^ I've seen this ATV and dirt bike issue raised several times on these forums, and I must say I find it a bit odd and confusing.  Is there really a big problem with people riding ATVs down urban streets?! I've never once seen that in Cincinnati, or any other city, now that I think about it.  As you probably recall from your time living here, Sherman, there are roving crews of motorcyclists that surface throughout the city in the summer time.  Eden Park seems to be a big hangout for them, though they generally cruise through downtown, OTR, and up through Uptown, and they're very loud and annoying, but I thought they were just regular, legal motorcycles.  Is this dirt bike and ATV issue different? I'm just having a hard time picturing those 4 wheelers (which is what I envision when I think of ATV) going down an urban street in Cleveland.

 

I haven't seen any ATVs but I've seen several dirtbikes in the SE part of the city.  Peculiar local trend with a post-apocalyptic flavor to it.

I was in Philly last week and they were everywhere. I don't know how/why they became so popular.

Cheap, simple, light, all-terrain.

I was in Philly last week and they were everywhere. I don't know how/why they became so popular.

 

Cops can't easily catch them and they can haul a decent amount of cargo.  In an emergency they can be left behind and they aren't registered.

 

While this is not to say all or even most of the people riding them are involved in shall-we-say "commerce", those who are often set the trends in the inner city.

 

I haven't seen any ATVs but I've seen several dirtbikes in the SE part of the city.  Peculiar local trend with a post-apocalyptic flavor to it.

 

Yes! I was thinking it sounds kind of "Mad Max". Are they loud? Other than technically being illegal, what is the issue with them? I assume they're only found on litely used streets, right?

All over downtown D.C. (yes, NW) as of a couple of years ago. Definitely not just a Cleveland thing, and definitely not limited to lightly trafficked streets.

I saw the Mad Max brigade (ATV's and bikes) on Euclid by the modern art museum . Pretty brazen.

edale[/member] Yeah, even at rush. I saw a gang of ATV and dirt bikers going down the bike lane and sidewalk on Euclid by CWRU at around 5 pm a few weeks back, and up and down the sidewalks and roads all around my apartment. When I had an accident a while back, I used some downtime to ask the cop about them and he was pretty explicit about their use in the drug trade - and about points raised above, with the vehicles being cheap, unregistered, and nimble. They are advised not to chase because any incident that occurs with the dirt bikes/ATV's can often lead to serious injuries and fatalities. They aren't wearing protective gear and helmets, you know.

 

It's 941 am on a Sunday. I saw a dirt biker popping wheelies and swerving all over South Moreland in front of my apartment 10 minutes ago. This crap never ends.

Fight fire with fire.  CLEVELAND police needs to invest in a couple dirt bikes or quads to run those fools down.  Only takes a couple arrests and word spreads

Drones are a more likely scenario.  Not a direction I want to go, but the police union will never approve hot pursuit motocross.  And think of the insurance.

Another update:

 

'Don King Way' still stirring controversy on Cleveland City Council

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Two Cleveland City Council members clashed in an email exchange over the proposal to bestow the honorary street name "Don King Way" upon the stretch of Cedar Avenue where the legendary boxing promoter once stomped a man to death.

 

The dispute began over the weekend, when Councilman Jeffrey Johnson had emailed his colleagues to express his disapproval of the proposed ordinance, which he said is "making our city a joke across the world."

 

On Monday morning, Councilman Tony Brancatelli responded: "Councilman Johnson, should we ask the same question for the statue of Jim Brown?"

 

More: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/09/don_king_way_still_stirring_co.html#incart_river_home

Another update:

 

'Don King Way' still stirring controversy on Cleveland City Council

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Two Cleveland City Council members clashed in an email exchange over the proposal to bestow the honorary street name "Don King Way" upon the stretch of Cedar Avenue where the legendary boxing promoter once stomped a man to death.

 

The dispute began over the weekend, when Councilman Jeffrey Johnson had emailed his colleagues to express his disapproval of the proposed ordinance, which he said is "making our city a joke across the world."

 

On Monday morning, Councilman Tony Brancatelli responded: "Councilman Johnson, should we ask the same question for the statue of Jim Brown?"

 

More: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/09/don_king_way_still_stirring_co.html#incart_river_home

 

"But because of the tragic event that occurred on Cedar Ave. where Don king played a pivotal part, I do not believe it would be appropriate or in council's best interest to move forward on this legislation."

