Very sad.  I am impressed by the people mentioning her by name in this article: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/08/family_hospital_confirm_congre_2.html

 

She was very inspiring at the Hillary rally I attended where Bill spoke some months back.

 

Politics and citizens need more people like Stephanie.

Rest in peace.  I've never been very political but my mother always said that Ms. Tubbs-Jones was "one of the good ones."  Thank you for your service to Ohio!

I heard this news on WCBS-FM (a major all-news station) here in NY this morning, and as an example of how little respect Ohioans get even in passing, the newsreader began the story, “Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich mourns the death of fellow Iowan Stephanie Tubbs Jones.” :? (!)  I constantly marvel over why New Yorkers are so geographically deficient. Is it because they’re lazy, poorly educated or just plain stupid? Well, it’s probably the latter, but I always try to give them the benefit of the doubt!

^mainly because they don't believe that life exists outside of new york city (and I really mean that).

^mainly because they don't believe that life exists outside of new york city (and I really mean that).

you're right. OhioIowaIdaho...it's all the same to them!

She was a big supporter of my issue:  better passenger rail and transit services. I've organized several rail-related functions over the past 10 years which she attended personally while other congresspersons sent only staffers. I am grateful to you Stephanie for caring.

I met her at a fund raiser.  She complemented the work my group was doing and was very good conversation.  It was a pretty sad Wednesday listening to the news.  A Congresswoman who made history. Gonna' miss her!

This is a letter from Case's President Snyder.  She e-mailed it to the campus, and I thought it was well-written, so I decided to share.

 

To the Case Western Reserve University Community:

I share with all of you profound sorrow at the sudden death of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, one of our most distinguished alumnae.

A graduate of both Flora Stone Mather College and our School of Law, Stephanie emerged as one of Ohio’s modern-day political pioneers. She was the first female and first African-American to serve as prosecutor in Cuyahoga County, the first African-American woman to serve as a judge for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas and the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

But for all of these historic accomplishments, what always struck me most about Stephanie was her capacity to bring joy to others.

I cannot recall a single conversation with Stephanie where she didn’t make me smile or laugh. She had such energy, character and genuine affection for people—you couldn’t help but feel uplifted even after just a few moments in her presence. Certainly Stephanie took her professional roles seriously; she was committed to justice and equitable treatment for all, and worked relentlessly to advance those goals. Yet she always demonstrated a sense of exuberant engagement in the activities of the day—whether seeking to mediate a teachers’ strike in Maple Heights or campaigning for Hillary Clinton across the country. You knew she loved what she did. You knew she loved making a difference in people’s lives.

Stephanie was such a friend to her alma mater. She attended Commencements and Convocations, hosted our annual GospelFests and even served as a Grand Marshal in our Homecoming Parade. She spoke frequently of her pride in being a “double graduate” of Case Western Reserve University, sometimes joking that she cared for the place so much she chose a home across the street from our campus. She maintained close friendships with classmates and even her undergraduate dean, Patricia Kilpatrick.

“I loved her so much,” Stephanie once said of Pat, “I had Mervyn on her birthday.”

Our hearts go out to Mervyn Jones II, who has lost his wonderful mother only five years after his father died. Just as Stephanie proved to be such a wonderful and kind supporter of our university, so too will we seek to provide him and the rest of her family with whatever comfort we can in this trying time.

Death always challenges us, never more so than when it strikes without warning.  Amid our shock and disbelief, we search for explanations to make sense of what we cannot hope to understand. I am no exception. Today I recalled the funeral service for Rosa Parks, when Oprah Winfrey spoke of meeting a civil rights giant who proved “petite, almost delicate” in person. Oprah continued:

“After our first meeting I realized that God uses good people to do great things. And I'm here today to say a final thank you . . .”

Today, we at Case Western Reserve University say the same to Stephanie Tubbs Jones—and I know we are just some of many.

