"When Kathy Catazaro-Perry takes over as the city’s mayor early next month, she will not have much time for on-the-job training before having to jump head-first into the vat of budgetary red ink inherited from the current administration" (Editorial, The Independent, November 30, 2011).
The Independent, in it's editorial today, supported Mayor Elect Kathy Catazaro-Perry's plan to buy low mileage used vehicles from Jackson Township at a fraction of the cost of new vehicles.
http://www.indeonline.com/local_news/x1141555516/Majority-of-council-backs-plan-to-buy-used-to-ready-snow-fleet
This seems like a sensible idea to almost everyone.
With what appears to be one extraordinary exception.
Catazaro-Perry is pitching a plan to spend $24,000 dollars to purchase two used dump trucks and two Jeep Cherokees. She realizes the city is dead broke, but still needs vehicles.
The current administration is pitching a plan to purchase, on a three year lease to own agreement, two dump trucks for $205,764 dollars.
Our crack Massillon Review finance team has calculated that the Cicchinelli plan would be $181,764 dollars more than the Catazaro-Perry plan.
Enough money for our dead beat city to pay it's delinquent dispatching bill.
Dispatching.
The people who summon the ambulance to our house if a family member is having a heart attack, or the police when someone is trying to break into our home.
Dispatching.
The Catazaro-Perry plan seems like a no brainer.
It makes financial sense.
The local newspaper thinks it to be a fine idea.
The majority of council seems to be on board.
So how to kill it?
"(Safety-Service Director Mike) Loudiana said he would ask the city’s mechanic to look at the township’s two dump trucks, but cautioned council about buying used" (The Independent, November 29, 2011).
The more cynical among us might be ready to declare 'Shenanigans.'
The more cynical among us may suspect that the truck inspection process is a little like the process which was used to determine the five worst streets in Massillon in need of repair this year.
Flawed.
According to City Engineer Keith Dylewski, these "select streets" "scored high on a ratings system used by his department" (Keith Dylewski justifying repairs to the mayor's street, The Independent, August 16, 2011).
and then;
"Correcting an earlier report, Dylewski said the paving project was not scored on a ratings system, but its condition still warrants the proposed repairs" (The Independent, August 29, 2011).
The more cynical amongst us might believe that the city mechanic sent out to inspect these vehicles will determine that they are unfit for even demolition derby, and that the city's only viable solution is to buy the new vehicles.
As our mayor originally proposed.
So that the vat of budgetary red ink becomes just a little deeper.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
We Have Much To Be Thankful For
The City of Massillon has much to thankful for this day.
The divisive leadership of our Extraordinary Mayor for 37 Days is finally coming to a conclusion.
His rubber stamp city council has been replaced by a Republican majority city council, which will hopefully impose some financial sanity upon our city's governance.
Massillon voters have chosen a new path for their city, electing Republicans and Democrats to lead our city, and rejecting both Republicans and Democrats aligned with the old regime.
And we are thankful.
We expect to see the end of the old ways.
We expect to see the end of the bullying and intimidation that was the hallmark of the Cicchinelli administration.
We expect to see the end of the sweetheart development deals, where the city takes all the risk, and our tax dollars are used to cover the failures.
We expect to see the end of our parks tax money, passed in good faith by the city's voters, being hijacked to pay for golf courses and restaurants.
We expect to see councilmen thinking for themselves, ending the 'shenanigans,' and putting the public good in front of their personal loyalties;
"If I signed it, and apparently I did, it was in error," Hersher said. "It was a mistake. There's no shenanigans on my part" (The Independent, November 22, 2011).
We expect to see the end of administration officials lying to us, the public, to justify a mayor's personal agenda;
According to City Engineer Keith Dylewski, these "select streets" "scored high on a ratings system used by his department" (Keith Dylewski justifying repairs to the mayor's street, The Independent, August 16, 2011).
and then;
"Correcting an earlier report, Dylewski said the paving project was not scored on a ratings system, but its condition still warrants the proposed repairs" (The Independent, August 29, 2011).
or;
"I feel confident the dollars will be there to make it through this year and we'll have the dollars to make it through next year" (Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, July 6, 2010).
or;
From the November 14, 2002, Parks and Recreation Board Minutes;
"The Mayor explained that the merging of these two areas will maximize resources of the current departments and provide an organizational structure which will promote efficient operations giving top notch service to the public. The Mayor believes this decision now, in the long term, will be beneficial to everyone, and he stated that they promised the citizens that the City would not subsidize this golf course."
or;
"There is no doubt the parks and recreation department is getting more criticism this year (than in the past)," he said. "I think the reason is two things. One there will also be anti- (Mayor Frank) Cicchinelli people. If he says the sky is blue they will think it is green and, two, there are people who are continually looking for something to pick on."
