A faithful reader inquired today if they could use the pictures of the parks that appear in The Massillon Review. The answer is certainly. Consider our park pictures in the public domain. Show your friends. Show your neighbors. Use them in a campaign for city council. Help yourself. As these are our parks, paid for with our tax dollars, feel free to take your own pictures. As they are government owned properties, snap away!
Perhaps some burgeoning investigative reporter will catch a park vandal, or two, in the act, and we can stop this senseless destruction of our park system. Beware, however, of 'neglect,' as he is quite destructive and most dangerous.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The Vandals Are On The March
A faithful reader has shown us proof to confirm the rumors that Massillon's insidious park vandals have headed downtown, attacking a city parking lot.
See how these vandals buckle the asphalt, and refuse to weed.
Then they attack innocent flower boxes, and trash containers. 
'Neglect' has even struck our Veterans' memorials.
Be ever vigilant, as it appears the 'park vandals' are no longer contained just to the parks. They have ruthlessly attacked other city owned property as well.
See how these vandals buckle the asphalt, and refuse to weed.
Then they attack innocent flower boxes, and trash containers.
'Neglect' has even struck our Veterans' memorials.
Be ever vigilant, as it appears the 'park vandals' are no longer contained just to the parks. They have ruthlessly attacked other city owned property as well.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Opening Up the Mailbag
Let's see what's on the minds of the faithful readers of the Massillon Review;
"Do you think we should have term limits in Massillon so our mayor could not serve for life?"
Yes. We believe term limits are appropriate. After a quarter of a century as mayor, a person should probably call it a career.
"Why do you hate the mayor?"
We don't. We are saddened by what he has done to our city's finances, and to our parks. We are disappointed by how he broke the promises that were made when the people voted to raise their taxes to pay for what they thought would be a first class park system. We don't respect how he bullies those who dare challenge him, but we don't hate him. He has provided the Massillon Review team with unending entertainment.
"You mentioned a poll. Was their a poll about the Mayors race?"
Yes. Stay tuned.
"Is Kathy Catazaro running for mayor?"
Maybe.
"Did you get your Arctic Xpress hockey tickets for the 2010/2011 season?"
Yes we did. As a matter of fact, the home opener at "The Arena" is Massillon Review night. We will be giving away Massillon Review T-Shirts to the first 6,000 fans. We are hoping the mayor is there to drop the ceremonial first puck.
Thank You
It is the constant support of our faithful readers that makes running the Massillon Review such a pleasure. The humble Massillon Review team thanks you!
"Do you think we should have term limits in Massillon so our mayor could not serve for life?"
Yes. We believe term limits are appropriate. After a quarter of a century as mayor, a person should probably call it a career.
"Why do you hate the mayor?"
We don't. We are saddened by what he has done to our city's finances, and to our parks. We are disappointed by how he broke the promises that were made when the people voted to raise their taxes to pay for what they thought would be a first class park system. We don't respect how he bullies those who dare challenge him, but we don't hate him. He has provided the Massillon Review team with unending entertainment.
"You mentioned a poll. Was their a poll about the Mayors race?"
Yes. Stay tuned.
"Is Kathy Catazaro running for mayor?"
Maybe.
"Did you get your Arctic Xpress hockey tickets for the 2010/2011 season?"
Yes we did. As a matter of fact, the home opener at "The Arena" is Massillon Review night. We will be giving away Massillon Review T-Shirts to the first 6,000 fans. We are hoping the mayor is there to drop the ceremonial first puck.
Thank You
It is the constant support of our faithful readers that makes running the Massillon Review such a pleasure. The humble Massillon Review team thanks you!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Checking In On the Park Vandals
Our parks are in deplorable shape. Our Mayor for Life has diverted money from the parks income tax, passed by the citizens, to help subsidize his failing golf course. This year alone, council rubber stamps Ron Mang, Larry Slagle, David McCune, and Taxman Hersher, with Council President, and the mayor's loyal enforcer, Glenn Gamber, breaking the tie, voted to appropriate almost $200,000 of park tax money to buy the restaurant at the Legends of Massillon Golf Course. They bought it, according to Parks and Recreation/Legends Golf Course office manager Julie Jenkins, "without a business plan."
The mayor's public relations flak, Parks Czar Kenn Kaminski, knows he can't say the parks are a mess because he doesn't have money for basic maintenance and upkeep after it has been sucked up by the unprofitable golf course. He blames our park problems on "park vandals." Autumn is now here. Let's see what the park vandals were up to this summer.
Below, we have a picture of a section of the rubberized Campbell walking path in Reservoir Park. It really is rubberized. See the red sections along the side? That's the rubberized part. One of our more destructive park vandals, neglect, has been terrorizing the walking path. Perhaps basic upkeep would tame neglect. Apparently, we will never know.
This is a park grill. Seriously. It is.
Imagine taking the family to the park for a nice cookout on one of these taxpayer funded grills. These pictures show yet another insidious park vandal, oxidation, hard at work. Oxidation has eaten a hole through the bottom of the grill, which caused the grill to crash down over the post. We sure hope the kitchen facilities at Club Legends are safe from the evil atrocities caused by oxidation.
Look, a red trash barrel. Look closer. It ain't red. Oxidation has been vandalizing this innocent barrel as well.
Glad to see our .3% income tax for parks and recreation hard at work. It seems to be money well spent.
The mayor's public relations flak, Parks Czar Kenn Kaminski, knows he can't say the parks are a mess because he doesn't have money for basic maintenance and upkeep after it has been sucked up by the unprofitable golf course. He blames our park problems on "park vandals." Autumn is now here. Let's see what the park vandals were up to this summer.
Below, we have a picture of a section of the rubberized Campbell walking path in Reservoir Park. It really is rubberized. See the red sections along the side? That's the rubberized part. One of our more destructive park vandals, neglect, has been terrorizing the walking path. Perhaps basic upkeep would tame neglect. Apparently, we will never know.
This is a park grill. Seriously. It is.
Imagine taking the family to the park for a nice cookout on one of these taxpayer funded grills. These pictures show yet another insidious park vandal, oxidation, hard at work. Oxidation has eaten a hole through the bottom of the grill, which caused the grill to crash down over the post. We sure hope the kitchen facilities at Club Legends are safe from the evil atrocities caused by oxidation.
Look, a red trash barrel. Look closer. It ain't red. Oxidation has been vandalizing this innocent barrel as well.
Glad to see our .3% income tax for parks and recreation hard at work. It seems to be money well spent.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Do You Believe in Miracles? Yes!
Residents of the Tuslaw School District stood up to the undisputed King of Massillon Politics, a man who has dominated the Massillon political scene for 37 years, our Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli. And Cicchinelli backed down.
With no legal right to object to our Mayor for Life's plan to annex an entire school system, the residents of Tuslaw could have easily rolled over and played dead.
They instead chose to stand and fight. They pressured the mayor. They pressured the rubber stamps on city council. They pressured the rubber stamps so much, that some of them openly claimed that they would oppose the mayor's plan.
Then the residents of Tuslaw started going door to door... in Massillon, and had Massillon residents overwhelmingly support their cause, and sign their petition opposing this tax grab masked as an annexation.
Our Mayor for Life's budget shortfall is huge. The $120,000 in income tax he would have reaped from Tuslaw's teachers would have helped him close his budget chasm.
But he overreached. A school system is the heart and soul of a community. What Massillon's Mayor for Life proposed was a theft of the Tuslaw schools. Tuslaw residents knew this was wrong. Massillon residents knew this was wrong, too.
The political pressure became too much for our embattled mayor to handle. Even the rubber stamps were beginning to retreat from the battlefield. Donnie Peters, David McCune, and even Taxman Hersher began to object.
Our Mayor for Life is running for a seventh term next year. He isn't as popular as he once was. And he knows it. This isn't his first retreat;
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/09/mayor-has-got-tonys-back.html
But it is his biggest. The mayor is on the run. He is concerned. He was beaten by a bunch of carpetbaggers from Tuslaw.
Congratulations to the residents of Tuslaw who chose to fight against long odds. You have taken the battlefield.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeTgx_pj6m8
The day is yours.
With no legal right to object to our Mayor for Life's plan to annex an entire school system, the residents of Tuslaw could have easily rolled over and played dead.
They instead chose to stand and fight. They pressured the mayor. They pressured the rubber stamps on city council. They pressured the rubber stamps so much, that some of them openly claimed that they would oppose the mayor's plan.
Then the residents of Tuslaw started going door to door... in Massillon, and had Massillon residents overwhelmingly support their cause, and sign their petition opposing this tax grab masked as an annexation.
Our Mayor for Life's budget shortfall is huge. The $120,000 in income tax he would have reaped from Tuslaw's teachers would have helped him close his budget chasm.
But he overreached. A school system is the heart and soul of a community. What Massillon's Mayor for Life proposed was a theft of the Tuslaw schools. Tuslaw residents knew this was wrong. Massillon residents knew this was wrong, too.
The political pressure became too much for our embattled mayor to handle. Even the rubber stamps were beginning to retreat from the battlefield. Donnie Peters, David McCune, and even Taxman Hersher began to object.
Our Mayor for Life is running for a seventh term next year. He isn't as popular as he once was. And he knows it. This isn't his first retreat;
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/09/mayor-has-got-tonys-back.html
But it is his biggest. The mayor is on the run. He is concerned. He was beaten by a bunch of carpetbaggers from Tuslaw.
