Carty Finkbeiner lovefest - This week on the Finkbeiner Radio Network formerly known as WSPD, Carty discussed how to take Toledo to the promise land. And it seems a lot of people bought into Carty's snake oil sales pitch. It's amazing how easily some people can be duped. Time doesn't heal wounds as much as it makes people stupid because they forget. I think Carty's approval rating at the end of his regime was less than 50%. In '99, there was a web-based campaign to recall Carty. Carty is a long-time politician, and believe it or not, politicians say things you want to hear.
Is it possible that Carty is currently being contrary to Mayor Ford, because it's popular? Carty made the great revelation that there are people in government who only got their jobs because it was a political favor. Is Carty saying that nothing like that occurred under his regime? That's just politics. It may not be right, but that's they way it is in the government workforce.
Officially, Carty hasn't announced he is running for Mayor. It's still up in the air. Bullshit. He's running. Carty just wants people to beg. Like any politician, he craves the attention. He needs his ego satisfied. He wants to feel needed.
So this is the best Toledo can do is put up a retread clown who is remembered in Trivial Pursuit for his comment about moving deaf people to the airport?
"The non-endorsement policy clears the way for former Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner to run with a free hand against current Mayor Jack Ford next year without having to battle against an organized party apparatus. If the party stays on the sidelines until after the September primary next year, Mr. Finkbeiner could build a head of steam. Eventually, he may even win the party's backing in the race. It's certainly within the realm of possibilities, considering Mr. Finkbeiner was among the organizers of the group that put the current party leaders into power in the first place."
I think Toledo Councilman Rob Ludeman will be the Republican challenger.
In past Toledo City Paper's Best OFs, Carty has been voted a local hero, a local zero, and most embarrassing.
On the smoking ban issue, Carty opposed Mayor Ford's smoking ban on Toledo, even though Carty supported a county-wide smoking ban. I guess Carty's thinking is it would "level playing the field." Last time I checked a map, Toledo was a border city. Some of the lost business from the Toledo ban was due to people going to Michigan, which would happen with a county-wide ban. And with a county ban, you would still have people taking their business to Rossford, Perrysburg, etc. Don't buy into this myth that Carty is somehow sensitive to small businesses, because he opposed the Toledo smoking ban.
Even the Blade admits the economic recession started in 2000 when Carty was still mayor. So it's unfair to blame every economic problem facing Toledo on Ford.
Carty has opposed Ford's idea about a sports arena. Is Carty being serious, or just being contrary to gain popularity? You know, talk of a new arena in Toledo began in 1993. Why didn't anything happen under the eight years of Carty?
How did Carty actually get his appointment to the board of directors of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority about two years ago? "Commissioner Maggie Thurber complained of 'external pressures exerted on this board' to appoint [Carty]." And Carty has the gaul to bitch about political favors in the Ford administration?
What about Carty's stability? From a June 23, 2003 story: "A counter employee at a ProCare service station told police that Carty Finkbeiner yelled and used profane language when he complained on Saturday about a delay to get an oil change for his vehicle." Of course, we all know about Carty roughing up restaurant and gas station owners. Take up pro wrestling, Carty.
What about this from May of 2001? (via Damn the Man)
"The city hall staff member who was involved in an altercation Tuesday with Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said yesterday that she won't take any action against the mayor. Lisa Marie Kowalski, 23, administrative assistant to Arturo Quintero, the mayor's executive officer, said she won't pursue the matter with police, through internal channels, or with a lawyer. When asked why she decided to drop the matter, Ms. Kowalski replied: "No comment."
"The incident took place about 5 p.m. Tuesday. Ms. Kowalski has declined to give specifics but has said the mayor used repeated profanity. She said she reported the incident to Marsha Serio, the city's director of human resources. Ms. Serio has not returned numerous calls seeking comment and was off work yesterday."
Carty versus Pepe's owner back in 2000.
"Mr. Skiadas, owner of Pepe's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina on West Sylvania Avenue, was preparing to open the restaurant in the city-owned [Erie Street] market when Mr. Finkbeiner confronted him about construction delays that caused the restaurant to miss a July 4th weekend opening."
"Mr. Skiadas claimed the former mayor was verbally and physically abusive, screamed profanity, and threatened to send city inspectors to find violations at the West Sylvania restaurant. He claimed stress from the incident caused him to suffer an angina attack that sent him to a hospital, and that he was so badly traumatized, he was suicidal, depressed, and became less involved in the operation of the restaurants."
A pattern?
