The concept behind it is to create a scenario where what topics interest you most are on the front page, and days where there are lots of media releases the other content of the blog is not pushed down the page. There are still things to add, like links to blogs – they’ll be located on the page of the actual posts you read and comment on and some other features.

The good news is the comment preview window is available in Wordpress3.0 – the bad news is there is not yet a comment editing program that’s been approved for Wordpress3.0. Subscribe to comments is available for those of you who use that. You may have to wait for your first comment to be approved over there, but I hope you check it out and help me put the new template through it’s paces before everything is done.

It should be much faster and the server issues we’ve faced should not exist there.

MAUMEE – Candidate for the 46th House District Harry Barlos and the Ohio Democratic Party will official open a campaign office in Maumee. The office will serve as the Barlos campaign headquarters and a field office of the Ohio Democratic Party; the second such office in Lucas County.

WHAT: Harry Barlos for State Representative Campaign Office Opening
WHEN: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: 203 Conant Street, Maumee, Ohio 43537
WHO: Candidate for the 46th House District Harry Barlos and the Ohio Democratic Party

For more information on Harry Barlos visit www.harrybarlos.com.

Councilwoman Webb & Department of Public Service Hold Meeting on Point Place Dike
City continues to work to have dike recertified by federal agencies

Councilwoman Lindsay Webb and the City of Toledo Department of Public Service will host a meeting for Point Place residents affected by the Flood Control Dike on the Ottawa River, Mudjaw Creek and Maumee Bay. The meeting will be from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 26, 2010 at the Friendship Park Senior Center.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) notified the City of Toledo in 2009 that the dike would be decertified due to changes to the flood control guidelines after Hurricane Katrina. Without significant changes and improvements to the dike, nearly 1,400 residents in Point Place will be required to purchase costly flood insurance for their property.

In response, the Department of Public Service has developed an action plan to ensure that the dike is again certified. Councilwoman Webb will be on hand with Department of Public Service staff to present the proposed action plan and answer questions. Representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA are also expected to attend. Residents in the affected area have been notified of the meeting by letters to their home and are encouraged to attend.

What: Public Meeting for Point Place dike

When: Monday, July 26, 2010; 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: Friendship Park Senior Center
2930 131st Street

Available: Councilwoman Lindsay Webb
David Welch, Director of Public Service
Representatives of FEMA
Representatives of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Starting today, The Plain Dealer officially kicks off PolitiFact Ohio, a new way to examine the claims, ads and statements of players in the political world. Once distilled, the newspaper’s findings are posted on the fanciful Truth-O-Meter, whose ratings are True, Mostly True, Half True, Barely True and False. There’s a special rating for claims that are downright ridiculous: Pants on Fire.

PolitiFact Ohio does not replace The Plain Dealer’s traditional coverage of public affairs but, rather, supplements it. The newspaper is building on a model designed by the St. Petersburg Times, a Florida newspaper whose truth-squad initiative led it to create PolitiFact in 2007. PolitiFact’s work during the 2008 presidential election led to a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting, with Pulitzer judges praising PolitiFact’s commitment to “separating rhetoric from truth to enlighten voters.”

The Plain Dealer and St. Petersburg Times are partners in PolitiFact Ohio, with the Cleveland-based newspaper providing the reporting and editing staff while building on the Florida newspaper’s model and Web infrastructure. Bill Adair, PolitiFact creator and Washington bureau chief of the St. Petersburg Times, came to Cleveland to train Plain Dealer staff earlier this month.

This is the latest in a growing group of PolitiFact partnerships, composed of PolitiFact Florida (with the Miami Herald), PolitiFact Texas (with the Austin American-Statesman), PolitiFact Georgia (with the Atlanta Journal Constitution), and PolitiFact Rhode Island (with the Providence Journal). PolitiFact also is partnering with National Public Radio to fact-check political ads in the 2010 campaign. And ABC News enlisted PolitiFact to fact-check the guests and pundits who appear on “This Week,” the Sunday morning program.

Of special interest given the citation of Rep. Boehner’s claims on federal funding being used for abortion has been used here on the blog – (link) that received a False rating from Politifact Ohio…

This has the potential of creating an enhanced level of truth and transparency to Ohio politics – so welcome – Politifact Ohio….

Thanks for your patience, at the end of this, in theory things will run smoother and there will be some new features. At least let’s hope so.

Dear Mayor:

We realize that the tight credit market makes redeveloping the Marina District a challenge. However, we are very optimistic about the future of this project. This beautiful vista will one day be redeveloped into an amazing new neighborhood in the heart of Toledo. We believe that waiting for the right proposal to present itself is the responsible course for this asset.

