And in other breaking news...

FOP Akron Lodge 7 official position SUPPORTS the RECALL of Mayor Plusquellic 168 to 166

As pointed out on the radio, it is a sweet irony that the police officers and spouses that Mayor Don FORCED to stay in the city are going to be the ones who help remove him from office at the ballot box.

Donnie Boy...

You should have let them go! What goes around, comes around!

Finally, constitutional rights for city employees . Glad the city wasted a bunch of your tax dollars to fight a prolonged losing battle. Anybody know the final cost of this court battle?

What a happy day for those of us forced to live in the city!

Well Uncle Don will probably remain in office even though he needs to go.

One appeal left, though the odds of hearing are small.

Wow, so much jubilation to leave the city. Thanks for caring only enough to collect a paycheck.

If you didn't want to live in the City should have gotten another job. All they were doing was trying to keep house values up and good paying jobs living in the City. Huge loss for peoples home values in the City of Akron, might as well put your house up for sale and take the first offer! Way to go overtaxed voter thanks for lowering my house value! You don't speak for everyone Don will fight through this.

Will the Don now give his real address?

While I don't believe in forcing someone to live within the city or municipality one serves, I do appreciate those that choose to stay. It's supporting the community you serve in, shows the residents you protect that you care about them and the community.

I live in a rural area where many of the fire personnel respond from home from time to time. Response time is critical and if personnel responding from home live however many miles outside the area served, that could have a huge effect on the outcome of the situation.

It's important to me to know that the men and women that have been hired to protect and serve my community care about it as much as I do. To me that means living within the community served and supporting in every way.

@Cop Wife In Akron...

Please make sure that you and other like-minded folks don't forget about those of us who can't leave Akron.

Please make sure everyone of you still go to the ballot box to vote Plusquellic out of office!

Is there anything to prevent Akron from bumping up the residency bonus for those taking the test? Sure, current employees can run for the hills, but you might be able to essentially ensure that new hires are residents. Just a thought.

=============
@ Tim who posted:

All they were doing was trying to keep house values up and good paying jobs living in the City.
=============

Then why didn't "The Don" put the same kind of residency restrictions on companies like Goodyear as part of any agreement to give them millions in Akron taxpayer dollars for improvements, abatements, etc.?

Well, there we have it. Congratulations to the city workers who now can live where they wish to.

Someone noted a question about how much it cost to fight this. It cost a lot more than the recall election.

The citizens of Akron really don't have any worries about a mass exodus of city workers from the city.

The upside to this is, that for future city jobs, the level of applicants will increase, as well as the quality of the applicants.

No government should dictate where public servants live...Free At Last!

TOJ,

A) The residency bonus is already outrageous.

B) Caring only enogh to collect a paycheck!? This is preconcieved idea you probably got from the mayor who ran a very negative campaign many years ago when this came up for a vote. It's unconstitutionable, just take some time to think about it from that perspective.

Will there be a mass exodus.. I think not... Sure some will leave but most will stay.

What this does is mainly is greatly expand the pool of potential new employees. That residency rule was a real deterrent to good candidates applying for positions.

Forcing someone from a suburb to sell a home in order to work for the City of Akron was ludicrous.

This is good. You can't force people to live in a slum city.

Finally, no more big bad wolf!

Meow,

The method was "unconstitutionable." You can likely achieve the same results through different means. If you think the bonus is outrageous now, I hope it increases a lot more. It's what the citizens of Akron want, so who why shouldn't we have it? Much like the recall, the minority want to undo the ballot box will of the majority. That's democracy?

"Forcing someone from a suburb to sell a home in order to work for the City of Akron was ludicrous."

One word: voluntary

Vast majority will stay, at least in this economy. It's just a matter of what is right. I've seen may good people quit rather than move into Akron, and who knows how many don't take the job in the first place.

If Akron is not good enough to live in, it shouldn't be good enough to work in, and that should apply to teachers as well.