- Parks Czar Kenn Kaminski explaining that the parks aren't in horrible condition despite visual evidence to the contrary. It is only that critics of the parks system are "Anti-Cicchinelli" (The Independent, May 10, 2010).
We expect to see well intentioned people, working together, doing their best to improve our city.
We don't expect them to always agree, but we do expect them to put the best interests of the citizens first.
And if this does occur, and it should occur, we would all be thankful.
From the hardworking staff of the Massillon Review, we wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
A Massillon Thanksgiving
Join the Massillon Review Thanksgiving Day and celebrate all that our community has to be thankful for!
Shenanigans
If your house catches on fire, if you are having a heart attack and need an ambulance, or if someone is breaking into your home, you need to hope this happens before December 20th.
Because on December 20th, it appears we are on our own.
Among the numerous bills our Extraordinary Mayor for 38 Days, King Francis the Irresponsible, and his Loyal Defender, City Auditor Jayne Ferrero, aren't paying includes a past due bill for dispatching.
Dispatching.
The people who answer the phone when you call 911 expect to be paid.
Now, we have plenty of money to repair the mayor's street, but we don't seem to have money to pay for dispatching.
And we haven't paid the dispatching bill for a long time.
A faithful Massillon Review reader was kind enough to share with us a copy of the letter that was sent to our deadbeat city from the Local Organized Governments in Cooperation (L.O.G.I.C.) for our city's Regional Emergency Dispatch (R.E.D.) Center bill;
Auditor Ferrero,
Please note that on your Police & Fire dispatch account, there are currently several invoices past the 30-day due date from the date of service. These invoices are itemized below for your convenience. Billing for December 2011 has been sent and is included in the list below. We have made several attempts to remedy this issue without success. Please remit the past due balance of $179,382.95 in full by December 20th, 2011.
We pay the mortgage for a private hotel, a senior housing project, and a golf course.
We pay out of town lawyers for a refinancing that never happens.
We buy a restaurant.
But we don't pay our bill for dispatching.
Dispatching.
The people who summon the police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances to our homes.
Dispatching.
This is no longer funny.
These shenanigans are not acceptable.
This is negligent and dangerous.
This is a disgrace.
And if our Mayor and Auditor can't pay the bill for dispatching, they should resign before someone gets hurt.
Seriously hurt.
And let competent people take their place.
People who realize that you pay the dispatching bill before you pay to fix the mayor's street.
Because on December 20th, it appears we are on our own.
Among the numerous bills our Extraordinary Mayor for 38 Days, King Francis the Irresponsible, and his Loyal Defender, City Auditor Jayne Ferrero, aren't paying includes a past due bill for dispatching.
Dispatching.
The people who answer the phone when you call 911 expect to be paid.
Now, we have plenty of money to repair the mayor's street, but we don't seem to have money to pay for dispatching.
And we haven't paid the dispatching bill for a long time.
A faithful Massillon Review reader was kind enough to share with us a copy of the letter that was sent to our deadbeat city from the Local Organized Governments in Cooperation (L.O.G.I.C.) for our city's Regional Emergency Dispatch (R.E.D.) Center bill;
Auditor Ferrero,
Please note that on your Police & Fire dispatch account, there are currently several invoices past the 30-day due date from the date of service. These invoices are itemized below for your convenience. Billing for December 2011 has been sent and is included in the list below. We have made several attempts to remedy this issue without success. Please remit the past due balance of $179,382.95 in full by December 20th, 2011.
We pay the mortgage for a private hotel, a senior housing project, and a golf course.
We pay out of town lawyers for a refinancing that never happens.
We buy a restaurant.
But we don't pay our bill for dispatching.
Dispatching.
The people who summon the police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances to our homes.
Dispatching.
This is no longer funny.
These shenanigans are not acceptable.
This is negligent and dangerous.
This is a disgrace.
And if our Mayor and Auditor can't pay the bill for dispatching, they should resign before someone gets hurt.
Seriously hurt.
And let competent people take their place.
