Okay, I admit it, I eat at McDonald’s. Not all the time. Not even often. But this morning, I went to the Mickey Dee’s on Mayfield near Green.
While standing in line, I saw an older employee chew out a younger one for a minor error. Apparently he handed the wrong order to someone at the drive thru. I’m surprised that doesn’t happen more often with those double drive thru’s. This gal carried on in front of other employees and customers. For a franchise that specializes in “service with a smile” it was an unpleasant awkward moment for everyone there. The guy in line behind me muttered “Christ, what’s her damage, is she on the rag?” But the employee looked too old for that option.
This woman was really unprofessional. Grant you this is McDonald’s not some suit & tie office or even a fancy restaurant. But the poor kid who didn’t look a day over 17 didn’t need to be embarrassed in front of a dozen people for a common mistake. I’m not saying don’t correct the error and offer advice. But show a LITTLE consideration!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Douchebag of the month: Josh Mandel
“If there were a dictionary entry for political mendacity, it could carry the picture of Josh Mandel." -Youngstown Vindicator
You knew this was coming folks.
I’m sure when he puts his PJ’s on at night and his wife tucks him in, Josh Mandel dreams of being President someday. He’s impatient, he’s in a hurry, and he won’t take no for an answer. City councilman, State Representative, Ohio Treasurer – Senator…President? Joshie has never actually finished any job he started in while climbing to the next level.
Joshie grew up in Lyndhurst. But not in the part of Lyndhurst most people are familiar with, the land of bugalows and Brush High School students. No Joshie grew up in the tonier area of Lyndhurst that runs along the borders of Acacia Club. An area better described as Beachwood North. All the more fitting that Joshie went to Beachwood High where he was quarterback of the football team and from what I’ve heard, a bully. His political career began at Ohio State where he was president of the undergraduate Student government.
Then he was elected to Lyndhurst city council where his first act was to send a letter to citizens where he lied about the city’s finances and tried to buy their support by promising a $400 check. Mandel then tried to starve the beast by proposing a 2 mil tax rollback, which got knocked down to a 1.5 mill rollback. Hey, has anyone heard about Lyndhurst going broke because of the Acacia purchase? That wouldn’t be the case if that rollback hadn’t passed. But Joshie doesn’t care, he got married in Jerusalem and moved to Beachwood. He took two leaves of absence during which he was still paid, to serve in Iraq. More on that later.
Joshie is a restless kid who can’t stay put for a second. Capitalizing on his “war record” he managed to get himself elected to the Ohio State House in 2006. Then in 2009 he decided to run for State Treasurer and won by smearing opponent Kevin Boyce as a Muslim – which Boyce is not. Once in office, Joshie hired his college buddies and hardly ever showed up for work as he began scheming for higher office. Now he’s running for Senate and despite all the Super-Pac money being pumped into Ohio by his buddies Karl Rove and Sheldon Adelson, it looks like Joshie’s gonna lose. Maybe defeat would be good for his character.
One look at this punk and you can see he’s a weasel. Notice how whenever he lies one side of his mouth pulls upward and he blinks one eye? His voice also jumps up an octave. He’s done a lot of both lately.
Joshie looked so idiotic in that first ad of his. When I saw him tying his boots, I thought: He ties them the same way my son did when he was 6. The boots thing was his attempt to portray himself as a war hero. Joshie ain’t no hero. Sure, he went to Iraq. He pushed paper there. He’s not a hero any more than George W. Bush is a hero for delivering Turkey to the troops on Thanksgiving. Bush’s father, George Herbert Walker Bush, there’s a real war hero. I’ve never quite been able to forgive him for fathering that waste of flesh W though.
Joshie has something in common with Romney besides his obsequiousness. He’s a political chameleon who changes his position to appeal to whichever block of voters he’s trying to attract. He started up the ranks as a moderate Republican but by 2010 he was a full-fledged Tea-Partier and kowtower to the Christian Right. This is a real irony since Joshie himself is Jewish.
I know, some of you are going to say “this guy is an anti-Semite.” I am nothing of the sort and I support Israel. And I know many Jews who just can’t stand Mandel. They call him a pipsqueak and a pisher and they are right.
Joshie has boasted about what a great Treasurer he is. I say, let’s let him stay at that job and prove himself.
You knew this was coming folks.
I’m sure when he puts his PJ’s on at night and his wife tucks him in, Josh Mandel dreams of being President someday. He’s impatient, he’s in a hurry, and he won’t take no for an answer. City councilman, State Representative, Ohio Treasurer – Senator…President? Joshie has never actually finished any job he started in while climbing to the next level.
Joshie grew up in Lyndhurst. But not in the part of Lyndhurst most people are familiar with, the land of bugalows and Brush High School students. No Joshie grew up in the tonier area of Lyndhurst that runs along the borders of Acacia Club. An area better described as Beachwood North. All the more fitting that Joshie went to Beachwood High where he was quarterback of the football team and from what I’ve heard, a bully. His political career began at Ohio State where he was president of the undergraduate Student government.
Then he was elected to Lyndhurst city council where his first act was to send a letter to citizens where he lied about the city’s finances and tried to buy their support by promising a $400 check. Mandel then tried to starve the beast by proposing a 2 mil tax rollback, which got knocked down to a 1.5 mill rollback. Hey, has anyone heard about Lyndhurst going broke because of the Acacia purchase? That wouldn’t be the case if that rollback hadn’t passed. But Joshie doesn’t care, he got married in Jerusalem and moved to Beachwood. He took two leaves of absence during which he was still paid, to serve in Iraq. More on that later.
Joshie is a restless kid who can’t stay put for a second. Capitalizing on his “war record” he managed to get himself elected to the Ohio State House in 2006. Then in 2009 he decided to run for State Treasurer and won by smearing opponent Kevin Boyce as a Muslim – which Boyce is not. Once in office, Joshie hired his college buddies and hardly ever showed up for work as he began scheming for higher office. Now he’s running for Senate and despite all the Super-Pac money being pumped into Ohio by his buddies Karl Rove and Sheldon Adelson, it looks like Joshie’s gonna lose. Maybe defeat would be good for his character.
One look at this punk and you can see he’s a weasel. Notice how whenever he lies one side of his mouth pulls upward and he blinks one eye? His voice also jumps up an octave. He’s done a lot of both lately.
Joshie looked so idiotic in that first ad of his. When I saw him tying his boots, I thought: He ties them the same way my son did when he was 6. The boots thing was his attempt to portray himself as a war hero. Joshie ain’t no hero. Sure, he went to Iraq. He pushed paper there. He’s not a hero any more than George W. Bush is a hero for delivering Turkey to the troops on Thanksgiving. Bush’s father, George Herbert Walker Bush, there’s a real war hero. I’ve never quite been able to forgive him for fathering that waste of flesh W though.
