Glass City Jungle

This in via e-mail from the office of the Mayor of Toledo:
Mayor Finkbeiner Responds To TPPA President Dan Wagner
Today Mayor Finkbeiner released the following statement in response to recent comments made by Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association President Dan Wagner:
“Contrary to comments made by TPPA President Dan Wagner, the City and TPPA never had an agreement [...]

This in via email from the Mike Bell for Toledo campaign:
Bell Reveals New Website Provides Opportunity for Citizens to Keep in Touch, Contribute, Volunteer
Mike Bell has unveiled a new website for Toledo residents to keep tabs on the progress of the campaign for Toledo’s next Mayor. The website, www.MikeBellForToledo.com highlights Bell’s experience as well [...]

The Carnival of Ohio Politics is now live it was my turn (yes I was a bit late) in putting it all together. Thanks to everyone who submitted and to those who head over and read what what some of Ohio’s best bloggers are focusing on this week. With my theme of musical [...]

Tonight was District 4 Toledo City Councilman Michael Ashford’s fundraiser that was held at Manhattan’s.
The place was full for a good part of the evening, I’d estimate the attendance was close to 130 people. Given the amount of people that were there, it’s not the most conducive environment for taking good photos, [...]

You realize how much of an impact this whole swine flu thing has when you go out in public. When I went to my local carryout tonight, the picture shows you how Dennis is taking this seriously…perhaps too seriously…
On that note, the following was received via email:
HEALTH ADVISORY: Question and Answer session on [...]

Just saw this online at the Blade, timestamped 3:57 p.m.; Agreement reached to stop Toledo police layoffs, union head says:

The head of the union representing Toledo police officers said Wednesday he and top city officials reached a tentative agreement on a new contract that will avert the layoff of 150 police officers slated for Friday.
Dan [...]

The following article is from this week’s El Tiempo written by Kevin Milliken:
Port Authority Approves Minority Inclusion Plan
The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority took the next steps necessary toward implementing a minority-inclusion policy and plan at its monthly meeting last week.
The new policy is designed to ensure that diverse suppliers and contractors receive special [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Ohio House Representative Barbara Sears:
Representative Sears Advocates for Fair Canine Legislation
COLUMBUS—State Representative Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania) today gave sponsor testimony before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, regarding current law’s stereotyping of pit bulls.
Sears is the primary sponsor of House Bill 79, which would remove the [...]

This in via e-mail:
LATTA STATEMENT ON BUDGET CONFERENCE REPORT
WASHINGTON- Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green), a member of the House Committee on the Budget, made the following statement after voting against the FY2010 Federal Budget Conference Committee report.
“Unfortunately, the Conference Committee did nothing to improve the budget. This budget still contains a $423 billion [...]

This in via e-mail from Toledo City Councilman Phil Copeland:
Updated: 10:24 April 30th: This has been rescheduled for 11:00 a.m. May 1st – same location.
Updated: 10:21 a.m. – this e-mail received:
Please be advised, the press conference scheduled for 11:00 a.m. today with Councilman Phil Copeland has been delayed due to weather. [...]

This in via e-mail from the Moody for Mayor campaign:
Moody To Detail Plan For Saving Neighborhoods
On Thursday, April 30, Mayoral Candidate Jim Moody will detail his plan to save neighborhoods from blight, increase affordable home ownership and help increase revenue to the City of Toledo. First mentioned in his mayoral announcement, Moody will [...]

The interview of Stephen Ward on WSPD yesterday morning with Fred is now live for those of you want to listen can be found here.
Stephen will be “officially” announcing his candidacy for one of the At-Large City of Toledo council spots tomorrow in front of Salem Lutheran Church at 10:00 a.m.
Updated May 1st [...]

This in via e-mail from the Ohio Democratic Party:
Ohio Democratic Party Welcomes Senator Specter
Columbus, OH – The Ohio Democratic Party welcomes the news that Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) has decided to switch party affiliations.
In a statement, Chairman Chris Redfern said, “Senator Specter has long served the people of Pennsylvania and of the [...]

Tonight’s City Council meeting had some speculating as to would Council approve the Mayor’s three requests that he felt were needed to balance the budget. I predicted they would stall them, that ended up being correct. The reciprocity, the exigency and the trash fee legislations were all at second reading were placed into [...]