If you would like to join our community and me in remembering Stephanie Tubbs Jones, please feel free to record your thanks and memories or read the reflections of others at http://blog.case.edu/alumni.

Sincerely,

 

Barbara R. Snyder

President

 

^mainly because they don't believe that life exists outside of new york city (and I really mean that).

 

true, i have a friend from queens who i met during a summer research fellowship in TOLEDO.  this was the only time she'd lived outside of nyc ever.  there were lots of things she was unaware of, like red maple trees.  she referred to Seven Hills as "the country."  small towns we drove thru were mesmerizing to her, also walmart and its economic niche.  all her friends can't believe that ohio is in eastern time. 

The only time I have ever dealt with her she came into a store I worked at in Randall Park.  A young African American woman I worked with waited on her not knowing who she was (neither did I).  Tubbs-Jones asked the young girl about her life, and she told her how she was aspiring to get into college despite having a young baby to take care of.  She was impressed by the polite, hard working young girl, and while being rung up, introduced herself. She gave the girl her card and told her about a program that would help her realize her dreams, and to call her office the next day.  The young girl ended up going to Kent and living in family dorms. She did really seem to care.

 

 

^That was completely Stephanie.  I got chills just reading that.

^^From around the country, you're hearing what we already know, here: you can't have had a more friendly, personal and down-to-earth representative than Stephanie...

 

... an added tragedy to losing Stephanie, is that a domino effect appears to lead us to Deborah Sutherland as County Commisioner, now  that looks like Peter Lawson Jones is the favorite to win STJ's US congressional seat, whenever the next election is held... Adding the regressive, grandstanding, reactionary Sutherland is exactly the move greater Cleveland DOESN'T need to make... We'll then have Joe Calabrese running our transit system and the Dolans still running (make that ruining) our baseball team...

 

... all this, and the Sutherland prospect, will surely keep me up at night.

^ Ohio Republicans tried to replace the Cuyahoga County government with a "non partisan" board as is used in the south and the west.  Sutherland seems like their best prospect if the republicans *have to* identify themselves on the ballot.  It seems that the newspaper is doing what it can to grind down the image of Cuyahoga County Commissioners to make way for her.

 

I heard Sutherland on a Cleveland Public Radio interview a few years ago.  I got a favorable impression of her even if her theories of government were rather thin.

A-f#cking-men to Regina Brett's column regarding the "selection committee" for Tubbs-Jones successor.

 

Secret committee can't pick Tubbs Jones' successor

 

Secret committee undemocratic

 

It shouldn't take a political analyst, a translator or a spy to understand the process of filling the congressional seat left empty by the death of Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

 

More at cleveland.com

http://www.cleveland.com/brett/blog/index.ssf/2008/09/secret_committee_cant_pick_tub.html

We're fortunate that so many qualified, good, decent people want the seat: Fudge, Jeffrey Johnson, the Rev. Marvin McMickle, Bill Patmon, C.J. Prentiss, Judge Melody Stewart, Judge Michael Ryan and Shawn Henry Ryan.

 

Same Jeffrey Johnson that was convicted of collecting bribes/shaking down merchants in his district when a State Senator?

 

http://www.clevelandmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=E73ABD6180B44874871A91F6BA5C249C&nm=Arts+%26+Entertainemnt&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=1578600D80804596A222593669321019&tier=4&id=A67FE39CA92C46AA807C14A55D035654

I like how they simply call her "Fudge".  Representative Fudge!

Conspiracy theorists run amok?  The 2004 Ohio results were cpnsistent with polls/exit polls.  Not sure what they expect to find other than perhaps a contract that was not fairly bid out.

Pat O'Malley sentenced to 15 months in obscenity case

 

Posted by mtobin October 03, 2008 10:03AM

Plain Dealer File PhotoFormer Cuyahoga County Recorder Patrick O'Malley

 

AKRON -- Former Cuyahoga County Recorder Patrick O'Malley, a rough-and-tumble presence in local politics for many years, was sentenced to 15 months in prison Friday.

