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.