I understand your frustration with Fort Wayne. I often wonder why I decided to settle down here. Sure I could jump ship and leave, and since I’m not from here and have no ties, it would be easy. Yet, for all its problems, Fort Wayne has come a long way. (10 years ago you would be hard pressed to find a coffee shop in this city.) Now we finally have a plan to improve, rather than ignore, our downtown. The high-tech innovation center (NIIC) is expanding its space. The city and county are actually working together to develop one plan to improve our community’s housing, transportation, environment, economy, etc. Last year’s Pop Filter event drew 700 people into the cramped, yet intimate, Avant Garde Gallery for hours of multimedia art and expression. A new greenway trail connects Swinney Park to Rockhill (eventually it will go to Jefferson Pt.) and a new one is being proposed connecting downtown to the zoo. For the first time, the Museum of Art has conducted several local artist forums to determine their needs. The Cinema Center, the state’s only theater specializing in independent, foreign, documentary, classic and specialty film, is opening a second screen at IIT. Seeing these changes and knowing that I can help Fort Wayne reach its potential is what makes me stay. Sitting around and complaining that things are boring and not creative will not make this city better. If you are not satisfied with “the powers that be” then change things. Get involved and make it the city you want it to be. Join some of the organizations trying to make a difference. Frequent some of the new and struggling businesses in the downtown. But don’t just whine and threaten to leave.

Cheers to Russ. I am also not from FW, although I've lived here nearly 20 years so it has become home. No place is perfect and it is very easy to only see the good points of places you aren't living. It's also very easy, as Russ points out, to complain and give up - but where is the fun in that? I am a little frustrated with some forces within the creative community in FW that seem to think that everything should be easy and done for them. There is a sense that I get from some people that they feel community leadership has some sort of obligation to support them and their art. If a person has the right to create art (which obviously people do), then why doesn't someone else have the right not to like that art? I have found that there is great support for a wide variety of art and other creative endeavors. Artists don't get rich, but is it normal that artists get rich? Isn't part of the "pay" for being an artist the opportunity to express oneself freely in one's work? I have the right to say what I want but it is unreasonable for me to expect or demand that others give me their approval for what I say.

There are some great things happening here - Russ gives a good list - and there is the chance for people to get involved and make a difference. That isn't a common characteristic of cities and it is one that people may overlook if they are focused on complaining about the problem rather than becoming part of the solution.

Thanks for the feedback, but I still disagree. Fort Wayne is and wants to remain a "big town" filled with people trying to capitalize on their family names. I have nothing against that, but I do have a problem with how the city touts itself to those who just don't know. When I moved here, I was told not to move to the south side. I was told this is a great place to raise a family. I was told a lot of things that were simply flat out lies. Had I known any of the truths before I moved here, I would never have moved here. But, Fort Waynians tend to like to stay in their bubble. I don't have time to try to change things here—been there, done that. Why rattle people who are happy with sub-status quo? Who cares if there aren't any upscale shopping or eating districts here? Who cares if there aren't any large, independent book stores (visit www.schulerbooks.com as an example)? Who cares if there are more potholes here than sidewalks and places for people to ride bikes safely? Who cares if one side of the city is dying while others are flourishing? Hey, if no one else does, I won't waste my time worrying about it either. After all, I didn't go to high school here so I really don't "belong."