"Moments before abstaining from a vote on a financing package for a senior living center, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority board member Carty Finkbeiner yesterday criticized such Catholic-run facilities for what he claimed was a history of paying low wages."
"His observation came as the port board was considering approval of up to $45 million in bond financing for St. Mary of the Woods, a senior living project in Avon, Ohio. The project would be owned by the nonprofit Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Service Corp., which operates 13 senior communities in the Midwest serving about 2,700 seniors."
"Julie Secviar, senior vice president for strategic resources for the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Service Corp., said Mr. Finkbeiner - who is an Episcopalian - was wrong. She said the wages paid by her company are at or above the industry's market. If anything, she said, nonprofit senior operations pay higher than comparable for-profit companies."
"Mr. Finkbeiner was one of the leaders of the movement that removed party Chairman Paula Ross and replaced her with Sandy Isenberg, a former county commissioner." And we know what an upstanding person The Berg is. She's as uncooth as they come. How's that go? Birds of the same feather flock together. Something like that. The Berg and The Fink are made for each other.
I like this line from Carty:
"It's nice to have your friends in the Democratic Party offices but that is not a factor in whether or not I will be a candidate for mayor or any other office."
Friends in political offices, eh? It's okay for Carty but not Ford?
"The city employee, Lee Youster, 46, of 3540 Beverly Drive, was charged with theft in office. Mr. Youster, who supervises pool managers, is suspended pending an administrative hearing today, Police Chief Mike Navarre said. Mr. Youster, who was hired in February, 1999, during then-Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's administration, declined comment yesterday. He is Mr. Finkbeiner's brother-in-law."
Mmmm. A favor to a family member, possibly?
"The playing field in the race for Toledo mayor next year may have tilted with last night's vote, as incumbent Democrat Jack Ford, a strong Ross supporter, could only watch from the back row at the United Auto Workers Local 12 hall on Ashland Avenue as the faction that included a possible opponent, former Democratic Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, seized control."
"The city of Toledo's condemnation of 83 homes to make room for the construction of the DaimlerChrysler Jeep plant in 1999 has made a national list of "10 top abuses of eminent domain" by the Institute for Justice. Former Mayor Carty Finkbeiner could not be reached for comment. Mr. Finkbeiner has defended the incentives as necessary to retain 4,900 jobs."
"The institute also argues that the city of Toledo should not have counted on tax revenues from new employees expected at the plant to repay the loan because it was evident from the start that the plant was automated, with laser-guided robots doing much of the work. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader, the Green Party's 2000 presidential candidate, has been highly critical of Toledo's use of eminent domain for the Jeep plant."
"The Institute for Justice report argues that "most people would be shocked to discover that governments across the nation are taking individuals' homes only to transfer that property to a favored business or neighbor or that businesses are often being condemned so that another business can take their property and make a larger profit." "
"Other Latinos have complained about initiatives such as Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's Commission on Minority Health, a program designed improve the health care of all minorities. The commission is chaired by two black women."
"WHILE some folks in town viewed it as a political blunder of catastrophic proportions, we consider Mayor Jack Ford's decision to fly to Europe directly from Detroit rather than Toledo both practical and sensible. It's not like Mr. Ford is the first Toledo mayor to choose Metro for overseas trips. His predecessor, Carty Finkbeiner, did the same thing, and understandably so."
"Toledo Police Chief Mike Navarre said that the bicycle helmet law would be very problematic. I think that was an understatement. After all, he did support Carty Finkbeiner's gun control laws, and those are far more problematic."
A favorable rating story of local politicians from July 2003:
"Mr. Ford received the most "favorable" responses with 61 percent of the respondents rating him that way. Former Mayor Carty Finkbeiner had a 53 percent favorable rating, followed by Mr. Silverman with 44 percent, Superintendent Eugene Sanders with 43 percent, the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders with 42 percent, members of the school board with 34 percent, and leaders of the AFL-CIO at 27 percent."
It's understandable why competent people don't want to run for mayor of Toledo. They'd have to take a pay-cut, play the corrupt political game, and kiss the ring of JR Block.
posted by jr to politics at 9:27 P.M. EST
(18 Comments)
Comments ...
Both mayors had major faults, which were detrimental to Toledo residents. Carty Finkbeiner is a self-important jerk that can’t work well with others. Jack Ford is just, basically put, incompetent. The major fault both mayors had was corruption. While some may argue that you should choose the abusive jerk over the incompetent ass, I would say the corruption is the most pernicious aspect of either candidate.
posted by Guest at 07:12 A.M. EST on Fri Dec 17, 2004 #
Anyone who plans to oppose these two will need to both be very decisive about running and do it early just to overcome the name recognition issue.
