JOEBIALEK

On Monday Jun 26, 2017 I had the opportunity to attend the Mayoral Forum sponsored by the Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus and the Ward 14 Democratic Club at the VFW on West 61st Street in Clark-Fulton. I’ve since attended most of the other forums as well. Of all the candidates present at the event the one that caught my attention was former East Cleveland Mayor Eric Brewer. He was the only one who appeared to have a true grasp of the issues concerning Cleveland combined with a positive track record to validate his claims. He comes across as someone who chooses to be a statesman rather than a politician. This combined with his intelligence, charisma and burning desire to serve the citizens of Cleveland makes him the ideal successor to soon to be former Mayor Frank Jackson. Frankly, he is the only candidate taking this election seriously. Contrary to what the media and his opponents would like the public to believe Eric only appears to grow angry at two things. One, when he is falsely accused of something and two, with the rampant injustice that pervades the City of Cleveland. Just as with Eric I am not satisfied with the performance of the Cleveland Schools and its inability to teach our children the basics of reading, writing, speaking and listening. I am not satisfied with the anemic job growth in Cleveland especially the blown opportunity of failing to land the Amazon Fulfillment Center which ended up in North Randal. I am not satisfied with the lack of discipline and training in our police department resulting in the unnecessary deaths of Cleveland citizens when it clearly could have been prevented. I am not satisfied when Cleveland is ranked at the top of the list in poverty while crime is rampant in our city. I am not satisfied with the catering to owners of sports teams by Cleveland officials when they know in their own conscience it is the wrong thing to do. I believe it is time to get the City of Cleveland moving again. We have stagnated for the last 12 years under a political philosophy of "it is what it is". Never let it be said that this was the time the tide ran out on Cleveland but rather was the time the tide finally came in. Eric Brewer is that tide and represents the pro-active change Cleveland needs during these challenging times. Right now Cleveland is a ship without a captain {and a rudder as well}. Eric Brewer will be that captain if voters make the right choice on September 12, 2017 {my 54th birthday}.

ERIC BREWER

vote no

sell the stadiums to the highest bidder and be done with the leases

This letter is in response to the articles covering the Sin Tax vote occurring Tuesday, May 6, 2014. This issue is the absurdity of absurdities. Let me get this straight: the purpose of the Sin Tax is to gouge those who purchase alcohol and cigarettes not because anyone is trying to discourage consumption but rather so the County can use that money to pay for sports stadiums that do not produce anything but a fleeting moment witnessing the passing of a football, the dribbling of a basketball and the throwing of a baseball so that such a minute tidbit of diversion can be enjoyed by all. The stupidity of this proposition is enough to make your head spin even though the spin doctors advocating passage of this nonsense are already doing a pretty good job of hypnotizing the voters to actually consider supporting it. At least the Robber Barons of the previous centuries provided something tangible such as oil, steel, railroads etcetera. These team owners do not even provide one tangible thing that could ever be considered with the term “value added.” Almost everyone discusses this “enterprise” as though it is the same thing as industry {which it is not}. The price of admission is essentially a voluntary tax paid by those who can afford it to pay those who don’t need it. If this isn’t a transfer of wealth I don’t know what is. The real outrage here is the fact that taxes on alcohol and cigarettes will not be used to aid in the reduction of addiction {hence the reference to “sin”} but rather to stuff the pockets of all three teams who could easily afford to pay for the repairs themselves. The vote was rammed through the last time {under somewhat suspicious circumstances} and hear we go again. But this time...not so fast!!! We the voters of Cuyahoga County are going to fight the proponents on this one and we don't care if the teams up and go somewhere else {please see my views on entertainment below} because quite frankly there are simply more important things than sports and the unearned money that comes with it. Those in public office who are too stupid and lazy to find other ways to grow a major American city need to resign and leave their self-seeking political ambitions on the scrapheap of history. Don’t ever let it be said that this was time when the tide ran out on Cuyahoga County but rather was the time when the voters rose up to welcome the rising tide of change and rebuked this pathetic paradigm our previous elected leaders embraced. Let the battle be joined. And now to the real underlying issue at hand: One of the most disturbing facts about our capitalist nation is the misappropriation of funds directed to the salaries of entertainers. Everyone should agree that the value an athlete, movie star, talk-show host, team-owner, etcetera brings to the average citizen is very small. Granted, they do offer a minuscule of diversion from our daily trials and tribulations as did the jesters in the king's court during the middle ages. But to allow these entertainers to horde such great amounts of wealth at the expense of more benevolent societal programs is unacceptable. They do not provide a product or a service so why are they rewarded as such? Our society is also subjected to the "profound wisdom" of these people because it equates wealth with influence. Perhaps a solution to this problem and a alternative to defeated school levies, crumbling infrastructures, as well as all the programs established to help feed, clothe and shelter those who cannot help themselves would be to tax this undeserved wealth. Entertainers could keep 1% of the gross earnings reaped from their endeavor and 99% could be deposited into the public coffers. The old ideas of the redistribution of wealth have failed, and it is time to adapt to modern-day preferences. People put their money into entertainment above everything else; isn't it time to tap that wealth? Does anyone think this will reduce the quality of entertainment? It seems to me that when entertainers received less income, the quality was much higher.