 

Really, Zack?

Yeah, Don King played a pivotal part. He was the ENTIRE reason someone had their head stomped in.

 

But hey, Zach, let's keep putting him up on a pedestal for all black people, because he was such a great role model.`

 

Yeah, Don King played a pivotal part. He was the ENTIRE reason someone had their head stomped in.

 

But hey, Zach, let's keep putting him up on a pedestal for all black people, because he was such a great role model.`

 

 

I suppose Osama bin Laden played a pivotal part in the tragic events of 9/11.....

I saw the Mad Max brigade (ATV's and bikes) on Euclid by the modern art museum . Pretty brazen.

 

Check out this video from Meek Mill (rapper/perpetual internet joke) and his crew in Philly. Wow...these guys are ridiculous!

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKhgvW5hEzg/?taken-by=meekmill

good way to end up a hood ornament. 

Cleveland.com is running 3 different articles on the bikes today, one supporting the track proposal.  Not sure where I stand on that in general but I'm against booting an established football program from the park in question.  The only urban dirtbike facility I can think of was in the video game GTA Vice City.  It was not located in a neighborhood.  I would not want to live near one, that much is certain.

Cleveland.com is running 3 different articles on the bikes today, one supporting the track proposal.  Not sure where I stand on that in general but I'm against booting an established football program from the park in question.  The only urban dirtbike facility I can think of was in the video game GTA Vice City.  It was not located in a neighborhood.  I would not want to live near one, that much is certain.

 

Going to need a curfew for sure. Going to have to monitor constantly for drug/gang activity if Cleveland bikers do the same "activities" as they do in DC/Balt. This facility will likely become a focal point between the police and bikeriders unless someone can govern the facility from the inside.

 

Hoping it will work but I have a feeling this is another bad idea from a city government with a long history of making wrong choices.

Cleveland.com is running 3 different articles on the bikes today, one supporting the track proposal.  Not sure where I stand on that in general but I'm against booting an established football program from the park in question.  The only urban dirtbike facility I can think of was in the video game GTA Vice City.  It was not located in a neighborhood.  I would not want to live near one, that much is certain.

 

Going to need a curfew for sure. Going to have to monitor constantly for drug/gang activity if Cleveland bikers do the same "activities" as they do in DC/Balt. This facility will likely become a focal point between the police and bikeriders unless someone can govern the facility from the inside.

 

Hoping it will work but I have a feeling this is another bad idea from a city government with a long history of making wrong choices.

 

I think it would be great.  I grew up riding dirt bikes and would love to get one but the closest place to legitimately ride (that I know of) is Lake County.  If it was well done I think you'd see a lot of young people coming from the inner and outer suburbs to use it.

Cleveland.com is running 3 different articles on the bikes today, one supporting the track proposal.  Not sure where I stand on that in general but I'm against booting an established football program from the park in question.  The only urban dirtbike facility I can think of was in the video game GTA Vice City.  It was not located in a neighborhood.  I would not want to live near one, that much is certain.

 

Going to need a curfew for sure. Going to have to monitor constantly for drug/gang activity if Cleveland bikers do the same "activities" as they do in DC/Balt. This facility will likely become a focal point between the police and bikeriders unless someone can govern the facility from the inside.

 

Hoping it will work but I have a feeling this is another bad idea from a city government with a long history of making wrong choices.

 

I think it would be great.  I grew up riding dirt bikes and would love to get one but the closest place to legitimately ride (that I know of) is Lake County.  If it was well done I think you'd see a lot of young people coming from the inner and outer suburbs to use it.

 

I ride bikes too and I hope it works. The problem is these bikes aren't just being used for riding around, they're also being used for other activities. Is this going to be a park for everyone or is at an attempt to recreate the Midnight Basketball program that was used to keep young adults off of the streets and out of gangs during the crack epidemic a few decades back. If it's the latter, it needs to managed well or it could become a problem. Is the city operating this?

 

In DC they've taken the somewhat opposite route of Cleveland where the Police Chief has an active enforcement program to try to get most of them off the streets. It will be interesting to see which approach works better.

Cleveland.com is running 3 different articles on the bikes today, one supporting the track proposal.  Not sure where I stand on that in general but I'm against booting an established football program from the park in question.  The only urban dirtbike facility I can think of was in the video game GTA Vice City.  It was not located in a neighborhood.  I would not want to live near one, that much is certain.