-Dan
posted by photodan at 06:08 P.M. EST on Fri Dec 17, 2004 #
By the way, I like the "Merry Christmas" in binary/ASCII.
0100110101100101011100100111001001111001 010000110110100001110010011010010111001101110100011011010110000101110011 01110100 01101111 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01110100 01101111 01101111 00100001[/geek]
-Dan
posted by photodan at 06:19 P.M. EST on Fri Dec 17, 2004 #
oops, I meant, 01001101 01100101 01110010 01110010 01111001 00100000 01000011 01101000 01110010 01101001 01110011 01110100 01101101 01100001 01110011 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01110100 01101111 01101111 00100001
-Dan
posted by photodan at 06:20 P.M. EST on Fri Dec 17, 2004 #
"It's amazing how easily some people can be duped."
How do you think Georgie W. Bush was elected and re-elected?
posted by Chaz at 08:06 P.M. EST on Fri Dec 17, 2004 #
"It's amazing how easily some people can be duped."
How do you think Georgie W. Bush was elected and re-elected?
I don’t think anybody was duped, people are smater than what you give them credit for. In 2000 you had the moron agianst the enviromental extreamist who doesn’t care if the middle class has to pay $15.00 for a gallon of gas to get to work as long as it is good for the enviroment. In 2004 you had the same moron running agianst John Kerry, who only paid 12.8% of his income in taxes, despite the fact I paid almost double, and then his running mate, the shyster lawyer who worked for years to increase health care costs through his lawsuits.
The loss of the presidential election and several house and senate seats should not be blamed on the public being duped, it’s about the message the democratic party is sending the moderate voter.
posted by mike2004 at 10:21 A.M. EST on Sat Dec 18, 2004 #
"Merry Christmas to you too!"
Thanks, Dan.
posted by jr at 12:11 P.M. EST on Sun Dec 19, 2004 #
How did Carty actually get his appointment to the board of directors of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority about two years ago? "Commissioner Maggie Thurber complained of 'external pressures exerted on this board' to appoint [Carty]."
The external pressures that Maggie Thurber referred to came from one source: John Robinson Block.
posted by Guest at 10:37 A.M. EST on Mon Dec 20, 2004 #
I’m sure John Block did all he could to get Carty on the board. Just because religious tolerance seems to be an issue at the moment, I would remind everyone that when Carty ran for mayor in 1993, he bashed his opponent, Michael Ferner, for being an agnostic. The rag, I mean The Blade went along with this bigotry with the utmost enthusiasm.
posted by mike2004 at 09:31 A.M. EST on Tue Dec 21, 2004 #
Don't forget Carty bashed Catholics when he was against the Port Authority's financing a Catholic-run senior center near Cleveland.
posted by Guest at 10:05 A.M. EST on Tue Dec 21, 2004 #
"Carty has opposed Ford's idea about a sports arena. Is Carty being serious, or just being contrary to gain popularity? You know, talk of a new arena in Toledo began in 1993. Why didn't anything happen under the eight years of Carty? "
Simple, Carty's a stooge to not only the Block family, but also the Gladieux family (the owners of the Toledo Storm and the current sports arena). Carty did nothing because the Gladieuxs told him to do nothing (unless the taxpayers built them a new arena).
If only the Rossford arena and amphitheater project went through, we wouldn't have these issues (but the Gladieuxs, Blocks, Carty Finkbeiner, and Sandy Isenberg killed it).
posted by Guest at 02:56 P.M. EST on Thu Dec 23, 2004 #
Carty, how could you side with Rossford School's sponsoring the group Pawn to distribute their Christian agenda during school hours? I've known you for many years, but you really blew it on this one. It goes right next to sending deaf people to live by the airport. Public schools should NEVER in any way promote the religious beliefs of ANY SINGLE religion. This is NOT a Christian country. Thousands of local citizens praise messiahs other than Jesus. NONE of them want to their children to hear this or that about Jesus. I mean NONE of them. Keep Jesus in the parochial school. If you don't like that, well... it's "just not right!"
posted by Chaz at 06:32 P.M. EST on Sun Dec 26, 2004 #
Any sensible man would judge that C. Finkbeiner is a man in need of medical attention. He is so obviously and clinically crazy that his re-election only demonstrates how monstrously dumb the Toledo body politic is.
