An Open Letter to Brad Whitehead and Joe Roman by cleplussux

Regarding your opinion piece (which I highly doubt you wrote yourselves, it’s most likely the work of some PR flacks), I have several points to raise as well as some questions.

First point. Second sentence. Wrong. OBAMA (not the LA Times) said the nation needs to update itself “Cleveland-style”. Get the facts straight. 

First question. Resurgent manufacturing economy? Huh? USA Today “80K manufacturing jobs lost since 2000”. Where are your figures coming from? It’s not in the 2010 report from the Fund.

Second point. “Alignment and connection”. Thanks for finally getting it. Too bad it’s too little too late.

Second question. The “Health-Tech Corridor in Cleveland”? What sort of made-up BS is that? Can you actually take any credit for it if it does exist?

Third question. If we have “sufficient resources” is it necessary to FOCUS them? On the regional priorities YOU’VE established but no one else agrees with?

Third point. Representing the clusterfuck known as Voices and Choices as “extensive public input” is complete BS.

Fourth question. “an unprecedented wave of local government collaboration”? Really? Again, produce some facts. Unless you have actually figures and compare them to other regions, it’s just an opinion.

Fourth point. Now I see why you’re flogging “alignment and connection”. “Puget Sound and the Twin Cities emphasized the criticality of aligning and connecting assets through private, public, civic and philanthropic collaboration. “

Final point. For the last 30 years, you’ve been ED of the GCP Joe. Brad, you’ve been ED at the Fund for 5, and with the Cleveland Foundation prior to that for at least five years.

Fifth question. What effect can you honestly say you’ve had on the regional economy?

Final question. When will you step aside?

Signed,

George Nemeth