Joshie has something in common with Romney besides his obsequiousness. He’s a political chameleon who changes his position to appeal to whichever block of voters he’s trying to attract. He started up the ranks as a moderate Republican but by 2010 he was a full-fledged Tea-Partier and kowtower to the Christian Right. This is a real irony since Joshie himself is Jewish.
I know, some of you are going to say “this guy is an anti-Semite.” I am nothing of the sort and I support Israel. And I know many Jews who just can’t stand Mandel. They call him a pipsqueak and a pisher and they are right.
Joshie has boasted about what a great Treasurer he is. I say, let’s let him stay at that job and prove himself.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Happy Columbus Day
Columbus Day celebrates a guy who wasn't looking for the New World, thought he'd arrived in India, wasn't the first European here, and whose happenstance "discovery" led to the near genocide of the first people here. Yeah, let's celebrate that.
It's time to ditch Columbus Day and declare a new holiday to celebrate a true Amercan tradition - Election Day should be a National Holiday.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Is the cell phone law enforced?
Why bother having laws when they’re not being enforced?
This summer, I saw Fran Mentch in her lime green Kia Soul make an illegal right on red at Green and Mayfield while yakking on her cell phone, then I witnessed her blow through the stop light at Mayfield and Victory while doing same. This woman has so little respect for the law it’s not surprising what she did.
But others should know better.
Saturday, I saw Doctor David Miller pulling into South Euclid’s Harvest Fest in his Honda pilot - talking on his cell phone. That’s right, one of the people who passed the law making it illegal to use your cell phone while driving was breaking the law he voted for. At this rate, Miller can be expected to run for Congress soon.
Just yesterday, returning home from church, my wife and I saw a black Chevy Suburban pass us on Mayfield Road. There was a woman with three kids inside. The right rear door handle popped out of its socket and was left hanging by a wire. A young girl who couldn’t possibly be older than seven popped her head out of the window, leaning on her lower chest, and put the handle back in place. By her expertise it appeared she had done this numerous times before. The woman who we presume to be the mother did not notice as she was too busy talking on her cell phone. The child was not wearing a seat belt. Ironically there were Romney and pro-life bumper stickers on the woman’s car. I guess it’s true what they say about pro-lifers’ concerns beginning at conception and ending at birth.
Of course, I’d call the South Euclid Police Department and report this behavior. But I can’t because it’s illegal to use your cell phone while driving!
This summer, I saw Fran Mentch in her lime green Kia Soul make an illegal right on red at Green and Mayfield while yakking on her cell phone, then I witnessed her blow through the stop light at Mayfield and Victory while doing same. This woman has so little respect for the law it’s not surprising what she did.
But others should know better.
Saturday, I saw Doctor David Miller pulling into South Euclid’s Harvest Fest in his Honda pilot - talking on his cell phone. That’s right, one of the people who passed the law making it illegal to use your cell phone while driving was breaking the law he voted for. At this rate, Miller can be expected to run for Congress soon.
Just yesterday, returning home from church, my wife and I saw a black Chevy Suburban pass us on Mayfield Road. There was a woman with three kids inside. The right rear door handle popped out of its socket and was left hanging by a wire. A young girl who couldn’t possibly be older than seven popped her head out of the window, leaning on her lower chest, and put the handle back in place. By her expertise it appeared she had done this numerous times before. The woman who we presume to be the mother did not notice as she was too busy talking on her cell phone. The child was not wearing a seat belt. Ironically there were Romney and pro-life bumper stickers on the woman’s car. I guess it’s true what they say about pro-lifers’ concerns beginning at conception and ending at birth.
Of course, I’d call the South Euclid Police Department and report this behavior. But I can’t because it’s illegal to use your cell phone while driving!
Monday, September 3, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Douchebag of the Month: Chief Wahoo
There’s no doubt in my mind that Native Americans are the most oppressed minority in the history of these United States. Think about it.
Africans were brought here in chains, but they were eventually freed at no small cost of the blood of white Northerners.
Sure Japanese-Americans were put into internment camps during World War II. But they were probably safer there than in the streets. And America admitted it was wrong to lock them up and paid reparations in the 1980s.
Think Catholics are a repressed minority? Consider that this year’s Republican presidential ticket doesn’t have a single Protestant – sorry, Mormons are not Christian and they don’t count as Protestants.
Even homosexuals, which some people call America’s last oppressed group, have it easy compared to most Native Americans.
None of the above groups had their land taken from them, were the victims of an almost wholesale genocide, then herded to live on small “reservations” of undesirable land for generations – with the only way out being the betrayal of their historic culture. The closest any group came to this level of suffering was the Jews during the Holocaust, and even they were given Israel in recompense. The recently dead John Demjanjuk is symbolic of the continuing pursuit of justice on the behalf of Holocaust victims. Those who’ve read our blog know we have no patience with anti-Semitism. But how much time and expense has been dedicated to pursuing those who slaughtered and stole from the first Americans?
As if that weren’t enough, they are used as a corporate logo for two baseball teams. No corporation whether sports related or not would EVER consider using any of the other groups listed in a way that disparages their culture. I can’t believe that in this day & age people still fall for the press office’s bunko story that Chief Wahoo and the Indians name is a “tribute” to Louis Sockalexis. But I guess nothing should surprise me, including the fact that people who should know better have no qualms about picking on another minority. So let’s take a look at a few alternative stereotypes for different kind of Cleveland team and see how it feels to walk in their shoes.
Introducing our new baseball team, THE CLEVELAND GUIDOS! And their new mascot: DON WOP
How about our new baseball team, THE CLEVELAND MICKS And their new mascot: PADDY THE DRUNK
Let’s win with, THE CLEVELAND DARKIES And their mascot: SAMBO
Here’s one sure to please the east siders: THE CLEVELAND HEBES And their mascot: SHYLOCK
For the west siders, we can’t lose with THE CLEVELAND FAIRIES And their mascot: LIBERACE
Of couse, we could keep the Cleveland Indians and just change the mascot.
Anyone who’s offended by any of the above needs to look in their hearts and ask why it’s okay to continue to a name and logo which is so offensive to the people depicted.
This month’s Douchebag is not just Chief Wahoo. If you support this kind of racism, you’re a douchebag too.
Africans were brought here in chains, but they were eventually freed at no small cost of the blood of white Northerners.
Sure Japanese-Americans were put into internment camps during World War II. But they were probably safer there than in the streets. And America admitted it was wrong to lock them up and paid reparations in the 1980s.
Think Catholics are a repressed minority? Consider that this year’s Republican presidential ticket doesn’t have a single Protestant – sorry, Mormons are not Christian and they don’t count as Protestants.
