I opined earlier this week about Erie's image problem -- particularly the fact that Erie has done a poor job selling itself to those outside the area.
But perhaps an even bigger issue is the fact that Erieites, in general, hold their community in pretty low esteem.
Want evidence? On Thursday, we asked GoErie.com and Erie Times-News readers whether they would recommend Erie as a place to live. The question came on the same day we reported news that our fair city had been ranked No. 7 on a national list of great places to live with a population between 250,000 and 500,000.
Based on that ranking, you'd think people would be pretty proud, correct?
Well, think again.
Nearly half of the 458 people who voted in the poll said they would not recommend Erie as a place to live. Even more telling were some of the e-mailed comments we received from those who cast their votes. Six people took the time to e-mail us -- and five of them flat-out blasted Erie as a place to live.
"The city is slowly dying off," wrote one.
"Are you kidding," wrote another. "The taxes are too high, the electric, gas and school bills go up every year ..."
Another writer was even more blunt: "The only good thing about Erie is being away from it."
No doubt, Erie has its share of challenges and problems. But I think the biggest challenge is the opinion many locals have about their hometown.
I've lived in other cities -- Boston, Rochester and Syracuse. All have their charms and I miss pieces of each of them.
But Erie has them beat in some significant areas -- real-estate costs, commutes and taxes come to mind.
It also has some wonderful amenities for a city its size, offers good schools and hospitals, and has a proud history. Let's not forget places like Presque Isle and North East's wineries and the small-town charm of communities like Waterford, Edinboro and Conneaut Lake.
Our biggest problem isn't cost. It isn't having enough to do. It's the fact that we need more good-paying job opportunities.
Offer enough of those opportunities, and Erie rightly deserves its place on a list of great places to live.
Now, if we can only get everyone here to believe it.
After saying all of that, I'd like to thank those of you who are taking the time to comment on this blog.
We launched this venue less than a month ago, and I'm already encouraged by the number of readers who are taking the time to post comments.
From time to time, I will respond to some of the points you make -- and I might even construct complete blog entries based on what you have to say.
I hope this blog can be a forum for lively -- and smart -- discussion of items of local interest.