Glass City Jungle

That’s the basic bottom line when you read Toledo job losses translate to $15M in lost income tax. It means the gap for 2008 is larger and the estimates for 2009 will again have to be changed.
It’s clear even if the City were to gain approval for it’s plan to tax workers who work [...]

I’ve been following the story of Tiffany Chambers since her family reported her missing last Saturday, yesterday it was reported that Police believe her body was found. The details related to her death as far as how did she die have not been released and an autopsy is scheduled for today. It has [...]

If first you don’t succeed? Try, try, try again appears to be the motto when it is related to trying to make gambling legal in Ohio. This time Toledo is included as part of the plan. Gaming groups, Cavs owner propose casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo.
The proposal, which could be announced [...]

This was reported yesterday in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Printing machine model numbers on Cleveland schools invoices are phony, sheriff’s detective says.
Not only did the Cleveland schools fail to receive six printing machines at the center of a state and county investigation, but a detective says the equipment never existed.
Model numbers on the invoices are [...]

We already discussed here in the past the illogical nature of having to drive or take the train to Cleveland to then be able to get to Columbus and how that really doesn’t seem to be a huge benefit for the millions of tax dollars (State and Federal) that would have to be expended if [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Ohio Senator Mark Wagoner:
Wagoner to Announce New Tax Filing Option Benefiting Ohio Historical Society
Columbus – State Senator Mark Wagoner (R-Toledo) today announced that he will hold a press conference today, Friday, February 27, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at the Wood County Historical Center & Museum, located [...]

This in via email from the office of Ohio Senator Teresa Fedor:
Senator Teresa Fedor To Introduce Healthy Student’s Act
COLUMBUS –Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) will unveil legislation Monday calling on Ohio’s schools to teach students the knowledge and skills needed to promote personal, family and community health. The announcement of Senator Fedor’s legislation will [...]

Since we followed this story in such detail, and speculated if there would be a finding by the Grand Jury, in doing checking this morning to see what the status of the case against Jeffrey Hardeman was related to the stabbing of Troy Neff, I discovered that the court docket was updated to reflect that [...]

In checking the public information court records after reading the story and watching the video on Fox Toledo it appears the same Robert Simpson that was arrested and is being held in the Lucas County jail for assaulting a police officer, if this man who has the exact same birthdate as the record indicates was [...]

It’s being reported that Michael J. Stolarczyk was selected by a vote of ten to one tonight as the new President for the Lucas County Port Authority. While I could only judge his qualifications from what the media reported and I found online he seemed like the most qualified of the three (then two) [...]

This in via e-mail from Toledo City Councilman Frank Szollosi:
SZOLLOSI CALLS FOR CONCESSIONS OR LAYOFFS – OPPOSES MIDDLE CLASS TAX HIKE
Statement by Toledo Councilman Frank Szollosi:
“Toledo City Council gave its approval for unsustainable labor contracts and unsustainable Finkbeiner operating budgets the past 3 years. Now Council wants to pay for it by increasing [...]

I read the story online at WTOL that in part states:

Doris Levesque faced a disciplinary hearing earlier this week. She’s an employee at the Water Distribution Department. The hearing was over wasting taxpayer money on the phone by making an exorbitatnt number of personal phone calls.
Levesque is a senior tapping clerk, and recorded calls on [...]

Interesting story in the Detroit Free Press as to what’s happening to the City of Pontiac that has faced a deficit that they appear to not be able to balance. Granholm informed Pontiac officials the city had not abided by the terms of a 2008 agreement to improve its finances and faces a projected [...]

No real details as to why so all we are left at this point with is speculation after reading:
A hearing scheduled in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to determine whether to bar the city from reducing daily strength number for Toledo firefighters was canceled, according to court personnel.
Attorneys for both the city and Firefighters Local [...]

For the past several years the Great Lakes Commission and the Northeast Midwest Institute have gone to Washington DC to promote a unified message related to priorities for legislation and appropriations to protect our environment and support our economy. Today is “Great Lakes Day” for 2009. If you’d like to read more [...]

The following is a guest post written by Representative Barbara Sears:
THE BUDGET PROCESS OF THE 128TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
As the 128th General Assembly begins the task of improving Ohio’s suffering economy, the state operation budget is the focus of deliberation here at the state capitol. As a member of the House Finance and Appropriations [...]

