Glass City Jungle

Take Three is back, with Schylar Meadows and Tom Waniewski, filling in for Bob Reichert who was ill, on Conklin & Company on WTVG; and it was back with a bang as you can tell by the post title. The first topic was Lucas County Republican Chair Jon Stainbrook’s press conference focusing on Democratic corruption on Friday and calling for qualified republicans to run for office. Waniewski said (with a laugh) he hoped he was a qualified republican, he then said there is a point to be made by that, (referencing the question of corruption) voters are tired of seeing this stuff, but he wants honest people in there as well, in his two years on council, he’s found there is a lot of maneuvering going on and he has disdain for that, he referenced how Sarantou and McNamara do work with others, he said that’s a bit of a paradox to call for qualified candidates in an attack mode, and he’s not for that, let’s get the candidates out there that have the best interest of the city in an honest way.

“Jon Stainbrook is the poster child for reality tv in the partisan way for the Republican party, because it takes one to know one. What party chair person would get up on television or a news conference and call for qualified candidates while at the same time attacking another side of the aisles “culture of corruption” clean your house first, there are some allegations of some financial things going on, get your house clean,” was the comment of Schylar Meadows. (I made sure to use exact quotes for this so there would be no confusion as to what was stated.)

She took issue with both topics being done at the same time, that brings a negative approach and people are really tired of that. Conklin interjected that Stainbrook had been a political analyst for them and that George Sarantou said Stainbrook had worked hard to get him reelected and that Stainbrook had gotten Connelly elected to judge. Waniewski said it would be nice to not have a single party system in the city and the county, it’s been dominated that way but there are some good folks on the Democratic side, let’s look at getting good Toledoans who are interested in running without looking over their shoulder as to who’s going to snipe at them or look into their businesses, those things that keep qualified business leaders from running for city council.

Meadows said she’d like to see more grassroots people elected, the average person is afraid to run because they don’t want the invasiveness and the 24 hour focus on what is your family doing. She said imagery, however, is important, you have Stainbrook constantly wanting to sue somebody, bad mouthing someone and digging up dirt, then what are you doing, we don’t know the good works he is doing trying to get qualified candidates elected. We all have to work together.

On the land swap involving Longfellow school, Waniewski said he tries to take the emotion out, what is best for the students now and 20 years from now, the campus setting has a lot of appeal to him but from the city perspective, is the land swap going to benefit the city of Toledo, the economic development part of it has an impact. He is hoping TPS handles the education aspect of it, his main focus is the city aspect of it. Meadows said it’s been heated and there is still healing that needs to be done because it is people’s neighborhoods.

Waniewski said if the scenario is to move Longfellow and the concern is the neighbors don’t want to lose this, what can they make the Longfellow site be? He’d like another senior center in his area, what about moving the Toledo Hall of Fame there, those are the kinds of things he’d like to see happen.

George Sarantou was on the first section of Conklin & Company. Sarantou apparently had a better meeting with Mayor-elect Mike Bell than other council members had, he came away with his meeting feeling hopeful. The automated trash program was also discussed, as far as the savings aspect, most of that information shared has been shared here before and at the citizens meeting. Conklin asked where is Toledo going this year, Sarantou predicted a slow recovery in Toledo and the midwest but he believes since they have been working for several years to promote alternative energy there will be a recovery. He also referenced the intermodal project being important and said we need to still diversify. He thinks two years from now we will be reaping the benefits.

Sarantou is considering Council presidency, he said he’s had discussions with those from both parties. Conklin asked if he could as a member of the minority party work with Democrats? Sarantou pointed out he was the second top vote getter and that Ludeman was a member of the minority party and was Council President. (That didn’t exactly go over well as far as as reaction from some.)

Part 2 Captain Lopes from the Salvation Army was on. He’s the new head of the Salvation Army for this area, and he was there to talk about the increased need in our community this holiday season, overall requests for services in this area have gone up 52%. Lopes said the need here was greater than where he came from (Mass.) The situation with the bell ringer who was robbed was discussed and how The Andersons have now allowed the bell ringers to be inside instead of outside, as they are in most other locations.

Admin note: I realize posts involving Jon Stainbrook create scenarios where some of you break/skirt the rules and I have to interject/act; please try to keep your comments on the topic, such as do you agree with what Meadows stated, do you agree with what Waniewski stated. Discussing the financial questions related to the current Lucas County Republican Party would also be appropriate as long as it meets the other rules of the site.