bmartin's Blog

Guess what people integrity matters. It matters at home and it matters at work. In fact some jobs demand a little more from us. For example, I have a morals clause in my contract. I am held under moral and ethical scrutiny.

For those of you who say, you can’t talk about wrongs, you can’t bring morality into society, you can’t bring morality into government…rights is a moral word.

If you have rights, you also have wrongs. Columbus police officer Susan Purtee is wrong. The self produced you tube show she does with her sister is wrong.

Our myfoxcleveland.com poll question asks this, "A Columbus police officer is in trouble for comments that she made on YouTube. ... Does it matter what a public employee says when they are not on the job?" Right now the response is about 50/50. Are you kidding me?

Recently I invited to speak to an Ohio police officers convention here. The topic I chose to speak on was integrity. Sound leadership is founded on integrity. If you want to be a leader in your home, your community, at work, you have to get things in tandem in your life.

It’s not always the popular thing to do, but it is the leadership thing to do. Leadership and popularity are not the same thing. A YouTube post might be popular and it might also lack integrity.

If you want to be a person of integrity you have to care about the small things in life. You have to care about your private life. Integrity is what you are in the dark.

Can we please become people who value integrity more than image? Can we please monitor our intake? We are not garbage containers. Can we please have peopled who speak the truth? Truth and trust go together.

Bill

It’s called leadership. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson has none of it. He may have been a good councilman, but he’s not a “Mayor”. Plain Dealer columnist Phillip Morris believes Jackson cares. Let's ask Nick DiGiorgio what he thinks. He’s the son of the woman hit and killed in Playhouse Square. The mayor has never even bothered to call and offer his sympathies. It’s an outrage.

Let me stop the complaining for a moment and outline some of what I would as your Mayor.

 1). All panhandlers will immediately be removed from the city proper. 2). The Mounted Unit would patrol the downtown area and Warehouse District. 3). I will adopt a Broken Windows law. The smaller signs of disorder like graffiti and vandalism will be severely dealt with. 4). Computer mapping will enable the Cleveland Police Department identify precise locations with the highest cases of violent crime so they can direct their resources accordingly. 5). Cases of Police misconduct or excessive violence will be dealt with severely 6). Police middle management will be reduced to put more patrols on the street. More officers will be hired. 7). Community Policing has become convoluted. Social-service aspects of community policing will be removed. An Officers duty is to make sure people can walk the streets safely. 8). The residency law will be eliminated but tax credits offered for those who do want to live in the city. 8). Taxes will be cut and a pro-business plan developed. A whole new economic development office will be opened and those currently in this area will be fired. An economic Czar will be hired. 9). Burke Airport will be eliminated. In its place will be a mix of retail, housing and parks. The Grand Prix will be moved downtown and the Air Show to another airport. 10). Anyone caught wearing sagging pants and who exposes his or her underwear will be subject to a fine of up to $150 plus court costs, or face up to 15 days in jail. 10). The Schools CEO will have the authority to hire and fire anyone, period. Principal tenure will end. 11). There will be school based budgeting to show taxpayers how money is being spent. 12). All money will be tied to reforms and performance standards.

Leadership and popularity is not the same thing. People follow you because you are a person of integrity. You are visible. You tell the truth, you don’t waffle and you don’t take polls. You do the right thing. You stand for what’s right. Cleveland deserves better than what it has. It is a great city.

P.S. Let me add to my list:

1). I will appoint an environmental Czar. Cleveland will become a national environmental leader. The city’s entire fleet of vehicles will be converted to hybrid and/or cars/trucks using E-85.

2). The entire area from City Hall to Browns Stadium will support a state of the art wind farm.

3). All parks and pools will be open with strict curfews imposed. There will also be a plan to open new green areas. Neighborhoods will be asked to pitch in.

4). Cleveland will be a model world-wide for treating and caring for people with HIV/AIDS.  I will kick off this initiative with a free concert at Burke Airport (just before I move it over) with Bono and U-2.

5). We will start a new program empowering faith based groups who are currently doing incredible work in the city. They will get full support from city hall for outreach.

 

I am not done yet....any more ideas out there? 

Cleveland City Councilman Mike Polensic is right on. He’s right on with what he said and how he said it. More importantly the firestorm from his letter to a thug is shinning light on a percolating catastrophe.