This is just a general question - because i am sure it happens - what are the "rules" about someone owning property in Akron - so they can say they "live" in Akron but also own a house in another city/township? Just curious. I know parents who have had kids "live" with relatives so they could still go to certain school districts.

It is the CITY's responsibility to create a safe, family friendly community that people will WANT to live in. The city leaders have failed to do that. Give us a City that we want to live in and schools that aren't filled with gang members and then we'll feel bad about leaving.

Well it seems that Emperor Minusquellic has finally been told by someone that his word is not law, after all. The residential "prisoners" that he has illegally detained can at last rejoice. And Minusquellic has made them spend millions to legally fight for rights that every other citizen always enjoyed. Are there any other questions as to why he is facing a recall election?

For a number of years I lived in the neighborhood of the school where I worked. I had some uncomfortable situations living in the same place with the people I served. My issues and confrontations would be over a grade or some classroom discipline issue. Most people were great but the uncomfortable times were quite disconcerting for my and my family. I cannot imagine how many times this kind of thing might be magnified for a police officer who is dealing with criminal behavior. I finally moved away from where I worked and was glad I did so. This move did not lessen my commttment to my students, but allowed me to truly relax in my home, neighborhood, in the park, at the grocery store.

This, the FOP vote...

Not a good day for Team Sponge.

And after yesterday's public character assassination of Miss Tia by drone Dyer.

Poetic justice.

Akron is a good enough city to collect taxes to pay for salaries, but not good enough to live in? Why not support the community that supports you! If you don’t like Akron then resign. I’m sure there are other qualified individuals to fill the positions.

When people look into moving into a neighborhood, they mainly look at two things - safety of the neighborhood and quality of the school district. Enough said.

Thank you, daniel. Now, who is responsible for creating a "family friendly community" like you described?

I totally agree with your statements.

Answer to this question: It starts with our own "City Hall Zero".

bruce1365,
Actually the city has a very difficult time finding enough qualified people to take the test to become police officers. Don't you want the best possible police officer? Or do you just want the officers, firefighters, etc. to live down the street? BTW the employees will pay taxes regardless of where they reside. It' isn't about disliking Akron people. For Akron cops in particular it's about not running into someone at a store that you arrested and who threatened to kill you if they ever saw you out of uniform. It's about not having to spend $7,000 a year to send your kids to school so they won't be identified as the son/daughter of the cop who sent their dad/uncle/cousin/mother/aunt/etc to prison.
That this is so hard to explain helps to explain how Plusquelic still has so many supporters.

Meow,

Right, someone living in Ellet can hide in Mogadore or Springfield. It makes perfect sense now, especially when that same cop works the west side, North Hill, etc to begin with. Good point.

I AGREE WITH DANIEL. I CAN'T BLAME ANYONE FOR NOT WANTING TO LIVE IN AKRON ANYMORE. THE PLACE HAS GONE TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET. NOTHIN BUT A TOWN THAT APPEARS TO BECOMING A GANG INFESTED ,LOW INCOME, FREELOADING CITY . I LEFT THE AREA 7 YRS AGO AND I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW TERRIBLE OF A TOWN IT HAS BECOME IN THE PAST 7 YRS. I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS DECISION OR AKRONS COPS WILL BE NOTHING BUT GANG MEMBERS AND HOODRATS.

@TOJ the word is FORCED.. if you wanted to work for Akron you HAD TO LIVE IN AKRON..

For that reason many good candidates with homes outside of Akron voluntarily did NOT sign up to take a test to work in Akron. The City has lost many a good employee due to that rule.

Let me ask you this.. do you believe APS employees should be forced to live in Akron? I mean the same logic would apply.. yes?

Not a good day for the megalomaniac. Hey Original Jason, did he go under last night when he tried to walk across his swimming pool? Did you or his globe-trotting at taxpayer-expense girlfriend pull him out?

Gee, I guess he's not God after all....he'll be SOOOO disappointed.

VOTE FOR THE RECALL JUNE 23!!!!

