Convention back on track, the right way

Ah, finally! A plan for a new conventioncenter is being kicked around and IT MAKES SENSE. Gone are the idiotic riders that would have included funds for all kinds of unrelated programs. Now it's what it should be -- a proposed means of raising money (taxes on hotels + eateries) to build a convention center, and pretty much nothing else. Do you want it? Is it worth the cost to build it? Pretty straigh-forward.

The big potential downside is timing. If this is on the ballot next March, that means it will share a ballot with several other tax-increasing issues, including votes on Cleveland Public Schools. And you know the fiscal crisis within Cleveland City Hall will be in the headlines as well.

My initial opinion is that a convention center must get built. So far this new plan makes sense. If that holds true, then it should be approved. In fact, I'd say it's even more important to Greater Cleveland than any other issue likely to be on the ballot. We need places to work. Without an active business environment the city will always struggle to meet it's crucial obligations. This would be a significant step in the right direction.

BTW, it's shameful that this plan has been pushed and developed by primarily private individuals. I even heard City Hall said they weren't involved because they're occupied with other pressing issues, such as the impending layoff of city workers. I don't discount how delicate that situation is, but we should expect our elected leaders to push for solutions and be proactive. They most certainly have not done so regarding a convention center. And it's been that way for a long, long time.