This city is on the edge of crumbling. I am stunned the mayor is not only silent but absent. Maybe if nobody says anything "it" will all go away? No "it" won’t.

Murders are up; robberies are up and people are leaving. They’re leaving from the westside, eastside and even from downtown now.

Downtown was supposed to be the new trendy spot for young people to live. I just talked with a young woman who is waiting for her lease to come up in the warehouse district and she’s gone. Why? She’s afraid! She says there’s been an ugly change in Cleveland over the past years. I talked with someone else who had a stabbing take place in front of their building. They've already left.

I refuse to come into the city anymore. There are business leaders, executives and others who won’t make the trip either.

Cleveland’s population is dangerously close to 400,000 now. In 1980 it was 573,822, 1990: 505,616 and 2000: 478,403. Who is going to be left to turn out the lights?

Cleveland needs real leaders. Leaders who will first focus on public safety, school safety and making people feel like they can walk the streets and not be robbed or shot. We don't need another tax increase.

Mr. Mayor if your PR people are encouraging you to hide, fire them all. Will someone please lead this city before there’s no city left.

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.

Hang in there people.  It won’t be long now.  Yeah, I know it’s snowing and temperature are in the 20’s.  Yeah, I know at my parent’s home in Ft. Myers, Florida, it’s in the 70’s.  My brother is riding with the top down in Ft. Lauderdale.  My sister is even enjoying some kind of spring in Louisville, Ky.

Fact is we’re stuck here.  We’re like the last people left on earth.  Imagine that for a moment.  People from Cleveland repopulate the earth.  Hummmm. That would mean no sports team in the globe would win a championship; more on that another time.

It’s time my good people to reverse our paralyzing anxiety.  Sure we’ll be anxious until we see the sun again but let’s mix that fear with a little excitement. Let’s associate that excitement with love and desire for summer on the North Coast.

We’re not emotional wrecks are we? Ok we are but lets stop covering up our fear of losing something, like flowers blooming, swimming, eating on the patio with a cheesy smile.  Let’s get going. It doesn’t have to be big move, just one small step at a time.

I know after this little pep talk that some of you are still feeling a like Squidward (SpongeBob) when he said “This city needs to be destroyed! Or at least painted another color.”

But I can see the truth out there. Warmer weather, sunshine, and barbeque. Stephen Colbert put it best by adding, “Sometimes it takes a crazy person to see the truth. If so, I'm a freaking lunatic.”

Hang in there people!

Bill

I’ve got to tell you, I hate this time of year. Ok, maybe I shouldn’t use the word “hate”; how about dislike, abhor, detest. The calendar says March, my brain is thinking spring and my television is playing golf. This winter has been cold, snowy and now it’s just dreary. I have had enough. How about a nice winter poem to cheer me up? Nah, but it helps to know that I can burn them to keep warm.

Of course we need weather but not this kind of weather. Ohio born Humorist Kin Hubbard (1868 - 1930), writes “Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation.” I have plenty to talk about but I can’t get anything out because my teeth are chattering. This kind of weather makes me think of Annie and I want to break into bad song; “The sun'll come out tomorrow, Bet your bottom dollar, That tomorrow, There'll be sun!“ Problem is it’s always a day away. This weather also makes me think about some really bad jokes like: “Q. What season is it when you are on a trampoline? A. Spring-time! Q. When do monkeys fall from the sky? A. During Ape-ril showers! Q. Can February March? A. No, but April May!”

Ok, enough of that. Enough of this! It’s spring somewhere so let’s get to it. Henry James, the British (US -born) author (1843 – 1916) puts it best. “Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language. “

Anyone got any firewood? I'm out. Ugh!