Meow--Amen! Could not agree more. People take for granted the work that the cops do for the city and the threats that they have to encounter on a day to day basis with the people they arrest placed on themselves and their families. How awkward is it to run into someone you arrested at the grocery store with your children outside of work. Not to mention the fact that who would willingly want to send their child to the akron public schools for an education. these are rights that are entitled to all citizens, the cops just get a bad rep because god forbid they do their work and lock up the bad guys but get harrassed in the community they live in for doing so.

hey DON, Stick this up your royal rump. The people have spoken!!!!
I support the RECALL. It's about time to get this jerk off out of town!! And by the way DON, Keep your stinking nose out of other cities, and towns affairs.
You are a Hitler, scum bag!!!

The issue with residency is this: would u like to send your children to school with the children of the same people you put in jail? officers get thier lives and the lives of their family threatened everyday. it is totally a safety issue to their children. it does happen. BTW no one can more anyways thanks to the property values.

FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST! THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, WE ARE FREE AT LAST!

Overtaxed-pack up a truck like the beverly hillbillies and leave town any time you like-plenty of mobile home parks for you too

farwest side

Taking a job with the City of Akron is voluntary. No amount of spinning can change that. If I don't like a job requirement of a prospective employer, I don't accept the job or I learn to deal with it. That doesn't seem that hard to me.

Re: schools, it's different because Akron, correct me if I'm wrong, funds less than half of the revenues of the APS. On the other hand, the APD is funded almost entirely with City funds. When you're writing the checks, you can demand more control. The same concept applies to Overtaxed Voter's Goodyear analogy.

A Retired Cop Who Knows (Larry),

Compelling points.

@TOJ So you would be OK, if your employer, whoever it is, would tell you where you MUST live, or ELSE!!!???

Why should we akron tax payers pay the city wokers salery and they in turn pay their taxes to another city. What since dose that make.

@ Jason

A couple days ago I posted and told you time will tell. Well, I guess that time has come. I will leave the only question is when. As a father, and husband I can now look for a place that I feel is safe for my family. I am soon not going to have to worry about my children in school. Nor will I have to worry about my wife if she goes down the street to the grocery store. I can move and not have to worry about someone seeing me cut my front yard. THANK YOU TO THE OHIO COURT JUSTICES!!! Thank you for seeing our point.

@Nita...

If you work IN Akron, you PAY Akron income tax no matter whether you live in Akron or not.

@Nita City of Akron workers pay local taxes to the CITY OF AKRON .. whether they live in Akron or not.

One point the pro-residency crowd misses: at 22-25 years old , required residency seems like no big deal. 10 years later when it affects your whole family, its a different story. What if your wife gets a sweet job offer in Columbus, but you can't move closer because of residency? Its unfair, voluntary yes, but extremely unfair. There will be no mass exodus, so don't let that bit of propaganda scare you.

This is a great day for the constitutional rights of all citizens!

As the wife of a firefighter, I can say that we finally feel free now to make the same choices that every other (non-city employee) citizen of Akron has always been able make: where to live, do our business, and send our children to school.

Private citizens would NEVER tolerate it if their companies tried to FORCE them to live within the same city as their headquarters. Ford doesn't force its people to drive its cars - it gives them a great deal to entice them to do so! Take a clue Akron!

It is disgusting that the city wasted so much money on this case that could have been spent revitalizing Akron, to make it a place people WANT to live in, not somewhere that you must force the best of the best to stay.

Great job, Ohio Supreme Court.

farwest side,

Employer connotes an EXISTING relationship. For any City employee hired after 1978 (when the requirement was VOTED in, only to be UPHELD again in 1995), they faced a VOLUNTARY choice of accepting the terms of an employment agreement. In your example, the "or else" is a perfectly legitimate outcome because someone turning down the requirement was never employed at that point. You are ignoring the fact that this policy was known coming in. I choose to give adults more respect than you in that I trust people to make decisions in their own interest.

All American Ghetto,

I agree, you did call this.