Congratulations to the residents of Tuslaw who chose to fight against long odds. You have taken the battlefield.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeTgx_pj6m8
The day is yours.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
"They're Here."
Insidious, unwanted, blood-sucking parasites, who embed themselves in our community, and are impossible to rid. Bed bugs?
Worse. Carpetbaggers.
When announcing his candidacy for a seventh term as Massillon's Mayor for Life, our mayor warned us of such vile creatures;
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he would call out such "carpetbaggers..." There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said, refusing to identify such people" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
The Massillon Review once more stands with our Mayor for Life in drawing a line in the sand. We are once again calling out the carpetbaggers.
We have called out numerous carpetbaggers in the past, including;
The mayor's campaign contributors;
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/line-in-sand.html
The mayor's department heads;
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/they-walk-among-us.html
The mayor's public relations firm;
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-carpetbaggers.html
and the mayor himself;
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/carpetbagger-exposed.html
We now sound the trumpet to warn of even more carpetbaggers. These carpetbaggers have invaded our fair city, are dabbling in our city politics, and are making life difficult for our beloved Mayor for Life. These people are the residents of the Tuslaw School District who are protesting our mayor's plan to annex every school building in the Tuslaw Local School District.
This is a Massillon issue. These people are jealous because our Mayor for Life had hatched a scheme to skillfully exploit a loophole in Ohio law, and annex the Tuslaw schools. He was going to harvest $120,000 in income tax off the backs of Tuslaw teachers to help plug the black hole that is the Massillon City budget. By law, the Tuslaw schools had no right to object. Everything was going fine until those pesky Tuslaw people invaded our town.
These carpetbaggers grabbed their pitchforks and rode to the sound of the Massillon Council meetings, and to the mayor's town hall meetings. They phoned, emailed, and badgered Massillon City Council members to object to the mayor's plan.
These carpetbaggers have even been seen on Massillon's West side, going door to door, and having decent, God fearing native Massillonians sign their petition objecting to our Mayor for Life's scheme.
The pressure seems to be working. Several of the mayor's normally reliable council rubber stamps may actually oppose our mayor's scheme. For several members, this would be the first time they ever objected to a plan hatched by our Mayor for Life.
The Mayor is calling a press conference for 2:00PM tomorrow. Will he be changing his annexation plans? Has the Tuslaw carpetbaggers foray into Massillon politics been successful? Our Mayor for Life doesn't like to lose. The ball is now in his court.
Worse. Carpetbaggers.
When announcing his candidacy for a seventh term as Massillon's Mayor for Life, our mayor warned us of such vile creatures;
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he would call out such "carpetbaggers..." There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said, refusing to identify such people" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
The Massillon Review once more stands with our Mayor for Life in drawing a line in the sand. We are once again calling out the carpetbaggers.
We have called out numerous carpetbaggers in the past, including;
The mayor's campaign contributors;
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/line-in-sand.html
The mayor's department heads;
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/they-walk-among-us.html
The mayor's public relations firm;
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-carpetbaggers.html
and the mayor himself;
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/carpetbagger-exposed.html
We now sound the trumpet to warn of even more carpetbaggers. These carpetbaggers have invaded our fair city, are dabbling in our city politics, and are making life difficult for our beloved Mayor for Life. These people are the residents of the Tuslaw School District who are protesting our mayor's plan to annex every school building in the Tuslaw Local School District.
This is a Massillon issue. These people are jealous because our Mayor for Life had hatched a scheme to skillfully exploit a loophole in Ohio law, and annex the Tuslaw schools. He was going to harvest $120,000 in income tax off the backs of Tuslaw teachers to help plug the black hole that is the Massillon City budget. By law, the Tuslaw schools had no right to object. Everything was going fine until those pesky Tuslaw people invaded our town.
These carpetbaggers grabbed their pitchforks and rode to the sound of the Massillon Council meetings, and to the mayor's town hall meetings. They phoned, emailed, and badgered Massillon City Council members to object to the mayor's plan.
These carpetbaggers have even been seen on Massillon's West side, going door to door, and having decent, God fearing native Massillonians sign their petition objecting to our Mayor for Life's scheme.
The pressure seems to be working. Several of the mayor's normally reliable council rubber stamps may actually oppose our mayor's scheme. For several members, this would be the first time they ever objected to a plan hatched by our Mayor for Life.
The Mayor is calling a press conference for 2:00PM tomorrow. Will he be changing his annexation plans? Has the Tuslaw carpetbaggers foray into Massillon politics been successful? Our Mayor for Life doesn't like to lose. The ball is now in his court.
Say It Ain't So, Mayor. Say It Ain't So.
According to the Independent, Massillon's Mayor for Life may not be heading over to City Council Monday night to make his big pitch as to why council should support his proposed annexation of the Tuslaw Local Schools.
Cicchinelli may opt to hold a press conference instead. "When asked if his plans have changed, or may change, Cicchinelli refused to comment..." (The Independent, September 22, 2010).
Is it possible that our Mayor for Life does not have the votes to push this annexation through council? Might some of his heretofore loyal rubber stamps be exercising a smidgen of independence? Will he pull his proposal so that he is not embarrassed by council actually voting it down?
He went too far
Many folks have speculated our that our Mayor for Life went too far by utilizing a loophole in state law to annex an entire school system from a neighboring community. All Cicchinelli saw was the $120,000 in city income tax he could harvest from Tuslaw's teachers to help plug the massive hole in his budget. He never suspected the overwhelming opposition to his scheme from the Tuslaw community, as well as from many of his own constituents.
The Tuslaw community immediately went to work to drum up popular support, pressure the Massillon City Council, and aggressively oppose this annexation. What the mayor failed to realize is that a school system is the heart of a community, and he was trying to rob Peter to Pay Paul to help solve his own budget mess. Imagine how loyal Massillonians would react if Jackson Township tried to annex Washington High School and Paul Brown Tiger stadium. He didn't realize the hornet's nest he stirred up in Tuslaw.
Our Mayor for Life has never really had organized opposition to his policies. Pay the mortgage for a private hotel. No opposition. Hijack the park tax money to subsidize a failing golf course. No opposition. Spend a million dollars on an arena that was never built. No opposition. Our Mayor for Life has never really been challenged. It must have been a new experience for him.
While we believe that the council rubber stamps wanted to keep our mayor happy, and support his annexation, the citizen pressure may have been too much for city council to follow our mayor over the cliff on this vote.
Who's to blame?
If he does pull his proposal, and that's a big 'if,' and if he does hold a press conference to announce his retreat, we wonder who he will blame. Massillon's Mayor for Life isn't a big subscriber to the philosophy of the buck stopping here. Who will he blame? City Council? The residents of Tuslaw? The local newspaper? He certainly won't blame himself for overreaching.
Mayor, you tried to annex an entire neighboring school system. Think about it. You overreached.
Cicchinelli may opt to hold a press conference instead. "When asked if his plans have changed, or may change, Cicchinelli refused to comment..." (The Independent, September 22, 2010).
Is it possible that our Mayor for Life does not have the votes to push this annexation through council? Might some of his heretofore loyal rubber stamps be exercising a smidgen of independence? Will he pull his proposal so that he is not embarrassed by council actually voting it down?
He went too far
Many folks have speculated our that our Mayor for Life went too far by utilizing a loophole in state law to annex an entire school system from a neighboring community. All Cicchinelli saw was the $120,000 in city income tax he could harvest from Tuslaw's teachers to help plug the massive hole in his budget. He never suspected the overwhelming opposition to his scheme from the Tuslaw community, as well as from many of his own constituents.
The Tuslaw community immediately went to work to drum up popular support, pressure the Massillon City Council, and aggressively oppose this annexation. What the mayor failed to realize is that a school system is the heart of a community, and he was trying to rob Peter to Pay Paul to help solve his own budget mess. Imagine how loyal Massillonians would react if Jackson Township tried to annex Washington High School and Paul Brown Tiger stadium. He didn't realize the hornet's nest he stirred up in Tuslaw.
Our Mayor for Life has never really had organized opposition to his policies. Pay the mortgage for a private hotel. No opposition. Hijack the park tax money to subsidize a failing golf course. No opposition. Spend a million dollars on an arena that was never built. No opposition. Our Mayor for Life has never really been challenged. It must have been a new experience for him.
While we believe that the council rubber stamps wanted to keep our mayor happy, and support his annexation, the citizen pressure may have been too much for city council to follow our mayor over the cliff on this vote.
Who's to blame?
If he does pull his proposal, and that's a big 'if,' and if he does hold a press conference to announce his retreat, we wonder who he will blame. Massillon's Mayor for Life isn't a big subscriber to the philosophy of the buck stopping here. Who will he blame? City Council? The residents of Tuslaw? The local newspaper? He certainly won't blame himself for overreaching.
Mayor, you tried to annex an entire neighboring school system. Think about it. You overreached.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
It Starts Earlier Every Year
It appears as if campaign season is starting early in Tigertown. A reliable Massillon Review source is claiming that a poll was conducted already for next year's election. Stay tuned for more details.
Rubber Stamp Revolt?
According to the Independent, Councilman David McCune may oppose our Mayor for Life's plan to annex the Tuslaw schools, unless Cicchinelli "can prove that future opportunity for growth exists beyond the borders of the Tuslaw Local schools property" (The Independent, September 21, 2010).
