The Massillon Review mail box is just exploding with correspondence from our faithful readers, the back bone of our successful publication.
We have decided to post two guest columns from our faithful readers this weekend. The first is called 'A Honey of a Deal,' and was submitted by 'Noone Special'
After the first few years of the Legends, Frank fired Marty, the first course manager, and replaced him with Linda Gill. Linda was a nice lady, but she didn't seem to know much about managing a golf course. She stayed inside and never went out on the course. Frank also assigned Honey Maier to work in the golf course office. Now there were two ladies doing what had been just half of Marty's job.
Linda Gill was in charge of building the new clubhouse. She insisted that it not look like a commercial building and forced the architects to make several changes that would have been more appropriate in a residence, not a commercial building. These changes cost money and also cut down on usable space. I don't know if Frank was behind the changes.
Honey Maier worked at the course for maybe two and a half to three years. Some people said Frank owed her and she needed that much time to get her PERS retirement. I don't know why she was there, but when she retired, she wasn't replaced.
Why was Linda Gill there? Her husband Michael Gill was the Regional Director of Sky Bank. He has since retired. When the Arena Project fell through, Frank fired Linda Gill and hired Craig Immel.
Linda Gill resurfaced a few months later at Skyland Pines as the Director of Outings and Banquets. She took with her copies of all the Legends' golf outings. Soon most of those outings had moved to Skyland. Outings are very profitable for golf courses. The sinking economy plus the lost outings caused the Legends to lose even more money. Frank had shot himself in the foot once again.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
The Eight Hundred Thousand Dollar Man
Earlier this year, Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City, had someone write a letter defending the amount of debt our Dear Leader had accrued for our city during his lengthy term in office.
The letter was written by Albert W. Erickson, III, Vice President for Public Finance of Fifth Third Bank, and was sent to us by one of our faithful readers. Mr. Erickson basically opined that things were great, and the city could take on more debt.
When referring to the city owned golf course, Mr. Erickson stated;
"The golf course debt is paid by fees from those who use the Legends Golf Course*. Only those individuals, including many who do not live in the City of Massillon, that use the facilities support the debt."
(Notice the asterisk)
* Occasionally the City does subsidize the golf course from the general fund
"Occasionally the City does subsidize the golf course from the general fund"
Occasionally means every year. And by the way Albert, the city uses Park dollars to subsidize it too.
It is clear that Mr. Erickson's letter on debt capacity was meant to be a tool for the mayor as he headed in to an election year. A tool for the mayor to use defensively.
And why would Albert Erickson write this document defending the city's over 23 million dollars of debt?
Perhaps because a good chunk of this debt was serviced by Fifth Third Bank, Albert Erickson's employer.
We will be getting back to Fifth Third Bank in a moment.
Frank and Joy Cicchinelli own a lovely home, with a golf course view, on Cyprus Drive SE, in the Perry Local School District.
The home and lot are valued by the county auditor at $229,900 dollars.
Seems reasonable.
Here's the catch.
On December 12, 2006, two mortgages are recorded with the county auditor.
One is for $249,900 dollars.
The second one is for $249,900 dollars.
Two separate loans, made on the same day, for the same amount.
Strangely enough, both were ever so slightly under the $250,000 dollar mark.
$499,800 dollars in loans on the same day for the same house.
Made by....
Fifth Third Bank.
In addition, the mayor has a $125,900 loan on another Massillon property, as well as another $201,300 loan on the house on Cyprus Drive.
$249,900
$249,900
$125,900
$201,300
Total loans = $827,000 of home loans.
$701,100 dollars of debt on a home appraised at $229,900 dollars.
According to our crack Massillon Review research team, the interest alone, if it were just 5% per year, on $827,000 dollars would be over $41,000 per year.
The interest alone.
Over $41,000 dollars per year.
For a mayor making less than $70,000 per year.
Before taxes.
No wonder he can't retire.
The letter was written by Albert W. Erickson, III, Vice President for Public Finance of Fifth Third Bank, and was sent to us by one of our faithful readers. Mr. Erickson basically opined that things were great, and the city could take on more debt.
When referring to the city owned golf course, Mr. Erickson stated;
"The golf course debt is paid by fees from those who use the Legends Golf Course*. Only those individuals, including many who do not live in the City of Massillon, that use the facilities support the debt."
(Notice the asterisk)
* Occasionally the City does subsidize the golf course from the general fund
"Occasionally the City does subsidize the golf course from the general fund"
Occasionally means every year. And by the way Albert, the city uses Park dollars to subsidize it too.
It is clear that Mr. Erickson's letter on debt capacity was meant to be a tool for the mayor as he headed in to an election year. A tool for the mayor to use defensively.
And why would Albert Erickson write this document defending the city's over 23 million dollars of debt?
Perhaps because a good chunk of this debt was serviced by Fifth Third Bank, Albert Erickson's employer.
We will be getting back to Fifth Third Bank in a moment.
Frank and Joy Cicchinelli own a lovely home, with a golf course view, on Cyprus Drive SE, in the Perry Local School District.
The home and lot are valued by the county auditor at $229,900 dollars.
Seems reasonable.
Here's the catch.
On December 12, 2006, two mortgages are recorded with the county auditor.
One is for $249,900 dollars.
The second one is for $249,900 dollars.
Two separate loans, made on the same day, for the same amount.
Strangely enough, both were ever so slightly under the $250,000 dollar mark.
$499,800 dollars in loans on the same day for the same house.
Made by....
Fifth Third Bank.
In addition, the mayor has a $125,900 loan on another Massillon property, as well as another $201,300 loan on the house on Cyprus Drive.
$249,900
$249,900
$125,900
$201,300
Total loans = $827,000 of home loans.
$701,100 dollars of debt on a home appraised at $229,900 dollars.
According to our crack Massillon Review research team, the interest alone, if it were just 5% per year, on $827,000 dollars would be over $41,000 per year.
The interest alone.
Over $41,000 dollars per year.
For a mayor making less than $70,000 per year.
Before taxes.
No wonder he can't retire.
A Quiz
This picture was submitted by one of our faithful readers.
It is the picture of a street.
Where is this bombed out street located?
A. Baghdad, Iraq
B. Kabul, Afghanistan
C. Massillon, Ohio
The answer, of course, is "C." Right here in Massillon, Ohio.
If you answered correctly, you obviously live here in town.
Your prize is that your car needs alligned.
But you already knew that.
It is the picture of a street.
Where is this bombed out street located?
A. Baghdad, Iraq
B. Kabul, Afghanistan
C. Massillon, Ohio
The answer, of course, is "C." Right here in Massillon, Ohio.
If you answered correctly, you obviously live here in town.
Your prize is that your car needs alligned.
But you already knew that.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
An Extraordinary Celebration
The mail box at the Massillon Review is exploding today. Multiple faithful readers are sharing the story that our Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City was behind the filing of grievances against Massillon Court Judge Eddie Elum.
www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x1072483815/Massillon-judge-faces-disciplinary-complaint
It has been alleged that our Eternal Leader had his minions file these grievances against Judge Elum.
Judge Elum and our Mayor for Life have not gotten along for some time.
Of course, if this is true, the mayor had others once again do his dirty work.
But this would be business as usual in the buck stops somewhere else world of Frank Cicchinelli.
He rarely gets his own hands dirty.
His minions do his bidding.
Do we believe the mayor was behind this?
Absolutely we do.
We also believe that the Mayor had someone "break" this story to the local newspapers.
It's just how he rolls.
Down and dirty.
We have obtained exclusive footage from Mayor Cicchinelli's office, after the story "broke" on The Repository's web site.
www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x1072483815/Massillon-judge-faces-disciplinary-complaint
It has been alleged that our Eternal Leader had his minions file these grievances against Judge Elum.
Judge Elum and our Mayor for Life have not gotten along for some time.
Of course, if this is true, the mayor had others once again do his dirty work.
But this would be business as usual in the buck stops somewhere else world of Frank Cicchinelli.
He rarely gets his own hands dirty.
His minions do his bidding.
Do we believe the mayor was behind this?
Absolutely we do.
We also believe that the Mayor had someone "break" this story to the local newspapers.
It's just how he rolls.
Down and dirty.
We have obtained exclusive footage from Mayor Cicchinelli's office, after the story "broke" on The Repository's web site.
The Investigation Continues
One week ago tonight, Thomas Rivera, the Mayor's Loyal Supporter, allegedly assaulted Scott Graber, a candidate for Massillon City Council President.
What makes Thomas Rivera's alleged assault so appalling is that it occurred during the intermission of a candidate's forum for mayor.
In America, we are supposed to be able to debate the great issues of the day, and participate in the Democratic process without fear from violence.
Except in Massillon.
Rivera endorsed Frank Cicchinelli for mayor. Cicchinelli was so proud of this endorsement, he included it on a campaign letter he mailed to city Democrats.
Rivera has written a letter to the editor, published in the Independent newspaper just this week, urging people to vote for Mayor Cicchinelli.
Rivera has financially contributed to the mayor's campaign.
This alleged assault is still, a week later, being investigated.
According to the Independent, there was a witness who identified Rivera;
"A witness reported Rivera was screaming when he approached Graber" (The Independent, April 23, 2011).
Graber knew his alleged assailant was Thomas Rivera.
It has been a week.
Did he do it, or not?
What could possibly be left to investigate?
What makes Thomas Rivera's alleged assault so appalling is that it occurred during the intermission of a candidate's forum for mayor.
In America, we are supposed to be able to debate the great issues of the day, and participate in the Democratic process without fear from violence.
Except in Massillon.
Rivera endorsed Frank Cicchinelli for mayor. Cicchinelli was so proud of this endorsement, he included it on a campaign letter he mailed to city Democrats.
Rivera has written a letter to the editor, published in the Independent newspaper just this week, urging people to vote for Mayor Cicchinelli.
Rivera has financially contributed to the mayor's campaign.
This alleged assault is still, a week later, being investigated.
According to the Independent, there was a witness who identified Rivera;
"A witness reported Rivera was screaming when he approached Graber" (The Independent, April 23, 2011).
Graber knew his alleged assailant was Thomas Rivera.
It has been a week.
Did he do it, or not?
What could possibly be left to investigate?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
We Walk the Line
"People in Massillon should decide. People who live in Massillon should decide who their mayor should be, who their council member should be. They shouldn't be influenced by anyone on the outside, any individual that doesn't live within the corporate limits of Massillon should not be concerned with who the mayor is..." (Mayor Frank Cicchinelli, from his own lips to our ears)
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Our Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City filed his most recent campaign finance reports last week.
His biggest individual contribution came from...
Drum Roll Please...
John Helline. Hotel Developer. Defender of you and I paying his mortgage.
Carpetbagger.
His second biggest individual contribution?
Michael Stevens. Lawrence Township Trustee.
Carpetbagger.
Our crack Massillon Review research team has discovered that Lawrence Township is outside the "corporate limits of Massillon."
The mayor has dropped the ball in enforcing his "line in the sand" and calling out these carpetbaggers.
We are just picking up the slack.
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Our Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City filed his most recent campaign finance reports last week.
His biggest individual contribution came from...
Drum Roll Please...
John Helline. Hotel Developer. Defender of you and I paying his mortgage.
Carpetbagger.
His second biggest individual contribution?
Michael Stevens. Lawrence Township Trustee.
Carpetbagger.
Our crack Massillon Review research team has discovered that Lawrence Township is outside the "corporate limits of Massillon."
The mayor has dropped the ball in enforcing his "line in the sand" and calling out these carpetbaggers.
We are just picking up the slack.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Vote for Cicchinelli... Or Else!
Local Cicchinelli backer Tom Rivera wrote a letter to the editor in support of his candidate for mayor that appeared in yesterday's Independent. We are guessing he submitted it before he allegedly assaulted Massillon City Council President candidate Scott Graber outside the Lion's Lincoln Theatre.
