One major reason that our State grant was removed is that there was no unified collaboration between local entities (EISC, RGP, Chamber, City, County, local legislators, UT, MCO, etc.) Instead of supporting the grant for this year, they left the EISC out to dry. They also failed to promote the successes of CIT-related (incubated) business to the State (ODOD). Then, when the RGP received an alternate $800K grant, but could not go through the EISC, they failed to move quickly to implement it. In fact, they still have not created an implementation plan. The RGP seems paralyzed right now, waiting for a new leader. That will probably continue, since the City's recent consultant told them to create a new economic development organization, with someone (?) as its leader. Meanwhile, they stagnate in new development collaborations.
The failure to get voters to approve State Issue I last year goes right to the governor's office. Taft should have rallied much heavier in appearances around the state. It seems that many voters did not understand that this would not create a new tax. Bad marketing. When Ohioans complain about the lack of good paying high-tech jobs here in the future, one might remind them that they voted against the no-cost plan to create those jobs that they voted against in November 2003.
We keep kicking ourselves in the head here. The conservative Ohio legislature (see "new tax over my dead body") won't life a finger to help colleges and universities financially, so soon only the rich will be able to send their children to college. Ohio currently stands 44th in the country in support for higher education. So, how are we supposed to create these wonderful high-tech jobs?
The Republican Ohio legislature (and our Republican governor) must realize that their failure to assist universities is destroying our hopes of gaining good, high-paying jobs. They must accept that taxing the most wealthy Americans and corporations a little more would provide much of what universities need to hold the line on costs (health care costs are driving deficit budgets). But, Republicans consistently support the needs of big business and wealthy citizens, who comprise less than 5% of our population.
Chaz
posted by Chaz at 04:46 P.M. EST on Sat Jun 05, 2004 #
No, no, from one person who voted NO on Issue 1, I take great offense at the usual elitist bullshit about exactly who was paying for exactly what.
I voted NO since that last thing I want to give to the corporate whores running Ohio's so-called government was even MORE authority to run around, spending public funds for very, VERY private pursuit of profits.
The vote demographic shows that if the Three Cs (Columbus, Cleveland, Cinci.) want to get money for their alleged "hi-tech business development", then they should pay for it their own damn selves. Let's also not pretend that these so-called jobs would have been visited to any meaningful degree anywhere else but the 3Cs.
In talking to people who were voting around that time, I could well see that Taft's message came across perfectly clear: put all of Ohio's citizens on the hook through taxes (how else are bonds paid off?) just to get a couple more corporations in the 3Cs.
Call us provincial here in Lucas County, but we just don't want to send money to those cities just for goddamned nothing in return. Ever heard the phrase "taxation without representation"? Issue 1 was a case of taxation without benefit.
Ohioan complaints about lack of jobs CANNOT be blamed on their reluctance to tax themselves into the poorhouse. You cannot effectively tax a dead economy. They are trying in Toledo, and we can all see where that's leading us -- straight down the Detroit path of urban death.
Ohio is getting known for its flagrant abuses of eminent domain, and the horrible corporate welfare society that exists in it. Issue 1's results should have been a wake-up call for the goons in state government. Welfare for the rich must come to an end. You can only tax dead economies -- then turn around and hand those proceeds to the wealthy -- to a certain extent, but when that extent is reached the entire house of cards comes tumbling down. Fiscal restraint should have been exercised at all times, but the excesses of the 1990s continue to be felt and the spending addicts in Columbus are immersed in an environment of unreality.
Ohio's problems could be almost completely resolved by a 2 step program:
1. Offer paid relocation to certain unemployed instead of payments.
2. Reduce spending (unfortunately) drastically.
Ohio simply doesn't have the tax base upon which its spending rests. It's one of the simplest laws of economics ... you can't survive spending more than you earn for an extended period of time. Issue 1 just continued this irresponsible economic party in Columbus. And when it comes to the ballot again, I'll vote it down again. Spendaholics don't deserve my support.
posted by Guest at 12:16 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 09, 2004 #
Well, Guest, at least we agree on one thing - "state government is being run by goons." But, you truly must understand that Issue 1 INVOLVED NO NEW TAXES. Bonds are NOT taxes and are purchased by companies, trust funds, mutual funds, insurance companies and even private individuals. So, it's simply not true to suggest that taxes would increase.
