While Southgate in Maple Heights quietly slipped from receivership (2009) into foreclosure a few days ago
(potentially taking a major source of revenue from Maple Heights), allegations of voter suppression, voter intimidation, and [perhaps] financial nonfeasance were revealed.
The Town Hall Meeting at the Maple Heights Library last night (held by the endorsed Democrats in Maple Hts) revealed such shocking news, that even we were not fully aware of, but had sensed for some time (check previous posts).
So that there is little guess work ... the targets of the voter suppression and voter intimidation are Mrs. Mitchell's supporters. There have also been allegations that white males in camouflage attire have been following the endorsed Democratic female African American candidates; and Mrs. Mitchell has complained that quite a few of the (vote for Neomia Mitchell) yard signs have been removed by people driving around in trucks (she also states that when she ran against the mayor previously, a lot of her yard signs were missing). Mrs. Mitchell has also complained that there were voter registration applications she turned in to the Board of Elections that could not be found at the Board of Elections. The stuff we've heard about or seen for our very own eyes is shocking.
Here is something interesting:
In an early piece of campaign literature put out by the mayor, it shows a picture of a bunch of Mrs. Mitchell's yard signs in a big heap in front of former Mayor Ciaravino's yard signs. Where did he get that picture? Better still ... how was he able to get a picture of Mrs. Mitchell's yard signs conveniently placed in a pile in front of a pile of Ciaravino's yard signs?
The Democratic Party (given the problems that confronted them in Cuyahoga County) we believe, would not endorse a candidate that they felt had any real and substantial and highly incriminating evidence linking her to any crimes or scandal. That's why, we think, they chose Mrs. Mitchell. It seems the mayor wants people to think otherwise (maybe trying to have her investigated). We feel this is unbecoming of a mayor of any city (see Mayor Lansky's pictorial characterization of his African American female opponent) .
We also learned that some of the salary raises that were given over the last few years, may not have gone thru city council as they should have (correct us if we're wrong). Why the council president did not take a stand when it happened (if it happened), is a mystery to us.
Please remember (Maple Hts statistics):
[Percentage of 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)]
So that there is little guess work ... the targets of the voter suppression and voter intimidation are Mrs. Mitchell's supporters. There have also been allegations that white males in camouflage attire have been following the endorsed Democratic female African American candidates; and Mrs. Mitchell has complained that quite a few of the (vote for Neomia Mitchell) yard signs have been removed by people driving around in trucks (she also states that when she ran against the mayor previously, a lot of her yard signs were missing). Mrs. Mitchell has also complained that there were voter registration applications she turned in to the Board of Elections that could not be found at the Board of Elections. The stuff we've heard about or seen for our very own eyes is shocking.
Here is something interesting:
In an early piece of campaign literature put out by the mayor, it shows a picture of a bunch of Mrs. Mitchell's yard signs in a big heap in front of former Mayor Ciaravino's yard signs. Where did he get that picture? Better still ... how was he able to get a picture of Mrs. Mitchell's yard signs conveniently placed in a pile in front of a pile of Ciaravino's yard signs?
The Democratic Party (given the problems that confronted them in Cuyahoga County) we believe, would not endorse a candidate that they felt had any real and substantial and highly incriminating evidence linking her to any crimes or scandal. That's why, we think, they chose Mrs. Mitchell. It seems the mayor wants people to think otherwise (maybe trying to have her investigated). We feel this is unbecoming of a mayor of any city (see Mayor Lansky's pictorial characterization of his African American female opponent) .
We also learned that some of the salary raises that were given over the last few years, may not have gone thru city council as they should have (correct us if we're wrong). Why the council president did not take a stand when it happened (if it happened), is a mystery to us.
Please remember (Maple Hts statistics):
[Percentage of 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)]
The job growth rate in Maple Heights is in the negative figures (around -10%). Most of the people who work in Maple Heights (esp. those who draw high salaries with fantastic benefits), do not live in Maple Heights.
Where has television and print media been in investigating what appears to have been going on in Maple Heights? Where are they now?
Where has television and print media been in investigating what appears to have been going on in Maple Heights? Where are they now?
While the scandal unfolds, we expect public officials to continue to deflect attention away from them unto what they'll state as "politics as usual" (and we think the nasty smear campaign against Mrs. Mitchell will continue ... and probably will get worse); however, this is not "politics as usual" and the people who are suffering, and will continue to suffer (esp. from the repercussions of all this), are the residents (esp. property owners) of Maple Heights.
We'll update .. as we gather more information.
Information on the Maple Heights financial state audit that was recently completed (which includes information on the 2009, 9.95 million dollar note (debt) which now puts Maple Heights over 18 million in debt) ... www.auditor.state.oh.us
[By the way, Mrs. Mitchell, the mayor's opponent, was not a member of council in 2009. We also just learned that Maple Heights general fund may be in the
red. Bond interest payments, (and salaries if we're correct) come from property taxes.]
What Role for Labor in the Progressive Uprising? A Conversation With Labor Strategist Stephen Lerner | | AlterNet by Amy Dean
Several residents complained that a "Re-Elect Lansky" yard sign was placed on their lawn without their permission and the letter below was left at their house (we have permission from them to post it). We leave it up to you if you consider this "voter intimidation". (Click on the image to enlarge it.)
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