"Now look at how Massillon is today. People are moving in and they want to stay. There are jobs. The downtown has been revitalized..." (Tom Rivera, Letter to the Editor in support of Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, April 25, 2011).
"downtown has been revitalized"
Except for the violence downtown, in front of the Lincoln Theatre, during a candidate's forum.
Yes, we are sure the mayor is encouraged by Mr. Rivera's unwavering support.
We might need Fire Chief Burgasser to call in the National Guard after all.
To protect our "revitalized downtown" from the likes of Tom Rivera.
"Now look at how Massillon is today. People are moving in and they want to stay. There are jobs. The downtown has been revitalized..." (Tom Rivera, Letter to the Editor in support of Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, April 25, 2011).
"downtown has been revitalized"
Except for the violence downtown, in front of the Lincoln Theatre, during a candidate's forum.
Yes, we are sure the mayor is encouraged by Mr. Rivera's unwavering support.
We might need Fire Chief Burgasser to call in the National Guard after all.
To protect our "revitalized downtown" from the likes of Tom Rivera.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Pointless
In the Independent's endorsement of Frank Cicchinelli for mayor, the paper had only good things to say about Kathy Catazaro-Perry. They liked her ideas. They stated Frank has made some mistakes.
But in their opinion he's been around 38 years, so let's give him another four.
They wrote the following to end the editorial;
"Catazaro-Perry would do well to continue to pursue her political aspirations, learning, serving, and bridging the divides on City Council. Calls for a performance audit of all city departments, more strategic planning, job creation, and improved basic city services are worthy. Every bit as important is her determination to fix our streets, clean up parks and search for more efficiency in how city employees do their jobs. Then again, these fixes are not going to happen overnight. We recommend Catazaro-Perry work to implement these ambitious plans through City Council and possibly position herself for another run for mayor in 2016" (The Independent, April 23, 2011).
Firstly, Catazaro-Perry will no longer be on City Council. She gave up a safe council seat to run for mayor.
Secondly, If she is not successful this year, why should she, or anyone for that matter, run for mayor in 2016. It is pointless. We have a mayor, and he is mayor for life. In 2016, the Independent, in all likelihood, will be endorsing Frank Cicchinelli for an eighth (8th) four year term, because he will have served 42 consecutive years in elected Massillon government, so why make a change?
The term "mayor for life" isn't meant to be tongue-in-cheek.
It is a fact.
But in their opinion he's been around 38 years, so let's give him another four.
They wrote the following to end the editorial;
"Catazaro-Perry would do well to continue to pursue her political aspirations, learning, serving, and bridging the divides on City Council. Calls for a performance audit of all city departments, more strategic planning, job creation, and improved basic city services are worthy. Every bit as important is her determination to fix our streets, clean up parks and search for more efficiency in how city employees do their jobs. Then again, these fixes are not going to happen overnight. We recommend Catazaro-Perry work to implement these ambitious plans through City Council and possibly position herself for another run for mayor in 2016" (The Independent, April 23, 2011).
Firstly, Catazaro-Perry will no longer be on City Council. She gave up a safe council seat to run for mayor.
Secondly, If she is not successful this year, why should she, or anyone for that matter, run for mayor in 2016. It is pointless. We have a mayor, and he is mayor for life. In 2016, the Independent, in all likelihood, will be endorsing Frank Cicchinelli for an eighth (8th) four year term, because he will have served 42 consecutive years in elected Massillon government, so why make a change?
The term "mayor for life" isn't meant to be tongue-in-cheek.
It is a fact.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
We are Confused
Which is it?
"His insistence that he would only serve a maximum of two terms in office is also an admirable promise in an era in which too many have made a career in elected public service."
- The Independent, in its Editorial Endorsement of Lee Brunckhart for mayor in the Republican primary
Or
"Should the mayor's 38 years of service to the city be judged on the basis of three sluggish years?"
"During these tough economic times, change should not be made for the sake of change. We recommend voters grant four more years to the candidate with decades of experience..."
- The Independent, in its Editorial Endorsement of Frank Cicchinelli for a seventh (7th) term as mayor in the Democratic primary
So much for consistency...
"His insistence that he would only serve a maximum of two terms in office is also an admirable promise in an era in which too many have made a career in elected public service."
- The Independent, in its Editorial Endorsement of Lee Brunckhart for mayor in the Republican primary
Or
"Should the mayor's 38 years of service to the city be judged on the basis of three sluggish years?"
"During these tough economic times, change should not be made for the sake of change. We recommend voters grant four more years to the candidate with decades of experience..."
- The Independent, in its Editorial Endorsement of Frank Cicchinelli for a seventh (7th) term as mayor in the Democratic primary
So much for consistency...
Thursday, April 21, 2011
No Holds Barred in Massillon
The fireworks at tonight's Candidates Forum at the Lions Lincoln Theatre didn't just come from the candidates for mayor.
Rumor on the street is that Cicchinelli Loyalist Thomas Rivera assaulted Council President candidate Scott Graber in front of the theatre, during the event.
Rivera, a well known Cicchinelli supporter, signed an endorsement letter for the mayor that was mailed to Massillon Democrats just a few days ago.
Goodness.
We knew some members of the Cicchinelli camp resorted to no holds barred political tactics, but this is a bit much.
Passions are running at a fever pitch in the run up to the big Democratic Primary.
It is one thing to argue in favor of your candidate, but in America it is unacceptable to resort to physical violence to make a political point.
Our nation was built upon a foundation of free speech and political freedom.
People shouldn't be assaulted because they don't support your candidate.
There is absolutely no place for this behavior in our city.
None.
Rumor on the street is that Cicchinelli Loyalist Thomas Rivera assaulted Council President candidate Scott Graber in front of the theatre, during the event.
Rivera, a well known Cicchinelli supporter, signed an endorsement letter for the mayor that was mailed to Massillon Democrats just a few days ago.
Goodness.
We knew some members of the Cicchinelli camp resorted to no holds barred political tactics, but this is a bit much.
Passions are running at a fever pitch in the run up to the big Democratic Primary.
It is one thing to argue in favor of your candidate, but in America it is unacceptable to resort to physical violence to make a political point.
Our nation was built upon a foundation of free speech and political freedom.
People shouldn't be assaulted because they don't support your candidate.
There is absolutely no place for this behavior in our city.
None.
A Cicchinelli Pep Rally
Tonight's "Candidate's Forum" at the Lions Lincoln Theatre will turn out to be nothing more than a glorified pep rally for Team Cicchinelli.
The Extraordinary One, Massillon's Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City has long manipulated this format.
Four years ago when he "debated" Tim Bryan at the Lions Lincoln Theatre, he packed the place with friends, relatives, and people who owed their jobs to him.
They hooted, they howled, they booed Bryan on command, and they cheered the Extraordinary One when they were supposed to.
The doors open at 6PM. The Question and Answer session starts at 7PM and lasts until 9PM.
The rules for tonight are absolutely ridiculous.
If you want to ask a question, you have to write your name on a slip of paper, and drop it into a bucket in the lobby.
The event organizers draw names randomly, and the selected person gets to go up to the microphone and ask their question of the candidates.
The problem is the Cicchinelli minions will arrive in force, and load the bucket. If they submit 90% of the names, they will get to ask 90% of the questions.
They will have that bucket full by 6:30PM.
And they will have prepared questions.
If a city worker gets drawn randomly, he better damn well ask the question the mayor wants to hear.
"Uh, yes, you, Mike Loudiana, do you have a question FOR YOUR BOSS?"
It will be a steady stream of city workers, Cicchinelli family members, and mayoral lackeys parading to the microphone and praising their commander in chief.
The bucket will be stuffed worse than a Chicago ballot box on election day.
The fix will be in, whether that was the intent of the organizers, or not.
If the citizens of Massillon don't want the last candidate's forum before the election to be slow pitch softball batting practice for the mayor, they better show up, write out their name, drop it in the bucket, and ask real questions if called.
Because the mayoral minions will have their marching orders.
And they will be out in full force.
The Extraordinary One, Massillon's Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City has long manipulated this format.
Four years ago when he "debated" Tim Bryan at the Lions Lincoln Theatre, he packed the place with friends, relatives, and people who owed their jobs to him.
They hooted, they howled, they booed Bryan on command, and they cheered the Extraordinary One when they were supposed to.
The doors open at 6PM. The Question and Answer session starts at 7PM and lasts until 9PM.
The rules for tonight are absolutely ridiculous.
If you want to ask a question, you have to write your name on a slip of paper, and drop it into a bucket in the lobby.
The event organizers draw names randomly, and the selected person gets to go up to the microphone and ask their question of the candidates.
The problem is the Cicchinelli minions will arrive in force, and load the bucket. If they submit 90% of the names, they will get to ask 90% of the questions.
They will have that bucket full by 6:30PM.
And they will have prepared questions.
If a city worker gets drawn randomly, he better damn well ask the question the mayor wants to hear.
"Uh, yes, you, Mike Loudiana, do you have a question FOR YOUR BOSS?"
It will be a steady stream of city workers, Cicchinelli family members, and mayoral lackeys parading to the microphone and praising their commander in chief.
The bucket will be stuffed worse than a Chicago ballot box on election day.
The fix will be in, whether that was the intent of the organizers, or not.
If the citizens of Massillon don't want the last candidate's forum before the election to be slow pitch softball batting practice for the mayor, they better show up, write out their name, drop it in the bucket, and ask real questions if called.
Because the mayoral minions will have their marching orders.
And they will be out in full force.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
A Helline in the Sand
John Helline, Hotel Developer and Loyal Supporter (and campaign contributor) of Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City visited Massillon City Council Monday night to whine and complain that Kathy Catazaro-Perry was too critical of his hotel, the Hampton Inn. This is the hotel that we pay the mortgage on. We pay it with Community Development Block Grant money, a fancy term for our federal tax dollars. We are on the hook, because Mr. Helline doesn't pay the loan. But we can't blame John Helline. Nefarious and sinister forces have been at work in our city. We are victims of the ultimate Carpetbagger.
"Helline said the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the economic downturn that followed have harmed the travel industry" (The Independent, April 20, 2011).
Osama bin Laden, unfortunately, has been very active in Massillon.
Our mayor has also blamed the 9/11 terrorist attacks for slowing the development on Massillon's never built hockey arena. (The Repository, November 3, 2002).
Terror cells, right here in our home town. Who would have ever guessed?
Maybe Alan Jackson could write a song about this tragedy;
"Where were you when the Hampton Inn couldn't pay its mortgage..."
9/11, one of the most tragic events to ever occur on American soil, was ten years ago.
To blame this tragedy, in any way, as to why you don't pay your bills is offensive.
We counter with several other possible theories as to why there just isn't enough money at the end of the day to pay the mortgage.
Perhaps instead of showing profit, the developers pay themselves a "management fee." They get paid, and it is part of the hotel's operating expense, so they don't show much of a profit, and don't have the money to pay on the loan so we, the taxpayers, have to cough up the cash.
It would be an accounting trick. Technically the movie Forrest Gump, major blockbuster that it was, lost money. Think Hollywood accounting.
Perhaps people don't want to pay $124 dollars plus tax to sleep over a bus garage on a Thursday night.
Hard to say.
What isn't hard to say is that the events of 9/11, tragic as they were, happened ten (10) years ago.
There was an impact on the travel industry.
Ten years ago.
The citizens of Massillon are tired of excuses.
They are tired of lies, lies such as Helline and Cicchinelli denying that Helline's appearance at City Council Monday was not prompted by the Extraordinary One.
It was.
They know it.
We are tired of paying for a hotel, a golf course, a restaurant, and a hockey arena that was never built.
Pretty soon we will find out that bin Laden forced the City to merge the Legends Golf Course with the parks department.
We obviously know where the buck stops on this one.