Mayor Don supports the residency requirement - the sheeple also support it (twice - 1978 and 1995) so it seems to me like the mayor is speaking for his constituents (at least on this issue).

A little incentive to stay in the city is a great idea...even a token pay increase for living in the city...they get it all back anyways with the yearly sewer increases etc.

@TOJ Lets step beyond the City of Akron case, which has been overturned.

A asked .. would you be OK for ANY employer to demand to tell you where to live as a condition of employment? After all, they are signing your paycheck..

People should be able to live wherever they want. . ." I can't understand it. So simple to me. People everywhere just gotta be free ". . with apologies to The Young Rascals ( or Rascals ). .

farwest side,

Right, they are signing the paycheck and I wouldn't have any problem with that. We live in America and in America, you can work wherever you'd like. The basic hierarchy of any relationship is that the person with an "er" suffix has more pull than those with "ee."

I also don't have a problem with the growing number of companies that are targeting lifestyle choices (i.e. smoking). It's a voluntary job. If you don't like it, go somewhere else. If enough people "go somewhere else," then the employers will stop doing it. I can't believe I'm dictating market principles to the crowd that would normally espouse them.

@TOJ Then you must find unions an anathema given they are the ones with the "ee" suffix.

The state made it a law 3 years ago. Only five cities in Ohio had a residency policy. Out of how many? Eighty eight counties and only five cities!

We have 13 fire stations packed with fire fighters. Police are already on duty. What if we get a disaster. Like what? Even if all the police and fire were called into God know what, there would not be enough equipment to equip them and nobody would call them in any way. Except swat. Which doesn't take 466 officers. Support your community you say? Do teachers all live in Akron? They get paid with tax money. No. They don't. So if I don't live in Akron and I choose to live 15 minutes away closer to my relatives I don't support my community? Bull! Supreme court of Ohio agreed. What a waste of money for all tax payers!

Nita - I work in Akron and live in Stow. I pay Akron taxes and not Stow. Every year I file in Stow, with proof that I pay over a thousand a year to Akron.

I believe people should be able to live wherever they want, although I do feel sorry for the people in Ellet who are going to lose the extra feeling of security they had out there when probably half the police and fire force now living there packs up and moves to Brunswick or Twinsburg.

However, I also think all the elation over this decision will be short lived, once gas prices rocket back up to the $4 range, or higher, staying there for a long time, and then folks suddenly begin to realize that it might actually be a good thing to live close to where you work.

Gee, you think?

woohhooooooo finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
where are the boxes?

Hey, I'm unemployed and I like living in Akron. Donny boy, you better offer me a job before me and my wife finish college and leave the state! Love, your neighbor on West Exchange.

Good. Imposing residency requirements is clearly unconstitutional. You can't justify such a law with, "all we want to do is..." The end does not justify the means.

bilbo,

The residency law itself is not unconstitutional. Rather, the law banning residency laws is constitutional. Basically, the courts upheld the will of elected officials over the wills of various local electorates.

http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/PIO/summaries/2009/0610/080128_080418.asp

@Retired Cop

Were you at the club Saturday? Git-R-Done

Nita - Lets pretend your point is true (and it's not). If an employee of a city, county, state, etc gets paid for doing his job, it's his money and he can do whatever he wants with it. His pay is no longer tax payer money. What he does or pays with his pay check is none of the tax payer's business.

Wow Jason, standing up for States rights and local control?

blk,

Why does that surprise you? Just b/c I don't support the recall, I'm some Federalist Lib?

Plusquellic should have resigned while he had the chance. For more information on why Mayor Plusquellic should be recalled:

www.recallmayordon.com

www.changeakronnow.com

www.akronwatch.org


Vote FOR the RECALL

hehe sorry

How long before the Don changeshis mind on the hiring of police officers that was announced yesterday.

FREE TIMMY SEMELSBERGER!!

lmfao @ street medic....