Add David McCune to David Hersher, who is leaning against the annexation;
"Hersher, too, said he is inclined to vote against the annexation based upon the public outcry" (The Independent, August 21, 2010).
and Donnie Peters;
"Peters said the annexation would give the city a "black eye" with its neighbors to the west" (The Independent, August 21, 2010).
Based on these comments in the paper, one would believe that these three reliable supporters of our Mayor for Life might buck the big guy, and oppose his annexation when the "statement of services" comes to a vote on October 4th.
All is not lost, however, for our Mayor for Life's proposal to annex the Tuslaw schools, thus subjecting Tuslaw's teachers to Massillon's income tax.
Mayor Cicchinelli is coming to council's work session on September 27 to pitch his proposal to council. He will be outlining the fine city services Massillon will be making available to the proposed annexation area in an effort to "persuade" council to support his plan.
We would imagine it won't take a lot of "persuading" to convince Councilmen Hersher and McCune to hop on board the annexation train. Herser and McCune have never opposed our Mayor for Life on a major issue. Never.
We would be stunned if it happened now.
Add David McCune to David Hersher, who is leaning against the annexation;
"Hersher, too, said he is inclined to vote against the annexation based upon the public outcry" (The Independent, August 21, 2010).
and Donnie Peters;
"Peters said the annexation would give the city a "black eye" with its neighbors to the west" (The Independent, August 21, 2010).
Based on these comments in the paper, one would believe that these three reliable supporters of our Mayor for Life might buck the big guy, and oppose his annexation when the "statement of services" comes to a vote on October 4th.
All is not lost, however, for our Mayor for Life's proposal to annex the Tuslaw schools, thus subjecting Tuslaw's teachers to Massillon's income tax.
Mayor Cicchinelli is coming to council's work session on September 27 to pitch his proposal to council. He will be outlining the fine city services Massillon will be making available to the proposed annexation area in an effort to "persuade" council to support his plan.
We would imagine it won't take a lot of "persuading" to convince Councilmen Hersher and McCune to hop on board the annexation train. Herser and McCune have never opposed our Mayor for Life on a major issue. Never.
We would be stunned if it happened now.
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Taxman Cometh
In 2007, David Hersher was elected to Massillon City Council as an at large member. Massillon voters get to elect three at large members. We elected Paul Manson, Larry Slagle, and the aforementioned David Hersher. Hersher finished third of three in the vote totals, about one thousand votes behind Manson and Slagle. Manson and Slagle had almost identical vote totals.
Manson.....3,963 votes
Slagle.........3,953 votes
Hersher.....2,965 votes
In 2009, Manson, Slagle, and David Hersher all ran for re-election. They were unopposed for the three Massillon City Council slots. The voters may cast three votes for council at large. In theory, Manson, Slagle, and Hersher should have received approximately the same vote total. Three candidates, and three votes for council at large. They didn't. Paul Manson and Larry Slagle received about the same number of votes, with David Hersher finishing a distant third.
Manson......4,088 votes
Slagle..........4,075 votes
Hersher......3,293 votes
Almost 800 less people voted for David Hersher than voted for Paul Manson, or Larry Slagle, and all three were unopposed.
One would guess after looking at the election results, Councilman Hersher would be inclined to improve his standing within the community, and work hard to be a councilman who truly represents his constituents, thereby increasing his public support.
One would be wrong.
David Hersher's tenure on Massillon City Council hasn't exactly been Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. David Hersher has become one of Massillon Mayor for Life Frank Cicchinelli's most loyal rubber stamps.
When elected to city council, the first initiative pushed by Councilman Hersher was to raise our sewer rates. He was in office just a few short months, but in that short time decided our sewer rates were not high enough. Now David Hersher is working on legislation to assess Massillon residents a monthly storm water fee. This fee will generate an additional $160,000 per year for the city. When this passes, and we are confident the rubber stamps will approve it, this will be Hersher's second major fee increase in less than three years as a councilman.
While we are not so naive as to not realize where Hersher's fee increase plans truly originated from, it is quite apparent that Hersher is happily taking responsibility for their enactment. We do, however, need to be careful. When Taxman Hersher comes looking for your vote next year to return him to council, city residents better hide their wallets.
Manson.....3,963 votes
Slagle.........3,953 votes
Hersher.....2,965 votes
In 2009, Manson, Slagle, and David Hersher all ran for re-election. They were unopposed for the three Massillon City Council slots. The voters may cast three votes for council at large. In theory, Manson, Slagle, and Hersher should have received approximately the same vote total. Three candidates, and three votes for council at large. They didn't. Paul Manson and Larry Slagle received about the same number of votes, with David Hersher finishing a distant third.
Manson......4,088 votes
Slagle..........4,075 votes
Hersher......3,293 votes
Almost 800 less people voted for David Hersher than voted for Paul Manson, or Larry Slagle, and all three were unopposed.
One would guess after looking at the election results, Councilman Hersher would be inclined to improve his standing within the community, and work hard to be a councilman who truly represents his constituents, thereby increasing his public support.
One would be wrong.
David Hersher's tenure on Massillon City Council hasn't exactly been Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. David Hersher has become one of Massillon Mayor for Life Frank Cicchinelli's most loyal rubber stamps.
When elected to city council, the first initiative pushed by Councilman Hersher was to raise our sewer rates. He was in office just a few short months, but in that short time decided our sewer rates were not high enough. Now David Hersher is working on legislation to assess Massillon residents a monthly storm water fee. This fee will generate an additional $160,000 per year for the city. When this passes, and we are confident the rubber stamps will approve it, this will be Hersher's second major fee increase in less than three years as a councilman.
While we are not so naive as to not realize where Hersher's fee increase plans truly originated from, it is quite apparent that Hersher is happily taking responsibility for their enactment. We do, however, need to be careful. When Taxman Hersher comes looking for your vote next year to return him to council, city residents better hide their wallets.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Well?
Summer is coming to an end. Massillon City Council's well deserved Summer vacation is over as well. Only 3 and one half months left in the year. Our Tigers are already heading into week 4. So, is the City of Massillon broke, or not?
Back in June, June 18th to be exact, Auditor Jayne Ferrero told The Independent that the city would be short about one million dollars this year.
"We're on target for the budget that was passed, but we know that we did not budget enough in there for police and fire salaries. We know that" (The Independent, June 18, 2010).
Huh. What it is the take of our Mayor for Life?
"I feel confident the dollars will be there to make it through this year and we'll have the dollars to make it through next year" (The Independent, July 6, 2010).
And what does city council think?
They don't think. Finances are never discussed. Massillon City Council Finance Committee Chair Paul Manson never brings it up. Why? Because our Mayor for Life tells him it everything is fine. Don't worry, be happy.
Besides, city council is busy struggling with the titanic issues of the day, such as debating their much needed Summer vacation, and how to best thwart the renaming of a park.
So who is telling the truth? Auditor Jayne Ferrero, or Massillon's Mayor for Life?
Is the city short, or not?
You make the call. We already know the answer.
What is obvious is that with just a little over three months left in the year, nobody in city government is discussing city finances. Nobody.
Back in June, June 18th to be exact, Auditor Jayne Ferrero told The Independent that the city would be short about one million dollars this year.
"We're on target for the budget that was passed, but we know that we did not budget enough in there for police and fire salaries. We know that" (The Independent, June 18, 2010).
Huh. What it is the take of our Mayor for Life?
"I feel confident the dollars will be there to make it through this year and we'll have the dollars to make it through next year" (The Independent, July 6, 2010).
And what does city council think?
They don't think. Finances are never discussed. Massillon City Council Finance Committee Chair Paul Manson never brings it up. Why? Because our Mayor for Life tells him it everything is fine. Don't worry, be happy.
Besides, city council is busy struggling with the titanic issues of the day, such as debating their much needed Summer vacation, and how to best thwart the renaming of a park.
So who is telling the truth? Auditor Jayne Ferrero, or Massillon's Mayor for Life?
Is the city short, or not?
You make the call. We already know the answer.
What is obvious is that with just a little over three months left in the year, nobody in city government is discussing city finances. Nobody.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Last Chance
Mark your calendars.
The last chance to meet with Massillon's Mayor for Life face to face before Massillon City Council's October 4th vote on the Tuslaw School District annexation is on Monday, September 27th.
Massillon's Ward 2 Town Hall Meeting
Monday, September 27
First Assembly of God Church
326 Lake Ave NE
Meeting Starts at 7:00PM
The mayor should be arriving right after he makes his big pitch to city council on why they should approve his annexation.
Should be an entertaining evening.
The last chance to meet with Massillon's Mayor for Life face to face before Massillon City Council's October 4th vote on the Tuslaw School District annexation is on Monday, September 27th.
Massillon's Ward 2 Town Hall Meeting
Monday, September 27
First Assembly of God Church
326 Lake Ave NE
Meeting Starts at 7:00PM
The mayor should be arriving right after he makes his big pitch to city council on why they should approve his annexation.
Should be an entertaining evening.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Todd Snitchler is Anti-Massillon
In Mayor Frank Cicchinelli's world, life is simple. Life is black and white. Good is good, and evil is evil. In the 37 years he has served in Massillon's government, one would think his political skin would toughen. It hasn't. You can not disagree with a policy of our Mayor for Life without him treating it as a personal, negative attack. Not only is disagreeing with him an attack against him personally, but he perceives it as an attack against the entire city.
If you disagree with a policy of our Mayor for Life, you are "anti-Massillon," and a "mayor hater." He even has members of his administration repeating the party line.