It stops with Al-Qaeda.
You can see their swath of destruction at the walking path in Reservoir Park.
Osama bin Laden, unfortunately, has been very active in Massillon.
Our mayor has also blamed the 9/11 terrorist attacks for slowing the development on Massillon's never built hockey arena. (The Repository, November 3, 2002).
Terror cells, right here in our home town. Who would have ever guessed?
Maybe Alan Jackson could write a song about this tragedy;
"Where were you when the Hampton Inn couldn't pay its mortgage..."
9/11, one of the most tragic events to ever occur on American soil, was ten years ago.
To blame this tragedy, in any way, as to why you don't pay your bills is offensive.
We counter with several other possible theories as to why there just isn't enough money at the end of the day to pay the mortgage.
Perhaps instead of showing profit, the developers pay themselves a "management fee." They get paid, and it is part of the hotel's operating expense, so they don't show much of a profit, and don't have the money to pay on the loan so we, the taxpayers, have to cough up the cash.
It would be an accounting trick. Technically the movie Forrest Gump, major blockbuster that it was, lost money. Think Hollywood accounting.
Perhaps people don't want to pay $124 dollars plus tax to sleep over a bus garage on a Thursday night.
Hard to say.
What isn't hard to say is that the events of 9/11, tragic as they were, happened ten (10) years ago.
There was an impact on the travel industry.
Ten years ago.
The citizens of Massillon are tired of excuses.
They are tired of lies, lies such as Helline and Cicchinelli denying that Helline's appearance at City Council Monday was not prompted by the Extraordinary One.
It was.
They know it.
We are tired of paying for a hotel, a golf course, a restaurant, and a hockey arena that was never built.
Pretty soon we will find out that bin Laden forced the City to merge the Legends Golf Course with the parks department.
We obviously know where the buck stops on this one.
It stops with Al-Qaeda.
You can see their swath of destruction at the walking path in Reservoir Park.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Four More Years
From last night's Candidate's Forum at the Massillon Library;
"I do need four more years to complete some of the projects we're embarking on."
(Mayor Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, April 19, 2011).
Just four more years.
The first 38 haven't been enough.
Line of the night;
"Cicchinelli said there is "no waste" in city government and believes the city budgetary issues are being used for political purposes" (The Independent, April 19, 2011).
No waste.
The budget isn't two million dollars plus short, it's "political."
The biggest unanswered question from last night is why did the First Lady for Life storm out of the Library before the candidate's forum was over?
Enquiring minds want to know.
"I do need four more years to complete some of the projects we're embarking on."
(Mayor Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, April 19, 2011).
Just four more years.
The first 38 haven't been enough.
Line of the night;
"Cicchinelli said there is "no waste" in city government and believes the city budgetary issues are being used for political purposes" (The Independent, April 19, 2011).
No waste.
The budget isn't two million dollars plus short, it's "political."
The biggest unanswered question from last night is why did the First Lady for Life storm out of the Library before the candidate's forum was over?
Enquiring minds want to know.
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Main Event
In this corner, we have the undisputed champion of Massillon Politics, Mayor Francis H. Cicchinelli, Jr.
The mayor's campaign committee, in their mailers, refer to him as 'Extraordinary.'
We refer to him merely as our Beloved Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City.
Frank Cicchinelli has dominated Massillon politics for the past 38 years, serving as mayor for the last 24 years.
24 years as mayor.
A quarter century in the city's top job.
When Frank Cicchinelli was first elected to city council in 1973, Richard Nixon was President.
The Miami Dolphins beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII to cap an undefeated season.
Gas was 40 cents a gallon.
George Foreman knocked out Joe Frazier to win the Heavyweight Championship.
The movie The Godfather won the Academy Award for best film.
It was almost forty years ago.
It is claimed that Frank Cicchinelli just wants "one more term" as mayor.
Four years ago it was claimed he only wanted "one more term."
Should he win another term this year, in four more years it will be claimed he just wants "one more term."
Our Mayor for Life has had 24 years in the city's top job.
There shouldn't be any unfinished business left.
We believe that Frank Cicchinelli sees the mayor's job as his job.
He can no longer separate the man from the office. As we have stated in the past, the Land and the King are one.
If someone disagrees with a particular policy of his, he treats it as a personal attack. His opponents are labeled as "anti-Cicchinelli," and as a result "anti-Massillon."
His skin is notoriously thin.
His paranoia is indeed 'Extraordinary'
He is a brass knuckled, down and dirty, street fighter when it comes to political campaigns.
Politically, he will gouge eyes and pull hair to win a fight.
He punishes his enemies.
He rewards his friends.
And he avoids blame at all costs.
We believe all of this to be true.
We also believe all of this is irrelevant.
He should be judged by how our city government is being run.
This, and only this, should be the metric that determines his fitness to serve another term.
So how is our city government working?
City government is dead broke.
Deep into 2011, the city still had not paid off its bills from 2010.
It is believed that city operations are about 2.5 million dollars short for this year.
When city council rejected his unbalanced budget for 2011, the mayor's response was to do nothing.
He took his ball and went home. The full-time mayor with a full-time staff made not one modification to his spending plan.
He resorted to stunts and threats to cajole council into passing his budget.
His Fire Chief threatened to call out the National Guard if council did not roll over for the mayor.
It was games, not solutions. It was tricks, not dialogue that our mayor resorted to.
Our parks are a disaster. Voters passed a .3% income tax in 1995 to fund parks and recreation.
We have enough income so that our parks should be cathedrals.
They are not, because that money has been hijacked.
Hijacked to subsidize a failing golf course.
Hijacked to buy the restaurant at the golf course.
The mayor's solution? To start examining which parks we should sell off.
He has taken insurance settlement money meant for our parks and grabbed it for the city's general fund.
Our Community Development Block Grant money is being used to pay for the mortgage of a private hotel.
Even when the mortgage is up after 20 years, we are still on the hook for a massive balloon payment approaching $1 million dollars.
Even though he knew the city was collapsing financially, he negotiated 4% pay raises for the city's unions, claiming "the dollars will be there."
They weren't. And he knew they wouldn't be.
He spent money on a hockey arena that was never built. An arena that most reasonable people believed would never be built.
The proposed financier sits in a Florida prison for fraud.
Can we really afford four more years?
The mess is big and it is past time to start cleaning it up.
We need a change at the top.
In the opposite corner is Kathy Catazaro-Perry, Massillon's Third Ward Councilwoman.
She is in her eighth year on council.
She started a special needs daycare center.
She runs a business.
She is active in the community.
She tries to fix what is broken.
Catazaro-Perry requested a performance audit of city finances, so that we can make city government more efficient. The mayor opposed this.
She tried to end the practice of unvoted pay raises for elected officials. The mayor opposed this.
She has consistently opposed spending our CDBG dollars on a hotel mortgage.
Catazaro-Perry talks about bringing people together, about working together, about shared responsibility, and doesn't worry about who to blame.
She is a breath of fresh air.
Frank Cicchinelli has clearly shown that he does not merit an another term as our mayor.
Kathy Catazaro-Perry has clearly shown she deserves a chance to do better.
We are confident she will.
The Massillon Review strongly endorses Kathy Catazaro-Perry for mayor of Massillon.
Our city can not survive just "one more term" for our current chief executive.
The mayor's campaign committee, in their mailers, refer to him as 'Extraordinary.'
We refer to him merely as our Beloved Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City.
Frank Cicchinelli has dominated Massillon politics for the past 38 years, serving as mayor for the last 24 years.
24 years as mayor.
A quarter century in the city's top job.
When Frank Cicchinelli was first elected to city council in 1973, Richard Nixon was President.
The Miami Dolphins beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII to cap an undefeated season.
Gas was 40 cents a gallon.
George Foreman knocked out Joe Frazier to win the Heavyweight Championship.
The movie The Godfather won the Academy Award for best film.
It was almost forty years ago.
It is claimed that Frank Cicchinelli just wants "one more term" as mayor.
Four years ago it was claimed he only wanted "one more term."
Should he win another term this year, in four more years it will be claimed he just wants "one more term."
Our Mayor for Life has had 24 years in the city's top job.
There shouldn't be any unfinished business left.
We believe that Frank Cicchinelli sees the mayor's job as his job.
He can no longer separate the man from the office. As we have stated in the past, the Land and the King are one.
If someone disagrees with a particular policy of his, he treats it as a personal attack. His opponents are labeled as "anti-Cicchinelli," and as a result "anti-Massillon."
His skin is notoriously thin.
His paranoia is indeed 'Extraordinary'
He is a brass knuckled, down and dirty, street fighter when it comes to political campaigns.
Politically, he will gouge eyes and pull hair to win a fight.
He punishes his enemies.
He rewards his friends.
And he avoids blame at all costs.
We believe all of this to be true.
We also believe all of this is irrelevant.
He should be judged by how our city government is being run.
This, and only this, should be the metric that determines his fitness to serve another term.
So how is our city government working?
City government is dead broke.
Deep into 2011, the city still had not paid off its bills from 2010.
It is believed that city operations are about 2.5 million dollars short for this year.
When city council rejected his unbalanced budget for 2011, the mayor's response was to do nothing.
He took his ball and went home. The full-time mayor with a full-time staff made not one modification to his spending plan.
He resorted to stunts and threats to cajole council into passing his budget.
His Fire Chief threatened to call out the National Guard if council did not roll over for the mayor.
It was games, not solutions. It was tricks, not dialogue that our mayor resorted to.
Our parks are a disaster. Voters passed a .3% income tax in 1995 to fund parks and recreation.
We have enough income so that our parks should be cathedrals.
They are not, because that money has been hijacked.
Hijacked to subsidize a failing golf course.
Hijacked to buy the restaurant at the golf course.
The mayor's solution? To start examining which parks we should sell off.
He has taken insurance settlement money meant for our parks and grabbed it for the city's general fund.
Our Community Development Block Grant money is being used to pay for the mortgage of a private hotel.
Even when the mortgage is up after 20 years, we are still on the hook for a massive balloon payment approaching $1 million dollars.
Even though he knew the city was collapsing financially, he negotiated 4% pay raises for the city's unions, claiming "the dollars will be there."
They weren't. And he knew they wouldn't be.
He spent money on a hockey arena that was never built. An arena that most reasonable people believed would never be built.
The proposed financier sits in a Florida prison for fraud.
Can we really afford four more years?
The mess is big and it is past time to start cleaning it up.
We need a change at the top.
In the opposite corner is Kathy Catazaro-Perry, Massillon's Third Ward Councilwoman.
She is in her eighth year on council.
She started a special needs daycare center.
She runs a business.
She is active in the community.
She tries to fix what is broken.
Catazaro-Perry requested a performance audit of city finances, so that we can make city government more efficient. The mayor opposed this.
She tried to end the practice of unvoted pay raises for elected officials. The mayor opposed this.
She has consistently opposed spending our CDBG dollars on a hotel mortgage.
Catazaro-Perry talks about bringing people together, about working together, about shared responsibility, and doesn't worry about who to blame.
She is a breath of fresh air.
Frank Cicchinelli has clearly shown that he does not merit an another term as our mayor.
Kathy Catazaro-Perry has clearly shown she deserves a chance to do better.
We are confident she will.
The Massillon Review strongly endorses Kathy Catazaro-Perry for mayor of Massillon.
Our city can not survive just "one more term" for our current chief executive.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
People in Massillon should decide
"People in Massillon should decide. People who live in Massillon should decide who their mayor should be, who their council member should be. They shouldn't be influenced by anyone on the outside, any individual that doesn't live within the corporate limits of Massillon should not be concerned with who the mayor is..."
(Mayor Frank Cicchinelli, at his own press conference, when announcing his intentions to seek a seventh term as mayor)
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. "There's going to be a line drawn in the sand", he said..." (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Frank Cicchinelli has made it clear that outsiders, "carpetbaggers," should not involve themselves in Massillon politics.
