Cleveland is in an urban slump. And I think the only people who wouldn’t admit this is the politicians. Because if they did, the next logical question to ask, is what did they and others in the past do to prevent the descent? And of course, when they run out of excuses in placing the blame on citizens, they might reply, leadership is really in the hands of the shakers and movers. And most of them are motivated by business gains and less on civic issues that chop away at the city treasury. But also among the power elite, there are leaders in commerce that are concerned about the human condition. And out of concern for what is happening here at a snail’s pace, they have pointed to other urban centers in Ohio, as examples of what Cleveland could be doing today. And other cities did it not only by achieving capital gains, but also by creating programs that contribute to reducing social ills in the community. And to do it right, the city budget must not reflect images of "tossing candy to the crowd". Both social issues must be addressed together, but in Cleveland and with the blessing of politicians, capitalists (not all) have gone beyond reason by pealing away at life sustaining greenbacks of too many citizens living in poverty, and minimizing government programs that are helpful in maintaining social order.

Its not only the earnings or welfare aid the elite are after in sustaining life style comforts, some of the money goes back into campaigns of select politicians, whose acting talents are super in convincing voters that they are not capable of telling lies. Multitudes of citizens know its just an act, and are not surprised when told that at least half the registered voters in Cleveland do not vote in local elections because of it. And a good number of voters that do vote, vote name recognition, not awareness of past accomplishments. But when nuisance leaders get back into office, should we blame it on voters who know close to nothing about a politicians qualifications? The typical voter in this city spends a good amount of time dodging the pitfalls in life, in order to gain some of life’s high points. What goes on in government circles simply put, is not as important as caring for the basic needs in life which may be a 24/7 effort.

However, there are citizens, many living in poverty, who are hell-bent on escaping the dreads of urban downfalls through education, which includes data beyond "name recognition" of politicians before votes are cast. And when informed voters spread the word, meaning vote for candidates with proven records of working for the people (the common folk), change will come. When registered voters who stopped voting in the past, start voting on the reasons they turned away, Cleveland government will shows signs of improvement toward the needs of the common folk.

Many family members and friends have lift this town in favor of finding better living conditions in other urban centers. If citizens are ready to follow the dreams of others, stop and think again, they can become part of the solution and stay. Cleveland may never become a world attraction, but its worth the effort to watch over, become involved and hope for. Join groups of informed voters which all communities have and do whatever, because the "impossible dream" is possible. And that is already a proven fact when Cleveland is compared with other urban centers in Ohio. Fiction is in the smiles and handshakes of too many politicians who are now campaigning for the prosperity of self and government interests that fails to balance the welfare of citizens living in Cleveland.

This email is the first in a series of daily briefs, centering on topics politicians most likely will skip over during the election. The intent of the messages is to inform, not to downgrade or uplift any politician. It is my feeling that most elections fail to offer detailed reasons to vote for whomever. And from a personal standpoint, I want to know the reason leaders cannot provide answers when citizens ask specific questions. Why the silence? If leaders really want my vote, starts talking, otherwise, have a good Election Day. That about sums it up for me. I’ll focus attention on candidates who want to work for the people by first answering questions. Replies do not have to be what candidates think citizens want to hear, just answers that are appeasing. And I’m saying the same thing here. Readers should scrutinize these memos with other accounts from citizens and than vote judiciously.

I have two passions on my mind before setting down to write. And they have been the motivating factors that have kept my writing going on for about ten years. The first is democracy, and second is in observing reactions to it between elected officials and the public who does the electing.

Politics is not a popular subject to write about. And the essays barely get read among politicians when the articles become critical in content. Most of the issues I write about, are concerns that have festered in the minds of citizens for a long time. This is why the word "Echoes" is in the title of my WebSite. Many of the concerns, which are common among citizens in urban settings elsewhere, often find resolve, long before officials in Cleveland bend to the will of the public. Over the years many issues and concerns from citizens in Cleveland has been addressed. Several of them go back before this WebSite was raised. A few had been addressed by officials and cared for in an indirect way, which means, due to an army of involved citizens who stood tall for democracy rights, concerns found resolution. And that is really the aim of this Website.

My personal hope centers on, whether it be via blogs, word of mouth, this Website or whatever the form of communication is out there, is to encourage voters who do not vote, to vote based on the reasons they do not. At least half the registered voters in Cleveland did not vote in last local election. And many of the reasons would make this Website look like the tangled web of a spider that forgot how to tie the knots together. But although there are few politicians who would admit it, the absent vote is akin to a gravy train victory that puts them back into office.

Recently in a decision by a judge, the residency rules in Cleveland were shot down. The freedom of choice was given back to city employees wishing to live wherever. Not one politician (to my knowledge) voiced opposition to the "residency rules" before it became a court case.

The question citizens ("Echoes") would like all incumbents to answer individually are very simple. Where does the "residency rule" which is an act of restraint, fit into the principals of democracy?

