Glass City Jungle

This in via email from the office of Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop:
No Money to Hire LCIC CEO
Konop will not chair a search for a position without funding…cites ethical and legal reasons
Today it was revealed that the LCIC lacks funds to hire a CEO. As such, Commissioner Ben Konop withdrew as chair of the [...]

Ben Keeler of the Keeler Political Report put together this week’s Carnival of Ohio Politics. As always he did an excellent job and I encourage you to stop by and read what some of Ohio’s best bloggers are focusing on this week.

This in from the offices of the Lucas County Commissioners:
COMMISSIONERS, TEAM SHOWCASE ARENA “RISING FROM THE GROUND”
The Board of Lucas County Commissioners and members of the Arena team will hold a news conference to showcase the Arena “rising from the ground” on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. on the Madison Ave. side of [...]

Today was the sentencing for Richard Brown, as most of you know I have been following this case in part due to the political aspect of it and in part since I consider Richard to be a personal friend. Below is a copy of the statement given to the media this afternoon:
When these charges [...]

I don’t mean to make light of the story out of Detroit, Michigan where Christopher Ratte of Ann Arbor got into trouble for buying his seven year old son a lemonade, supposedly not realizing that Mike’s Hard Lemonade contains alcohol. However, discovering that Comerica Park charges $7.00 a bottle? Drives home the [...]

Our area of South Toledo did not experience any delays in our trash or recycle pick up today, however, it sounds like from this Blade article some did:
City officials are asking residents to leave their garbage out despite a large number of employees who called in sick Tuesday.
According to a statement issued by Brian Schwartz, [...]

What will happen? That we’ll find out later, however some preliminary reporting in the Blade, and some interviews done by Troy Neff, George Sarantou, Mike Craig, Betty Shultz and Mayor Finkbeiner
Mike Craig mentions something that I heard that Tetra Tech has spent $500,000 so far in environmental and other costs and…as to the information [...]

This in from the office of Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop:
Dog Warden Door to Door Home License Checks Halted for Year
Better use of taxpayer funds, less intrusive measures to be developed
After a public hearing this morning, Lucas County Commissioners halted the practice of door to door license checks undertaken by the Dog Warden for the [...]

Who knew? Dann aide claimed Mafia ties:
The police narrative of Stankoski’s complaint says that Gutierrez persuaded her to go drinking with him after work on Sept. 10. While drinking at the Ringside Cafe, she said Gutierrez “began bragging about the power that he has and informed her that he has relatives in Youngstown that [...]

This in via email from the office of Lucas County Commisioner Ben Konop:
Commissioner Konop to Question Dog Warden Over Door to Door Dog Licensing Operation
Public Meeting will address cost effectiveness, legality of home visits
Commissioner Ben Konop will tomorrow, April 29, 2008, lead a public meeting regarding the home door-to-door dog licensing operation being run [...]

This topic was briefly broached in my post reviewing the articles in the Toledo Free Press below but I received this via email so wanted to share it:

MomsRising.org Joins Paid Sick Day Effort
Will Deliver Burrito-Grams to Legislators on Tuesday
Burritos Underscore Importance of Passing Ohio Healthy Families Act

In this week’s Sojourner’s Truth the first article that I always read is the “This Strikes Us” which in this edition, Michael Hayes tackles an topic that is local and is one most of us have experienced, Attention Toledo: The Potholes Aren’t Your Fault!. Michael calls it as he sees it, just one part [...]

Two articles that I wanted to point out written in today’s Blade, Downtown falls short of expectations where one quote in particular really caught my attention due to the recent discussions on creating mixed income residential areas in the City of Toledo:
The Commodore’s situation could be a counterexample to a sentiment shared by some landlords [...]

The cover story this week in the Toledo Free Press is an interview with Republican Presidential candidate, John McCain. Justin Kalmes asks McCain questions directly related to our economy, it’s one of the recommended reads this week. I didn’t realize that Michael Miller’s column mentioned me until I sat down to read, The [...]

We’ve come at a crossroads here on the blog, my desire when I created Glass City Jungle two years ago was based on two simple premises, 1) we are all adults and 2) it’s possible for people regardless of their political backgrounds to discuss issues civilly.
The past few months the level of personal attacks and [...]