 

He pleaded guilty to a single count of obscenity on May 15 and resigned his county office the same day.

 

The sentencing brings to a close an investigation that began in 2004 when authorities found images of bestiality, bondage and other sexually deviant acts on a computer taken from his house.

 

O'Malley, estranged from his wife Vicki at the time, was living there with their two small children.

 

O'Malley was being investigated on an unrelated matter when authorities searched two computers that had been taken from his home by Vicki O'Malley. Images of child pornography were discovered on one of the computers, which prompted investigators to search several floppy disks also removed from the home by O'Malley's estranged wife.

 

Those two contained child pornography, prosecutors said in court documents.

 

A later search of O'Malley's Chagrin Falls home turned up two more computers. One of the computers, which was taken from a common area and used by O'Malley's children, showed no evidence of criminal activity, prosecutors said. The other, taken from O'Malley's bedroom, contained images of sexually deviant acts, but no child pornography, prosecutors said.

 

Because the computer and disks containing the child porn had been accessible to Vicki O'Malley, her attorney and their private investigator, federal prosecutors felt it would have been difficult to prove a criminal case of child pornography against O'Malley.

 

Instead, prosecutors opted for the rarely-filed obscenity charge, which they believed to be a more provable offense.

 

The images on O'Malley's bedroom computer and the two computers and floppy disks that Vicki O'Malley had taken from house contained similar images and text of sexually deviant behavior.

 

O'Malley resigned his position as county recorder hours before pleading guilty to the obscenity charge. That brought an end to a long career in politics that including a stint as Cleveland Councilman.

 

Categories: Crime, Cuyahoga County government, Real Time News

 

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/10/omalley_sentenced_to_tk.html

icky

 

I don't understand how it's legal for "sexually deviant" photos and videos to be posted across the Web, but when it comes to an individual possessing that material, it's punishable by law.  Can someone distinguish the difference here? 

 

I wouldn't have known that someone could be charged for something like having media with acts of bondage. 

 

I'm no lawyer, nor do I play one on the internet, but this sounds like someone pleaded to a "lesser" yet more ridiculous crime. 

 

I have a sneaky suspicion, we'll hear more from Mr. O'Malley.  I just feel like he'll appear in court as a witness for the state or either he gave up information the authorities can use to open investigations on others.

 

[ http://blog.rickbreslin.com/extras/doink-doink.mp3]

Sounds like "lets make a deal."  Our court systems are full of deals, especially for those who know how to work the system.  If it had been some poor old schmuck who didn't have a dime to his name - in the exact same situation, he would have gotten 20 years. 

....here's the article, from the MJ website

 

Honey, I Got the Earmark

 

For Republican Rep. Mike Turner, federal pork is a family affair.

 

By Ryan Grim

 

 

Congressman Mike Turner, a Republican vying for a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, has declared himself to be a pork buster, sponsoring legislation that would put a moratorium on all federal earmarks—those backdoor funding requests made by House and Senate members for local projects that are not vetted in the usual appropriations process. But for Turner, who represents a district in southwest Ohio, pork has been a family affair. Since 2004, Turner has requested millions in earmarks for a local organization that later hired his wife, and a highway project that would benefit one of her business partners.

 

Turner, a former Dayton mayor, hit a patch of trouble earlier this year when the Dayton Daily News disclosed that his wife's PR company, Turner Effect, had been awarded a lucrative no-bid contract by the Dayton Development Coalition, which lobbies Congress for funding for local projects. The coalition had retained Lori Turner to develop a slogan for the Dayton area. (Her brainstorm: "Get Midwest.") After the story broke, she dropped the contract, claiming she did not want to be a "distraction." Her firm had already been paid nearly $400,000.

