The 2008 Image of the Year

"It’s Not My Time"

In March of 2008, the band 3 Doors Down filmed a video in Cincinnati for their song "It’s Not My Time". The video showcases sites around downtown and the quintessential image in my opinion is of lead singer, Brad Arnold, from atop the Bellevue Hill Park Pavilion. The video premiered on VH1 on April 22.

However, had that been the end of the story I do not think the image’s importance resonates.

In September, VH1 films "The Top 20 Countdown" with host Allison Becker in Cincinnati. Locations from and inspired by the video are shown to a nation wide audience on September 13. The coverage and comments were not but positive. And building on momentum created by Team Cincinnati on "Clash of the Choirs" in late 2007, the video and VH1 airing showed a Cincinnati as I see it. One that is hip and quirky, friendly and passionate, charming and beautiful.

So "It’s Not My Time" may be the image of 2008 but my challenge to you is to make the motto of 2009 "It’s Our Time". Help push Cincinnati out of its backward, behind-the-times image and assert yourself in to continuing Cincinnati’s renaissance and stand up to those who cannot see the bigger picture and the greatness we possess and yet strive for.

David Pepper posted a great comment in his blog the other day. It was in reference to the County budget and The Banks but I see it in a larger context.

"Bigger picture, the Banks is part of the solution to the budget problems--which is being driven largely by revenue paralysis. If we grow our economy through development such as the Banks, new housing, growing tourism, developments such as we're seeing in Kenwood, etc., then we grow our way out of the problem.

"On the other hand, if we shut down those growth opportunities simply to pay the costs of our basic operations, we trigger a downward economic spiral with no end in sight."

Here, here Mr. Pepper.

The Banks and a project like the Cincinnati Streetcar are economic catalysts for more than just the concrete and steel within those project boundaries. To not invest in those projects is to maintain the status quo. And to maintain the status quo is to set us even further back than the twenty years Mark Twain alluded to a century ago. Yes, these are tough economic times. But as cliched as it is, "It takes money to make money." The narrow-mindedness and short-sidedness that seem to pervade this city must be combated on all fronts. We have made a lot of progress but still have a way to go. The manta for 2009 has to be, "It’s our time" and get out of our way if you are not going to help us get there.

Yeah, I got all that from a photo.

Image taken from UrbanOhio