3 Dog Pat

I wrote to councilman Polensek this morning, and he called me back and left me a message. Paraphrasing he said that Forest City and the Plain Dealer along with several elected leaders and groups are trying everything they can to kill this deal. He suggested writing letters to the editor, rather than just commenting on the blogs. People, lets please get writing to the editor!! Here is the note I wrote him. Councilman Polensek, Please save the Medical Mart from being run out of town. It seems like the powers that be want build the convention center as a lobby for a casino, shoehorned onto the back side of Tower City. I was born at Euclid General, grew up in Euclid, my brothers attended St. Joe’s, my sisters attended VA and I attended VASJ. We watched our father pass on at the Hospice of the Western Reserve. E. 185th is what I think of when I think of home. But like my parents who considered themselves exiles from Ireland due to the lack of opportunity, I too am an exile, but from my home in Cleveland. I am an engineer who has his degree from Ohio State, who specialized in manufacturing of specialty metals. When I first heard of the Medical Mart I became exited, because I could easily see the vision of having the Medical Mart draw medical device manufacturers to Cleveland. That specific industry, which is growing and dynamic, could provide me the opportunity to have a career and bring me home. My hopes are now fears. Ever since the County Commissioners and the City Council, in their wisdom, endorsed the mall site, there seems to be a coordinated effort to not only lobby to have the CC/MM at Tower City, but to force MMPI out of the picture. If MMPI were to leave, politicians who are more loyal to campaign contributors rather than could steer the CC back to a cramped, ugly Tower City site, and substitute a casino for the Medical Mart. Councilman Polensek, you have always been a fighter for the people of Collinwood. I am asking you to fight this fight for the future of Cleveland and for the Cleveland exiles like myself who are waiting for an opportunity to come home. Being a blackjack dealer for Dan Gilbert is not an opportunity. Thank you so much for your kind attention. Patrick Staunton VASJ ‘91 Patrick Staunton Welding Engineer Textron Marine & Land Systems

You may want to post it in the responses to the metro section copy of the same article. That one made the most commented on list, so it will be viewed for a few more days. The comments on that thread made me proud. What an upside-down world we in now!

Please write to your council reps!

I was getting ready to write Cleveland City Council when I noticed this on the website. Was this reported by anyone? From the photos, it looks like every member of council went. Chicago convention tour provides perspective to Council -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Tuesday, March 31, 2009, a delegation of Council Members travelled to Chicago to meet with representatives of Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI) in order to learn about the company’s operations. The delegation included Council Members Terrell Pruitt, Ward 1; Zack Reed, Ward 3; Kenneth L. Johnson, Ward 4; Mamie Mitchell, Ward 6; TJ Dow, Ward 7; Sabra Pierce Scott, Ward 8; Kevin Conwell, Ward 9; Roosevelt Coats, Ward 10; Michael D. Polensek, Ward 11; Joe Santiago, Ward 14; Brian Cummins, Ward 15; Kevin Kelley; Ward 16; Matt Zone, Ward 17; and Council President Martin J. Sweeney, Ward 20. The trip included an extensive tour of the Merchandise Mart, which is similar in function to Cleveland’s proposed Medical Mart. Council Members had the opportunity to see how permanent and temporary display show rooms are laid out in such a building and learn more about how businesses use such show rooms. “Walking through the Merchandise Mart and seeing how the show rooms are laid out and how they work first hand has helped to reassure me that MMPI, as a successful operator of such a facility, can manage business at a Cleveland Medical Mart effectively,” said Councilwoman Pierce Scott. Additionally, Council Members had an opportunity to see a conference style meeting room at the University of Chicago’s Gleacher Center. The room, which featured tiered seating and full access connections to presentation technology, is similar to the ones envisioned for inside Public Hall. “The layout of the Gleacher Center meeting room is sophisticated and promising,” said Councilman Kelley. A tour of Navy Pier’s ballroom, convention space and loading docks further provided Council Members with a visual understanding of how older, historic building space can be used to facilitate convention business. A glimpse of the new addition to McCormack Place presented the Council and opportunity to see how spaces with various ceiling heights are utilized and to examine various layouts for convention space. “Learning about convention center operations while viewing the variety of convention space at the Merchandise Mart, Navy Pier and McCormack Place has definitely increased my comfort level,” said Council President Sweeney. “When deliberations on this project come to Council, we will be able to use the knowledge we gained to better assess what is presented to us.” Finally, circling Millennium Park gave Council Members an opportunity to see how a slight rise in the Mall due to extending ceiling height in Cleveland’s Convention Center can be engineered to preserve sight lines. Millennium Park is also a prime example of utilization of green space to attract visitors. http://www.clevelandcitycouncil.org/Home/Chicago_Convention_Tour/tabid/659/Default.aspx

The PD has turned into such a destructive force in the city over the past 5 or so years

Cleveland.com moved the movie article over to the entertainment page, and deleted all of the comments. (They probably also called Positively Cleveland to have them write comments complaining about the lack of connectivity at the mall site)

This whole episode has made me sick. If FCE/PD succeeds in driving away MMPI, I can't ever envision myself coming back to live in Cleveland. I don't want to live in a company town, having FCE make all of the decisions and the Plain Dealer enable them. I'll have to give up on Cleveland

Who said music hall is going away? Sam Miller? Dan Gilbert? Susan Goldburg?

it was freakin tonight?? No wonder the PD did not publish any articles this weekend they played possum. If they had this published the film article on Sunday it would have fired people up to go to city council and demand leadership. OMFG!

IS THERE A CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEEK? I'LL FLY UP. ITS PUT UP OR SHUT UP TIME

I would hope the Cleveland Sports Commission can work in the future with the marathon. I have run 4 Chicago marathons and they go through so many different neighborhoods, and so many busy streets. If Chicago can do it, so can Cleveland.

Roldo is the reason I stopped reading cool cleveland I would like to see if the tone of the Kennedy for Senate story will be continued in the PD, or was it just a momentary slip up.

MTS what will you dress up as, a Klingon? I hope at&t can provide some sort of tour of the "Daily Planet" building

A plague commemorating the homes of Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joel Schuster will be unveiled during July's Screaming Tiki Cleveland Super-Con in Cleveland Isn't unleashing a plauge a rude way to honor someone?

that was suprisingly non-tabloidesqe. It was kind of complimentary to MMPI. No Sunday hatchet job, now this? Maybe Cosgrove threatened to pull all clinic advertising from the paper. Either way, its a nice change

I'm guessing its going to be the "use the PM" button sign, but maybe the ax. I just hope its not the bloody ax.

that is typical of the places Ive seen in Chicago. A lot of these places have a bedroom wall that does not go all the way to the ceiling, so it lets light in the bedroom.

I don't want to start a Indy-bashing theme, but getting a lecture from someone who is trying to make the point that Indy is more urban than Cleveland isn't worth the time to respond.

No PD article! I get to spend a Sunday not all fired up

I wonder what the Sunday PD hatchet article will be about this week.

:(

I posted a link to the 2007 Annual Report for Positively Cleveland in the thread titled "Positively Cleveland"

Here is a link to the 2007 Annual Report, with all the numbers http://www.positivelycleveland.com/pdf/PositivelyCleveland_2007_Annual_Report.pdf

MTS, when you add in benefits and payroll taxes on that amount, he nearly costs the group 10% of its entire budget. If hotel room bookings go down with the recession and they do not bring in 5.5Million for next year, one person could cost the group over 10% of its budget. That is out of whack no matter how you look at it.

The president of "Positively Cleveland" makes $340,000/yr!!!! And he was able to keep his job after renaming the convention and visitors beaurau (HIV)Positively Cleveland??