Except when they support him.
A number of our Democratic staffers here at the Review received an extraordinary piece of political mail from our extraordinary Mayor for Life yesterday.
It touted his accomplishments and his "rare ability to bring people together..."
Yes, we will agree his ability to bring people together is indeed very rare.
So rare that some would call it non-existent.
According to his own letter, "Frank's vision and commitment to large scale projects" has brought us, drum roll please... the Hampton Inn.
It wasn't his "vision and commitment," it was us paying the mortgage.
The letter was then signed by prominent citizenry.
Including carpetbaggers.
Frank Cicchinelli's own campaign letter included endorsements from, as our mayor would say, people who do not reside within the corporate limits of the city of Massillon.
"People in Massillon should decide who their mayor should be."
Apparently the "line in the sand" does not extend to himself.
The lesson is clear. If you want to support the mayor, you can live outside "the corporate limits of Massillon."
If you support his opponent, you can't.
Fair is fair.
(Mayor Frank Cicchinelli, at his own press conference, when announcing his intentions to seek a seventh term as mayor)
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. "There's going to be a line drawn in the sand", he said..." (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Frank Cicchinelli has made it clear that outsiders, "carpetbaggers," should not involve themselves in Massillon politics.
Except when they support him.
A number of our Democratic staffers here at the Review received an extraordinary piece of political mail from our extraordinary Mayor for Life yesterday.
It touted his accomplishments and his "rare ability to bring people together..."
Yes, we will agree his ability to bring people together is indeed very rare.
So rare that some would call it non-existent.
According to his own letter, "Frank's vision and commitment to large scale projects" has brought us, drum roll please... the Hampton Inn.
It wasn't his "vision and commitment," it was us paying the mortgage.
The letter was then signed by prominent citizenry.
Including carpetbaggers.
Frank Cicchinelli's own campaign letter included endorsements from, as our mayor would say, people who do not reside within the corporate limits of the city of Massillon.
"People in Massillon should decide who their mayor should be."
Apparently the "line in the sand" does not extend to himself.
The lesson is clear. If you want to support the mayor, you can live outside "the corporate limits of Massillon."
If you support his opponent, you can't.
Fair is fair.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
What Will They Cut?
Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City, who has graced his subjects with "38 years of seasoned leadership," has announced through his appointee, Community Development Director Aane Aaby, that Massillon's Community Development Block Grant Allocation will be cut by 15%.
This 15% cut is the result of the cuts made to the Community Development Block Grant Program by the Federal Government.
As a result, the city will have $120,000 dollars less to allocate.
Decision time for the mayor's administration.
What to cut, what to cut...
Will they cut;
A.) The mortgage payment to the privately owned Hampton Inn, and ask that the owners pay their own damn mortgage, or
B.) An ambulance.
Let's debate this choice on the merits.
An ambulance would just be used to take the critically injured or ill to the hospital. Accident victims, heart attack victims, stroke victims, and the like.
But by paying the mortgage payment for the Hampton Inn, the owners will get to keep more money in their pockets without having to pay their mortgage. Think of the extra cash you would have every month if someone else paid your mortgage.
The choice is clear.
The choice was made.
The city is chucking the ambulance and paying the hotel's mortgage.
A predictable choice.
This 15% cut is the result of the cuts made to the Community Development Block Grant Program by the Federal Government.
As a result, the city will have $120,000 dollars less to allocate.
Decision time for the mayor's administration.
What to cut, what to cut...
Will they cut;
A.) The mortgage payment to the privately owned Hampton Inn, and ask that the owners pay their own damn mortgage, or
B.) An ambulance.
Let's debate this choice on the merits.
An ambulance would just be used to take the critically injured or ill to the hospital. Accident victims, heart attack victims, stroke victims, and the like.
But by paying the mortgage payment for the Hampton Inn, the owners will get to keep more money in their pockets without having to pay their mortgage. Think of the extra cash you would have every month if someone else paid your mortgage.
The choice is clear.
The choice was made.
The city is chucking the ambulance and paying the hotel's mortgage.
A predictable choice.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Priorities
The City of Massillon will be holding a mandatory public hearing, required by law, this coming Monday at 6:30PM at Massillon City Council chambers.
The city will be rolling out its proposed 2011 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget for public comment.
A 'Community Development Block Grant' is a technical term for your federal tax dollars.
And how does our Extraordinary Mayor for Life propose to spend your tax dollars?
Pop Quiz -
Will we spend more CDBG money on the combined sum total of money budgeted for the following agencies;
Massillon Main Street
Western Stark Medical Clinic
Westark Family Services
Community Health Foundation
Community Services of Stark County
Community Legal Aid
Lighthouse Visions
Domestic Violence Project
The Salvation Army
Boys and Girls Club of Massillon
Faith in Action
Massillon Commission to Advance Literacy
Family Economic Success Program
Or will we spend more money to pay the mortgage for the Hampton Inn?
Silly rabbit, the answer is simple.
According to this proposed budget, we will spend more money to make the mortgage payment for the privately owned Hampton Inn than we will spend on the aforementioned agencies combined.
The city will be rolling out its proposed 2011 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget for public comment.
A 'Community Development Block Grant' is a technical term for your federal tax dollars.
And how does our Extraordinary Mayor for Life propose to spend your tax dollars?
Pop Quiz -
Will we spend more CDBG money on the combined sum total of money budgeted for the following agencies;
Massillon Main Street
Western Stark Medical Clinic
Westark Family Services
Community Health Foundation
Community Services of Stark County
Community Legal Aid
Lighthouse Visions
Domestic Violence Project
The Salvation Army
Boys and Girls Club of Massillon
Faith in Action
Massillon Commission to Advance Literacy
Family Economic Success Program
Or will we spend more money to pay the mortgage for the Hampton Inn?
Silly rabbit, the answer is simple.
According to this proposed budget, we will spend more money to make the mortgage payment for the privately owned Hampton Inn than we will spend on the aforementioned agencies combined.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Great Debates
Next week, the community has the opportunity to attend two forums, where our candidates for mayor, both Republican and Democrat, will be squaring off.
On Monday night, from 6pm until 7pm, the League of Women Voters will be hosting a debate at the Massillon Public Library featuring Republican Andrew Oser and Democrats Kathy Catazaro-Perry, and the Extraordinary One, our beloved Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City.
The moderator will have prepared questions, but the League will accept written questions from the audience.
On Thursday night, April 21, there will be an "Ask the Candidates" event at the Lion's Lincoln Theatre, scheduled to start at 7pm (doors open at 6pm). It is scheduled for two hours. Republicans Andrew Oser and Lee Brunckhart are scheduled to appear, as well as Kathy Catazaro-Perry and our Eternal Leader, Frank Cicchinelli.
Massillon historian Rudy Turkal will call on the audience to ask questions.
There are concerns that Rudy will stack the deck for the mayor. We can only hope he will be fair.
So be prepared to bring questions.
Perhaps folks will ask why money meant for parks and recreation was hijacked to pay the debt on the golf course.
Maybe someone will want to know why our tax dollars are used to pay the mortgage for a privately owned hotel.
Someone might want to know why the mayor doled out 4% pay raises for the city's unions when he knew the city was broke, and his claim about "the dollars will be there" was false.
Whatever happened to the hockey arena? Is it true the proposed financier is still sitting in a Florida prison?
How come many of our city streets look worse than downtown Baghdad?
Yes, there are just so many questions to ask.
Because if you don't ask questions, the Mayor for Life's supporters will ask them all.
The mayor is famous for stacking these candidates' nights with his loyalists.
They hoot. They howl. They boo, and they cheer on command.
A similar event was held four years ago at the Lincoln Theatre, and the mayor's crew made quite the scene as they booed Tim Bryan.
One woman in particular "Whoo Hoo'd" all night. You would have thought she belonged in Jerry Springer's audience.
We shudder to think what they have in store for Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
The mayor's supporters will be out in force, performing at their dramatic best.
Will the mayor's devotees dominate the audience?
We shall see next week.
On Monday night, from 6pm until 7pm, the League of Women Voters will be hosting a debate at the Massillon Public Library featuring Republican Andrew Oser and Democrats Kathy Catazaro-Perry, and the Extraordinary One, our beloved Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City.
The moderator will have prepared questions, but the League will accept written questions from the audience.
On Thursday night, April 21, there will be an "Ask the Candidates" event at the Lion's Lincoln Theatre, scheduled to start at 7pm (doors open at 6pm). It is scheduled for two hours. Republicans Andrew Oser and Lee Brunckhart are scheduled to appear, as well as Kathy Catazaro-Perry and our Eternal Leader, Frank Cicchinelli.
Massillon historian Rudy Turkal will call on the audience to ask questions.
There are concerns that Rudy will stack the deck for the mayor. We can only hope he will be fair.
So be prepared to bring questions.
Perhaps folks will ask why money meant for parks and recreation was hijacked to pay the debt on the golf course.
Maybe someone will want to know why our tax dollars are used to pay the mortgage for a privately owned hotel.
Someone might want to know why the mayor doled out 4% pay raises for the city's unions when he knew the city was broke, and his claim about "the dollars will be there" was false.
Whatever happened to the hockey arena? Is it true the proposed financier is still sitting in a Florida prison?
How come many of our city streets look worse than downtown Baghdad?
Yes, there are just so many questions to ask.
Because if you don't ask questions, the Mayor for Life's supporters will ask them all.
The mayor is famous for stacking these candidates' nights with his loyalists.
They hoot. They howl. They boo, and they cheer on command.
A similar event was held four years ago at the Lincoln Theatre, and the mayor's crew made quite the scene as they booed Tim Bryan.
One woman in particular "Whoo Hoo'd" all night. You would have thought she belonged in Jerry Springer's audience.
We shudder to think what they have in store for Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
The mayor's supporters will be out in force, performing at their dramatic best.
Will the mayor's devotees dominate the audience?
We shall see next week.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Every Two Years
Ward 4 Councilman Tony Townsend has represented Massillon's Southeast Side with distinction since he was first elected to city council in 2005.
Our Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City has had a serious issue with Townsend ever since.
The problem?
Townsend thinks for himself.
As a result, the mayor makes it his personal quest to find someone to run against Townsend every two years.
And Councilman Townsend kicks their behind every two years, receiving about 70% of the vote.
Failure, however, does not slow down our Mayor for Life.
Where smarter men would readjust their tactics, Team Cicchinelli cheerfully bulls forward.
This year, they have recruited Jackie Carter to run against Tony Townsend.
Jackie Carter's nominating petition was circulated in Ward 4 by the First Lady for Life, the Joyful One, Joy Cicchinelli.
Tony Townsend is too independent for the mayor.
When Townsend fought to rename Shriver Park after trailblazing former councilman, the late T. Roy Roberson, Cicchinelli publicly supported the idea, while privately having his minions kill it.
Remember 'The Pledge?'
"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).
His Park Board Lackeys, Michelle Del Rio-Keller, and Timothy Muzi both voted the idea down.
As did the mayor's council rubber stamps. Lap Dog of the Treasury Paul Manson, Taxman Dave Hersher, The Puppet Ron Mang, and David 'I am above the law' McCune, were joined by Donnie Peters in voting no.
All the Cicchinelli loyalists voted no, despite the mayor's 'pledge.'
The truth is that Cicchinelli was never for the park renaming. He just didn't want to alienate the citizens who were in favor of the idea, especially as our extraordinary mayor headed into an election.
In typical Cicchinelli fashion, he passed the buck.
And why was he opposed to the idea of renaming the park?
According to several Massillon Review sources, it was because Tony Townsend didn't kiss the mayor's ring, and get his permission before he pitched the idea.
That simple.
That petty.
Massillon doesn't need another rubber stamp on council.
Four is plenty.
Tony Townsend does a good job and always fights for his constituents.
