TFP: Konop on the cover, proposed racial profiling law and more…
There has been a lot of discussion about Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop’s proposed charter changes, the cover story of this week’s Toledo Free Press written by Michael Stainbrook on this topic, is a recommended read, (link). Stainbrook points out a few things that have not gotten discussion, like term limits and the fact that appointed officials would serve at the pleasure of the county executive.
Having read the plan on the county website – I have several other concerns, especially when it comes to how the districts were created (listed below). Where I live would be lumped in with Maumee and Monclova township, instead of with other parts of Toledo. If you are reading in print or read the e-Press edition (link) there is a chart on page A6 that points out some other areas of concern. Namely that the new Director of Public Works that would replace the elected County Engineer position does not require that the official be an engineer. The qualifications listed for some of the other offices are not much above what the current elected officials have, “five years of political financial management experience” — the current office holders have that and more.
INITIAL COUNCIL DISTRICTS
District 1: The city of Sylvania, Sylvania Township, Richfield Township, and Berkey
District 2: The Townships of Springfield, Harding, Swanton, Providence, Spencer, and Waterville, and the Villages of Holland,
Waterville, and Whitehouse
District 3: The city of Maumee, Monclova Township, and the city of Toledo Ward 16
District 4: Oregon, Jerusalem Township, Village of Harbor View, and the city of Toledo Wards 19 and 20
District 5: The Village of Ottawa Hills, and the city of Toledo Wards 6 and 12
District 6: The city of Toledo Wards 21, 22, and 23
District 7: The city of Toledo Wards 5, 7, and 24
District 8: Washington Township and the city of Toledo Wards 1, 3, and 11
District 9: The city of Toledo Wards 9, 10, and 13
District 10: The city of Toledo Wards 2, 4, and 8
District 11: The city of Toledo Wards 14, 15, 17, and 18
In the opinion pages this week, Michael Miller focuses on his oldest son turning four and how a sexual offender has impacted his neighborhood, (link). City Council will be taking up a proposed change in our municipal code that would make racial profiling an offense, the language proposed and the disagreement over which council committee should be the one to vet this proposed change is the focus of my column, (link).
The Toledo Free Press’s Brandi Barhite is going to be writing a continuing series on one family affected by the recent tornado as they rebuild their lives, the first article in the series is in this week’s edition (link).
For the golf fans out there, several articles on the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic (link) may be of interest to you. That’s just a few of the articles from this week that are in print and online.
Can’t wait for Mr. Konop to be out of county government in November. Thanks to him for not running again.
June 28th, 2010 at 9:42 am