This is why North East Ohio is suffering. People think that spendind $4 Million on a dead pro softball team or trying to lease city owned property for a foolish plan that almost no one would buy into is not a recall worthy action.
But, bulldozing a block of buildings would be. Sure they are vacant and taking up space but they are old. We need to save them. Never mind the money that could come from redevelopment.
In my opinion there isn't anything else in the city I'd rather spend $178K on than getting rid of a useless mayor.

You should be recalled when you become so rude and arrogant that you have forgotten that you are an elected official. I don't care if you are selected to go meet Nancy Pelosi, get back to Akron and go to work. Who was paying for the trip in the first place?

Recalling Mayor Donny Boy would be a good thing for Akron. He has held the job too long and has too many ghosts of failure in his personal closet. Akron needs new leadership in the mayor's office.

useless, curt. did you even read the article?

$175,000 is cheap to get rid of a crooked mayor. He has already cost us many millions of dollars in his foolish schemes.

My. Dyer, you have no idea what lurks in the closets of this terrible excuse for a mayor. OMG stated he has been in office too long. You, sir, are entirely correct. He may have done the city some good in his early years, but his childish attitudes towards other city employees are a detriment to the city and an insult to the people of Akron.

A moyor does not handle a retirement of a 40 year police officer the way he has. Chief Matulavich should have been celebrated rather than "kicked to the curb". Just because the Chief and the Mayor don;t see eye-to-eye on all matters is not a reason to get rid of him. Maybe it is a good thing. Sort of like checks and balances.

Major Gilbride, I hope you watch your back. You may be next. Good luck, sir, in trying to deal with a childish mayor. You will need it.

Nadine, grow up again. One doesn't recall a mayor for the reasons you list. In fact this "recall effort" should not be given this much credit. It is absurd to even refer to it in a serious vein. The fact that it is spearheaded by one of Akron's numerous nutballs should be reason enough.

If you dont like him, do your part as a citizen to vote against him in the elections. The fact is he is an ELECTED official. Don't like it? Organize a group to campaign against him. You cry-baby's probably didnt even vote.

Whaa!

I don't like how the election turned out.

Whaa!

I want a do-over.

Whaa!

I don't want to wait until next time.

Whaa!

--Funny how Warner Mendenhall sounds suspiciously like a whining two-year old that didn't get his way and is now throwing a tantrum.

And being selected to meet with Nancy Pelosi is supposed to be a good thing?

Pelosi is nothing more than a 60's hippie in sheep's clothing. From California, no less. I have even less respect for her than I do for Bush. Go read up on her so-called leadership while a California state official. She's disgusting!

LOL, Pelosi isn't even a hippie, she's in the back pocket of Telcoms and she's proven to be W's personal lap dog (what's the correct term for a female dog?), she's so counterproductive that the left wing hates her and now Donny is having tea and crumpets with her?!?!?! Take a look at Obama's cabinet picks, if the DNC isn't even left wing anymore, what's the new political platform, lazy corruption that can't even bother with an ideology?

Any DNC contender who isn't Donny could come in and pull the rug from under him... Maybe Marco should run...it would be amusing if nothing else.

Comparing Dirty Don to Jesus Christ is about as low as one can go. Although, yes, Don believes he's God. I believe the real God will have something to say about that one day to him.

The citizens and taxpayers of Akron are exercising a charter & Constitutional right. The elections board and detractors should accept that fact, quit whining, and move on. Whining and BJ backpocket propaganda should not stop a process of democracy, decency, and accountability.

Vic nailed it. A small price to pay compared to what the sum total of apparent corruption has cost the residents, taxpayers, and small businesses of this city over 20 years.

PS: If Don loved the people of Akron as would Jesus Christ, the the looters on the streets and in public office would have been driven out long ago.

IT WOULD BE AWSOME TO SEE THE FBI COME TO AKRON AND DO WHAT THEY DID IN CLEVELAND! TO MANY OF THE POLITICIANS IN THIS COUNTY FEEL THEY ARE UN TOUCHABLE. IT HAS COME TO THE POINT THAT IF THEY HAVE BEEN IN MORE THEN THREE TERMS WE SHOULD OUST THEM ALL. GO FOR IT RECALL HIM AND SHOW THEM THEY ARE NOT UNTOUCHABLE POWER CORRUPTS AND ABSOLUTE POWER ABSOLUTLY CORUPTS

Uh oh, looks as iff'n my ol' buddy Dyer got a xmas bonus for writin' a feel good article about the city hall hero. Stick to y'alls award winnin' traffic reports Dyer. It's what y'all are good at.

I see a few of the cheerleaders are out today as well.

Whether or not one agrees with the recall effort or not, one thing is for sure. The city hall hero is long over due to be replaced. He's drug this city into debt so deep, that we may never see black in the books ever again.

I thought it was a nice touch, on his part, to go beggin' to the feds for the money he needs to pay for the Goodyear and Firestone projects. He may even get enough to build that arena downtown that he wants.

