"I believe the term "rustbelt" is still an apt description for NE Ohio today, as the towns and cities there are still struggling to develop new economies, new identities...I would remove Chicago and Pittsburgh from that list, first of all. Those are cities that are on upswings, not in the severe decline they once suffered. They are in recovery modes. "The Rustbelt" I reserve for cities that are obviously still in free fall."
-- Christopher, Youngstown
"I, for one, am tired of the person to person negative flogging NEO continues to suffer. We may not be able to change other’s minds but we surely can change our own. Northeastern Ohio is one of the most abundant areas of the United States. I know that Akron’s Mayor Don Plusquellic travels the USA, and the world, always talking and promoting the positives, the amenities, and the strengths of Akron and Northeast Ohio. He knows, like Mayor Frank Jackson knows, that what is good for their cities is good for the region, and what is good for the region is good for their cities. Let us all become positive Cheerleaders for Northeast Ohio. Let us all invest in Northeast Ohio with our positive attitudes, with attitudes of greatness, and with attitudes of can-do. Cheerleading Does Count!...Keep in mind that Northeast Ohio is The HEART of the Quality of Life Belt."
-- William Currin, Mayor of Hudson
" There's rarely a positive overtone to the use of such terms--it's somebody on the coast making a sweeping and probably uninformed generalization about the simple folks who live out there in farm country, or closed-minded religious fundamentalists, or those losers who are stuck in out there in some big old city that is probably full of old beat-up rusted-out 1968 Chevy Impalas. Unfortunately, it is a catchy and visually evocative term, so it will take some doing to get rid of it."
-- Greg Donley, Cleveland Heights
"I hate the term rust belt. I think it was a term coined to promote the decline of the industrial north and is overused by journalists."
-- Haans Petruschke
"It may be a true description in some sense--we are a manufacturing community, we do like to build things. However, it's never been a positive, motivating idea like Silicon Valley. There is plenty that happens in Silicon Valley that doesn't have to do with technology, but the name helps to draw and retain the talent, focus investment, and drive innovation. We don't have to agree about the state of manufacturing to agree that rustbelt doesn't do any of that."
-- Noelle Celeste, Cleveland Heights
"It can't be called the rust belt because the crude, temporary structures that that name refers to have been abandoned for long enough that they're ruins now. An apocalypse of speculation and financial ruin has destroyed prosperity and pushed us all into the world of catch as catch can - the Wasteland."
-- Jeremiah Mathoslah, Parma
"We are the "FRESH WATER BELT", not the rust belt. This is unique to our region and a huge asset. Just like the "Sunshine States" should be known as the "Humidity Belt", the midwest as the "Flat Belt", the west as the "Sand States", and the Northwest as the "Rain and Grey States". Words mean a lot, just ask any Politition."
-- Christopher, Rocky River
"It is a term useful for LAZY reporters it doesn't mean anything to me...I would call these cities America's waterbelt, due to the abundance of rainfall, water, rivers and lakes. I would call phenix, santa fe, las vegas and even atlanta the "Drought Belt". In fact, the entire former "sunbelt" now should be known as the "drought belt" to to the persistant water shortages."
-- Glenn Murray, Cleveland
"Look at beautiful Lake Erie, the Metroparks, the expansive, beautiful and historic neighborhoods, the development around University Circle. How can anyone call this area the rustbelt? I believe that Clevelanders have been conditioned to accept the term rustbelt through continued negative stereotyping of the region and that there exists an almost fatalistic belief that the Cleveland area will always remain a shadow of it's past economic success. CLE needs to adopt a more positivie self-image and that starts with getting rid of inaccurate descriptors like "rustbelt"."
-- Marcus Linde
"There is nothing good or positive in the term...It implies The Great Lakes region has seen it's best days. To me it implies a collective BACKWARDS LOOKING outlook/approach to life. There are alot of people (blue collar/union hold outs), who deserve that name, but we can't allow it...It should be made an offensive term to all Great Lakers!"
-- Marck Jackson Sr., Akron
"I think it is pejorative. It implies decay, lifelessness, and irrelevance...NE Ohio is not corroding away. The region is made of so much more than one industry. Of course, the area is struggling compared to other areas in the nation. Yet we have significant foundational assests like great arts and cultural organizations, a wealth of greenspace close by, a wonderful lake, and many thriving businesses."
-- Sabine Kretzschmar, Cleveland
"I think it's definitely passe. The steel industry isn't our shining star anymore, although I clearly recall driving by them (and smelling them) every time I drove downtown on Rt. 77. I'd like to highlight the health care industry so perhaps something like Cleveland, World Health Center."
-- Ruth Heide, Shaker Heights