Morons elect morons. I'm going to really enjoy being part of Toledo's "brain drain" soon. Toledoans are in for some impressive fiscal agonies and I WILL have my blackest laugh at all of it, surfing the Internet from a real American city for news of Toledo's latest cut or scrape. Hell, I'm laughing now! Har har!
Tax yourselves to death, Toledo. Hand out more tax abatements, as if that will halt your impressive slide into utter bankruptcy. Here's to your continued payments on that dumbassed clean room that you bought for a private company in 1995 (and -- what a shock! -- they left you holding the bag). Make sure your political "leaders" continue to demonstrate that if they were real loan officers, they'd be FIRED inside of 2 weeks on the job.
And, oh yeah, make sure you vote Carty the Crazy Loon back into office. Nothing like a having an insane person actually represent an insane society. It only makes ... sense!
posted by Guest at 03:26 P.M. EST on Sat Jan 08, 2005 #
Everyone that has commented knows NOTHING about the real Carty Finkbeiner. He brought more growth to Toledo in eight years than Mayor Ford could do in 50.
None of you know Carty personally, like I do. He is not a politician for his ego--he is passionate about helping the city of Toledo. He would never do anything for "politics sake." That is not him at all; he makes decisions based on his own convictions, not what is best for his career.
By the way, this was especially offensive:
"Officially, Carty hasn't announced he is running for Mayor. It's still up in the air. Bullshit. He's running. Carty just wants people to beg. Like any politician, he craves the attention. He needs his ego satisfied. He wants to feel needed."
CARTY WASN'T SURE IF HE WOULD RUN BECAUSE HE UNDERWENT MAJOR HEART SURGERY LAST YEAR. HE WASN'T SURE IF HE WAS PHYSICALLY UP TO IT.
posted by Guest at 12:33 A.M. EST on Fri Jan 21, 2005 #
A May 4, 2004 story by Toledo Blade political writer Fritz Wenzel.
"Mr. Finkbeiner said he would wait until the end of the year before deciding whether to run. "It's not a time for me to be driven by ego," said Mr. Finkbeiner, who is recovering from heart surgery. "It's time for me to get healthy. Then I will decide." "
This topic was started on Dec 16, 2004. That's pretty darn close to the end of the year. And still no decision. Are you saying that Carty is still not healthy? Your comment would apply for May 2004. Was Carty saying that May 2004 was not the time to be driven by ego, but spring 2005 will be the time to be driven by ego? Of course politicians are driven by ego, some more than others.
posted by jr at 11:12 A.M. EST on Fri Jan 21, 2005 #
You know, I earlier overlooked the humor in the statement:
"By the way, this was especially offensive:"
So Guest was calling one of my comments about Carty offensive. Think about that. That's funny. Carty is known for his offensive language in public when he gets mad. He's made the news about it in the past.
Using vulgarity in speech is a sign of ignorance or at least intellectual laziness. The inability to produce sensible nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Or the profanity-laden tirades are a sign of emotional instability.
Condi Rice exhibited incredible restraint and intelligence during Barbara Boxer's absurd commentary the other day. What would happen if Carty faced a Boxer-like verbal assault?
posted by jr at 11:06 P.M. EST on Fri Jan 21, 2005 #
Blade columnist Roberta deBoer's January 23, 2005 column:
"Carty was once a Republican. Then he was a Democrat. Then an Independent. We haven’t heard anything about the Green or Libertarian parties, but anything’s possible. For now, he’s the leader of the Carty Party."
"Many tongues wag about [Carty's] desire to become Mayor Redux. He’d have to face the incumbent Democrat, a slumbering bruin whose hibernation cycle, sadly, seems to have coincided with his term of office."
"Voters noticed; it’s why many now long wistfully for the Carty days. See, Carty is a whirlwind always in motion, and folks mistake that for accomplishment."
"Also, as people here are fond of reminding one another, Carty’s the biggest cheerleader this city ever had, which sounds swell until you realize how this can also be the express route to a state of delusion."
"Carty is a wildly popular form of Toledo entertainment. We love him/hate him in equal measure, and can’t wait/can’t bear for him to run again for mayor."
posted by jr at 11:34 A.M. EST on Sun Jan 23, 2005 #
Explain to me why Mayor Ford paid Jimmy Jackson $300,00.00 to take the steam plant rather than let the developer from Findlay buy it from the city for $500,000.00. His decision cost the city $800,000.00. That is dumber than having deaf people live near the airport.
posted by Guest at 08:54 P.M. EST on Wed Jan 26, 2005 #
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