Sunday, August 14, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
MAPLE HEIGHTS, THE MAPLE HEIGHTS MAYOR, AND THAT DAMN OFFENSIVE EMAIL
May 21st, a person by the name of Marcus B sent a not so nice email to Mayor Jeffrey Lansky (or Maple Hts City Council) about the mayor's salary [which, when last we looked, was around $100,000 a year; ... according to Payscale.com, as of 2011, the average yearly salary for a mayor ranged from $35,000 to $83,000, with some mayors in small cities earning less than $1,000 per month].
Maple Hts population / Cleveland population / Cleveland Mayor's salary / Shaker Hts population / Shaker Heights Mayor's salary / Lakewood Mayor salary (pop: 52,000)
We've got a question ... Did this mayor's salary increase or decrease with the decline in Maple Heights population (which according to the 2010 US census was 23,138 - That kind of population puts Maple Heights in the small municipality category). Unfortunately, the mayor's message page still states 26,000 (hopefully that will be updated before the 2011 elections). [Update 7/2012 ... mayor finally corrected the population number on his message page.]
The mayor got down and (you fill in the word) with his reply to that email, seeming to deflect any criticism of him onto an upcoming mayoral race, dragging his opponent into the mix and also implying his opponent is corrupt (so everyone who works for, or worked for Cuyahoga County is corrupt?), and either a criminal or someone who palls around with criminals (does this sound familiar? -2008 BO was accused of palling around w criminals/ or the big "T" word). Just so happens the mayor is Caucasian and his mayoral opponent is African American. What's interesting is, this Mayor was said to have endorsed County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones (in 2008) who county prosecutors say "traded votes for campaign contributions". To be fair, as far as we know, Jones has not been charged.
About the "double dipping" ... It's not against the law to retire (with a pension) from one employer, and then go to work for another employer (public or private). In addition, there are public employees who work in Maple Heights government, who have retired from another public job. The mayor chose to single out his opponent.
As hard as his opponent works as a councilwoman for district 7 (in addition to calls she responds to, from residents all over Maple Heights), that little salary (from which she will receive no pension) she gets from Maple Heights, doesn't begin to compensate her fairly. [Another thing we like about her ... she's not a "kiss ass" ... probably one of the reasons why the mayor has a problem with her]
There's more to this story than meets the eye.
Mayor Jeffrey Lansky is also a former Republican. We call conservative Democrats and former Republicans who move to the Democratic Party , New Democrats; and these New Democrats seem to be popping up all over Cleveland area suburbs. [Note: Issue 6 pushed by business leaders]
In a city of about 70% minority residents (68%+ African American), it's deplorable that there's never been any African American fire-fighters in Maple Hts. Cleveland had and has African American fire-fighters and fire chiefs, and there are an abundance of African American police officers (even chiefs), so the "they can't pass the test" used to justify no African American fire-fighters in Maple Hts, doesn't fly. [Is the test different? / Do whites receive advanced tutoring on how to pass the test? ]. The Maple Heights police department's diversity record (of hiring full time police officers) is almost as dismal and appears to be getting worse under the current mayor. [update: As of 8/2011 there was 1 minority / Also learned that candidates may have to go through a 3 part process of hiring which includes being interviewed by the mayor, police chief and one other. African American candidates who have passed the written test, are often eliminated when they go before the "3 man team" for the interview (or so we've been told)],
[Percentage of Maple Heights residents living in poverty in 2009: 13.2%(8.7% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 15.7% for Black residents, 13.3% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 0.0% for American Indian residents, 0.0% for other race residents, 24.1% for two or more races residents)]
Check out the road crews ... if you see any African Americans, please give a shout out cause we've never seen one. As far as we can see, the other 30% (Caucasian) of the population appears to be seemingly catered to in various areas (ever go to one of their summer concerts?), and Caucasian Maple Hts government employees, some who don't even live in alleged financially strapped Maple Hts, seem to be drawing pretty decent to high salaries. In essence, the 30% runs the city. Got something to say about all this ... council meeting at the Maple Hts Senior Center, June 15th at 7pm.