Even homosexuals, which some people call America’s last oppressed group, have it easy compared to most Native Americans.
None of the above groups had their land taken from them, were the victims of an almost wholesale genocide, then herded to live on small “reservations” of undesirable land for generations – with the only way out being the betrayal of their historic culture. The closest any group came to this level of suffering was the Jews during the Holocaust, and even they were given Israel in recompense. The recently dead John Demjanjuk is symbolic of the continuing pursuit of justice on the behalf of Holocaust victims. Those who’ve read our blog know we have no patience with anti-Semitism. But how much time and expense has been dedicated to pursuing those who slaughtered and stole from the first Americans?
As if that weren’t enough, they are used as a corporate logo for two baseball teams. No corporation whether sports related or not would EVER consider using any of the other groups listed in a way that disparages their culture. I can’t believe that in this day & age people still fall for the press office’s bunko story that Chief Wahoo and the Indians name is a “tribute” to Louis Sockalexis. But I guess nothing should surprise me, including the fact that people who should know better have no qualms about picking on another minority. So let’s take a look at a few alternative stereotypes for different kind of Cleveland team and see how it feels to walk in their shoes.
Introducing our new baseball team, THE CLEVELAND GUIDOS! And their new mascot: DON WOP
How about our new baseball team, THE CLEVELAND MICKS And their new mascot: PADDY THE DRUNK
Let’s win with, THE CLEVELAND DARKIES And their mascot: SAMBO
Here’s one sure to please the east siders: THE CLEVELAND HEBES And their mascot: SHYLOCK
For the west siders, we can’t lose with THE CLEVELAND FAIRIES And their mascot: LIBERACE
Of couse, we could keep the Cleveland Indians and just change the mascot.
Anyone who’s offended by any of the above needs to look in their hearts and ask why it’s okay to continue to a name and logo which is so offensive to the people depicted.
This month’s Douchebag is not just Chief Wahoo. If you support this kind of racism, you’re a douchebag too.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Chronic Tax-abation is unhealthy
There is a smell coming from Cleveland Heights and contrary to what some would like you to believe it’s not from the construction at Oakwood and Cedar Center North. It’s the stench of desperation in the form of Tax Abatements. For those not in the know, that’s when the city grants an exemption on property taxes in hopes the property will sell. Usually such property is new and overpriced. Once the exemption expires the homeowner must start paying property tax. The theory behind this is that people who buy a tax abated property will fall in love with their homes and communities over the years and won’t bail when the tax bill comes. Doesn’t always work that way. Turns out that tax abatement is not a surefire selling tool going by the vacancies at Bluestone, Severance Place, and Courtyards at Severance. Not to mention Cutters Creek in South Euclid.
Fact is if you tax abate housing you are effectively providing city services like trash collection, police and fire, for FREE. We all know in this world NOTHING is free. So you’re really passing on the costs to other residents.
Heights politicians are proposing a new development at Meadowbrook and Lee which will include ground floor business and upper floor condos. All tax abated. Read the article and the comments at Patch. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
http://clevelandheights.patch.com/articles/developer-envisions-modern-apartments-at-meadowbrook-and-lee
Ok, now you better sit down before you read the next sentence. Believe it or not, I agree with Fran Mentch and Garry Kanter on this issue. Although given Garry’s business of reselling old houses which do not receive abatements, it’s possible he’s motivated by self-interest rather than the public good. It is funny to read his comments about “traditional” and “non-traditional” Cleveland Heights renters though. What exactly does he mean by that? Jew vs. Gentile? White vs. Black? As if Cleveland Heights is in a position to be picky about who moves to their town.
Tax abatement is the wrong way to grow cities. It was wrong when South Euclid did it with Cutters Creek and it’s wrong when Cleveland Heights does it with Bluestone, Severance Place and if they get away with it Meadowbrook & Lee.
Cleveland Heights would do much better by its citizens and local business owners if they brought their income and property taxes in line with their surrounding neighbors rather than offering abatements to a few cheapskates who will get buyers’ remorse after their first break-in. Then they wouldn’t have to cry “POACHING” whenever a business leaves for greener pastures.
Cleveland Heights would also make more headway with bringing people to their shopping districts if they cracked down on the crime that has made people so fearful to be there after dusk. Offering free parking on weekends is only gonna get you so far.
Fact is if you tax abate housing you are effectively providing city services like trash collection, police and fire, for FREE. We all know in this world NOTHING is free. So you’re really passing on the costs to other residents.
Heights politicians are proposing a new development at Meadowbrook and Lee which will include ground floor business and upper floor condos. All tax abated. Read the article and the comments at Patch. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
http://clevelandheights.patch.com/articles/developer-envisions-modern-apartments-at-meadowbrook-and-lee
Ok, now you better sit down before you read the next sentence. Believe it or not, I agree with Fran Mentch and Garry Kanter on this issue. Although given Garry’s business of reselling old houses which do not receive abatements, it’s possible he’s motivated by self-interest rather than the public good. It is funny to read his comments about “traditional” and “non-traditional” Cleveland Heights renters though. What exactly does he mean by that? Jew vs. Gentile? White vs. Black? As if Cleveland Heights is in a position to be picky about who moves to their town.
Tax abatement is the wrong way to grow cities. It was wrong when South Euclid did it with Cutters Creek and it’s wrong when Cleveland Heights does it with Bluestone, Severance Place and if they get away with it Meadowbrook & Lee.
Cleveland Heights would do much better by its citizens and local business owners if they brought their income and property taxes in line with their surrounding neighbors rather than offering abatements to a few cheapskates who will get buyers’ remorse after their first break-in. Then they wouldn’t have to cry “POACHING” whenever a business leaves for greener pastures.
Cleveland Heights would also make more headway with bringing people to their shopping districts if they cracked down on the crime that has made people so fearful to be there after dusk. Offering free parking on weekends is only gonna get you so far.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Douchebag of the month: Al Zarzour
It’s barely August and we’ve already found our Douchebag of the Month!
Al Zarzour says he’s been in the auto business since 1972. Gee, that’s right around the time the American auto industry started to go into decline. Zarzour says that under the bailout, his dealer was closed along with many others. What he doesn’t say is that if there hadn’t been a bailout, the dealers would have closed anyway because GM would have gone out of business. Zarzour also fails to mention that closing dealers were given incentives to throw a blow-out closing sale. The commercial makes it sound like poor Al lost everything and is now barely hanging on, and that it‘s all President Obama’s fault. What a sob story! That of course is not the case, and our crack research team has determined that Zarzour has no one to blame for his dealership’s demise than himself.