Until we find the right development deal, it is important that the site be maintained in a sustainable fashion. We think the City should explore short-term urban agriculture uses in the Marina District.

We see four major benefits to the Marina District from urban agriculture:

a productive use of City property;
soil improvement;
erosion prevention; and
beautification of riverfront property.

The RFQ process could provide us with a partner who could accomplish these benefits to the city at low or no cost. Additionally, certain types of plantings (phytoremediation) could actually mitigate environmental issues and improve the soil quality. Increasing the soil quality increases the value of the land and creates new potential uses for redevelopment.

We respectfully request your Administration to issue an RFQ, so that we can explore the possibilities together.

There are lots of things that could be grown, like mushrooms — or we could sit back, say nothing and then wonder why there’s this hesitation to even suggest people think outside the box, if you think urban agriculture is outside the box. Maybe no one would be interested in this project — but maybe someone would —

The first part of the suggested RFQ:

The City of Toledo is seeking the services of qualified organizations to utilize Urban Agricultural Practices at the Marina District in Toledo, Ohio for purposes of improving soil quality, stabilizing the soil and beautifying the site.
I. Introduction
The City of Toledo owns and operates the 128-acre property known as the Marina District, which is located adjacent to the Maumee River and can be generally identified by the address 1401 Front St., Toledo, Ohio 43605. The City is interested in using agricultural practices at the site as an interim use prior to development. The City intends to contract with a qualified organization to use urban agricultural practices to improve soil quality, stabilize the soil and beautify the site. The City may also seek to leverage additional funds for the implementation of agricultural practices.
II. Scope of Work
The City of Toledo invites the submittal of statements of qualifications from firms, non-profit agencies, educational entities and any relevant organization interested in growing vegetation at the site. The City is seeking qualified RFQs to have a detailed plan to start growing at the site, schedule of plantings both short-term and long-term, and types of planting that would occur at the site if your organization is selected.

This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is intended to assist the City of Toledo in identifying qualified organizations that are interested in formal and informal Request for Proposals (RFPs) where the City would select an organization to perform work identified in the RFP. All work performed under this agreement is expected to be completed in compliance with the property specific Covenant Not to Sue (CNS) issued by the Ohio EPA for the site. The City is willing to negotiate terms of the agreement that establish a schedule for the project, or for specific areas of the site.

Catholics United Announces New Campaign to Defend Rep. Driehaus and Rep. Boccieri from Religious Right Attacks

Organizing and Paid Media Effort will Set the Record Straight about Health Care Reform

Washington, DC – The social justice group Catholics United (www.catholics-united.org) today announced that it is mounting an innovative, multifaceted campaign to defend Rep. Steve Driehaus and Rep. John Boccieri’s voting record on health care reform and a number of other issues. The Congressmen are now facing a coordinated misinformation campaign from a host of self-proclaimed pro-life groups intended to perpetuate the misconception that the health care reform bill passed earlier this year allowed for federal funding of elective abortion. The $500,000 campaign will also be active in the districts of Kathy Dahlkempeer (PA-3), and Tom Perriello (VA-05).

Catholics United’s “Set the Record Straight” campaign will activate thousands of Catholics and other people of faith who reject the abortion funding myth and support recent congressional efforts to expand health care access, create jobs, reduce dependence on foreign oil, protect consumers, and crack down on Wall Street abuses. Paid organizers and volunteers will work in each district to monitor the religious right’s activities, educate faith leaders, and provide the media with local voices to speak on behalf of social justice issues. Catholics United will augment local organizing efforts with television, radio, and internet advertisements, phone calls, and direct mail.

“As a person of faith, I’m proud that Congress passed health care reform,” said Catholics United member Pat Mallory, a constituent of Congressman Steve Driehaus and resident of the White Oak neighborhood of Cincinnati. “Health care reform will help millions of uninsured Americans obtain access to health insurance while also providing pregnant women and their children the help they need.”

The Catholics United effort comes in direct response to advertising campaigns currently underway by Republican-affiliated groups such as the Susan B. Anthony List, Family Research Council, National Right to Life Committee, and Republican National Campaign Committee. These groups’ ads ignore the findings of health care policy experts and independent news analyses which show that abortion funding is prohibited by both the legislation and a subsequent presidential executive order.

In one recent high-profile example, the National Right to Life Committee and Susan B. Anthony List claimed that the federal government was funding elective abortions through high-risk pools in Pennsylvania. The allegations were widely discredited by media fact-checks.

