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Members argue that they object only to selling sewers to fund plan; competing issues on ballot
By Carl Chancellor
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Friday, Oct 31, 2008
On Thursday, more than eight months after this group gathered to share concerns about the sale and or lease of the Akron sewer system, it came together again at East Akron Community House, this time to clear up what members believe is a misconception.
''We've never been against funding scholarships. We're against the privatization of our sewer system,'' said Cathy Gordon, who sat at a table with a dozen other members of Citizens to Save Our Sewers and Water (SOS). Many around the table wore SOS' signature neon green T-shirts with a water faucet on the front.
Weeks after Mayor Don Plusquellic proposed funding a scholarship plan for Akron students by leveraging the value of the city sewers, SOS was formed to stop a sale or lease of the sewers.
The group collected nearly 4,000 signatures on petitions to place Issue 9, which requires voter approval to sell or lease a city-owned utility, on the ballot.
Partly as a response to the SOS initiative, Plusquellic placed his scholarship plan — Issue 8 — on the November ballot as well.
Willie Smith, SOS president, said that Issue 9 ''protects the citizens of Akron from hasty political decision making'' and enables city voters to decide the fate of the sewers and other public utilities.
Smith said Issue 9 will give the mayor and City Council the time ''to further study'' the scholarship proposal.
''This thing needs to be well thought out,'' said Smith, who said the mayor's scholarship plan was ''rushed.'' He then offered the services of SOS in helping the city formulate a scholarship plan that doesn't require the lease of a citizen-owned asset like the sewers.
Plusquellic has not been shy in questioning the motives of SOS. On more than one occasion, he has called SOS ''a group of naysayers'' with ''no principles or morals'' that wants to make the city look bad.
Mark Williamson, speaking on behalf of the mayor, said, ''If they are against Issue 8, they are against scholarships.''
The bottom line, Smith said, is that Issue 9 ''restores democracy for Akron citizens.''
Gordon opened a booklet and read a quote from Tom Johnson, the fabled Cleveland mayor who served in the early 1900s: ''I believe in the municipal ownership of all public service monopolies . . . for if you do not own them, they will, in time, own you.''
Closing the booklet, Gordon recalled an observation often made by her husband: ''He always says — our sewers are doing exactly what they were meant to do.''
Carl Chancellor can be reached at 330-996-3725 or cchancellor@thebeaconjournal.com.
On Thursday, more than eight months after this group gathered to share concerns about the sale and or lease of the Akron sewer system, it came together again at East Akron Community House, this time to clear up what members believe is a misconception.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 07:18 AM, 10/31/2008
Akron's city hall hero needs to realize that any group of citizens in Akron, are jes' that, citizens of Akron, therefore taxpayers.
Taxpayers have a voice in their government. These folks have chosen to use their voices.
Akron's city hall hero has chosen to belittle them, instead of applaudin' their moxie, while tryin' to show justification for his cause.
akron, oh
Posted 07:58 AM, 10/31/2008
I agree with Beta. As taxpayers the SOS group does have a voice. I signed the SOS petition for the mere fact I belive the Mayor did not put a whole lot of thought into the matter.
I resent Mark Williamson assuming that if one votes against Issue 8 they are against scholarships. I'm for scholarships but let's figure out a better way of funding them. Personally, I'm tired of the Mayor and his "my way or the highway" attitude.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:33 AM, 10/31/2008
"No principals or morals". This, coming from Don?
The voice of experience, I suppose.
Posted 12:03 PM, 10/31/2008
Scholarships for Akron students would be amazing. But, the particular scholarship programs our misleading mayor keeps referring to, including the Kalamazoo Promise, were funded by private donors, not the auctioning off of a public utility, or any other city-wide compromise.
Was Mark Williamson the scholarship prototype? He seems to be bound to Akron by some unseen force! Mark, are you just mad because you have to serve out your 30 year prison term in Akron as Don's towel boy?
Wheaton, IL
Posted 01:08 PM, 10/31/2008
This may not be the solution, but NE Ohio needs to get serious about training its wokers if NE Ohio wants to turn its economy around.
Posted 03:47 PM, 10/31/2008
Vote NO on Issue 8.
Akron, Ohio
Posted 12:41 PM, 11/01/2008
Why won't "the Donald" try another way to fund the Scholarship Plan? He has caused so much commotion and spent so much money to get this approved by the voters, it would seem that it would be easier to fund it differently and get his plan moving, rather than cause so much desention with the citizens of Akron. He is supposed to be running the City of Akron FOR THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE!
He does not have the right to sell our utility (sewer and water system) at his whim to fund anything! Who does he think he is?
As taxpayers, we pay for this utility.
Remember, Akron Citizens . . . "Hate 8 but 9 is Fine!" Get out there and vote so the Mayor cannot do this again to our democratic system.