According to the Romney commercial, Al Zarzour lives in the suburb directly to our East. This "loyal" American owned a Nissan dealership back in the 70s. Know what Nissan did during World War II? Built military trucks and the engines for the Japanese planes that were used to bomb our sailors during World War II! Nissan was not exactly pleased with the way Zarzour ran his showroom which was reportedly sloppy and poorly stocked, with sales figures that reflected that. Zarzour’s Japanese masters gave him an ultimatum: Shape up or lose the franchise. Zarzour “saved face” by selling his Nissan franchise and opening a Chevy dealership in Chardon. Remember this was back in the days when GM was building crap vehicles, so that doesn’t say much for Zarzour’s ability to pick a winner. But he was certainly able to hedge his bet by hiring his wife, son and son-in-law to work in the dealership with him. In the business this is known as “feathering your own nest.” The problem is, how do you fire your own family if they’re not delivering? In time, Zarzour’s franchise had the reputation as one of the worst underperformers in GM’s Ohio network. Then the economy collapsed, and GM and Chrysler started taking on water. In 2009 Obama’s people showed up and saved the day. Most of the dealers who closed sold Hummers, Saturns or Pontiacs, which were all discontinued. Zarzour was a Chevy dealer, one of the few to close. Zarzour is probably as pissed at GM as he is at Obama.
By the way, I gotta say, GM has really cleaned up their act. I recently bought a Chevy Cruze and I just love it. Great mileage, runs like a top and the build quality is far and above what my old Oldsmobile had.
Oh, and what’s Zarzour doing now? He ain’t hurting, folks. He’s general manager of a Mitsubishi dealership. Anyone wanna guess what Mitsubishi was doing during World War II? Al Zarzour sure has an odd way of showing loyalty for his country, which makes him our DOUCHEBAG OF THE MONTH!
Al Zarzour says he’s been in the auto business since 1972. Gee, that’s right around the time the American auto industry started to go into decline. Zarzour says that under the bailout, his dealer was closed along with many others. What he doesn’t say is that if there hadn’t been a bailout, the dealers would have closed anyway because GM would have gone out of business. Zarzour also fails to mention that closing dealers were given incentives to throw a blow-out closing sale. The commercial makes it sound like poor Al lost everything and is now barely hanging on, and that it‘s all President Obama’s fault. What a sob story! That of course is not the case, and our crack research team has determined that Zarzour has no one to blame for his dealership’s demise than himself.
According to the Romney commercial, Al Zarzour lives in the suburb directly to our East. This "loyal" American owned a Nissan dealership back in the 70s. Know what Nissan did during World War II? Built military trucks and the engines for the Japanese planes that were used to bomb our sailors during World War II! Nissan was not exactly pleased with the way Zarzour ran his showroom which was reportedly sloppy and poorly stocked, with sales figures that reflected that. Zarzour’s Japanese masters gave him an ultimatum: Shape up or lose the franchise. Zarzour “saved face” by selling his Nissan franchise and opening a Chevy dealership in Chardon. Remember this was back in the days when GM was building crap vehicles, so that doesn’t say much for Zarzour’s ability to pick a winner. But he was certainly able to hedge his bet by hiring his wife, son and son-in-law to work in the dealership with him. In the business this is known as “feathering your own nest.” The problem is, how do you fire your own family if they’re not delivering? In time, Zarzour’s franchise had the reputation as one of the worst underperformers in GM’s Ohio network. Then the economy collapsed, and GM and Chrysler started taking on water. In 2009 Obama’s people showed up and saved the day. Most of the dealers who closed sold Hummers, Saturns or Pontiacs, which were all discontinued. Zarzour was a Chevy dealer, one of the few to close. Zarzour is probably as pissed at GM as he is at Obama.
By the way, I gotta say, GM has really cleaned up their act. I recently bought a Chevy Cruze and I just love it. Great mileage, runs like a top and the build quality is far and above what my old Oldsmobile had.
Oh, and what’s Zarzour doing now? He ain’t hurting, folks. He’s general manager of a Mitsubishi dealership. Anyone wanna guess what Mitsubishi was doing during World War II? Al Zarzour sure has an odd way of showing loyalty for his country, which makes him our DOUCHEBAG OF THE MONTH!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Douchebag of the Month: Michele Bachmann
“I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?' Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we've got to rein in the spending." Bachmann suggesting that the 2011 East Coast earthquake and hurricane was a message from God.
"Well what I want them to know is just like, John Wayne was from Waterloo, Iowa. That's the kind of spirit that I have, too" Bachmann, getting her John Waynes mixed up after launching her presidential campaign in Waterloo, Iowa, where she grew up. Movie star John Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa, three hours away. The John Wayne that Waterloo was home to is John Wayne Gacy, a notorious serial killer.
"I will tell you that I had a mother last night come up to me here in Tampa, Florida, after the debate. She told me that her little daughter took that vaccine, that injection, and she suffered from mental retardation thereafter." Bachmann on the HPV vaccine.
"Why should I go and do something like that? But the Lord says, 'Be submissive wives; you are to be submissive to your husbands." Bachmann, recalling in a 2006 speech at a Megachurch in Minneapolis that pursuing tax law wasn't her choice, but she did so at the urging of her husband because she was certain God was speaking through him
"I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out: Are they pro-America or anti-America?" Bachmann, calling for a new McCarthyism
"I find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out under another, then under another Democrat president, Jimmy Carter. I'm not blaming this on President Obama, I just think it's an interesting coincidence." Bachmann, on the 1976 Swine Flu outbreak that happened when Gerald Ford, a Republican, was president.
"Carbon dioxide is portrayed as harmful. But there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas." "If we took away the minimum wage -- if conceivably it was gone -- we could potentially virtually wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level." "…The very founders that wrote those documents worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States. ... I think it is high time that we recognize the contribution of our forbearers who worked tirelessly -- men like John Quincy Adams, who would not rest until slavery was extinguished in the country." Bachmann botching American history while speaking at an Iowa event in January 2011. John Quincy Adams was not one of the Founding Fathers, although he was opposed to slavery. In fact, both Washington and Jefferson owned slaves.
And what’s with her husband? What a powder-puff he is! So we know Michele isn’t running with all cylinders. Now Michele’s saying that Hillary Clinton’s right-hand woman at the State Department, Huma Abedin, has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Say WHAT? For Michele Bachmann to accuse a loyal public servant of being a shadow operative stinks as McCarthyism at its worst. Especially for going after Abedin in particular, as she is married to ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner of Weinergate fame. Say whatever you will about her husband, but their interfaith marriage is a symbol of hope for the future. SHAME on Bachmann, and shame on the fools who elected her.
