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by bmartin from Fox Newsroom

Last Post 407 days, 4 hours Ago


Spare me another tax increase!
Jul 19, 2007 | 4:56 PM
Category: News
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I’m frustrated and agitated. Cleveland is a great city with so much potential. I talk with people who see it all of the time. No, we’re not Chicago but we might get close.

However we never will be anything close with the group of political leaders currently in power. The real problem is they are the ones holding us back.

The new dazzling plan from our county commissioners is to raise taxes to finance a new convention center and medical trade show facility.

Do we need these things? I’m not so sure as proposed. I will say, if you remember that real-estate maverick Bart Wolstein wanted to build a convention center for free. His wife says Bart often rammed into that brick wall that we know as the establishment.

Establishment means same old people signing the same old song. It means raise taxes again.

Downtown is a ghost town because you can’t sit out without being hassled for money. I can go elsewhere and not be worried about gunshots. Police are not visible enough. Drunken and unruly people destroyed the flats. We should all be frightened the rest of downtown is next.

Do we need jobs, yes. But more than that we need new leadership with any kind of creativity. We need bold new ideas. We need leaders who understand how to compete for a dollar not just take one.

There are too many other places competing for my money. While I live in Cuyahoga County currently, that might change too. There are too many other places that get it.
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Member Comments Total Comments: 12
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girlscout read my blog view my photos
Jul 19, 2007 | 5:18 PM

I think there comes a point in time when citizens are taxed so much to save a city, that they all start leaving. That time has come.
Zeeball read my blog view my photos
Jul 19, 2007 | 7:07 PM

Bill,
This has been long overdue! Someone in the public eye speaking out for the lack of creativity to make Cleveland a viable competitor for new business and industry. Where is Frank Jackson? Is he still the mayor? Its gotten to the point where the city is at the mercy of our sports teams to bring revenue in. Thats sad. They have truly made a mess of Euclid Ave and this was another wasted nearly $70 milloin dollars in my eyes. Good thing the feds tossed in almost $300 million. This project has a sole purpose, to make a few contractors fat! Business's have closed one after another, and what is the mayor concerned with? Ticketing double parked cars! Cleveland is being supported by the Clinic and pro sports. The schools are a mess, almost 45% of seniors not earning a diploma. When a community loses the ability to educated its children,what does its future hold? Gambling? There are several high rise projects going on down in the river front area. Not one geared for family. When the inner city fails, the rest gets spread farther and farther apart. Higher taxes are a bandaid. Thanks for your concern Bill, I hope others follow suit.
Zeeball read my blog view my photos
Jul 19, 2007 | 7:34 PM

And by the way, Cleveland is a beautiful city, so much history, so much potential !
mattminda read my blog
Jul 19, 2007 | 7:34 PM

just keep voting democrat you lemmings and stop complaining. Taxes are good because politicians know how to spend your money better than you do. call it enlightened monetary redistribution.
klh1886 read my blog view my photos
Jul 19, 2007 | 7:41 PM

As long as Clevelands school system is a failure it will never be prosperous. An excellent school draws people from all around that are willing to pay higher taxes for a superior school.
mattminda read my blog
Jul 19, 2007 | 7:46 PM

people go to private school when the public ones suck. welcome to economics 101
Zeeball read my blog view my photos
Jul 19, 2007 | 8:18 PM

klh, proof of your theory? Solon.
girlscout read my blog view my photos
Jul 19, 2007 | 10:51 PM

mattminda - Maybe in YOUR world, politicians know how to spend your money better then you do! NOT IN MINE! I am much more diligent and thrifty in stretching a dollar, hunting for a bargain, thinking wisely before purchasing, then ANY politician I've ever met!
xxcm88 read my blog
Jul 20, 2007 | 12:23 AM

If we want to be Chicago, first we have to raise the taxes to their level (9.5%). Only joking (Or am I?).

I go to school in Chicago and, quite frankly, I love the vibe that the city has. I do not get this vibe from Cleveland. Unfortunately the problem does not lay within politics, as Chicago as a democratic political machine that has worked successfully. The problem lays with the people.

The people in this region, by and large, are very iffy to change. They do have good reason to though, as change in this region's history has been for the bad unfortunately. We have voters who would rather drive the region down into poverty and turn into a rustbelt mess, than regionalize. The one thing this region needs is the people to be open to change.

We have leaders currently who propose new ideas, but many of these ideas get shot down by the voters who fear change. I say give this medical mart a fighting chance, we are one of the leading regions in the United States in medicine, and with new international flights from Hopkins soon the region will reap the benefits of international companies drawn to our medical industry.

The leaders are far from perfect, but I've seen more ideas from leaders than I have seen from very many citizens in the region. I am more inclined to trust leaders who actually have visions than citizens who keep expressing dismay.
gamer173 read my blog view my photos
Jul 20, 2007 | 3:49 AM

Keep voting in the dems and see how much of a check you have left when they are done helping the "poor"
klh1886 read my blog view my photos
Jul 20, 2007 | 4:52 AM

Zeeball: Yes Solon, Huson, Aurora, and even Twinsburg. all pay higher taxes. all are willing to because of the schools. Schools are the answer in my opinion.
Zeeball read my blog view my photos
Jul 20, 2007 | 5:16 AM

Economics 101? Lemmings ? Nice madminda. People pick up and leave a community for one that has better public schools, and then they go visit Cleveland for a Browns game or the Science Center. The residents remaining are forced to stay because of a number of restraints, usually financial. Common Sense 101. When a community offers a good education, they offer something for family.
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bmartin

I'm an Irish kid who grew up outside of Buffalo, New York. My mother and her family are from Ohio. I remember getting fabulous ice cream as a kid at the Isley's in Andover. It was a great treat on the way to grandma's. My uncles farm in Kinsman was Ohio’s Outstanding Regional Century Farm in 1999. I have called in the cows but was never any good at milking. I have many awards from my years in television but I hope this other stuff is more interesting. I also love golf and playing with the kids when I am not at the anchor desk. I need the rest from Stacey Bell. She's is very demanding of my time. Blessings to all who stop here.

Member Since: 9/1/2006


 

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