Forbes Magazine: Portsmouth, Ohio, a 'Vulnerable' City
Forbes Magazine: Portsmouth, Ohio, a 'Vulnerable' City Save Email Print
Posted: 9:13 PM Oct 10, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:13 PM Oct 10, 2008
 Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (AP) -- One day after Sen. Barack Obama's visit to Portsmouth, the city is getting a different kind of attention.

On Friday, Forbes magazine put Portsmouth on a new list of the nation's 10 most vulnerable smaller cities and towns. Portsmouth was ranked 8th. The magazine reviewed things like unemployment, median incomes, poverty, education and outstanding mortgage debt.
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Posted by: Tyler on Oct 16, 2008 at 02:57 AM
This is very sad.
Posted by: Michael on Oct 14, 2008 at 04:14 PM
in responce to Bobby.. Lee Scott??? Are you serious!! He is the one that is causing all the trouble in Portsmouth. I know his family and MOST of them does not approve what he is doing. The problem with Portsmouth is that there is a few "big" fish in a "small" pond, and if Portsmouth grows they will be a "small" fish in a "big" pond...they will be less important and wont be able to get away with things that they have been able in the past. To solve this issue get the people that is in power out!!!! and DO NOT re-elect them! Get young people involved in the city and they will help the city grow! I am only 27 and i can think of several ways that i could help the city..but i am glad that I live in Wheelersburg! Portsmouth is DONE! If the Portsmouth Bypass ever comes in, you can kiss it good by! Lucasville and Wheelersburg will grow. Portsmouth will not get in people passing thriugh from north heading south...that menans restaurants and gas stations will suffer...
Posted by: Harold on Oct 12, 2008 at 11:21 PM
Im a lifelong resident of scioto county and was fortunate enough to work in state government long enough to retire. This is a beautiful area but unfortunately I dont see much hope of any large, good paying industry locating here. Too much bickering among city council members. They have been trying for years trying where to place a new city building or renovate an old department store. I think all of city council should be replaced, along with the mayor. Voters should elect new county commissioners instead of voting in the same old ones. Portsmouth's only new car dealerships are owned by the same family that have been around seemingly forever. I believe they dont want any competing new car dealers locating here. So next time i buy a new car I will have to travel out of town to buy a Ford or Chrysler product. Shawnee State is an assett to the city, but after graduation, then what? The graduate will likely have to move elsewhere to find employment. I dont have much hope for Portsmouth
Posted by: shad on Oct 12, 2008 at 10:03 PM
was the editor DRUNK OR HIGH
Posted by: Amy on Oct 12, 2008 at 09:07 PM
"NO one graduates from a major university and no major company comes to the area. i really doubt someone from harvard says hey i need to go to the ohio, kentucky, west virginia area after i graduate with all they have going for them. If we get anything good here its exported. we dont import anything good." This is not true. I know several people who come from scioto county who have graduated from Havard & Yale. Of course, they do not come back...
Posted by: Hope on Oct 12, 2008 at 07:25 AM
Now will several of the Fortune 500 companies send business this way?
Posted by: To Portsmouth Native on Oct 12, 2008 at 12:29 AM
Hey Portsmouth Native, if you have to compare your city to Franklin Furnace then you know you have hit bottom. Sorry to hear that.
Posted by: Rico on Oct 12, 2008 at 12:17 AM
Honestly, if we lose Portsmouth the country will move on just fine. I spent a week in Portsmouth one day. Not fun.
Posted by: Jessica on Oct 11, 2008 at 08:35 PM
I am not suprised by this designation. I believe the sluggish growth of this town has been due largely to greed by those corrupt individuals who are in our city government and those own large parts of the town. Unfortunately, we citizens are the ones who bear the brunt of this catastrophic mismanagement. We do live in a great city with great potential. Unfortunately, potential has fallen to the human vices of greed and ignorance. I hope when the people of this great city do vote, they pay attention to the issues and choose to do some research on their candidates. It doesn't matter if your party Republican or Democrat, petty partisan fights will overshadow the real issues, everyone needs to get out and vote with their heads.
