1. I predict nothing will be done, they are dancing around what the Clean Campaign Committee stated. Personally it would have been better if the CCCC had been a bit more clear.
2. This could be interesting, could also be one of those small slap on the wrists that does nothing but, I will add...GOOOO DAVE!!!
3. I felt the more important aspect of that article was the Blades request that candidates agree to a criminal background check. In my opinion? That would not be something I believe is the Blades place to request.
4. I'm not sure how much union endorsements do anymore but last check Carty was ahead in that area.
5. I think they had already decided once the changes to Promenade were announced and something should have been done before then if Toledo wanted to keep it downtown. Now it seems to late. Especially since the changes to Promenade are now on hold, I guess this is an example of you don't want to announce things that later you decide not to do. Had Ford not announced his "proposed" changes to Promenade would they have announced this? Seems silly to have an ampitheatre there if they are planning on creating one at the Marina District. This demonstrates poor communication of projects...
my half cent on them.
:-)
posted by psyche777 at 08:19 A.M. EST on Fri Oct 14, 2005 #
I can't believe more people aren't commenting on this or on the Blade demand and some candidates folding to the whole criminal background check.
posted by psyche777 at 10:54 P.M. EST on Fri Oct 14, 2005 #
About the Rib-Off:
I've said it before, and it bears repeating: Toledo is now too impoverished to make any meaningful bribes to businesses and organizations to persuade them to do anything to Toledo's or downtown's advantage.
It sure was amusing to watch Ford AND Carty scrambling to "offer" (i.e. bribe) the Rib-Off stuff downtown. But all that was so obviously grasping at straws (i.e. offering 1 screwed-up property after another, combined with nebulous services promises from a city infrastructure that cannot keep them) that I grew ill just reading it all.
Toledo has lost too much fiscal energy. It has fallen below a critical threshhold ... like trying to obtain health insurance for a pre-existing condition after you've been unemployed for some time. It's too late. You just can't muster the money to make it.
Toledo had succumbed to the wealth effect (much performed under Carty's deformed reign) and no longer is capable of living in a time of scarcity. Neither Ford nor CArty understand this, and their "economic development" plans will fail no matter how many city blocks they bulldoze for yuppie housing and strip malls.
My prediction is the Rib-Off will be perfectly fine in its new location. After all, like much of the retail money, it just followed the wealthier or continued-accredited consumers to Maumee and Perrysburg. Even if fewer people will show up, they'll just up the fees and continue to retain their profit margin.
posted by GuestZero at 02:09 A.M. EST on Sat Oct 15, 2005 #
psyche - they didn't ask for background or credit checks last year...so they're being very selective in when they ask and of whom they ask. Guess that they didn't want to embarass those who carry their agenda (like Ujvagi who's business went bankrupt).
Also, they've asked for income tax returns this year, but they didn't last year.
I don't think candidates should sign the waivers for these checks, there's plenty of information available in the public records. After all, KMH, Copeland and Shankland's info was in public offices and that's how they got it.
As for the rib-off...I'll post on that thread.
posted by intrepid at 05:32 A.M. EST on Sat Oct 15, 2005 #
Exactly intrepid, there is more than enough public information out there. If the city wants background checks done on candidates then it should be done thru the proper channels. Not the Blade.
posted by psyche777 at 11:01 A.M. EST on Sat Oct 15, 2005 #
The Blade is continuing its ongoing agenda of controlling what the public talks about. More often than not, the public does talk about whatever is in the broadcast and print media rather than the media reporting on what the public is talking about.
Bottom line: The media sets the agenda.
posted by RolandHansen at 03:11 P.M. EST on Sat Oct 15, 2005 #
All,
Re: the various checks being requested. I have relented on everything except the credit check. I have only provided my score and public records / collection history. I put it on my website for the Blade to pull off. Hopefully that will suffice for them. As for the 1040 request, I have refused to do that and have told them to request my ethics filing from the state. I do not have any federal tax liens or have I ever abused what authority I have to weasal out of a ticket like some have. :)
www.davidschulz.com
posted by daveschulz at 10:49 P.M. EST on Sat Oct 15, 2005 #
The Blade is continuing its ongoing agenda of controlling what the public talks about. More often than not, the public does talk about whatever is in the broadcast and print media rather than the media reporting on what the public is talking about.
Bottom line: The media sets the agenda.
posted by RolandHansen at 04:11 P.M. EST on Sat Oct 15, 2005 #
-------------------------------------------
THANK YOU!! I've been saying the exact same thing for years now, Roland.
posted by Foolkiller at 12:53 A.M. EST on Sun Oct 16, 2005 #
Dave, I'm sorry you felt it necessary to give in to them. As I told Frank, I personally would have advised all of you to refuse enmasse rather than to fold to the Blade.
