October 16, 201311 yr Distastefull, yes..... but not defamatory. It's kind of like being the kind of poltician (left or right) that advocates government butting into our personal lives. Your own ducks had better be in a row.
October 17, 201311 yr Tuesday, October 15th, 2013 Cincinnati Tea Party Fails in Campaign to Intimidate the Urbanist Press With Fraud Allegations It’s not easy being an urbanist blogger in America. For the most part you don’t make any money, but you do accumulate lots of people who don’t like you. Randy Simes, publisher of Urban Cincy, has been a thorn in the side of the local Tea Party for some time. Having suffered a string of defeats trying to derail projects they don’t like, notably the streetcar, both in city elections and in multiple referendums, the Tea Party in the form of Citizens Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) apparently decided that if the couldn’t get what they wanted through democracy, they’d try silencing their critics by filing a vote fraud complaint against streetcar supporter Simes. Fortunately, a bi-partisan majority of the Hamilton County Board of Elections, rejected the allegations. READ MORE AT: http://www.urbanophile.com/2013/10/15/cincinnati-tea-party-fails-in-campaign-to-intimidate-the-urbanist-press-with-fraud-allegations/ Was also covered on StreetsBlog and locally in the Business Courier. Some other local media outlets covered it, too, but are not worth linking to.
October 17, 201311 yr Tuesday, October 15th, 2013 Cincinnati Tea Party Fails in Campaign to Intimidate the Urbanist Press With Fraud Allegations It’s not easy being an urbanist blogger in America. For the most part you don’t make any money, but you do accumulate lots of people who don’t like you. Randy Simes, publisher of Urban Cincy, has been a thorn in the side of the local Tea Party for some time. Having suffered a string of defeats trying to derail projects they don’t like, notably the streetcar, both in city elections and in multiple referendums, the Tea Party in the form of Citizens Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) apparently decided that if the couldn’t get what they wanted through democracy, they’d try silencing their critics by filing a vote fraud complaint against streetcar supporter Simes. Fortunately, a bi-partisan majority of the Hamilton County Board of Elections, rejected the allegations. READ MORE AT: http://www.urbanophile.com/2013/10/15/cincinnati-tea-party-fails-in-campaign-to-intimidate-the-urbanist-press-with-fraud-allegations/ Was also covered on StreetsBlog and locally in the Business Courier. Some other local media outlets covered it, too, but are not worth linking to. What I found interesting is that the Green Party. the NAACP, and COAST seem to have formed an alliance of sorts.
October 17, 201311 yr What I found interesting is that the Green Party. the NAACP, and COAST seem to have formed an alliance of sorts. The SWOH Greens appear to be devotees of the cult of Smitherman (pres of the local NAACP)
October 17, 201311 yr NAATP (colloquial portmanteau) is basically the urban arm of the local Tea Party. t is interesting, yet completely ridiculous. And the local Green Party is hopelessly small because of their insanity (which includes banding up with right wingers). It has more to do with the personalities of a small group of people than anything. And relentless opportunism.
October 17, 201311 yr NAATP (colloquial portmanteau) is basically the urban arm of the local Tea Party. t is interesting, yet completely ridiculous. And the local Green Party is hopelessly small because of their insanity (which includes banding up with right wingers). It has more to do with the personalities of a small group of people than anything. And relentless opportunism. You're saying an officially recognized branch of the NAACP is effectively part of the Tea Party?
October 17, 201311 yr You're saying an officially recognized branch of the NAACP is effectively part of the Tea Party? There is an alliance with a local Tea ally, COAST. A COAST founder works as their legal counsel. I believe each chapter is supposed to have an attorney for civil rights cases. No idea if this guy has taken any to court. As much as the media love him I'd think it would have made headlines.
October 17, 201311 yr The NAACP president is on city council, and he pushes the TP agenda as far as it will go in city limits. His campaign staff collects signatures for ballot initiatives that suburban COAST puts together, helping the suburban Tea Partiers flex muscle in the city. The national NAACP has had a number of beefs with Smitherman, and there has been at least one recall election, but so far he remains.
October 17, 201311 yr I'd suspect this has everything to do with the streetcar, right? COAST doesn't like it because it involves mass transit and the NAACP doesn't like it because they would prefer the funds be directed towards other urban projects?
October 17, 201311 yr Slitherman doesn't really push a hard line Tea agenda on council. He's really into preferential treatment for black people, quotas, giveaways & stuff. He advocates for Republican candidates & is a favorite for Republican radio.
