Recently the U.S. Census Bureau announced the ten cities (with populations over 50,000) that lost the largest share of their populations between 2010 and 2012. Nine of the ten spots belong to cities in Ohio (three) and Michigan (six.) Of course, none of this should come as a surprise. Nor is it a surprise that Youngstown, Ohio was the only city to lose over two percent of its population during these two years. In 1930, Youngstown recorded 170,000 residents. Only about 65,400 people remain within the city limits today. While much of Youngstown has suffered during the long decline of the city, I argue it is the collapse of the south side, traditionally home to the largest population in the city, which today threatens Youngstown’s very future.

Cleveland is preparing to build a $350 million highway through some of its poorest neighborhoods. This pet project of some of the region’s elites has been cynically named “the Opportunity Corridor.” Local writer Mansfield Frazier helpfully explains the “opportunity” part: it gives “white folks an opportunity to drive to the Cleveland Clinic without seeing any black folks.”
This project stinks. At more than $100 million per mile, it’s an extravagant highway project in a state that’s out of money. It’s going to result in the destruction of 90 homes and more …

It is difficult to describe how truly outstanding the book entitled Nothing But Blue Skies: The Heyday, Hard Times, and Hopes of America’s Industrial Heartland is to read. As a nearly lifelong Rust Belt resident, I can attest to the fact that Edward McClelland’s newly released book simply nails our industrial heritage, decline, and hopeful potential squarely on the head. From nationally known politicians like Dennis Kucinich or Coleman Young to the everyday blue-collar laborer toiling in our mills and factories, Mr. McClelland personifies the Rust Belt like no other book I have ever read on the subject. As a Lansing native, he has personally witnessed the dramatic (and sometimes catastrophic) changes just in his lifetime. In Nothing But Blue Skies, Mr. McClelland takes the reader on a quasi-chronological step-by-step sequence of events that shook the Rust Belt down it its very core.

This post originally appeared at Streetsblog Capitol Hill.
He’s a “top urban influencer.” He promoted parking reform in his campaign to become Pittsburgh’s next mayor. And on Tuesday, City Councilman Bill Peduto won the Democratic mayoral primary, making him something of a shoo-in for the city’s highest office. (Pittsburgh hasn’t elected a Republican mayor since the 1930s.)
Just to give you a taste of how tuned in Peduto is to what makes a city work for walking, biking, and transit, we pulled some excerpts from a candidate interview he did with …

In a number of cities, there are certain derelict streets that are nearly denuded of dwellings or businesses. Desolate and forlorn, these streets resemble something out of a post war apocalypse. Detroit may be the poster child du jour of such stark and sad emptiness, but there are many other examples across the Rust Belt and elsewhere. What to do with neglected streets has long been a source of planning discussion and conjecture.  In some instances entire abandoned neighborhoods have or are being converted to urban agriculture or community gardens.  …

Rust Wire put out a call for entries last week, calling for treating Cleveland Indians owner Larry Dolan with the same respect he treats native Americans — namely developing a mocking and offense caricature of the old money lawyer.
We are really excited to have received four excellent submissions from four people around North America. I said I would give $100 to the winner, and print out the image on some t-shirts to sell, give Dolan a taste of his own medicine.
Just as a refresher, here’s what we’re working with here:

Ok. …

This is part of a series on being a white person in the African-American Hough neighborhood of Cleveland. You can see the intro, why it’s like a small town, Mansfield Frazier’s response, history of the neighborhood, @#!& black people say to white people, and “A Place Worth Living”: defending a deeply stigmatized neighborhood.

To continue the conversation about cross-cultural experiences in the inner city, I interviewed a friend living in the Glenville neighborhood, Doc Harrill. We have kids the same age and he and his wife are amazing indie artists …

Once again, it appears that “build it and celebrate it” no matter the past sins (or future consequences) reigns supreme among economic developers. While hyping an announcement of more jobs and new construction in Greater Lansing, the fact that the insurance company in question challenged its property taxes using the “functionally obsolete building” scheme in 2010 was conveniently overlooked (see article in City Pulse).

Source: freep.com

If you are not familiar with the “functionally obsolete” tax game that is being employed most often by big box retailers, the claim that is made is …

Rust Wire is running two guest posts on the Amanda Berry Gina DeJesus story today from two different viewpoints in the community. This article was written by Roldo Bartimole, a long-time journalist, and it points the finger squarely at leading city officials.
Add them up: The Imperial Avenue atrocity of 11 women raped and murdered by Anthony Sowell; The gunning down of Timothy Russell and Melissa Williams by out-of-control Cleveland police; and now the revelation that three young women have been held captive for years in a …

Rust Wire is running two guest posts on the Amanda Berry Gina DeJesus story today from two different viewpoints in the community.This post was written by Daniel Brennan Brown, of Believe in Cleveland, for his website, Midwest Sustainable Cities Symposium.

May 7th, will be a day that lives on fondly in Cleveland for years to come. Families can breathe a united sigh of relief as a community trauma comes to a bittersweet end. Yesterday, three women; Amanda Berry (27), Gina DeJesus (23), and Michelle Knight (30) were found …