This information was published in the Heights Observer on March 30.
The Hebrew Academy of Cleveland is in the final stages of buying the Cleveland Heights side of the old Oakwood Country Club. The HAC has signed a letter of intent and will probably finalize the deal within the next couple weeks. A new school will be built to house about 250 students grades 1-6. The HAC hasn't said whether they will preserve renovate or demolish the old clubhouse.
Fran Mentch has yet to issue her usual fatwa or maybe she's given up caring. Not a peep from any of the other usual suspects either.
It appears they really were all in it as lackeys for the dying Severance Center.
http://heightsobserver.org/read/2015/03/30/hebrew-academy-to-purchase-ch-portion-of-oakwood-club
Showing posts with label Oakwood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oakwood. Show all posts
Friday, April 3, 2015
Friday, August 29, 2014
The Death of Severance Town Center
Severance Town Center has filed for bankruptcy.
Given the conditions at Severance is anyone surprised by this news?
I’m sure not. It’s easy to blame Oakwood Commons and South Euclid for the problems at Severance Town Center. Easy but not factual. As if moving Wal-Mart and opening four small stores at the mostly empty Oakwood killed a much larger shopping center that once boasted numerous large and medium sized tenants, not just the WalMart.
How easily Fran Mentch, Garry Kanter, and their minions forget that Borders went out of business depriving Severance of a large tenant which attracted desirable customers. How easily they forgot that Bally’s gym closed which drew people daily. Then Blockbusters. Those who worked out at Bally’s or went to Borders or Blockbuster often visited the other tenants there. How easily they forget that the Home Depot at Severance is by far the worst run Home Depot in an area with an already generous supply of hardware stores. How easily they forget that there was a superior Borders up the road at La Place, to say nothing of Barnes and Noble. How easily they forget the shooting at IHOP which was probably the final nail in Severance’s coffin. Yeah, it’s all because Wal-Mart moved. Sure.
It’s easy to say South Euclid and/or Mitchell Schneider “poached” Wal-Mart thereby killing Severance. Easy but not factual. Poaching? Think again. Poaching in business is defined as the practice of attracting workers from a rival company with better pay and conditions. It could also be defined as one city using tax incentives or other discounts to attract a nearby business. You want an example of poaching? Look how Beachwood poached Eaton Corporation from downtown Cleveland? That’s poaching. And the irony is, Eaton is not even an American company. It’s “officially” headquartered in Ireland to avoid paying US taxes! So to those who accuse South Euclid of poaching Wal-Mart I ask: what did South Euclid offer Wal-Mart? A property tax break? An income tax break? And to those who accuse Mitchell Schneider of poaching Wal-Mart I ask: What did Schneider offer Wal-Mart? Did he sell the Wal-Mart’s Oakwood parcel on the cheap?
The answers to all the above are a qualified NO. Qualified only because South Euclid’s property taxes have historically been lower than Cleveland Heights outrageously high property taxes. But guess what. Since that part of South Euclid falls under the Cleveland Heights University Heights school district Oakwood pays Height’s high taxes anyway! No wonder home owners in Cleveland Heights are leaving in droves.
Severance used to be a great place to shop but that was a long time ago. I remember being dragged there by my mother at back-to-school time in the 60s. By the 70s, I was going there on my own. I saw Star Wars multiple times at the theater there. But by the 80s I felt things were going downhill. Storefronts were starting to empty out and there was less foot traffic. Richmond Mall duplicated a lot of the stores that Severance had, so Severance lost traffic from easterly suburbs from Lyndhurst through Mayfield Heights. Randall Park Mall had been built and was a lot bigger with more variety so Severance lost traffic from Warrensville Heights and other southerly suburbs. Beachwood Mall with its more upscale stores probably siphoned off the higher end customers from all nearby areas. In the 90s I was disturbed by the clientele there. (For those of you about to call me a racist, it had nothing to do with race. When you see people walking around aimlessly, looking over their shoulders as if expecting or looking for trouble, you sense there’s danger.) I remember telling my kids “I don’t want you going to Severance anymore.” They rolled their eyes at me “Why?” Shortly thereafter there was a shooting in the food court and I told my kids “THAT’S why.” The old Severance was dead. Then it was buried. Then it was turned inside out and rebranded as Severance Town Center. I decided to give it a try. But I found most of the stores there were poorly run and duplicated elsewhere. I never saw a full parking lot at the new Severance except for Wal-Mart. But when I went there, I found the store in a messy state, with long lines and too many unmanned registers, and parents letting their kids run amuck assuming the parents were even there. I never revisited the store.
