Charleston

http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/04/economy-ohio-michigan-biz_cx_jz_0805dying_slide_11.html?thisSpeed=15000

The Daily Mail currently has some 85 comments on this story.

http://www.dailymail.com/News/200808070581?page=2&build=cache

Forbes says that Charleston is one of the ten fastest dying cities in the U.S. Compared to Wheeling, Charleston looks dynamic. If Wheeling had not fallen to the status of small town, we'd be kicking your butts right now.

Did you note that the cities on this list all had one thing in common, links to manufacturing? For most of the cities, it was some tie to the auto industry and for a few it is steel.

Charleston was the only city on the list that is not directly linked to manufacturing. Yes, we’ve lost jobs in the valley due to downsizing in the chemical industry but that’s the entire valley and not just Charleston and many of those losses were from years ago.

Why do you think our capital city is on the list Jimmy?

Strictly due to the numbers.

Charleston is not in serious trouble. It's a company town. State government isn't going out of business.

At least part of the migration is going out to Teays Valley to newer housing.

I still see Charleston as dynamic.

I know a lot of people that avoid Charleston because of the parking situation. Parking is a problem complicated by Danny Jones' meter brigade. Charles Minimah said to me, "You're parked at a meter? Watch the clock, I don't want you to get a parking ticket. Danny Jones is very hungry and he has his cops out to get you." Vic Sprouse in his blog actually blamed the parking/aggressive ticketing for his decision to move his company out of Charleston.

http://www.changewv.com/2008/goodbye-charleston-hello-cross-lanes

Then you have people like my husband who works in Charleston but flat out refuses to spend any money there because of Dollar Danny's user fee. $2 a week for what? My husband works on McCorkle Ave...he doesn't even use a city street to travel to and from work.

Charleston needs a new mayor.

Anybody have a comment on Kent Strange Hall? I'd be interested because he was in my Mom's graduating class from Clay High School.

Now if you had asked about Killroy's Inn.

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