Citizen, especially Cleveland police and firemen who raised the issue in court, and others who supported the cause, are expecting answers from the mayor and Council members. But if the answers add up to silence, silence is a response citizen’s need to think about before the vote.

Does the Mayor and Council members really deserve another four years in office?

Citizens voted on the "residency rule" in 1982. But did they have a clear understand of what they where voting for, from the viewpoint of democracy?

It seems citizens have a better understanding of the form of government they live under than the politicians do. Or is it just that in government, the elected knows, but also know how to manipulate the public, such as in the example of believing the Republican Party is evil, or visa versa, depending on which group holds the power at the moment.

Before the vote on the "residency rule" issue, there was plenty of opposition to the rule, but what must be factored into this argument is the word "power" and which group was in position of it to squash the opposition. In political campaigns, wither it be for man or issue, the money raised for them provides the "power" to air ads that in too many cases, can be criticized as propaganda.

And like opposing arguments against "residency rule" the message within propaganda, which airs repeatedly on TV and radio, drowns out a fair dialogue between the two forces. Triumph in opposing arguments is general futile. This is not to say that voter opposition cannot be overcome. But without the kind of funding the civic elite pours into political campaigns for whatever the purpose, airing opposing differences is always an uphill battle.

Some of the opposing arguments against "residency rule" are as follows.

Restraint, unless for violent or subversive reasons or acts of self-harm, should not be forced on citizens in government bodies that proclaim the will of democracy. The main reason for the residency law was based on greed. If the government employs you, you must live in the city. Why? Is it because the government wants a portion of your income, which is deducted as city taxes?

Can this form of taxes be considered a legalized take on extortion, because city employees are forbidden to live where they choose, and choose to pay taxes where they want to live? Now of course this is not the government’s official argument. But there isn’t one politician in this town with the courage to debate me (via email) on the "official" reason.

The "residency rule" raised the question of hypocrisy within the political ranks. The law did not apply to all city employees.

If it did, our public schools, would be in shambles today, because after the residency rule went into effect in 1982, teachers and administrators, especially the ones who where concerned about their offspring's education, would not have tolerated living in the city. And to a lesser extent, City Hall employees (is there really just one?) had the freedom to live wherever.

I could go on writing But I’ll close by stating, Why did the "residency rule" case linger in the courts for so long, knowing that in the end, the last judge would finally bring the argument to a close. It was not a difficult decision to make. The "residency rule" bit the dust, in case after case in other states, in other urban centers, that should have been insights to all politicians here. But none had stepped forward, at least that I know of, and said enough is enough. Let’s do the right thing. But if the legal cost of the court cases were split between 22 politicians, something positive would have been done. But don’t worry; be happy, the taxpayer will never miss the money. Right?

What is your opinion? Does the augment above make sense? A good topic for discussion during this campaign. But if politicians hesitate in answering…

Does the Mayor and nineteen Councilpersons, deserve another four years in office?

Well, Cleveland citizens have it a bit better, they live here and have privileges to vote but too many of them don’t bother. Because too many politicians do not bother to tackle issues, already tackled by leaders in other urban cities, which helped put their regions near best in the nation. 

Can one imagine, if suburban citizens who works in Cleveland had the vote, would there have been a political shake up years ago. The majority of suburbanites working in Cleveland are professionals. And if they had the vote in Cleveland, wouldn’t these professionals examine candidates for public office, in the same way they were scrutinized before securing work? If they had the vote (a noble exchange for taxable income), it’s not hard to think the face of Cleveland politics would be deferent today.

By now, the reader may be asking, where is this line of reasoning going, if indeed it could be called that? Hang with me, I’ll explain shortly.

Patronage in hiring practices is part of the powerhouse of intro letters in the politicians briefcases, needed to hold onto allegiance among ‘inner circle" constituents. The "intro Letters" (word of mouth or notes to be destroyed) is the illegal way to bypass the civil service tests. In 1994 workers who took the text to gain employment, issued a lawsuit against Cleveland City Hall, for hiring citizens who didn’t have to take the tests.

In May Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Peter Corrigan, ordered a freeze on hiring and fined the city $900,750 for inappropriate hiring practices.

The case of course is to be paid by taxpayers, not the politicians who skirted the rules. But the law dept., thanks to free access of taxpayer money, is challenging Corrigan’s ruling. In Corrigan’s ruling, he mentioned the current mayor’s name and two others that preceded him. But the judge did not go far enough.

All Councilpersons knew there was something amiss, when citizens did not take the civil service tests, during the terms of all three mayors. Not one, to the best of my knowledge, stepped forward, stood tall in the spotlight of thousands of citizens, who felt the hiring practices was wrong, spoke out and demanded a wrong be righted, not one. And that makes them all accomplishes to what many citizens would call an act that steps on the education of people who are better qualified for positions within city government.

THINK before voting...

Does the Mayor and Council members really deserve another four years in office?

October 6, 2009 

To the citizens of Cleveland.