People who realize that you pay the dispatching bill before you pay to fix the mayor's street.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Faithful to the Bitter End
The Mayor's Loyal Defender, City Auditor Jayne Ferrero, while faithfully defending her political master, Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for 39 Days, King Francis the Petty, may be just a little concerned that the city can't pay it's bills.
Literally, can't pay it's bills.
One of the outstanding bills unpaid, according to the Independent, is a $180,000 dollar bill for police and fire dispatching owed to the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center.
Word on the street is that the City is so far behind in paying for dispatching services that the Dispatch Center is about to pull the plug on Massillon's dispatching.
Dispatching.
The people who are supposed to answer the phone when we call 911.
In case a family member is having a heart attack, or your house is on fire.
Dispatching.
We can't pay for dispatching.
We challenge our faithful readers to find another city in Ohio so broke, and so mismanaged they can't pay for dispatching.
And our Mayor for 39 Days' solution?
To do nothing.
Emperor Nero is busy fiddling while Rome burns. Of course as Rome Burns, no one will be able to call the fire department.
Cicchinelli's plan, his only remaining goal, is to leave as big a mess as humanly possible for his successor.
Ever the petulant child who doesn't get his way, Cicchinelli appears more interested in punishing the voters for electing someone else.
And as we all suspected, his minions are faithful to the bitter end.
Auditor Ferrero's plan was to reduce the city's tax credit to 50%.
Massillon has a 1.8% income tax. If you live in Massillon, and work in Canton, which has a 2% income tax, you pay 2% to Canton and nothing to Massillon, where you live.
Under Ferrero's plan, you would pay half the 1.8% to Massillon instead of paying nothing to the city where you live.
Ferrero estimated this would generate about $1.5 million dollars.
Much less than the amount of unpaid bills we owe, but a start.
Lap Dog of the Treasury Paul Manson, and Taxman David Hersher, both members of the finance committee, signed the ordinance to put Ferrero's plan on Council's agenda.
Until they had an Extraordinary change of mind.
Especially in Hersher's case.
"If I signed it, and apparently I did, it was in error," Hersher said. "It was a mistake. There's no shenanigans on my part" (The Independent, November 22, 2011).
Nope, "no shenanigans" on Hersher's part.
In the immortal words of John Kerry, Hersher was "For it before he was against it."
Of course it was a mistake.
And we believe him.
It happens all the time when someone accidentally puts their name to a city ordinance reducing the city's tax credit.
An accident.
An error.
The more cynical among us might believe the Taxman changed his mind because someone told him to change his mind.
Hersher, also in his last 39 days in office, seems to believe it is more critical to support our Extraordinary Mayor than to pay the bills.
Bills like dispatching.
He and Paul Manson are more interested in helping Mayor Frank Cicchinelli achieve his final goal as Mayor of Massillon.
Leave the biggest mess possible for his successor.
And they are doing a fine job!
Literally, can't pay it's bills.
One of the outstanding bills unpaid, according to the Independent, is a $180,000 dollar bill for police and fire dispatching owed to the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center.
Word on the street is that the City is so far behind in paying for dispatching services that the Dispatch Center is about to pull the plug on Massillon's dispatching.
Dispatching.
The people who are supposed to answer the phone when we call 911.
In case a family member is having a heart attack, or your house is on fire.
Dispatching.
We can't pay for dispatching.
We challenge our faithful readers to find another city in Ohio so broke, and so mismanaged they can't pay for dispatching.
And our Mayor for 39 Days' solution?
To do nothing.
Emperor Nero is busy fiddling while Rome burns. Of course as Rome Burns, no one will be able to call the fire department.
Cicchinelli's plan, his only remaining goal, is to leave as big a mess as humanly possible for his successor.
Ever the petulant child who doesn't get his way, Cicchinelli appears more interested in punishing the voters for electing someone else.
And as we all suspected, his minions are faithful to the bitter end.
Auditor Ferrero's plan was to reduce the city's tax credit to 50%.
Massillon has a 1.8% income tax. If you live in Massillon, and work in Canton, which has a 2% income tax, you pay 2% to Canton and nothing to Massillon, where you live.
Under Ferrero's plan, you would pay half the 1.8% to Massillon instead of paying nothing to the city where you live.
Ferrero estimated this would generate about $1.5 million dollars.
Much less than the amount of unpaid bills we owe, but a start.