According to several local media sources: WTOL first reported at 11:51 a.m.; Fox Toledo first reported at 12:04; NBC24 first reported at 12:28; and WTVG which was last updated at 3:00 p.m., Michael Swiergosz is holding his estranged wife hostage in a room at the Sunset House.
Earlier posting on the previous incident involving Swiergosz. [...]

That’s the basic concept as to what could happen today when the City and the Toledo Police Command Officers’ Association go back to Court this afternoon:

“If, as the [union] argues, the layoff of 20 officers will encourage criminal activity [an assertion which is merely conjectural], the need to lay off more officers because of delay [...]

In via e-mail from the Wilkowski for Mayor campaign:
Wilkowski: Act Now To Stop Police Lay-offs
Democratic mayoral candidate calls on mayor, police union to resume contract negotiations immediately
Toledo, OH – With lay-offs of 150 Toledo police officers scheduled for this Friday, Democratic mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski is calling
on Mayor Carty Finkbeiner and the Toledo Police Patrolman’s [...]

The Blade has a pdf of a memo sent from the Mayor to all Toledo City Council members where he is urging them to take action on Tuesday on three specific items:
1. Exigency on PERS Rollback for 12 months – $4.57 million in savings
2. Tax reciprocity – $3.2 million in revenue
3. Trash Fee Increase – [...]

A quick FYI for Glass City Jungle readers, I’m now also a contributor on Metblogs Global Conspiracy where I will primarily focus on how to cover governmental and other news for those who want to blog about either local, state or national government. There are some other really great writers that have come on [...]

It doesn’t appear any other students have symptoms and the one boy who reportedly had swine flu has been reportedly recovering at home and is not in danger, but? Ely Elementary School has been closed for the week on the advice of the CDC. I think it’s safe to state that some parents [...]

The most recent edition of the Toledo Free Press features American Idol winner David Cook with the cover story written by Vicki L. Kroll and in the print edition of the Toledo Free Press there is a second story about Cook’s May 6th performance scheduled at Owens Community College that’s already sold out.
Firmly [...]

This in via e-mail:
OHIOAN TESTS POSITIVE FOR SWINE FLU
COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) today confirmed a case of swine flu involving a 9-year-old boy from Lorain County. The patient is considered to have a mild case of the disease and is recovering at home.
Because this combination of strains of the influenza virus [...]

So far the video from this week’s Conklin & Company doesn’t appear to be online on WTVG, I’ll update if I see it’s been shared online. As always this is not a direct transcript but typed while the show was in progress, the first segment was with Michael Veh of the Source, second segment [...]

We are heading into a scenario where again personal insults, attacks and off topic commentary is happening with a growing amount of frequency.
Things are going to heat up as the local election process goes on with the Mayoral race and the Toledo City Council at-large seats. I want new people to feel as if [...]

With some of the discussion recently about gang tagging here and in the media, this NBC24 story as an example, I thought I’d take this opportunity to provide some information on spotting the difference between Graffiti and Gang Tagging.
Here are some good resources, Deciphering Gang Graffiti along with part two, Urban Graffiti on the City [...]

Several media sources for you to check out.
Fox Toledo:

Thursday night I received the following message from Gregory Paquin, in reference to this post and this report by WTOL.
Unfortunately, to the “bashing” of my name and integrity, Councilman Tom Waniewski has taken it upon himself to try and make a mockery of innocent peoples lives for his political gain, without doing his [...]

This in via e-mail from Stephen Ward:
TOLEDO NEEDS A TRUE SERVANT
The Welfare Of The People Must Be The Highest Priority Of City Council!
Stephen Ward has spent the past few months talking with dozens of Toledo residents – from prominent community leaders, to business owners and schoolteachers, to the homeless and low-wage workers. It’s [...]

This in via e-mail from the Toledo Botanical Garden:
Join us for a festival of gardening… the Spring Plant Sale!
Toledo Botanical Garden Spring Plant Sale May 8 -10, 10 am – 5 pm
Mothers’ Day Picnic May 10, 10 am – 5 pm
The first step to expanding and beautifying your garden this year is a visit [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop:
Konop To Review Resumes For Job Seekers
Commissioner to lend hand putting people back to work as part of Job Fair Week
Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop will personally review, critique, and discuss resumes with job seekers who visit The Source on Monday as [...]