Public education in Cleveland, is an issue that seems to be foreign to the current body of local politicians. Check out the flyers sent to homes by incumbents, and if citizens find the word "education" and what they have done in making the schools better, email the information to me. It would please me no end, to share the data with the public, because for much too long, I’ve been writing about an issue that seems to say to leaders; "It’s all Greek to me". In just about every election I can remember, the prime issue on the minds of citizens is education, and what are our leaders going to do about it’s dreadful decline.

When the minds of voters were seduced into voting for "Mayor control of the public schools" education in the classroom was supposed to get better.

This was the promise, get rid of an elected school board and give the mayor choice to pick an appointed board. There’s that word again "appointed," not a friend to citizens who feel the dread of losing the vote, is a direct attack on democracies strength.

Every year since "Mayor control…" been is existence, the schools have lost thousands of students. Why? "Mayor control…" was supposed to make things better. Will, perhaps the schools could have gotten better, if the mayor was not ordered "hands off" the schools. Who ordered the mayor and Council members, "hands off?" Take a guess on who really rules City Hall and your probably right.

Soon after "Mayor control…" showed signs of going out of control; I raised a proposal directed at Council members, than and now.

I raised the "Education Committee" proposal out of respect to thousands of citizens who felt the "freedom of Voice" was in jeopardy within City Hall and felt the committee would keep the concerns of citizens on the minds of members. But I guess not, not one Council member responded to what citizens are still asking during this election campaign. Much has been written about the proposal. For readers who wish to know more about it type, Education Committee, on the HomePage’s search engine. Having reservations about the proposal is fine, but not sharing these thoughts with citizen is NOT fine.

Leaders are now sending flyers out, talking and walking the streets, seeking the attention of citizens in hopes of gaining the votes. But why should citizens really listen, did leaders listen to them before and after the last election… concerning issues in education, and "Echoes" from voters for an "Education Committee," being just one of them?

Truthfully, does the Mayor and nineteen Councilpersons, deserve another four years in office?

"Cleveland property foreclosures attract trash and make it more difficult for homeowners to sell. Residents upset Cleveland fails to haul off debris dumped at foreclosed properties." Monday, June 15, 2009, Trevor Hunnicutt, Plain Dealer Reporter

Andrea Taylor, spokeswoman for the mayor stated. "The City of Cleveland applies a systematic approach to the cleaning of vacant properties. Crews work across the city in sectors. In 2008, crews cleaned all properties at least four times between April and September."

This is not what citizens was promised by Mayor Jackson and residents have every right to be upset when debris at vacant properties are not cleaned up in a timely manner as promised.

Jackson’s promise can be found in the following PD article. Note the date before reading. Please click…

http://clevelandcitizenechoesonline.com/PP-5-6.htm

For several years, I kept a log of city neglects regarding a vacant house; I felt needed public attention. In 2008, this land after the house was demolished, received two cuts from a tractor. And the same goes for 2009. That’s it and the lot certainly didn’t complement the neat lawns of residents close by after the cuts. To review the log, please click…and scan down to the year 2008. http://clevelandcitizenechoesonline.com/wardgovweb15.htm

October 8, 2009

To the Citizens of Cleveland,

About two-week ago, the release of police records in a report stated crime in Cleveland is down. But statistics, depending on the timing of a report’s release, can raise questions about its validity. The main question that comes to mind, is why release it weeks before an election. Was the report so important, it couldn’t wait until a few weeks after the big day?

Citizens are not naïve to the reasons, which add up to showcasing the mayor for a win on Election Day. In this past year, citizens have seen some changes for the better, but they also wonder how long the momentum will continue after the election. But I do not think the report on crime, made much of an impression on the minds of citizens, who see the downside of it every day.

In the September issue of the Plain Press on the West Side, headlined the following, "Murder spree spurs Second District March against Violence".

Read it on the Internet, and imagine hearing the echoes of hundreds of citizens banning together in various parts of the community, raising voices with pleas to stop the violence, by bringing back the safety forces Cleveland once had. And the sounds of urgency are not just echoed on the West Side, but Council leaders on the East End are hearing the same outcries. Leaders hear the "outcries," so what do some do, cry to the media. That’s not what citizens want to read or hear about from the media. They want action from leaders.

They want leaders to stand tall in Council chambers, look the mayor squarely in the eyes and say something like, no more excuses, do something human for the people. If not we will fill this chamber with, angry but law-abiding citizens, every Monday night until you feel the gut-pain of people who have become victims of criminal acts.

Wishful thinking, you bet, because there is not one leader with the courage to stand up for the people in front of the mayor. Yes, some leaders complain to the media, but it’s the mayor that needs to hear the alarming wake up calls.

So when City Hall come out with a report that crime in down, many citizens can be heard uttering two words, "Stick it!’

The report may be accurate, but citizens are not buying it for several reasons, the main being a lack of trust in the leadership. If City Hall is looking for crudely among citizens, turn the report over the FBI. If the statistics match or come close, well that’s a start toward crudely. But it will come faster when the mayor honors the people pleas. Bring back the safety forces Cleveland once had. Put the excuse aside, other urban center done it, and reports that come out, have ranked them above Cleveland in providing safety measures for the people.