Its funny, I'm sure that most of the people that respond to topics on here live outside the city limits of akron. Do you realize that the police and fire in your community probably dont live there? Yet, I'm sure if you have had any experience with them, they didnt treat you any different because they arent your neighbor. Most cops and firemen that work full time for akron work part time for another community, myself included. Do I treat the residents of the township that I work for any different because I do not live there? No, I am proud to be employed there, just as I am here in the city of akron. Will I move out of the city? Probably, but not right now. I have an established residence here, I like my neighborhood and my neighbors and it is close to most of the places that I go. Will I move in a few years? Yes probably, but it will be to be closer to my family and to a town where I grew up.

Earth to Mayor, Earth to Mayor..YOUR CITY IS NOT SAFE! YOUR CITY IS NOT SAFE! Duh... no wonder with there high paying jobs, in many cases undeserved high paying jobs they want to live in one of the safer suburbs. Fire the Fat and IQ-less employees you have working for the city and reward them to people who are educated and will actually make a difference...nah forget that, it makes too much sense!

how do you like that mayor...... still want to fire them?

Nobody was forced to live in the city. Every employee willingly signed a committment to live in Akron.

Well I'm not surprised. Now, however, is a great time to move toward a "Metro" concept involving combining all saftey forces, EMS, service forces and the like. No need for duplicate agencies and the economy of scale resulting would lead to significant tax savings and increased efficency.

The Truth is Out There--

I am not employed by the city. I never signed anything except a marriage certificate. If I want to live with my husband I had to live in the city.

I guess it's all my fault for marrying him, huh? What was I thinking?

Okay...how much is this going to cost the city? I know that one firefighter who lived in Tallmadge is probally going to sue over this ruling. How many others are there? The City of Akron decision makers kinda screwed up.

I can't see a mass exit out of the city maybe a few. Personally, if I were a cop or firefighter, I'd stay. Cheaper housing prices, cheaper property taxes and a shorter commute to work. The increase in taxes and commuting expenses isn't worth move, especially right now in this ecomony

Whammy Number Two - The OSC rules against the great Mayor Donny Boy !!! Free at last, free at last, free at last to live where you want to live in the great state of Ohio.

All I can say is
Woooohooooo!!
NorthHill63~> I can see a MASS exiting the City!

Bright side, less negative people, more room for the influx of people coming after all the new major bussinesses settle down and all the new buildings are finish and that Lebron James movie drops, maybe even the people who just plain old complains will follow the herd. Grump, you belong a a Tallmadge news site, oh i forgot, Tallmadge dosent have one.

This is gonna be a great thing and please dont come back when you see Akron on tv doing great(er)

Hey APD. If Bully Plusquellic retaliates, be sure to contact Warner Mendenhall. Your information will be handled confidentially.

Email: warnermendenhall@gmail.com
Office: 330.474.3939
Location: 190 North Union Street, Suite 201
Akron, OH

Thank you for supporting the recall. You deserve better than trash mouth, back stabbing Plusquellic as a "leader".

No one can go anywhere as long as Odrama and the democrats continue to dismantle the U.S. on a dailey basis. Who wants to buy a house in Akron and not many people can take on two mortgages.

@ Copwife. You knew what you were getting into when you married him. Don't make it sound like you were not a willing parter.

No employer should have the power to tell a free American where they can live. It's none of their business as long as you can make it to work on time.

the ignorant posts amaze me. why is it that only police are attacked for earning city wages and wanting to live elsewhere? where does it say we have to give our money back in taxes if you pay our salary? are you all crazy? take a poll and see how many people who work in akron actually live in akron. why don't you take it up with them? how about u of a professors or akron school teachers? anyone attacking them. no, because the police are a fun target. while enjoy your city as the mass exodous takes place. the for sale signs are already going up. adious

Not in the new America Hank....

Tomorrow's ABJ Headline;

"500 Houses in Ellet go on the market in the same day."

@ The Truth is Out There

I have one request. Please place all the signed committment forms in the smaller blue trash bins. They will be no longer needed. As I want to say I did my part to keep Akron Green!