Lap Dog of the Treasury Paul Manson, and Taxman David Hersher, both members of the finance committee, signed the ordinance to put Ferrero's plan on Council's agenda.
Until they had an Extraordinary change of mind.
Especially in Hersher's case.
"If I signed it, and apparently I did, it was in error," Hersher said. "It was a mistake. There's no shenanigans on my part" (The Independent, November 22, 2011).
Nope, "no shenanigans" on Hersher's part.
In the immortal words of John Kerry, Hersher was "For it before he was against it."
Of course it was a mistake.
And we believe him.
It happens all the time when someone accidentally puts their name to a city ordinance reducing the city's tax credit.
An accident.
An error.
The more cynical among us might believe the Taxman changed his mind because someone told him to change his mind.
Hersher, also in his last 39 days in office, seems to believe it is more critical to support our Extraordinary Mayor than to pay the bills.
Bills like dispatching.
He and Paul Manson are more interested in helping Mayor Frank Cicchinelli achieve his final goal as Mayor of Massillon.
Leave the biggest mess possible for his successor.
And they are doing a fine job!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Lovely Parting Gifts
Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for 44 days, King Francis the Debt Ridden, is leaving his successor a present on his way out the door.
$1.5 Million dollars in unpaid bills, and no money with which to pay them.
It has become clear that the current mayor's financial plan for his final months in charge is to hang on financially until January 1st, and dump his mountain of unpaid bills on his successor, Mayor Elect Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
This works on several levels for our Extraordinary Leader.
Firstly, as our Faithful Readers have come to realize, the buck never, and we mean never, stops at our mayor's desk. As long as the electric company doesn't turn off the lights by the end of the year, he can dump his binge spending and unpaid bills on his successor, without ever having to deal with the consequences.
Secondly, Kathy Catazaro-Perry defeated our beloved leader in the Democratic primary this past May and ended his 24 year run as Massillon's Leader Supreme. It is no secret that Catazaro-Perry is Cicchinelli's most despised of enemies, which is an accomplishment for someone who has an enemies list as long as our current mayor has.
She must be punished for her treachery.
And punished she will be.
"There also will be a projected $1.5 million year-end deficit, which includes unpaid installments to the fire pension account and for dispatching expenses incurred at the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center" (The Independent, November 16, 2011).
"... and for dispatching expenses incurred at the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center"
We aren't paying for "dispatching expenses?"
You know, the people you call to summon the fire department in case your house is burning, or your spouse is having a heart attack?
Dispatching.
Seems like that should be higher up on the priority list.
Even before paving the mayor's street.
Or paying the mortgage for a housing complex, or a hotel.
Dispatching.
Well, when the fire trucks don't come because of non-payment for dispatching services, our Extraordinary Leader will probably be out of office, and he can blame the "next guy" (or gal).
We envision Catazaro-Perry's plight when she assumes office in January akin to the hapless Wile E. Coyote of cartoon fame.
Waiting at the bottom of the cliff for the anvil to fall on her head.
Mayor Cicchinelli has done nothing to deal with this shortfall.
His shortfall.
Nothing.
Except dump it on the next person.
Which, in examining his recent tenure as the city's chief executive, is an appropriate, and expected, way for him to exit the scene.
Leaving a mess that others will have to clean up.
$1.5 Million dollars in unpaid bills, and no money with which to pay them.
It has become clear that the current mayor's financial plan for his final months in charge is to hang on financially until January 1st, and dump his mountain of unpaid bills on his successor, Mayor Elect Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
This works on several levels for our Extraordinary Leader.
Firstly, as our Faithful Readers have come to realize, the buck never, and we mean never, stops at our mayor's desk. As long as the electric company doesn't turn off the lights by the end of the year, he can dump his binge spending and unpaid bills on his successor, without ever having to deal with the consequences.
Secondly, Kathy Catazaro-Perry defeated our beloved leader in the Democratic primary this past May and ended his 24 year run as Massillon's Leader Supreme. It is no secret that Catazaro-Perry is Cicchinelli's most despised of enemies, which is an accomplishment for someone who has an enemies list as long as our current mayor has.
She must be punished for her treachery.
And punished she will be.
"There also will be a projected $1.5 million year-end deficit, which includes unpaid installments to the fire pension account and for dispatching expenses incurred at the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center" (The Independent, November 16, 2011).
"... and for dispatching expenses incurred at the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center"
We aren't paying for "dispatching expenses?"
