holds it is the spokesperson for the city and the region. Despite the limited role the mayor plays, he or she is still considered by city and suburban residents alike as the defacto leader of the city.
And then there is the commission race, with incumbents Joey Williams and Nan Whaley, and challenger David Esrati. Top two vote-getters on Tuesday win the two seats up for grabs. While most of the attention is on the mayor race, it should be noted that the mayor is simply one vote of five, so the commission race is just as important.