This story portrays a valid and important difference of opinions, of which the mayor's opinion came out on the losing side, so to speak. It demonstrates malfeasance on the mayor's part not one iota.

You can't vote the Mayor OUT if you don't live in Akron!

NOW I CAN USE MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND LIVE WHERE I CHOOSE TO LIVE FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST! THANK GOT ALMIGHTY! WE ARE FREE AT LAST!

@LOOK4BKRHOSS, nope, yo can't. You're gonna have to follow someone else's rules and regs no matter where you wanna squat.

NorthHill63,
Are you kidding? Property taxes in Akron are some of the highest around. I have friends that live in much safer communities and have far more land and the approximately the same size and age of homes and they pay only slightly more than half of what I pay in property tax.

immaculate-germ - Tallmadge has a news site [Tallmadge Express] plus plenty of great houses available just over the border 10 minutes from downtown Akron for the city of Akron emplyees to buy at reasonable cost in safe neighborhoods with an excellent rated school system. Come to Tallmadge Akron city employees and enjoy city living in the suburbs.

@ Jason,

Since you (presumedly) live in Ohio, you've given your tacit approval to abide by the decisions of the Ohio Supreme court - including this one. So you can either move to another state or have a big, frosty mug of STFU.

All you people want to complain and say the city workers are too good to live in the city...

The city workers didn't introduce and pass the bill into law. YOUR elected state representatives did and I believe it was Timothy Grendell from the 18th district who spearheaded the ligislation. So quit trying to pin this one on the workers. We're merely following what the law allows us.

Ever heard of Federalism? It's that whole federal law supercedes state law supercedes local law? Look back in your 6th grade social studies books.

Hey Don, try to keep the employees here...provide some sort of incentive to make them want to stay!

Maybe the city ought to give 50% in points to Akron residents for hiring and promotion. That is a pretty good incentive. Wonder if the FOP would sue over that. Everyone forgets the people of Akron voted for the residant rule Plusquellic just defended his citizens. You Recall people are so bent with dislike you can't see the truth.

Jim B. You already get bonus points on civil service tests for being a resident and how long you've been one. Nothing illegal about doing it either. The recall idiots just want to blame Don for everything but then he's not to blame when good things happen either.

@TOJ

Should Goodyear and Firestone have the right to force their employees to live in Goodyear Hieghts and Firestone Park. NO. The Ohio Supreme Court said the cities can no longer do that as well.

The way the Akron rule was, an Akron cop and Cleveland cop could marry and have a family but not live together.

Make Akron or Cleveland more desirable to live and feel safe, and people that work for and deal with the public will not want to leave.

If you were to put section 8, free entitlements, and social services, in places like Tallmadge, Stow, Berea, etc. Some may find those places less desirable and choose to move.

Those smaller cities do not have police cruisers, paddy wagons, metro buses and sirens cruising all there streets all hours of the day. Nor do they have gangs, droopy pants and long t-shirts walking there neighbor hoods all day and night. If some gang looking people walked a quiet road in Tallmadge at 3am. There police would stop and question those individuals, without worry of ridicule from a councilman and there mayor.

Just an opinion

I don't think it's fair to force city employees to live in the city. I work in Barberton, but don't live there. Why should it be different for city employees? I do, however, like knowing that police and firemen etc are the kinds of people living in my neighborhood. It would be nice if Akron was a place these people wanted to live in by their own free will.

Joe,

And tell me where I said I wouldn't? More important, how is this relevant to me, individually, as a citizen? Next time you want to go Neanderthal with your trash talk, at least wrap a valid point around it.

Brian,

Is that a real comment? Wow.

Yes, they signed a contract. That contract was found to be unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court.Yes, police, fireman and city workes usually make good neighbors. They take care of their property, pay taxes and just want to raise a good family. They shouldn't be forced to live around people who don't take care of their property, don't pay taxes and don't raise good families. They shouldn't be forced to send their children to public schools with bad influences. They shouldn't be forced to live around criminals thay arrest.