You know, the people you call to summon the fire department in case your house is burning, or your spouse is having a heart attack?
Dispatching.
Seems like that should be higher up on the priority list.
Even before paving the mayor's street.
Or paying the mortgage for a housing complex, or a hotel.
Dispatching.
Well, when the fire trucks don't come because of non-payment for dispatching services, our Extraordinary Leader will probably be out of office, and he can blame the "next guy" (or gal).
We envision Catazaro-Perry's plight when she assumes office in January akin to the hapless Wile E. Coyote of cartoon fame.
Waiting at the bottom of the cliff for the anvil to fall on her head.
Mayor Cicchinelli has done nothing to deal with this shortfall.
His shortfall.
Nothing.
Except dump it on the next person.
Which, in examining his recent tenure as the city's chief executive, is an appropriate, and expected, way for him to exit the scene.
Leaving a mess that others will have to clean up.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Enough
Yesterday, Massillon voters sent our Extraordinary Mayor for 52 Days a powerful message.
Enough.
The two Republican candidates Cicchinelli and his team were backing, mayoral candidate Lee Brunckhart and Clerk of Courts candidate Meagan Todaro-Kirchener, were crushed by Kathy Catazaro-Perry and Johnnie Maier respectively.
Crushed.
Were they crushed because they were Republicans in a Democratic city?
Nope.
The other Republicans fared quite well.
As a matter of fact, the Republicans took a majority of the seats on Massillon City Council.
Loyal Cicchinelli rubber stamps David McCune and David Hersher were separated from their council seats by Ed Lewis and Milan Chovan, Jr.
The rubber stamps are down to two members, Councilman at Large Paul Manson, and Council President Glenn Gamber.
The voters of Massillon split their tickets.
They supported Democrats Catazaro-Perry and Maier, and elected Republicans Sarita Cunningham (Ward 1), Nancy Halter (Ward 2), Donnie Peters (Ward 5), Ed Lewis (Ward 6) and Milan Chovan, Jr. (at Large).
What the voters did do was eliminate the Cicchinelli supported candidates.
Both Democrats and Republicans.
Brunckhart
Todaro-Kirchener
Hersher
McCune
It was a complete, total, and utter repudiation of the Cicchinelli administration.
Because the people of Massillon have had enough.
Enough of the staggering debt.
Enough of our park tax dollars being hijacked to subsidize a failing gold course.
Enough of sweetheart deals for favored developers.
Enough of paying the mortgage for a private hotel.
Enough of paying the mortgage for a senior housing complex, while the owner collects the rents.
Enough of a city that doesn't pay it's bills.
Enough of a City Engineer ginning up reasons to justify paving the mayor's streets while the rest of our roads crumble.
Enough.
In this predominantly Democratic city, the voters chose Republicans to run their city council.
But overwhelmingly supported Democrats who stood up to the mayor.
Because they have had enough.
And to inerpret last night's results as anything but a complete and total rejection of the mayor's policies is to shut one's eyes to the reality of what the people said.
They have said enough. No more. Stop.
Congratulations to Democratic Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry and Republican council members Nancy Halter, Sarita Cunningham, Donnie Peters, Ed Lewis, and Milan Chovan, Jr.
You have a city to fix.
And the people expect you to do it.
Together.
Enough.
The two Republican candidates Cicchinelli and his team were backing, mayoral candidate Lee Brunckhart and Clerk of Courts candidate Meagan Todaro-Kirchener, were crushed by Kathy Catazaro-Perry and Johnnie Maier respectively.
Crushed.
Were they crushed because they were Republicans in a Democratic city?
Nope.
The other Republicans fared quite well.
As a matter of fact, the Republicans took a majority of the seats on Massillon City Council.
Loyal Cicchinelli rubber stamps David McCune and David Hersher were separated from their council seats by Ed Lewis and Milan Chovan, Jr.
The rubber stamps are down to two members, Councilman at Large Paul Manson, and Council President Glenn Gamber.
The voters of Massillon split their tickets.
They supported Democrats Catazaro-Perry and Maier, and elected Republicans Sarita Cunningham (Ward 1), Nancy Halter (Ward 2), Donnie Peters (Ward 5), Ed Lewis (Ward 6) and Milan Chovan, Jr. (at Large).
What the voters did do was eliminate the Cicchinelli supported candidates.
Both Democrats and Republicans.
