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Published on Monday, Dec 01, 2008
Foreclosures and blight
Beacon Journal reporter Rick Armon's report of Nov. 16 (''Task force to fight urban blight'') was only surprising to me by its timing.
Not to be outdone, the Summit County Council approved the task force at its Nov. 3 meeting, the day before Election Day.
Anyone following my campaign for Summit County fiscal officer would have been acutely aware of these grim facts facing areas of Summit County.
On its Web site, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland states that for communities facing foreclosure issues, ''foreclosed and vacant properties can reduce the value of nearby homes, draining a community's investments in neighborhood revitalization and eroding local governments' tax bases.''
As a lifelong resident, businessman and property owner in Summit County, I only hope that our elected officials will move forward with realistic budgets based upon accurate property valuation.
This will be critical in attracting businesses and families to a vibrant area with an overall low-tax environment, not one based on political expediency.
As for these issues, I had repeatedly sounded warnings to those listening during my campaign.
There is an old saying in politics: If you want to direct attention away from bad news, release it under the cover of even bigger news.
Bill Conte
Norton
noweb
Editor's note: The writer, a Republican, was defeated by Democrat John Donofrio.
Mayor deserves recall
Warner Mendenhall is spearheading a recall of Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. I, for one, applaud Medenhall's fortitude and willingness to engage in our democratic process.
Thankfully, there is a recourse for dealing with an elected official who has ceased to serve his constituents and has chosen instead to show contempt.
Those in support of Plusquellic can point to his many accomplishments and justify their opposition to a recall.
Sadly, Plusquellic has given Mendenhall and those who support a recall plenty of ammunition. The best way to avoid a recall is for an elected official to behave in a manner that would prevent recall as a consideration.
Our mayor does not behave in that manner.
Lee Beaty
Akron
DTV is a bust
I just hooked up my digital television converter box. If this is the best reception we're going to get, then most viewers will be referring to the change to DTV as Disappointing Tele Vision.
While Channel 49 came in clear as a bell, most of the others either didn't come in at all or were constantly breaking up. I have four Channel 17s, and they all constantly break up, as do channels 43 and 55. Channel 25 is nowhere to be found.
Fortunately, with an antenna splitter I will still be able to watch Channel 29. And in order to use my VCR and DVD player, I'll need some antenna splitters, as there's only one antenna lead to my TV.
I have an antenna in my attic with a signal booster. If this is as good as it's going to get, then it will definitely be disappointing television for most of us viewers.
I, and many others, will be pushed into forsaking network TV for DVDs. This is supposed to be a big improvement?
Horsepucky! Way to go, President Bush.
Ray Crim
Akron
Why reward Lieberman?
That didn't take long. Barely two weeks after the election, Senate Democrats rewarded all the voters who had cast ballots for change with a cold slap in the face by allowing turncoat warmonger Joe Lieberman to retain his committee leadership positions.
This is after Sen. Lieberman campaigned for John McCain and practically accused Barack Obama of being a terrorist.
Lieberman is certainly allowed to support whomever he chooses, but to allow him to keep his chairmanships after this stunt is incredible.
What would happen in private industry if a member of a corporate board publicly trashed his own brand and made statements about the CEO on national television that were borderline libelous?
Lieberman never saw a war he didn't like, especially when it benefits his beloved Israel. Maybe Lieberman should move to Israel and take Harry Reid and the rest of the gutless Senate Democrats with him. They certainly aren't representing the voters here.
Larry Marek
Mantua
Fairness Doctrine, anything but fair
Scott Dotson, in his letter (''Bring back the Fairness Doctrine,'' Nov. 23) is promoting a move that is anything but fair and is in direct violation of our First Amendment rights. As far as I know, we still have a guarantee of free speech in this country.
Who would be the determiner of what is fair? Who would decide what persons would be permitted to speak? Would enforcement require still another federal bureaucracy?
Would there be a need for professional listeners to interpret, measure and judge the words of the various speakers Dotson seeks to silence?
Or, will those persons deemed not to be operating ''for the common good of everyday Americans'' simply be removed from the airwaves?
Who will decide? Why can't this be left to the American people to decide?
As long as radio and TV sets have an on/off button, there is no need for more government oversight.
If the programs have no one listening or watching, the advertisers will discontinue their support. The talk-show hosts whom Dotson decries will then disappear from the airwaves.
Dotson actually demeans the intelligence of the American people in seeking to have a mechanism that limits their ability to hear thoughts and ideas dissimilar to his, or their own.
We have to believe that Americans are capable of hearing opposing points of view and making their own judgments about the truth and validity of those statements.
Our country has always supported the rights of citizens to express conflicting points of view.
We cannot afford to silence those who hold opinions different from our own. Our strength is in our diversity, including that of political discourse.
