A recent opinion article by Richey Piiparinen of the Center for Population Dynamics at the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University says “Cleveland's negativity is a challenge to the city's future.”
In reacting to the recent launch of the “Positively Cleveland” campaign, Richey Piiparinen finds fault in the "nattering nabobs of negativism" he believes to be holding back the city.
In starting a new era for the city, Piiparinen agues that “what's missing from the equation is that deciding on whether or not to invest in Cleveland is made through a perceptual lens. After all, cities are like stocks, and whether or not Cleveland is a ‘bull’ or ‘bear’ market depends partly on the vibe given off.”
The article provoked critics on Twitter, such as Angie Schmitt, who pointed to a recent study finding that 53.9 percent of children in Cleveland live in poverty. Schmitt's thoughts on the power of positive thinking:
So what do you think? Where does the time for positive reinforcement end and the time for sober assessment begin, or vice versa?
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