The biggest challenge

To me, the city of Huntington and the state of West Virginia share a common challenge. It's not talked about much by either the political or civic leadership because it would force those groups to answer questions they prefer to ignore. The question: Why would anyone choose to live in either when they have options?

It boils down to free market economics. The most obvious problems in Huntington are crime and housing stock. Several people have told me they would prefer to live in or close to Huntington, but they can get better housing in Lawrence County, Ohio, for the same money. And -- being blunt -- part of the crime problem in Huntington is from people who cross the Ohio River to buy their stuff.

As for West Virginia, look at this comment from the Winter 2007 edition of the West Virginia Business & Economic Review, published by the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics: The outlook calls for slow state growth during the next five years, at rates well below the national average.

How can you expect people to prosper here when they can do better elsewhere?

How do you convince them to live here?

Every place sees its young move away in search of what they want. But we don't get the young of other places coming here in pursuit of their dreams. Because they don't see the opportunity here.

That's our biggest problem, and that's one thing our "leaders" don't want to admit, mainly because they would also have to admit that they don't have any answers.

If I had an answer, I would share it here now.