Next, understand that tax rates in Ohio rank somewhere in the middle of all US States. You make it sound like Ohio is the mother of all tax states.
And, what does eminent domain or corporate welfare have to do with providing the infrastructure for high-technology job growth?
As for the "3 C's," Northwest Ohio (read Toledo) will continue to be punished as long as Republicans control State government. Lucas County has always been a warm and friendly home for unions. Republicans represent the interests of business leaders, the enemy of unions. So, if you want more money and jobs sent here by government, then you must vote out the Republicans.
I again agree with you that, as you so adeptly suggest, "welfare for the rich" must come to an end. By that, I assume you mean the insane tax "refunds" proffered by the Bush administration, to give his wealthy buddies and their companies an unnecessary break at the expense of poor and working-class people. Our Republican-controlled Congress in Washington and President Bush are also responsible for allowing a tax break for US companies that send American jobs overseas.
I'm a little confused with your 2-step program though. When you say PAID RELOCATION, do you mean send Americans to India, because that's where the job openings are? And, on REDUCE SPENDING, exactly which services do you plan to reuce or eliminate (police, fire, higher education, perhaps trash removal)?
P.S. The last time I heard someone discuss "relocation" of people, it was to send deaf citizens to live near the airport. My friend... "it's just not right!
posted by Chaz at 06:50 P.M. EST on Thu Jun 10, 2004 #
So, if you want more money and jobs sent here by government, then you must vote out the Republicans.
First of all, we are talking about not only economic development, but the transformation of an economy. With such a task at hand, wouldn’t it make sense to become more business like? Instead, you would rather eliminate the business people and have the government “send” you jobs? Does it ever occur to anyone to start a business and create a job anymore?
posted by babbleman at 09:38 P.M. EST on Thu Jun 10, 2004 #
(In response to Chaz, I composed over 20 paragraphs. In the interests of readability, I split them up.)
BONDS AND REAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
How are bonds repaid, in handfuls of certified Ohio soil? No, in money ... which comes from government income, hence taxes and fees. We always have to take care in mandating anything the government does, since it takes money out of everyone's pocket. It all comes back to taxes and fees.
Bonds are deferred taxes, just like all government borrowing. Saying bonds are "not a new tax" is completely deceitful. Which is why it is hilarious when people condemn (as I do!) "tax and spend" Democrats while not noticing that "borrow and spend" Republicans are even more damaging (since credit costs more than current money). That Taft and his 3C cronies are following the "borrow and spend" formula is no surprise. That they refuse to cut spending is also no surprise.
Issue 1 meant paying for new bonds just to keep the 3C corporations rolling in money. I voted NO to get across the idea that corporations should pay for their own expenses and investments.
Ohio's "ranking", which you place so highly in your mind, is a fog which hides a severe problem: the loss of tax base. I don't need a ranking statistic to note all the good paying factory jobs that have fled Ohio, and continue to do so. I don't need a fancy number to note the overall increase in home prices and taxation based thereof. In an environment of increasing expenses laid upon decreasing personal income, and I see disaster looming.
In fact, disaster is already here. Ohio could be bought out in a fire sale by some other state. That may sound silly, but will all such silly predictions there is a kernal of truth. The truth is: As I look at the corporate shuffling of businesses here in Toledo, this fire sale is already occuring. My own employer, Fifth Third Bank, is working steadily to make sure all ownership aspects eventually reside in Cinci. And ownership determines where the profits go (especially in this day and age of Hypercapitalism). They will be flowing even more heavily out of Toledo.