October 17, 201311 yr Slitherman doesn't really push a hard line Tea agenda on council. He's really into preferential treatment for black people, quotas, giveaways & stuff. He advocates for RepublIcan candidates & is a favorite for Republican radio. Yet he just snubbed the AA Chamber of Commerce: The scorecard says Christopher Smitherman neither showed up for the interview nor returned a questionnaire so he isn’t ranked. http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2013/10/17/qualls-tops-african-american-chambers-scorecard/
October 17, 201311 yr I'd suspect this has everything to do with the streetcar, right? COAST doesn't like it because it involves mass transit and the NAACP doesn't like it because they would prefer the funds be directed towards other urban projects? Certainly not "everything". Has a lot to do with it, and accounts for how it got started. You should hear the man go on about fiscal responsibility, etc.
October 17, 201311 yr ^It got started when they were opposing the red light cameras, and subsequently the jail tax.
October 29, 201311 yr The CO voter harassment continues The intimate conversation they cite is pretty pathetic “How is your Korean?” Faux asked. “Just so so,” Simes said. “I know some phrases and can read/write very slowly.” They're obviously best buds... http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/10/28/group-goes-to-court-to-try-to-strike.html
October 29, 201311 yr I was friends with Mark Miller on Facebook. We obviously hang out all the time and conspire on political issues.
November 19, 201311 yr Hamilton County looks at moving the BOE offices to Mt Airy hospital. Being off all the main bus routes should make early voting fairly impossible for a lot of voters... http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2013/11/19/board-of-elections-to-mount-airy-maybe/
November 19, 201311 yr I would expect a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, Democratic Party, or some other organization if the commissioners try to move the BoE from Downtown.
November 19, 201311 yr Hamilton County looks at moving the BOE offices to Mt Airy hospital. Being off all the main bus routes should make early voting fairly impossible for a lot of voters... http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2013/11/19/board-of-elections-to-mount-airy-maybe/ US Mail works well. http://boe.hamilton-co.org/voting-before-election-day/voting-by-mail.aspx No more waiting in line at the polls! Vote By Mail Application (PDF) Vote By Mail applications can be requested beginning on January 1st of the year of the election, or 90 days before the date of an election, whichever is earlier. Applications are available in the following ways: Download form here: Vote By Mail Application (PDF) Call the Board of Elections at 632-7039 or 632-7044 Pick one up at the Board of Elections Office located at 824 Broadway Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Pick one up at any Hamilton County Public Library
November 19, 201311 yr I prefer to vote early in person and place my sealed ballot directly into the ballot box. I do not like to introduce any opportunity for the ballot to get lost or destroyed.
November 19, 201311 yr ^I prefer voting in person too. In 2011 and 2013 I got a bunch of friends to go with me on a Saturday morning and made a day out of it after (2012 was just bonkers every time I tried to vote early so I voted at my polling place on election day). There is also a lot of distrust in the African American community and many prefer to vote in person.
November 19, 201311 yr The thing about this move is it might only make the difference in 50-100 votes per race, but as we've seen, that plus some other tactic plus some other tactic adds up to a significant number of people not voting instead of voting. When you get up around 250 people not voting, it can swing an election.
November 20, 201311 yr ^The coroner wants to acquire the now-defunct hospital for a new crime lab. The county would then look to use the office space for other county business. The justification for moving the BOE would be cost savings related to that.
November 26, 201311 yr Hamilton County prosecutor, Joe Deters, residency questioned http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131125/NEWS0107/311250137
November 26, 201311 yr Hamilton County prosecutor, Joe Deters, residency questioned http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131125/NEWS0107/311250137 Alex Triantafilou sez, "This is Burke and the Democrats playing politics." So, when a Democrat goes challenges one person's voter registration, it's playing politics. But when Tea Party groups like the "Voter Integrity Project" target hundreds of ordinary citizens, they're doing their patriotic duty. Got it.
November 26, 201311 yr Hamilton County prosecutor, Joe Deters, residency questioned http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131125/NEWS0107/311250137 Alex Triantafilou sez, "This is Burke and the Democrats playing politics." So, when a Democrat goes challenges one person's voter registration, it's playing politics. But when Tea Party groups like the "Voter Integrity Project" target hundreds of ordinary citizens, they're doing their patriotic duty. Got it. Not just one person, but a public official. They are usually held to higher standards than private citizens.