Posted by: bobby on Oct 11, 2008 at 07:11 PM
i think we need new people to run portsmouth and get new business inportsmouth i live in west portsmouth and i do not personally know lee scot but i think he could do alot of good i hope he stays active even if it is behind the scenes he has peoples best interest in mind so what if he has a past everyone has a past it is the furture we need to concerate on people of portsmouth step up get our community back on track get rid of people who need booted out do your job or we will put someone in there that will
Posted by: charles carroll on Oct 11, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Portsmouth is suffering from all the symtoms , no jobs social decay from drugs and crime .All that is left is the retirement income from baby boomers and a few service jobs .Industrious people can turn things around but it takes people with vision and a positive attitude . Portsmouth had a powerful economy from ww2 until our smokestack jobs started to go into a decline in the late 70s.We need to go back to building what we consume and building things that will last a lifetime , and not keep to our throw away disposable mentality .I would like to see wind farms along 104 above the scioto river bring enough cheap , clean abundant power to bring manufacturing back to the Portsmouth area .I think its time to quit talking about how bad things are or will be and talk about how we can turn things around .Sometimes you have to hit bottom to know which way is up !
Posted by: Beth on Oct 11, 2008 at 06:34 PM
That would be embarrasing.
Posted by: Bob on Oct 11, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Well our whole tri state area is been on the bottom of about every list you can have and has been on the bottom no matter what president was in officer. The area looked like junk even in the "great clinton days" when everyone was making all that money. It will always be on the bottom and will never have nothing. NO one graduates from a major university and no major company comes to the area. i really doubt someone from harvard says hey i need to go to the ohio, kentucky, west virginia area after i graduate with all they have going for them. If we get anything good here its exported. we dont import anything good.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 11, 2008 at 06:29 AM
and you think obama will change this only person that will change this is MCCAIN you dont see MCCAIN out there telling people he can walk on water and buying up votes DRILL BABY DRILL MCCAIN 08
Posted by: Resident on Oct 11, 2008 at 05:58 AM
Does anyone wonder why Obama comes to Southern OH??? He is eloquent with WORDS and SHORT on substance. He tells you what you want to here- - - a DECEIVER, it is clear to anyone who uses common sense. He is a freshman Senator who has done nothing but be elected in one of the most corrupt states in the U.S. and if he were the man he now portrays himself as why didn't he introduce legislation or speak accordingly to the Senate. He is an OPPORTUNIST and they tell you what they will do for you but they don't. He savors Jimmy Carters financial strategies and JC's were the worst in history just check it out be informed. Since we all are from the Tri State Area we are neighbors and so we have similar desires and foundations. Keep this in mind "If it sounds to good to be true it is". How can a man be our President, our Leader when we can not find the answers to the issues around B.O.? The media in this country is worse than sensorship of any communist country because they to distort issue
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 11, 2008 at 01:23 AM
Vulnerable To what?
Posted by: Michael on Oct 11, 2008 at 12:31 AM
Portsmouth may not have jobs but they do have some beautiful murals and stars on the flood wall. I would like to give kudos to the residents of Franklin Furnace. They are really doing well with new businesses. Kudos also to New Boston for the businesses that they have. Keep up the good work Mayor Jim Warren. I believe New Boston is full other than a 1/2 acre tract, and I noticed that New Boston is taking on a positive approach against drug dealers.
Posted by: Michael on Oct 11, 2008 at 12:19 AM
This is a shame. Portsmouth has everything that big businesses look for;barge traffic, rail lines, water,ect. but with people not voting, this town is doomed. These large businesses have a map with a big red dot on portsmouth that states not to locate there. There are constant fighting and bickering among all the elected officials and they get voted right back in. Anybody can get on a computer across the nation and research Portsmouth and see the stupid antics that are going on. Portsmouth people do not want change, If they did then they would recall all of their city officials and vote in people that want to create jobs and change. Right now as it stands, Portsmouth is a Dope stop between Columbus and Huntington. How is it that these little towns around Portsmouth are thriving and Portsmouth is a ghost town. New Boston is taking over and Portsmouth is left to rot with their city officials. WAKE UP and demand CHANGE!!
