Cleveland
is in an Urban Slump
Citizen’s Echo the Reasons – Politician's Excuse Them Away
Elections Bring Both Sides Together
Democracy Peaks In the Struggle To Be Heard
Part Six - Tremont - Where common folks are welcome - to live on land worth a dollar
March 1, 2009
In my February article, I centered
attention on a citizen made homeless by three callous politicians. They are
Frank Jackson, Joe Cimperman and Joe Santiago.
Homeless because any one of these three officials could have stopped the
demolition of this man’s home, if they were not so earnest in serving a few
unknown aristo-clouts who knew the land this house sat on was a valuable piece
of property. So why wait until the timing is right, until use of the land is
mapped out for redevelopment, to buy the property through eminent domain, when
finding excuses to rip the house down could save investors thousands.
I am surprised at Cimperman excuse for trashing the house. He claims it was
unsafe, code violations included faulty wiring, and the councilman’s worry
about homeowner Frank Giglio being injured if the house went up in flames.
Well, if Giglio’s concerns ever reaches a court of law, Cimperman’s flimsy
excuse, if proven irrational, should cause him to think about taking a refresher
course in argumentation and debate at Cleveland State.
What if between the three leaders, one…just one, offered Giglio advice on
federal aid available to homeowners stuck in a money crunch for fixing code
violations, before the wrecking ball destroys the “American Dream”. Or is
the safety net only open to owners setting on worthless land?
Why! Why didn’t one of these three, advise this homeowner on ways to fix the
faulty wiring in a house that Cimperman claimed was ready to go up in smoke?
Now perhaps all three would claim, Frank Giglio was offered every possible
chance to fix his property, encouraged by responsible people who offered him the
help needed to correct the code violations. Okay, who offered what and is there
a trail of documentation, or daily work logs to substantiate such involvement.
Would Giglio agree that he was treated properly? Would the many people who
helped him keep his home from ruins agree? When friends and neighbors who helped
put a roof on Giglio’s home, paint the exterior, replace gutters, hear echoes
from City Hall say, hay-we can help?
Political leaders are rarely cornered when controversial issues like this one
comes knocking at the door of reasoning. There are to many people under their
command to blame, if the tradition of political silence is broken and answers
cannot be avoided. Its usually, heave to the low man, in order to escape the
blame.
But I am placing the blame where it belongs until Jackson, Cimperman and
Santiago provides citizens in the Tremont neighborhood informative data that
points to their sincere efforts in helping Giglio save his home. Ward 14
citizens should closely monitor Santiago on this issue. If the three feel they
are the “untouchables” by remaining silent, many voters, sooner or later,
will answer for them
Frank Giglio, your friendship list of unknown citizens are growing. I just might
capitalize your name, FRANK GIGLIO, in future articles. The vultures are
patiently hovering over your land ready to grab it when taxes are not paid. Seek
help if needed. Find ways to keep what’s left of your American Dream. And
remember, the vultures who are ready to take over your land for profitable
reasons, may be looking for profitable excuses not to pay their own taxes. They
are able to hire brilliant tax experts (with some of the money saved on tax
loopholes) to reduce these kinds of depts. And if by now a brilliant lawyer had
not come forward, who is willing to help a fellow human in need, consider legal
aid involvement, if land taxes become a burden. And continue to seek advice from
people who care about people. Some Tremont citizens had suggested creating an
urban farm where vegetables can be grown and sold to upscale diners in the area.
I understand there is one farmer in Tremont doing it, who is cultivating a
portion of land the vultures are posed to grab. If not already done, contact
him. Hay-there are three politicians who do not want to see Tremont residents
collectively help each other against political/aristo-clout attacks. And they
will if allowed (orders carried out by city employees), infiltrate the community
with "who-said-what-to-whom" red tape talk to discourage involvement.
Stand tall my friend...and there is a Big Mac with your name FRANK on it
so...wherever you are, lets get going to MacD.
No, CITIZEN GIGLIO may be too common
folk for the pages of the PD, but that’s NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANY TIME SOON ON
THIS SITE.
For your consideration, I included the following news articles on Giglio and the
Tremont West Development Corporation. If I missed any news updates, please send
them to me via email.
Cleveland
Scene, News & Opinion “With A Little Help From His Friends”
Cleveland
Scene, Letters (2) – December 20, 2008
Cleveland
Scene, Letter – (a rebuttal in defense of Cimperman’s actions) January
2, 2009
Cleveland
Scene, News & Opinion “CASTLE IN RUINS” December 29, 2008
The
Plain Press, “Frank Giglio’s historic house demolished while police guard”
January
2009
The
Plain Press, “Demolition order shocks Tremont homeowner”
The
Plain Press, “Residents urged to get involved in Tremont West Development
Corporation election” January 2009
If
the Frank Giglio scenario goes by way of another citizen I wrote about, Council
members will show their true colors, which is the opposite of empathy.
Like
the Giglio affair, politicians would like citizens to forget about the account
of an elderly woman who depended on electricity as part of her medical treatment
to keep stay alive. The daughters of their frail mother, wanted to tell their
account to investigative reporter Carl Monday, but the freight of retaliation
was to hard to overcome. So I did the next best thing, start writing by keeping
the request silent.