 

Rep. Turner defended the contract, claiming that the ddc didn't request or receive earmarks for itself. But according to tax records, the coalition—many of whose members are also major Turner donors—shared an address, phone number, and president with a partner organization called Development Projects, Inc. And what did not come out in the news stories was that Turner had requested $3.4 million in federal earmarks for local development that would be passed through dpi. (Roughly $700,000 was actually approved and disbursed.)

 

Turner, through a spokesman, told Mother Jones that ddc and dpi are essentially the same thing, but maintained that the earmarked money was only held by dpi for a short time, before being passed along to the city of Dayton. Still, the coalition "are the ones that are getting the credit for the money," notes Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "It's essentially one hand washing the other."

 

And Turner—who has received more campaign contributions from developers than from any other industry—has supported at least one other big project to which he has a personal connection. On the day Turner was elected to Congress in 2002, Lori Turner and Tom Peebles, prominent Dayton developer and longtime Turner donor, incorporated a real estate firm called Peebles Homes of Beavercreek, which set to work on two high-end real estate developments. Congressional ethics rules state that "interest in a limited partnership established to purchase real estate" must be revealed as part of members' financial disclosure, but Peebles Homes did not appear on any of Turner's filings; Turner's spokesman says that's because it was actually a subsidiary of Turner Effect.

 

In 2004, Turner won $6.75 million in earmarks for a massive new highway project south of Dayton. Foes of the project call it an assault on Dayton's urban center, but it will be a boon for developers—including Tom Peebles, who has been active in residential development in the area.

 

This past February, three weeks after the Dayton paper disclosed Lori Turner's contract with the Dayton Development Coalition, her partnership with Tom Peebles was dissolved, according to state records. Lori Turner says the business ended "due to market conditions."

 

Over the past few years, the Republican Party in Ohio has been hit by a series of scandals involving prominent officials who have had to leave office. Perhaps that's why the website for Lori Turner's PR firm has a detailed ethics policy. "They aren't naifs when it comes to this issue," Ellis points out, adding that Rep. Turner—who will have far more power over Congress' purse strings if his bid for an Appropriations seat succeeds—"walked right up to the line and danced around it."

Interesting watch last night on World News tonight with ABC. The city looked good (especially since most of the "city" photos were of THE GREENE!!!!!.) However, it was still interesting although I felt that it didn't portray the city's opinion or attitude exactly right. Bowling Green should be interesting tonight, too. Thoughts?

Well, if they were at The Greene Im sure they got some accurate suburban opinion.

Going to a Moraine bar is a typical media move of showing "blue-collar white workers."  They didn't show one black face nor mention the fact that the Wright Bros. shop is in a historical African-American neighborhood.  But nitpicking aside, it was decent.  They went to NW Ohio to ask the locals about the election and all were for McCain (small businesses, blah blah).  Gibson also did a nice little five minute segment on the wind turbines.

 

Though they did have the skyline behind him, which at least was a nice touch.

aww man. i saw the dayton show, but missed the beegee one tonight.

 

a link about it:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=5974706&page=1

 

speaking of conservative nw ohio, bg was a funny place in the 80's. it was home of del latta, ronald reagan's campaign manager. so reagan used to visit all the time back then. he was treated like a rock star.

 

wow what to make of all that? bg liberal as all hell? heroin in nw ohio? hmm. well reagan did chase the dragon...but it was commies.

 

seriously, i dk how bg the city will go, it could go either way. the students are fairly conservative, but hey everyone on campus likes milquetoast obama so who knows, they are a toss up too. yet since barely half of college age students are registered to vote and then when you get down to it more than half of those registered won't even bother to vote -- so it hardly matters. also, even given some shifting over the years i'd still bet wood county outside of bg will go with mccain by a wide margin.

 

btw reagan coming to bg quite often had nothing much to do with local politics other than latta happened to be his campaign manager.

 

as for hollywood ronny, we can all backseat drive re his presidency. regardless of his many faults/alzheimers/iran-contra/allowing crack epidemic, etc., he will not be well remembered for those things, but instead for the fact he was the most popular president ever and for having ended the cold war. why? unfortunately, howard zinn does not write our history.