 

What's really telling is they disabled comments on all three articles, and I would say all three support the proposal.  Someone has an "investment" in this really bad idea.  Everything Polensek had to say on it on the Triv show was 100% accurate.

 

DeMario McCall got his start in that program.

What did Polensek say?  I agree, this all comes off as a publicity blitz with a strange amount of force behind it.

Cleveland.com is running 3 different articles on the bikes today, one supporting the track proposal.  Not sure where I stand on that in general but I'm against booting an established football program from the park in question.  The only urban dirtbike facility I can think of was in the video game GTA Vice City.  It was not located in a neighborhood.  I would not want to live near one, that much is certain.

 

Going to need a curfew for sure. Going to have to monitor constantly for drug/gang activity if Cleveland bikers do the same "activities" as they do in DC/Balt. This facility will likely become a focal point between the police and bikeriders unless someone can govern the facility from the inside.

 

Hoping it will work but I have a feeling this is another bad idea from a city government with a long history of making wrong choices.

 

I think it would be great.  I grew up riding dirt bikes and would love to get one but the closest place to legitimately ride (that I know of) is Lake County.  If it was well done I think you'd see a lot of young people coming from the inner and outer suburbs to use it.

 

I ride bikes too and I hope it works. The problem is these bikes aren't just being used for riding around, they're also being used for other activities. Is this going to be a park for everyone or is at an attempt to recreate the Midnight Basketball program that was used to keep young adults off of the streets and out of gangs during the crack epidemic a few decades back. If it's the latter, it needs to managed well or it could become a problem. Is the city operating this?

 

In DC they've taken the somewhat opposite route of Cleveland where the Police Chief has an active enforcement program to try to get most of them off the streets. It will be interesting to see which approach works better.

 

I think this is a good idea overall. But not if the park devolves into some kind of lawless Mad Max scenario. So I agree with you guys, there has to be oversight to ensure that it's a safe environment.

 

Still I'm optimistic. Yes the bike culture is ingrained with drug sales. It's not unlike the outlaw origins of NASCAR in that regard. And motocross is a big sport and has all kinds of sponsorship opportunities; if done the right way it's another sport that can channel kids toward healthy competition and a better future.

 

Who knows, maybe this place affords the police further opportunity to interact with neighborhood kids in a positive, meaningful way.

Cleveland.com is running 3 different articles on the bikes today, one supporting the track proposal.  Not sure where I stand on that in general but I'm against booting an established football program from the park in question.  The only urban dirtbike facility I can think of was in the video game GTA Vice City.  It was not located in a neighborhood.  I would not want to live near one, that much is certain.

 

Going to need a curfew for sure. Going to have to monitor constantly for drug/gang activity if Cleveland bikers do the same "activities" as they do in DC/Balt. This facility will likely become a focal point between the police and bikeriders unless someone can govern the facility from the inside.

 

Hoping it will work but I have a feeling this is another bad idea from a city government with a long history of making wrong choices.

 

I think it would be great.  I grew up riding dirt bikes and would love to get one but the closest place to legitimately ride (that I know of) is Lake County.  If it was well done I think you'd see a lot of young people coming from the inner and outer suburbs to use it.

 

I ride bikes too and I hope it works. The problem is these bikes aren't just being used for riding around, they're also being used for other activities. Is this going to be a park for everyone or is at an attempt to recreate the Midnight Basketball program that was used to keep young adults off of the streets and out of gangs during the crack epidemic a few decades back. If it's the latter, it needs to managed well or it could become a problem. Is the city operating this?

 

In DC they've taken the somewhat opposite route of Cleveland where the Police Chief has an active enforcement program to try to get most of them off the streets. It will be interesting to see which approach works better.

 

I think this is a good idea overall. But not if the park devolves into some kind of lawless Mad Max scenario. So I agree with you guys, there has to be oversight to ensure that it's a safe environment.

 

Still I'm optimistic. Yes the bike culture is ingrained with drug sales. It's not unlike the outlaw origins of NASCAR in that regard. And motocross is a big sport and has all kinds of sponsorship opportunities; if done the right way it's another sport that can channel kids toward healthy competition and a better future.

 

Who knows, maybe this place affords the police further opportunity to interact with neighborhood kids in a positive, meaningful way.