When people were complaining about the deplorable condition of the city's parks, because money that could have been utilized for basic upkeep and maintenance was being hijacked to support the failing Legends of Massillon golf course, Kenn Kaminski referred to these people as "anti- (Mayor Frank) Cicchinelli people" (The Independent, May 10, 2010). It wasn't that the parks were a mess, it was that the people were anti-Cicchinelli mayor haters.
Today, we add another individual to Mayor Cicchinelli's ever expanding enemies list. Not only is he an Anti-Massillon, Anti-Cicchinelli mayor hater, he is also a carpetbagger, because he does not reside in our fair city. The Massillon Review would like to formally induct State Representative Todd Snitchler on to our Mayor for Life's enemies list.
We would like to say that this induction is an honor, but the list is so large that NASA super computer technology is now required to maintain it.
Representative Snitchler is opposing our Mayor for Life's land grab of the Tuslaw School District. He wishes to close the loophole that allows our mayor to grab other local government property without the local government, in this case the school system, even having a say. On Tuesday, he introduced a bill in the Ohio House of Representatives to close this loophole.
"This legislation will make changes to the current statute, the spirit of which is being abused by Mayor Cicchinelli's proposal, in order to ensure that all parties to an annexation - particularly those who end up paying the taxes - have the ability to engage in the annexation process so that what appear to be loopholes in the statute cannot be used against them" (The Independent, September 15, 2010).
Snitchler also referred to the proposed annexation by our Mayor for Life of the Tuslaw School District as a "blatant 'tax grab' by Mayor Cicchinelli for the purpose of bolstering declining city revenues" (The Independent, September 15, 2010).
Cicchinelli then blasted Snitchler and accused him of "pandering to the voters" (The Independent, September 15, 2010).
Yes, that Snitchler sure is a bastard, listening to the voters and doing what they believe to be fair. Well, what can you expect from an Anti-Massillon, mayor hating carpetbagger anyways.
If you disagree with a policy of our Mayor for Life, you are "anti-Massillon," and a "mayor hater." He even has members of his administration repeating the party line.
When people were complaining about the deplorable condition of the city's parks, because money that could have been utilized for basic upkeep and maintenance was being hijacked to support the failing Legends of Massillon golf course, Kenn Kaminski referred to these people as "anti- (Mayor Frank) Cicchinelli people" (The Independent, May 10, 2010). It wasn't that the parks were a mess, it was that the people were anti-Cicchinelli mayor haters.
Today, we add another individual to Mayor Cicchinelli's ever expanding enemies list. Not only is he an Anti-Massillon, Anti-Cicchinelli mayor hater, he is also a carpetbagger, because he does not reside in our fair city. The Massillon Review would like to formally induct State Representative Todd Snitchler on to our Mayor for Life's enemies list.
We would like to say that this induction is an honor, but the list is so large that NASA super computer technology is now required to maintain it.
Representative Snitchler is opposing our Mayor for Life's land grab of the Tuslaw School District. He wishes to close the loophole that allows our mayor to grab other local government property without the local government, in this case the school system, even having a say. On Tuesday, he introduced a bill in the Ohio House of Representatives to close this loophole.
"This legislation will make changes to the current statute, the spirit of which is being abused by Mayor Cicchinelli's proposal, in order to ensure that all parties to an annexation - particularly those who end up paying the taxes - have the ability to engage in the annexation process so that what appear to be loopholes in the statute cannot be used against them" (The Independent, September 15, 2010).
Snitchler also referred to the proposed annexation by our Mayor for Life of the Tuslaw School District as a "blatant 'tax grab' by Mayor Cicchinelli for the purpose of bolstering declining city revenues" (The Independent, September 15, 2010).
Cicchinelli then blasted Snitchler and accused him of "pandering to the voters" (The Independent, September 15, 2010).
Yes, that Snitchler sure is a bastard, listening to the voters and doing what they believe to be fair. Well, what can you expect from an Anti-Massillon, mayor hating carpetbagger anyways.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
We Don't Need The Money
This past Friday, The Independent ran a story about how our Mayor for Life would be making his big pitch to Massillon City Council on September 27, urging them to pass a statement of services for his proposed Tuslaw School District annexation.
He can't annex the Tuslaw schools if city council does not pass a statement of services.
In regards to the fact that his annexation of the Tuslaw schools would mean that the teachers and support staff of the Tuslaw School District would begin paying the Massillon City income tax, our Mayor admitted that was part of his plan all along. He wasn't proposing an annexation of the Tuslaw schools because he wanted to improve them, or that he gave a damn about the Tuslaw Local School District, but you can't really blame him, he was just following orders;
"I've said from the very beginning there is a financial benefit to the city. Aren't I supposed to do that? Isn't that what council asked me to do in January? 'Well, mayor, come to us with proposals to increase revenue because we're going to have to make some salary line items in our budget.' I thought I heard all that. I do it, and then I'm criticized for doing it" (The Independent, September 10, 2010).
Massillon City Council is pushing our mayor around again, making him do unpopular things, and then attacking him for doing what they told him to do. Do they think he is some kind of rubber stamp, or something?
Council is making him do this. We really don't need the money, but that independent, free thinking city council is bullying our Mayor for Life. After they passed his unbalanced budget. Check that. After Paul Manson, David Hersher, David McCune, Ron Mang and Donnie Peters passed his unbalanced budget, exactly as he proposed it, the no good bastards criticize him for robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Two things are obvious. One, our Mayor for Life has the thinnest skin in the history of Massillon politics, and two, we don't need the income tax from the Tuslaw teachers after all. Council made him do it. Our City Council. This merry band of rubber stamps was now pushing our mayor around.
We don't need the money
One Massillon official has stated over, and over that everything is rosy in Tigertown. We don't need the money we would receive by taxing Tuslaw teachers. Who says so?
Our Mayor for Life says so!
When our mayor was passing out 4% pay increases to the city's unions, some were concerned that they city didn't have the money to pay them.
"We'll be able to pay for these increases, Cicchinelli said. I'm not concerned about it. We will be there. I feel confident the dollars will be there to make it through this year and we'll have the dollars to make it through next year" (The Independent, July 6, 2010)."
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/07/thud.html
Why is he pursuing this unpopular annexation when he himself stated that we don't need the money?
Massillon City Council is making him do it.
Of Course.
He can't annex the Tuslaw schools if city council does not pass a statement of services.
In regards to the fact that his annexation of the Tuslaw schools would mean that the teachers and support staff of the Tuslaw School District would begin paying the Massillon City income tax, our Mayor admitted that was part of his plan all along. He wasn't proposing an annexation of the Tuslaw schools because he wanted to improve them, or that he gave a damn about the Tuslaw Local School District, but you can't really blame him, he was just following orders;
"I've said from the very beginning there is a financial benefit to the city. Aren't I supposed to do that? Isn't that what council asked me to do in January? 'Well, mayor, come to us with proposals to increase revenue because we're going to have to make some salary line items in our budget.' I thought I heard all that. I do it, and then I'm criticized for doing it" (The Independent, September 10, 2010).
Massillon City Council is pushing our mayor around again, making him do unpopular things, and then attacking him for doing what they told him to do. Do they think he is some kind of rubber stamp, or something?
Council is making him do this. We really don't need the money, but that independent, free thinking city council is bullying our Mayor for Life. After they passed his unbalanced budget. Check that. After Paul Manson, David Hersher, David McCune, Ron Mang and Donnie Peters passed his unbalanced budget, exactly as he proposed it, the no good bastards criticize him for robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Two things are obvious. One, our Mayor for Life has the thinnest skin in the history of Massillon politics, and two, we don't need the income tax from the Tuslaw teachers after all. Council made him do it. Our City Council. This merry band of rubber stamps was now pushing our mayor around.
We don't need the money
One Massillon official has stated over, and over that everything is rosy in Tigertown. We don't need the money we would receive by taxing Tuslaw teachers. Who says so?
Our Mayor for Life says so!
When our mayor was passing out 4% pay increases to the city's unions, some were concerned that they city didn't have the money to pay them.
"We'll be able to pay for these increases, Cicchinelli said. I'm not concerned about it. We will be there. I feel confident the dollars will be there to make it through this year and we'll have the dollars to make it through next year" (The Independent, July 6, 2010)."
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/07/thud.html
Why is he pursuing this unpopular annexation when he himself stated that we don't need the money?
Massillon City Council is making him do it.
Of Course.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Gone Fishin'
On August 18th, The Massillon Review suggested that the reason our beloved Mayor for Life was having his loyal minions, Massillon Council President Glenn Gamber, and Councilman Larry Slagle fight Councilman Tony Townsend's seemingly harmless proposal to rename Shriver Park in honor of the late councilman T. Roy Roberson, was that Shriver Park was on a list of parks the mayor was considering selling. Can't rename the park after T. Roy Roberson, and turn around sell it. That would just plain look bad.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/all-kings-horse-and-all-kings-men.html
On August 19th, The Independent reported that, yes, a list of parks that our Mayor for Life was contemplating selling did exist, and that Law Director Perry Stergios was studying the list to see if these parks could legally be sold. Yes, Shriver Park was on the list.
www.indeonline.com/communities/x297564666/City-parks-up-for-sale
Parks Director Kenn Kaminski, Mayor for Life Frank Cicchinelli, and Parks Board Member Tim Muzi, who was appointed by our Mayor for Life, got together three (3) months earlier to discuss parks that could be sold.