posted by Guest at 03:53 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 11, 2004 #
"HI-TECH" AND OTHER ECONOMIC SCAMS LIKE CASINOS
All across America, politicians are jumping on the bandwagon of "we've got to make ourselves into a hi-tech hub", under the mistaken impression that the Silicon Valley phenomenon can simply be replicated in their areas. Toledo's doing it too. And there's just not enough to go around. Just like the telecomm boom that resulted in a LOT of dark fiber, Toledo is going to arrange itself to accept a lot of hi-tech jobs that cannot come (at least, in desired numbers) in the highly competitive environment. The downtown area is a iconic tombstone that illustrates that. It is NOT true that "if you build it they will come" if no one wants to come here in the first place. Toledo's downtown is a vast masoleum of empty buildings and walkways devoid of people. For kcuf's sake, the Hytower is a COMPLETELY empty skyscraper! All that represents the last cycle of build-and-rot. My employer alone has 3 attached buildings with a 15% occupany rate and a $300K yearly operating cost ... yet the city council is fighting our desire to knock them down. (I can't blame them for opposing the demolition, either. But that's a conversation for another day.)
Another, similar politico-bandwagon is the use of items like casinos and jails to make up for a collapsed economic base ... you know, real things like factories producing capital equipment (i.e. stuff that creates more wealth). The difference with those items is that they represent negative GDP ... they are expenses, not investments. I freely admit that hi-tech businesses at least would be on the investment side of the social wealth equation. Toledo has already done the jail thing; now it is pursuing the casino thing. Be prepared for more TAXES to cover up that fiasco. As spice, I also call your attention to Taft's efforts to shut down a jail in Lima.
posted by Guest at 03:58 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 11, 2004 #
EMINENT DOMAIN, CORP. WELFARE AND OTHER ABUSES OF THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN
Abusive ED (if you like statistics, Ohio is in the top 5 states for that, along with MI) simply depresses the rights of all public and individual property in service of corporate property. When last I checked, I was a free man who bowed to no king, duke or baron. And people who do bow are spineless little weasels, unmotivated and accepting, who form a poorly-performing workforce. Which is why you just don't find an effective tech workforce that is paid less than about twice minimum wage. In fact, an effective tech workforce earns at least 4 times the minimum wage, placing it firmly in America's wage median ($36K/yr), hence firmly in America's middle class. Even in depressed Toledo, effective techs earn at least x3.
The peril of CW falls upon two basic truths:
1) Welfare is morally degrading. It causes an entitlement mindset in the stereotypical welfare mother as it does in America's largest corporations. People and businesses stop trying to earn money and start trying to weasel it out of government. I can only recall at this time a news article I read ~3 months ago, in which some business twit had his abatement request turned down, and there he was mouthing off to the media, saying (almost verbatim): "why is the city council standing in the way" of his development? Was there some law against spending your own money on your own enterprise? He became another welfare queen, and this mentality is now epidemic amongst businesses. Businesses now expect handouts.
2) Paying the wealthy is just stupid or elitist. America was built on a dispersal of wealth that created or expanded a middle class. Any fool can see the benefit of that. When a road gets repaired, a middle class man comes out, along with a middle-class crew, and the job generally gets done correctly. Turn the job over to (wage or chattel) slaves, and it'll be like not getting anything repaired at all.
The best we can say for CW is that it leads to trickle-down. Well, that's long discredited by the example set during the Reagan era, but we've taken capitalism even further from that basis. What we have now is Hypercapitalism, which is just unfettered social looting. Keeping the money in upper-class pockets just sends it into their various worldwide bank accounts and fails to benefit the overall society (America) that put it there to begin with. (Not that I support taxing the wealthy to confiscatory levels, mind you. If government can't live within the scope of what was known as the tithe (about 1/10th to 1/12th of a person's wealth), then it's too much government. Note that at least 40% of a person's wealth flies away every year into this shambling parasite known as government.)
posted by Guest at 04:11 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 11, 2004 #
THE PUNISHMENT OF TOLEDO?
As for Republicans and punishment, this portion will be short and sweet:
Like I said before, I bow to no lord. If it's true that the Columbus Republicans are punishing Toledo, then I'd say civil war is at hand. I already see an extensive Cold War being waged over all forms of taxation. Taxation without representation is an affirmed reason for warfare. I will not be punished a la Bosnia merely for living somewhere, so no rational debate is possible (or even necessary) when such a war is going on. If I were a Columbus Republican, I'd set about arming myself.