 

 

I'm a huge Devo fan and saw them perform at Cleveland's Music Hall in 1983. But it's scary to see the bands you loved as a teen getting old. 60?? C'mon, stop getting old!!....

 

http://www.cleveland.com/music/index.ssf/2008/10/politics_is_nothing_new_for_de.html

 

Politics is nothing new for Devo, headed back to Akron for Democratic fund-raiser

by John Soeder/Plain Dealer Pop Music Critic

Wednesday October 15, 2008, 8:30 AM

 

........

Devo and the Clash  - Now that's a concert!

"Mongoloid" predicted George W. Bush

Study: Ohio mired in old economy

Monday,  December 1, 2008 3:11 AM

By Margaret Harding

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

.

Despite initiatives to promote high-tech start-ups, Ohio appears stagnant in the shift to a new economy, according to a national study.

 

But officials say the study doesn't fully capture what's happening in the state.

 

The recently released 2008 State New Economy Index measures factors such as entrepreneurship, the number of inventor patents, work-force education and other indicators to determine a state's progress toward a more dynamic economy...

[email protected]

 

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/12/01/copy/economy_study.ART_ART_12-01-08_A1_TTC3C6G.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

For Immediate Release:                                Contact: Keith Dailey

Monday, December 1, 2008                            614 644-0957/614 506-4949

                                                                        [email protected]

 

Governor Discusses Impact of National

Economic Deterioration on Ohio Budget

Calls for Extraordinary Partnerships and a Spirit of Cooperation to Confront Economic Challenges

 

Columbus, Ohio – To ensure Ohioans are fully aware of the historic economic challenges confronting Ohio and the nation, Governor Ted Strickland and Budget Director J. Pari Sabety today announced that the state is facing not only a budget deficit in our current fiscal year, but is projected to face an exceptionally large, more than $7 billion deficit in the upcoming 2010 – 2011 operating budget.

 

“Our great state is confronted with challenges of historic proportions,” Strickland said.  “But armed with a true understanding of the conditions we face, Ohioans will be better equipped to honestly address these difficult circumstances with the same strong resolve and spirit of cooperation we have applied to trying times in our past.”

Mirroring the national economy, Ohio’s economic circumstances have deteriorated rapidly.  A $640 million shortfall is now projected for the remainder of the current fiscal year.  This is in line with the Office of Budget and Management’s recession-based scenario, outlined in January, which had forecast a $1.9 billion total budget deficit if the economy fell into recession.

 

Strickland said that the need to initiate additional spending reductions to balance the current budget will be largely determined by whether considerable state aid is included in the federal government’s recovery package and if robust activity occurs in retail holiday sales.  Any further reductions to the current budget will be in addition to the $1.27 billion in budget adjustments already underway. 

 

Based on current economic and revenue indicators, an approximate $7.3 billion deficit is forecast for the FY 2010-11 operating budget.  Even after assuming a 10 percent reduction to all state agency budgets, based on the February 2008 recalibrated spending levels, the projected deficit is approximately $4.7 billion.

 

“Now is the time for all Ohioans to join together, in an extraordinary partnership, to meet the challenges before us,” Strickland said.  “Working together in common purpose, I believe we will be able to address these circumstances with a consensus, bipartisan budget.  There will be shared sacrifice, but we also recognize that historic opportunities lie on the other side of our current economic challenges.”

 

The governor and budget director presented the austere budget picture to members of his cabinet, legislative leadership, Ohio’s public employee union leadership and representatives of the business community today.  The administration will also present this information to Ohio’s mayors, county commissioners, members of the faith community, the human services and education communities, and other important stakeholders in the immediate days ahead.

 

Strickland asked his cabinet to begin conversations with all of their stakeholders to consider 2009 cuts as well as the challenges we face in the next budget – asking for and encouraging creativity, flexibility and collaboration while planning for future budgeting. 

