Councilman Collins wants resolution to pull City authority to run the Erie Street Market
As blogged here the other day, Councilman Collins was not happy with the delay in receiving requested information from the City. As of this morning it did not appear he received the requested information. Which created the scenario as reported in the Blade where he has asked that council’s clerk to draft legislation rescinding a previous ordinance that allows the administration to run the Erie Street Market business.
As pointed out in the Blade article, Councilmen Michael Ashford and Frank Szollosi voted no on the ordinance, Phil Copeland was absent, when this was approved back on May 6th, it’s the meeting where Councilman Tom Waniewski stated, “if you put a bandana on a pig, it’s still a pig” in reference to the Erie Street Market ordinance.
If the two no votes are yes votes for this ordinance rescinding the City’s ability to run the market, and Collins, Craig and Waniewski who all expressed concerns vote for this ordinance, they need two more votes. One would create a tie and I think we all can guess how the Mayor would vote on this issue if he were called upon to break the tie.
Collins is right there should be no reason for this delay on this topic and shame on the city for not having/providing the info.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:12 pmCollins was right in his letter last Friday and right again today for folliowing through on his ultimatum for the city to hand over the documents Mr. Collins requested.
It is now up to the rest of city council to get behind Mr. Collins. It they don’t then the mayor and those who unquestionably believe and do what the mayor says, as well as the councilwoman who, I wonder has any other purpose on council other than to be chronically absent or to just sit there munching on snacks; will get the idea that it’s right to have one code of conduct for the mayor and a different code of conduct for everybody else.
In the _Gathering Storm_, Sir Winston Churchill said how easily the tragedy of World War II could have been prevented, but _”The malice of the wicked, was reinforced by the weakness of the virtuous. The failure of the democratic states to act together before the monster was fully grown. In the beginning when it counted most, leadership failed. It is our obligation to remember so that it will never happen again.”_
July 28th, 2008 at 8:14 pmSee my letter to Loukx at about the city’s failure to fill “FOIA requests” link
July 28th, 2008 at 8:44 pm(Well, that link didn’t turn out as expected, but you’ll see the URL)
July 28th, 2008 at 8:45 pmI fixed it.
July 28th, 2008 at 8:51 pmYer so good to me!
July 28th, 2008 at 8:55 pmLisa – please don’t humor him (Graphics Guy). It’s like feeding the bears. LOL
Now – as far as Mr. Collins and his upcoming request … I hope he locks it down and the ESM gets ALL the records torn apart by a forensic accountant.
The failure of our current administration to provide council with the requested information is inexcusable. And, worse than that, is a blatant power play by our mayor. Not that power plays are a surprise when coming from him, but he has certainly turned out to be a super disappointment since being elected.
While I will agree that he (the mayor) is a very vocal cheerleader, I have come to realize that his cheerleading is a coverup for his ineptitude for keeping this city productive, attractive to new business and free from nonsensical litigation.
The throes of people that leave this city day after day should be a huge wake-up call to him. But, alas, it’s not. It appears as though he is comfortable being surrounded by the same old cronies doing the same old crap. To hell with progress.
I certainly hope Mr. Collins is victorious in his efforts. To see this administration knocked down a peg or two would be a breath of fresh air. I just wonder who is going to create the tie so that the mayor gets to stomp his feet and get his way again.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:22 pmCarol, I can’t help it, Graphics and I go way back
I hope it doesn’t end up as a tie, it could happen that Councilman Collins after getting the information decides to not proceed with his ordinance, it could end up that he does not have enough votes, it’s really hard to gage what will happen.
We’ll find out tomorrow…
I think it’s disturbing that a citizen like Graphics has waited this long for his information request, he should not have to hire an attorney to be able to get information that should be easily available. There is a disturbing pattern of arrogance as far as how people are being treated that is wrong.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:31 pmLisa – if you remember … you, me and GG all came from the same jungle. LOL
July 29th, 2008 at 1:46 amCarol and Lisa, TMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 29th, 2008 at 6:16 am“There is a disturbing pattern of arrogance as far as how people are being treated that is wrong.”
Keep making public statements like this and your e-mail will be blocked, going into city hall and the flow of info will shut off completely.
Twice now, my e-mail domain has been blocked and twice after some intervention it was unblocked.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:38 amDidn’t Carty or one of his cronies project a huge revenue from ESM? What did they project as income from that entity in the city budget?
July 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pmNC, that would be unfortunate if that were done to me too, but most times I call them, so they’d have to block my phone too.
Carol, true that’s why we are troublemakers.
Ron, good point it does not appear there has the profit that was earlier believed would happen.
July 29th, 2008 at 1:40 pmAnd many don’t return phone calls.
Either way it is symptomatic of an administration that circles the wagons and closes in on itself when there is any thing other than the status quo.
If the messages are not listened to or listened to and then ignored all is well in some minds.
July 29th, 2008 at 1:45 pmAh jeez! In this or another posting, Carol likens me to a pit bull, then a bear, and now I’m lumped in as a ‘troublemaker’!
“I feel the love!”
July 29th, 2008 at 2:46 pmThere is probably no profit from the ESM. The city’s income statement notes that it does not include any utilities or “other overhead costs” which it says are “assumed by the City of Toledo.” With its high ceilings that building is very inefficient to heat/cool so it is likely that these utility costs would eliminate the entire $25,000 profit that the statement shows.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:47 pmGraphics, if it’s any consolation, I’m probably the most troublesome one of the bunch, then and now.
Joel, excellent point, if it does not include utility costs then it is a logical assumption that there would be no profit, that it would actually be running at a deficit. I don’t remember off hand the utilities, they were a bit lower than a normal building because of the geothermal but the costs were if I am remembering correctly more than $25,000 for six months of energy costs. I’ll have to check through my documentation to pull up the exact number for utility costs.
July 29th, 2008 at 3:13 pmLisa – don’t encourage him! LOL I’m telling ya – it’s not a good thing!
July 29th, 2008 at 6:19 pmAnd I don’t believe you were the most troublesome. They didn’t escort you out of the building and take your key pass! LOL