Recently at Reason.tv: Reason Saves Cleveland With Drew Carey Episodes 1, 2, 3, & 4!
Episode 1, The Decline of a Once-Great City
Sixty years ago, Cleveland was a booming city full of promise, opportunity, and people. Today, the city's population is less half of what it was in its prime and it ranks as one of the poorest big cities in the United States. Hometown hero Drew Carey reflects on how the city became "the mistake on the lake" and wonders about the city's future. Is a Cleveland renaissance possible or is the city doomed to long, slow death?
Episode 2, Fix The Schools
Cleveland's public schools are failing to prepare students for their futures and as a result, all parents who can afford to have been fleeing to the suburbs for decades.
Yet some urban schools, like Think College Now in Oakland, California are finding out that a combination of administrative autonomy and accountability can lead to amazing results. Within Cleveland's own boundaries, charter schools are booming and delivering quality education at a fraction of the cost of traditional public schools.
Does Cleveland have what it takes to fundamentally reform its K-12 education system and become a leader in 21st-century education?
Episode 3, Privatize It
Should cities be in the business of running businesses ranging from convention centers to farmers markets? Selling off golf courses, contracting out parking concessions, and all manner of public-private partnerships are generating billions of dollars in revenue and dramatically improving city services in places such as Chicago and Indianapolis. Will Cleveland's elected officials learn the right lessons in time?
Episode 4, Take Care of Business
After World War II, Cleveland was booming, thanks to its leadership role in heavy industry and a business-friendly climate. Today, the city's high taxes and onerous regulatory demands make it nearly impossible for new businesses to set up shop while choking the life out of existing companies. While relatively laissez-faire cities such as Houston are growing even during the current recession, Cleveland remains stuck in a rut. How can city officials make the city a more welcoming place for entrepreneurs to thrive?
Reason Saves Cleveland with Drew Carey is written and produced by Paul Feine; camera and editing by Roger Richards and Alex Manning; narrated by Nick Gillespie; music by the Cleveland band Cats on Holiday.
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These are the first four of six episodes that will air between March 15-19, 2010.
The fifth episode in the series, Encourage Bottom-Up Redevelopment, is now live at Reason.tv and YouTube.
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