September 2017 Behind The Bubble UPDATED

I would have titled this, "Sounds of Silence," but Jason wanted to write a positive story. Kudos to John Bendel, the only one to submit a response. Thanks, John.

                                                                                                     -Elaine

September 2017 Behind The Bubble

MTL’s Good Things

by Jason Margolis

Within the comments in response to August 2017’s Behind the Bubble, I was encouraged to focus more on the “good things” about MTL and write a positive story. I thought that this was a fair critique and endeavored to do so in this article.

I began by identifying 13 prominent MTL residents/figures who would be well-positioned to speak to MTL’s best qualities. Here is the list I compiled:

Susan Morgans – Public Information Officer

John Bendel – Commissioner

Steve Silverman - Commissioner

Stephen McLean - Commissioner

David Brumfield - Commissioner

Kelly Fraasch - Commissioner

Keith McGill – Municipal Manager

Andrew McCreery – Director of Finance

Laura Pace Lilley – Senior Editor, MTL Magazine

Aaron Lauth – Police Chief

Rudy Sukal – Public Works Director

David Donnellan – Recreation Director

Timothy Steinhauer – Superintendent of Schools

Each of the individuals above received the following question via email:

If someone from out of the area were considering moving to MTL, what would you say is MTL’s greatest strength or asset as a community?  Why is MTL a good place to move to and live in at this time?

Of the 13 email recipients, 9 did not respond.

3 responded to decline participation – Susan Morgans, Keith McGill, and Laura Pace Lilley.

I received only one response – from Ward 1 Commissioner John Bendel:

Our greatest strength is an excellent quality of life that comes from friendships with neighbors, positive residential engagement, and access to quality resources – schools, amenities, and services. Mt. Lebanon is a smart investment in: Your family – a top notch school district, youth activities and caring neighbors, all within a safe environment that allows your family an opportunity to grow and thrive. Your quality of life – access to transportation, quality municipal services and many assets, including vibrant business districts, library and recreational facilities. Your finances – our properties are in high demand, which drives values higher, building equity in your home.

… One could hypothesize a number of reasons for the lack of responses to this question.  But it is impossible to know for sure.  The only thing that is certain is that John Bendel gets the last – and only – word in response to why MTL is such a good place to live.

Update September 1, 2017 8:00 AM It would have been Sounds of Silence Part II: The Return of Crickets. Remember January 2017: The Sounds of Silence? - Jason