Brunckhart
Todaro-Kirchener
Hersher
McCune
It was a complete, total, and utter repudiation of the Cicchinelli administration.
Because the people of Massillon have had enough.
Enough of the staggering debt.
Enough of our park tax dollars being hijacked to subsidize a failing gold course.
Enough of sweetheart deals for favored developers.
Enough of paying the mortgage for a private hotel.
Enough of paying the mortgage for a senior housing complex, while the owner collects the rents.
Enough of a city that doesn't pay it's bills.
Enough of a City Engineer ginning up reasons to justify paving the mayor's streets while the rest of our roads crumble.
Enough.
In this predominantly Democratic city, the voters chose Republicans to run their city council.
But overwhelmingly supported Democrats who stood up to the mayor.
Because they have had enough.
And to inerpret last night's results as anything but a complete and total rejection of the mayor's policies is to shut one's eyes to the reality of what the people said.
They have said enough. No more. Stop.
Congratulations to Democratic Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry and Republican council members Nancy Halter, Sarita Cunningham, Donnie Peters, Ed Lewis, and Milan Chovan, Jr.
You have a city to fix.
And the people expect you to do it.
Together.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Election Day
Today is Election Day in our fair city.
Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for 53 days will be replaced with his successor by day's end, most likely by his most despised of rivals, Third Ward Council Representative Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
Catazaro-Perry will inherit a city deeply mired in debt.
She will inherit a city that is so broke it has stopped paying most of its bills.
She will inherit a city which is the victim of bad development deal after bad development deal, where the taxpayers are left holding the bag.
She will inherit a city whose leader has decided to fiddle while Rome burns.
Leading our city will be a daunting task.
But does it really matter who is chosen as mayor today?
The Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber, is running unopposed today.
The Mayor's Loyal Defender, and self proclaimed "Financial Officer" of the city (The Independent, November 1, 2011), Jayne Ferrero, is running unopposed today.
The Mayor's Legal Beagle, Law Director Perry Stergios, is running unopposed today.
Finance Chairman Paul Manson, the loyalist of loyalists, will be, in all likelihood, re-elected today.
Taxman Dave Hersher and The Absent One, Councilman David McCune, may be in a fight today for political survival, but they may well survive.
The only person who may be gone from the Cicchinelli regime could be Frank Cicchinelli himself.
Will the aforementioned survivors carry on the battle while their leader hunkers down in opposition?
Will they move on from the Cicchinelli era and stake out their own positions?
It is this question that will determine our city's future more than who will be chosen as the next mayor.
Will Team Cicchinelli still be a team with its Quarterback on the sidelines?
Team Cicchinelli has worked vigorously behind the scenes to assist The Common Man, Lee Brunckhart, in the race for mayor. Once this effort fails, will they give up the ghost?
Or will they carry on.
The smart money is with the latter.
Massillon's Extraordinary Mayor for 53 days will be replaced with his successor by day's end, most likely by his most despised of rivals, Third Ward Council Representative Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
Catazaro-Perry will inherit a city deeply mired in debt.
She will inherit a city that is so broke it has stopped paying most of its bills.
She will inherit a city which is the victim of bad development deal after bad development deal, where the taxpayers are left holding the bag.
She will inherit a city whose leader has decided to fiddle while Rome burns.
Leading our city will be a daunting task.
But does it really matter who is chosen as mayor today?
The Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber, is running unopposed today.
The Mayor's Loyal Defender, and self proclaimed "Financial Officer" of the city (The Independent, November 1, 2011), Jayne Ferrero, is running unopposed today.
The Mayor's Legal Beagle, Law Director Perry Stergios, is running unopposed today.
Finance Chairman Paul Manson, the loyalist of loyalists, will be, in all likelihood, re-elected today.
Taxman Dave Hersher and The Absent One, Councilman David McCune, may be in a fight today for political survival, but they may well survive.
The only person who may be gone from the Cicchinelli regime could be Frank Cicchinelli himself.
Will the aforementioned survivors carry on the battle while their leader hunkers down in opposition?
Will they move on from the Cicchinelli era and stake out their own positions?
It is this question that will determine our city's future more than who will be chosen as the next mayor.
Will Team Cicchinelli still be a team with its Quarterback on the sidelines?
Team Cicchinelli has worked vigorously behind the scenes to assist The Common Man, Lee Brunckhart, in the race for mayor. Once this effort fails, will they give up the ghost?
Or will they carry on.