Bill

Hi everyone,
First let me thank you all for hanging with me in Israel. I hope that you’ve enjoyed the blogs. This is the last one since we’ll be traveling late tomorrow. I’ll be home Thursday and back to work Monday. I need a couple days to sleep especially after getting up at 3:30 AM to watch the Bucks lose.
At any rate, I spent a good amount of time in the Golan Heights this morning. The view is incredible. It’s also a little odd as I was standing along the border with Lebanon and Syria. In fact we drove by Kiryat Shmona. You may remember the city from the news in the last war with Lebanon.
We started the in the ancient city of Dan. This was the center of the Northern Tribes when the Kingdom was split. Dan is referenced in the Books of Ruth, 2 Kings and Joshua. One of the really interesting things here is you can climb all over the ruins. I think in the US there would be velvet rope and do no touch sings all over. That’s not the case here.
For me the next stop at Caesarea Philippi has been one of the best and most meaningful.
The city is situated as the base of Mt. Hermon northeast of the Sea of Galilee. It was probably the farthest north Jesus traveled. It was originally called Banias or Panias and was the center of the pagan worship of the Greek God of fertility “Pan”. This is the place where Jesus asks “Whom do men say that I, Son of man, am?” Peter answers in Matthew 16 and Mark 8. What’s interesting is that this city is built into the rock. It’s also here that Jesus turns south towards his death. You can read the book of Mark and look at it that way. The first 8 chapters Jesus is moving north building his ministry. Mark 9-16 He heads south.
Tomorrow it’s off to Nazareth and a few other stops. Then it’s to the airport. I can’t say enough about the beauty of this country. It’s not what I expected at all; from the busyness of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to the quiet and peace of the Sea of Galilee. I have walked in the footsteps of so much history has been overwhelming.
I miss you guys. I’ll see you soon.
Blessings,
Bill

Hi everybody from the Sea of Galilee!
This has been an incredible day. Most people focus on Jesus in Jerusalem; His betrayal, beating, crucifixion and resurrection. But this is the place where Christ begins His public ministry (Matthew 4), calling the first disciples. It’s also the place He comes, after the Resurrection, to give us the Great Commission. (Matthew 28).
We began our journey at the Mount of Beatitudes. Here Jesus spoke those wonderful principals of the blessed life and the Sermon on the Mount.
The Mount sits on the side of the hills surrounding the Sea, which is actually a lake. The Sea of Galilee is 13 miles long and 7 ½ miles wide at the northern end. If you love fishing this is the place to retire. Compared to the big city it is incredibly dark at night here (you can actually see the stars) and it’s amazingly quiet and peaceful. The Bible records the miraculous catch of fish, calming of a storm, healing of a demon-possessed man, the miracle of walking on water and some others.
From here we went to Capernaum located along the northwest shore on the Sea. It lies along the great trade route from Damascus to the Mediterranean Coast and Egypt. More of Christ’s miracles were performed here than any other city. We got to see Peters house and walk in the ruins of the old city.
Then it was a boat ride on the Sea and an incredible worship service. Recording artist Michael Jon Clement is with us handling all of the music. He’s awesome. Just floating in the middle of the Seas of Galilee and listening to him brought many people to tears.
We finished the day with a baptismal service in the Jordan River. The spot is one of two believed to be where John baptized Jesus. The water was cold, cold and colder.
During lunch, before the baptism, we eat at a fantastic restaurant right on the sea. The owner came out and sang God Bless America. We all joined in. The servers then showed up with sparklers. Many of us wondered how many other countries around here, let alone in the rest of world, would have done that.
Well, its time to get to bed. The OSU game starts at 3AM here and a bunch of us are going to get up to cheer on the Bucks.
Blessings,
Bill

Hi everybody,
Tonight I am writing to you from Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. Tiberias was founded by Herod Antipas in 17 AD, and was named after Tiberias Caesar, the emperor of Rome (AD 14-37). Tiberias was the emperor when Jesus began His public ministry. The one thing you notice here right off the bat is it smells great. There’s a hit of pine (or something like it) in the air. I guess I’m not used to breathing fresh air.
We just came from the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth at 1,350 feet below sea level. The really cool thing though is you can float in the water. We had a blast swimming. It was of the most fun things that I have ever done. It’s wild. You just sit back in the water and you float. If I can download a picture I will. Jordan is right across the Sea with beautiful mountains in the background.
On the way here from the Dead Sea we cut through the West Bank and had to go through an Israeli check point. I told them my name was Tony Rizzo and shouted for them to leave me alone. After a few hours of questioning they realized that anyone named Tony Rizzo was not worth holding.(I just made that all up-except for the check point part.) There were no problems and again we all feel very safe.
This morning we visited Masada. It’s a natural mesa near the western shore of the Dead Sea. The name means “the stronghold”. Herod the Great fortified Masada surrounding the top with an 18 feet high wall. He built his winter palace here as well. When Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 AD, Jewish patriots fled to Masada where they took their final stand against Rome. It took the Romans three years to capture Masada. Everyone inside took their own lives to avoid slavery.
After Masada we stopped by Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. A small settlement existed here during the time of Christ. John the Baptist spent time here.
Well a big day is planned for tomorrow and we are all beat. It’s up at 5:00 AM and going all day. I would not trade this experience for anything!
See you soon.
Bill

