Yep, I'd call him that.  Just like Catherine the Great annexing Crimea in 1783 the current Cleveland Tech Czar wants to annex technology companies from the suburbs and bring them into Cleveland.  As an effect on the broader tax base of Northeast Ohio this move provides exactly no job growth.  Why not make Cleveland a place that people want to start tech companies?  Why not make Cleveland an attractive place for smaller companies who want to grow?  Don't take from our neighbors.  Use the tech base that they've built to lure businesses from other cities to the Cleveland Area. 

I've been criticized by people in previous blogs for simply commenting on the problem and not providing solutions; so here's my $.02.

Bandwidth - Tons and tons of bandwidth.  It all starts with bandwidth in the new economy.  We need Cleveland to be a major hub for Internet2.  We shouldn't be one or two hops off the backbone.  We should be part of the backbone.  Make bandwidth plentiful.  Make bandwidth cheap.  Make the city connected.  WiFi on every corner; in every coffee shop; in every public place.  Make it easy for people to work where ever they happen to be.  It increases the quality of life for mobile professionals thus making it easier to lure and keep qualified professionals in the area.  As a comparison, I'm in San Francisco on a project.  As I write this blog from my hotel room I count no fewer than 5 wireless networks in range.  I'm happy to get a cell signal sometimes in Cleveland.  It's not a good environment for a mobile professional in Cleveland.

Tax Abatements - Start-ups are strapped for cash.  Make it easier for small companies to get a foothold and get profitable.  The local economy will still benefit from income and other taxes on employees and the money the employees spend in the community.  When the company does reach profitability, the tax base grows more.  DeAloia has suggested personal property tax abatements.  It's a good start, but more needs to be done to reduce year 1-3 costs to help start-ups achieve profitability.

Low-cost Office Space - Once again, make it easier for small companies to achieve profitability.  Let the start-up spend money where it really counts - on the talent to make them successful.  I like DeAloia's idea of a tech corridor along Euclid, but the city should do more to create low-cost office space for new companies.

So there's three quick ideas, but the overall message is save the company as much money as possible so it can focus on what really matters for any business - making a profit.  Then, and only then everyone will reap the benefits of a solid and growing economic base.

Cheers,
m²