I went to an Akron store a couple of months ago and witnessed a store clerk call to a man holding his baby and with his wife, "can you kick this man out officer, he is not allowed in the store". The criminal pushed pass the off duty officer and ran out the door. Officers have been killed in front of there families many times throughout history in the US. Just take a look at www.odmp.org and look at all the stories.

@Ignorance Kills, I think you had the best logic.

This is something we all knew would come one day. I still laugh at those who think Akron teachers should live in Akron. Teachers are STATE employees, suburbia is still in Ohio!!! It is sad no one wants to live in Akron anymore, it just has come to that and now, sadly, it will only get worse!

NoMoreExcuses,

Let's clarify, the "contract" was not unconstitutional. A new (2006) state law preempted residency requirement laws of Ohio cities. There's a big difference.

I wouldn't call Tallmadge an excellent rated schools. There are better around

thank you old man grump for the invite to tallmadge. still deciding, but the person who wrote that the officers take care of property, always are on the lookout to make sure the neighborhood is protected, and are good neighbors was right on the money. it stinks that no one appreciates that, but they will when we are gone.

What a great ruling! No one should be forced to live in a crime ridden drug infested ghetto to keep a job, I lived in crackron for 40 years and the happiest time of living there was moving from there, I avoid Akron as much as possible, when I do have to go there all I can think is how glad I am not to live there and that my kids do not have to go to the schools which are so bad that they must have police on site, and hoards of gang types hanging outside before and after school, what a terrible place to have to send children, congrats to all who can now get out of the ghetto.

With the economy the way it is, I don't think anyone could move even if they wanted to!!

First of all, the people taking the offers of employment signed something that said they would live in the city, and understand that is a condition of employment. So what's the big deal, you agreed to something then 5 years later you don't want to do it?

Cops wife, yes, you married your husband, he is a cop and has or took a job with APD that required he lives in Akron. This is no different than people in the military that change from one base to another. So should they be allowed to live wherever they want?

Whether or not you agree with a residency requirement is not the real point. Those involved in it knew that going in, and took the jobs. But then they want to change the rules.

As far as the Mayor, he agrees with the voters, they wanted residency requirement (passed twice) and so did he. Probably the same reason he has been reelected so many times, he represents the people. (That's also the reason the recall will fail miserably.)

HORRAY! for APD/AFD! Now the choice is yours! Too many citizens have come to assume/expect you to be "on duty" 24 hours a day. When you're not in your district, you should be on duty in your neighborhood. That is a self-serving, and actually selfish logic...whether intentional or not. It's up to ALL citizens to be good neighbors. It's up to the neighborhood to establish the security of knowing that your neighbors are kepping an eye out for each other, reguardless of their occupations.

And, in response to AkronCitizen007: Even you have a right to your opinion about the recall. But, "we" are not idiots. We are concerned citizens of Akron. Concerned enough to take the time to examine the documented 'evidence' posted at ChangeAkronNow.com and AkronWatch.com. We have made intelligent decisions, based on fact, not on blind support for a person that has become 'drunk with power'. It's acceptable for SMALL CHILDREN to lash out with 'names' for people that disagree with them, because they're young and are expected to be ignorant of such things.

ToneDeath Chris: While all people should be good citizens, the law does not stipulate that they have to be, however court cases have ruled that way for the police.

Great blog! I submit my comments about being good neighbors and giving congrats to APD/AFD. I leave to take my dog out, come back & my post is gone! Must be because I mentioned two documentation laden websites, in defense of the recall! I wonder if this one will even make it to the board, or if I've been red-flagged.

An interestin' comment was made to me jes' a short while ago from one who's inside the workin's of the city.

It was said, that the city hall hero, nor and department head, at his direction, have issued a memo regardin' the Court rulin'.

It was suggested that one isn't forthcomin'.

It was said, that the city hall hero intends to fire any city worker, covered under the residency, should they move out of the city. He intends to use a breach of contract, as his excuse to fire these employees.

I wonder iff'n the city hall hero would care to comment on this?

