"breaking news" from the Times:
SALEM– The findings from a study conducted for the Business Council have identified both highs and lows in the attractiveness of the Roanoke region.The area, for example, ranks at the top for quality education and environment, in the middle for health care and at the bottom for such amenities as “urban feel” and the percentage of people who have moved to the region from out-of-state.
The study, by Roanoke College, examined Roanoke’s competitiveness in five key quality of life categories: (1) social and cultural amenities, (2) education, (3) environment and recreation, (4) health and wellness and (5) technology and transportation. Roanoke’s strongest asset is its natural beauty and the recreational opportunities its environment offers. Yet to turn that into a real competitive advantage, Roanoke must make it more readily accessible to residents and visitors. The region’s second strongest asset is education with the exception of Roanoke’s city schools.
Well now, isn't that speeeeshal? Although it gives almost no information about the study itself. Although I would like to know what "urban feel" is, and how it relates to actual urban life. Although I am wondering about the crossover between Roanoke College and a newly-formed civic group composed of a few Roanoke College alumni. In the middle for health care? Bottom for transplants? I can't trip these days without running into a former "somewhere else"er.
Until the full report is published and out in the open - I'm going to hold my comments about the validity of it. But as of right now, it seems like just another skewed report taking cheap potshots at Roanoke City.
Maybe it's just me.
SALEM– The findings from a study conducted for the Business Council have identified both highs and lows in the attractiveness of the Roanoke region.The area, for example, ranks at the top for quality education and environment, in the middle for health care and at the bottom for such amenities as “urban feel” and the percentage of people who have moved to the region from out-of-state.
The study, by Roanoke College, examined Roanoke’s competitiveness in five key quality of life categories: (1) social and cultural amenities, (2) education, (3) environment and recreation, (4) health and wellness and (5) technology and transportation. Roanoke’s strongest asset is its natural beauty and the recreational opportunities its environment offers. Yet to turn that into a real competitive advantage, Roanoke must make it more readily accessible to residents and visitors. The region’s second strongest asset is education with the exception of Roanoke’s city schools.
Well now, isn't that speeeeshal? Although it gives almost no information about the study itself. Although I would like to know what "urban feel" is, and how it relates to actual urban life. Although I am wondering about the crossover between Roanoke College and a newly-formed civic group composed of a few Roanoke College alumni. In the middle for health care? Bottom for transplants? I can't trip these days without running into a former "somewhere else"er.
Until the full report is published and out in the open - I'm going to hold my comments about the validity of it. But as of right now, it seems like just another skewed report taking cheap potshots at Roanoke City.
Maybe it's just me.
1 comment:
I would be disappointed if they had announced any different result. Not that I agree with them, but their report serves notice that all is normal back in my beloved Roanoke Valley. Roanoke College, populated with Yankee academic types, situated in Salem and surrounded with a healthy disdain of all things Roanoke (particularly the school system), could only produce such a report. It is easy to write about things being broken and not working well in Roanoke, but few people will take the effort to address the issues and come up with some real solutions. I hope you will write about the report when you get the chance to read it.
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