The smart money is with the latter.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Cicchinelli V2.0
After last night's mayoral debate between Kathy Catazaro-Perry and Lee Brunckhart, people had to be wondering if Our Extraordinary Mayor for 58 Days' lips moved when Lee Brunckhart spoke.
After tearing into Catazaro-Perry when she tried to criticize the Legends of Massillon golf course, or the Hampton Inn (We HAVE to pay for it), Lee mentioned the fine, and inexpensive meal he had at Club Legends, the restaurant at the Golf Course. Worth every bit of the almost $200,000 tax dollars it cost the city to acquire.
He referred to Safety Service Director Mike "The Committee" Loudiana a number of times, as if they spent many hours together discussing city business.
He criticized the proposed performance audit of city government. Can't have those pesky auditors digging into how our city has been run.
And, according to Lee Brunckhart, the city is a "bare bones operation." with no room to cut expenses.
While he claims he doesn't want to raise taxes, he proposes "service levies" to fund particular departments.
Uh, Lee, a "levy" is a tax.
Perhaps someone should explain that to you.
It appeared as if Lee was channeling his inner Frank Cicchinelli.
It was almost as if Frank was there.
The language. The comments. Even the barbs.
He certainly has been practicing with someone.
It was an 'extraordinary' performance.
Please, don't take our word for it. Watch for yourself.
This Sunday night at 6PM on Massillon Cable Channel 22.
Decide for yourself if Lee is eerily patterning himself after someone else we know.
We believe it was apparent after last night that Lee Brunckhart is "all in" with Cicchinelli.
The Cicchinelli approach to city government has bankrupted our community.
Massillon can't afford Frank Cicchinelli, The Next Generation.
After tearing into Catazaro-Perry when she tried to criticize the Legends of Massillon golf course, or the Hampton Inn (We HAVE to pay for it), Lee mentioned the fine, and inexpensive meal he had at Club Legends, the restaurant at the Golf Course. Worth every bit of the almost $200,000 tax dollars it cost the city to acquire.
He referred to Safety Service Director Mike "The Committee" Loudiana a number of times, as if they spent many hours together discussing city business.
He criticized the proposed performance audit of city government. Can't have those pesky auditors digging into how our city has been run.
And, according to Lee Brunckhart, the city is a "bare bones operation." with no room to cut expenses.
While he claims he doesn't want to raise taxes, he proposes "service levies" to fund particular departments.
Uh, Lee, a "levy" is a tax.
Perhaps someone should explain that to you.
It appeared as if Lee was channeling his inner Frank Cicchinelli.
It was almost as if Frank was there.
The language. The comments. Even the barbs.
He certainly has been practicing with someone.
It was an 'extraordinary' performance.
Please, don't take our word for it. Watch for yourself.
This Sunday night at 6PM on Massillon Cable Channel 22.
Decide for yourself if Lee is eerily patterning himself after someone else we know.
We believe it was apparent after last night that Lee Brunckhart is "all in" with Cicchinelli.
The Cicchinelli approach to city government has bankrupted our community.
Massillon can't afford Frank Cicchinelli, The Next Generation.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Massillon's Main Event
Tonight at the Lion's Lincoln Theater.
The Main Event of the campaign.
The Great Debate between Republican Lee Brunckhart and Democrat Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
At stake is leadership of our fair city for the next four years.
Doors open at 6:00 PM and the debate is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM.
This event is FREE and open to the public
Unlike the debate in the primary, we hope the fireworks will be limited to the verbal exchanges between the candidates, and not fisticuffs from the spectators outside the front door.
Will the Cicchinelli supporters be out in full force supporting Brunckhart?
Will Catazaro-Perry be 'Massillon Enough' for the diehards?
Will Brunckhart wear his trademark suspenders?
These, and many other questions will be answered tonight.
The Main Event of the campaign.
The Great Debate between Republican Lee Brunckhart and Democrat Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
At stake is leadership of our fair city for the next four years.
Doors open at 6:00 PM and the debate is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM.
This event is FREE and open to the public
Unlike the debate in the primary, we hope the fireworks will be limited to the verbal exchanges between the candidates, and not fisticuffs from the spectators outside the front door.
Will the Cicchinelli supporters be out in full force supporting Brunckhart?
Will Catazaro-Perry be 'Massillon Enough' for the diehards?
Will Brunckhart wear his trademark suspenders?
These, and many other questions will be answered tonight.
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