This letter is in response to the letter "Fossaceca will bring thoughtful, informed voice to Statehouse" written by Diana Nazelli. http://www.cleveland.com/sun/all/index.ssf/2012/09/anthony_fossaceca_will_bring_t.html In the twenty years that I've known "Foss" I have always been very impressed with his honesty, integrity and strong work ethic. He is a unusual candidate in that he is running for office in a time when this country is in such desperate need of statesmen. Ms. Nazelli "hit the nail right on the head" in describing what Anthony brings to the political table; he is all these qualities and more. Others who have worked with him would provide similar testimony as well. As for his opponent it appears she prefers to follow the "party line" when voting and therefore promotes "business as usual" at the Statehouse and we've all seen where that has led us to. Ohio's 6th District cannot continue along this precarious path but rather needs to "shift gears" and get back to what the founders intended for governmental and political leadership; that compromise on any given issue does not in any way suggest a compromise of character. Politics is not about the art {or science} of bringing the other person down. It is about working together towards the common goal of improving upon the quality of life for all citizens regardless of race, color, creed and political persuasion. It is for this reason that voters should choose Anthony "Foss" Fossaceca on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 because he will get the job done the right way. Joe Bialek Cleveland, OH

In response to the articles concerning the recall election of Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. We too once had a mayor of similar style and temperament, but thankfully we recognized this early on and voted him out. Unfortunately, the citizens of Akron have had to endure the slash-and-burn style of this ogre. The number of disgraceful public incidents only confirms what is soon to be inevitable -- his removal from office. It's too bad that he will be able to enjoy a pension when he finally gets voted out, but the sooner he is gone, the better. With his witless rantings, he has successfully done for Akron what Dennis Kucinich did for Cleveland.

This letter is in response to the article "All Boarded Up" written by ALEX KOTLOWITZ. During my time (1993 to 1999) as President of {the now defunct} South East Clevelanders Together I worked to promote community organizing in Ward 12 {Slavic Village} to address quality of life issues {such as crime watch} in an aggressive and systematic manner. During that time, Ward 12 was represented by current City of Cleveland Director of Building and Housing Edward W. Rybka and the former Broadway Area Housing Coalition nka Slavic Village Development headed then by current Ward 12 Councilman Anthony Brancatelli. Needless to say, it did not take long for our organization to clash with the former Councilman's housing group. Their primary objective was to build and rehabilitate housing without any real regard for the other issues affecting the residents and business owners. They too took the worst houses and put people in them who had no ability {or desire} to pay. In fact, once they completed their first rehabilitation on any given street that house soon became a haven for various social malcontents. Once the "single apple spoiled the barrel" the remaining law-abiding residents moved thus adding further to the catastrophe. Now the Cleveland City Council wants to extend the boundaries of Ward 12 beyond the current boundaries of Ward 15 which {as luck would have it} would include my residence. Councilman Brian Cummins has been a fine representative for Ward 15 but as for Ward 12 Councilman Anthony Brancatelli; he will do for Ward 15 {Old Brooklyn} was he has and will continue to do for Ward 12 {Slavic Village}.