"Five Questions with ..." is a regular Keystone Crossroads feature where we seek to glean wisdom and ideas from some of Pennsylvania's top urban thinkers and doers. Todd Erdley is the president and CEO of Videon in State College.
Q: What amenity or service that you've seen in your travels to other places do you wish you could bring back to your community?
A: When I travel to many other locations including those that are in climate zones much colder than State College, I see a significant commitment to outdoor seating at restaurants, coffee shops and bookstores. There is something about seeing people outside of these places that enables a "vibe." It creates energy. It enables random collisions of people. It fosters communication. So while not so much a service, this type of amenity I believe would be a phenomenal spark to the "vibe" that already exists in State College. It would enable our positive spirit to really amplify and I believe great results would unfold.
Read the full version of this interview at the website of Keystone Crossroads, a new statewide public media initiative reporting on the challenges facing Pennsylvania's cities. WPSU is a participating station.