[Maple Heights residents ... start looking into those Maple Heights government employee salaries (particularly benefits), since you're paying these employees. Remember, they work for you!]
What Role for Labor in the Progressive Uprising? A Conversation With Labor Strategist Stephen Lerner | | AlterNet by Amy Dean
Maple Hts population / Cleveland population / Cleveland Mayor's salary / Shaker Hts population / Shaker Heights Mayor's salary / Lakewood Mayor salary (pop: 52,000)
We've got a question ... Did this mayor's salary increase or decrease with the decline in Maple Heights population (which according to the 2010 US census was 23,138 - That kind of population puts Maple Heights in the small municipality category). Unfortunately, the mayor's message page still states 26,000 (hopefully that will be updated before the 2011 elections). [Update 7/2012 ... mayor finally corrected the population number on his message page.]
The mayor got down and (you fill in the word) with his reply to that email, seeming to deflect any criticism of him onto an upcoming mayoral race, dragging his opponent into the mix and also implying his opponent is corrupt (so everyone who works for, or worked for Cuyahoga County is corrupt?), and either a criminal or someone who palls around with criminals (does this sound familiar? -2008 BO was accused of palling around w criminals/ or the big "T" word). Just so happens the mayor is Caucasian and his mayoral opponent is African American. What's interesting is, this Mayor was said to have endorsed County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones (in 2008) who county prosecutors say "traded votes for campaign contributions". To be fair, as far as we know, Jones has not been charged.
About the "double dipping" ... It's not against the law to retire (with a pension) from one employer, and then go to work for another employer (public or private). In addition, there are public employees who work in Maple Heights government, who have retired from another public job. The mayor chose to single out his opponent.
As hard as his opponent works as a councilwoman for district 7 (in addition to calls she responds to, from residents all over Maple Heights), that little salary (from which she will receive no pension) she gets from Maple Heights, doesn't begin to compensate her fairly. [Another thing we like about her ... she's not a "kiss ass" ... probably one of the reasons why the mayor has a problem with her]
There's more to this story than meets the eye.
Mayor Jeffrey Lansky is also a former Republican. We call conservative Democrats and former Republicans who move to the Democratic Party , New Democrats; and these New Democrats seem to be popping up all over Cleveland area suburbs. [Note: Issue 6 pushed by business leaders]
In a city of about 70% minority residents (68%+ African American), it's deplorable that there's never been any African American fire-fighters in Maple Hts. Cleveland had and has African American fire-fighters and fire chiefs, and there are an abundance of African American police officers (even chiefs), so the "they can't pass the test" used to justify no African American fire-fighters in Maple Hts, doesn't fly. [Is the test different? / Do whites receive advanced tutoring on how to pass the test? ]. The Maple Heights police department's diversity record (of hiring full time police officers) is almost as dismal and appears to be getting worse under the current mayor. [update: As of 8/2011 there was 1 minority / Also learned that candidates may have to go through a 3 part process of hiring which includes being interviewed by the mayor, police chief and one other. African American candidates who have passed the written test, are often eliminated when they go before the "3 man team" for the interview (or so we've been told)],
[Percentage of Maple Heights residents living in poverty in 2009: 13.2%(8.7% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 15.7% for Black residents, 13.3% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 0.0% for American Indian residents, 0.0% for other race residents, 24.1% for two or more races residents)]
Check out the road crews ... if you see any African Americans, please give a shout out cause we've never seen one. As far as we can see, the other 30% (Caucasian) of the population appears to be seemingly catered to in various areas (ever go to one of their summer concerts?), and Caucasian Maple Hts government employees, some who don't even live in alleged financially strapped Maple Hts, seem to be drawing pretty decent to high salaries. In essence, the 30% runs the city. Got something to say about all this ... council meeting at the Maple Hts Senior Center, June 15th at 7pm.
[Maple Heights residents ... start looking into those Maple Heights government employee salaries (particularly benefits), since you're paying these employees. Remember, they work for you!]