It was supposed to be a secret.
Our Mayor for Life didn't share his scheme to sell off our parks with the citizens of Massillon. It was all hush hush. See, he doesn't have the money to properly maintain our parks, even with a parks income tax, because he had to subsidize the failing and heavily in debt Legends of Massillon Golf Course with parks tax money. His budget is also about a million or so dollars short this year, so he could sell some parks, and replenish the city's coffers at the same time. Problem is, the residents don't really think he should sell off the park system piece by piece. It has been suggested that our Mayor for Life wanted to keep it a secret until his plans were finalized, and he had his rubber stamps on council all lined up to quickly, without public debate, agree to sell off the parks.
Unfortunately, the park sale list was leaked, all over town, anonymously, to a whole bunch of people and organizations, including The Massillon Review, and we assume The Independent. Our mayor was checkmated. He now swears he won't sell off Shriver Park and is totally on board with renaming the park in honor of the late T. Roy Roberson.
We speculate that he had this change of heart because his secret plans were laid out to the public. He was stone cold busted and now had to cover his behind. We guess he was none too happy. We guess he desperately wanted to find out who the "Deep Throat" was that leaked his parks for sale list. With his Richard Nixon like paranoia stoked to a high temperature, we are assuming he was trying to identify his leak.
The Independent, it appears, was looking for a leak as well. It has been reported to the Massillon Review that The Independent, on the day after their story about "City Parks up for Sale?" requested, under Ohio's open record laws, every email from every city council member, whether the email was on a city account, or a private account, that dealt with anything related to city business.
It is pretty clear they were on a fishing trip. But what exactly were they looking for? Was it to pin the leaked parks for sale list on a particular member of council? Did they request our Mayor for Life's emails, public and private, as well? We would imagine that those would unlock a treasure trove of reasoned decision making on city business.
The Independent was fishing. But why? Perhaps it was a result of our Mayor's paranoid ramblings related to the parks for sale list. Was it something else? Did they find what they were looking for?
What we do believe is that by leaking the parks for sale list, the leaker, who we assume is a city insider, probably saved a number of city parks from being sold, and may ultimately be responsible for Tony Townsend's success in honoring the late T. Roy Roberson. Hats off to Massillon's "Deep Throat." Keep up the good work!
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/all-kings-horse-and-all-kings-men.html
On August 19th, The Independent reported that, yes, a list of parks that our Mayor for Life was contemplating selling did exist, and that Law Director Perry Stergios was studying the list to see if these parks could legally be sold. Yes, Shriver Park was on the list.
www.indeonline.com/communities/x297564666/City-parks-up-for-sale
Parks Director Kenn Kaminski, Mayor for Life Frank Cicchinelli, and Parks Board Member Tim Muzi, who was appointed by our Mayor for Life, got together three (3) months earlier to discuss parks that could be sold.
It was supposed to be a secret.
Our Mayor for Life didn't share his scheme to sell off our parks with the citizens of Massillon. It was all hush hush. See, he doesn't have the money to properly maintain our parks, even with a parks income tax, because he had to subsidize the failing and heavily in debt Legends of Massillon Golf Course with parks tax money. His budget is also about a million or so dollars short this year, so he could sell some parks, and replenish the city's coffers at the same time. Problem is, the residents don't really think he should sell off the park system piece by piece. It has been suggested that our Mayor for Life wanted to keep it a secret until his plans were finalized, and he had his rubber stamps on council all lined up to quickly, without public debate, agree to sell off the parks.
Unfortunately, the park sale list was leaked, all over town, anonymously, to a whole bunch of people and organizations, including The Massillon Review, and we assume The Independent. Our mayor was checkmated. He now swears he won't sell off Shriver Park and is totally on board with renaming the park in honor of the late T. Roy Roberson.
We speculate that he had this change of heart because his secret plans were laid out to the public. He was stone cold busted and now had to cover his behind. We guess he was none too happy. We guess he desperately wanted to find out who the "Deep Throat" was that leaked his parks for sale list. With his Richard Nixon like paranoia stoked to a high temperature, we are assuming he was trying to identify his leak.
The Independent, it appears, was looking for a leak as well. It has been reported to the Massillon Review that The Independent, on the day after their story about "City Parks up for Sale?" requested, under Ohio's open record laws, every email from every city council member, whether the email was on a city account, or a private account, that dealt with anything related to city business.
It is pretty clear they were on a fishing trip. But what exactly were they looking for? Was it to pin the leaked parks for sale list on a particular member of council? Did they request our Mayor for Life's emails, public and private, as well? We would imagine that those would unlock a treasure trove of reasoned decision making on city business.
The Independent was fishing. But why? Perhaps it was a result of our Mayor's paranoid ramblings related to the parks for sale list. Was it something else? Did they find what they were looking for?
What we do believe is that by leaking the parks for sale list, the leaker, who we assume is a city insider, probably saved a number of city parks from being sold, and may ultimately be responsible for Tony Townsend's success in honoring the late T. Roy Roberson. Hats off to Massillon's "Deep Throat." Keep up the good work!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Man in the Mirror
When David Hersher was elected to Massillon City Council in 2007, the first thing he did, the first legislative initiative he pushed, was to raise sewer rates. It wasn't exactly a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington moment. We doubt that when he was canvassing the community for votes, people were telling him how much sewer rates needed to be raised. No, we don't envision people saying, "Now Dave, when you get to City Hall, you make sure to raise our sewer rates, OK?"
Hersher, as Chairman of the Environmental Committee, proposed raising our sewer rates about two months after being sworn into office. Perhaps, upon taking office, he thoroughly studied Massillon's sewer system, and independently came to the conclusion that sewer rates were too low. Perhaps.
Or perhaps it was Massillon's Mayor for Life who explained to our then rookie councilman that Mr. Hersher would indeed be the one to take a hit for the team, and introduce the legislation to raise sewer rates, and that was just the way it was going to be.
We are going out on a limb, and guessing that probably our mayor probably influenced our new councilman to do his bidding and propose a sewer rate hike.
David Hersher has been a reliable rubber stamp ever since.
When young Dave was growing up, saying the pledge of allegiance, and dreaming of a career in public service, we doubt he thought, "you know, one day I'm going to run for office and rubber stamp for Frank Cicchinelli." We hope he had some idealism, and some independence, that is still buried deep within, that may one day fight its way out.
David Hersher, by all accounts, is opposed to our Mayor for Life's annexation of the Tuslaw School District. This opposition came from his own mouth;
"Hersher, too, said he is inclined to vote against the annexation based upon the public outcry" (The Independent, August 21, 2010).
"I'm afraid this (annexation) is not the best way to represent Massillon" (The Independent, August 21, 2010).
"It doesn't add up to being a net gain (to the city)" (The Independent, September 6, 2010).
It appears that Councilman Hersher is opposed, in principle, to this annexation. But Councilman Hersher is most likely vexed. David Hersher has been the most reliable of rubber stamps for Massillon's Mayor for Life. He has never bucked our Mayor for Life on a major issue. Never.
He might like to vote no, but we are guessing he just can't do it.
David! It's time to man up.
It's time to have some dignity and self respect. It's time to be your own man. You really didn't run for city council to be a perpetual lackey, did you? You must have an idea, or two, of your own, right? It's time you found them. We really don't care if you are for the annexation, or if you are against the annexation. Based on your own words though, it would appear that you are against the annexation. Fine. Be a man, and vote your conscience this one time.
Don't let the mayor bully you, and threaten you. Don't let his loyal enforcer, Glenn Gamber, work you over either. Vote your conscience. Man up. When you look in the mirror, you won't have to feel ashamed of the councilman looking back at you if you finally do that which you believe to be right.
Hersher, as Chairman of the Environmental Committee, proposed raising our sewer rates about two months after being sworn into office. Perhaps, upon taking office, he thoroughly studied Massillon's sewer system, and independently came to the conclusion that sewer rates were too low. Perhaps.
Or perhaps it was Massillon's Mayor for Life who explained to our then rookie councilman that Mr. Hersher would indeed be the one to take a hit for the team, and introduce the legislation to raise sewer rates, and that was just the way it was going to be.
We are going out on a limb, and guessing that probably our mayor probably influenced our new councilman to do his bidding and propose a sewer rate hike.
David Hersher has been a reliable rubber stamp ever since.
When young Dave was growing up, saying the pledge of allegiance, and dreaming of a career in public service, we doubt he thought, "you know, one day I'm going to run for office and rubber stamp for Frank Cicchinelli." We hope he had some idealism, and some independence, that is still buried deep within, that may one day fight its way out.
David Hersher, by all accounts, is opposed to our Mayor for Life's annexation of the Tuslaw School District. This opposition came from his own mouth;
"Hersher, too, said he is inclined to vote against the annexation based upon the public outcry" (The Independent, August 21, 2010).
"I'm afraid this (annexation) is not the best way to represent Massillon" (The Independent, August 21, 2010).
"It doesn't add up to being a net gain (to the city)" (The Independent, September 6, 2010).
It appears that Councilman Hersher is opposed, in principle, to this annexation. But Councilman Hersher is most likely vexed. David Hersher has been the most reliable of rubber stamps for Massillon's Mayor for Life. He has never bucked our Mayor for Life on a major issue. Never.
He might like to vote no, but we are guessing he just can't do it.
David! It's time to man up.