I have nothing more to say on this subject.
posted by Guest at 04:13 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 11, 2004 #
RELOCATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
(First off, we must set a ground rule: Carty was an arse, and is still an arse. He's the very worst example I can think of, of a populist icon who has all the mental capacity and emotional stability of the average chimp. Carty set a new low standard in politician in Toledo. The electorate's expectations are now highly susceptible to criminals and morons ... the vicious and the stupid, who will prove very damaging. Toledo will have a mayor of Detroit-caliber within 8 years.)
You have access to Google, so you should use it to investigate unemployment relocation. Instead of paying people for 13, 26 or 39 weeks, after which they will continue to be unemployed, some governments are trying the idea of paying people to leave their areas. If there aren't enough jobs, what's the point in paying you for 13 to 39 weeks? You'll be just as unemployed after the payment period as before. Toledo needs to adopt this sort of plan. There aren't enough jobs to support all the expenses the slavering Democrats and Republicans have invoked and are planning to further invoke. People need to vote with their feet. And I'd like to give them at least the spur of an enticing choice to leave.
Of course, I'd like to rational-ize this kind of relocation. You should get half your sum in the form of a debit card which is good at gas stations, U-Haul, outlets like Home Depot (so you can perform home repairs before you leave) and various travel outlets like the airport or train station. You should also get the other half in money for paying for security deposits at your new town or city.
Necessarily concurrently, you'd have to sign a waiver whereby you accept these things in lieu of any other assistance whatsoever from the City of Toledo and the State of Ohio, for the duration of your umemployment-benefit period (I'd say that, x2, since it's a lump sum and you're supposed to friggin' leave, anyway!). The whole point is for you to take your public support and leave to where the jobs are, and to relieve the sponsoring area of untenable unemployment-compensation pressure.
Of course, a person should be able to choose support or relocation when they enter the unemployment-compensation system.
You don't need to relocate to India. That's a bad idea anyway, since like any sensible country, it's difficult to emigrate to India. America still has enough jobs to (barely) survive this period of Depression. But since the jobs aren't going to the people, people in practical terms have to go to the jobs. I'd rather we did use the force of public regulation to spread the work around, but the pressures of Hypercapitalism make that impossible. I'm willing to invoke relocation as a practical measure.
posted by Guest at 04:19 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 11, 2004 #
ECONOMICS APPLIES TO GOVERNMENTS AS IT DOES TO INDIVIDUALS
That government has to reduce services at threat levels is just a myth. Government uses it all the time to scare the voter and taxpayer into continuing paying into their spendaholic system. Peter Grace has documented too much waste at the Federal level; it's established fact that government spending is deeply wasteful.
But let's talk about police. That's a good straw man to example.
Toledo has about 700 uniformed police. These people are qualified (training + uniform + badge + gun) to perform real police work: showing up via patrol or 911 call to handle a "situation". Unfortunately, about 450 of these cops are driving desks and "non service" cars. Hence, Toledo's 700 peace officers are artificially depressed to about 250. There's only one reason for it; in a city with a dead economy, it's good pay to drive a cop desk or non-service cruiser (to avoid getting hit, stabbed or shot at). To use another term: it's pretty good long-term welfare.
The police force is fraught with waste therefore. You could cut out 250 cops -- all the on-street police (the ones doing the actual police work) -- and still shift 250 of the deskers onto the street as if nothing had happened. End result: you saved 250 police salaries, which is about $10 million yearly. Hey, what do you know, that covers the deficit right there! (Of course, the first people I'd layoff would be the deskers, not the street cops.)
You didn't know how much C4 was packed into your little straw man, did you?
Toledo's government is utterly full with payoffs that are occuring for only one reason: some businessman knew a government official who landed him a contract that paid too much money for the service or product provided. Isenberg was tossed in part for that kind of thing; she got a bribe in the form of a roofing job, and she performed some favor with public funds for the contractor.
Those kinds of things are not services. They are graft and corruption. And we need to cut out those things, not just trim back the scare factors "fire police 911 roadwork trashcollection etc.".