What Role for Labor in the Progressive Uprising? A Conversation With Labor Strategist Stephen Lerner | | AlterNet by Amy Dean
Is there a pattern that keeps coming up time and time again?
[This mayor himself acknowledges he's sued a bunch of folks and counting. What's up with that?]
Update 11/21/2011:
'Income Achievement Gap' Almost Double Black-White Performance Gap, Report Shows
by Louis Freedberg
Contact Fox 8 news for the video interview with Mayor Lansky, since video is no longer on their server. We bought a copy of the interview from Fox 8.
Reference with keywords: Richard Trojanski denies involvement, or "keisha cornbread", or "man named silk"
Friday, May 20, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
TRUMP IS NOW THE CHUMP
I caught this video on The New Yorker site ["Best Wishes, Donald" by Mark Singer, April 29, 2011] I loved it.
After I read Mark's post, my assumptions "all things Trump" were confirmed.
Oh yeah, do catch the president's 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner speech. Trump it appears, was amusing fodder for last night's festivities; however, Trump, pouting those little birdie lips, is clearly not amused. Come on Donald, what do you expect when you wave your insanity all over the place.
After I read Mark's post, my assumptions "all things Trump" were confirmed.
Oh yeah, do catch the president's 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner speech. Trump it appears, was amusing fodder for last night's festivities; however, Trump, pouting those little birdie lips, is clearly not amused. Come on Donald, what do you expect when you wave your insanity all over the place.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
William Bennett's Radical Dreams Become a Reality - Thom Hartmann: FLorida Public schools
In November 2008, right after the election of Barack Obama, the Republican Governors' Association Annual Conference met in Florida. I watched panels of Republican governors and their friends for 2 days on C-SPAN. What's shocking is that most of the governors sounded reasonable, until I heard William Bennett (former education secretary under Reagan) speak. You wouldn't know it to look at him; but, Bill Bennett is a very scary man with radical views regarding education.
With Bennett on one of the panels, discussions turned to how to change the culture/values/ideology/etc. to reflect right-wing values/culture/ideology. The most important, according to Bennett, is to indoctrinate children (using the: internet, media, classroom and text books) with conservative, right wing values, [with a right wing slant/re-write/whitewash].
Now we've found out, Bill Bennett and his Republican cohorts' dreams are about to come true.
With Bennett on one of the panels, discussions turned to how to change the culture/values/ideology/etc. to reflect right-wing values/culture/ideology. The most important, according to Bennett, is to indoctrinate children (using the: internet, media, classroom and text books) with conservative, right wing values, [with a right wing slant/re-write/whitewash].
Now we've found out, Bill Bennett and his Republican cohorts' dreams are about to come true.
Thom Hartmann: FL Public schools - the Wall of Separation is about to Crumble | Thom Hartmann - News & info from the #1 progressive radio show April 29, 2011
Texas Conservatives Win Vote on Textbook Standards - NYTimes.com March 12, 2010
2008 Election Cycle - C-SPAN Video Library November 12, 2008 (listen to William Bennett - about 52 minutes in)
I understood back then, that Republicans had found a way to regain power. They had to claim the majority of state governor seats. [and thanks to ill-informed citizens, they did it]
The Corporate State Will Continue its Inexorable Advance Until We're Locked into a Permanent Underclass | | AlterNet by Chris Hedges, April 29, 2011
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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
THOM HARTMANN - 4/26/11. "THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET"
PLEASE WATCH THE ENTIRE THOM HARTMANN SHOW
April 27, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
THE LATEST FACES OF REPUBLICAN INSANITY AND CALLOUSNESS
THE CENTRAL FIGURE IN REPUBLICAN INSANITY
April 4, 2011 - Please listen to Greenstein.