No
need to plead the case to Jackson, Cimperman, Santiago or the rest of the Click
Club members named in the articles. Their duties, I sense, is to protect City
Hall against those citizens who think they have a voice in government affairs.
However, it would be unfair to include new Council members of recent appointment
or election. But if any of the leaders feel they are “people” Council
members, citizens are ready to hear from them. Hear and stand by them, if four
letters words of anger vibrate the walls behind closed doors.
The follow excerpt outlined in yellow is from the initial entry dated, April 18, 2005 ”A shocking issue - A test of compassion”
“The St. Vincent de Paul Society assisted in helping an 83 year old invalid senior citizen with some urgent health needs at the request of her daughters. Mary and Anna (not their real names) for some time now, had dedicated themselves to the care of a mother that raised them to be responsible, compassionate adults. Caring to the point of giving up the work ethic, to unselfishly provide round the clock precision care for a loved one.
A
few months ago, the electric bill posed a problem for the women. A call was made
to CPP in hopes of finding common grounds to pay the bill. First off, Mary
waited for about twenty minutes before a woman on the other end picked up the
receiver. I asked Mary how she was treated on the phone. She said the woman was
not very friendly. She connected Mary to a man that sounded rather indifferent
to her situation and there's that word again " arrogant. " The tone of
his voice hardly revealed a smidgeon of concern about the consequences to Mary's
mother if the bill was not PAID IN FULL. The dept would have been " PAID IN
FULL " if Mary were not under some heavy financial burdens, which people
from other businesses seemed to understand. Most cooperated with her in finding
ways to reach common grounds to keep a bedridden mother out of harms way.
Mary and Anna's mother is confined most of the time, to an electrically operated
bed similar to ones used in hospitals. The bed has an air mattress, which is
important for circulation of fluids. This vital information and much more were
shared with CPP, but it failed to cut through the indifference of a man who had
just one concern. Pay the bill in full or lights out.
Soon after the plug was pulled on the electricity, which shut down the vital
operation of the bed, Mary had to place a 911 emergency call to rush her mother
to the hospital. Her mother had come down with pneumonia among other ailments.
I was shaken to the core when I listened to Mary's account and became quite
angry because all the outcry's from citizens in the past, echoed over and over
to politicians, about problems inside CPP that needed attention was
blatantly being ignored. The above medical case is a good example of what
happens when ignorance reins supreme in council chambers. This case is not
unique. Politicians dare not speak of others. They might interfere with career
choices...and retirement income.
Where does this family live? Is there one councilman among the 21 that really
cares? Is there one with the courage to step forward. How many Council members
among the 21 are interested in reading, the rest of the story. Is there at least
one? Does Patricia Britt have the courage to step forward? If not, surely
someone else should, out of empathy, demonstrate an interest in the mothers care
after arriving at MetroHealth Hospital's emergency room. Many readers of this
WebSite, would like to read 21 opinions from Council members concerning the
careless attention two daughters of an invalid mother received from CPP. I will
place all comments (or no comments} on the FACT FINDING pages for citizens to
read. Email notes must be posted on Council members City Hall office
(official address) computers. I will not accept emails from other e addresses.
The cut off date for comments is April 25, 2005.”
I felt the excerpt
above needed updated, to provide voters and candidates for Council seats with
information that should be placed on the negative side of résumés before the
November election. Not that it’s going to change much in campaign strategies
before choices are made. It’s going to take a traumatic event that gets top
news coverage, to wake up complacent leadership in City Hall. I’ve been told
that shutting off electricity is an illegal act in a life threatening medical
situation, and I feel Council member silence toward the act is deplorable.
Every member of
Council is responsible to the public, for the careless acts coming out of
Cleveland Public Power. If they wish to remain silent, pass the buck, or offer
excuses, patrons of CPP will, in various ways feel the heat of indifference from
the other end. The pubic deserves better from leaders who always vow the best of
services during election time. If the truth is so hard to fulfill, open the
doors of City Hall to candidates who wish to prove they care.
The two accounts
showcased here, are just small bits of information in comparison to what
citizens could tell if the media allowed. Who among the current leadership is
willing to really listen and do what most politicians fear doing. Cross over and
become a “people” leader. Citizens are longing for real change in
government, not hearing more of what sounds like promises of, but “real
change”. The politician or candidate for office in November “who is willing
to really listen,” and make changes, will find voters voting for the kind of
leaders who proclaim, “We, not I, can make the changes for a better government
today”.
The following info
was sent to PD’s Brent Larkin via email.
Mr. Brent Larkin,
Here is one for the Plain Dealer. Whatever happened to full discloser when writing about an account of political bribery, involving former council member Robert White III. A businessman offered him $500. for his assistance in getting electricity turned on. White’s name appears in several articles concerning his illegal action in the affair, but no mention of the person who encouraged the illicit activity. Why?
To
be continued…
Previous articles in series...
Part
One – Biographical Illusions
Part Two -
Should Voters Prosecute the Prosecutor
Part Three - The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Part four - A Landscape of Blight – to a Politicians Delight
Part Five
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