Shalom from Jerusalem,
Sorry I didn’t get to blog last night but I fell asleep around 4pm and woke up at 4am. My body is still getting used to this time zone. I’m seven hours ahead of you.
Today was cold and rainy but it was the perfect backdrop to our journey.
We began the morning walking the Via Dolorosa. It’s the traditional pathway Jesus took from Pilate’s Judgment Hall to Calvary. Several feet below the present roadway, under the Convent of the Sisters of Zion (which we also visited), you can see the pavement upon which Jesus walked as He went out of judgment hall.
Several feet from Jesus’ walk with the cross He earlier healed the man at the pool. You can read the account in John Chapter 5. One of the things that’s amazed me here is how close events and things are to each other.
This afternoon we visited the spot were Jesus was crucified and the Garden Tomb. At both places our usually noisy group was eerily quiet. At the northern end of the garden is a tomb cut out of the rock. It fits the description in Johns Gospel where Jesus’ body was laid to rest. The tomb today is maintained by the Garden Tomb Association of London. It’s one of the most peaceful settings in all of Jerusalem.
The most remarkable thing about the tomb though is not the beauty, or remarkable state of preservation; the remarkable thing about the tomb is that it is empty!
Yesterday, we were at King David’s Tomb, the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) and the Upper Room where Jesus and His disciples ate the last Passover together and where He established the Communication Service (Mark 14:15; Luke 22:12). The day was breathtaking.
Tomorrow, we leave Jerusalem. I have fallen in love with this city. We’re off to the Dead Sea, and then Masada. Herod the Great made a fortification out if this huge plateau. When Jerusalem fell under Titus in 70 AD, a band of Jewish patriots made their way to Masada and fought the Romans for three years. We’ll be spending the next days in Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
One final note in case you’re wondering, the people here have been fantastic and no one has ever felt uneasy.
See you soon,
Bill

Hey Gang,
Day two in Israel. The weather turned colder but the damp chill added a lot of emotion to our journey.
First stop was the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is located to the east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. The Kidron valley is called the “Valley of the Prophets” because of the presence of ancient tombs, believed by some to be those of Absalom, James and Zachariah, father of John the Baptist.
Most of the recorded incidents associating Jesus with the Mount of Olives belong in the Passion Week.
From there we walked to the Garden of Gethsemane which comes from the Aramaic word meaning “an oil press”. It was the place of Jesus’ agony, His betrayal and arrest.
The Church of All Nations is directly next to the garden and is said to contain the very rock by which Jesus prayed.
Following Jesus last days we visited the House of Caiaphas which is on the eastern slope of the hill overlooking the Valley of Kidron. It is the site of the Palace of Caiaphas, who was taken immediately after the soldiers arrested Him in the garden.
I’m including a great shot of the old city and the Come of the Rock which stands on Mount Moriah. The rock is considered second only in sanctity to Mecca and Medina as a Moslem shrine. This mosque stands where Jewish temples once stood.
It’s been a very bust day and I’m exhausted. My body is still trying to get used to this time. We’re 7 hours ahead of you.
I’ll keep in touch.
Blessings,
Bill

Hey gang,
After a 10 hour flight and hour bus ride from Tel Aviv, I am in Jerusalem. The flight was smooth and the crew at El AL (Israeli Airlines) was great. I did meet a group guys in this tour from Wooster. We’re all planning on watching the OSU game. Go Bucks.
El Al is known for its tough security. At Kennedy Airport in New York, a security agent asked me many questions about what I had with me, did any one give me anything. She kept saying it was to make sure I didn’t have a bomb with me. I told her the only bomb I know is Tony Rizzo. We all had a good laugh.
Anyways, she finally asked me what my middle name was. I thought that a bit odd but told her it was Almon. (I know it’s unusual but it’s a family name. However as soon as I said Almon the security agent took off and huddled with several other agents all looking at me and my passport. Now I’m thinking there’s trouble and ‘m just a TV guy from Cleveland. I’d understand harassing people from Pittsburgh but it turned out just fine. For me I’d rather answer a hundred questions and feel safe.
The ride to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv is spectacular. The road is winding through the hills of Judea. It’s beautiful.
It’s off to bed. We’ve all been up for 30 hours. I’ll be sending along some pictures of the trip. There are about 125 people on this tour of the Holy Lands. It’s a dream to be here. Talk at ya tomorrow.
Blessings,
Bill

Hey Gang,
I’ll be in Israel for the first two weeks of January (I’ll be blogging from there) and I wanted to pass along some New Years resolution thoughts before I leave.