 

Recognizing the best long-term solution to address these challenges is to get the economy moving again, the Strickland Administration is pursuing an aggressive agenda of job creation through the $1.57 billion bipartisan job stimulus bill and recently-enacted energy bill.  And the administration has made significant reductions to the size of state government, both through proactive efficiency initiatives and in response to declining revenues. 

 

The state workforce has been reduced from 63,568 employees in March 2007 to 60,540 employees as of December 1, 2008.  In February and again in September, the governor acted quickly to implement budget adjustment plans totaling $1.27 billion for the biennium.  Those actions included spending reductions, programmatic cuts and the closure of state institutions.

 

“Unfortunately, many of these difficult reductions have come at a time when people are relying more than ever on state services,” Strickland said.

 

Repeating his call for an aggressive federal economic recovery package to include direct aid to states, Strickland said he believes significant federal help is essential to avoid the potentially severe effects of the projected budget shortfalls.

 

“I am traveling today to Philadelphia to join with other governors and President-elect Barack Obama in a discussion about the economy’s impact on the states,” Strickland said.  “I believe that significant federal aid to states, and a willingness to make tough choices here in Ohio, are absolutely necessary to address this crisis in a way that will enable Ohio to continue investing in what matters to move our economy forward.”

 

In addition to meeting with President-elect Obama, Strickland is sending him a letter today detailing Ohio’s specific needs to help our economy recover.

Text of the letter is pasted below:

 

December 1st, 2008

 

The Honorable Barack Obama

The Office of the President-Elect

Washington, DC 20270

 

Mr. President-Elect,

 

As you know, most states are facing the same economic challenges the national economy is facing. Our economies are deteriorating rapidly with almost all states either in a recession or at risk of one. In Ohio, we are projected to see a reduction in wage and salary income for the first time ever.

 

As a result of the national recession, most governors are facing significant revenue shortfalls in the remainder of fiscal year 2009 as many work to meet their constitutional requirements to balance their state budgets. In Ohio, even though we have already made nearly $1.3 billion in budget adjustments this biennium and most agency spending levels have been reduced to 87.25% of their originally budgeted levels, we are still facing a projected shortfall of $640 million in 2009. Ohioans have sacrificed and have been resilient in the face of the cuts taken thus far. However, additional cuts would be devastating as we are trying to provide basic safety net services during this recession and to stimulate the economy.

 

As governors prepare to introduce their fiscal years 2010-11 budgets in early 2009, they again face shortfalls. Some of these shortfalls, like Ohio’s, are of historic proportions. In the next two years, Ohio will confront the most serious erosion in revenues it has experienced in the last 40 or 50 years. At flat funding for fiscal years 2010-11, Ohio is projected to have a $7.3 billion deficit. And even if we fund each agency at 90% for FY10-11, which in and of itself would mean cuts to important services Ohioans depend upon and decreased investments in initiatives that stimulate the economy, Ohio would still have a $4.7 billion deficit for the coming biennium.

 

To avoid drastic cuts in important services states provide and to allow states to continue to invest in activities that will spur economic activity, substantial aid to the states is needed immediately.  Therefore, I ask you to work with Congress to provide the following:

 

·        $100 Billion in Block Grants to the States: Unless federal resources are provided, the severe nature of current and future shortfalls states are facing will have devastating consequences on core services states provide, including education (early care through higher education), healthcare, vaccinations, food safety, and other vital public health and safety net services. Giving states block grants to ensure that these basic services are not compromised and that states can continue to invest in education at all levels is a critical part of any recovery package.

 

·        $ 3.2 Billion in Additional TANF Funds to the States:  With this recession, there is no doubt that more families will need basic assistance, and it is TANF that allows states and counties to meet these families’ basic needs. However, many states, including Ohio, will not have enough TANF resources to assist our neediest families in each of the coming years. Since the establishment of the TANF program 13 years ago, there has not been an increase. Additional TANF funds will help with the economic challenges low income families all across this nation are facing. And as states are dealing with revenue shortfalls, the state match to pull down these federal funds should be waived. Additionally, because there are currently fewer jobs available, penalties as a result of TANF work requirements should also be waived during this time of recession.