 

We're lacking information at this point. My other questions are: Is this a Midnight Basketball program or just a park? Are they looking for sponsorships or is this just a facility to get the bikes off the street and contained? Is the city going to be responsible for it?

 

We all want the same goal of making this a positive place but if it's managed incorrectly it could centralize drug and gang activity and drive away residents and could be another eyesore in a city which still has too many. There needs to funds to operate the place after it is built. Long-term thinking needs to be applied by the city of Cleveland here.

 

 

They may be used on occasion for drug trafficking, but that is not what is driving their popularity.  Not... even... close.  Think about it.  If you have a couple rocks of crack in your pocket, are you going to ride down the street on an bike that is not street legal at excessive speeds, popping wheelies?  Of course not.  Given that drug dealers are not the smartest people, but most of the ones who make enough money to afford anything (such as a dirt bike) before being caught are not stupid.  Their street smarts, in fact, far exceed those of the average exurban kid.

 

This is a question that really has no easy right/wrong answer.  But I'd lean towards providing a public space where such stunts can be legally performed, and hope that it reduces (although it surely won't eliminate) the illicit street riding.

Didn't think I posted this before, but a couple comrades and I have been working on releasing and organizing the information from the City Record.

 

The City Record is the weekly publication of proposed (and passed) legislation, bids, notices, and other things from City Council, previously only available as PDF (if you ever tried to research with PDFs, it's a pain.. Ever try to search across multiple ones? doesn't happen).

 

Right now, if you'd like to view the plain text of the City Records from 1996- present, just visit https://github.com/opencleveland/drocer and search for text at the top of the page.

 

First step: extracting the raw text from the PDFs is done.

next steps: taking the text, organizing it in a structured manner (working on it)

creating a website to browse, search the text. (The website isn't that far along, nothing public for it just yet).

 

We started with 1996, since it was the first year that City Council Records were available as PDF, everything before that has yet to be scanned, digitized*, and processed by anyone, which adds several layers of complexity and requires a lot of time (but, hey if you want to hire us to do it....  :wink2:).

(for pedantic detail, CPL does have PRE 96 available on Microfiche, but that's still only 1 step of many needed to be done).

They may be used on occasion for drug trafficking, but that is not what is driving their popularity.  Not... even... close.  Think about it.  If you have a couple rocks of crack in your pocket, are you going to ride down the street on an bike that is not street legal at excessive speeds, popping wheelies?  Of course not.  Given that drug dealers are not the smartest people, but most of the ones who make enough money to afford anything (such as a dirt bike) before being caught are not stupid.  Their street smarts, in fact, far exceed those of the average exurban kid.

 

This is a question that really has no easy right/wrong answer.  But I'd lean towards providing a public space where such stunts can be legally performed, and hope that it reduces (although it surely won't eliminate) the illicit street riding.

 

Yeah, I can tell you with first hand knowledge that an increasing amount of riders do deal in drugs and other illegal activities and most gangs are using them here in DC and Baltimore. Could not be the case in Cleveland though.

 

Yes they're very noisy and cumbersome but they're very easy to get away in and aren't registered. Cops aren't going to chase one down the sidewalk and there are plenty of alleys to get lost in. It's why DC Chief Lanier wants them off the streets. They ride up on sidewalks or alleyways and don't care if they run someone over.

 

Their popularity was initially not drug related (VICE has good doc on the "early days" of riders) but riding has become of a bit of a gang status symbol for this area.

 

Again, Cleveland may be quite different.

What did Polensek say?  I agree, this all comes off as a publicity blitz with a strange amount of force behind it.

 

Polensek mostly spoke about fixing existing stuff, specifically pools in his district that have been closed, with that money.  There were some very subtle allusions to the bikes/ATVs being disruptive, and I believe he made the point that they are likely to be driven there on the streets in any case.

 

As for the drug trade, while it may not be even the predominant usage anymore it’s where this fad came from.  Ask pretty much any street level cop.  They are used to transport mid level quantities.  Some street level dealers use dirt bikes, but most use bicycles.  What happens when you get caught isn’t an issue when these things are so hard to catch, especially when the mayor has ordered they not be chased.

 

^I talk to cops every day.  You can't always accept what they tell you as gospel.  You have to consider the effect their job has on them sometimes and take what they say with a grain of salt, especially if you are talking to them over a drink.  There is no statistical evidence which establishes this word of mouth. 