Posted by: CHARLES on Oct 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM
I'M FROM PORTSMOUTH, BOTH ME & MY WIFE,HAVE BEEN IN THE HUNTINGTON AREA ABOUT 30 YEARS AND SORRY TO SAY, I SEE THINGS SIMILAR, HERE IN HUNTINGTON, AS IN PORTSMOUTH.....I WAS TOLD, BY A GENTLEMAN, WHO WAS APPOINTED, TO A CITY COUNCIL POSITION, AFTER A DEATH, IN PORTSMOUTH QUITE SOME YEARS AGO, AFTER HAVING SERVED ONLY ABOUT 3 WEEKS, THAT HE QUIT, BECAUSE HE SAW THAT HE WAS JUST SPINNING HIS WHEELS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE, AS THE CITY WAS RUN, BY ABOUT 6 FAMILIES, AND REGARDLESS, WHAT MEETINGS WERE HELD, IT DIDN'T MATTER. THE CLEAR CHOICE, IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IS IT DOESN'T MATTER, WHO WE ELECT, AS THE SCAPEGOAT, TO TAKE THE BLAME, THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO BE RUN, BY ALL THE LIFER'S WE HAVE IN CONGRESS, WHO BY CHOICE, ARE NOT GOING TO PASS TERM LIMITS, ON THEMSELVES & HAVE TO WORK, FOR A LIVING. WE HAVE THE SAME SITUATION HERE LOCALLY, MEANING CITY AND COUNTY, WE HAVE TERM LIMITS,BUT,WE HAVE LIFER'S,THAT JUST MOVE,FROM ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER.FORCE LIFER'S OUT--VOTE CHANGE!
Posted by: Robert on Oct 10, 2008 at 09:53 PM
This should come to no surprise to the city leaders who always blocked growth and only aided their own petty agendas. One drive thru the town clearly shows that the city leaders time and again only lead the city to its miserable condition. Maybe now someone will bull doze the hills over the city and sow the ground with salt as a shinning example of how not to lead. I moved away 30 years ago, and its plain to see that nothing has changed. Wise up citizens of this God forsaken town and vote EVERYONE out of office and get some fresh faces and ideas in office that will institute growth and change.
Posted by: Portsmouth Native on Oct 10, 2008 at 09:26 PM
This is truely sad, YET look at all the industry booming in Franklin Furnace just 20 minutes upriver from us, can you say stalemates in city council?
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The Yell: Comments for the Week of 1/4
  • Posted By: Ari: Cheers to Rob-I feel ya!
  • Posted By: joe: I have worked for companies all over this nation and have had to take drug tests. Why should teachers be exempt from this practice? It is now common to be randomly tested(and I have been) so what makes a teacher any different than a steel worker. I can say proudly that I passed but I have seen those who didn't. They chose to use drugs and lost their jobs I didn't.
  • Posted By: Katy: As a teacher, I have no problem being randomly drug tested...as long as you agree to drug test the parents who enter the doors of my school as well. Most teachers deal with students who are exposed to/use more drugs and alcohol than any of the teachers. If these students or parents who are using drugs (and are not drug tested) enter our schools, the safety of the teachers and students are at risk. Since children spend more time with them, let's randomly drug test PARENTS, too!!!
  • Posted By: stephen: Why the heavy emphasis ont he damage to property and life Israel is doing . Where was the media uproar for years that Hamas was rocketing Israel irespective of innocent israelis.. Hamas is actualykilling their own citizens by firing rockets from UN schools and residents. Why does UN allow Hamas to use facilities for attacking Israel, then complain when Israel responds to protect their territory and citizens. Israel targets military targets, respons to from whence rockets or gun fire comes. What would we fire at if Huntington was attacked?Why does the media not put bla,e where balame belongs, and give moral support to the aggreived.What would America do if attacked? to whom would we listen? Russia, Saudi Arabia,Iran?.Media get REAL! Who has given Hamas and the Palestinians millions with which they could buy weapons---American taxpayers money!