Townsend does what is right, not what the mayor tells him to do.
The Massillon Review proudly endorses Tony Townsend in the Democratic primary for Ward 4 council representative.
We expect him to win handily.
He always does.
Our Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City has had a serious issue with Townsend ever since.
The problem?
Townsend thinks for himself.
As a result, the mayor makes it his personal quest to find someone to run against Townsend every two years.
And Councilman Townsend kicks their behind every two years, receiving about 70% of the vote.
Failure, however, does not slow down our Mayor for Life.
Where smarter men would readjust their tactics, Team Cicchinelli cheerfully bulls forward.
This year, they have recruited Jackie Carter to run against Tony Townsend.
Jackie Carter's nominating petition was circulated in Ward 4 by the First Lady for Life, the Joyful One, Joy Cicchinelli.
Tony Townsend is too independent for the mayor.
When Townsend fought to rename Shriver Park after trailblazing former councilman, the late T. Roy Roberson, Cicchinelli publicly supported the idea, while privately having his minions kill it.
Remember 'The Pledge?'
"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).
His Park Board Lackeys, Michelle Del Rio-Keller, and Timothy Muzi both voted the idea down.
As did the mayor's council rubber stamps. Lap Dog of the Treasury Paul Manson, Taxman Dave Hersher, The Puppet Ron Mang, and David 'I am above the law' McCune, were joined by Donnie Peters in voting no.
All the Cicchinelli loyalists voted no, despite the mayor's 'pledge.'
The truth is that Cicchinelli was never for the park renaming. He just didn't want to alienate the citizens who were in favor of the idea, especially as our extraordinary mayor headed into an election.
In typical Cicchinelli fashion, he passed the buck.
And why was he opposed to the idea of renaming the park?
According to several Massillon Review sources, it was because Tony Townsend didn't kiss the mayor's ring, and get his permission before he pitched the idea.
That simple.
That petty.
Massillon doesn't need another rubber stamp on council.
Four is plenty.
Tony Townsend does a good job and always fights for his constituents.
Townsend does what is right, not what the mayor tells him to do.
The Massillon Review proudly endorses Tony Townsend in the Democratic primary for Ward 4 council representative.
We expect him to win handily.
He always does.
What a Wonderful World
I see trees of green
red roses, too
I see them bloom
from me and you
and think to myself
what a wonderful world
red roses, too
I see them bloom
from me and you
and think to myself
what a wonderful world
Thank you mayor.
For doing such an an extraordinary job with our park income tax money.
Your 38 years of seasoned leadership is obviously paying
huge dividends for our park system.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Spontaneous Unsolicited Support
There was a lovely letter to the editor in Monday's edition of the Independent newspaper. We urge you to read it, as it sounds eerily like the other lovely letters to the editor trumpeting their support for our beloved, yet Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City.
Same refrain about the lucky citizens of Massillon being led through the wilderness by an extraordinary leader;
www.indeonline.com/opinion/letters/x1700912032/Keep-Cicchinelli-as-mayor
It ends with...
"It's a funny thing, how most of us are quick to attack the negatives and yet not give credit for all the positives. Frank wants one more term to serve as mayor. Citizens of Massillon need to ask themselves this question: are you really willing to risk the seasoned leadership now in place under Mayor Cicchinelli which has been bringing about positive change for the past 38 years, allowing your city to grow and yet retain the feeling of "small-town America," just for the sake of change?"
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TwT69i1lU
This letter was submitted by Phil and Patti Bucci.
One would assume they were loyal residents of our town.
One would be wrong.
This morning, the Massillon Review was informed by one of our faithful readers that carpetbaggers were in our midst.
Phil and Patti Bucci live in...
PERRY TOWNSHIP
Perry Township. The Godless wasteland where Kathy Catazaro-Perry attends church.
Don't they realize our Extraordinary Mayor for Life has drawn a line in the sand?
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said..." (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Mayor Frank Cicchinelli has but one choice.
To denounce the support of these carpetbagging outsiders, and to denounce their letter of support.
"People in Massillon should decide. People that live in Massillon should decide who their mayor should be, who their council member should be. They shouldn't be influenced by anyone on the outside, any individual that doesn't live within the corporate limits of Massillon should not be concerned with who the mayor is..." (Mayor for Life Frank Cicchinelli, at his own press conference, when announcing for his 7th term as mayor).
Even if the letter rings 'joyously' familiar to the other letters of support previously submitted.
A line in the sand is a line in the sand.
Regardless of how 'spontaneous' and 'unsolicited' the support may be.
Same refrain about the lucky citizens of Massillon being led through the wilderness by an extraordinary leader;
www.indeonline.com/opinion/letters/x1700912032/Keep-Cicchinelli-as-mayor
It ends with...
"It's a funny thing, how most of us are quick to attack the negatives and yet not give credit for all the positives. Frank wants one more term to serve as mayor. Citizens of Massillon need to ask themselves this question: are you really willing to risk the seasoned leadership now in place under Mayor Cicchinelli which has been bringing about positive change for the past 38 years, allowing your city to grow and yet retain the feeling of "small-town America," just for the sake of change?"
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TwT69i1lU
This letter was submitted by Phil and Patti Bucci.
One would assume they were loyal residents of our town.
One would be wrong.
This morning, the Massillon Review was informed by one of our faithful readers that carpetbaggers were in our midst.
Phil and Patti Bucci live in...
PERRY TOWNSHIP
Perry Township. The Godless wasteland where Kathy Catazaro-Perry attends church.
Don't they realize our Extraordinary Mayor for Life has drawn a line in the sand?
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said..." (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Mayor Frank Cicchinelli has but one choice.
To denounce the support of these carpetbagging outsiders, and to denounce their letter of support.
"People in Massillon should decide. People that live in Massillon should decide who their mayor should be, who their council member should be. They shouldn't be influenced by anyone on the outside, any individual that doesn't live within the corporate limits of Massillon should not be concerned with who the mayor is..." (Mayor for Life Frank Cicchinelli, at his own press conference, when announcing for his 7th term as mayor).
Even if the letter rings 'joyously' familiar to the other letters of support previously submitted.
A line in the sand is a line in the sand.
Regardless of how 'spontaneous' and 'unsolicited' the support may be.
The Choice in Ward 3
Democrats in Massillon's Ward 3 will select among three candidates to replace Kathy Catazaro-Perry, who gave up her council seat to challenge Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for Life for leadership of the city.
Lynda Blankenship, Mary Pribich, and Andrea Scassa are competing for the opportunity to represent Massillon's Ward 3 citizens.
Lynda Blankenship is involved in the Lions Lincoln Theatre. She is active in the community, but she is a graduate of Jackson High School. This, unfortunately, makes her a carpetbagger.
Mary Pribich, better known as Mrs. Ron Pribich, is the Director for food and nutrition at Affinity Medical Center. Her famous, or is that infamous, husband Ron is one of the mayor's most faithful sidekicks. Ron Pribich sold the city the land to build the ill-fated nine hole expansion of the Legends of Massillon Golf Course. Our Mayor for Life appointed Ron Pribich to the park board despite council voting his appointment down. Pribich then recently resigned his post. Why did he quit?
Mary Pribich is also a carpetbagger. She went to Canton Central Catholic High School. She can not possibly understand the "Massillon Experience" as only those of us who personally attended Washington High School can.
Only Andrea Scassa is not a carpetbagger. Andrea is a graduate of our beloved Washington High School. She is an attorney and a magistrate. She is capable, independent, and will think for herself. Most importantly, only Andrea Scassa is a real Massillon Tiger. She understands the "Massillon Experience."
The Massillon Review proudly endorses Andrea Scassa for Ward 3 council in the Democratic primary.
Lynda Blankenship, Mary Pribich, and Andrea Scassa are competing for the opportunity to represent Massillon's Ward 3 citizens.
Lynda Blankenship is involved in the Lions Lincoln Theatre. She is active in the community, but she is a graduate of Jackson High School. This, unfortunately, makes her a carpetbagger.
Mary Pribich, better known as Mrs. Ron Pribich, is the Director for food and nutrition at Affinity Medical Center. Her famous, or is that infamous, husband Ron is one of the mayor's most faithful sidekicks. Ron Pribich sold the city the land to build the ill-fated nine hole expansion of the Legends of Massillon Golf Course. Our Mayor for Life appointed Ron Pribich to the park board despite council voting his appointment down. Pribich then recently resigned his post. Why did he quit?
Mary Pribich is also a carpetbagger. She went to Canton Central Catholic High School. She can not possibly understand the "Massillon Experience" as only those of us who personally attended Washington High School can.
Only Andrea Scassa is not a carpetbagger. Andrea is a graduate of our beloved Washington High School. She is an attorney and a magistrate. She is capable, independent, and will think for herself. Most importantly, only Andrea Scassa is a real Massillon Tiger. She understands the "Massillon Experience."
The Massillon Review proudly endorses Andrea Scassa for Ward 3 council in the Democratic primary.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Thank him.
Next Monday, April 18th, the City of Massillon will be having a hearing.
This hearing will be at 6:30PM at Massillon City Council Chambers.
Technically it is a "Citizens Input Public Hearing"
And is required by law.
And what kind of hearing is this?
A public hearing for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fiscal Year 2011 Plan.
"The Plan will state the City's long-term and short-term community development objectives that have been developed to address the national goals of the CDBG Program, which include:
1. The provision of decent housing that is affordable to low and very low income households.
2. The provision of a suitable living environment, improving the safety and livability of neighborhoods, increasing access to quality facilities and services, improving housing opportunities, and revitalizing deteriorated neighborhoods.
3. The expansion of economic opportunities, creating jobs that promote long term economic and social viability and that are accessible to low and very low income persons."
Whew.
What does this mean?
This is the formal process where the city of Massillon takes our tax dollars, and uses them to pay the mortgage for the Hampton Inn hotel.
As a matter of fact, it looks like we will be spending another $127,000 to pay on the mortgage this year.
But they have to have a public hearing to gain "citizens input" before this plan may be approved.
The crack Massillon Review legal research team is struggling mightily to figure out how paying the mortgage for some one's privately owned hotel is "providing decent housing that is affordable to low and very low income households."
We have been studying "the plan," which includes;
$127,000 dollars for the hotel (Section 108 loan payment).
$10,000 dollars for the Western Stark Medical Clinic, which is a free medical clinic serving low income uninsured persons.
$8,000 dollars for the homeless shelter.
$3,000 dollars for the adult literacy program.
Our Extraordinary Mayor wishes to spend six (6) times as much money for the hotel mortgage as we do for the Medical Clinic, homeless shelter, and adult literacy COMBINED.
Six times.
Glad to see our Extraordinary Mayor for Life's priorities are in the right place.
Come thank him.
Tell city council what a great idea it is to spend $127,000 of your tax dollars to pay the mortgage on the Hampton Inn.
This hearing will be at 6:30PM at Massillon City Council Chambers.
Technically it is a "Citizens Input Public Hearing"
And is required by law.
And what kind of hearing is this?
A public hearing for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fiscal Year 2011 Plan.
"The Plan will state the City's long-term and short-term community development objectives that have been developed to address the national goals of the CDBG Program, which include:
1. The provision of decent housing that is affordable to low and very low income households.
2. The provision of a suitable living environment, improving the safety and livability of neighborhoods, increasing access to quality facilities and services, improving housing opportunities, and revitalizing deteriorated neighborhoods.
3. The expansion of economic opportunities, creating jobs that promote long term economic and social viability and that are accessible to low and very low income persons."
Whew.
What does this mean?
This is the formal process where the city of Massillon takes our tax dollars, and uses them to pay the mortgage for the Hampton Inn hotel.
As a matter of fact, it looks like we will be spending another $127,000 to pay on the mortgage this year.
But they have to have a public hearing to gain "citizens input" before this plan may be approved.