 

·        A Recovery Package is Needed Immediately: Many governors must introduce their budgets in January and February 2009. Assistance is needed immediately if we are to avoid budgeting for and beginning to execute even more painful reductions. I am encouraged by the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and their commitment to move legislation quickly, and it is my hope that you could enact a recovery package your first week in office.

 

I would also be encouraged by other types of assistance, if coupled with the block grant to states and additional TANF funds, including enhanced FMAP, increases in food stamps, infrastructure investments, and unemployment trust fund resources.

 

Additionally, I am hopeful that by the time you take office in January, Congress will have passed and President Bush will have signed legislation to aid the auto industry and its suppliers. Passage of a $25 billion package made available to General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler and to companies in the automotive supply chain is vital.  Immediate financial support is critical to ensure continued, stable employment throughout the automotive supply chain.  This support is also critical for the many other businesses and state and local governments most at risk from the industry’s potential financial collapse. The failure of General Motors, Ford Motor Company or Chrysler Corporation would cascade through parts suppliers, materials industries, and technology companies that support the automotive market and, in turn, the services industries that are tied to all those businesses.

 

There will be no national economic recovery without strong states, and I have no doubt that Ohioans, with their resolve and creativity, will do their part and come together in extraordinary partnerships to meet the challenges before us. It is with this collaborative spirit and resolve that I write this letter asking for your partnership. I stand ready to work with you and your incoming administration on this challenge.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Ted Strickland

                  Governor of Ohio                                                                                                       

 

 

CC:      The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker

            The Honorable John Boehner, Minority Leader

            The Honorable Harry Reid, Majority Leader

            The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader

            Members of the Ohio Congressional Delegation       

 

 

 

--30--

It's fairly well known amongst the national economic development community that much of Ohio's current business policies are good for 1950s steel mills and that's about it.

Cities deserve a strong leader in Washington

December 15, 2008

 

President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to pursue a serious urban agenda, in part by creating an Office of Urban Policy to coordinate federal efforts to rebuild cities and the metropolitan regions they anchor.

 

 

The person he picks to head up this office should have ground-level experience in housing, economic development, transportation, public safety and other issues facing cities. Obama's point person for cities also should know how to cement the regional collaborations and public-private partnerships that will drive a 21st Century urban agenda...

 

http://www.freep.com/article/20081215/OPINION01/812150313/1069/OPINION

 

Out of those 4, I'd go with Otis Johnson.

Agreed, or Joe Riley, or Gavin Newsome or Hickenlooper, or Coleman

Hundreds Rally in Toledo to Protest Mideast Fighting

 

By DAVID YONKE

BLADE STAFF WRITER

Article published Saturday, January 3, 2009

 

Several hundred people opposed to the fighting in Gaza yesterday rallied outside the Lucas County Courthouse, flashing peace placards and shouting anti-war chants.

 

Displaying signs with slogans such as "Stop the War," and "Gaza Will Never Die," protesters marched peacefully around the courthouse two times and listened to brief speeches delivered from the steps of the building's President William McKinley monument.

 

More at

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090103/NEWS16/901030369

 

 

I read there were about 200 down on Fountain Square in Cincinnati protesting too.

  I am not pro war, but for sh!t sakes..what do you think is going to happen when you launch rockets at someone?  Yes, we all know the dispute of whose land it is or is not,  but the simple fact is the Jews are there as well as the Palistinians, nobody is leaving at this point..deal with it and move on.

  For all the good Hamas does  :roll:, the people of Palistine need to get THAT group out and maybe things would be a little different...