Safety has been proven a farce among politicians, for much too long against the citizens of Cleveland. 

And last but not least…

Does the Mayor and nineteen Councilpersons, deserve another four years in office?

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October 9, 2009

To the Citizens of Cleveland,

Recently by circumstance, not intentional, I met with a candidate who happened to be in a room full of people whose concerns centered on problems in the neighborhood that needed attention from City Hall. My immediate reaction was to walk away from him. Because as a writer, I avoid contact with people I may have to write about somewhere down the road. I have an obligation to readers of this WebSite and that is to avoid comments like, He stated but that’s not what I’ve been told. He seemed rather chummy with…

I handed him my intro card and studied his facial reactions to it. "Oh…Oh yes-I’ve heard of you-you’re the guy…" And with a broad smile he said, "Please to meet you!"

We sat for brief moments talking about neighborhood concerns when he volunteered to help on an issue was involved with. The following day the phone rang and my she answered it. "Honey, it’s… He wants to know if we would put a campaign sign on the front lawn for… I must have turn every shade of red before blurting out, "What! I don’t do signs…Tri-C yes" I started walking toward her when she put up a hand, "Back up-I’ll handle this" And she did, peacefully. And the incident ruined my evening, not even Daffy Duck could get me to laugh.

Did the candidate help us? No-but in local politics, expect nothing and you won’t be disappointed.

A few year back, I wrote about two outspoken Council leaders that braved the cold war aganst public outcries for help with civic concerns. I do not mention names in this series, because other politicians are standing in the shadows "un" urging the bold onward and upward, You-all till um, we stutter".

Not long after this woman became a Council member, she boldly spoke her mind to the people who put her in office. I’ll interpret what she said and if she don’t like it, come down off cloud 9 and mingle with the real people. She wanted "those" people to know she is a legislator, not one of "those" employees who try to help "those" other people who haven’t got the brains to help themselves.

This is how she sounded to me, very arrogant.

When this person campaigned for the Council seat, did she lie her way through it, or as many politicians would phrase it, they were not lies, just misunderstandings.

When citizens vote for someone, they expect that person to be their voices within City Hall, and work toward resolving the most dormant of concerns that plague the neighborhoods. If this perception in the minds of citizens is misleading, she should have said something then, not after. And here is where the deception unfolds. If she told the truth before the vote, the campaign would most likely have been a lost cause. Why would voters vote for someone if that person is out of touch with citizen (help with civic) problem solving.

And what about the real responsibilities, legislators should have with citizens? Before casting votes for whatever in government, do they consult the constituency? Is the vote based on a random poll or on an inner circle of loyalists or just, let me hold your hand and trust my judgement. Voters in the know know that many legislators do not consult them, when arguing for or against voting on an issue. Can anyone remember the last time a Council leader say, I need to consult the constituency before voting on this concern? I can only remember one, Fanny Lewis.

Well, we will never know how voters would have voted for her in the coming election. Because her boldness as a leader, impressed Democratic Party officials in Columbus. They swept this politician off her feet by appointing (there’s that annoying word again) this leader to a seat in the state senate. Play your cards right in government (toe the mark) and you’ll go far. Far away from the maddening crowd…for a while and than its back to work, working up a naïve crowd to vote for in the next election.

I need not ad much more info to the other councilman who found it upsetting when citizens came to him for help in resolving civic problems.

In a newsletter of his, he basically stated in what the other leader boldly said. I am a legislator; City Hall has many dept.’s to handle your concerns. Not a wise thing to put in a newsletter. Citizens voted him out of office in the Primary Election. The comment was just a minor setback in comparison to his radical behavior in other areas of civic service that had many citizens spitting nails.

Today, incumbents are on the campaign trail, smiling and shaking hands, and perhaps keeping low profiles, as standoffish, cloud 9 legislators. Today they are your friendly neighbors. But check out the flyers they sent to your homes. Did you read anything about what that leader single handedly achieve for the community?

If your reading something like, I helped…or endorsed by…talk to other citizens before deciding to…

And than join multitudes of other citizens by asking…

Does the Mayor and nineteen Councilpersons, deserve another four years in office?

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October 10, 2009

To the Citizens of Cleveland,

Yesterday, I wrote about two Council members who felt they needed to air some of their frustrations, against citizens that have this crazy notion that leaders, means lead in the caring of civic issues and concerns. This simply is not so, they are legislators, very important people, on a mission to do the right thing, for the right people. Problem is, in the minds of the public, which are the right people? The one-question citizens should be asking incumbents during this election time are what is your definition of a legislator? A good lead answer, would be to read comments made by the PD’s editorial endorsements.

They seldom use the word "legislator" in defining the "professional" handling of issues and concerns incumbents’ work on in their respective communities.

But City Hall is right on the dime in resolving a major problem in helping citizens get answers that some politicians are reluctant to handle. In March of this year, officials introduced to the public; a phone service that is designed to handle the public’s needs in getting responses to concerns resolved.

