I have to wonder, with all the talk of Young Professionals and Youth Groups and whatnot - exactly where does that line fall. By some, the range is 21-40 - and others limit it to 19-35. But the City launched a new video to "sell" Roanoke to the outside world.
2 impressions I am left with after watching it: 1 - it's very 'old', and does not perk my youthful interests. 2 - The video gives plenty of reasons to come here, but no incentives to actually LIVE in the city. The things the video shows are accessible to anyone in the Valley - not just those who live in the city of.
Here's the Vid. Any observations?
12 comments:
Not much talk about public schools or jobs. As a "young professional" those would be my top two areas of interest when choosing a location for my family.
seems geared for young entrepreneurs more than young professionals
I agree. Looks like a production from years ago...back when people could easily be fooled by presentations which really did not give the total picture. (Dare I say tell the truth?) But then it's like a guy I know always says, "just trying to make chicken salad out of chicken S @ # *.
Fun aside, it's not that bad. But I agree with another point made and it is one of Roanoke's fundamental problems. All the "good" to be found around Roanoke is not exclusive to Roanoke City proper. But every area has it's good and bad. Unfortunately, Roanoke City is the embodiment of all that is bad in SW Va., which in turn feeds the growth in surrounding communities so Roanoke city plays a vital part in the growth and development of the region in a preverted sort of way.
It looks cheesy to me, the video that is, not the city, although frankly I think they could have gotten a better flavor for the city than they did. Maybe they should have gotten a "young professional" to produce it.
I didn't know "Roanoke City is the embodiment of all that is bad in SW Va." That's a slightly bleak look for me...
The video on the other hand is a strange ambiguity of visit/live. It is definitely old and I'm surprised it wasn't 'shot' again. A couple of students from Roanoke College using the same copy and their own camera could have given the video a sense of life.
Very dated in sound and look. It needs some pizazz!
Museice: Gee. I tried to make it sound as bad as possible. To have done more would involve words no one would want to see! HOWEVER, it is a statement about the city admionistration and the way the city operates more so that the people or the area. Roanoke City has some, but too few to make a difference, GREAT people.
It cracked me up, I kept expecting Ward and June Clever to come skipping up the sidewalk. I do like the way they faded out Community Hospital, it was rather symbolic of the function of the facility - fading away. It is curious how there are no pictures of City Hall, the City Courthouse and no mention of the schools, particularly the high schools. The first poster is right, if I had kids I'd want to know. And they act as if they've been the leader in Greenways/Parks when that is one of the lower priorities of the City.
Whatever City employee approved/produced/wrote the check for that video should be fired. A complete waste of City money.
How about...Come to roanoke, we just gave some millionaires $880,000 and you could be next.
Or...ah who really cares anymore. I don't live in the City but I used to. I work in the City.
This video is just a complete embarassment to the City. A bunch of Wankers
It has the style and tone of a sex education film from the late 1950's. If this is someone's idea of appealing to young professionals, it's no wonder we have a problem.
I didn't bother to watch the video, but from my conversations with folks who work for the city, they are really trying to attract young professionals to the entire Roanoke metro. Not just the city itself. This is a sensible approach. As the population of Roanoke, Botetourt and Franklin County increases, the city itself benefits because a portion of that growth will be working and/or shopping in Roanoke City. In turn, the city tax revenue base increases, giving it greater resources to invest into the most socio-economically troubled areas of the city itself.
Sean
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