I can understand why you did as I understand why Frank did, but?
Sooo not necessary for The Blade to demand of any of you.
I don't take back my GOOOO DAVE though...lol
:-)
posted by psyche777 at 11:12 P.M. EST on Sun Oct 16, 2005 #
"Two of Toledo's police and fire unions blasted Mayor Jack Ford's recent campaign commercials that refer to the north-end riot, saying his negotiation attempt at the incident hindered police operations. Union leaders said they have fielded dozens of calls from members "outraged" and "appalled" by the ads that refer to the riot."
Gregg Harris, TPPA president said:
"The mayor's ads are outrageous. I can't believe that you would do something like that."
Jim Martin, Local 92 president said:
"We believe what the mayor did is both inappropriate and opportunistic. It does not speak well of a top official using an event like this to get re-elected."
Megan Vahey, Mr. Ford's campaign manager said:
"We think that it's an important message to tell Toledoans of the mayor's actions during the North Toledo disturbance. It's something that's on everyone's minds, and we feel it's important to keep it on."
Here is Ford's latest Clean Campaign violation. Mr. Ford's campaign issued a statement:
"This is a desperate attempt by the Finkbeiner campaign to besmirch the mayor's actions during the North Toledo disturbance. It is too bad that safety unions' leadership, who have endorsed Mr. Finkbeiner, are being used by him in an attempt to smear Mayor Ford to further Mr. Finkbeiner's own political agenda."
Who is desperate here?
Mayor Ford is a liar. He agreed to the Clean Campaign Committee's guidelines, yet he continues to violate them.
posted by jr at 08:02 A.M. EST on Tue Oct 25, 2005 #
And will continue to do so. He has NO intention of pulling these ads. He's far too arrogant for that. He'll play the race card right up to election day.
posted by Foolkiller at 11:18 A.M. EST on Tue Oct 25, 2005 #
The main issue with the ads, to me, is that in 4 years Ford has not bothered to include the public in any message(s). NOW all of a sudden he thinks it is in the best interest of the city to share his 'bravery' of marching into an angry crowd as some sort of personal sacrifice.
Had Ford acknowledged the problem all along, perhaps we would have not had such a horrible result. Ideally, we would have had the entire situation so under control that there would have been no need for any of this.
Jack Ford boasts 'quiet, effective leadership' in his campaign lines. He's been so quiet that we can't tell that we even have a Mayor. Now he wants us all to take his side because he went marching up to a group of ticked off folks???? I don't think so, Jack.
posted by DoknowDocare at 09:18 P.M. EST on Tue Oct 25, 2005 #
More examples of abuse by the People's Republic of Toledo can be read on historymike's and Bob Frantz's blogs.
From historymike's blog about Tuesday night's Zablocki Town Hall meeting:
"Ford's people, according to my sources, aggressively barred other groups, while permitting Ford campaigners a privileged place inside the town hall."
From Frantz's blog:
"Steve Fought, Assistant Clerk of Toledo City Council, who makes $62,500 per year, was granted a leave of absence, without a vote of council, to work as a paid employee of the R.O.N. campaign to pass Issues 2, 3, 4, and 5. By the time the election is over, he will have missed roughly 7 weeks of council work."
"Keith McCrea, Legislative Director of Toledo City Council, who makes $51,000 per year, was granted a leave of absence, without a vote of council, to work as a paid employee of the TPS Levy Campaign. By the time the election is over, he will have missed roughly 8 weeks of council work."
"Megan Vahey, Executive Assistant to Toledo Mayor Jack Ford, who makes $65,000 per year, was granted a leave of absence to work as a paid employee as Mayor Ford's campaign manager. She took her leave beginning in June, which means that by the time the election is over, she will have missed roughly 5 months of city work."
"Section 2101.19 of the Toledo city charter states: "No employee shall be granted a leave of absence for the purpose of entering employment for another employer or becoming self-employed."
"The penalty for this violation is termination from the city position."
"Mayor Ford's Ethics Policy, revised July 10, 2003, section III, states: "An employee shall not request a leave of absence for the purpose of entering employment with another employer or to be self-employed." "
"Okay. So the city charter, along with the Mayor's own ethics policy forbids city employees from taking leaves of absence to take paid positions in working for these 3 campaigns...and yet their jobs are being held open for them to return when the election is over."
Well, I'm sure the city could find an attorney that would say the city is exempt from its own rules. Would this be the same city charter that prevented Council from putting the 2003 strict smoking ban on the ballot so voters could decide the issue? Selective enforcement of the charter.