PS: Kudos to John McCain for coming to Abedin’s defense. It turns out that even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Douchebag of the month: NEIL MUNRO
I’ve been neglecting this blog while I enjoy the spring and summer. Sorry. I’ve also been meaning to update the Douchebag of the Month consistently. But how often can I rag on the likes of Garry Kanter and Fran Mentch? So, I’ve decided to expand the range of this feature and we will now call out Douchebags from around the globe.
June’s Douchebag of the Month is… NEIL MUNRO
You may have seen Munro in the news last week. This creep interrupted President Obama while he was announcing his executive order on immigration. Note he didn’t ask persistent questions after the statement like real reporters Sam Donaldson or Helen Thomas. No, he interrupted the statement mid-way and started shouting at the President. Like the President or not, the press’s job isn’t to interrupt him rudely like this.
Here’s the kicker folks: Munro is not even an American citizen! He’s Irish.
And look at this slob: he didn’t even have the sense of decorum to straighten his tie and button his collar. I hope the White House revoked this DOUCHEBAG’S press pass and has started deportation proceedings. If he’d interrupted Nixon he & the rest of his pathetic friends at The Daily Caller would be audited by the IRS. Maybe Tricky Dick was on to something.
June’s Douchebag of the Month is… NEIL MUNRO
You may have seen Munro in the news last week. This creep interrupted President Obama while he was announcing his executive order on immigration. Note he didn’t ask persistent questions after the statement like real reporters Sam Donaldson or Helen Thomas. No, he interrupted the statement mid-way and started shouting at the President. Like the President or not, the press’s job isn’t to interrupt him rudely like this.
Here’s the kicker folks: Munro is not even an American citizen! He’s Irish.
And look at this slob: he didn’t even have the sense of decorum to straighten his tie and button his collar. I hope the White House revoked this DOUCHEBAG’S press pass and has started deportation proceedings. If he’d interrupted Nixon he & the rest of his pathetic friends at The Daily Caller would be audited by the IRS. Maybe Tricky Dick was on to something.
Friday, June 1, 2012
South Euclid goes automatic
South Euclid is going to automated trash and recyclable collection this summer. The city will provide every household one trash and one recyclable container. This has been suggested by many residents because it has worked in communities like Lyndhurst and saved them money. It is expected to save South Euclid $1.25 million over 5 years. Since a recycling container will be provided and recyclables will no longer have to be separated into glass plastic and paper, it will increase participation a lot.
With the city taking proactive steps to save money and thinking long term, you’d think people would be celebrating. After all whenever the South Euclid government does something you can expect the usual suspects to chime in at Cleveland.com. Not this time. More than 24 hours after the Sun Messenger article appeared online there was not one comment to be seen. The silence of the city’s critics who are few in number but high in volume is telling. By the way many of these same critics don’t even live in South Euclid!
Friday, April 27, 2012
CHUH schools: Headed for a split?
You can read it on the Plain Dealer website, in the Patch and elsewhere: University Heights parents are pissed.
UH parents are fed up and with good reason: taxes have risen, performance has fallen, and it’s a longer hike to get their kids to schools where their kids don’t feel safe. Add to that, UH parents feel they are being run over by the CH dominated board.
The absolute arrogance of the CH(UH) school board knows no bounds: blowing off Mosdos’ offer to buy the empty Milliken, spending more per pupil for less results, and now they want to close Gearity, the ONLY Elementary school in University Heights. This is the arrogance of power, the arrogance of one big suburb bullying a smaller one. SOUND FAMILIAR?
UH parents are now openly talking splitting off from CH and joining another district. I’d wager quite a few parents in lower west South Euclid who are forced into the CHUH schools feel the same way. Good luck with that. First, they’ll need to get approval from the Ohio Board of Education. Then there’s the issue of who to join. Some want Shaker, some want Beachwood. But Beachwood and Shaker are doing fine on their own thank you very much, and they might not be so interested. One snob has pooh-poohed joining SEL as being the same as Heights. Granted the SEL schools aren’t what they were. But they’re head & shoulders above CH. Taxes are also lower although they’re still too high.
What’s real funny is that Fran Mentch and Susan Miller are sending up their old smokescreens. Mentch is whining about the retention basin at Oakwood. Miller aka 216ism is bitching about the taxes from Legacy Village. Hey Susie, Hey Fran, I know you read this blog, so listen up: MONEY IS NOT THE ISSUE FOR THE HEIGHTS OR THE SEL SCHOOLS, IT’S PERFORMANCE! THROWING MORE MONEY AT THE PROBLEM DOESN’T FIX THE PROBLEM. Of course, they wouldn’t know about the schools first hand, they’re too old to have kids in school.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Cedar Center north update
The usual gang of whiners has spent the last two years griping about Cedar Center north. Now with Gordon’s Food Service doing brisk business and Bob Evans about to open, they are starting to quiet down. What they don’t want you to hear is what I will now show you:
Construction has begun on the next phase of Cedar Center north! The early burst of warm weather has helped speed things along, and this phase is scheduled to be finished by (date). Tenants will include Chipotle, Five Guys, Panera, PetSmart, and China Gate. Old timers will remember China Gate was a tenant in the old Cedar Center.
Construction has begun on the next phase of Cedar Center north! The early burst of warm weather has helped speed things along, and this phase is scheduled to be finished by (date). Tenants will include Chipotle, Five Guys, Panera, PetSmart, and China Gate. Old timers will remember China Gate was a tenant in the old Cedar Center.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
March 2012's Douchebag of the month
Found on Fran Mentch's facebook page:
Cleveland Heights has been defecating on the people of South Euclid along with the rest of Eastern Cuyahoga for decades. They refuse to participate in RITA meaning they collect taxes when we shop in their stores but never pay it back. Their cops are always on the ready to write us tickets for driving 26mph on Mayfield Road but can't be bothered to process rape kits. Heightsters whine about us "poaching" business from them as if everything is automatically theirs. When's the last time Cleveland Heights asked our opinion on anything? That's right, NEVER!
All of which earns Angel Fasolo the I ♥ South Euclid douchebag of the month award.
All of which earns Angel Fasolo the I ♥ South Euclid douchebag of the month award.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Fran thinks “we’re so dumb”
Just when I thought Fran Mentch gave up on Oakwood and pointed her beak at Millikin school she’s back to her croning on the Patch and the Plain Dealer website. But this time, she’s resorted to the cut & paste tactics championed by Garry Kanter/bystander75. There’s no need to say anything new when you can just repeat the same thing in different forums under different names.
Patch requires that commenters post under their own name, so you can plainly see Fran’s name and mug here.
The Plain Dealer has no such requirement. You can even change the display name and keep the same account. But the web address doesn’t change. So we can see that “weresodumb” is registered under the name “citizenabigail” which is a name that appeared frequently in the months leading up to the vote on Oakwood.
