The newest Inside Erie newsletter hit e-mail boxes earlier this afternoon and I've already received a bevy of thoughtful responses from readers.
Rather than holding on to them for the next week, I thought I'd offer a quick look at what some of you are saying. The topic -- in case you don't subscribe to the e-mail newsletter -- focused on Erie's brain drain.

Here's a sampling of what some of you are saying:

"As a 'grown in Erie and left for greener pastures' person, I can echo what others are saying. I was just in Erie for a short visit. I brought with me a friend from my current “home town” of Boston. She remarked and I agreed that so many people on the street looked depressed and downtrodden.

"Something needs to be done to bring life into Erie again. Forget about the low-paying jobs that the restaurant or gambling community provide. (See MSNBC article http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12939158/)

"I can’t wait for the day when I will bring my children to Erie for summer vacation and I can truly again say 'I love Erie!'"

-- Michelle Heald, Lexington, Mass.

"My husband and I left the Erie area in 2002, after living there for 30 years, and moved to Columbus, Ohio. I agree with you that the job market in Erie is not encouraging. If Erie does not have more to offer in the job market they will continue to lose many residents and young adults graduating from college. When we moved to Erie jobs were abundant and the only ones that are abundant now are the $6 and $7 an hour jobs."

-- Diana Crenshaw, Columbus, Ohio

"Follow I-90 (the route of the Erie canal) to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and Albany to see similar decline as that Erie has experienced. Higher than average unemployment, white flight from center city, and decaying inner-core neighborhoods coupled with huge layoffs and plant closings have conspired to contract the overall vitality of each city.

"The Erie Canal corridor was boosted dramatically by the industrial base artificially enlarged by World War Two and was able to continue as an industrial economy well into the 1970s. As world markets started competing for the same products with more efficient, newer machines and processes, and less expensive labor, many I-90 corridor firms contracted or simply shut down.

"We can blame whomever for this cycle, but the reality is the days of corporate largesse are over. Thus the challenge is to recover with new approaches, new businesses, and innovative thinking. Those don't happen in a culture of despair. Recovery requires optimism, energy, and hope for the future.

"I noticed one person wrote that the young people are leaving Erie to go to cities with nicer climates. Have you ever been to Seattle? Or Atlanta? Or Dallas? Each has its own climate problems -- Seattle is grey for 6 months of the year, Dallas is hotter than blazes 8 months a year, and Atlanta is hot, humid, and so spread out you spend more time in the car than you do outside enjoying the sunshine.

"Erie has plenty to attract and keep people, if those attractions are maintained, expanded, advertised, treasured, and appreciated. There area needs to approach problems as a region -- not as separate municipalities with a zero-sum game mentality.

"And locals shouldn't wait for Big Government or Big Business to make it all better. Instead, spend less time (and money) in bars and more time at ball games and social events such as Celebrate Erie and Presque Isle Days. Rebuild the French era fort, capitalize on the region's ties to the War for Empire, the Niagara, the War of 1812, and the maritime traditions of a Great Lake Port. Expand the Marinas and reduce the slip fees to attract more boaters and vacationers. Increase the number of outddor activities, races, contests, and events. INvest in loacl startups without expecting a Google success every time. Encourage local investment with tax incentives. Elect representatives who will bring home the Bacon for defense and other government contracts.

"There's plenty to love about Erie and the surrounding area!"

-- Dan McCormack, Uniontown

Thanks to all of you who are taking the time to write.

I'll offer more comments in next Thursday's newsletter.

In the meantime, keep sending me your thoughts -- and feel free to add comments to this forum.

And if you aren't signed up for the newsletter and would like to subscribe, you can do so by signing up here: www.goerie.com/subscribe/peter.html