Bob writes more on this and asks the question, are these people needed by the city in the first place if they can spend weeks or months away from city work? Looks like a waste of taxpayer money.
posted by jr at 12:51 P.M. EST on Wed Oct 26, 2005 #
I would think that anyone who had previously asked for a leave and had it denied because they would be "employed" elsewhere now has standing to sue the city. Wonder if any of the unions have members who were denied leave - or who didn't ask because of the policy....
I can see the lawyers salivating now...
posted by intrepid at 12:57 P.M. EST on Wed Oct 26, 2005 #
"Selective enforcement of the charter." --jr
JFo didn't invent selective enforcemant of the City Charter.
He did, however perfect it...
posted by Hooda_Thunkit at 06:41 P.M. EST on Wed Oct 26, 2005 #
So the more people get away with violating the city charter, the more it happens and the better they get at it???? Hooda thunk? (play on name intentional)
posted by intrepid at 08:08 P.M. EST on Wed Oct 26, 2005 #
Wasn't sure, but this seemed a logical place for this comment:
I finally broke down and visited Szollosi's blog - which wasn't easy for me as I'm not a big fan of his, but rumor had it he talked about a friend who publishes Talk of the Town....(yes, he did and it was complimentary)
However, I found his list of "allies" very interesting as he has listed the "Lucas County Commissioners." I couldn't help but wonder if he means all three or does he only recognize two individuals as being county commissioners....
posted by intrepid at 08:47 P.M. EST on Wed Oct 26, 2005 #
NBC 24 story titled: "Is Mayor Ford Under the Influence of First Energy?"
"First Energy just reported a summer of huge profits. Now the utility wants to freeze your electric rates for the next three years, claiming it will save you money."
"Toledo Mayor Jack Ford has a key vote coming up, because city council is split down the middle on that controversial plan. But NBC24 has learned Ford and First Energy have some tight ties that may influence that vote."
"Toledoans got really mad when NBC24 broke the story of Columbia Gas making record profits of more than $120 million dollars in one year. But First Energy made nearly three times that much in just three months over the summer - $332 million."
"The utility titan claims their rate freeze plan will save customers money now by deferring their cost increases for a few years."
"Toledo City Council tied six-to-six on a vote to support the plan. Mayor Jack Ford will cast the tie-breaking vote on Tuesday."
One week before being voted out of office, will Ford screw Toledoans a few years from now? And what about the six council slugs that agree with the First Energy plan?
So how will Ford vote on Tuesday? From the 24 story:
"An NBC24 investigation finds the utility's chief executive Anthony Alexander, regional president Jim Murray and the company's political action committee donated a total of $6,500 to the mayor's re-electon campaign. Ford's Chief of Staff Tom Crothers is also a former First Energy executive."
"Mayor Ford refused on-camera comment, but told NBC24 by phone: "First Energy and other utilities have donated to me for twenty years. This will not influence by vote, I call the issues as I see them. I am trying to negotiate a better deal for rate-payers." "
"NBC24 tried to reach the top execs at First Energy, but got passed off to a spokesperson, who says the utility titan participates in the political process, by donating to candidates who share their views."
posted by jr at 10:05 A.M. EST on Thu Oct 27, 2005 #
Oct 27 Blade story:
"The Ford administration will propose legislation to help salvage Toledo's annual downtown holiday parade - an event organizers predicted would be a slim celebratory affair if an infusion of funding did not come soon."
I did not just read that statement in a daily newspaper. Propose legislation to spend taxpayer dollars for a frigging parade. Is this another stunt by Ford to get re-elected? Is he going after the parade-vote?
Ford said:
"[Because of] an upturn in our tax receipts, I think it would be prudent to take $35,000 and support CitiFest to have a strong holiday parade, to kick off the holiday season with a celebration citywide."
Why? Why give city/taxpayer money to a parade? Of all the things going on with the city, why waste money on this?
From the story:
"Revenue to support the parade's $108,000 budget was short by a $55,000, primarily from the loss of a $40,000 title sponsor. Usually the parade consists of 60 units, such as balloons, floats, equestrian teams, and marching bands. This time last year, CitiFest had about 45 units signed up. Right now, they have about 20."
Apparently, no big business wants to support a parade. What's the big attraction with standing outside in downtown Toledo in late November or early December, whenever the parade is? Is it possible that parades are just not popular anymore? Doesn't one of the local stations broadcast the parade on TV? If so, why stand out in the elements if you can watch it on TV?
Instead of being at the parade, I would think a lot of people would prefer to be at one of the fancy shopping centers racking up debt or at home watching one of the 200+ channels on TV or surfing the web or playing video games or anything besides standing outside on what is likely to be a cold day.
posted by jr at 11:22 A.M. EST on Thu Oct 27, 2005 #
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