Ohio clergy to NY media outlet: ‘Who made you judge over us?’

Article updated October 19,2019

MANSFIELD — A New York-based media outlet has compiled a list of the “Fifty Most Miserable Cities” in the nation, drawing the ire of Ohio faith leaders. According to Business Insider, Mansfield, Ohio is ranked as the forty-third most miserable city in the country based on its recent analysis of census data. But North Central Ohio clergy say the invalid rankings are comparing apples to oranges.

Two pastors openly question how a media outlet can make scathing attacks against the city without even setting foot inside it. Ironically, two prominent cities appear to be missing from the list.

“I had never heard of Business Insider until they decided to smear my hometown,” says Reverend El Akuchie of the Richland Community Prayer Network. “It is interesting that Business Insider has two offices in the U.S., its headquarters in New York City, and its other office in San Francisco. Both were left off the Top 50 list. In fact, San Francisco is not included in the list of cities that were judged.”

“Scripture tells us, ‘Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you,” says Akuchie. “‘And why do you look a the speck in your brother’s eye but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”

According to Business Insider, “Mansfield used to have lots of industrial work, with people making things like steel, machinery, and stoves, but that dried up in the 1970s and 1980s. More recently, in 2010, a GM factory closed its doors, leading to more job losses.”

In 2014, the City of Mansfield was released from fiscal emergency. Mayor Timothy Theaker’s office provided Frontlines Ohio a list of new private economic investments and expansions that are ongoing in 2019.

Reverend Akuchie comments, “Our community does not dwell on the past from three decades ago. The case could be made that Business Insider is covering up morally-bankrupt policies of other metropolitan areas by critiquing Mansfield, Ohio which is known for its social-conservatism. This outlet is trying to put Mansfield into a box and their narrative does not work.”

Mansfield Fellowship Pastor Randy Raynes believes Mansfield’s ranking is unfair and inaccurate.

“Business Insider says that ‘Mansfield has had a surge in crime, and between 2012-2017 violent crimes rose by 37%.’ To be fair to the truth, Mansfield Police Chief Ken Coontz in 2018 reported to City Council three consecutive years of a decline in violent crimes and also stated ‘Mansfield had unprecedented church involvement for several years.”

Reverend Raynes believes, “Everything positive in a community originates from an adherence to GOD’s Word. Righteousness exalts a nation while sin is a reproach to any people. When the wicked bear rule, it produces misery, but GOD created Christianity to overcome misery.”

Raynes says Mansfield and New York City morals are the polar opposite.

“Anti-GOD policies cannot have moral results. The law enforcement in New York City goes unsupported by city administration, marijuana has been decriminalized by its elected officials, infanticide is celebrated by its Legislature, and businesses supporting family values like Chick fil-A are boycotted by the New York City Mayor.

“In a stark contrast, clergy in Mansfield recently held a press conference honoring law enforcement, faith leaders have gone on record supporting prohibition of marijuana, pastors have defended the life of newborns, and local ministers invited Chick fil-A to come establish business in town.”

Both clergy cite that unemployment in the Mansfield metropolitan area dropped from 14.4% in January 2010 to 4.4% in August 2019. Mansfield is also very affordable, with a cost of living 7.5% lower than the national average. And the real median family income in Mansfield has skyrocketed (+12.31%) outpacing national (+8.17%) and state (+7.84%) growth incomes over the last three years.

The real story does not end there.

Business Insider’s CEO and Editorial Director is Manhattan-native Henry Blodget. Due to his violations of securities laws and civil trial conviction, Blodget has been permanently banned from involvement in the securities industry. Blodget publicly called stocks “junk” while secretly investing in them.

Akuchie says Blodget’s history begs the question. “It seems that Mr. Blodget is still continuing to pull the wool over people’s eyes, but this time in the marketplace of ideas. With Blodget’s past corruption, perhaps he privately believes Mansfield is a treasure,” Akuchie says grinning.

The Bottom Line:

The Bible says in John Chapter One, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Phillip.”

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