The telephone system will cost taxpayers $1.5 million before it’s ready to operate. A test of the complex was done in March to see if it was close to ready for public use. But the 3-1-1 phone number system may take up to two more years before it’s ready.

But once the service is set, sounds like employees in various dept’s handling specific calls, may be on the phone answering the same concerns to a question already asked…an hour or day before. In other words, spending time on the phone can become wasteful and interfere with other work getting done. Even with a staff (part of the systems plan) monitoring the concerns and complaints going to about 40 different offices, there is going to be wasted business hours.

A councilman already feels there is communication problems in not keeping Council members informed on the systems progression. "Include us. We're a high-volume complaint handler. We have to be directly involved."

Now this legislature’s statement refutes the argument given by the two in yesterday’s email notes. But putting that conflict of differences aside for now, the "We're a high-volume complaint handler." does not have to be. And the "We have to be directly involved." is as close as the office or home computer.

Web sites for all wards can reduce the "high-volume" of questions and complaints City Hall will be getting once the 3-1-1 phone system is in operation. Many redundant calls can be handled by lifting Web pages that contain "The most frequently asked questions". Another page can also include the same statement plus, "…concerning our community". By reducing the redundant phone concerns, by providing answers on a Web page wherever possible, staff can center more attention on priority issues either by email or phones in community offices .

The informative pluses in raising Web sites in all the wards are endless.

They can also be used as guidelines in wards where citizens may wish to join the nearest block clubs, obtain community garden info, social centers, food pantries, services to the homeless, and so on.

But the most important quest of all on the public’s mind is finding better pathways in relationships between citizens and Council leaders.

The 3-1-1 high tech phone system is a good way to go but with caution. If there is not a better form of communication in dealing with concerns in the wards, City Hall may end up with another layer of confusing red tap citizens will add to their complaint lists.

The above concern on both sides of the communications issue, should be a topic for discussion in every campaign across the city. But incumbents have dodged the issue of Web sites since I (citizen Echoes) started writing about them. And maybe they do not even want to discuss the 3-1-1 system, because I’m not (Echoes) hearing much enthusiasm about the system from the media.

But when opposing views are not heard, just silence in return, citizens should really listen to what candidates (opponents) have to say. Do not become a casualty to the back turning, keep the communications open with other citizens who are involved.

And think; really THINK, about the following question before the vote. There are candidates who really care about working for the people. Citizens in most wards know who they are. Endorsements are generally biased, especially the PD’s.

Does the Mayor and Council members really deserve another four years in office?

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October 11, 2009

To the Citizens of Cleveland,

The buzz in Columbus among state officials, is to enact a law giving Cuyahoga County voters the right to recall politicians who become suspect of office abuse. Voters at this time do not have the right to  recall any official caught up in the FBI county corruption cases against…

In Cleveland voters do have the right to recall leaders who are suspect of office abuse. But Council members here have threatened to remove this law from the charter.

The reason can be reviewed by turning back to the date, December 12, 2007. The day Ward 14 citizens voted for or against in a recall election of their councilman. The name is not important now, because Council members plan on acting defensively in the coming General Election if any incumbent is close to losing campaigns to opponents.

Now if the reader feels Councils actions are anti-democracy, in pressing this line of behavior against the rights of citizens on who they want as representatives in City Hall, we are on the same page.

During the month before the recall election, Council members acted like gangbusters by invading the streets of Ward 14, disturbing the minds of citizens, and doing the best in mixing fable into a reality story line by confusing thoughts against the vote to recall a colleague. The scenario should never be forgotten, because loyalty among colleagues, are far more important, than the patterns of thought, nurtured by the ideals in democracy, that many citizens take pride in beholding.

The leader of the political ambush against citizen’s freedom of independent thought was the Mayor. He publicly endorsed and encouraged voters to vote against the recall of his colleague and by so doing, intruded in what should have been, a public but personal affair between a councilman who’s action were being scrutinized, and Ward 14 citizens who put his antics under the microscope. The Mayor’s endorsement was backed up by PD editorials in their own fabled blast against citizen rights to settle there own differences with a councilman without outside interference.

Well, the gangbusters against the rights of citizens to THINK clearly, partied- hardy after the election on the 12^th of December. The mayor, Council and the PD helped in keeping Ward 14 leader in office to continue doing what he did best.

But there is a bit of good news the citizens in Ward 14 wish to share with others. While their lame duck leader was doing his best to carry on conflicts of interest, citizens was doing the best in sending him into the real world of finding a real work.

The Primary Election was the focal point in ousting him. And that they did in a smashing big way. Citizens lifted up six opponents against the antagonist. Citizens really spoke their gut feelings in the vote. 83 percent of the vote was cast for his opponents. Sa-la-vie, it was so NOT nice to know you.

The Mayor endorsed him AGAIN in the primary, but the PD editors felt the citizens wrath against him was too much and turned turncoat on him.