_I_N___S_U_M_M_A_R_Y_
Toledo's solution must involve reducing the size and cost of government, based upon the simple idea that in a shrinking economic and population base, there's less to govern. Unfortunately, in the current state of public malaise and official deceit, government adjustment has been left in their own hands, and social economic rationality is losing by a wide margin. The false idea of taxing a dead economy will have to play out to the heartbreaking and violent end.
posted by Guest at 04:26 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 11, 2004 #
Dear Mr./Ms. Guest. Are you still taking your medication? By the time I saw "_I_N___S_U_M_M_A_R_Y_," my right leg had gone completely asleep - and my vision was getting blurry. I'm certain that you know what you think you want us to know, but don't know or should know. And if you know what that means, you are definitely psychotic.
Bonds are paid TO THE STATE by investors of all types, then repaid with interest by the State. They are NOT a TAX!!! Why can't people get this? Taxes, on the other hand are payments to the State for earnings, profit, distributions, land ownsership, commercial purchases, etc. BONDS ARE NOT TAXES.
Next, what words in your exhaustive tangential diatribe can be used to explain the current dislocation of Toledo's Business Incubator? Can we please stay on topic here? We did have an eclectic mix of entrepreneurs downtown, and I'll just bet at least one of them will hit the jackpot with their high-tech business. When they hit the jackpot, they will need to hire a lot of people - FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF POSITIONS, not only "high tech." So, if we can please stay on topic, without preaching or whining about the "3C's," lets discuss how we can get another dozen inventors back downtown, to keep the economic development ball rolling.
posted by Chaz at 06:10 P.M. EST on Fri Jun 11, 2004 #
FORK YOU VERY MUCH
That's Mister Guest to you, Ace. As I can plainly see from your sentiments, modern Americans (particularly, Toledoans) consider fiscal sense to be psychotic. If the risk of a label is a side-effect of being financially sensible, then I accept your accusation freely. It can only make the word "psychotic" as meaningless as "terrorist".
(Americans also used to read thick books without complaint. Sorry, but I just don't have the resources to make a sitcom for you to watch that outlines my views. That which I know, cannot be fit into a sound bite. It takes essays to properly outline such things. So my question to you now is: If you don't expect to see other substantive postings, then why do you post here to begin with? Happytalk and Limbaugh-esque simplicities are poor substitutes for real dialogue.)
DUH BEARS, DUH BULLS, DUH BONDS
Bonds are not magic money. Investors buy them from the state, but you said it yourself: they are "then repaid with interest by the State". Repayment comes from State income, which are taxes and fees. Hence, bonds like all government borrowing is just deferred taxation (which I clearly stated before); either new taxes will have to be invoked to pay them off at maturity, or a slice of then-current taxes will have to be used (thus removing wealth from other areas of then-current government obligations). At any rate, it's still a new EXPENSE.
There is no logical argument against that. Perhaps you refuse to admit it since the spectre of taxation is such an anathema to the average Republican shill (which you very probably are). Hence, enough about that.
INCUBATION IS FOR EGGS
As for the incubator, I can think of much better ways than rolling the dice with business incubation. You said it yourself: "I'll just bet at least one of them will hit the jackpot". Unfortunately for you, I have no desire to use public funds to "bet". Investment gambles are properly within the province of the individual. Government should act in surety, which by no mean coincidence should limit its scope.
Call it whining all you want, but the present socio-economic environment of extreme crony-capitalism is not going to produce the results you allege you desire. The process of "get[ting] another dozen inventors back downtown" can only involve various payoffs of extraordinary inefficiency that will lead to even worse conditions of wealth concentration. And that money leaves Toledo. So you may as well just burn those dollars for heat in the winter.
As with any addiction, Toledoans have to be weaned off the tit of spending and complacency, and I propose a multistep program:
1. Stop voting party lines. Find good individuals regardless of party affiliation, and back them, as I intend to do with D. Contreras (and also to get that bastard Telb out of office). When they betray principles, loudly denounce them.
2. Demand accounting of public assets. Like Open Source programs, government should be far more open to inspection.
3. Stop watching TV and read some books for a change. Given the example of Carty's multiple terms in office, the Toledo electorate is profoundly uneducated, which needs to change positively.