It's time to have some dignity and self respect. It's time to be your own man. You really didn't run for city council to be a perpetual lackey, did you? You must have an idea, or two, of your own, right? It's time you found them. We really don't care if you are for the annexation, or if you are against the annexation. Based on your own words though, it would appear that you are against the annexation. Fine. Be a man, and vote your conscience this one time.
Don't let the mayor bully you, and threaten you. Don't let his loyal enforcer, Glenn Gamber, work you over either. Vote your conscience. Man up. When you look in the mirror, you won't have to feel ashamed of the councilman looking back at you if you finally do that which you believe to be right.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Heroes
Last night's Massillon City Council meeting was packed with Tuslaw residents voicing their opposition to Massillon's Mayor for Life's proposed annexation of the Tuslaw Local School District. The mayor plans on filing an Expedited Type 2 annexation, meaning the annexation must be approved by the Stark County Commission if one hundred percent of the property owners of the proposed annexation agree to be annexed into Massillon.
The problem for the Tuslaw Schools is a little glitch in the law that our Mayor for Life is skillfully exploiting at the expense of the Tuslaw School District. Government entities, like the Tuslaw Schools, can't legally object to an annexation. Our mayor is annexing the 'Bit of Eden' trailer park adjacent to the Tuslaw schools, so that he may annex the Tuslaw schools. While it is crystal clear that the Tuslaw School District is opposed to the annexation, legally there isn't much they can do about it. They have been checkmated by Mayor Frank Cicchinelli.
Our beloved Mayor for Life is not annexing this property for development purposes. He is pursuing this annexation to grab about $120,000 in income tax from Tuslaw school employees. The teachers and support personnel of the Tuslaw School District will then be subject to Massillon's 1.8% income tax. The teachers, in effect, will be taking a 1.8% pay cut.
The City of Massillon is broke. The mayor is facing a one million dollar budget shortfall this year, and close to a one and a half million dollar shortfall for next year. Put simply, he needs the cash.
The only way for this annexation to be stopped is if Massillon City Council fails to pass a statement of services for the area to be annexed. If they don't pass the statement of services, there will be no annexation.
The Tuslaw community is not going down without a fight. Tuslaw residents have been packing Massillon council meetings, as well our Mayor for Life's Town Hall meetings, to voice their displeasure, and to urge Massillon City Council to oppose what they see as an unfair land grab.
We at the Massillon Review are pleasantly surprised to see the citizenry take action in opposition to what they see as unfair. We only wish our own Massillon residents were so motivated to petition their own council with their own grievances.
The Tuslaw community deserves to be commended. Win or lose, you chose to fight, and that makes you heroes in your community.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLrrBs8JBQo
Give 'Em Hell!
The problem for the Tuslaw Schools is a little glitch in the law that our Mayor for Life is skillfully exploiting at the expense of the Tuslaw School District. Government entities, like the Tuslaw Schools, can't legally object to an annexation. Our mayor is annexing the 'Bit of Eden' trailer park adjacent to the Tuslaw schools, so that he may annex the Tuslaw schools. While it is crystal clear that the Tuslaw School District is opposed to the annexation, legally there isn't much they can do about it. They have been checkmated by Mayor Frank Cicchinelli.
Our beloved Mayor for Life is not annexing this property for development purposes. He is pursuing this annexation to grab about $120,000 in income tax from Tuslaw school employees. The teachers and support personnel of the Tuslaw School District will then be subject to Massillon's 1.8% income tax. The teachers, in effect, will be taking a 1.8% pay cut.
The City of Massillon is broke. The mayor is facing a one million dollar budget shortfall this year, and close to a one and a half million dollar shortfall for next year. Put simply, he needs the cash.
The only way for this annexation to be stopped is if Massillon City Council fails to pass a statement of services for the area to be annexed. If they don't pass the statement of services, there will be no annexation.
The Tuslaw community is not going down without a fight. Tuslaw residents have been packing Massillon council meetings, as well our Mayor for Life's Town Hall meetings, to voice their displeasure, and to urge Massillon City Council to oppose what they see as an unfair land grab.
We at the Massillon Review are pleasantly surprised to see the citizenry take action in opposition to what they see as unfair. We only wish our own Massillon residents were so motivated to petition their own council with their own grievances.
The Tuslaw community deserves to be commended. Win or lose, you chose to fight, and that makes you heroes in your community.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLrrBs8JBQo
Give 'Em Hell!
Quitter
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced that he will NOT be running for re-election as Mayor of Chicago next year. Daley was elected in 1989, and re-elected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007. When his term ends in the middle of 2011, he will have served a measly 22 years as Chicago's Mayor.
What a Quitter
Richard Daley, nicknamed Chicago's "Mayor for Life," is no mayor for life. Our Mayor for Life will have served 24 years as mayor at the end of this term, and is seeking his seventh 4 year term next year. When re-elected next year, Frank Cicchinelli will be able to serve 28 years as Mayor of Massillon, and there is no indication that he won't seek an eighth term.
Richard Daley is a mere pretender to the throne. Massillon's Mayor Frank Cicchinelli is the king, and has truly earned the title of "Mayor for Life."
Our Mayor for Life is no quitter. Mayor for Life means being mayor for life.
Richard Daley is no Frank Cicchinelli.
Frank Cicchinelli is no quitter.
What a Quitter
Richard Daley, nicknamed Chicago's "Mayor for Life," is no mayor for life. Our Mayor for Life will have served 24 years as mayor at the end of this term, and is seeking his seventh 4 year term next year. When re-elected next year, Frank Cicchinelli will be able to serve 28 years as Mayor of Massillon, and there is no indication that he won't seek an eighth term.
Richard Daley is a mere pretender to the throne. Massillon's Mayor Frank Cicchinelli is the king, and has truly earned the title of "Mayor for Life."
Our Mayor for Life is no quitter. Mayor for Life means being mayor for life.
Richard Daley is no Frank Cicchinelli.
Frank Cicchinelli is no quitter.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Mail Call
The Massillon Review Mailbag is stuffed full of reader comments and questions. It's time for Mail Call;
"Over 50 people work at the golf course? Is that true? What do they all do?"
Well, according to Julie Jenkins, Office Manager, Parks and Recreation/Legends of Massillon Golf Course, "there are 50+ hardworking, very loyal employees at the Legends"
She should know, she is the Office Manager. 50 does seem like a lot of people. As far as what these 50 people do, one could call or email Julie at the Massillon Parks and Recreation Department and ask.
So, we ask, how is our Golf Course?
According to one reader;
"the course is in horrible shape. dirt instead of sand in sand traps. very shabby."
We have one reader who believes that we are incorrect, that Councilman David Hersher will be opposing the Tuslaw annexation. We understand our reader's conclusion, based on what Hersher has stated to the Independent about his views;
"Hersher, too, said he is inclined to vote against the annexation based on the public outcry" (The Independent, 8/21/2010).
"I'm afraid this (annexation) is not the best way to represent Massillon" (The Independent, 8/21/20).
Just yesterday, Hersher stated that he was worried about the possibility that increased city fire staffing will be required on the city's west side if this annexation goes through. According to Hersher, "It doesn't add up to being a net gain (to the city)" (The Independent, 9/06/2010).
We don't care what he says. Actions speak louder than words. David Hersher has never opposed Massillon's Mayor for Life on a major issue. Never. Not once. We just can't imagine him bucking the mayor on an issue this important to our Mayor for Life. We believe in the end he will go along and rubber stamp for the big guy. He always does. We will believe this new found independence when we see some evidence of it.
Until then, we put his vote in the rubber stamp column.
"Over 50 people work at the golf course? Is that true? What do they all do?"
Well, according to Julie Jenkins, Office Manager, Parks and Recreation/Legends of Massillon Golf Course, "there are 50+ hardworking, very loyal employees at the Legends"
She should know, she is the Office Manager. 50 does seem like a lot of people. As far as what these 50 people do, one could call or email Julie at the Massillon Parks and Recreation Department and ask.
So, we ask, how is our Golf Course?
According to one reader;
"the course is in horrible shape. dirt instead of sand in sand traps. very shabby."
We have one reader who believes that we are incorrect, that Councilman David Hersher will be opposing the Tuslaw annexation. We understand our reader's conclusion, based on what Hersher has stated to the Independent about his views;
"Hersher, too, said he is inclined to vote against the annexation based on the public outcry" (The Independent, 8/21/2010).
"I'm afraid this (annexation) is not the best way to represent Massillon" (The Independent, 8/21/20).
Just yesterday, Hersher stated that he was worried about the possibility that increased city fire staffing will be required on the city's west side if this annexation goes through. According to Hersher, "It doesn't add up to being a net gain (to the city)" (The Independent, 9/06/2010).
We don't care what he says. Actions speak louder than words. David Hersher has never opposed Massillon's Mayor for Life on a major issue. Never. Not once. We just can't imagine him bucking the mayor on an issue this important to our Mayor for Life. We believe in the end he will go along and rubber stamp for the big guy. He always does. We will believe this new found independence when we see some evidence of it.
Until then, we put his vote in the rubber stamp column.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Happy Labor Day
.
Without the toil, sacrifice, and tax dollars of hard working citizens, the City of Massillon would not have the money to subsidize an unprofitable golf course, pay a private hotel mortgage, buy a restaurant without having a business plan, and invest in a hockey arena that was never built.
.