ATTENTION DYER

Yank Plusquellic out of office for bulldozing the Howe House. That project is a monument to waste and stupidity.

kraus

Well unfortunately Mr dyer doesn;t grasp the concept that only the faithful Democrat really likes Plusquellic. Factor in the Republicans in akron and Plusquellic easily loses. They never get the chance to vote in the General Election for Mayor because the Akron is so full of the lower class non educated who will vote in anyone with a (D) after their name regardless of who's qualified. Hopefully Mendenhall continues with his efforts and they oust that arrogant SOB and send a message that Akron is smarter then they appear to be.

I don't care if Plusquellic spends every waking second with Pelosi. The fact is that ol' Don barely squeaked through the last election, even though he won, which proves his approval is in a state of decline. Whether this will be enough to topple him remains to be seen, but smart money says he'll pull through.

Recall the mayor because our streets suck! They are full of potholes and I haven't seen a plow yet this year!

Recall the mayor because the safety forces are secondary to the cash and property he hands out to his rich business buddies.

Recall the mayor because he is an arogant SOB and he needs to go.

JUST RECALL THE MAYOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if Don's press agenda has recently included phoning Mike Douglas to make sure that he gets favorable coverage of his requests for federal dollars, and his exploits in DC that require $3000 lunches?

Might cause some in Akron to decline to sign a petition, you know?

Same with Hacksaw Dyer, column.

Course, he's always been a hack. Never did apologize for slandering that city employee a year or so ago.

woof

Don Plusquellic is a joke... any mayor who does not support his police department is no good. We the citizens of Akron are lucky to have a good police department...NOT perfect but no where has that. This man thinks he can do or say whatever he wants to whoever he wants.

Why do you think the streets where so bad this weekend?? Payback for his sewer system lease defeat possibly??

Thanks you, debbi! You are spot on!

Nadine - you are challenged a bit aren't you? Part of a Mayor's job is to lobby for the best interest of the city and region; sometimes that means traveling a bit at the taxpayers expense. It is no different than when a corporate official travels for work. Now Nadine - go back to your cosmetology class. Today you are learning the difference between shampoo and conditioner.

wow

We teach out children to say I am sorry when they have done something wrong. We hide our little scary faces when leadership is wrong. To belittle anyone is not in the spirit of human kindness and those who do, ultimatley fall off the disgraceful ladder is the end. It's not the difficult to apologize.

I am not getting irratated with my responses not being posted. They are not deragatory, no foul languae, no name calling, what's up. Its proably a power play. Need you to know, my mind is greater then pettiness, don't worry the soulmates will eventually take themselves out of the game.

How about recalling him for paying off a local gramatically challenged opinion writer?

did you get the jist of it? Next time I will spell check.

Marko sommerville didn't resign when he was charged for improperly carrying a gun. He should also be recalled.

Careful there, Johnathon. Those in glass houses... well, you know the rest. You might want to use your spell check, too. Grammatically is spelled wrong in your post. As I tell my kids, preview is your friend.

"I think that everyone I don't like should be recalled. Let's impeach Obama too because he is just a big poopy head and his wife wears ugly clothes"

This is in essence the philosophy of all the juvenile dullards on this site who want the mayor recalled.

Well, if our investigations were as fruitful as this one:

Illinois Governor Blagojevich and top aide arrested on corruption allegations

we wouldn't have to bother with floating recall around. The best we can do is clown him about people covering he and Russ' bar bills and dinners.

Terry can you speak english? Having a problem with pronouns much?

Dyer,

You're as incompetent as our mayor. Next time, do a little fact checking before you begin to rant and whine. Your figures are as worthless as your opinions.

In fact, the Deputy Elections
Director Bryan Williams told the changeakronnow.com campaign that the
recall election itself could cost of between $75,000 and $175,000.
The subsequent election for a new Mayor of Akron, if scheduled during
the 2009 municipal primary and general elections, "would not cost the
City of Akron a nickel" according to Williams.

Jake, we grammar police are out en masse today. I thought it was just my peculiar (and annoying, I'm told) habit. BTW, that big poopy head comment was funny.

@Jake

It's English in the context that you used it.

Furthermore, I am writing, not speaking.

Now, what error were you implying was made?

LOL at your clownish self.

Carol - are that easliy duped. Bryan williams is a reppublican and would love to see the Mayor recalled if only out of spite. Of course he would say it would cost nothing; he is lying.

It should be his and not he. Beyond that, your post makes little intelligible sense. If you can't speak it, it's no wonder you can't write it.

@Alice

It is a common convention in written English to italicize foreign words and phrases, to wit, your use of the phrase en masse.

I think Jim hits the nail on the head. Democrats are the only ones voting in the last couple elections and if you factor in Republican votes Plusquellic will lose. It won't be just Democrats voting, It will be a non-partisan election and I think the smart money is Plusquellic loses. Awesome insight Jim.