4. Properly upkeep the roads, sewers and electrical lines. I've been driving to other cites within 2 hours of Toledo, and other than the world's-arse-pit known as Detroit, I'm just getting numb from the contrast of their well-kept infrastructure with Toledo's. The decay is so obvious that it's embarrassing.
And finally:
5. Save money and provide for your own prosperity. The Toledo government hasn't gotten the message from Reality Itself that they are not only not helping, but are a major obstacle to a return of Toledo to a self-sufficient American city with a solvent middle class. The citizens have to wrap themselves in their own capabilities and to basically marginalize the petty tyrants, crooks and overall welfare cases that we laughably call a city government (followed closely behind in dismal rating by the Lucas Country government).
FROM RED CORE TO BLACK SKY
A core formation behind my ideas of reform and change is very obvious: people have to put down their 40s, TV remotes, and blunts and take major repsonsibility for their lives. Since you're such a betting man, then what are the odds of that?
What a rhetorical question, eh? We both know the odds are dead set against it. Which is why I'm following my own set of plans, which certainly involves direct action in the Cold Taxation War and major self-investment from the gains thereby. In all likelihood, I will leave this town and it can rot down into the slime in peace. (A word about "peace" in that context. Note that that won't be peaceful for Toledoans, but I will find the future newspaper stories of Toledo riots and fires to be very soothing from my perch a good distance away ... you know, where the friggin' jobs, wealth and overall prosperity will be, and of course where the people read books a bit more than occurs around Toledo.)
In closing: Poor Chaz. Poor, poor Chaz. Here I've vomited out more words to addle your poorly-challenged neural paths. Heck, there oughta be a law 'gainst it! Let your councilman know ASAP. See you in the funny papers, Sport.
posted by Guest at 01:25 A.M. EST on Sat Jun 12, 2004 #
I would like to thank Mister Guest for taking the time to give us his opinions and solutions. Lots to think about there. I also enjoy reading Chaz's comments, but I don't think a differing opinion implies someone is psychotic. Surely we can be open to multiple views on a topic.
I especially enjoyed this comment by Guest:
"Americans also used to read thick books without complaint. Sorry, but I just don't have the resources to make a sitcom for you to watch that outlines my views. That which I know, cannot be fit into a sound bite. It takes essays to properly outline such things. So my question to you now is: If you don't expect to see other substantive postings, then why do you post here to begin with? Happytalk and Limbaugh-esque simplicities are poor substitutes for real dialogue."
Actually, there is some evidence that validates Guest's claim that Toledoans need to read more.
"A study profiled America's 64 largest cities for literacy habits, and it ranked Toledo 54th."
Someone mentioned that the reason Toledo government hires so many outside consultants is due to the City's incompetence. Lucas County Treasurer Ray Kest is working on his PhD degree in Economic Development, but he's railed by the Blade and other government officials, and now Kest will not seek re-election this fall and plans to possibly take his education and experience elsewhere.
posted by jr at 01:53 P.M. EST on Sat Jun 12, 2004 #
jr is standing up for Ray Kest? Now there are two Kest supporters, not counting the ex-wives. BTW jr, there is no degree in "Economic Development" at Cleveland State. Also, us taxpayers are paying for his travel to TEACH and EARN WAGES for teaching at Cleveland State. I'll bet that will really improve our economy! Ray thinks that taxpayers should pay for his degree (and very nice hotel rooms) because he will become more proficient in regional economic development. But, the last time I checked, Ray's job descritiption had nothing to do with economic development - it has everything to do with collecting taxes. But, perhaps Ray stayed at a Holiday Inn some other time. Who knows?
Anyone who obtains their literal reality from "Limbaugh-esque" resources or sitcoms must be devoid of an original thought. Many Toledoans, like voters elsewhere are not even aware of the issues themselves, let alone where the candidates stand on those issues. Most people don't vote and most of those who do vote make their deicsions based upon a television commercial or simply vote for a party, instead of an individual. So, from my perspective, we don't even deserve the wonderful democracy we have, because voters won't take the time to educate themselves.