Norma Hudson Blank
Cuyahoga Falls
Foreclosures and blight
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 02:11 AM, 12/01/2008
Hopefully when dealing with "Urban Blight" the people involved will realize that the owners of the property may want to fix it up, but with the current economy may be unable to afford it, and if it is then taken over by foreclosure, or for other reasons, it will more than likely remain an eyesore.
akron, oh
Posted 04:57 AM, 12/01/2008
Mendenhall is using the recall gimmick only to get free publicity for his own run for mayor.
Dalton Ave, Henderson, NV
Posted 05:47 AM, 12/01/2008
@Ray Crim - DTV is not the best picture you can receive... there are little things called CABLE and SATELLITE service that produce much better pictures. If you want a better picture, pay for it.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:57 AM, 12/01/2008
Mr Crim, where do you live? My dad lives in Springfield just outside Ellet and he gets great TV reception and he only has a regular antenna with an HDTV. There must be something, a tree, electrical interference, or something overriding your signal. As was pointed out by another post there is the option of cable TV. If you have a computer that is up to date, there is a massive amount of "television" available on demand on the internet, but Oh wait, that costs money too.
, ..
Posted 09:34 AM, 12/01/2008
Dear Bill Conte: So..so sorry for the BEATING you absorbed on Nov. 4.....along with your nearly EXTINCT PARTY called Republicans. I am glad for your DEFEAT. This country...this state...and all local governments no longer are in need of your KOOKY and INEFFECTIVE policies.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:34 AM, 12/01/2008
Definition of Blight in Summit County Ohio:
Modern label used for property that the officials want to either use for themselves, or give to a supporter. Condition or current use of said property not important. (See definition of eminent domain)
Eminent Domain:
Property that is needed for individuals to continue to fill their pockets at the taxpayers' expense.
Posted 09:57 AM, 12/01/2008
Dear Dave, it is so refreshing to see that the idiot Democrats continue to crawl out of the woodwork and submit ramblings. It makes my heart warm and fuzzy to know that we Republicans who care about our county, can rest assured that in 4 years you Democrats will have continued to spout your uneducated rantings ensuring the Republicans rise to power again. From the bottom of my heart Dave I thank you.
and to Bill... your efforts did not go unnoticed.. it just wasn't your year. Sometimes education and common sense get lost in the mayhem of people spouting change, when in reality they are encouraging irresponsible decision making.
Posted 10:03 AM, 12/01/2008
Someone please tell me the solution to Akron's Urban Blight. The ONLY solution I know is to encourage investors to buy the properties, renovate them and then sell or rent. Unfortunately, Akron Health Department oversite, increase in Summit County Taxes and increases by Akron for permits and inspections etc. has caused most investors to go elsewhere. Akron is over-taxed and over-regulated ... more foreclosures are coming and there's not going to be anyone to buy the properties. Mayor Don is trying to get federal money for an urban blight revitalization ... this will just be an inefficient, headline grabbing endeavour that won't address the problem ... it will however allow him and his cronies to skim off the top for big profits. Akron is going down and it's going to get worse ... foreclosures, taxes, crime etc.
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:07 AM, 12/01/2008
There are a lot of Jerks in the world Way to Go Ray Crim
Posted 10:26 AM, 12/01/2008
Seize properties, demolish them, auction the land to the immediate neighbors. I'm sure most residents would prefer it if their yards were bigger than a postage stamp so their kids could play. If a lot goes for $5, so be it. I'm sick of hearing cliches about “revitalizing” and making a “walkable city” to lure in 20-something engineers and professionals. Less is more, knock down all the vacant store fronts and run down homes.
UA is the best hope this city has, if they could get the kind of programs in place to put them on par with UM, then this city could become Ohio's Ann Arbor. Having a university that caters to first generation college students isn't going to bring in young professionals and keep them here.
Posted 10:42 AM, 12/01/2008
To me there is always sly sarcasm in the "Editor's note" inserted at the end of a letter to the editor. I think that most informed citizens know that Conte is a Republican, that Donofrio is a Democrat, and that Donofrio defeated Conte in the recent election. This note was unneeded.
R M Kraus
akron, oh
Posted 12:15 PM, 12/01/2008
M is right on. Take down the old homes and give the land to the nieghbors for more space. Akron has way too many delapitated homes and empty rentals as it is.
Posted 12:43 PM, 12/01/2008
Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic is being investigated for corruption by the FBI and IRS:
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/11/auditor_frank_russos_links_to.html
Akron, Oh
Posted 01:00 PM, 12/01/2008
Carol, quit being such a liar. Or, perhaps learn to read. The mayor is not being investigated by anyone. Yes, he was mentioned in the article. So what?
Posted 01:48 PM, 12/01/2008
Jan's just worried that her job is at risk.
Go ahead and read the article.
Posted 01:59 PM, 12/01/2008
I certainly hope that the federal agents conducting the investigation saw this comment on cleveland.com
The evidence is mounting!
