“The fezzes didn’t faze me”
The title of this thread has to be one of the more unique quotes I’ve heard come from Toledo City Council recently, here’s a mini version of the background, the Zenobia Shrine has decided to leave it’s downtown building after being downtown for 58 years. They want the building to be used by two Charter Schools so about 50 Shiners were in attendance yesterday to show their support for the building being used for this purpose. Evidently some on City Council and the Mayor want to see the building sit vacant in the hopes that some other use can be found for the property since it is in an entertainment district and is eligible for a liquor license. What the Shiners want conflicts with what they want. Hence the statement as reported in the Toledo Blade:
Councilman Wilma Brown said downtown doesn’t need “more children,” and said that with each new charter school more money leaves Toledo.
“The fezzes didn’t faze me,” she said.
It’s possible that the Mayor will veto this, which means the building will sit vacant. No one can dispute that as a fact since it appears no one has come forward with an interest that I’m aware of in this property, one of the reasons Councilman Michael Ashford supported it, since it would have created 50 jobs. The article doesn’t state who besides Councilpersons Brown and Copeland voted against this, but there were two others since the vote was 8 to 4, I’ll update when I find that out. A quote that also should be pointed out is one made by Councilman Ashford:
“As a city council we shouldn’t try to regulate private businesses. This can improve the whole area,” Mr. Ashford.
I know we are “supposed” to be against Charter schools because they are evil, but the reality is if the Shriners want them to have the building, and no one else appears to be busting down the door to want the building and the 50 people who are employed there will have to pay City Taxes, it’s not a total loss for the city. I do understand the Mayor’s concern that this would take the property off of the tax rolls but if the building sits vacant isn’t that going to hurt the Shriners? If the use is a legal use, shouldn’t they have a say in who uses their building? Should the fezzes have fazed them?
Chad attended the meeting yesterday, so if you are interested in his take on what happened at the City Council meeting yesterday, I recommend heading over.
Ms. Brown sat there with a blank stare on her face for most of the 2 hr meeting. With the exception of constantly eating something in front of her..she was mostly mum…
She did however manage to sign all the same checks the rest did. There was clearly tension between Shultz and Brown on Council policy and instructions. It was clear that Brown was unaware of details concerning her role in Council activity. From my vantage point, all but Ellen on the right side of the room shared the facial expression. Ellen is a smart cookie…pitty she wants out too..
May 30th, 2007 at 11:11 amWhich is more evil? A charter school, or another crumbling vacant building in the downtown area?
May 30th, 2007 at 3:14 pmLet the free market decide what the uses for the building should be. Council has no money invested in the building. It doesn’t belong to them, yet they believe they can dictate what someone uses it for? There are so many instances where Council or the City have determined in their “wisdom” that a building or piece of property should be used for a certain purpose, then they became empty and/or abandoned, helping no one. They foul up the deal for the real owner.
Get out of the “what you think is best” and let the people who are going to put up the money decide. Another example of why small business runs for the suburbs.
May 30th, 2007 at 7:07 pmThe hidden problem might be the fact that schools moving in will completely screw with exisitng and future liquor licenses. There are limitations on liquor licenses being within 500 feet of a school, and I would bet a dollar that thi is lurking in the minds of at least a couple of the minds of council members and bar owners.
May 30th, 2007 at 9:55 pmMaybe, but the owner of Manhattan’s didn’t have a problem with the charter schools being there. According to the Blade they welcomed them so either they weren’t worried about that aspect or were not aware of it.
May 30th, 2007 at 9:57 pmWhere’s the Rotary Club going to meet? The Shriner’s hall is used for many things. Indeed, there were two law school events there this year. Additionally, the local rotary club often meets there. The Toledo Club is right next door, will it lose it’s liquor license as a result of this? I support a veto. Charter schools are stupid in the first place, let alone destroying the economic viability of many other businesses in the area. Pub St. George is nearby, as well as many others. It’s a good area for having a good time, it should not be restricted by some school law. Although I think the idea of the laws concerning liquor sales near schools are ridiculous, we’re better off at this point supporting a Carty veto. State laws don’t change so easily.
May 31st, 2007 at 12:59 amYou know, someone should write a book that includes all the best/worst/dumbest/weirdest quotes from members of city council.
“The fezzes didn’t faze me.” — that should be on page one.
You just can’t make that stuff up.
June 1st, 2007 at 2:29 pmI’ve often thought about writing another book, this time more on blogging and politics rather than history. That is a good idea for quotes though, especially if we opened it up to all of Lucas County. There would probably be more than enough for a book.
June 1st, 2007 at 2:30 pmQ. Does having a school move into an existing neighborhood jeopardize the already established businesses that legally sell and serve liquor, or does it just impact businesses that apply for liquor permits after the school is established?
Doesn’t seem quite right that a school, knowing the neighborhood and existing businesses in advance, can establish themselves and adversely affect the neighborhoods and businesses like that.
There MUST be more to this.
June 2nd, 2007 at 4:18 pmWhy is that practically every time I hear about Wilma, it is hear refusing to do something? From what I understand of her, she does very little, but objects to quite a bit.
Smoke If You Got ‘Em
June 2nd, 2007 at 7:30 pmI meant to say “her refusing…” not “hear refusing”.
My bad.
June 2nd, 2007 at 7:31 pmThe property is probably already tax exempt seeing the Shrine isn’t for profit. Look at all the vacant property in the area. If Carty is expecting a Fortune 500 company to move into the Shrine, let alone this city, he may as well be waiting on the great pumpkin to come here. If a private organization were to move in, like anyone else that moves downtown, the private industry would want tax breaks, and would probably expect help from the city to renovate the building. It’s obvious from all the vacancies downtown a private company will not want it. The old Sheller Globe headquarters a block away has been vacant and on the market for years, and that is a much nicer building and already designed for office use.
This school isn’t asking for any help from the city. The bars will be open after the school is closed. The neighbors want it.
Between this veto and Carty vetoing Costco’s living wage exemption, I think we are sending a message to anyone that would want to relocate or open up shop in Toledo, this is not a business friendly city.
June 12th, 2007 at 10:21 pm