Chris, your post is there.....You're not a conspiracy theorist are you? ;)

It's amusing-all the refrences to "prisoners" and "forced to live in the city" YOU CHOSE THE JOB! If you didn't like the job requirements, then don't take the job! You can fry french fries anyhwere you want!!

@ S.M.C. and other You choose the Job posters

Really, this doesn't have to be the hill you die on. By your logic anyone who accepts a job, is locked into the provision set forth at the time of hire. It is probably pretty comforting to the labor movement as a whole, that you feel 8 hour work days and safety standards are silly because they weren't "in the contract".

Your right we chose the job and to keep it, we followed the rule and lived in the city. The rule changed, end of story. Sorry you don't like it but lets not pretend this is any thing more than sour grapes.

I think it is logical to assume some of those who took the jobs always hoped this unfair contract could someday be overturned, and now it has, why does that seem to bother so many, I think some may be worried that if the cop on their street moves they will be less safe and they probably will be, but with the state of things in Akron who would want to raise a family there? It is not safe or a good environment for children that must attend the public schools.

@ Betama

This sounds like something the mayor would try and do. It's not like he can call the Ohio Justices, and talk down to them. Because I am sure they don't care what mayor don thinks!

If this does happen the outcome will be the persons getting fired, will turn around and file a suit against the city. And when they win (AND THEY WILL WIN)they may not need their job back, because of the money they will win!

This will mean another case against the city. More reckless behavior by the mayor.

The mayor will have to expaned the law department to keep up with all the new cases against them. The fact is he doesn't like to be told no, and he was given a nice slice of Humble Pie. So Mayor please eat it, and enjoy it!

@ S.M.C

Actually I would rather get a job standing next to you!

What kinda bread?
DO you want cheese on that?
Would you like it toasted?

Well you know the rest!

Not a good day for Dictator Don! I'd hate to have to work around the Dictator tomorrow. He'll be having a tantrum like never before. Let's see if he is still for hiring more cops now that they don't have to live in his Kingdom and voted to support his recall.

The Original Jason....The law was changed because it was unconstitutional to make city workers live in the city they work. Therefore the contract is now unconstitutional.

Amused: First of all, being a very successful KJ/DJ, I am not tone-deaf. Secondly, my post was off board for over two hours. Thirdly, according to your post, court cases have ruled that police have to be good citizens? Sorry, the City charter stated that police had to be residents, which has been overturned. While off duty, police officers have as much right to be a shallow, condescending jerk, as you exercise.

P.S. Amused: Had I placed a wink ;) after my last post, would it have justified my calling you a shallow, condescending jerk? I think not. I AM sorry that I lowered myself to that level. May God bless you, and keep you in his embrace.

The residency law was not ruled unconstitutional. The state legislature passed a law stating city governments could not have restrictions in their laws or charters that restricted the domicile of a city employee. They didn't say a union and a city could not by contract agree to have restrictions. If the contracts contain residency requirements the contract prevails. stay tuned it may get very interesting come contract time. If the FOP decides it doesn't want restrictions on where they live the city may get some givebacks IE health care cost and vacation time. This may be the economic stimulus Akron needs

iiiiiii

oh well, I was going to use my grandmother's address in Akron to keep my job, guess I can remain living in Canton now. That's good news! I don't care much for either city anyways, but a job is a job.

@All American Ghetto - Well, until this is confirmed, we'll jes' have to wait and see iff'n the information is true or not.

I jes' found it interestin' and thought I should share it.

{{{ If you didn't like the job requirements, then don't take the job!}}}

Would that be like takin' a job and then never expectin' a raise?? It's not like all job promise raises. Even iff'n they do, they don't promise them forever.

I am sure there will be bad blood over this.

No more than usual, MaryAnn. The mayor already hates the police and fire departments. I'm sure they're used to it.

So just add the other departments to his already-long list of people he hates and can't get along with (the public...other mayors...neighboring communities...bartenders...parking lot attendants) and it's really no big deal. Just business as usual for Akron's leader.