 

The fad is by and large due to thrill seekers who want to show-boat.  They congregate in large packs, sometimes as much as 40-50 and take over a street (not much different that critical mass rides I might add, although certainly more of a hazard).  And it really is not as new as people are making it seem.  This goes back to the 90's in many places.

 

The bikes can be used to pushing drugs, just as cars and bicycles can be so used, but that is not their primary use.  And, yes, gang members (who also happen to sell drugs) like to get involved in these types of fads. 

 

This reminds me of the time when cops said loud music (bass) being boomed out of cars was a sign that you were "open for business"

Listened to Triv again today (best traffic).  Zack Reed basically announced his mayoral candidacy.  Main issue:  upgrade the police.

Oh look. Frank Jackson's pet "dirt bike" track that is siphoning money from other dilapidated recreation centers (and arguably other higher ranked projects) is getting passed because of more strong-armed tactics. Was his grandson ever charged for riding his unlicensed, unlit bike on MLK? And for trying to evade police and resisting arrest?

 

Explaining Cleveland City Council president's strange way of getting dirt bike bill through committee

 

A maneuver that helped get a controversial $2.3 million dirt bike track proposal through a Cleveland City Council committee Monday drew shouts and threats of lawsuits.

 

And more: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/01/shouting_match_threat_of_lawsu.html

Oh look. Frank Jackson's pet "dirt bike" track that is siphoning money from other dilapidated recreation centers (and arguably other higher ranked projects) is getting passed because of more strong-armed tactics. Was his grandson ever charged for riding his unlicensed, unlit bike on MLK? And for trying to evade police and resisting arrest?

 

Explaining Cleveland City Council president's strange way of getting dirt bike bill through committee

 

A maneuver that helped get a controversial $2.3 million dirt bike track proposal through a Cleveland City Council committee Monday drew shouts and threats of lawsuits.

 

And more: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/01/shouting_match_threat_of_lawsu.html

 

We talked about it some on the Mayor Jackson thread.  It ended up getting set aside in committee.  Reed, Polensek, and Johnson worked together and I suspect one of them just might be mayor-elect at the end of this year.

 

Loved one of the comments, it's like building a gun range to get the shootings off the streets.

Oh - thanks! I loved some of those comments. Usually it's a shitshow of comments on cleveland.com, but many of these were spot-on, sadly.

Taking On the Man

Four Women Vying for Seats on a Male-Dominated Cleveland City Council

By Sam Allard

 

When Ward 6 Councilwoman Mamie Mitchell stepped down for health reasons in May, she hand-selected the city's community relations director, Blaine Griffin, to replace her. Much of the backroom conversation at the time concerned the logistics of that decision: Mitchell had been ill for quite awhile. Why bother appointing Griffin with only four months, including the summer recess, remaining in the term? Why not retire gracefully by simply not seeking re-election?

 

Many of the Ward 6 council challengers, who had sniffed out Griffin's appointment long before it was public, saw the maneuver as an ugly and all-too-familiar staple: Councilpeople cling to power for as long as they can, opponents complained, and then they choose their own successors, making a mockery of the democratic process.

 

But other observers noticed something else. With the departure of Mitchell and the arrival of Griffin, a stark imbalance on council was drawn into even starker relief. There were now only two women on the 17-member body: Ward 5's Phyllis Cleveland and Ward 11's Dona Brady.

 

https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/taking-on-the-man/Content?oid=11580492&utm_source=Cleveland+Scene+-+Weekly+Newsletters&utm_campaign=abd05b2b51-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_10_25&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_63c629abc4-abd05b2b51-35256177

^^I've heard many people in Dona Brady's ward are not even sure she exists, so it may only be one female on council! :)

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2017/10/26/in-ward-14-clevelands-ugliest-city-council-race-is-getting-even-uglier

 

Sounds to me like Santana is trying to win strictly based on "identity politics".

 

I give Boyd in 8 (my ward) credit, he doesn't seem to be doing that.  I'll still vote for Polensek, but that makes me more likely to support Boyd if I'm still here when MP retires.

^^I've heard many people in Dona Brady's ward are not even sure she exists, so it may only be one female on council! :)

 

Found her!  She's doing everything in her power to make the city regressive and inhospitable.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/10/city_council_zoning_ordinance.html#incart_river_home_pop

Sounds like Dow is playing keep-away with the money. Since his challenger beat him, Dow would rather see his buddy get the money, and screw his ward he allegedly served. This is why I laugh when a politician calls him/herself a "public servant" rather than a "self servant"...