They say the devil is in the details and after getting access to some of the details on the possible sale of property to Tetra Tech I have to wonder, Fox Toledo has the documents on line but the basic facts?
Only $5,000 is required as a downpayment, the closing date is not scheduled until a [...]

As reported by several media outlets last night, including the Blade:
“In the poll Keith Wilkowski funded and released, Keith Wilkowski looks good,” the mayor’s statement says. “However, the next election is more than 18 months away. I think the Wilkowski poll was designed to help him pay off his campaign debt. I wish him well [...]

I’m trying really hard to not laugh about the blog drama that has begun over The New Republic cover because part of it is serious, however I always find it funny when men lecture women on how they should perceive something that is related to misogynistic behavior, real or imagined. A little secret, I [...]

Michael Friedman, the Democratic State Committeeman for District 2, along with the rest of the elected Democratic committeemen and women were sworn in tonight in Columbus, Ohio at the Democratic headquarters. From what I’ve been told Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO Chief of Staff was the one who nominated Chris Redfern, Michael Friedman seconded and [...]

Back in February of 2008 we reported on the nude topless image of a woman being shown to a high school class was reportedly placed there by the teenaged son of a State Rep as being a matter of :
“We want to put this behind us,” said Rep. Matt Barrett (D., Amherst) in a prepared [...]

It’s not clear where 25 of the 27 properties are that is proposed to sell to Tetra Tech as being reported by Fox Toledo and earlier today in the Blade we do know this much, it includes the Erie Street Market for 1.2 million and 1.8 million the city’s water distribution building at 401 South [...]

Check out the Toledo City Paper and their review of a place mentioned here in the past, the Park Lane Supper Club. Just a bit of the recommended article:
Chef Ryan Reiter and Park Lane owners Phil Dew and Mark Osborn open the doors of the historic building on the first Saturday of every month [...]

I heard about this earlier today and did verify through the Toledo Clerk of Court that charges were filed, but waited until media reports were available for more details. The Toledo Free Press has the story online as well as the Blade, that Jon Stainbrook was cited last night for failure to disclose personal [...]

Toledo has had intermodal aspirations for quite some time, the topic is broached along with other items of interest related to economic development this morning on WSPD with Fred’s interview with Brian McMahon. Plans for a 400 acre intermodal facility is in the works at Toledo Express, that would be adjacent to the turnpike and [...]

I’m still semi in catch up mode, but there are a few items of interest that if you missed I recommend checking out.
State asks for audit of department in AG’s office
Councilwomen Wilma Brown & Betty Shultz both call in the Troy Neff show. Both want the “nit picking” to stop related to the trash [...]

Whenever I attend an event at Lagrange Village Council, I’m in awe of the way that neighborhood has come together. It makes me wish every part of the City had such a group of dedicated citizens. Last night was their quarterly meeting with the two District City Council members within their borders, Councilman [...]

This in via email Krompak Communications:
Keith Wilkowski Holds Commanding Lead In Likely 2009 Challenge To Carty Finkbeiner
Odesky & Associates poll finds former Lucas County Commissioner favored over incumbent Toledo mayor by a margin of 59.2%-13.5% in head-to-head match-up
Toledo, OH – The Wilkowski for Mayor Exploratory Committee today releases results of a poll showing former Lucas [...]

It’s been stated that the current condition of some of Toledo’s garbage trucks, especially the trucks used for recycling is an issue. It’s becoming a potentially costly issue as from what I understand was raised on WSPD this morning, Fred Lefebvre reported on issues in South Toledo with yesterday’s recycling not being picked up [...]

This in via email on behalf of the Lucas County EITC Coalition:
ONE MORE CHANCE FOR RESIDENTS TO REBUILD THEIR CREDIT
Toledo, Ohio – Most Lucas County residents probably don’t think about their credit score on a regular basis, but a coalition of local leaders thinks they definitely should.
Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop, Lucas County Treasurer [...]

This in from the office of Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak:
COMMISSIONERS PLACE MORATORIUM ON DOOR-TO-DOOR LICENSE CHECKS
Toledo, Ohio – While urging every dog owner to follow the law and get their dog licensed, a majority of the Board of County Commissioners will direct Dog Warden Tom Skeldon to place a moratorium on door-to-door license [...]