The crack Massillon Review legal research team is struggling mightily to figure out how paying the mortgage for some one's privately owned hotel is "providing decent housing that is affordable to low and very low income households."
We have been studying "the plan," which includes;
$127,000 dollars for the hotel (Section 108 loan payment).
$10,000 dollars for the Western Stark Medical Clinic, which is a free medical clinic serving low income uninsured persons.
$8,000 dollars for the homeless shelter.
$3,000 dollars for the adult literacy program.
Our Extraordinary Mayor wishes to spend six (6) times as much money for the hotel mortgage as we do for the Medical Clinic, homeless shelter, and adult literacy COMBINED.
Six times.
Glad to see our Extraordinary Mayor for Life's priorities are in the right place.
Come thank him.
Tell city council what a great idea it is to spend $127,000 of your tax dollars to pay the mortgage on the Hampton Inn.
Son of a Preacher Man
The Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber, has sent out a mailer to Massillon's voters.
This is what Gamber writes;
"As a minister's son, I learned at an early age that service, in all its many aspects, is highly valued."
Glenn Gamber writes of 'service.'
"He stormed out of council chambers after hurling obscenity-laced remarks toward Councilman Larry Slagle, who is offering an alternative to Mayor Frank Cicchinelli's proposal. "This is dumb. This is (expletive) dumb," he said, only to return minutes later to apologize and then continue to question the proposal" (The Independent, March 30, 2011).
When Kathy Catazaro-Perry and Tony Townsend objected to Gamber's interpretation of the rules during the park renaming debate, Gamber attacked them personally, accusing them of taking their marching orders from Gamber's now opponent for council president, Scott Graber;
"What did Mr. Graber tell you to say next?" (Glenn Gamber, The Independent, August 26, 2010).
Glenn Gamber launches into profanity laced tirades while presiding over council.
Glenn Gamber lied when he announced his 'retirement' from politics, only to be part of a bait and switch, under the patronage of our Extraordinary Mayor for Life, to become city council president, and avoid an election in the Democratic primary.
He has called Kathy Catazaro-Perry a "political game player," and it has been reported that on a local Massillon Sports web site, he referred to her as a "typical dumb blonde."
This is Gamber's idea of 'service' as the presiding officer of city council.
Perhaps Glenn Gamber should reflect more often on the lessons he probably learned as a minister's son.
Like the one about casting the first stone.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp4339EbVn8
This is what Gamber writes;
"As a minister's son, I learned at an early age that service, in all its many aspects, is highly valued."
Glenn Gamber writes of 'service.'
"He stormed out of council chambers after hurling obscenity-laced remarks toward Councilman Larry Slagle, who is offering an alternative to Mayor Frank Cicchinelli's proposal. "This is dumb. This is (expletive) dumb," he said, only to return minutes later to apologize and then continue to question the proposal" (The Independent, March 30, 2011).
When Kathy Catazaro-Perry and Tony Townsend objected to Gamber's interpretation of the rules during the park renaming debate, Gamber attacked them personally, accusing them of taking their marching orders from Gamber's now opponent for council president, Scott Graber;
"What did Mr. Graber tell you to say next?" (Glenn Gamber, The Independent, August 26, 2010).
Glenn Gamber launches into profanity laced tirades while presiding over council.
Glenn Gamber lied when he announced his 'retirement' from politics, only to be part of a bait and switch, under the patronage of our Extraordinary Mayor for Life, to become city council president, and avoid an election in the Democratic primary.
He has called Kathy Catazaro-Perry a "political game player," and it has been reported that on a local Massillon Sports web site, he referred to her as a "typical dumb blonde."
This is Gamber's idea of 'service' as the presiding officer of city council.
Perhaps Glenn Gamber should reflect more often on the lessons he probably learned as a minister's son.
Like the one about casting the first stone.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp4339EbVn8
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Grassroots Support
Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City held an extraordinary fundraiser this past Thursday.
Fine food, good entertainment, a nice crowd, and signs lovingly placed in front of the Massillon Knights of Columbus by Street Superintendent Mike Stevens greeted the adoring crowd of pro-Massillon, pro-Cicchinelli supporters.
By the Review's own estimates, a crowd which was about two-thirds carpetbaggers.
Yes, shockingly enough, our Extraordinary Mayor for Life was once again taking money from people who didn't live within the city walls.
So much for that 'line in the sand.'
It was good to see the movers and shakers. City workers who owe their jobs to the mayor, hotel investors who have the city pay their mortgage, Land speculators, who sold the city the land for the golf course expansion. Just regular folks out for a nice night and the opportunity to support their benefactor.
While it is well known that an unhealthy paranoia grips team Cicchinelli, it was nice for Massillon's First Lady for Life, Joy Cicchinelli, to put it on display for everyone to personally enjoy.
The Mrs. Extraordinary Mayor for Life gave a speech, explaining how the Independent newspaper was no friend of the Cicchinelli administration. She then encouraged the faithful to bust out their pens and paper, and scribble out letters of support for the extraordinary work our extraordinary mayor has performed for his City, and send them to the evil oligarchs controlling the anti-Cicchinelli propaganda machine by the box full.
We have already seen several of these grassroots 'letters to the editor' permeate our local paper. They weave a tale of a city that has only survived tough times because of the extraordinary work of one extraordinary man.
"I left town, but when I returned I saw theatres, restaurants, stores, and I thought to myself, Wow! Look at Massillon. I then dropped to my knees, and humbly gave thanks to the Extraordinary One, the Mayor for Life, and decided I would never again leave my hometown."
The problem the Extraordinary Mayor for Life, and the Joyful One have with the newspaper is that it is no longer the mayor's personal propaganda vehicle. Not so long ago, under former City Editor R.J. Villella, the paper dutifully reported whatever the mayor told it to report. It was Massillon's answer to Pravda.
As the paper has become less worshipful, and more impartial, the Cicchinellis have become increasingly unhappy, resorting to periodic 'boycotts' of the paper until they treat the Extraordinary One more fairly.
Like children who throw tantrums when they don't get their own way.
So now, we the residents of Massillon will have to endure three weeks of Cicchinelli worshipping, masquerading as unsolicited 'Letters to the Editor' in our local paper.
Our guess is the form and content will all read the same.
It will be as if the same person is writing letter after letter.
We imagine they will be 'extraordinary.'
Fine food, good entertainment, a nice crowd, and signs lovingly placed in front of the Massillon Knights of Columbus by Street Superintendent Mike Stevens greeted the adoring crowd of pro-Massillon, pro-Cicchinelli supporters.
By the Review's own estimates, a crowd which was about two-thirds carpetbaggers.
Yes, shockingly enough, our Extraordinary Mayor for Life was once again taking money from people who didn't live within the city walls.
So much for that 'line in the sand.'
It was good to see the movers and shakers. City workers who owe their jobs to the mayor, hotel investors who have the city pay their mortgage, Land speculators, who sold the city the land for the golf course expansion. Just regular folks out for a nice night and the opportunity to support their benefactor.
While it is well known that an unhealthy paranoia grips team Cicchinelli, it was nice for Massillon's First Lady for Life, Joy Cicchinelli, to put it on display for everyone to personally enjoy.
The Mrs. Extraordinary Mayor for Life gave a speech, explaining how the Independent newspaper was no friend of the Cicchinelli administration. She then encouraged the faithful to bust out their pens and paper, and scribble out letters of support for the extraordinary work our extraordinary mayor has performed for his City, and send them to the evil oligarchs controlling the anti-Cicchinelli propaganda machine by the box full.
We have already seen several of these grassroots 'letters to the editor' permeate our local paper. They weave a tale of a city that has only survived tough times because of the extraordinary work of one extraordinary man.
"I left town, but when I returned I saw theatres, restaurants, stores, and I thought to myself, Wow! Look at Massillon. I then dropped to my knees, and humbly gave thanks to the Extraordinary One, the Mayor for Life, and decided I would never again leave my hometown."
The problem the Extraordinary Mayor for Life, and the Joyful One have with the newspaper is that it is no longer the mayor's personal propaganda vehicle. Not so long ago, under former City Editor R.J. Villella, the paper dutifully reported whatever the mayor told it to report. It was Massillon's answer to Pravda.
As the paper has become less worshipful, and more impartial, the Cicchinellis have become increasingly unhappy, resorting to periodic 'boycotts' of the paper until they treat the Extraordinary One more fairly.
Like children who throw tantrums when they don't get their own way.
So now, we the residents of Massillon will have to endure three weeks of Cicchinelli worshipping, masquerading as unsolicited 'Letters to the Editor' in our local paper.
Our guess is the form and content will all read the same.
It will be as if the same person is writing letter after letter.
We imagine they will be 'extraordinary.'
Friday, April 8, 2011
If You Can't Do the Time, Don't Do the Crime
Massillon Police Officer John Mitchell sent text messages and nude and sexually explicit photos of himself, including pictures of his own genitalia to a woman he arrested for Drunken Driving.
"She was charged with drunken driving, failure to control, and possession of drug paraphernalia. All but the failure to control charge was dropped in January 2010 when lab tests showed no signs of drugs or alcohol in her system..." (The Independent, April 1, 2011).
According to a February 11th story in the Independent, Officer Mitchell was suspended for five days without pay for sending out 88 text messages and 15 pictures to the woman he stopped for drunken driving.
Five days without pay.
According to several of our faithful readers, it wasn't really five days without pay.
Allegedly, Officer Mitchell was allowed to use five vacation days while he was "suspended," so he didn't actually lose any pay.
If this is indeed true, it sends an interesting message.
Send pictures of your genitalia to someone you arrested, and get a vacation.
If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
"She was charged with drunken driving, failure to control, and possession of drug paraphernalia. All but the failure to control charge was dropped in January 2010 when lab tests showed no signs of drugs or alcohol in her system..." (The Independent, April 1, 2011).
According to a February 11th story in the Independent, Officer Mitchell was suspended for five days without pay for sending out 88 text messages and 15 pictures to the woman he stopped for drunken driving.
Five days without pay.
According to several of our faithful readers, it wasn't really five days without pay.
Allegedly, Officer Mitchell was allowed to use five vacation days while he was "suspended," so he didn't actually lose any pay.
If this is indeed true, it sends an interesting message.
Send pictures of your genitalia to someone you arrested, and get a vacation.
If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
Taxman Hersher's Easter Greeting
The citizens of Massillon should have received their Easter Greetings from Taxman Dave Hersher in the mail this week. It's your quarterly bill from the City of Massillon Sewer & Waste Department.
Under "Code" where it is marked "ST" is Taxman Hersher's storm water utility fee.
We are still anxiously awaiting the list of storm water projects this tax is going to address.
The cynical amongst us might believe this money isn't really going to be used to fix problems caused by storm water run off.
This tax has only been in effect six months now.
We are confident the city is just taking its time prioritizing "storm water" projects.
When you see Taxman Hersher, be sure to thank him for his tax, and express your appreciation for all the storm water utility work being conducted in the city.
Under "Code" where it is marked "ST" is Taxman Hersher's storm water utility fee.
We are still anxiously awaiting the list of storm water projects this tax is going to address.
The cynical amongst us might believe this money isn't really going to be used to fix problems caused by storm water run off.
This tax has only been in effect six months now.
We are confident the city is just taking its time prioritizing "storm water" projects.
When you see Taxman Hersher, be sure to thank him for his tax, and express your appreciation for all the storm water utility work being conducted in the city.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
A Big Day for the Mayor for Life
This morning, Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for Life will be in Columbus attending a session of the Ohio Elections Commission.
Charges were filed against him by Republican mayoral challenger Andrew Oser;
"The complaint, filed with the Ohio Elections Commission on Tuesday, contends that the letter makes a false statement - that voters may temporarily change their voting party affiliation - and therefore violates election law." (The Independent, April 6, 2011).
