My most recent e-mail newsletter pointed to an array of U.S. Census numbers that I believe reflect poorly on Erie.

To sum them up quickly, the numbers show that Erie's population is shrinking, its homes are valued lower than the national average, our education level is lower than the national average and we're behind the rest of the country in creating diverse businesses.

I see those as negative trends.

But there's another way to look at the numbers.

Consider this e-mail I received from Dr. Michael Downing, a local college professor:

"You ask, 'Why does Erie have such a poor self-image?' Could it be due to reporters who cite numbers from the US Census in such a way that reinforces that negative self image? Hmmmmmmmmmm…..

"But I understand: If the press is not telling us that something is wrong, then it’s not doing its job. That’s the way it goes.

"You’re right about this, though: The Census numbers DO tell the story. Here’s my interpretation: Erie is a better place to live than most cities because it is not overpriced and overpopulated.

"Erie is a place where family and children are as important—maybe even more so—than big-money careers. This is not Wall Street or Silicon Valley. Thankfully.

"And the educational system in Erie is better than most---and I’ve traveled all over the country as an educator. Erie is lucky to have Mercyhurst, Gannon, Behrend, Edinboro and all of the outstanding high schools. I was in Kentucky this summer and while they have UK, they do not have the number of quality college opportunities available to students in Erie County.

"By the way, I went to East High and I have a PhD in English. I currently teach at Mercyhurst.

"I have traveled extensively this summer, and believe me, you don’t want Erie to become like Raleigh, NC, or Cincinnati, OH. They may have an eternally growing economy—a tenuous assertion in itself—but they also have pollution, bumper-to-bumper traffic, long lines in the grocery store, and all of the unpleasantness that accompanies great hordes of people.

"So, I’m in love with the fact that Erie’s population is not growing as quickly as the national average. And so what if we earn less than the national average? The cost of living is less, so we make due.

"I live in fear of the days when the people in Boston, NYC, Baltimore, and DC are all flooded out of their homes as a result of global warming. As the icepack melts, they’ll be heading toward Erie and, mark my words, you won’t want them here."