But, this section is about whether technology grants and Ohio. The 3C's still reign in Ohio and it has everything to do with Northwest Ohio being solidly Democratic and State government being Republican. Republicans in Ohio support other Republicans, while we in NW Ohio can just fend for ourselves.
posted by Chaz at 06:33 P.M. EST on Sat Jun 12, 2004 #
Chaz says, "The 3C's still reign in Ohio and it has everything to do with Northwest Ohio being solidly Democratic and State government being Republican. Republicans in Ohio support other Republicans."
While it's true that "Republicans have controlled all statewide non-judicial state offices for 10 years."
It's also true that "Democrats run Ohio's six largest cities, including Toledo."
The mayors of Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati are Democrats. So if Republicans support other Republicans, why would the 3C's still reign?
"Though the big-city mayors represent just 20 percent of the state's population, Democrats say their influence reaches beyond city limits. The mayors of Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo and Akron are at the center of regional economies - and media markets - that cover 80 percent of the state."
"The Bush campaign says it's not impressed with the "patchwork" strategy that neglects small-city and rural voters."
posted by jr at 12:40 P.M. EST on Tue Jun 15, 2004 #
I strongly desire that the influence of big-city mayors increases. In fact, I'm counting on it. Republicans have cut critical services to the bone and the unwealthy are suffering. It's time for two-party government in Ohio and the best way for Democrats to gain power is through grassroot success. So, good luck to our brave and wise mayors. As for Bush's alleged comments, those disinfranchised rural and small-town people are upset because Bush allows companies to shift jobs to other countries and gain a tax break for doing it.
posted by Chaz at 05:58 P.M. EST on Tue Jun 15, 2004 #
Chaz said, "Anyone who obtains their literal reality from "Limbaugh-esque" resources or sitcoms must be devoid of an original thought." I agree. I would add to this group anyone who gets all of their information from a single newspaper such as the Toledo Blade or from the TV news.
The rest of that particular paragraph by Chaz that talks about uninformed voters is also right on the money. But in defense, and it's a weak one, trying to stay informed on every international, national, state, and local issue takes a lot of time. And for many, these issues are not interesting. Something has to explain why most Americans don't vote.
"jr is standing up for Ray Kest?"
I support anyone's right to tell their side of the story. There's the Blade's version, and there's Ray's. To be properly informed, a person would need to be open-minded and read both versions and then make a decision. I'm certainly not going to say that Kest is without wrongdoing, but Ray does make strong arguments against the Blade's accusations.
"But, the last time I checked, Ray's job descritiption had nothing to do with economic development - it has everything to do with collecting taxes."
But doesn't it make sense to devise, if possible, a payment method for the big development projects that won't involve taxing Toledoans? Shouldn't all elected officials have some knowledge about economic development?
In Ray's words from a letter to Allan Block:
"Yellow journalism - the manipulation of facts in a news account to serve the purposes of the writer or the organization represented."
"Dale Emch’s first story was about my “private” education being paid for by the county. He left the mistaken impression with the public that I had accounts and charge cards that I controlled exclusively with no checks and balances."
"The fact is that while I hold the county funds in bank accounts, I cannot not expend any funds without the proper approvals. Many times the Commissioners (actually the staff) and or Auditor reject the expending of money for a payment for one reason or another."
"Like Larry Kaczala, our County Auditor or any other official (including Emch’s mother in-law, Julia Bates, the County Prosucutor, who sends all of her attorneys to education seminars) I have the authority to determine what is proper education."
"In my case however, I took it one step further and talked with Sandy Isenberg and John Zeitler, the County Finance Director about taking PhD courses at Cleveland State University. My rational was simple, Economic Development is paramount as an elected official and in my case I have been involved in many economic projects."
"As an example, as your President of Block Communications, David Huey and your Editor, Tom Walton knows, when just about everyone in Toledo thought we needed a tax increase to fund a new Mud Hens stadium, I ran the numbers and concluded that Lucas County could finance the stadium without a tax increase."
"I lobbied the Mud Hens Board and the Commissioners to hire a consultant to support my proposal; they eventually did (hiring Tom Chema)."
"As documented by the Commissioners other consultant, Public Finance, my financing plan saved the taxpayers over $4 million and I could have saved much more if the Commissioners would have followed my other recommendations. The point is, even though the Blade refuses to give me credit, my education in the finance area has been very valuable to the taxpayers of Lucas County."