If the Ohio Elections Commission rules against Frank Cicchinelli, we will quickly know what the problem was.
The Ohio Elections Commission is anti-Massillon.
Our crack Massillon Review research team has been studying the Ohio Elections Commission all night, and they have discovered the ugly truth about the Ohio Elections Commission.
They are in Columbus.
And Columbus is outside the corporate limits of the City of Massillon.
Which of course makes the Elections Commission carpetbaggers.
And anti-Cicchinelli.
They may not fully understand, according to Safety-Service Director Mike Loudiana, what an extraordinary mayor we have.
We actually expect Frank Cicchinelli to beat the rap.
He has spent a career avoiding responsibility.
The buck NEVER stops at his desk.
Why should anyone think it will be different today?
Charges were filed against him by Republican mayoral challenger Andrew Oser;
"The complaint, filed with the Ohio Elections Commission on Tuesday, contends that the letter makes a false statement - that voters may temporarily change their voting party affiliation - and therefore violates election law." (The Independent, April 6, 2011).
If the Ohio Elections Commission rules against Frank Cicchinelli, we will quickly know what the problem was.
The Ohio Elections Commission is anti-Massillon.
Our crack Massillon Review research team has been studying the Ohio Elections Commission all night, and they have discovered the ugly truth about the Ohio Elections Commission.
They are in Columbus.
And Columbus is outside the corporate limits of the City of Massillon.
Which of course makes the Elections Commission carpetbaggers.
And anti-Cicchinelli.
They may not fully understand, according to Safety-Service Director Mike Loudiana, what an extraordinary mayor we have.
We actually expect Frank Cicchinelli to beat the rap.
He has spent a career avoiding responsibility.
The buck NEVER stops at his desk.
Why should anyone think it will be different today?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Bad Blood
Relations between Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for Life and developer Carl Oser have never been good. Whenever Oser tries to develop the land he owns on the south side of Lincoln Way East, Cicchinelli opposes it. If Carl Oser wanted to build a free medical clinic that handed out free life saving medication, Cicchinelli would fight the rezoning. To call this a personal feud would be a vast understatement.
When Oser's grandson, Andrew Oser, announced he was running for mayor, he referred to Cicchinelli as a "vindictive, sociopathic control freak" who is "running the city into the ground" (The Independent, October 29, 2010).
Perhaps Andrew Oser didn't realize just how "extraordinary" our mayor really is.
Frank Cicchinelli is so "extraordinary," that his 'campaign committee,' Safety-Service Director Mike Loudiana and First Lady for Life Joy Cicchinelli, sent letters to Republican voters asking them to "temporarily switch parties" so that Republicans could cast an extraordinary vote for an extraordinary mayor.
Akron Beacon Journal Columnist Bob Dyer pointed out that this attempt to get Massillon voters to switch political parties for the day might not be legal.
Andrew Oser concurred and has filed an election complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission.
A hearing has been scheduled for this Thursday at 9:30AM.
Sounds serious.
Charges were filed against the mayor and his wife, who serves as the mayor's campaign treasurer.
In the buck stops every where but at the mayor's desk world of Frank Cicchinelli, we are left wondering who gets thrown under the bus, and who takes the blame.
Because it won't be Frank.
Will a tearful Mike Loudiana throw himself at the mercy of the tribunal, say it was all his fault, and beg for leniency?
Will Joy Cicchinelli be taking the rap?
Who will Frank Cicchinelli serve up to take responsibility?
Or perhaps the Elections Commission will realize just how "extraordinary" our mayor for life truly is, and just dismiss the complaint.
Because as we all know by now, you don't get to be mayor for life by taking the blame for breaking election laws.
When Oser's grandson, Andrew Oser, announced he was running for mayor, he referred to Cicchinelli as a "vindictive, sociopathic control freak" who is "running the city into the ground" (The Independent, October 29, 2010).
Perhaps Andrew Oser didn't realize just how "extraordinary" our mayor really is.
Frank Cicchinelli is so "extraordinary," that his 'campaign committee,' Safety-Service Director Mike Loudiana and First Lady for Life Joy Cicchinelli, sent letters to Republican voters asking them to "temporarily switch parties" so that Republicans could cast an extraordinary vote for an extraordinary mayor.
Akron Beacon Journal Columnist Bob Dyer pointed out that this attempt to get Massillon voters to switch political parties for the day might not be legal.
Andrew Oser concurred and has filed an election complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission.
A hearing has been scheduled for this Thursday at 9:30AM.
Sounds serious.
Charges were filed against the mayor and his wife, who serves as the mayor's campaign treasurer.
In the buck stops every where but at the mayor's desk world of Frank Cicchinelli, we are left wondering who gets thrown under the bus, and who takes the blame.
Because it won't be Frank.
Will a tearful Mike Loudiana throw himself at the mercy of the tribunal, say it was all his fault, and beg for leniency?
Will Joy Cicchinelli be taking the rap?
Who will Frank Cicchinelli serve up to take responsibility?
Or perhaps the Elections Commission will realize just how "extraordinary" our mayor for life truly is, and just dismiss the complaint.
Because as we all know by now, you don't get to be mayor for life by taking the blame for breaking election laws.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
A Fox in the Hen House
The Citizens for Cicchinelli Committee, aka Safety-Service Director Mike Loudiana, had disciplined a police officer for Drunken Driving. Three weeks without pay.
Perhaps Mike Loudiana needs to consider disciplining himself.
It was Mike Loudiana who penned the following to Massillon Republicans;
"I am writing to ask you to consider temporarily registering as a Democrat for the May primary election, which will be held on May 3, 2011... I know this is an extraordinary request, but he (Frank Cicchinelli), is an extraordinary mayor."
Ah yes, extraordinary.
Hence his moniker, Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City.
"The state's book of laws says that if you falsely claim to be a member of a political party just to vote in that party's primary, you have committed a fifth-degree felony. In other words, you are allowed to switch parties, but only if you are buying into the other party's overall game plan" (Bob Dyer, The Beacon Journal, March 24, 2011)
"To be able to cast a ballot for Frank, you will need to request a Democratic ballot. In the next primary election you can switch back to whatever party you choose" (Mike Loudiana, Citizens for Cicchinelli Committee letter).
"An extraordinary request, indeed, seeing how it appears to be urging voters to potentially break a law" (Bob Dyer, The Beacon Journal, March 24, 2011).
Our Safety-Service Director should know better than to encourage the good citizens of our community to break the law.
Regardless of how extraordinary he believes our mayor to be.
Perhaps we can have Fire Chief Burgasser call out the National Guard to protect us from those who encourage our voters to commit a felony.
Perhaps Mike Loudiana needs to consider disciplining himself.
It was Mike Loudiana who penned the following to Massillon Republicans;
"I am writing to ask you to consider temporarily registering as a Democrat for the May primary election, which will be held on May 3, 2011... I know this is an extraordinary request, but he (Frank Cicchinelli), is an extraordinary mayor."
Ah yes, extraordinary.
Hence his moniker, Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City.
"The state's book of laws says that if you falsely claim to be a member of a political party just to vote in that party's primary, you have committed a fifth-degree felony. In other words, you are allowed to switch parties, but only if you are buying into the other party's overall game plan" (Bob Dyer, The Beacon Journal, March 24, 2011)
"To be able to cast a ballot for Frank, you will need to request a Democratic ballot. In the next primary election you can switch back to whatever party you choose" (Mike Loudiana, Citizens for Cicchinelli Committee letter).
"An extraordinary request, indeed, seeing how it appears to be urging voters to potentially break a law" (Bob Dyer, The Beacon Journal, March 24, 2011).
Our Safety-Service Director should know better than to encourage the good citizens of our community to break the law.
Regardless of how extraordinary he believes our mayor to be.
Perhaps we can have Fire Chief Burgasser call out the National Guard to protect us from those who encourage our voters to commit a felony.
Monday, April 4, 2011
They Hate Massillon
Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City has called his opponent in May's Democratic primary "sneaky." According to our Eternal Leader, Kathy Catazaro-Perry is controlled by "carpetbaggers."
"I'm my own man. Kathy is not her own lady" (Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, Februay 8, 2011).
The mayor's minions have attacked her devotion to all things Massillon. They point out that she even goes to church in (gasp) Perry Township.
Apparently God is every where. Except in Perry Township.
If you live there, you should move.
Kathy, we are to believe, if you listen to the mayor's minions is an evil, hateful, witch.
Her evil doing was on display for all North East Ohio to see just last week.
Kathy Catazaro-Perry, in her spare time coaches a special needs cheerleading team.
The American Elite Idols.
They were profiled on Channel 3 News last week.
One of our faithful readers passed along the video link;
www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=874267982001
Why would WKYC Channel 3 profile Catazaro-Perry's team?
Don't they know how evil she is? Don't they know she is trying to take our Mayor for Life's job?
What's wrong with Channel 3?
According to our crack, and over worked, Massillon Review research team, WKYC Channel 3 is NOT in Massillon.
Channel 3 is in Cleveland.
Cleveland, according to our research, is outside the corporate limits of the city of Massillon.
This would make Channel 3 anti-Massillon.
Or worse, carpetbaggers.
The news feature makes Catazaro-Perry look like a decent and caring person.
Surely the voters of Massillon will see through this charade of decency and realize that she is "sneaky," and a hateful witch.
Because if she isn't, that would make the mayor's minions liars.
And who could possibly believe that?
"I'm my own man. Kathy is not her own lady" (Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, Februay 8, 2011).
The mayor's minions have attacked her devotion to all things Massillon. They point out that she even goes to church in (gasp) Perry Township.
Apparently God is every where. Except in Perry Township.
If you live there, you should move.
Kathy, we are to believe, if you listen to the mayor's minions is an evil, hateful, witch.
Her evil doing was on display for all North East Ohio to see just last week.
Kathy Catazaro-Perry, in her spare time coaches a special needs cheerleading team.
The American Elite Idols.
They were profiled on Channel 3 News last week.
One of our faithful readers passed along the video link;
www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=874267982001
Why would WKYC Channel 3 profile Catazaro-Perry's team?
Don't they know how evil she is? Don't they know she is trying to take our Mayor for Life's job?
What's wrong with Channel 3?
According to our crack, and over worked, Massillon Review research team, WKYC Channel 3 is NOT in Massillon.
Channel 3 is in Cleveland.
Cleveland, according to our research, is outside the corporate limits of the city of Massillon.
This would make Channel 3 anti-Massillon.
Or worse, carpetbaggers.
The news feature makes Catazaro-Perry look like a decent and caring person.
Surely the voters of Massillon will see through this charade of decency and realize that she is "sneaky," and a hateful witch.
Because if she isn't, that would make the mayor's minions liars.
And who could possibly believe that?
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Our First Endorsement
According to Ohio law, the President of City Council "shall be an elector of the city, and shall preside at all regular and special meetings of such legislative authority, but the president shall have no vote therein except in case of a tie."
That's it.
The job of City Council President is to run the meetings.
We would assume to run them in an impartial and fair manner.
Unfortunately, such is not the case in Massillon, Ohio.
Glenn Gamber sees his job differently.
His job is to enforce the will of his Extraordinary Mayor for Life, and not to run a fair meeting.
Of course Glenn Gamber realizes who butters his bread politically.
In 2003, Glenn Gamber narrowly holds on to his Ward 5 council seat by 8 votes over Republican Donnie Peters. Ward 5 is overwhelmingly Democrat, and Gamber almost loses.
In 2005, Peters is gearing up for a rematch. Gamber, who seems to have lost touch with the people of Ward 5, is expected to lose his seat this time.
Gamber then suddenly announces that he is "retiring from politics."
Except that right before the candidate filing deadline, Gamber pulls petitions to run against incumbent Democratic Council President Dennis Harwig.
Was Gamber really going to run against Harwig for council president?
Nope.
