Today's Inside Erie e-letter really struck a nerve with folks.

For those who don't subscribe, this week's letter took a look at last weekend's job fair at Presque Isle Downs.

Now, before the pro-gambling crowd thinks I'm against the casino, let me be clear -- I'm not. Erie needs all of the new opportunities it can to draw money, people and jobs.

But the point of the e-letter was simple: we should be doing more. If the casino is the best we can do, Erie is in a lot of trouble.

Since the beginning of this year, we have seen progress with the casino and the convention center. But we've seen several potential projects crumble and have witnessed the loss of a gaggle of important Erie employers -- Steris Corp., Rent-Way Inc. and Brake Parts Erie, to name a few.

We simply need much more if we're going to make up what has been lost. We need to be thinking creatively -- and we need more people like Pat Black and Jim Berlin to invest here.

It saddens me to see 3,000 people waiting in line on a cold December day to apply for jobs at the casino. Many of those people have skill that could be used in more specialized jobs.

Now, on to some of the responses I've received to this week's letter.