When politicians are losing favor, the PD really know how use, words of fire, to blast officials into a world of reality.

The Councilman once said, I’d never live in Ward 14, and he backed that up by shifting most of his yearly ($400,000) federal funds to other wards. The charter allows politicians to live outside the wards they represent. Crazy, You bet, but in Cleveland government, nothing is surprising.

Council member threats toward removing the recall law from the charter, may be just that, a threat, but citizens should encourage state lawmakers into passing a bill allowing Cuyahoga County citizens to initiate recall elections. If that happens maybe local politicians will stop or at least so down the intimidation against democracy.

The local threat to remove the recall law, is an outward sign by the Mayor and Council members, that democracy is a "sometime thing" to be paraded whenever it serves their purpose.

Does the Mayor and Council members really deserve another four years in office?

For readers who want to know more about the soon to be X Councilman of Ward 14, please click on the page below.

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Got the picture?! I'm a dead man. When an alarm goes off and the signal goes to the police station, it should be treated as a 911 emergency call. That did not happen Sunday. When the police showed up an hour late, a thief could have got away with...or someone could have ended up injured or dead.

How should I feel now Mr. Cintron? I once felt a sense of security in my home when A D T secured it. When the alarm went off they provided the service I paid for. When the police showed up an hour later, my tax dollar was wasted. It really is a scary situation!

Now its your turn…

Does the Mayor and Council members really deserve another four years in office?

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October 18, 2009

To the Citizens of Cleveland,

This memo to the Citizens of Cleveland should be considered the most important in relation to our youth attending public schools. Now I am going to be up front and very frank about the leadership in Cleveland in their deliberate back turning on students in the mainstream schools. This upsetting message does not include specialized schools nor the ones located in University Circle.

To be quite candid, this message will be tossed to the four winds by the Mayor, Council leaders and most important the CEO of schools, Eugene Sanders. Because it is mute to them, but not so to parents and guardians (not all) of students who know the roll they play in monitoring the quality of education young people receive.

AFTER READING THIS MESSAGE, AND ONLY IF THE READER CONCURS, THIS MEMO SHOULD BE PASSED ONTO PARENTS AND RESPONSIBLE OTHERS BY EMAIL, PHONE, PRINT OR OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNICATIONS.

In yesterday’s message, I presented Frank Jackson with the Rotten Tomato Award for 2009 before the January announcement. His efforts at providing antiquate safety measures in all areas of Cleveland life is atrocious. And although there are two month left in this year, dangers in the school environment is not an issue on the mayor’s agenda…and most likely will remain a serious problem for not only parents but for principals and teachers for years to come.

 Jackson, Council members and Sanders has provided little or no dialogue with the community and action that can hardly be called ACTION in resolving the ever growing problems in the past, present and future. History provides the truth. It is shameful and all leaders should feel the shame…but they are leaders that have buried their conscience, deep in the soul of irrational comfort. And because of it, youth attending mainstream schools for the only for the main reason of education, are not entitles to attend REAL SCHOOLS, absent of the radical fringe, of youth that mocks the disciplines of every day life. And be assured, the message in this paragraph, does not compute with Cleveland’s leadership.

Yesterday’s parents and community activists have fought for years with politician’s in Columbus (after giving up on most of the locals) to open alternative ways to gain better educational opportunities for Cleveland youth. They fought hard with all the compassion they could muster up for yesterday and today’s youth and won the battles. We now have charter schools and vouchers to attend private centers of learning. Are they all better then the public schools? Certainly not, but most of them do not allow the "radical fringe" to turns REAL SCHOOLS into…what many citizens are calling the public sector, schools that resemble prisons with metal detectors, to confiscate weapons of mass destruction in classrooms, principals (wardens) who feel deserted by the slackers downtown (Sanders being the ringleader), and teachers who spend more time on patrol disciplining (guards who do not get hazardous duty pay) students then actually teaching.

Yes, students who are part of the "radical fringe" should be in schools daily…in what I call "tough love" centers for rebellious youth. The school district has a few but it’s easier to suspend youth (putting them on the street corners for education in the arts of crime) than provide more "tough love" centers for education and rehabilitation. And this is where Sanders, like Barbara Byrd-Bennett before him, failed at being educators, other educators lift up as supurb leaders.

The top problem with both is reform, such as adding additional centers for youth in trouble. Reform will upset the figures in the budget, and that will upset a few civic elite leaders who have an invested interest in the budget. When Byrd-Bennett retired, Lisa Marie Ruda, then head of the schools fixed the budget (secured like Fort Knox gold) against public inquiry. That’s our tax money that’s treated like a government system…that is not exactly what citizens would call true democracy. What then is it? Ask the Plain Dealer? When the greed suits them, they like writing articles that are anti- democracy.

I was challenged to write this message, by a reader who sent an email to me regarding big troubles at Lincoln-West High with rival gangs disrupting the school. Nothing unusual, Byrd-Bennett did nothing about it but complain, pass the levies, money leads to change. Sanders would most likely utter the same if it wasn’t for the bad economy. The public wants reform, more money is the answer. What is going on at Lincoln-West is happening in other high schools as well.