The fix was in. After the filing deadline, when it was too late for other Massillon Democrats to run for the office, Dennis Harwig was given a make-work job as "City Income Tax Investigator." Harwig resigns as council president, and Gamber, through political slight of hand, and through the patronage of our Mayor for Life, is the new Massillon Council President.
Master manipulator Frank Cicchinelli was able to salvage the political career of his ally, Glenn Gamber.
Gamber has become the Mayor's Loyal Enforcer as Council President.
It is clear that Gamber interprets the rules of council to benefit the mayor.
When Kathy Catazaro-Perry introduced legislation to repeal the city ordinance that granted the elected officials of Massillon automatic, unvoted yearly pay raises, Gamber did not even allow a vote.
He asked for an impromptu, unrecorded "show of hands," as not to embarrass those who wanted to keep their own small pay increases, and the mayor's much larger pay increase.
When Ward 4 Councilman Tony Townsend tried to rename a park after a trail blazing African-American politician, the late T. Roy Roberson, Gamber aggressively used parliamentary slight of hand to thwart Townsend's efforts.
Gamber has little interest in running a fair meeting. He uses his position to bully, intimidate, and coerce members of council so that the mayor's agenda is upheld.
His condescending remarks and profanity laced tirades are not conducive to fairly and impartially running council meetings.
When Kathy Catazaro-Perry and Tony Townsend objected to Gamber's interpretation of the rules during the park naming debate, Gamber attacked them personally, accusing them of taking their marching orders from Gamber's now opponent, Scott Graber.
"What did Mr. Graber tell you to say next?" (Glenn Gamber, The Independent, August 26, 2010).
Glenn Gamber should know all about taking marching orders.
During the city budget debate last week, Gamber was visibly angry that Larry Slagle, Donnie Peters, Gary Anderson, Tony Townsend and Kathy Catazaro-Perry opposed the mayor's budget.
"He stormed out of council chambers after hurling obscenity-laced remarks toward Councilman Larry Slagle, who is offering an alternative to Mayor Frank Cicchinelli's proposal. "This is dumb, this is (expletive) dumb," he said, only to return minutes later to apologize and then continue to question the proposal" (The Independent, March 30, 2011).
He shouldn't get angry. He shouldn't care how the votes go because his job, his only job, is to preside over the meeting. Fairly. Impartially.
Unfortunately, in Gamber's six years as council president, he hasn't learned that city council, as the city's legislative authority, can pass any ordinance it wants.
Our crack Massillon Review legal research team has been studying Ohio law for days, and still can't kind find the part that says city council has to vote how the mayor, or Glenn Gamber, tells them to vote.
Glenn Gamber's job is to run the meetings. Fairly. Impartially.
He doesn't.
It is absolutely crystal clear that we need a new council president.
One who knows his job.
One who knows the rules.
The Massillon Review endorses Scott Graber for Massillon City Council President.
Graber is a local expert on parliamentary procedure and the rules of council.
He has strong opinions on city government. Some we agree with. Some we don't.
It doesn't matter.
The job of the council president is to preside over the council meetings. To know the rules and to run the meetings fairly, regardless of personal feelings or animosity.
Gamber couldn't do this.
Scott Graber will.
Some days his friends will be happy, and some days his foes will be happy, but we believe the meetings will be fairly conducted, regardless of the issue, or Scott Graber's position on the issue.
This is a two year term. Gamber has failed. Graber has earned a chance.
That's it.
The job of City Council President is to run the meetings.
We would assume to run them in an impartial and fair manner.
Unfortunately, such is not the case in Massillon, Ohio.
Glenn Gamber sees his job differently.
His job is to enforce the will of his Extraordinary Mayor for Life, and not to run a fair meeting.
Of course Glenn Gamber realizes who butters his bread politically.
In 2003, Glenn Gamber narrowly holds on to his Ward 5 council seat by 8 votes over Republican Donnie Peters. Ward 5 is overwhelmingly Democrat, and Gamber almost loses.
In 2005, Peters is gearing up for a rematch. Gamber, who seems to have lost touch with the people of Ward 5, is expected to lose his seat this time.
Gamber then suddenly announces that he is "retiring from politics."
Except that right before the candidate filing deadline, Gamber pulls petitions to run against incumbent Democratic Council President Dennis Harwig.
Was Gamber really going to run against Harwig for council president?
Nope.
The fix was in. After the filing deadline, when it was too late for other Massillon Democrats to run for the office, Dennis Harwig was given a make-work job as "City Income Tax Investigator." Harwig resigns as council president, and Gamber, through political slight of hand, and through the patronage of our Mayor for Life, is the new Massillon Council President.
Master manipulator Frank Cicchinelli was able to salvage the political career of his ally, Glenn Gamber.
Gamber has become the Mayor's Loyal Enforcer as Council President.
It is clear that Gamber interprets the rules of council to benefit the mayor.
When Kathy Catazaro-Perry introduced legislation to repeal the city ordinance that granted the elected officials of Massillon automatic, unvoted yearly pay raises, Gamber did not even allow a vote.
He asked for an impromptu, unrecorded "show of hands," as not to embarrass those who wanted to keep their own small pay increases, and the mayor's much larger pay increase.
When Ward 4 Councilman Tony Townsend tried to rename a park after a trail blazing African-American politician, the late T. Roy Roberson, Gamber aggressively used parliamentary slight of hand to thwart Townsend's efforts.
Gamber has little interest in running a fair meeting. He uses his position to bully, intimidate, and coerce members of council so that the mayor's agenda is upheld.
His condescending remarks and profanity laced tirades are not conducive to fairly and impartially running council meetings.
When Kathy Catazaro-Perry and Tony Townsend objected to Gamber's interpretation of the rules during the park naming debate, Gamber attacked them personally, accusing them of taking their marching orders from Gamber's now opponent, Scott Graber.
"What did Mr. Graber tell you to say next?" (Glenn Gamber, The Independent, August 26, 2010).
Glenn Gamber should know all about taking marching orders.
During the city budget debate last week, Gamber was visibly angry that Larry Slagle, Donnie Peters, Gary Anderson, Tony Townsend and Kathy Catazaro-Perry opposed the mayor's budget.
"He stormed out of council chambers after hurling obscenity-laced remarks toward Councilman Larry Slagle, who is offering an alternative to Mayor Frank Cicchinelli's proposal. "This is dumb, this is (expletive) dumb," he said, only to return minutes later to apologize and then continue to question the proposal" (The Independent, March 30, 2011).
He shouldn't get angry. He shouldn't care how the votes go because his job, his only job, is to preside over the meeting. Fairly. Impartially.
Unfortunately, in Gamber's six years as council president, he hasn't learned that city council, as the city's legislative authority, can pass any ordinance it wants.
Our crack Massillon Review legal research team has been studying Ohio law for days, and still can't kind find the part that says city council has to vote how the mayor, or Glenn Gamber, tells them to vote.
Glenn Gamber's job is to run the meetings. Fairly. Impartially.
He doesn't.
It is absolutely crystal clear that we need a new council president.
One who knows his job.
One who knows the rules.
The Massillon Review endorses Scott Graber for Massillon City Council President.
Graber is a local expert on parliamentary procedure and the rules of council.
He has strong opinions on city government. Some we agree with. Some we don't.
It doesn't matter.
The job of the council president is to preside over the council meetings. To know the rules and to run the meetings fairly, regardless of personal feelings or animosity.
Gamber couldn't do this.
Scott Graber will.
Some days his friends will be happy, and some days his foes will be happy, but we believe the meetings will be fairly conducted, regardless of the issue, or Scott Graber's position on the issue.
This is a two year term. Gamber has failed. Graber has earned a chance.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Meet the Gang
Want the chance to meet our Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City?
Our Eternal Leader will be having a campaign fundraiser next Thursday, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., at the Massillon Knights of Columbus, 988 Cherry Road NW.
Tickets are $25 per person and includes dinner, dessert, beverage, and entertainment from the band LaFlavour. Sounds like a fine deal.
LaFlavour... LaFlavour... Don't they usually play at the Mayor's Summer Concert Series?
If you need tickets, call Team Cicchinelli at 330-832-3373.
As the mayor has drawn a 'line in the sand' about outsiders involving themselves in the civic affairs of Massillon, we are supremely confident that he isn't taking any more money from people who do not reside within the corporate limits of the city of Massillon, so we must assume this event is only open to native Massillonians, unless you are married to the mayor.
This will be the perfect opportunity for all our faithful readers to meet the mayor and his minions, the colorful characters who have brought so much entertainment value to city government.
Our readers have a tremendous opportunity to possibly meet the following stars of the Massillon Review;
Lap Dog of the Treasury, Paul Manson
Taxman Hersher
(You can ask him what his next planned tax hike will be)
The Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Glenn Gamber
The Mayor's Loyal Defender, Jayne Ferrero
The Mayor's Legal Beagle, Pericles Stergios
The Mayor's Loyal Contributor, R.I.N.O. Donnie Peters
'Arena Boy' Bob Sanderson
The Park Board Lackeys
David 'I am above the Law' McCune,
'The Puppet' Ron Mang
Parks Czar Kenn Kaminski
Real Estate Mogul Ron Pribich
Council wannabe Mrs. Ron Pribich
The First Lady for Life, Joy Cicchinelli
'The Cicchinelli for Mayor Committee'
aka Safety-Service Director Mike Loudiana
numerous 'Friends of the Program' and perhaps even Hampton Inn investor John Helline will be in attendance. Ask him for a free room, after all, we pay the mortgage!
Unfortunately, 'The Carpetbaggers' will probably NOT be in attendance, other wise we could have gotten a group photograph of the stars of the Massillon Review.
Hopefully the crowd won't be so large that Fire Chief Tom Burgasser has to call out the National Guard to maintain order.
Our Eternal Leader will be having a campaign fundraiser next Thursday, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., at the Massillon Knights of Columbus, 988 Cherry Road NW.
Tickets are $25 per person and includes dinner, dessert, beverage, and entertainment from the band LaFlavour. Sounds like a fine deal.
LaFlavour... LaFlavour... Don't they usually play at the Mayor's Summer Concert Series?
If you need tickets, call Team Cicchinelli at 330-832-3373.
As the mayor has drawn a 'line in the sand' about outsiders involving themselves in the civic affairs of Massillon, we are supremely confident that he isn't taking any more money from people who do not reside within the corporate limits of the city of Massillon, so we must assume this event is only open to native Massillonians, unless you are married to the mayor.
This will be the perfect opportunity for all our faithful readers to meet the mayor and his minions, the colorful characters who have brought so much entertainment value to city government.
Our readers have a tremendous opportunity to possibly meet the following stars of the Massillon Review;
Lap Dog of the Treasury, Paul Manson
Taxman Hersher
(You can ask him what his next planned tax hike will be)
The Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Glenn Gamber
The Mayor's Loyal Defender, Jayne Ferrero
The Mayor's Legal Beagle, Pericles Stergios
The Mayor's Loyal Contributor, R.I.N.O. Donnie Peters
'Arena Boy' Bob Sanderson
The Park Board Lackeys
David 'I am above the Law' McCune,
'The Puppet' Ron Mang
Parks Czar Kenn Kaminski
Real Estate Mogul Ron Pribich
Council wannabe Mrs. Ron Pribich
The First Lady for Life, Joy Cicchinelli
'The Cicchinelli for Mayor Committee'
aka Safety-Service Director Mike Loudiana
numerous 'Friends of the Program' and perhaps even Hampton Inn investor John Helline will be in attendance. Ask him for a free room, after all, we pay the mortgage!
Unfortunately, 'The Carpetbaggers' will probably NOT be in attendance, other wise we could have gotten a group photograph of the stars of the Massillon Review.
Hopefully the crowd won't be so large that Fire Chief Tom Burgasser has to call out the National Guard to maintain order.
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