Of course the New Year is a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make.
Here are the top 10 resolutions with a twist.

#1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends.

Let me think, I’m in a house with all women and my friends want to borrow money all of the time.

Fact: more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year.

#2). Get Fit.

Does opening and closing the refrigerator count?

Fact: Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man.

#3). Tame the Bulge

I turn 50 this year and I’m getting used to my insulation.

Fact: Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight.
4). Quit Smoking.
I haven’t smoked since I was 18. It’s a bad habit people.

Fact: Even if you've tried to quit before and failed, don't let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good.

5). Enjoy Life More

Slow down. Be Thankful. Tell Rizzo to keep quiet.

Fact: It's an important step to a happier and healthier you!

6). Quit Drinking

Give up wine? Haaaaaaaa!

Fact: Moderate drinking is ok. Do NOT drive!

7). Get out of Debt.

I have a teen girl at home. And two right behind her. I will never be out of debt.

Fact: Being Debt free is a promise that will repay itself many times over.

8). Learn Something New.

How about driving on 480 without using certain gestures. Is Stacey Bell listening?

Fact: Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, take a course or read a book. Challenge your mind in the coming year, and your horizons will expand.

9). Help Others.

Yes. Please.

Fact: Volunteerism can take many forms. Get involved.

10). Get Organized.

Never! I’m a pack rat.

Fact: Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim, or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it.

Happy New Year! Thanks for making us #1 in your home.
Blessings,
Bill

Hey Gang,
I’ll be in Israel for the first two weeks of January (I’ll be blogging from there) and I wanted to pass along some New Years resolution thoughts before I leave.

Of course the New Year is a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make.
Here are the top 10 resolutions with a twist.

#1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends.
Let me think, I’m in a house of all women and my friend want to borrow money all of the time.
Fact: more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year.

#2). Get Fit.

Does opening and closing the refrigerator count?

Fact: Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man.

#3). Tame the Bulge

I turn 50 this year and I’m getting used to my insulation.

Fact: Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight.
4). Quit Smoking.
I haven’t smoked since I was 18. It’s a bad habit people.

Fact: Even if you've tried to quit before and failed, don't let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good.

5). Enjoy Life More

Slow down. Be Thankful. Tell Rizzo to keep quiet.

Fact: It's an important step to a happier and healthier you!

6). Quit Drinking

Give up wine? Haaaaaaaa!

Fact: Moderate drinking is ok. Do NOT drive!

7). Get out of Debt.

I have a teen girl at home. And two right behind her. I will never be out of debt.

Fact: Being Debt free is a promise that will repay itself many times over.

8). Learn Something New.

How about driving on 480 without using certain gestures. Is Stacey Bell listening?

Fact: Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, take a course or read a book. Challenge your mind in the coming year, and your horizons will expand.

9). Help Others.

Yes. Please.

Fact: Volunteerism can take many forms. Get involved.

10). Get Organized.

Never! I’m a pack rat.

Fact: Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim, or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it.

Happy New Year! Thanks for making us #1 in your home.
Blessings,
Bill

Hey gang,
First, I’d like to apologize for using some bad words while driving today. It’s not really my fault.
There was this pinhead driver ahead of me. He was swerving in and out; riding 6 inches behind the car ahead of him. He was swerving all the way to the right lane and then all way to the left. All just to get “no where” 5 minutes early.
You people, who drive like this, suck the life out of the holiday season and me. You are dangerous, and frustrating. I imagine you are the same folks who park in handicap spots and punch people out for the latest toys. I can’t imagine what’s in your head but 100 year old fruitcake, rattling around and smothering out any common sense. I hope you get coal from Santa.
Ok, now I feel better.
Merry Christmas!
Bill