But there are schools in University Circle that are top notch. Well, that’s because it is the cultural center of Cleveland. We can’t have the "radical fringe" disturbing the education of students and walking around, scratching cars with keys, defacing places like the Cleveland Museum and Severance Hall. I mean, it’s OK if its done in the inner city to cars and homes, I mean, who do "those" citizens think they are, do they really think their children deserve an education?

Right now, in every school across Cleveland, there are attendance drive going on. Volunteers are on phones, contacting parents about youth who are skipping school and encouraging them to get children back into schools. Why? Is it because councilors want to know the reasons for skipping and help them with problems that keep them from attending? No, not at all, attendance in October is vital and has everything to do with money the district receives from the State of Ohio. Does it matter if the kids skip school after October? What do you think?

I said it before and I will continue saying it but this time, EXPECT NOTHING FROM LEADERS, AND YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. LEADERS WILL CONTINUE TO SAY THIS AND THAT, BUT ACTION SHOULD NOT BECOME A HOPEFUL. IF PARENTS ARE CONVINCED THAT CHILDREN ARE BEING EDUCATIONALLY DEPRIVED (I CALL IT ABUSE) GET THEM INTO CHARTER OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN SAFE PLACES WHERE EDUCATION IS NOT CURTAILED BY THE FEAR OF THE "RADICAL FRINGE". DO IT NOW BEFORE NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE BECOMES ANOTHER PROBLEM, THE MAYOR, COUNCIL LEADERS AND SANDERS COULD CARE LESS ABOUT.

Does the Mayor and Council members really deserve another four years in office?

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October 19, 2009

To the Citizens of Cleveland,

Do we know much of anything about the candidates that campaigned during the Primary Election or the winners that are now contenders in the General Election? Yes, citizens in the wards who voted for them know more about them then say…Echoes readers including self. There sure was a lot of new citizens on the campaign trial, but how many of them were dedicated to working for the people if elected. Yes, they all say to voters they would, but without knowing something about their social contacts, neighborhood involvement and achievements from the past, how do we know? Or why should we want to know if the candidates are from wards other than the readers? Why should we care? And why should we now care about the background of candidates for mayor? It’s all in the past and besides, the Plain Dealer would like to keep all candidates…"in the past".

Council members do not want outsider input, which can upset the way things have been done for years. They protect each other against…especially against citizens who start recall drives. I didn’t christen the Council, "City Hall Click Club" because they respected the rights of citizens; to settle civic affairs between members and residents who voted them into office. Citizens from every ward should keep close ties with candidates who did not make it in the Primary Election, if proven to be leaders who served the people in the past. New members if elected in the General Election and not anointed by being "appointed" to the board this year, but elected by citizens, will be watched like a hawk, for signs that they do not go overboard with the "free speech" ideal in democracy.

There were close to forty candidates (not incumbents) campaigning for Council seats. The media gave them next to nothing coverage which in normal. But without exposure, it becomes an uphill battle to let citizens know…

I am curious, to know what these candidates are all about. I’m sure, if the truth be known, exposing their backgrounds, would make some councilmen look like they need counseling, before they are sent out into the real world of job hunting. So the next phase of my writing will, if the candidates in this years election allows, glimpses into the reason they want to become leaders in the struggle to help remove a statement of mine, democracy among local politicians is a "sometime thing".

However, there is one candidate that received not so nice coverage from the Plain Dealer. So back at you, look whose calling the kettle black. The PD really gave Rick Nagin a red face in a special article that centered on his ties to the American Communist party. So why didn’t the newspaper center equal attention on the other candidates? Well, maybe the candidate party ties are not as controversial or maybe equal coverage might hurt the vote for "Click Club" comrades.

"Cleveland City Council hopeful eschews the communist tag"

Monday, September 28, 2009 Henry J. Gomez Plain Dealer Reporter

The quote below is from the above article.

"When communism questions come up, Nagin prefers to characterize himself as for the working people and against corporate greed."

I characterize myself (and multitudes of citizens) as for the working people and against corporate greed and yet we are not communists. In fact if the word communist or communism was removed from the article, what’s left is party loyalty of another kind, the same kind of actions many citizens been involved in including politicians. Nagin’s done nothing illegal, and acts peaceful. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got a few more votes because of the article although that was not the intent. Why? Because there are a whole lot of citizens disgusted in both the Democratic and Republican parties. But as much as citizens are disgusted with both parties, there are others to chose from that are not at least for now showing evidence of corruption.

But no matter how Nagin views the word "communist" and his association with it in this country, it will not be as wishes, to be replaced with a different political, as he would like, if elected. The history of communism is not a pretty picture here in America. Because the present mind-set toward China, Cuba and North Korea are not making the images any better today.

And in a sense, the PD endorsements, are following the "communist" ideal in protecting comrades from public scorn. They endorsed all but two incumbents for re-election. The only difference that keeps Cleveland in the limelight of democracy, are its citizens. They still have the power of the vote, in spite of clever ways of getting around it, such as appointing Council members as well as in other bodies of government.