 

Outgoing Councilman TJ Dow sought to send $700,000 earmarked for his ward elsewhere in Cleveland

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/01/outgoing_councilman_tj_dow_sou.html

TJ Dow is the swamp.  Good Riddance.

Now that is a guy who really shouldn't receive any medical attention. A complete scumbag.

^^I've heard many people in Dona Brady's ward are not even sure she exists, so it may only be one female on council! :)

 

Found her!  She's doing everything in her power to make the city regressive and inhospitable.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/10/city_council_zoning_ordinance.html#incart_river_home_pop

 

Pretty lame.  Some of these council members need to take a trip to other cities where medicinal marijuana is working and educate themselves enough to pass proper legislation.  As it is now, they are just throwing things out there that don't make much sense

Former downtown Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman charged in Ohio Ethics Commission investigation

 

By Cory Shaffer, cleveland.com CShafferCleveland[/member].com

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman was charged Wednesday with 26 misdemeanors related to his involvement in city contracts with a design firm that employed his wife.

 

Cimperman was charged with having an unlawful interest in a public contract, a first-degree misdemeanor. The offenses date back to 2002, according to court records.

 

The charges were filed by information, which usually signals that defendants have reached an agreement to plead guilty.

 

More at:

http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2018/04/former_cleveland_city_councilm.html#incart_2box

I'm shocked, shocked, to hear it. You mean the councilman's wife's studio getting nearly every city contract wasn't on the up-n-up?

seems very petty to me.  Aren't most council decisions voted on nearly unanimously?  So was Cimperman the only vote for his wife's employer?  I guess he should have abtained from any vote that involved this firm?

seems very petty to me.  Aren't most council decisions voted on nearly unanimously?  So was Cimperman the only vote for his wife's employer?  I guess he should have abtained from any vote that involved this firm?

Yes, he should have. 

 

Also, there's definitely horse trading in council and others voting for his wife's firm could easily have been a quid pro quo.

 

This was discussed in this group even when he was still in council, among other things he did that set off alarms among the cynical.

seems very petty to me.  Aren't most council decisions voted on nearly unanimously?  So was Cimperman the only vote for his wife's employer?  I guess he should have abtained from any vote that involved this firm?

 

It's a good to see the ethics rules enforced vigorously, and he did screw up, but I agree this is a big pile of nothing in terms of actual corruption. Whether he'd had abstained or not would have made zero difference. Even without Cimperman in office, LAND is pretty much the only outside party the city trusts to shepherd big projects of this nature through. Not at all the same thing as public officials steering contract to shadowy consultants or contractors with murky ownership.

City policy was steered toward LAND's specialty, which happens to be greenspace.  Think of all the parks that have been torn up and replaced with different parks during his time in power.

What do you call a councilperson without ethics violations?

 

A newcomer

seems very petty to me.  Aren't most council decisions voted on nearly unanimously?  So was Cimperman the only vote for his wife's employer?  I guess he should have abtained from any vote that involved this firm?

 

It's a good to see the ethics rules enforced vigorously, and he did screw up, but I agree this is a big pile of nothing in terms of actual corruption. Whether he'd had abstained or not would have made zero difference. Even without Cimperman in office, LAND is pretty much the only outside party the city trusts to shepherd big projects of this nature through. Not at all the same thing as public officials steering contract to shadowy consultants or contractors with murky ownership.

 

it's not the same thing as steering contracts to shadowy consultants or contrators - LAND Studio & Park Works are non-profit, right? 

seems very petty to me.  Aren't most council decisions voted on nearly unanimously?  So was Cimperman the only vote for his wife's employer?  I guess he should have abtained from any vote that involved this firm?

 

It's a good to see the ethics rules enforced vigorously, and he did screw up, but I agree this is a big pile of nothing in terms of actual corruption. Whether he'd had abstained or not would have made zero difference. Even without Cimperman in office, LAND is pretty much the only outside party the city trusts to shepherd big projects of this nature through. Not at all the same thing as public officials steering contract to shadowy consultants or contractors with murky ownership.

 

it's not the same thing as steering contracts to shadowy consultants or contrators - LAND Studio & Park Works are non-profit, right? 

 

Salaries at legitimate businesses are the way this is often done.  It doesn't have to involve a company that sounds like Grifter & Sons Garbage Cartage.