November 26, 201311 yr Legally, it comes down to whether or not he was "separated" from his wife (per the ORC section selectively quoted in the article). They were not "legally separated" so far as I read as that involves a court order, and I'm not sure why that OSU professor thinks a legal term like that should have a broad interpreation, nor am I sure why they went to an OSU professor other than not being able to find anyone closer that had that interpretation. I don't see this going anywhere, it's just Burke continuing to be a giant useless tool. Also, there's a pretty big difference between this and the cases that were prosecuted - voting for your dead sibling is a much bigger deal.
November 26, 201311 yr and I'm not sure why that OSU professor thinks a legal term like that should have a broad interpreation, nor am I sure why they went to an OSU professor other than not being able to find anyone closer that had that interpretation. Because it is a question of interpretation of state code, not local code. The best source would be an Ohio elections law expert, regardless of where in the state that expert is located.
November 26, 201311 yr and I'm not sure why that OSU professor thinks a legal term like that should have a broad interpreation, nor am I sure why they went to an OSU professor other than not being able to find anyone closer that had that interpretation. Because it is a question of interpretation of state code, not local code. The best source would be an Ohio elections law expert, regardless of where in the state that expert is located. Knowing the Enquirer they asked experts until they got the answer they wanted, or they went to the guy they knew would give them that answer.
December 8, 201311 yr MORE voting changes While I agree the 'Golden Week' is absurd & should be eliminated (and never enacted in the first place), this constant mucking around seems more intended to just make voting a confusing, moving target. http://www.the-daily-record.com/local%20news/2013/12/08/voting-bill-concerns-are-now-in-gov-kasich-s-hands
January 22, 201411 yr Alex Triantafilou (@ChairmanAlex) and PG Sittenfeld (@VotePG) are going at it about location for early voting in Hamilton County. @ChairmanAlex: A contentious Board of Elections mtg today. Some Dems in this city want to make it harder for suburban residents to vote including @VotePG @sh0whe: @ChairmanAlex @VotePG What planet do you live on Alex? @ChairmanAlex: @sh0whe @VotePG I live on a planet where OHIO has made it EASIER TO VOTE THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE. check your facts. Election Month! @VotePG: u seem to think thats a bad thing? RT @ChairmanAlex I live on a planet where OHIO has made it EASIER TO VOTE THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE. @ChairmanAlex: @VotePG no, it's a great thing. I want to provide FREE parking to the thousands who drive cars and still keep it easy for everyone else. (Kinda NSFW for language so I didn't embed it)
January 22, 201411 yr you don't need free parking at the current location. It's on a gazillion bus routes.
January 22, 201411 yr What's the fuss about exactly? They usually block off a big chunk of parking around the precincts in urban neighborhoods. It works great for people like me who don't have a lot of time to spare and have to vote on the drive to work in the morning. Are they trying to eliminate that - or is this just for early voting?
January 22, 201411 yr you don't need free parking at the current location. It's on a gazillion bus routes. So instead of paying to park you pay a bus Alex Triantafilou (@ChairmanAlex) and PG Sittenfeld (@VotePG) are going at it about location for early voting in Hamilton County. @ChairmanAlex: A contentious Board of Elections mtg today. Some Dems in this city want to make it harder for suburban residents to vote including @VotePG @sh0whe: @ChairmanAlex @VotePG What planet do you live on Alex? @ChairmanAlex: @sh0whe @VotePG I live on a planet where OHIO has made it EASIER TO VOTE THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE. check your facts. Election Month! @VotePG: u seem to think thats a bad thing? RT @ChairmanAlex I live on a planet where OHIO has made it EASIER TO VOTE THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE. @ChairmanAlex: @VotePG no, it's a great thing. I want to provide FREE parking to the thousands who drive cars and still keep it easy for everyone else. (Kinda NSFW for language so I didn't embed it) Sounds like the Dems want to have it in one location where parking is highly limited, and the GOP wants to spread it out, or open parking lots up. Who cares how many bus routes it's on? The entire point of early voting is to not have to go by the government's schedule. The Republican is right, it's pretty clear what the board is up to. It's kind of like the Cuyahoga County board setting up the only location in southwestern Strongsville.
January 22, 201411 yr Right now the BoE is in Downtown Cincinnati (where all of the bus routes lead). The BoE is the only location in the county for early voting outside of mailing in a ballot. The Republicans in Hamilton County want to move this to an outer neighborhood of Cincinnati where they are locating the Coroner and a couple of other county functions. The problem is that bus routes don't make this new site very accessible. Some locations that are now about 15 minutes from the BoE by bus will be over a one hour ride in each direction. But the Hamilton County Republican Party Chairman would rather have free parking.