This is not my first go round on the subject of communism with the PD.

Consider the following excerpt from the article, " Rules Are Made To Be Broken " 2004.

"I can imagine if citizens knew who wrote the "anti-democracy column," a group of many, would collect enough money for a one way trip to send the editor to Cuba, where the regime would welcome the American as a defector. The ex-facto PD editor could write, " anti-democracy " propaganda articles which most certainly will gain praise from the high command. but I have doubts that the common folk in Cuba, who are waiting for a breakthrough in democracy, will welcome an editors thoughts on how " anti-democracy " acts in Cleveland are taking the town by storm. While this is not exactly happening yet, citizens here are feeling the winds of decent, and when it becomes stormy, the PD will " most certainly " be prepared to write up a storm... but will they include their own contributions to the storm?

I can imagine if citizens knew who wrote the "anti-democracy column," a group of many, would collect enough money for a one way trip to send the editor to Cuba, where the regime would welcome the American as a defector. The ex-facto PD editor could write, " anti-democracy " propaganda articles which most certainly will gain praise from the high command. but I have doubts that the common folk in Cuba, who are waiting for a breakthrough in democracy, will welcome an editors thoughts on how " anti-democracy " acts in Cleveland are taking the town by storm. While this is not exactly happening yet, citizens here are feeling the winds of decent, and when it becomes stormy, the PD will " most certainly " be prepared to write up a storm... but will they include their own contributions to the storm?"

The invitation is still open, to pack your bags to leave, and leave not on a slow boat to China, but on a jet plain to Cuba. Hay, even better, maybe North Korea well provide some of their missiles for sonic transport to that country.

Several years ago when Nagin was Nelsen Cintrone’s assistant, the Council body (comrades) fired him for not gaining permission from them to run for Council in Ward 15. Now that’s a solid "communist" tactic.

When Nagin was Cintrone’s assistant, he had access to many of my articles which detailed top priority concerns citizens wanted addressed. But the rule of Council that has been proven throughout the years, is silence to the people. Do readers think if Nagin got elected, he would, or even could do things differently? In "communism" comrades have one mind. Is this a scary portrait of what Cleveland government is coming to? We need new faces in government with new ideas…that lead us back on the path to, not just a "sometime thing"…but soled democracy.

I stated at the beginning of this article, I wanted to get to know the candidates (dumped by the PD with the exception of Nagin) better. This Website is open to all candidates from the Primary Election to express them in email memos. I will be lifting several pages up for this purpose and encourage all to stay focused on the reasons you wanted be mayor or Council members. Share your thoughts with me, and in turn I will share them with the citizens of Cleveland.

I will begin showcasing the emails in all current articles with reminders on the HomePage where citizens will be guided to page location. Click here

Kimberly Brown, candidate for mayor in the Primary Election sent the following email to me.

October 17, 2009,

Mayor Frank Jackson fancies himself an education mayor, but he's not: Phillip Morris

By Phillip Morris - October 16, 2009

"Candor and straight talk are Jackson hallmarks" echoes Phillips

Recently Mayor Jackson wrote a letter to the Cleveland Plain Dealer Editor and Publisher Terry Egger. "This letter keeps with that tradition, and it sheds light on why Cleveland’s is dangerously close to becoming a third-rate city on Jackson’s watch" said Morris

The problem is with Mayor Frank Jackson and his continued failure to think and act like a desperate mayor, trying to save a desperate city. He bears no resemblance to an education mayor trying to save a poorly educated city. We need a leader with "big ideas" stated Morris.

November 3rd is Election Day and here we are as voters making excuses as to why we will not go out and vote. If anything, we should vote because of the fate of our children. The Plain Dealer has constantly informed readers that this region is dying. The Plain Dealer has written that New Innovative Leadership is a MUST in order for the City of Cleveland to grow. In 2005, the Plain Dealer wrote continuously that Bill Patmon was and is the only qualified candidate in this race to move this city forward! In 2009, the Plain Dealer wrote, that Bill Patmon is what this city needs in this underexposed Mayoral Walk. Hey, I like Mr. Frank Jackson as a person, but we need a Mayor with vision, creative thoughts, innovative leadership, the ability to understand the concept of "how to get things done" and compassion for the entire region not just the selected few!

As Phillip Morris of the Plain Dealer has stated "we need a leader with BIG IDEAS"!

It is Time for a Change!

My next concern: "Where are the Mayoral Forums/Debates?" How is this possible to go into a General Election without any community mayoral forums? We believe that electors have a right to know the platform of all candidates! As we have asked before, is this a sure tell sign that Mayor Jackson has a lock down on the entire community and the media as well..... (www.kimberlyfbrown4mayor.com) Eweb News Brief

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Email from Kimberly Brown

October 18, 2009,

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What more can I add, so…

Does the Mayor and Council members really deserve another four years in office?

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