I've been sorting through my e-mail box today, preparing for my next "Inside Erie" newsletter and, as usual, I have been getting peppered with great insights from readers.

In fact, so many people have taken the time to offer their perspectives that I'm going to devote this entire blog thread to your comments.

The "Inside Erie" newsletter only offers enough room for comments from a handful of readers.

With that in mind, I'm going to post some of the better comments on this thread during the coming hours. You can read them in the comments section of this post.

And please feel free to add your own thoughts to the thread.

The discussion that has unfolded on this blog in recent weeks has been getting a lot of attention among Erie's power brokers. And, unlike the letters to the editor section of the newspaper, there are no space constraints. So, add your ideas to the discussion -- and let your voice be heard.