Mardi Gras Madness At City Hall

[Bill Call]

It seems Mayor George was in New Orleans this week on the company dime.

http://postcarboncities.net/node/1445

Perhaps the pressure of the recent campaign required this little vacation or maybe it was news that the City is facing a $4 million dollar deficit in its general fund. Nothing brings on the urge to spend money like the realization that might soon run out.

One of the mysteries of the campaign season is how Mondays budget surplus becomes Wednesdays budget emergency.

Rumor has it that City employees are seeking job demotions to secure civil service status, negotiating their severance packages, merit raises and sweeter overtime deals. So much work to do during the transition and so little time.

I have a feeling that Mayor George will be putting coal in Ed Fitzgeralds Christmas stocking.

[Grace O'Malley]

It's OK Bill, don't worry, everything will be roses and wine when Ed takes over. He'll whip the city into shape, get rid of those pesky Section 8'ers, get tough on crime and slumlords, fill the empty storefronts, and send those lazy city workers packing.

And all without a tax increase!

Better times are a'coming. Don't be so glum.

[Shawn Juris]

Glad to hear that he went. Hopefully, there will be a wealth of information that he can share during the transition. National League of Cities appeared pretty well run in my experience and I seem to recall Mayor George being a key figure. I have a hard time finding fault in our city's leader attending a conference to gain a wider perspective. Better than constantly beating our heads against these Northeast Ohio Walls.

[Jennifer Pae]

Mayor George did not attend the National League of Cities conference in New Orleans.

[Justine Cooper]

Too bad. He deserved to attend a conference in a place away from here and have a little fun. Regardless of what some may claim, he put in long hours and worked hard for this city. Most conferences are held in places to attract people Bill! Even a devastated New Orleans seems more attractive than downtown Cleveland lately with our lovely weather!

[dl meckes]

Mayor George did not attend the National League of Cities conference in New Orleans.

Why would Bill Call let pesky facts stand in the way of a criticism?

[Nathan Kelly]

I also heard that Mayor George was out of town attending the NLC conference. In fact, I heard about the trip before Election Day. What changed?

The Mayor's whereabouts are not important. Bill's point about he budget is important, and needs to be a priority, regardless of the surrounding politics.

[Bill Call]

Mayor George did not attend the National League of Cities conference in New Orleans.

Why would Bill Call let pesky facts stand in the way of a criticism?

I got verification from three people before I posted the information.

When I get information like this I always tell the source that I will not disclose their name. In the future I will amend that to say that I will not disclose your name as long as the information is true. If it turns out not to be true everyone will know where the orginal information came from.

I suspect that my mail box will be a lot emptier.

The FACT is the City faces a real fiscal crisis. While I have confidence in the team that the Mayor elect is putting together I don't think they realize the intense opposition they will face if they try to wrest control of the City from the bureaucracy.

It's going to be an interesting year.

[Grace O'Malley]

I got verification from three people before I posted the information.

VERIFICATION?

What you got, obviously, was RUMOUR.

If I were you, I'd write your sources off as unreliable and quit posting scurrilous comments. This is not the first time you've done that. As I recall, you thought you had the big scoop on a "Seeley" nepotism employee.
That was also false.

You remember the story about the boy who cried wolf?

[Jim O'Bryan]

I got verification from three people before I posted the information.

Bill


Is this another one of those Brigadoon moments again?

I can never forget the deep drill down you did on "Bob Seelie" giving his family member "Dave Selley".

Then the reoccurring hatred for the hospital. Based on ZERO facts to the point they were willing to open their books for you.

The city is in a financial crisis. I hold the mayor, and council to blame. That would include the new mayor.

That said I love this city and will do all I can to help Ed and the new council pull this city out of this crisis.

Ed is a bright person, with experience in law enforcement and city hall. I have hope. That said I am not sure where I see any new money coming in. programs being slashed, and a tax hike at some point.

New Orleans?

Give the guy a break.

Besides, showing the end of the world is near. I agree with Shawn about National League of Cities. Good people, good programs, good perspectives.

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[Nathan Kelly]

There were six statements in the top post. One has been disputed, but not refuted.

[Mary Breiner]

Bill,
Not only do you owe your fellow Observer Readers an apology for your sensational, misinformation, but maybe this is a heads up to you to tone down your angry, antagonistic, poisonous pen. I have read many posts in the past few months by you and I can see you are very negative and critical of everything and most everybody in Lakewood. I haven't seen your name on any election ballots, but if you seem to think you know it all and can correct all the ills of our city, then why don't you run for office and get going on fixing everything that is wrong about us and Lakewod. It is reading posts by people like you, that many are intimidated and reluctant to write in the Observer. So what we have learned here is that you were wrong and your "sources" were wrong. I hope you have learned a lesson.
That's all I have to say.

Mary Breiner

[Rick Uldricks]

deleted

[Jim O'Bryan]

Rick


I would agree that Bill owes no one an apology. Though it always bothers me and defeats the purpose of the Observer to frame a conversation or statement with "a source who does not want to be unidentified."

The name of the game here is own your words and thoughts. A civic discussion with real people that care enough and back their thoughts enough to use real names.

This is an ugly side door that has been used by Bill and others. Don't tell me the talk, and the back alley. Tell me how you feel and why.

In the end we are framed by our words. I have sat with Bill in talks between us and others. He is a passionate person about his beliefs. He is very intelligent and great fun to drink with, along with his wife.

BUT, he is a fire starter.


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[Jim O'Bryan]

Rick


I would agree that Bill owes no one an apology. Though it always bothers me and defeats the purpose of the Observer to frame a conversation or statement with "a source who does not want to be unidentified."

The name of the game here is own your words and thoughts. A civic discussion with real people that care enough and back their thoughts enough to use real names.

This is an ugly side door that has been used by Bill and others. Don't tell me the talk, and the back alley. Tell me how you feel and why.

In the end we are framed by our words. I have sat with Bill in talks between us and others. He is a passionate person about his beliefs. He is very intelligent and great fun to drink with, along with his wife.

BUT, he is a fire starter.

On the flip side the safest thing a person can do who is in whistle blower mode is to go public. It is the only sane and legal way to go. You cannot legally be fired for whistle blowing. For the person fired, it would be like hitting the lottery. Best thing a person can do is time stamp the comment in a public forum with their name, and dicument any trouble that follows.

"a source that does not want to be identified, is a person that is not willing to stand behind their comments." The comments then have zero value.

I only know of two people that have suffered for comments on the Observation Deck. One is a very good person, the other well...

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