  • Posted By: Robert: Although I feel for the employees that lost their positions at Cabell Huntington Hospital, at least more nurses were hired. I recently had a relative in the cardiac unit at Kings Daughters, in Ashland, and I was told that the nursing staff had been cut back and that no overtime was being given. This seems to be a drastic cut in patient care for a facility that spends thousands advertising that they are in the top 5% of cardiac hospitals in the country. I would be willing to wager that the Cleveland Clinic has not cut hours of those giving patient care.
  • Posted By: Boyd: If the state's budget is doing so well, why don't we use some of this money to help towns and cities in the state who are in trouble with their budget, or will this just become another pay raise for politicians?
  • Posted By: Rob: Why does everyone have to be so into using the term "racist" and have that kind of attitude. I know what my heritage is and who my ancestors were but you want to know what I consider myself? I AM AN AMERICAN! I was born and raised in this country and that's how I feel it should be. Born here, raised here.....then by God you are an American. Not an African American, not an Asian American etc. etc. You are an AMERICAN!
  • Posted By: Chris: To Ex-Officer: I agree with you 100% about the pay of police dept and the drug testing. I was formerly involved with the BCPD and had multiple ride alongs with the BCSO. I am probably one of their biggest critics due to having watch some of the bad side of the department for a long time. I wish that I could tell everything that I have seen officers do,which would put most of them behind bars or they'll lose their sheild, But retalliation is bad in our area. To the cops that do their job and do it with the best intentions, I proud of you and don't mean any disrespect. To the ones who I personally watch being more currupt then the "badguys" here,your day will be coming.
  • Posted By: Pablo: Teachers aren't the only ones underpaid. Law enforcement officers are underpaid also. And I'd like to speak about them. For example, I'm sure any parent would sacrifice their live for thier children. And several may give thier live to save their spouse. A few individuals may even do it for a close friend. But, I only know of 3 types of beings who will sacrifice thier lives for complete strangers; indeed even for people who hate them. The first would be our men and women in our armed forces. The second would be our law enforcement officers. And of course, third would be our Savior, Jesus Christ. Others are killed in the line of their employment, but not in order to save a complete stranger. Everytime a cop puts on his/her uniform, they can be a target for anyone upset about something. Even though it doesn't involve the cop personally, that very cop will give his life to save yours when a problem arises. We need to give our cops not only a wage, but a living wage and a great big THANKS.
  • Posted By: Craig: If what I am hearing is correct that Kanawha County teachers accepted a pay raise in return for submitting to drug testing, and then sued successfully so they do not have to be subject to testing, then why shouldn't we the taxpayers demand they return the raise?
  • Posted By: teresa: racist lmao i am one cherokee,german,irish,german,and who knows what else TIRED of hearing of racist comments u are either GOOD OR BAD k no skin color needed just evil or NOT
  • Posted By: Ex-Officer: I agree with Robert 100% I worked in law enforcement and loved the job but try to rise a family on less than 10.00 an hour (out of that pay for your own duty gear and gun). I believe that all public safety workers should be drug tested but i also believe that they should be paid for the job that they do. Not many people understand what a public safty worker goes through. Would you put your life on the line for this kind of pay? Remember the saying that you get what you pay for. I see this in several new officers in my area. Don't get me wrong there are still very good officers in law enforcement. Something really needs to be done about the low pay for these jobs.
  • Posted By: Garland: What's the difference between teachers and other workers(coal mineers, bus drivers, state employees,etc.)? Teachers aren't any better are they?
  • Posted By: : This is not a comment, but I would like comments on it please. What do you think of Poca High School? Racist or not?
  • Posted By: Robert: We the people, through our own self centeredness and apathy, have allowed our teachers and police officials to be some of the most underpaid people in the United States. We are trusting our childrens education and our public safety to the very people that are some of the most underpaid profesions in the U.S.. If I could change this, I would. However, I do believe that these people should be randomly drug tested. I work in the construction industry and I have no problem being drug tested. I have nothing to hide. I also believe that any person who is intrusted with the safety of others should have nothing to hide. This includes plitical officials up to and including the president.
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