Media Briefing: The Ryan Budget’s Radical Priorities — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities this was back in March 2010
Rachel Maddow Tears Into Beltway Media For Paul Ryan Budget Coverage (VIDEO) 4/7/2011
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CRAZY AND CALLOUS
Eric Cantor
ThinkProgress » Cantor Sees Current Medicare and Medicaid Programs As A ‘Safety Net’ For ‘People Who Frankly Don’t Need One’ 4/10/2011
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HE LIES
Tom Graves - The Last Word - 4/7/2011
Debunking Graves lies:
Under Obama Taxes Reach Lowest Level Since Truman - Robert Schlesinger (usnews.com) Feb 8, 2011
Daily Kos: Zombie Lie: That Dems "Failed" to Pass Budget - NO, GOP Senators BLOCKED IT 4/7/2011
Ezra Klein - Was Simpson-Bowles really so great? Ezra Klein, 2/16/2011
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April 4, 2011 - Please listen to Greenstein.
Media Briefing: The Ryan Budget’s Radical Priorities — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities this was back in March 2010
Rachel Maddow Tears Into Beltway Media For Paul Ryan Budget Coverage (VIDEO) 4/7/2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CRAZY AND CALLOUS
Eric Cantor
ThinkProgress » Cantor Sees Current Medicare and Medicaid Programs As A ‘Safety Net’ For ‘People Who Frankly Don’t Need One’ 4/10/2011
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HE LIES
Tom Graves - The Last Word - 4/7/2011
Debunking Graves lies:
Under Obama Taxes Reach Lowest Level Since Truman - Robert Schlesinger (usnews.com) Feb 8, 2011
Daily Kos: Zombie Lie: That Dems "Failed" to Pass Budget - NO, GOP Senators BLOCKED IT 4/7/2011
Ezra Klein - Was Simpson-Bowles really so great? Ezra Klein, 2/16/2011
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Saturday, April 9, 2011
THE FACE OF REPUBLICAN INSANITY - TOM GRAVES
Proof that the GOP has lost its mind. The Last Word - 4/7/2011
Debunking Graves lies:
Under Obama Taxes Reach Lowest Level Since Truman - Robert Schlesinger (usnews.com) Feb 8, 2011
Daily Kos: Zombie Lie: That Dems "Failed" to Pass Budget - NO, GOP Senators BLOCKED IT 4/7/2011
Ezra Klein - Was Simpson-Bowles really so great? Ezra Klein, 2/16/2011
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MORE REPUBLICAN LUNACY
April 4, 2011 - Please listen to Greenstein.
Media Briefing: The Ryan Budget’s Radical Priorities — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities this was back in March 2010
Rachel Maddow Tears Into Beltway Media For Paul Ryan Budget Coverage (VIDEO) 4/7/2011
ThinkProgress » Cantor Sees Current Medicare and Medicaid Programs As A ‘Safety Net’ For ‘People Who Frankly Don’t Need One’ 4/10/2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
OHIO RALLY AT THE STATEHOUSE SATURDAY APRIL 9TH
JUST PASSING THIS ON:
This Saturday, thousands will rally at the Statehouse to say "we are Ohio" and voice their opposition to SB 5 and Gov. Kasich's anti-working family agenda.
WHAT: We Are Ohio Campaign Kick-Off Rally
WHEN: Saturday, April 9 starting at noon
WHERE: West Lawn of the Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus
Interested in helping to get SB 5 on the ballot to allow Ohioans to cast a citizen's veto of the bill? Email killthebillohio@gmail.com to become a volunteer petition circulator.
"Last week, Gov. Kasich and his allies in the Ohio General Assembly pushed through the first in what will be many attacks on local communities, working families and services Ohioans rely on everyday. With the passage of Senate Bill 5, lawmakers have shown they are more interested in pursuing a political agenda to destroy good jobs and weaken our communities than focusing on real solutions to job creation and our budget deficit.
As poll after poll shows, this agenda doesn’t represent the will of Ohioans. That is why this Saturday thousands of Ohioans from across the state will rally at the Statehouse to say “We are Ohio.”
Will you stand with other Ohioans this Saturday to protect workers’ rights and work to allow the voices of voters to be heard on this important issue?"
From Tim Burga
Ohio AFL-CIO President
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