Thank you for your hard work and enjoy your holiday.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Taking Their Sweet Time
According to a story in Friday's Independent, Massillon City Council will not be voting to pass a statement of services regarding the annexation of the Tuslaw School District when they meet this Tuesday night.
To annex the property, which includes the Tuslaw High School, Middle School, and Elementary School, as well as the 'Bit of Eden' trailer park, city council must approve a "statement of services," outlining the city services the proposed area to be annexed will receive.
The City of Massillon must do this before the annexation can proceed. For City Council to stop this annexation, if they were so inclined, they would have to vote down this "statement of services." City Council voting down the "statement of services" is the only way to stop this annexation.
"Mayor Cicchinelli will not request that a required statement of services be passed under emergency by council when it meets at 7:30 p.m. at the Massillon Municipal Government Center, according to council President Glenn Gamber" (The Independent, 9/03/2010).
Because it is not being presented as an emergency measure, the proposal must be given three readings before a vote can be taken. The first reading will be Tuesday night. This also means that the contentious annexation proposal will be on the agenda of the next three council meetings. Should make for lively entertainment.
Why didn't our Mayor for Life have his rubber stamps on council introduce this proposal as an emergency measure? Surely he didn't want this to be a topic of discussion for three straight council meetings spanning the next month?
Perhaps he wanted vigorous public debate and ample opportunity for discussion before city council voted, so that every voice, for and against the annexation could be heard.
Nope. Our Mayor for Life works hard to pass proposals under an emergency measure, especially controversial ones, so that public discussion is muted, and some argue, so that council members don't actually have time to read his ordinances before they vote on them.
To pass something as an emergency measure, council must approve it with at least seven of the nine council members voting to do so. Our mayor needs seven votes. He doesn't have seven votes. This is why he didn't request that it wasn't passed as an emergency measure. This is the only reason why. He doesn't have the votes. He has five.
Reports to the Massillon Review claim that Councilmen Ron Mang, Paul Manson, David McCune, David Hersher, and Larry Slagle will be voting for the "statement of services," to support the annexation. Donnie Peters, who some have claimed opposes the annexation, will be allowed to vote no, because our Mayor for Life will have five yes votes, and doesn't need Peters for this one. Kathy Catazaro-Perry, Gary Anderson, and Tony Townsend will likely vote no.
Even if Peters did vote yes, the Mayor would still be one vote short of being able to pass the "statement of services" as an emergency measure.
So now they must take their sweet time.
To annex the property, which includes the Tuslaw High School, Middle School, and Elementary School, as well as the 'Bit of Eden' trailer park, city council must approve a "statement of services," outlining the city services the proposed area to be annexed will receive.
The City of Massillon must do this before the annexation can proceed. For City Council to stop this annexation, if they were so inclined, they would have to vote down this "statement of services." City Council voting down the "statement of services" is the only way to stop this annexation.
"Mayor Cicchinelli will not request that a required statement of services be passed under emergency by council when it meets at 7:30 p.m. at the Massillon Municipal Government Center, according to council President Glenn Gamber" (The Independent, 9/03/2010).
Because it is not being presented as an emergency measure, the proposal must be given three readings before a vote can be taken. The first reading will be Tuesday night. This also means that the contentious annexation proposal will be on the agenda of the next three council meetings. Should make for lively entertainment.
Why didn't our Mayor for Life have his rubber stamps on council introduce this proposal as an emergency measure? Surely he didn't want this to be a topic of discussion for three straight council meetings spanning the next month?
Perhaps he wanted vigorous public debate and ample opportunity for discussion before city council voted, so that every voice, for and against the annexation could be heard.
Nope. Our Mayor for Life works hard to pass proposals under an emergency measure, especially controversial ones, so that public discussion is muted, and some argue, so that council members don't actually have time to read his ordinances before they vote on them.
To pass something as an emergency measure, council must approve it with at least seven of the nine council members voting to do so. Our mayor needs seven votes. He doesn't have seven votes. This is why he didn't request that it wasn't passed as an emergency measure. This is the only reason why. He doesn't have the votes. He has five.
Reports to the Massillon Review claim that Councilmen Ron Mang, Paul Manson, David McCune, David Hersher, and Larry Slagle will be voting for the "statement of services," to support the annexation. Donnie Peters, who some have claimed opposes the annexation, will be allowed to vote no, because our Mayor for Life will have five yes votes, and doesn't need Peters for this one. Kathy Catazaro-Perry, Gary Anderson, and Tony Townsend will likely vote no.
Even if Peters did vote yes, the Mayor would still be one vote short of being able to pass the "statement of services" as an emergency measure.
So now they must take their sweet time.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The Mayor Has Got Tony's Back
Massillon Ward 4 Councilman Tony Townsend appeared to hit the wall. Since June, he has been attempting to rename Shriver Park, located in his ward, after the late T. Roy Roberson, a former Ward 4 Councilman. Roberson served for over a decade as councilman, and the name change has much support in the 4th Ward.
"People of the community respect him (Roberson). He's loved by many" (Tony Townsend, The Independent, June 18, 2010).
Initially the name change appeared to have the support of council. Then, all of a sudden, it didn't. Council President Glenn Gamber and Councilman at Large Larry Slagle worked vigorously to prevent a vote on the matter. They argued that this matter belonged to the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board. The Board is comprised of five members, three of which are appointed by, you guessed it, our Mayor for Life.
Earlier this year, Stark County Judge John Haas ruled that the mayor and city council have ultimate authority over the park system, not the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board. The rubber stamps on council wanted to bury Townsend's request for a name change in the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board. The Park Board claimed it had a policy discouraging renaming a park that had already been named after a person. Shriver Park had been named after the original land owner, Herman Shriver. The "Independent" Park Board claimed it had this magical policy discouraging this renaming attempt, but couldn't actually find in their minutes where the Board approved and adopted this policy.
What was perfectly clear was that the rubber stamps wanted to kill Townsend's efforts to honor the late T. Roy Roberson. But why? This seemed like a simple request, and the residents of Ward 4 wanted it. Why would council want to stop these efforts?
As the Massillon Review reported on August 18, there was a list of parks the mayor was considering selling, and Shriver Park was on the list. Of course, this list was never shared with the citizens. It was most definitely leaked from the inside. We are confident our Mayor for Life was none too happy either when this list went public.
On August 19, The Independent printed the list. And Shriver Park was indeed on it.
Our Mayor for Life was busted. What would he do?
He would flip flop. As being Mayor for Life requires a vote of the people every four years, and that the people were not happy with the secret preparations to sell some of our parks, and that the residents of the Fourth Ward were none too happy about the honoring of T. Roy Roberson being bottled up by the mayor's lackeys on council, the mayor hopped on board.
Mayor Cicchinelli hosted one of his Town Hall Meetings in Massillon's Fourth Ward this past Monday night.
"Mayor Cicchinelli told 4th Ward residents there are no plans to sell Shriver Park, or many others, and he pledged to Councilman Tony Townsend that he would help him rename Shriver by urging his Parks and Recreation Board appointees to vote in favor of it" (The Independent, August 31, 2010).
Where was Cicchinelli's help these past months while Townsend was getting his teeth kicked in on council by the Mayor for Life's loyal enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber, and Larry Slagle? Our Mayor for Life didn't speak up for months. If he was for it, why didn't he just say so?
"No one asked me. Am I opposed to it? Heck no" (The Independent, August 31, 2010).
No one asked you? Is that the best you can do? It didn't have anything to do with your "Parks for Sale" list being leaked, and that Shriver Park was on the list, and you were busted, and people were angry with yet another behind closed doors scheme?
Once more, your lackeys, in this case Council President Glenn Gamber, and Councilman Larry Slagle do your dirty work, and the buck stops somewhere else.
Thud
That thud you just heard was our Mayor for Life throwing Glenn Gamber and Larry Slagle under the bus. They can ask Auditor Jayne Fererro how it feels. She's a regular.
"People of the community respect him (Roberson). He's loved by many" (Tony Townsend, The Independent, June 18, 2010).
Initially the name change appeared to have the support of council. Then, all of a sudden, it didn't. Council President Glenn Gamber and Councilman at Large Larry Slagle worked vigorously to prevent a vote on the matter. They argued that this matter belonged to the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board. The Board is comprised of five members, three of which are appointed by, you guessed it, our Mayor for Life.
Earlier this year, Stark County Judge John Haas ruled that the mayor and city council have ultimate authority over the park system, not the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board. The rubber stamps on council wanted to bury Townsend's request for a name change in the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board. The Park Board claimed it had a policy discouraging renaming a park that had already been named after a person. Shriver Park had been named after the original land owner, Herman Shriver. The "Independent" Park Board claimed it had this magical policy discouraging this renaming attempt, but couldn't actually find in their minutes where the Board approved and adopted this policy.
What was perfectly clear was that the rubber stamps wanted to kill Townsend's efforts to honor the late T. Roy Roberson. But why? This seemed like a simple request, and the residents of Ward 4 wanted it. Why would council want to stop these efforts?
As the Massillon Review reported on August 18, there was a list of parks the mayor was considering selling, and Shriver Park was on the list. Of course, this list was never shared with the citizens. It was most definitely leaked from the inside. We are confident our Mayor for Life was none too happy either when this list went public.
On August 19, The Independent printed the list. And Shriver Park was indeed on it.
Our Mayor for Life was busted. What would he do?