It says a lot about the priorities of Severance’s owners that they forked over thousands of dollars to the “citizens” for Oakwood but did nothing to improve their own property and make it more attractive. Did they ever make a good faith effort to attract new tenants? Doubt it.
The owners of Severance have collectively defecated on the good name of John Severance who did so much to build our city.
Severance Town Center is dead. If Fran Mentch still wants her beloved park here’s her golden opportunity. We’ll see if she puts her money where her very large mouth is. I’m not holding my breath.
Given the conditions at Severance is anyone surprised by this news?
I’m sure not. It’s easy to blame Oakwood Commons and South Euclid for the problems at Severance Town Center. Easy but not factual. As if moving Wal-Mart and opening four small stores at the mostly empty Oakwood killed a much larger shopping center that once boasted numerous large and medium sized tenants, not just the WalMart.
How easily Fran Mentch, Garry Kanter, and their minions forget that Borders went out of business depriving Severance of a large tenant which attracted desirable customers. How easily they forgot that Bally’s gym closed which drew people daily. Then Blockbusters. Those who worked out at Bally’s or went to Borders or Blockbuster often visited the other tenants there. How easily they forget that the Home Depot at Severance is by far the worst run Home Depot in an area with an already generous supply of hardware stores. How easily they forget that there was a superior Borders up the road at La Place, to say nothing of Barnes and Noble. How easily they forget the shooting at IHOP which was probably the final nail in Severance’s coffin. Yeah, it’s all because Wal-Mart moved. Sure.
It’s easy to say South Euclid and/or Mitchell Schneider “poached” Wal-Mart thereby killing Severance. Easy but not factual. Poaching? Think again. Poaching in business is defined as the practice of attracting workers from a rival company with better pay and conditions. It could also be defined as one city using tax incentives or other discounts to attract a nearby business. You want an example of poaching? Look how Beachwood poached Eaton Corporation from downtown Cleveland? That’s poaching. And the irony is, Eaton is not even an American company. It’s “officially” headquartered in Ireland to avoid paying US taxes! So to those who accuse South Euclid of poaching Wal-Mart I ask: what did South Euclid offer Wal-Mart? A property tax break? An income tax break? And to those who accuse Mitchell Schneider of poaching Wal-Mart I ask: What did Schneider offer Wal-Mart? Did he sell the Wal-Mart’s Oakwood parcel on the cheap?
The answers to all the above are a qualified NO. Qualified only because South Euclid’s property taxes have historically been lower than Cleveland Heights outrageously high property taxes. But guess what. Since that part of South Euclid falls under the Cleveland Heights University Heights school district Oakwood pays Height’s high taxes anyway! No wonder home owners in Cleveland Heights are leaving in droves.
Severance used to be a great place to shop but that was a long time ago. I remember being dragged there by my mother at back-to-school time in the 60s. By the 70s, I was going there on my own. I saw Star Wars multiple times at the theater there. But by the 80s I felt things were going downhill. Storefronts were starting to empty out and there was less foot traffic. Richmond Mall duplicated a lot of the stores that Severance had, so Severance lost traffic from easterly suburbs from Lyndhurst through Mayfield Heights. Randall Park Mall had been built and was a lot bigger with more variety so Severance lost traffic from Warrensville Heights and other southerly suburbs. Beachwood Mall with its more upscale stores probably siphoned off the higher end customers from all nearby areas. In the 90s I was disturbed by the clientele there. (For those of you about to call me a racist, it had nothing to do with race. When you see people walking around aimlessly, looking over their shoulders as if expecting or looking for trouble, you sense there’s danger.) I remember telling my kids “I don’t want you going to Severance anymore.” They rolled their eyes at me “Why?” Shortly thereafter there was a shooting in the food court and I told my kids “THAT’S why.” The old Severance was dead. Then it was buried. Then it was turned inside out and rebranded as Severance Town Center. I decided to give it a try. But I found most of the stores there were poorly run and duplicated elsewhere. I never saw a full parking lot at the new Severance except for Wal-Mart. But when I went there, I found the store in a messy state, with long lines and too many unmanned registers, and parents letting their kids run amuck assuming the parents were even there. I never revisited the store.