Thanks for the feedback. I hear what you're saying, but what I'm saying is why would and should anyone waste their time improving this city when no one really cares or wants improvements to be made? People here are happy with sub-standard living. They don't care about the southside, or the lack of large and viable independent book stores (visit www.schulerbooks.com as an example), upscale shopping or dining districts, real festivals that embrace cultures and diversity, a diverse employment pool, and they're not concerned that there are more potholes than safe places to ride a bike. When I walk, which is rare now, I'm always stopped and asked if I want a ride. Is it because I'm a black woman and they think I'm a prostitute or are they really concerned? Given this state/city's history, I always wonder, especially since I'm stopped only by older white men. When I moved here, I was told not to move to the south side but I live there and I've never had any problems though I've had a few out north, including being falsely accused of shoplifting cough medicine and having my bags searched! For the first time in my life, I was called a "colored" woman and that was right here in good old Fort Wayne just LAST YEAR! I was even told once by a former employer that I write and speak pretty well. You read between the lines. I was told this is a great place to raise children, but if so, where are the constructive recreational activities/places for teens to prevent them from becoming obese blobs? Funny, everywhere else in this country I've gone, my daughter's always been welcome, but here, we can't even go to certain restaurants because of the ordinance. Speaking of, why does every activity here include alcohol, prohibiting children from attending? That tells me people don't want to be with or really care about their children. And I don't blame the local high school grads from not coming back here. They should go where they're wanted and appreciated—where they can use all of their talents. Fort Wayne has nothing but potential, but lacks the will to survive and thrive. Call this place home? I think not. I want to live in a place that's proud of itself , one that's progressive and filled with innovative people. Building that jail-looking Grand Wayne Center expansion (why not glass like the Van Andel Arena?), establishing a river greenway path (why not boardwalks along the rivers instead?), the failure to build up instead of out in regards to the closed-up downtown, the inert Southtown Mall....what's up with Fort Wayne? I don't get it, but don't knock those who give up on Fort Wayne. There are more important things in life than continuing to ram your head against a wall of titanium. Funny, those who have left this place are doing so much better than when they were here. And then Fort Wayne has the nerve to invite them back as guest speakers—give me a break!

Robbin,

Your irrational hatred for Fort Wayne is precisely what's wrong with it. Go. We have work here to be done. You're only in the way here, go back to idyllic Grand Rapids, posthaste.

First, I think it takes courage to raise a dissenting view regarding these issues. So, I for one am grateful Robbin took the time to post her initial viewpoint and respond to subsequent feedback. I expect her views aren't isolated, and this is a good forum for a variety of differing views -- even if some decry it as mere complaining.

Second, I think a number of the projects and initiatives listed in the feedback have the potential to bring-about change and make Fort Wayne a more vibrant city with community-wide participation. But, I don't believe there's a single, all-encompassing solution or fix. I think that it takes action on many levels -- from person-on-the-street grassroots ideas all the way to the official plans and projects. The point is, people are focusing on making changes. And feedback about how welcome or desired these are is also important. At the least, such contrary voices might indicate there are gaps in how the plans address the needs of people, or even how the plans are being communicated and 'sold' to the public.

I for one would like to live in a community (urban or suburban, I don't know) that has a lot of activities for me to choose from and bring me out of my apartment, onto the sidewalks and into the parks and public space with others from my neighborhood and town. I think bike paths, parks and river greenways are great if they lead to active centers where people are engaged in meaningful experiences. I've walked around downtown many evenings and weekends where it feels like a ghost town. No wonder it feels so safe -- there's no one else around!! In short, I think some thought should also be given to how these improvements are 'usable' by the community. That's not to say I don't think many of them are.

Lastly, i think it's irresponsible of Barry to drop the typical "If you don't like it, leave" knee-jerk reaction. That reads as the very intollerance Robbin was speaking-out about a making some feel unwelcome (a fake email doesn't support your case, either Barry).

Thanks Jeffrey. I also happen to be a reporter, so comments from people like Barry are pretyy typical. In fact, they make me laugh because if you want to make improvements and continue to grow, you have to not only hear, but listen to what all people have to say, regardless of race, age, religion, etc. Comments like Barry's are what's been stifling Fort Wayne and stunting its growth since I've been here. I'm amazed at the changes around here over the past few years, some good, some bad. But, I'm not a registered Republican, I live on the south side, I'm a black woman and I'm not from here, so I've learned—as have others like me—that no one wants to hear what I have to say. The one good thing is I met my husband here, a native and lifelong resident, but he's ready to leave Fort Wayne too. Au revoir.

It's not just your race, Robbin. That card is really annoying. But it is the fact that you have something different and negative to say that makes people want to shut you out without giving you a chance. You're absolutely right about this city. Even the people calling for "change" and involved in some sort of "movement" are close-minded and stifling in their own way. Like I said in another discussion, this isn't the first time Ft. Wayne has tried to become more "creative" and give people more activities. The reason it is this way is because the majority doesn't care. They won't, and they never will. They will be content, and that's all that matters to them.

Barry is right about one thing, though- leave. If you're like the rest of us who are concerned with having activities, thriving communities, and artistic nurturing, then you'd do yourself a favor and get out of here.