We're not so dumb, Fran.
We're not so dumb, Fran.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Let’s poach Mosdos
The Mosdos Orthodox Jewish congregation wants to buy the Milliken school in Cleveland Heights. The school has been closed since 2004. Mosdos is offering a half-million to buy it. The Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board says it’s worth a lot more than that based on a 2006 appraisal of the property. I spoke before about how asinine the Cleveland Heights school board is to hang on to this decaying property. The usual suspects are all over this one. Fran Mentch wants to stop the sale of Milliken because of the woods behind the building and John Severance’s old barn. That’s what she says at least. Others are justifying this ridiculous position by stating that the property may increase in value with the economic recovery or may be needed again. NEWS FLASH. Decaying asbestos-filled buildings that have limited use do not increase in value no matter how good the economy is. There is no evidence to support the idea that more families will be moving to Cleveland Heights. Not with their low rated school system and through the roof taxes. Who aside from hippies and Section 8ers would want to live there? In fact, with the board’s stubborn refusal to sell Milliken, Cleveland Heights is setting up another population decrease. The Mosdos families will find another property that suits their needs and conforms to their religious restrictions, they will sell the houses they have, and move to that area. And that area will probably NOT be in Cleveland Heights.
And that’s where I got an idea:
Let’s use the Heightsters shortsightedness to South Euclid’s advantage. There must be a suitable facility in South Euclid that’s either owned by the city or the South Euclid-Lyndhurst school board. In just the last few years, we’ve closed 3 schools. It’s possible more may be closed in the future. So instead of tearing the next one down, why don’t we offer to sell it to another school at a low ball price? The school district would take flak for selling the building cheap, but would save itself the cost of upkeep or teardown. The stipulation is that the building would be sold strictly as-is.
If this came to pass, South Euclid would get an influx of new residents who have a reputation as stable families, a reduction in empty housing, an increase in property tax income for the city.
Hey, the anti-poaching agreement the city signed on to refers to businesses. It says nothing about RESIDENTS!
And that’s where I got an idea:
Let’s use the Heightsters shortsightedness to South Euclid’s advantage. There must be a suitable facility in South Euclid that’s either owned by the city or the South Euclid-Lyndhurst school board. In just the last few years, we’ve closed 3 schools. It’s possible more may be closed in the future. So instead of tearing the next one down, why don’t we offer to sell it to another school at a low ball price? The school district would take flak for selling the building cheap, but would save itself the cost of upkeep or teardown. The stipulation is that the building would be sold strictly as-is.
If this came to pass, South Euclid would get an influx of new residents who have a reputation as stable families, a reduction in empty housing, an increase in property tax income for the city.
Hey, the anti-poaching agreement the city signed on to refers to businesses. It says nothing about RESIDENTS!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Good Riddance, John Demjanjuk
John Demjanjuk died on St. Patrick’s Day. He died in a comfortable nursing home. That’s more than can be said about his 28,000 victims. The good die young. Demjanjuk was 91. His death removes another figure in the most horrific event in human history. It makes no difference whether he was a major or minor player on the stage of this shameful event.
The Demjanjuk trial is history. He may not have been the Ivan the Terrible he was accused of being in Israel. But it has been proven that he did work at Sobibor which was a dedicated death camp with no pretense of having any other purpose.
Even if you accept Demjanjuk’s story that he was innocent of the crimes and was an involuntary laborer, he still lied on his immigration form when he came to the United States in 1952. He should have been deported the moment this fact became clear to US Immigration. Why is it that some are willing to extend a welcome to the likes of “Fausto Carmona” and John Demjanjuk but eager to kick out lowly landscapers and waiters at Mexican restaurants?
People have complained that Demjanjuk’s conviction in Germany was a double standard since there were many Germans who were not punished for their actions during the Holocaust. That may be true. The guilt of others doesn’t make Demjanjuk innocent. At least Germany has tried to come clean about the atrocities it caused, which is more than can be said about Japan which cleanses its history. Have they ever apologized for Pearl Harbor? For the Bataan Death March? No, they just whine about the Atomic bombings which were the result of their warmongering.
Some family members have spoken about returning Demjanjuk’s body to our area. What possible good would that accomplish? Any grave bearing Demjanjuk’s name would become a shrine to neo-Nazis or an unintended urinal. The Demjanjuk family would quickly learn that having him here will not bring closure to them or anyone else. No one wants this guy in a cemetery that holds their parents, siblings, or children. The best thing to do is cremate his body and scatter the ashes, or bury him anonymously and outside of the United States.
John Demjanjuk is dead. Good riddance. May we never see his like again.
The Demjanjuk trial is history. He may not have been the Ivan the Terrible he was accused of being in Israel. But it has been proven that he did work at Sobibor which was a dedicated death camp with no pretense of having any other purpose.
Even if you accept Demjanjuk’s story that he was innocent of the crimes and was an involuntary laborer, he still lied on his immigration form when he came to the United States in 1952. He should have been deported the moment this fact became clear to US Immigration. Why is it that some are willing to extend a welcome to the likes of “Fausto Carmona” and John Demjanjuk but eager to kick out lowly landscapers and waiters at Mexican restaurants?
People have complained that Demjanjuk’s conviction in Germany was a double standard since there were many Germans who were not punished for their actions during the Holocaust. That may be true. The guilt of others doesn’t make Demjanjuk innocent. At least Germany has tried to come clean about the atrocities it caused, which is more than can be said about Japan which cleanses its history. Have they ever apologized for Pearl Harbor? For the Bataan Death March? No, they just whine about the Atomic bombings which were the result of their warmongering.
Some family members have spoken about returning Demjanjuk’s body to our area. What possible good would that accomplish? Any grave bearing Demjanjuk’s name would become a shrine to neo-Nazis or an unintended urinal. The Demjanjuk family would quickly learn that having him here will not bring closure to them or anyone else. No one wants this guy in a cemetery that holds their parents, siblings, or children. The best thing to do is cremate his body and scatter the ashes, or bury him anonymously and outside of the United States.
John Demjanjuk is dead. Good riddance. May we never see his like again.