"Both Isenberg (although she has a memory loss) and Zeitler approved of the education and indicated that it should be charged to the Delinquent Fund Account and not the General Fund. Whether Sandy remembers or not, her staff would not have processed the payments to Cleveland State without her approval."
"This story led to virtual hysteria by the other media who also didn’t do their job getting the facts straight. Unfortunately while the other media entities complain about the power of John Block, they follow his lead."
"Tina Wozniak and the other Commissioners (who are apparently not educated in how governmental accounting and county procedures operate) were “spooked” by the Blade’s sensational front- page coverage. Calling for an investigation without even consulting with their own staff indicates how uninformed they are about normal county operations."
"During the hysteria, Wozniak continued to call for me to pay back the education dollars. Shortly thereafter, when it was revealed that there are many other county employees (particularly from Kaczala’s staff) receiving college reimbursements, nothing was said by her or the press to any great degree. I find it interesting that the Blade has not criticized the Commissioners for having Ed Ciecka stay home and earn $15,500. I thought the county was broke and needed the money?"
"A further distortion by the Blade of my hotel use occurred with my trips to Cleveland for the economic development education. Emch again stated that I stayed at the “posh” Wyndam Hotel in downtown Cleveland."
"Once more, he on purpose left out the following: 1) there are four hotels near the CSU campus, the Wyndam, Embassy Suites, The Quality Inn and the Hilton. All offer the government rate at about $90 per night excluding taxes and 2) The Wyndam was only a block from my course and was safe to walk back to late at night. Emch implied that I was living in luxury, enjoying myself at a nice hotel."
"The fact was that after attending very difficult classes until 10 pm I was dead on my feet: I can assure you it was hardly the great time Emch made it out to be. The county’s policy (I have no idea what the current policy is because every time the Blade has an article the Commissioners change it) for hotel stay was you could stay the night before, the night of and the night after for any out of town travel and education. I did not take advantage of the policy in that most of the time I stayed one night and never charged any food or drinks to the county. I also did not charge turnpike tolls."
"Will the Blade make an issue that Lynn Olman, who has a lucrative insurance business, or Pete Gerken, who works for the UAW, will have outside interests that will take a great portion of their time if they are elected as Commissioner? Probably not; if this is such a big issue, why hasn’t other newspapers in Ohio ripped their elected officials who also have outside interests? Maybe it is because they want people from the business community, etc. to hold public office and just not have professional politicians who in some cases are not qualified to do anything else. The bottom line is that the front-page story on me teaching was pure “yellow journalism”."
posted by jr at 10:30 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 16, 2004 #
Maybe this will help.
"A Toledo City Council committee yesterday endorsed Mayor Jack Ford's request to create a $120,000 salary cap for an economic development director. The approval occurred after a discussion about the city's place in a proposed new countywide economic development agency. Mr. Ford asked council to put the proposal to create a $120,000-a-year economic development director on the agenda for a vote June 29. The administration has begun interviewing for the position. The city's current salary cap, except for the mayor's $136,000 annual paycheck, is $92,500."
posted by jr at 06:26 P.M. EST on Thu Jun 17, 2004 #
Look, Ray Kest has so tainted his integrity with the public that his presence in this context is irrelevent. Also, irrelevent is whether or not The Blade is purposefully attempting to discredit anyone. The REAL problem with regional economic development is total lack of leadership and collaboration. The Commissioners have their agenda, the RGP has it's agenda, the City has it's own agenda, so does the Port Authority, The Chamber and the tools available (labor force, transportation entities, regional higher education, local funding sources, etc.) are never in synch with each other. We need one overriding agency for developing and landing new business, another agency for local funding, tax and utility abatements, and a third agency to access exactly the right resources (see above) for each project. We need someone to redirect economic development for Toledo's benefit, not just the "region's benefit. And, too little attention has been directed towards meeting the needs of inner-city and brownfields development needs. Only then will economic development in NW Ohio reach its capability.
posted by Chaz at 03:26 P.M. EST on Sun Jun 27, 2004 #
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