IN FLANDERS FIELDS THE POPPIES BLOW…
0001 by Jeff Hess
30 May 2011
27 May 2011
ROLDO RIGHTS…
0827 by Jeff HessOh, joy. The City of Cleveland gave the Ratner/Miller gang another deal. A break on repaying loans on money they’ve been playing with for some 20 years.
Who deserves it less?
I wish newspapers would keep a good file on these people so as to give a true picture of just what vultures they are.
Is that too cruel to say? Would leeches be kinder? You know, blood suckers.
In the 1980s, Mayor George Voinovich and Council President George Forbes were very good to the Forest City manipulators – Ratner and Sam Miller families.
They just loved piling on millions of dollars to these people.
The Plain Dealer reported on Wednesday that the city Continue Reading »
26 May 2011
IF YOUR FRIENDS WON’T TELL YOU, WHO WILL…?
1134 by Jeff Hess24 May 2011
STOP PAVING OVER OUR GREEN SPACES…
1620 by Jeff HessFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
CITIZENS FOR OAKWOOD
Carla Rautenberg
216.224.7679CITIZENS WILL DEMONSTRATE TO URGE SOUTH EUCLID: DON’T RE-ZONE!
4:00 P.M., WED., MAY 25, 2011, AT SOUTH EUCLID CITY HALL
WHEREAS, from 2007 to 2009, median household income in Cuyahoga County dropped 7.34%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and;
WHEREAS, as of 4/2011, there were more than 60 retail vacancies in South Euclid, and;
WHEREAS, the 150-acre Oakwood County Club property is the largest remaining undeveloped green space in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland, and;
WHEREAS, the Oakwood property provides habitat for numerous wildlife species and;
WHEREAS, Nine-Mile-Creek runs daylighted through the eastern portion of Oakwood directly into our region’s most precious natural asset, Lake Erie, and;
WHEREAS, there has not been a community conversation about the “highest and best” use for Oakwood, nor will such a conversation be possible if the proposed retail construction begins, and;
WHEREAS, approximately 800,000 square feet of impervious surface (roofs and parking) can only increase the regional burden on combined sewer overflows and stormwater management, and;
WHEREAS, Cedar Center South, University Square, Severance Town Center, and the Mayfield Road Commercial Corridor are already competing for diminished retail dollars, and;
WHEREAS, Cedar Center North is finally seeing development plans and even the beginning of construction:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT local citizens will celebrate the coming re-development of Cedar Center North and URGE South Euclid City Council and Mayor Georgine Welo to REJECT the First Interstate proposal to re-zone the Oakwood property for retail development.
The demonstration will take place on Wednesday, May 25, at 4:00 p.m. on the public sidewalk outside South Euclid City Hall, 1349 South Green Road, prior to the 6:00 p.m. Public Hearing on the proposed re-zoning.
23 May 2011
ROLDO RIGHTS…
1518 by Jeff HessDon’t know if you noticed but there’s a little dispute between the Cleveland Browns and the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority.
Very interesting.
The issue is the cost of parking. Presently, the cost to the Browns of parking facilities owned by the Port Authority is $225,000 a year in rent. The Browns want a $25,000 reduction, and a $20,000 a game discount in case of a pro football strike.
Port officials thus far rightly decline the Browns offer to pay less. Bet that won’t last.
Here’s my thought. Did anyone think it strange that the Browns pay $225,000 a year for parking facilities around Browns Stadium?
Yet, the Browns pay only Continue Reading »
23 May 2011
23 May 2011
ROLDO RIGHTS…
1337 by Jeff HessWhile Republican politicians, many civic leaders and the news media are zeroing in on the “greed” of public employees, the big theft of public dollars is quietly being done by our major corporations.
It’s just business being business-like. Or a robbery in progress.
School teachers, firefighters, police and other public workers are fair game. Overly wealthy business people, well, we’ll leave them alone. Just look the other way.
The robbery of public funds is taking place right before our eyes. Yet there is no outcry. You hear not a whimper of opposition from politicians, civic leaders or the news media.
We’ve been trained to let it all go by. There is no countervailing power to corporate greed. Certainly not in our obedient news media. Kowtowers all.
And while the Plain Dealer centers attention on the Board of Revision (rightly to some extent), other government bodies are giving away tons of public dollars. A good deal of it from the very public institutions in dire trouble – public schools.
A good example is the rapacious Continue Reading »
18 May 2011
18 May 2011
17 May 2011
17 May 2011
ARE YOU TIRED OF BEING ON THE OUTSIDE…?
0807 by Jeff Hess15 May 2011
15 May 2011
WE HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES…
1715 by Jeff Hess15 May 2011
15 May 2011
IS IT A SHAME TO NOT BE MIDDLE CLASS…?
1634 by Jeff Hess12 May 2011
12 May 2011
ROLDO RIGHTS…
1601 by Jeff HessTell me, when have you seen a column as this one from the Scene in the Plain Dealer with all its columnists? I’ll tell you. Never.
Mike Roberts gives it to C. Ellen Connally, president of the county council.
There is no columnist at the Plain Dealer who is giving us the straight talk that the community needs to hear on local decision-making.
I’m trying my hardest not to write and let go, but the PD makes it so hard.
The other thing I might say is that it is easy for both the PD and the alternatives to rebuke politicians.
Even the PD editorialized about Connally’s lack of openness. Openness in government is a top of the list requirement by the PD.
Roberts, however, does it deftly and with more punch.
The other problem is that it’s rare to find the same kind of punches – from the floor – for the many private sector rascals that have been screwing up this town for ages.
I got an invitation this week from Cleveland State University. CSU is honoring Joe Roman, boss of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. No Greater Cleveland bungler could they find. The public service tribute does have a proper cause – scholarships.
But this perpetuates the myth that the private sector – which has been responsible for so many bad decisions – is to be honored.
Cleveland’s private sector believes the city starts at the lake shore, goes west to the western river bank, then south to take in Gateway and east to Playhouse Square. The rest of the city is Tombstone.
Give me a break.