He would flip flop. As being Mayor for Life requires a vote of the people every four years, and that the people were not happy with the secret preparations to sell some of our parks, and that the residents of the Fourth Ward were none too happy about the honoring of T. Roy Roberson being bottled up by the mayor's lackeys on council, the mayor hopped on board.
Mayor Cicchinelli hosted one of his Town Hall Meetings in Massillon's Fourth Ward this past Monday night.
"Mayor Cicchinelli told 4th Ward residents there are no plans to sell Shriver Park, or many others, and he pledged to Councilman Tony Townsend that he would help him rename Shriver by urging his Parks and Recreation Board appointees to vote in favor of it" (The Independent, August 31, 2010).
Where was Cicchinelli's help these past months while Townsend was getting his teeth kicked in on council by the Mayor for Life's loyal enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber, and Larry Slagle? Our Mayor for Life didn't speak up for months. If he was for it, why didn't he just say so?
"No one asked me. Am I opposed to it? Heck no" (The Independent, August 31, 2010).
No one asked you? Is that the best you can do? It didn't have anything to do with your "Parks for Sale" list being leaked, and that Shriver Park was on the list, and you were busted, and people were angry with yet another behind closed doors scheme?
Once more, your lackeys, in this case Council President Glenn Gamber, and Councilman Larry Slagle do your dirty work, and the buck stops somewhere else.
Thud
That thud you just heard was our Mayor for Life throwing Glenn Gamber and Larry Slagle under the bus. They can ask Auditor Jayne Fererro how it feels. She's a regular.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
A Response
We appreciate the email we received from Julie Jenkins, Office Manager for Parks and Recreation/Legends of Massillon Golf Course.
We wish to respond to a few things in her letter.
We thank you for admitting that "we did go into this without a business plan." That makes the fact that City Council provided $199,000 dollars to buy out the concessions contract from the prior owners that much more appalling. If a business in the private sector attempted to go to a bank and receive funding without a business plan, he would be rightfully thrown out on his ear. The fact that our hard earned tax dollars were thrown into the Club Legends restaurant without you folks even having a business plan is offensive.
"The former owners hearts were not in the business any longer, and didn't care." Fine. They didn't care. Then they should have just left without the citizens having to pony up $199,000 dollars to help them find the door. And why did we have to pay these individuals who so lost interest in their business? Because the concessions contract, approved by our mayor, was so favorable to the owners, that current County Prosecutor, and former Massillon Law Director John Ferrero, would only approve this contract for "form, not content." The contract ran indefinitely and for the city to exit the contract, it had to pay the vendor (owner) the cost for equipment at today's price. For example, if the stove was 15 years old, the city had to pay the owner the cost of a new stove, while receiving a 15 year old stove. Our mayor sure is a shrewd negotiator. We would have been better off if the owners had indeed taken every piece of 15 year old equipment with them. But they weren't going to. We had to reward them with $199,000 dollars of park tax money because they "lost interest."
Now, since the food and beverage concession is in house, why is it that when the Massillon Chamber of Commerce had their annual golf outing and dinner at the Legends Golf Course, why did dinner have to be catered by an outside caterer? One would think the trained chef could have whipped something up for them. Apparently the $199,000 dollar in house kitchen was unable to provide their meals.
"We cover our expenses - except the debt - every year."
Unfortunately, the debt is an expense, one the taxpayers have to foot. Using real world accounting, the debt is part of your costs, and therefore, you are not covering your expenses. In November of 2002, the City finalized a general obligation bond for the golf course, which included the old debt, and the debt for the 9 hole expansion. The total golf course debt stood at $7,281,232.65. The debt will not be paid off until 2032. The interest alone on the debt is $6,123,342.35. The total cost to the citizens of Massillon will be $13,404,575 dollars. The golf course is not worth one quarter that amount on its best day. It is mathematically impossible for the Legends to turn a profit until 2033, when the debt is finally paid off. This year's debt payment is $527,885 dollars.
What makes people so unhappy is that when they passed a .3% income tax to fund parks and recreation, they thought their money would actually be spent on parks and recreation. A month after the city finalized the $7,281,232.65 general obligation bond, the mayor realized he didn't have the money to actually make the payments. He then had his feckless rubber stamps on city council vote to merge the golf course with the parks department under the guise of "streamlining city government." Cicchinelli publicly claimed that this move was "not a big scheme to have the parks department cover the golf course's expenses" (The Repository, December 17, 2002). What we all know, yourself included, is that park tax money was used to pay golf course debt and golf course expenses. So, indeed, this was actually "a big scheme to have the parks department cover the golf course's expenses."
We can all put on a happy face, be upbeat and promote the golf course 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but it will NEVER TURN A PROFIT. It can't. The debt load is too extreme. It is a drain on the city. We have never criticized the employees who work there. We have, however, criticized their bosses. Because of the financial black hole that is the Legends of Massillon, our parks are a mess. Your boss, Kenn Kaminski, in order to give cover to his boss, our Mayor for Life, busily spins the fairy tale that our parks are in poor shape because of "park vandals," and not as a result of a lack of basic maintenance and upkeep, when it is clear to anyone who is not blind, that our parks are being neglected. And yes, our mayor is now examining the possibility of selling a park or two to fill his dwindling coffers, and because we lack the funds to provide adequate upkeep.
When the citizens voted to raise their income tax for parks and recreation, they never thought their money would be hijacked to fund a golf course. Never.
Our hope is that if someone else were mayor, he (or she) would have the integrity to not participate in such scams and schemes. You are indeed correct, the debt isn't going away. And now the solution is to start selling our parks. A poor choice for the people of Massillon.
We wish to respond to a few things in her letter.
We thank you for admitting that "we did go into this without a business plan." That makes the fact that City Council provided $199,000 dollars to buy out the concessions contract from the prior owners that much more appalling. If a business in the private sector attempted to go to a bank and receive funding without a business plan, he would be rightfully thrown out on his ear. The fact that our hard earned tax dollars were thrown into the Club Legends restaurant without you folks even having a business plan is offensive.
"The former owners hearts were not in the business any longer, and didn't care." Fine. They didn't care. Then they should have just left without the citizens having to pony up $199,000 dollars to help them find the door. And why did we have to pay these individuals who so lost interest in their business? Because the concessions contract, approved by our mayor, was so favorable to the owners, that current County Prosecutor, and former Massillon Law Director John Ferrero, would only approve this contract for "form, not content." The contract ran indefinitely and for the city to exit the contract, it had to pay the vendor (owner) the cost for equipment at today's price. For example, if the stove was 15 years old, the city had to pay the owner the cost of a new stove, while receiving a 15 year old stove. Our mayor sure is a shrewd negotiator. We would have been better off if the owners had indeed taken every piece of 15 year old equipment with them. But they weren't going to. We had to reward them with $199,000 dollars of park tax money because they "lost interest."
Now, since the food and beverage concession is in house, why is it that when the Massillon Chamber of Commerce had their annual golf outing and dinner at the Legends Golf Course, why did dinner have to be catered by an outside caterer? One would think the trained chef could have whipped something up for them. Apparently the $199,000 dollar in house kitchen was unable to provide their meals.
"We cover our expenses - except the debt - every year."
Unfortunately, the debt is an expense, one the taxpayers have to foot. Using real world accounting, the debt is part of your costs, and therefore, you are not covering your expenses. In November of 2002, the City finalized a general obligation bond for the golf course, which included the old debt, and the debt for the 9 hole expansion. The total golf course debt stood at $7,281,232.65. The debt will not be paid off until 2032. The interest alone on the debt is $6,123,342.35. The total cost to the citizens of Massillon will be $13,404,575 dollars. The golf course is not worth one quarter that amount on its best day. It is mathematically impossible for the Legends to turn a profit until 2033, when the debt is finally paid off. This year's debt payment is $527,885 dollars.
What makes people so unhappy is that when they passed a .3% income tax to fund parks and recreation, they thought their money would actually be spent on parks and recreation. A month after the city finalized the $7,281,232.65 general obligation bond, the mayor realized he didn't have the money to actually make the payments. He then had his feckless rubber stamps on city council vote to merge the golf course with the parks department under the guise of "streamlining city government." Cicchinelli publicly claimed that this move was "not a big scheme to have the parks department cover the golf course's expenses" (The Repository, December 17, 2002). What we all know, yourself included, is that park tax money was used to pay golf course debt and golf course expenses. So, indeed, this was actually "a big scheme to have the parks department cover the golf course's expenses."
We can all put on a happy face, be upbeat and promote the golf course 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but it will NEVER TURN A PROFIT. It can't. The debt load is too extreme. It is a drain on the city. We have never criticized the employees who work there. We have, however, criticized their bosses. Because of the financial black hole that is the Legends of Massillon, our parks are a mess. Your boss, Kenn Kaminski, in order to give cover to his boss, our Mayor for Life, busily spins the fairy tale that our parks are in poor shape because of "park vandals," and not as a result of a lack of basic maintenance and upkeep, when it is clear to anyone who is not blind, that our parks are being neglected. And yes, our mayor is now examining the possibility of selling a park or two to fill his dwindling coffers, and because we lack the funds to provide adequate upkeep.
When the citizens voted to raise their income tax for parks and recreation, they never thought their money would be hijacked to fund a golf course. Never.
Our hope is that if someone else were mayor, he (or she) would have the integrity to not participate in such scams and schemes. You are indeed correct, the debt isn't going away. And now the solution is to start selling our parks. A poor choice for the people of Massillon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