“Catholics and other people of faith are frustrated by the dishonesty of many political operatives who oppose reform of our nation’s outdated economic and social policies,” said Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United. “Instead of an open and honest dialogue about how best to meet the challenges of the 21st century, these groups are engaging in scare tactics and misusing the language of faith to score cheap political points and lead voters astray.”

Catholics United’s “Set the Record Straight” campaign is an expansion of its earlier efforts to inform people of faith about the true nature of health care reform. In March, it ran television ads in eight Congressional districts challenging the false claim that health care reform included abortion funding. After the vote, the organization ran thank-you ads in the districts of four Members of Congress who were under pressure from the religious right for voting yes.

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Catholics United is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting the message of justice and the common good found at the heart of the Catholic Social Tradition. This is accomplished through online advocacy and educational activities. For more information, visit www.catholics-united.org.

The request to reject the Factfinder’s Report for AFSCME Local 3411 was one situation that took place on July 20, Council’s failure to accept reimbursement from Penn National for casino at 1968 Miami, $1,038,613 was another.

In doing some research into why this was raised prior to the vote instead of during last week’s Agenda Review, documents were obtained that shed some light on where the questions came from. In reading some of the material that came from January, I contacted Vlad Cica of the Ohio EPA to find out if anything had changed where there was a risk of the City being in a position where they would have to re-pay all or a portion of the almost 3 million dollars they received to do remediation on the site where the Hollywood Casino – Toledo will be built. He had stated in a Jan. 4 e-mail that the Ohio EPA did not err and that the discrepancies that existed were ones that could be addressed administratively.

Ohio Epa: Toledo did not violate grant for casino location also in this week’s Toledo Free Press, shares part of the information Cica told me on July 21.

For the summary of that council meeting click here.

GILLMOR URGES OHIO MAYORS TO BUY “BIO-OHIO,” SUPPORT STATE’S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY

COLUMBUS—State Senator Karen L. Gillmor (R-Tiffin) is encouraging mayors in cities and villages across Ohio to support our state’s agriculture industry and local farmers whenever possible by purchasing supplies made from Ohio bio-based materials like corn, soybeans and switch grass.

“More and more, the raw materials to make everyday products, like office supplies, cleaning and construction materials, come from Ohio crops. This has provided an important new market for our farmers during difficult economic times,” said Senator Gillmor, who is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “At the state level, we have been working to maximize the substantial buying power of state agencies to support our state’s number one industry – agriculture – at no additional cost to taxpayers. Our hope is that local governments can join us in reinvesting public dollars back into Ohio’s economy and Ohio workers.”

In February, Senator Gillmor passed Senate Bill 131. This legislation, now law, established a bio-products preferred purchasing program in Ohio for state agencies and state-supported colleges and universities. Similar to existing “Buy Ohio” provisions in state law, which help ensure the state is supporting Ohio vendors whenever possible, SB 131 requires these public institutions to give purchasing preference to bio-based products when a bio-based alternative is available and when the cost is not prohibitive.

The federal government has a bio-preferred program, which among other things, certifies products as being bio-based and maintains a list of vendors that can provide them. Senator Gillmor’s bill wisely built upon the resources of the federal program to save the state costs and manpower, and earned Ohio the distinction of becoming the first state in the nation to establish a buy bio-products program. In fact, SB 131 has been submitted for review by the Council of State Governments to use as a model for other states to follow.

Though her bill did not impact local governments, Senator Gillmor is hoping Ohio mayors will support the effort voluntarily and join the bio-Ohio movement. A few already have, which has earned Ohio a ranking of 4th in the nation for establishing BioPreferred programs.

Not only is this initiative important for farmers, but many Ohio entrepreneurs are taking the raw materials from farmers and turning them into everyday products; in fact, Ohio ranks 5th in the nation for biomass production, from which bio-products are made. Major companies like Proctor & Gamble, Sherwin Williams and the Scotts Company are all producing bio-based products.

“Our mayors are on the front lines of economic development and understand the value and importance of agriculture in their communities,” Senator Gillmor said. “It is my hope that we can continue to build support for Ohio-grown materials as well as give a boost to the innovators who are putting Ohio’s bio-products industry on the map.”

Senator Gillmor recently sent a letter to more than 900 mayors across Ohio to make them aware of the state’s new bio-preferred program and how they can get involved.

For more information about Senator Gillmor’s Senate Bill 131, please visit the Ohio General Assembly website at www.legislature.state.oh.us. (Search for Senate Bill 131, 128th General Assembly.) To view a list of Ohio companies who are certified or in the process of being certified by the federal BioPreferred program, please visit: www.biopreferred.gov.

Are you looking forward to the grand opening? One of those who hope to get a job there? Or are you ambivalent about it beyond hoping the revenue helps the city coffers?