Monday, March 12, 2012
More complaints from a lackey
These sad anti-Oakwood clowns just won’t stop bitching. Here’s a letter from Kathy Schaeffer. It’s not her first letter to the Sun by a long shot.
http://www.cleveland.com/lyndhurst-south-euclid/index.ssf/2012/03/south_euclid_touts_itself_as_g.html
Who is Kathy Schaeffer? She’s one of the South Euclid LACKEYS I pegged back in October. She claims to be an environmentalist and a member of the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club is now more known for being a racist organization than protecting the environment. Schaeffer hardly lives an ecofriendly lifestyle. She just a hypocrite like certain members of Citizens for Oakwood. Schaeffer mows her lawn with a sit down mower. Now that’s living green!
http://www.cleveland.com/lyndhurst-south-euclid/index.ssf/2012/03/south_euclid_touts_itself_as_g.html
Who is Kathy Schaeffer? She’s one of the South Euclid LACKEYS I pegged back in October. She claims to be an environmentalist and a member of the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club is now more known for being a racist organization than protecting the environment. Schaeffer hardly lives an ecofriendly lifestyle. She just a hypocrite like certain members of Citizens for Oakwood. Schaeffer mows her lawn with a sit down mower. Now that’s living green!
Friday, March 2, 2012
FLASH: Mayfield Hts REJECTS anti-poaching agreement
Mayfield Heights city council has rejected Cuyahoga County’s anti-poaching agreement by a vote of 5-2.
http://www.cleveland.com/hillcrest/index.ssf/2012/03/mayfield_heights_says_no_to_an.html
Well, isn’t this an interesting turn of events? I wonder what “Citizens for Oakwood” will have to say about this. I expect their silence will be deafening. Where was their outrage after Mayfield “poached” JoAnn’s fabric from University Square?
http://www.cleveland.com/hillcrest/index.ssf/2012/03/mayfield_heights_says_no_to_an.html
Well, isn’t this an interesting turn of events? I wonder what “Citizens for Oakwood” will have to say about this. I expect their silence will be deafening. Where was their outrage after Mayfield “poached” JoAnn’s fabric from University Square?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Fiasco at Milliken
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board has rejected an offer from Mosdos Ohr Hatorah for the purchase of the Severance-Milliken school. The building has not been used in many years. This is the same board that put its hands out for a tax levy last year. The annual cost per student in CH-UH is about $3,600. Is the maintenance of this decaying building factored into of that cost? The district sits in the Continuous Improvement ranking. That means improvement is NEEDED, not OBSERVED. Gee, those Heightsters sure get a lot of bang for their buck!
This is an example of the kind of penny wise/pound foolish kind of thinking that sent the once great CH-UH schools down the rat hole. The Milliken school has been sitting unused for six years. No one has made a realistic offer to purchase the building at its peak value of over $2 million. No one has offered to lease the building at a rent that would allow Heights schools to recoup their costs for remediation. No one will. The best option for Heights schools is to cut their losses and sell the property with the stipulation that the property is being sold “as-is” and Mosdos Ohr Hatorah will be responsible for removal of asbestos and any other remediation.
This is also an example of the latent anti-Semitism that exists between differing Jewish sects. Many Reformed and Conservative Jews are embarrassed by Orthodox Jews who adopt a certain manner of dress and observe the Sabbath. Meanwhile, Orthodox Jews do not consider Conservative and Reform Jews to be “real” Jews in the same way that some Catholics do not consider Protestants to be “real” Christians. And let’s not even talk about secular Jews and secular Christians!
This is an example of the kind of penny wise/pound foolish kind of thinking that sent the once great CH-UH schools down the rat hole. The Milliken school has been sitting unused for six years. No one has made a realistic offer to purchase the building at its peak value of over $2 million. No one has offered to lease the building at a rent that would allow Heights schools to recoup their costs for remediation. No one will. The best option for Heights schools is to cut their losses and sell the property with the stipulation that the property is being sold “as-is” and Mosdos Ohr Hatorah will be responsible for removal of asbestos and any other remediation.
This is also an example of the latent anti-Semitism that exists between differing Jewish sects. Many Reformed and Conservative Jews are embarrassed by Orthodox Jews who adopt a certain manner of dress and observe the Sabbath. Meanwhile, Orthodox Jews do not consider Conservative and Reform Jews to be “real” Jews in the same way that some Catholics do not consider Protestants to be “real” Christians. And let’s not even talk about secular Jews and secular Christians!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Yup it’s true
Walmart’s coming to Oakwood Commons. It will be the anchor tenant.
Ain’t it ironic that the people decrying Walmart are the same ones whining that it’s leaving Severance? We don’t want Walmart unless it’s at Severance! That’s what they’re saying.
Here’s a link to the Oakwood brochure. You’ll need Adobe acrobat to read it: http://www.goodmanrealestate.com/PropertyPdf/Oakwood_Commons_Full_Brochure.pdf
The brochure doesn't specify whether this is a regular or a Super Walmart. If it's just Walmart, why would they leave Severance? Could it be the decades long decline of that neglected shopping center, the bad management there? Or is it the crazy high taxes in Cleveland Heights?
Ain’t it ironic that the people decrying Walmart are the same ones whining that it’s leaving Severance? We don’t want Walmart unless it’s at Severance! That’s what they’re saying.
Here’s a link to the Oakwood brochure. You’ll need Adobe acrobat to read it: http://www.goodmanrealestate.com/PropertyPdf/Oakwood_Commons_Full_Brochure.pdf
The brochure doesn't specify whether this is a regular or a Super Walmart. If it's just Walmart, why would they leave Severance? Could it be the decades long decline of that neglected shopping center, the bad management there? Or is it the crazy high taxes in Cleveland Heights?
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Is Fiorelli feeling the heat?
During the past weeks, councilor at large Dennis Fiorelli has made it his cause to kick Marty Gelfand of the South Euclid city council because of Gelfand's day job. Read the Sun Messenger report here. Thing is, it's council decides what is a conflict of interest when it comes to regular employment. The council position pays about $10k a year. Not enough to live off of, and I for one don't want council run by the idle rich or by retirees who need something to do. Ruth Gray has a job that caused some controversy, but she was allowed to maintain her council seat. Why should it be any different with Gelfand? No, every one should be treated equally and there should be no double-standards.
It’s obvious why Fiorelli is bending over backwards to get Gelfand booted from Council. Fiorelli is threatened by the presence of another at-Large councilor who is more experienced and more qualified than he. Fiorelli ran a dirty campaign for council Ward 4 in 2009 and lost to Jane Goodman. He was appointed to replace Sunny Simon based on knowing the right people and going to the right church. That's how things work in this town although to be fair that's how things work in all small towns. Fiorelli sees Gelfand as some kind of competition and a threat to his job. And well he should. Gelfand has worked as an attorney for Dennis Kucinich. He’s not a money man. He’s a law man. Fiorelli is a money man. You know, a tool of big banking. The douchebags who sold this nation down the river and control both parties thanks to Citizens United. Fiorelli will do and say anything to get elected. That includes trying to use the legal process to throw Gelfand off council. You notice, Fiorelli never stated Gelfand should stop working for Kucinich. No, he just wants Gelfand off council.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Bystander75 - unmasked
I suspected bystander75 was Garry Kanter long before he posted this on December 27. He referred to himself in the 3rd person which is just what he would do to anonymously solicit funds for his silly lawsuit which is going nowhere because it has no merit!