"Dear FBI and IRS,
Because the good people of Akron are plenty sick of our corrupt, amoral mayor, we'd like to assist you with the invesigation of Plusquellic.
In fact, if you'd like further evidence of pay-to-play schemes happening in our fair city, please just contact the people of "The Clean Money Campaign", a group of citizen volunteers who sifted through records of years of Plusquellic campaign contributions and City-awarded contracts.
From this data, the Clean Money folks were able to prove that there was a positive statistical correlation between those vendors who contributed to the mayor's campaigns and those who were later awarded contracts with the City of Akron."
, ..
Posted 02:36 PM, 12/01/2008
Dear Nadine: Is it not time for your afternoon feeding in the barn????
Akron, Oh
Posted 02:38 PM, 12/01/2008
Riiiiight, Carol. BTW, I work for no one. I'm retired, but thanks for the paranoia just the same.
Posted 03:20 PM, 12/01/2008
awww what's the matter Dave did you run out of intelligent things to say? no wait you never had anything intelligent to say. go put your paper hat on and get me my order.
akron, oh
Posted 03:43 PM, 12/01/2008
Nice try Nadine you loser. I guess we all cannot reach the same standards for intelligent things to say like you do. Now scamper along - its your turn to entertain the boys at the girlie club. There is a poll with your name on it.
Posted 04:33 PM, 12/01/2008
Dear sweet, bitter Nadine: Blue states actually tend to be more educated than Red., but seriously, when have facts ever meant anything to Repubs. (8 of 10 most educated states voted Dem. in 2004) Or maybe that's just cause we got to those "elitist" schools and study "elitist" subjects and hold "elitist" debates. And "gosh darn it you betcha and also" we can see through someone who changes colleges five times and batters the English language with every sentence.
We aren't tied down by the whack job hypocritical evangelical right, because we can actually reconcile science and religion through intelligent discussion and we most definitely don't have to question someone's patriotism, because fear mongering isn't our mantra. And apparently...gosh darn it...the majority of the country agreed.
Hudson, OH
Posted 05:08 PM, 12/01/2008
Well Nadine, at least Shelly said you were sweet. She also seemed to stuff most of what is wrong with the right into a couple of nice paragraphs.
My Heart Is In K-Town, .
Posted 05:10 PM, 12/01/2008
Easy Shelley - The Dems got out the vote and that's how they won (period), fair and square. It obviously had nothing to do with intelligence.
, ..
Posted 05:23 PM, 12/01/2008
Dear Neyyyydine: I know.....the Republicans have got everything "right" the past eight long...dreadfull....years. Are ya in the stock market Neyyydine???? Check those statements come the end of this month my dear. Sorry...you lose AGAIN NADINE. Did I not see you dancing at Bottoms-UP last week. The ugly one with NO TIPS???
Hudson, OH
Posted 05:27 PM, 12/01/2008
PC says the Dems won fair and square. Somewhat of a departure from the previous two elections. See. Change we can believe in already.
Hudson, OH
Posted 05:28 PM, 12/01/2008
PM (whoever), not PC.
Posted 06:40 PM, 12/01/2008
Why is it everytime i try to get some insight about what people think about these issues all i read is a bunch of childish name calling?
I was under the impression that we were all adults here.
Posted 06:50 PM, 12/01/2008
Why is it everytime i try to get some insight about what people think about these issues all i read is a bunch of childish name calling?
John, just ignore Jan's juvenalia. Read the PD article and you'll be greatly enlightened about our mayor and his nefarious business dealings.
Posted 07:58 PM, 12/01/2008
So because a woman is smarter than the men on this blog you resort to stipper comments. Nice. You are all pathetic. I will continue to work (as I have a job) since I have a Masters Degree and a wonderful family. Oh and a mind which you all pathetic people don't have. You cannot have an intelligent conversation without the uneducated losers coming out of the woodwork. go crawl back under the rocks you all came from.
My Heart Is In K-Town, .
Posted 08:38 PM, 12/01/2008
@ Ken - the previous 2 elections were fair and square as well. The big difference was you couldn't accept the out come.
Hudson, OH
Posted 09:26 PM, 12/01/2008
@ nadine. Although I find myself at the opposite spectrum of the right wing pablum you usually spew — I agree 100% with your last post.
Posted 01:39 AM, 12/02/2008
To Larry Marek,
Your comments about Joe Lieberman and Israel are a refreshing change from the propaganda the media prints and our relationship with Israel. The Jewish people and Israel have the right to exist, but to claim that any criticism of the actions of the government is anti-semitic is a blatant attempt to limit criticism of their actions by linking the person to Hitler's atrocities.
Joe Lieberman should admit that he along with Hillary, Nancy Pelosi, and Kyl have strong ties to AIPAC and by extension, the Likud party.
