Positively Cleveland, Northeast Ohio’s tourism bureau, has launched a new campaign, “This is Cleveland,” that takes a new tack in selling the region not for its orchestra and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but rather for its warts and all.

Mark Naymik reviews a new campaign to sell the city of Cleveland (and surrounding environs) as a cool, gritty place to live.
“In the past, branding efforts looked and felt like they were guided by civic leaders in tailored suits who were in love with downtown skyscrapers, Blossom Music Center and beautiful homes in Shaker Heights.”
Not so with “This is Cleveland”: “The new campaign looks like it was guided by hipsters in love with Ohio City, Tremont and downtown (and perhaps themselves).”
Naymik is ambivalent about the campaign saying that the campaign tries a little too hard, but manages to hit the tone it’s going for anyway. The latter achievement is no small feat given the tight rope branding needs to walk in Cleveland: “It doesn't matter how awesome our orchestra is – the orchestra is still in Cleveland and that's the problem. The campaign is about changing the narrative – or meaning – of the word Cleveland.”
Cleveland's brand has struggled in recent years, which explains the efforts of Positively Cleveland, but researchers have recently been able to point to good news from U.S. Census data about the city's net gains in highly educated residents.
FULL STORY: Positively Cleveland looks to millennials to drive new branding campaign: Mark Naymik

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont