I hear Paul Volpe dishes out the soup himself.

 

It could only be worse if Volpe was feeding a panhandling Dick Feagler.

I hear Paul Volpe dishes out the soup himself.

 

That got a laugh out of me.  Hard to do after reading that Washington Post article.

I did.  Its the urbanohio rule.  :-D

Well, I probably won't ever work for the Plain Dealer and I may not eat lunch again in this town, but this felt good to write:

......................

Connie, you have completely missed the point of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance's campaign of "Don't Give Where it Can't Help".

 

In no way, shape or form are the Downtown Cleveland Alliance suggesting that the homeless don't (or won't, or shouldn't) exist.They're trying to get the message out that most of the panhandlers (particularly the aggressive panhandlers) *aren't* homeless. The DCA is trying to get people to contribute funds to groups that can genuinely help the homeless. I'm sure that the churches and service groups who are collaborating with the DCA really appreciate you denigrating their work. I'm also sure that unlike people who live in the suburban comfort of Avon, several thousand residents of downtown Cleveland wouldn't be so ignorant as to pass judgement on an issue that seriously affects their quality of life and their safety. Do you get panhandled in front of your home? Probably not, so why aren't the residents of downtown Cleveland entitled to that as well?

 

I would think a Pulitzer prize winning journalist could understand the difference between the homeless (less fortunate and truly deserving of our assistance) and panhandlers, who are often scamming, occasionally threatening, and rarely are they truly in need. Homeless - deserving of our charity. Panhandlers - usually not.

 

Like so many of your colleagues at the Plain Dealer - you've once again spit on the efforts of a group trying to make downtown Cleveland a better place. What's in the water at Superior and 18th? Any time an article appears about downtown improvement or development, it often references "the poorest city in the nation" or offers up some non-related insult to the region. Plain Dealer subscriptions have plummeted over the years, and I imagine your higher-ups wonder why revenue is down. Perhaps if you and the other staff writers could learn to appreciate where you are and stop battering those of us who are trying to make this a better city, that wouldn't be the case. And with that extra money, perhaps the Plain Dealer could make a sizable donation to the Downtown Homeless Fund.

 

Regards,

 

Shawn Hoefler

^ha, I signed off on my letter to the Washington Post:

 

Sincerely,

Poorest City in America

 

However I addressed it to:

 

Murders Per Capita Champion.

Well done "Poorest Large City in America Not Based on Cost of Living or City Square Miles."

Well Connie at least replied... more than Feagler can say:

 

Shawn, your tone and tenor undermine your efforts to convince me of anything other than your own ill temper. I drive to downtown Cleveland all week long, and spend most of my waking hours here, working in and walking around downtown Cleveland. Where I live has nothing to do with my views of how we should treat our fellow human beings, and I have grown weary of civic boosters who condemn any criticism of so-called downtown development as just another attempt to undermine the city and "batter" them. How we treat those we are allowed to mistreat is a measure of who we are as individuals, and as a community. Demonizing panhandlers may make some feel better about ignoring all who beg, but it doesn't do a thing to help those who need it.

 

As for The Plain Dealer's willingness to contribute to the homeless fund: I can't speak for management, but many of my colleagues are among the most generous people I know when it comes to contributing time, talent and funds to charitable causes. There are lots of good people here, and most of them care a great deal about the state of this city. It's not exposing the flaws, but ignoring them, that hurts this great town.

 

Connie Schultz

She's grown weary?!  SHE'S GROWN WEARY?!  That commute in horrendous rush hour must be taking its toll on her!  Let's use the sales tax money for a 16 lane I-90--just like the Dan Ryan!!!

 

:|

Oh, and about the DCA, one morning in July, a yellow shirted man was picking up a box on Prospect and jumped a bit--as I walked right by him, he showed me a dead, bloody pigeon! :-o  Needless to say I was a bit freaked and ran away!

how about what she has done to help homeless people?

 

(i for one have done nothing since a 5th grade soup kitchen trip)

There are lots of good people here, and most of them care a great deal about the state of this city. It's not exposing the flaws, but ignoring them, that hurts this great town.

 

That's fine, Connie. But how about you and your colleagues adding some balance to your pages by not ignoring the many good things happening here? Greater Clevelanders are woefully ingorant about their city, and it's the responsbility of us in the media to provide them ALL the information of what's happening. And is it too much to ask that when you do write about the good stuff going on, how about not forcing a negative side-comment into the article?

 

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if a PD writer won the lottery. Based on how they write, I would expect them to say "It's great that I just won $100 million, but now I have to pay tax on it."

^ ditto kjp. i hope she thinks about that on her daily commute into the city. arrgh those tiresome and continuous 'negative twist remarks' on otherwise positive stories are aggravating. its embarrassing and its so bush league of the peedee.

 

I hear Paul Volpe dishes out the soup himself.

 

It could only be worse if Volpe was feeding a panhandling Dick Feagler.

 

don't be so sure....roldo could blog about it.

to be perfectly honest, i hate newspaper columns and blogs. just give me the facts and bug off.

I'm just perplexed that she took my email so harshly - I'm well aware that I'm about as subtle as a hand grenade, but given her position I would imagine (imagine, not hope) she's received far nastier correspondence. I love how she completely glosses over most of the points I made, particularly the panhandler vs. homeless comment, and instead tries to establish her "street cred" along with a bleeding-heart diatribe. "Won't someone think of the panhandlers!?!" :roll:

Demonizing panhandlers may make some feel better about ignoring all who beg, but it doesn't do a thing to help those who need it.

 

Yeah it does, Connie, it means not being a schmuck and dolling out money to people who take advantage of you and giving it to agencies who can truly help the homeless.  DUH!!

 

I'm canceling my subscription to the PD.

I'm just perplexed that she took my email so harshly - I'm well aware that I'm about as subtle as a hand grenade, but given her position I would imagine (imagine, not hope) she's received far nastier correspondence. I love how she completely glosses over most of the points I made, particularly the panhandler vs. homeless comment, and instead tries to establish her "street cred" along with a bleeding-heart diatribe. "Won't someone think of the panhandlers!?!" :roll:

 

I agree with what KJP said, and what many other people have said. I don't have a problem with the PD reporting about the crime, negative aspects of the city, etc. The press has an obligation to do that, and I'm absolutely in support of that. But what I'm sick and tired of is the PD's apparent bias towards the negative in this city. They're not the only ones, either, and that's what angers me more.

 

Regarding MayDay's e-mail to Schultz: I applaud you for writing to her! However, I think we need to be careful when addressing issues like this in letters and e-mails to reports, commentators, etc. Even though we're angry and fed up with this negativity, we need to carefully express those thoughts. Don't let your anger get the best of you when e-mailing these people; there's a better way to express frustration and anger than just outright attacking someone.

 

I hope you don't take this as an attack on you, MayDay. It's not meant that way. Again, I applaud you for taking steps to communicate with her. It's just that, based on her reaction, I just want to make sure that our emotions don't get the better of us when communicating our thoughts to these people.

Oh, and about the DCA, one morning in July, a yellow shirted man was picking up a box on Prospect and jumped a bit--as I walked right by him, he showed me a dead, bloody pigeon! :-o  Needless to say I was a bit freaked and ran away!

Maybe one of the falcons killed the pigeon.  Try finding a dead man on your front steps - now thats cause to run away.

 

I'm just perplexed that she took my email so harshly - I'm well aware that I'm about as subtle as a hand grenade, but given her position I would imagine (imagine, not hope) she's received far nastier correspondence. I love how she completely glosses over most of the points I made, particularly the panhandler vs. homeless comment, and instead tries to establish her "street cred" along with a bleeding-heart diatribe. "Won't someone think of the panhandlers!?!" :roll:

 

I was going to address that.  This is clearly an issue where the Editor-in-Chief needs to shake out the ranks.  Did you send your letter to SUSAN GOLDBERG?

 

I would be interested to hear what she thinks.

 

 

"It's just that, based on her reaction, I just want to make sure that our emotions don't get the better of us when communicating our thoughts to these people."

 

I don't think my email was really that harsh - heavy-handed maybe, but if my tone is enough to ruffle her feathers, she needs to get out of the kitchen, so to speak. She's a senator's wife and a Pulitzer'd columnist for the Plain Dealer - as if she hasn't dealt with worse :roll: Anyone who knows me knows that my email was relatively tame and it's not like I insulted her directly. She's free to let her emotions get the better of her in print, and her words are viewed by hundreds of thousands in the region and taken as gospel by many. She needs to be held to a higher standard, and being meek about calling her out on an ignorant article is not the way to go. Being sheepish because she's just a little sensitive at someone confronting her views is not my cup of tea.

 

She insulted the work of not only the DCA, but that of Trinity Cathedral, the Catholic Diocese and the Old Stone Church - that's shameful for a senator's wife who lives in Avon to do. She doesn't walk out the door every night to pick up groceries and get panhandled, yet her bleeding heart mentality says it's fine for those who choose to live downtown to have to deal with that. She takes one anecdotal story about some sad case from her past, and thinks it's reason enough to waste ink and piss all over the DCA's efforts. She completely ignores the DCA's efforts to create a fund to provide additional help. Now tell me, who is the one who needs to get a grip?

I also wrote a letter to Connie the day I read her editorial.  To her credit, she did respond.  Here is my e-mail followed by her e-mail.  When you read her reply below you may notice that she calls the situation "awful".  I never said that and it illustrates her bias, because she would never tolerate the panhandling in her neighbor hood. We tolerate it as part of urban living, but recognize that putting change in their cups is no solution.

 

My e-mail:

 

Ms Connie Schultz,

 

My wife and I live in the Grand Arcade building downtown.  Every day the same people are sitting on the curb begging for money.  They spend the day passing a bottle in a paper bag.  Guess where they get the money for the bottle.

 

If you get here early enough, you will see them get off the bus and walk to their stations. 

 

Your image of "homeless" is not appropriate for 90% of the beggars downtown.  We all want to help, but please learn more about the real situation before you begin preaching to everyone.  You have too much influence to be so irresponsible in your advise.  If these same people were sitting in your front yard all hours of the day and night, you would probably call the police!

 

 

Her reply:

 

You're right. That's awful -- for all involved. I would hate seeing that every day outside my home. But, clearly, those people camping out in front of your building have issues with addiction and mental illness. They need help, and they're not getting it. What I most object to is the notion that we should just pretend they do not exist. That won't change their lives, but it will change us as fellow human beings. I don't feel it is irresponsible to insist that we are better than that.

 

What time do they get off the bus? I am interested in checking this out.

 

Thanks for taking the time to write.

 

Connie Schultz

 

 

As if she is going to ride the bus in with them.  Heiffer please!

"What I most object to is the notion that we should just pretend they do not exist. That won't change their lives, but it will change us as fellow human beings."

 

So Connie, giving them spare change is going to change their lives and turn us all into Mother Theresa? Give me a break - she's still acting as though the DCA is saying "don't help the homeless at all". :roll: 

I can't imagine what she would write about those knuckleheads.  "Alcohol infused beggars stalk all downtown residents," next week in the PD.  I wouldn't give her the time of day.

She won't get off this idea of "ignoring" the homeless.  How at all is this campaign designed to ignore the homeless.  Over the past year DCA has hired a social worker, gotten seven people off downtown streets into supportive housing.

 

Can't she admit that she's wrong!  There's no ignoring about it.

"Over the past year DCA has hired a social worker, gotten seven people off downtown streets into supportive housing, worked with all downtown stakeholders to create a 24 hour drop in center, and gotten a "homeless bus" that will provide transportation to all homeless people to wherever the services are."

 

THAT needs to be a letter to the editor.

I agree 100% -- I was not aware such a service existed!

whoa...BlackOpsAmbassador, that's news! 

 

I say email Connie, the Editor in chief at the PD and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance all in the same email.

 

This is a prime example of how out of touch the PD writers are with the Region they serve.

 

 

So am I. I cover downtown and wasn't aware.

At this point, I think letters aren't enough. A personal meeting with CS would be best, imho.

So am I. I cover downtown and wasn't aware.

 

KJP...You're not out of touch!  How dare you?!  You're invested in educating yourself about what's taking place in your city on many levels and have taken a positive role in correcting things you see as wrong and being man enough to admit when you're wrong.  

 

You, alone, can't know everything, which is why UO exists!  BIG UPS to my fellow UrbanOhio forumers

 

The staff at the PD is out of touch and just plain lazy.  I feel confident in saying the majority of the PD staff is not verse on the positive things going on in the city but when they do, they'll find a reason to add a negative statement about the project!

 

If the PD was serious they would have someone from their editorial board - active and visible - here on UO and fire the majority of their writers and reporters along with changing the culture inside the building!

 

At this point, I think letters aren't enough. A personal meeting with CS would be best, imho.

Organize it. 

I'll call her

^^ Good luck.

 

MTS, it wouldn't be my place to organize a meeting with CS. I don't have any information or authority. I don't even live downtown. I was just saying that I thought she needed a personal meeting with the people involved. Considering she's at least answering e-mails, it sounds like she'd be open to discussion.

^^ Good luck.

 

MTS, it wouldn't be my place to organize a meeting with CS. I don't have any information or authority. I don't even live downtown. I was just saying that I thought she needed a personal meeting with the people involved. Considering she's at least answering e-mails, it sounds like she'd be open to discussion.

 

Why you're a citizen of Metro Cleveland, right?   You're wrong about saying you don't have any authority!  You're input and ideas are just as important as anyone living downtown, forest Hills, Parma, Bay Village or Chagrin Falls.  Regardless of where you live, there is a lot to gain and even more to lose by not getting involved.

Ordinary people become leaders by taking the lead.

A little birdie told me that parts of this thread were printed out & hung up in the DCA office.....as a positive reinforcement to them against Connie's editorial

Good to hear!

 

Well someone from the DCA should sign up for UrbanOhio, like the AvenueDistrict. 

 

I would like to believe that many government employees, development companys, etc, with projects going up around Cleveland (or other cities) are lurking here on UrbanOhio.

"Well someone from the DCA should sign up for UrbanOhio, like the AvenueDistrict."

 

There are representatives from both DCA and the Avenue District here (some post frequently, others lurk) - though I won't name names because I respect their privacy.

Thanks for the confirmation MayDay, I figured as much.

pd:

 

Downtown Cleveland Alliance complains of streetlight outages

A count finds dozens aren't on

Friday, October 05, 2007

Henry J. Gomez

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Cleveland leaders talk of building downtown into a 24-hour neighborhood. But on many nights, there's one missing ingredient:

 

Reliable streetlights.

 

More than 40 were out Tuesday evening - including three at a Gateway District intersection that spills into the popular East Fourth Street restaurant and entertainment area, according to a count by Downtown Cleveland Alliance employees.

 

More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

The response makes it sound like this is a simple single light being out.  It's entire blocks, though, which is ridiculous!  I'm glad DCA is advocating, but with all this awareness, why is the problem persisting?  I could see Euclid Avenue being problematic with all the work they've got going on right now, but Prospect Ave was completely redone about a decade ago.  They shouldn't be having these problems in a rehabbed section of the grid.

Panhandling-alternative charity drive comes up dry

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Stan Donaldson, Plain Dealer Reporter

 

The Downtown Cleveland Alliance has gotten what some panhandlers get every day.

 

Nickels and dimes.

 

That's about what the nonprofit group has netted after spending $5,000 on a campaign to stop aggressive panhandling in Cleveland ...

 

... More at http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1195638204175740.xml&coll=2

They really should ban panhandling completely

I really don't think that DCA's point was to raise money for the homeless.

No, but giving an alternate outlet for people's willingness to help would be beneficial for the legitimately homeless, and would make the program more effective at eliminating panhandling.

A Clean & Safe worker just told me "You look cute ... you should be a model."

 

Now, I'm several flawless skin cells away from model quality, so I don't know if this compliment is part of the official DCA training ... but ... if it is ... good work  :wink:

I'd be giving that worker a tip! :-D

Maybe you just looked "clean and safe." :-D

are the ambassadors on Euclid ave much? the spouse reports a walk home from CSU after dark with mostly darkened street lights, blocked side walks abutting open trenches, no foot traffic except a dozen plus mostly aggressive panhanders, and and 2 E lines that blew right by the stops with blinders on (hence why he was walking). What are the hours of these of the DT ambassadors?

A Clean & Safe worker just told me "You look cute ... you should be a model."

 

Now, I'm several flawless skin cells away from model quality, so I don't know if this compliment is part of the official DCA training ... but ... if it is ... good work  :wink:

 

Maybe they're filming another episode of 30 Rock. :wink:

z

Maybe they're filming another episode of 30 Rock. :wink:

 

Yeah ... everyone's a model west of the Allegheny  :-D