Yesterday, my suspicion was confirmed. Only a DNA test would be more conclusive.
Yesterday, my suspicion was confirmed. Only a DNA test would be more conclusive.
Friday, February 17, 2012
A Conthpirathy, I tell ya...
A French TV crew recently visited South Euclid to study the city’s program to deal with housing problems. This is the second time journalists from outside America have come to South Euclid to study our housing. The city has rehabilitated five houses in the southwest area, making them energy efficient with eco-friendly landscaping. The 2-story homes are now designed in such a manner that all appliances are on the first floor. This is ideal for a senior who has difficulty climbing stairs. Also, foreclosed abandoned houses that are in distressed condition have been torn down. Some of the empty lots have been turned into community gardens. Others remain unfilled. Certain busy-bodies have made a big deal of criticizing this program. The positive national and international coverage South Euclid has received vigorously rebuts their complaints. But the complainers have responded with their usual conspiracy theories. Jeez. These guys. Next thing you know, they’ll say the corpse of President Garfield is being revivified at Area 51.
Either there is some vast conspiracy of politicians, developers, and local & international media. Or South Euclid’s leadership really is doing the right things to confront the city’s problems: getting rid of distressed housing, courting developers, encouraging entrepreneurs.
Either there is some vast conspiracy of politicians, developers, and local & international media. Or South Euclid’s leadership really is doing the right things to confront the city’s problems: getting rid of distressed housing, courting developers, encouraging entrepreneurs.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
South Euclid signs anti-poaching agreement, Heightsters cry foul.
The South Euclid city council voted unanimously to support Cuyahoga County’s new anti-poaching agreement. The agreement states that no community will try to “steal” a business from another community. Lots of accusations have been flying, charging South Euclid’s elected leaders of “hypocrisy” over the possibility of a Wal-Mart coming to Oakwood Commons. The whiners are the usual Heightsters who are bleating out of their anal orifices.
Is a Super Wal-Mart coming to Oakwood Commons? I have no idea. But let’s assume for a moment that the rumors about Wal-Mart relocating to Oakwood Commons are true. Is this a case of poaching?
No, and here’s why:
Severance has failed to maintain its shopping center. The already closed stores there reduce traffic which impacts Wal-Mart’s bottom line. The lack of security has led to several dangerous situations there, including flash mobs that required police intervention. Because of the security situation, Severance has earned a bad reputation which further reduces traffic. Don’t forget, there was a shooting in the food court of the old Severance Center back in the 90s, and people haven’t forgotten. Would YOU shop at Severance? Would YOU feel safe there? Have you been there lately? Whenever I’ve reluctantly gone there, the parking lot has been mostly empty.
With all the empty storefronts, Severance still can’t provide the space Wal-Mart needs for the alleged Super Wal-Mart.
Moving a store like Wal-Mart with its huge inventory is a costly complex matter. You can bet that Mitchell Schneider is going to command top-dollar for space at Oakwood Commons. A good businessman would expect no less. So Schneider’s not poaching either.
Therefore, even if Wal-Mart moves to Oakwood, it’s not poaching.
It’s important for the various cities in Cuyahoga to work together. Last year’s move of American Greetings from Brooklyn to Westlake is what happens when a rich community uses tax incentives to lure a business away from a poor community. The American Greetings fiasco WAS poaching. South Euclid’s hardly rich, and has not offered any incentives such as a tax break to bring Wal-Mart to South Euclid.
By the way, Cleveland Heights has yet to sign the anti-poaching agreement.
Is a Super Wal-Mart coming to Oakwood Commons? I have no idea. But let’s assume for a moment that the rumors about Wal-Mart relocating to Oakwood Commons are true. Is this a case of poaching?
No, and here’s why:
Severance has failed to maintain its shopping center. The already closed stores there reduce traffic which impacts Wal-Mart’s bottom line. The lack of security has led to several dangerous situations there, including flash mobs that required police intervention. Because of the security situation, Severance has earned a bad reputation which further reduces traffic. Don’t forget, there was a shooting in the food court of the old Severance Center back in the 90s, and people haven’t forgotten. Would YOU shop at Severance? Would YOU feel safe there? Have you been there lately? Whenever I’ve reluctantly gone there, the parking lot has been mostly empty.
With all the empty storefronts, Severance still can’t provide the space Wal-Mart needs for the alleged Super Wal-Mart.
Moving a store like Wal-Mart with its huge inventory is a costly complex matter. You can bet that Mitchell Schneider is going to command top-dollar for space at Oakwood Commons. A good businessman would expect no less. So Schneider’s not poaching either.
Therefore, even if Wal-Mart moves to Oakwood, it’s not poaching.
It’s important for the various cities in Cuyahoga to work together. Last year’s move of American Greetings from Brooklyn to Westlake is what happens when a rich community uses tax incentives to lure a business away from a poor community. The American Greetings fiasco WAS poaching. South Euclid’s hardly rich, and has not offered any incentives such as a tax break to bring Wal-Mart to South Euclid.
By the way, Cleveland Heights has yet to sign the anti-poaching agreement.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Talk to the hand, Joan!
Joan Spoerl has published a letter in the Cleveland Heights patch noting the “dozens of felled trees” at the old Oakwood Club. Joan has set forth a series of “requests” which you can read at the link.
http://clevelandheights.patch.com/articles/letter-to-the-editor-think-green-when-building-oakwood
The sheer arrogance of this woman. Joan spent hours and money behind the scenes opposing Oakwood Commons. Now she thinks she’s in a position to dictate how it should be built, who the retailers should be, and even has the gall to demand that stores hurt by Oakwood be compensated! Joan honey, after the flyers you & your neighbor Susan Miller sent out slandering Mitchell Schneider’, after the vandalism of his signs, after how you did and continue to do everything in your power to stop his development in South Euclid and Cleveland Heights - do you really think that he’s going to listen to YOU?
Talk to the hand!
http://clevelandheights.patch.com/articles/letter-to-the-editor-think-green-when-building-oakwood
The sheer arrogance of this woman. Joan spent hours and money behind the scenes opposing Oakwood Commons. Now she thinks she’s in a position to dictate how it should be built, who the retailers should be, and even has the gall to demand that stores hurt by Oakwood be compensated! Joan honey, after the flyers you & your neighbor Susan Miller sent out slandering Mitchell Schneider’, after the vandalism of his signs, after how you did and continue to do everything in your power to stop his development in South Euclid and Cleveland Heights - do you really think that he’s going to listen to YOU?
Talk to the hand!
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