I am not pro war, but for sh!t sakes..what do you think is going to happen when you launch rockets at someone?   Yes, we all know the dispute of whose land it is or is not, but the simple fact is the Jews are there as well as the Palistinians, nobody is leaving at this point..deal with it and move on.

For all the good Hamas does :roll:, the people of Palistine need to get THAT group out and maybe things would be a little different...

 

There is no good answer here.  Israel cannot sit by and do nothing.  However, can anyone really say that their "offensive" has any chance at acheiving security.  Every dead Palistian child incites MORE terrorism/aggression towards Israel and the West. 

 

Israel/Palistine is an absolute powder keg right now and the offensive we are seeing is doing nothing but fueling the fire that is going to cause it to blow.

For all the good Hamas does :roll:, the people of Palistine need to get THAT group out and maybe things would be a little different...

 

Which Palestine would that be, exactly?  As long as there isn't actually a "Palestine" I don't think their rationale can be ignored or moved to a separate discussion.  This would be more black and white if said people were on a equal footing with their neighbors.  You can't have a set of rules that only one side has to follow.  What would happen if people from Gaza started nonchalantly building houses on land that's supposed to be Israel's?  The response would be violent, and it would involve more than random rockets because they have more than random rockets. 

The Palestinians are caught in a proxy war of the United States vs. Iran.  For that matter, it is too bad the US cannot influence Russia to quit aiding Iran in their nuclear development program(s).

New Ohio speaker vows to work for cities

Posted by Aaron Marshall/Plain Dealer Columbus Bureau January 05, 2009 19:20PM

Categories: Ohio Legislature, Real Time News

Eric Albrecht/Columbus DispatchArmond Budish is sworn in as speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives.

 

COLUMBUS -- Ohio's big cities could see special treatment from the state with income tax breaks on new jobs, more money for school construction and free broadband services for urban businesses under a plan unveiled Monday by new Democratic House Speaker Armond Budish.

 

However, those potential freebies wouldn't come without a price -- Ohio's urban areas would have to participate in state purchasing cooperatives and abide by the results of a study focusing on whether regionalizing services such as fire and trash pickup would save public dollars. Cities also would have to match the income tax break on newly created jobs with their own municipal tax breaks...

 

Plain Dealer Columbus Bureau Chief Reginald Fields contributed to this report.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2009/01/new_ohio_speaker_vows_to_work.html

That is good, because the out-going house speaker Jon Husted - Kettering (who allegedly really lives in Upper Arlington) is probably not a fan of cities as he was quoted in the DDN as saying: “We have been trying to make downtown (Dayton) a destination site my whole life that I’ve been here and it gets worse and worse and worse, because people don’t want to go there,” in answer to his support of the Austin Road Interchange/Sprawl Development project.

 

He pissed more than a few people off with his comment...

I like this guy already, and I just met him!

It's official: Voinovich will retire

2-term U.S. senator, 2-term governor will leave after 2010

Monday,  January 12, 2009 10:19 AM

By Jack Torry, Jonathan Riskind and Joe Hallett

The Columbus Dispatch

 

WASHINGTON -- Sen. George V. Voinovich announced this morning that he won't seek re-election next year and will retire from politics when his term expires at the end of 2010.

 

During a conference call from his vacation home in Florida, the Ohio Republican told his Washington staff this morning of his decision to retire. Voinovich planned to fly back today to Washington, where he is scheduled to hold a news conference late this afternoon.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/01/12/copy/voinovich12.ART_ART_01-12-09_A1_NPCGTA4.html?sid=101

Hmm, an open senate seat. 

 

What is the board consensus on Voinovich?

 

Hmm, an open senate seat. 

 

What is the board consensus on Voinovich?

 

 

That as the Mayor of Cleveland, he started strong and worked hard to ensure that the city turned a corner.  As Governor, he still worked hard for Cleveland but started to slip.  As a Senator, ineffective and got caught up in the beltway.

Two more years of the coal-industry apparatchik obstructing climate-protection policy.  glum