I just spent the last 2 hours of my life downtown.
I watched as the clock went from 11:30 to Noon to 12:30 to 1:00 and well - all I can say is that there was no crowd anywhere. There was no lunch rush at the restaurants. There were few people walking the streets. There was little foot traffic even at Midd/Cinci State....at LUNCH HOUR!
What are we doing as a city? Clearly this area of town has fallen downward, and downward and more downward with each passing day - but the constant drumbeat of revitalization and the constant flow of money is more than I can bear.
The latest happening in the Downtown Middletown Wall of Shame (we're building a bigger wall to contain all the plaques commemorating every significant screw up in the city's history) - The Theater.
Only in Middletown is buying a property for $1 then paying more than $400,000 in demolition fees considered a great deal. I want to know if we're at least taking a reverse commission from whatever real estate agent handled this transaction?
It is simply delusional to think that the downtown area can, could or will be revitalized. Due to its inaccessibility, current state of disarray and dilapidation and competition from surrounding communities - can we once and for all stop the insanity?
And yes - spending millions and millions time and time again hoping for something different to occur as a result is the textbook definition of insanity. Delusion only scratches the surface.
------------- "Every government intervention [in the marketplace] creates unintended consequences, which lead to calls for further government interventions." -Ludwig van Mises
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