January 22, 201411 yr whatever happened to personal responsibility when it comes to voting? God forbid that someone should actually have to undergo a little inconvenience to cast a ballot. Early voting?? the Founding Fathers are probably rolling over in their graves over that one! http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
January 22, 201411 yr Right now the BoE is in Downtown Cincinnati (where all of the bus routes lead). The BoE is the only location in the county for early voting outside of mailing in a ballot. The Republicans in Hamilton County want to move this to an outer neighborhood of Cincinnati where they are locating the Coroner and a couple of other county functions. The problem is that bus routes don't make this new site very accessible. Some locations that are now about 15 minutes from the BoE by bus will be over a one hour ride in each direction. But the Hamilton County Republican Party Chairman would rather have free parking. Of course he would. And if the location was out there, the Dems would want to move it downtown. Is it a state law that there can only be one location? That's makes zero sense. Fortunately, there's mail in voting available as well.
January 22, 201411 yr I'm confused. Is it what E Rocc was saying above (i.e. that Republicans want to expand the locations) or is it that the Republicans want to simply move the single location? If the former and given the demonstrated record of these Board's under the Kasich administration, I'd be highly skeptical of the motives.
January 22, 201411 yr State law does limit the county to a single location. And it doesn't make any sense. Way more people can conveniently make it downtown to vote. The Republicans want to move the BoE. Not add a location which is impossible under state law.
January 22, 201411 yr I'm confused. Is it what E Rocc was saying above (i.e. that Republicans want to expand the locations) or is it that the Republicans want to simply move the single location? If the former and given the demonstrated record of these Board's under the Kasich administration, I'd be highly skeptical of the motives. I don't know if expansion is what they are proposing. But why not? Either location is biased towards one party or the other. So to be blunt about it, it's the party in power's perogative. Elections have consequences.
January 22, 201411 yr I'm confused. Is it what E Rocc was saying above (i.e. that Republicans want to expand the locations) or is it that the Republicans want to simply move the single location? If the former and given the demonstrated record of these Board's under the Kasich administration, I'd be highly skeptical of the motives. I don't know if expansion is what they are proposing. But why not? Either location is biased towards one party or the other. People who work in office jobs downtown can also go vote during expanded hours during lunch breaks or after work.
January 22, 201411 yr I'm confused. Is it what E Rocc was saying above (i.e. that Republicans want to expand the locations) or is it that the Republicans want to simply move the single location? If the former and given the demonstrated record of these Board's under the Kasich administration, I'd be highly skeptical of the motives. I don't know if expansion is what they are proposing. But why not? Either location is biased towards one party or the other. Agreed. And I can practically guarantee that no Democrat BOE member would vote against having more locations, if that was indeed an option.
January 22, 201411 yr I'm confused. Is it what E Rocc was saying above (i.e. that Republicans want to expand the locations) or is it that the Republicans want to simply move the single location? If the former and given the demonstrated record of these Board's under the Kasich administration, I'd be highly skeptical of the motives. I don't know if expansion is what they are proposing. But why not? Either location is biased towards one party or the other. People who work in office jobs downtown can also go vote during expanded hours during lunch breaks or after work. I don't know the breakdown in Cincinnati, but in Cuyahoga County no more than 20% of the workforce works downtown. It's also skewed towards lawyers and government people who are more likely to be Democrats.
January 22, 201411 yr you don't need free parking at the current location. It's on a gazillion bus routes. So instead of paying to park you pay a bus Driving, even without parking isn't free. Even if you ride a bike, skateboard, hang glide or whatever, it's not free.
January 22, 201411 yr I don't know the breakdown in Cincinnati, but in Cuyahoga County no more than 20% of the workforce works downtown. It's also skewed towards lawyers and government people who are more likely to be Democrats. The downtown location is centally located, has multiple access points for public transportation, and is closest to those voters who are disadvantaged in terms of being able to be mobile. On the whole, for those who can afford a car, it is the best location. Under any analysis, for those who can't afford a car, it is the best location. It's simple logic.
January 22, 201411 yr Ever wonder why nearly every county seat is either right in the middle of a county or on the water? So that it could serve the most people instead of declaring that people that live in one far off corner are more important that people who live in the other far off corner.