Terry, you are correct about italicizing foreign words used in English sentences. However, some rules have exceptions (like mayors getting primo parking downtown). The exception to this rule is: Do not italicize foreign words that have become part of the English language- per diem, fait accompli, and en masse, for example. You can find this in any grammar reference book or online. As I stated earlier, preview is your friend.

Jenny,
Unless the GOP suddenly heals itself from the self-inflicted wounds of the Bush-Rove years, or else the city of Akron annexes Green, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Hudson and Twinsburg tomorrow, there aren't enough Republicans left in this Democratic town to vote out a sitting Democratic Mayor.

RECALL SPONGE DON!

I concur with per diem. Your other references don't strike me as common enough to lose their italicization.

Anyway, back on topic. (Imperative, understood subject, etc.)

Common usage in English
Loanwords and borrowed phrases that have common usage in English—praetor, Gestapo, samurai, vice versa, esprit de corps—do not require italics. A rule of thumb is not to italicize words that appear unitalicized in major English-language dictionaries.

Ben,

"Pelosi is nothing more than a 60's hippie in sheep's clothing".

The correct punctuation is 60s and not 60's. When pluralizing one does not use the apostrophe unless when leaving it out of a pluralized word changes the meaning of the word (such as "I got all A's on my report card). In almost all cases, the apostrophe is reserved for the possessive form of a word. When referring to a decade, one is talking of more than one year and at the most ten years. ow if you meant to have the word be plural possessive, then the correct punctuation would be 60s'

ow = Now...damb missing digit.

Now, now, put the claws back in. I think if the worst thing you could find wrong with Alice's post was not using italics (I wouldn't even know how to do that in this format) then I think someone is nit-picking. I've seen MUCH WORSE in these forums.

Donny needs to recalled. He's not been good for Akron. As for why a recall should take place, that's for the electorate to decide. Get over it Dyer.

How about an article on the Canal Town Builder's sweet deal for Hickory Street.
Great Foresight! How many years ago did they start construction and they can't sell a model home. Who needs green space?

Just one question - if we recall Don - who will sit in his seat until we re-elect someone????? SOMERVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! No thanks

Matulavich for mayor.

Hoodies Beware!

The replacement for the Mayor is the Law Director. I posted the law on www.changeakronnow.com. Bob, the Mayor cheated in the last election to win. He raised thousands of dollars over the campaign finance law limits. Take the cheating out of the race and Joe Finley would have likely won. You are supporting a bully and a cheater.

What the heck, I am a well educated retired 50 something hoodie and currently serve as an adjunct instructor, maybe I'll run. On the other hand maybe I'll run for third ward, I am entertaining the thought. Johnathon, I will hire you as my main press man, to make sure any real publications are grammatically correct. I know you will not find anyone in our hood that thinks I am a liar, cheat, moron, actually most people think I am a pretty decent person. What do you think? I am sure the previewers at the ABJ can not wait to pick up the phone and call Sommerville and gues what Janice is my real name, so he will know who I am. Of course, I know he would not support me if I won, he already made that clear. Oh Well.

@Warner:

The mayor cheated in the last election? Funny, but I don't recall the Ohio Elections Commission ruling that his fundraising violated any limits.

When your effort to recall the mayor fails, what are you going to do next -- try to recall Russ Pry?

@Eric. Russ Pry won his election fair and square and followed the law on campaign donations--Plusquellic cheated. The Law Director of the City of Akron enforces our local Charter campaign spending limits. Our current Law Director was appointed by the Mayor which may be why he is afraid to do anything about the Mayor's fundraising. This has nothing to do with State Law. I will post details on www.changeakronnow.com so you can see, and judge, for yourself.

ERIC WORKS FOR A LOCAL WELL FUN DED ENGIONEERING CO.THAT GETS LOT OF BUSINESS FROM THE DON.

@Warner:

If you are complaining about the Law Director's connections to the current mayor, then why would you want to make the Law Director the acting mayor in the wake of a recall? That does not make a lot of sense to me.

Also, campaign finance laws fall under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Elections Commission, so why weren't they asked for an advisory opinion?

It seems to me this entire recall effort is more about your personal agenda than it is about good government. You had the opportunity to defeat the mayor in his re-election campaign last year, but you failed. You should regroup and try again during the next mayoral election.

@Robert:

Really? Which one? I would really like to know where I work.

LOL

Now don't be a bully boys. Warner will get his wife to write a nasty letter to the editor saying how mean you are.
What a skunk. the recall effort is failing miserably and poor Werner is lookking like a jack----.

i'm not a big fan of dons but look at what this man has done for akron.27 years ago i lived on dawesave by the interbelt.i was there when the sewers blew up!!!!!!remember that one???????wow back then on Sat.downtown was a ghost town and looked like a ghetto.i worked for manpower on qauker square.now go downton WOW!!!!!don turned our city into an amazing place thanks action jackson

Look at it this way, if you've ever driven through downtown Toledo, Dayton, or Youngstown recently, you'll see that Akron isn't half bad at all.