On today’s Fox Toledo Rant & Rave, Ben Konop points out the astounding lack of diversity, just one woman and only two minorities with most of the members being over 50. I recommend watching the entire clip to hear all of the points he made.
It’s a concern I pointed out back in September [...]

Notes from the Agenda Review of February 24, 2009 – Agenda items discussed are in bold to make it easier for those of you looking for discussion related to a specific item. This does not include all of the items on the Agenda it is for the most part those that created discussion or [...]

This in via e-mail:
Mayor Finkbeiner To Consult With State Officials Regarding Economic Stimulus Package
Tomorrow Mayor Finkbeiner will drive to Columbus to meet with various State officials to discuss how the funds from Ohio’s economic stimulus package will be utilized. Two members of the Mayor’s Joint Intermodal Task Force will be accompanying him — Jerry [...]

I’ve been informed that there will be a Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, 3/2 at 4:30 pm to discuss the mayor’s proposal regarding reducing the income tax credit to 50%. I’ve also been told that the community will be allowed to comment.
So mark your calendars!
More details as to what transpired at [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Ohio Senator Teresa Fedor:
Senator Teresa Fedor Testifies on Behalf Of Veterans Home Tax Check Off
COLUMBUS –Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) expressed her strong commitment to supporting Ohio’s Veterans today by speaking out on behalf of Senate Bill 11. The bill, sponsored by Senator Fedor, would [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Ohio Representative Edna Brown:
Ohio Attorney General Endorses Rep. Brown Teen Dating Bill
COLUMBUS – Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray today endorsed State Representative Edna Brown’s (D-Toledo) Teen Dating Violence bill (House Bill 10), along with a related bill (HB 19) that she is co-sponsoring.
“Too often, teens find [...]

It’s hard to see how Judge Gary Byers can justify not recusing himself when you read, 2 officials may face jail in dispute with judge :
The judge issued the order Friday to appear in court. It arose out of apparent frustration that his administrative order of Nov. 6 to give Ryan Wolaver, an assistant probation [...]

While an e-mail campaign appears to be brewing sent out to elected Republican figures through out the state, Jon Stainbrook, chair of the Lucas County Republican Party appeared on Fox Toledo tonight with Andrew Z in his Talk Back segment. When asked directly if Stainbrook recorded phone calls:
Andrew asked, “have you taped phone calls [...]

There has been quite a bit of discussion in parts of the blogosphere related to the New York Post cartoon and the racism issue that some have raised. Part of that discussion has hinged on the debate aspect that the cartoonist claims the cartoon was not designed to represent President Barack Obama. Yet [...]

Back on February 16th, WTVG covered the story of a dog named Princess who weighed between 10 and 20 pounds that got out of her home and was running loose in the Point Place neighborhood that she lived in. Apparently the Dog Warden was called, Princess led the warden’s crew on a chase, ended [...]

The Toledo Police Department is going to change how it’s district boundaries are set up for sectors and the number of beats. All that appears to really be the question is which proposed plan will be adopted. The Blade article only shares one map, the 8 sector one that would have 25 officers [...]

This in via e-mail from the Keith Wilkowski for Mayor campaign:
Wilkowski Celebrates “Paczki Day” In Toledo’s Historic Polish Village
Democratic mayoral candidate to meet voters tomorrow, Fat Tuesday, at North Toledo’s Annual Paczki Sale
Toledo, OH – Democratic mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski will return tomorrow to the Lagrange neighborhood where he was born and raised to [...]

This in via e-mail:
Mayor Finkbeiner Announces Proposed $8 million Investment Project by The J.M. Smucker Company
Today at 3 p.m. in the large conference room of the 22nd floor of One Government Center, Mayor Finkbeiner will hold a press conference urging Toledo City Council to approve a Municipal Job Creation Tax Credit for J.M Smucker [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak:
WOZNIAK HELPS HOMEOWNERS GO GREEN & SAVE GREEN
Across Lucas County, families are struggling to make ends meet during difficult economic times. Despite these challenges, many still find ways to give back to our community. This week, Commissioner Tina Skeldon [...]