It says a lot about the priorities of Severance’s owners that they forked over thousands of dollars to the “citizens” for Oakwood but did nothing to improve their own property and make it more attractive. Did they ever make a good faith effort to attract new tenants? Doubt it.
The owners of Severance have collectively defecated on the good name of John Severance who did so much to build our city.
Severance Town Center is dead. If Fran Mentch still wants her beloved park here’s her golden opportunity. We’ll see if she puts her money where her very large mouth is. I’m not holding my breath.
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.
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!
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?
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!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Goodbye Babycakes
Remember all those obnoxious hysterical mailers from No on 96? With the stock pictures of trees being felled and the rest? One listed several “local” people opposed to rezoning, including two business owners.
One of those was Regina Henderson, the proprieter of Babycakes on the corner of Mayfield Road and South Belvoir. Ms. Henderson is listed as the owner of Babycakes on the flyer. In fact her daughter is the owner. Babycakes closed earlier this month.
But my question is this: How could Ms. Henderson NOT know that store was about to close in October when the mailer went out? Any decent business person plans months in advance. I can only conclude that Ms. Henderson already knew her store was about to close, and was “persuaded” (read: $$$) by the anti-Oakwood crowd to put her mug on this mailer. My theory is confirmed by this article in which Regina’s daughter Kim, who owns the store, said as much back in September, before the mailer was sent out! Since she was leaving anyway, putting her mug on the mailer was Regina’s way of giving the finger to the people of South Euclid.
One of those was Regina Henderson, the proprieter of Babycakes on the corner of Mayfield Road and South Belvoir. Ms. Henderson is listed as the owner of Babycakes on the flyer. In fact her daughter is the owner. Babycakes closed earlier this month.
But my question is this: How could Ms. Henderson NOT know that store was about to close in October when the mailer went out? Any decent business person plans months in advance. I can only conclude that Ms. Henderson already knew her store was about to close, and was “persuaded” (read: $$$) by the anti-Oakwood crowd to put her mug on this mailer. My theory is confirmed by this article in which Regina’s daughter Kim, who owns the store, said as much back in September, before the mailer was sent out! Since she was leaving anyway, putting her mug on the mailer was Regina’s way of giving the finger to the people of South Euclid.
Monday, December 26, 2011
The Sorest Loser
I hope you had a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Joyous Festivus, Kwanzaa – or, if you’re completely secular, a nice relaxing weekend.
It’s been almost two months since the voters of South Euclid voted to approve the rezoning of the defunct Oakwood Club and allow developer Mitchell Schneider make productive use of that privately owned land. Most of the local world has moved on. Fran Mentch said her weepy piece. The commenters at the Plain Dealer website did their post-mortem. Construction has begun at Oakwood.
But there is one sore loser who just can’t let go: Garry Kanter. For the last few weeks, he’s been begging for help to launch a suit against the city of South Euclid to prevent construction of Oakwood. He’s been on the “Citizens” for Oakwood’s facebook page, the Cleveland Heights Patch, and now his letter has been published in the Sun Messenger. From what I can see, even the activists who oppose development at Oakwood are maintaining a discreet silence – afraid to say what they really believe: this guy is 75 cents short of a dollar.
Let’s talk about the substance of Garry’s rant: Garry says that the zoning at Oakwood is unconstitutional. He also brings up the Shemo case. For those who don’t know, Shemo was the developer who wanted to build the Costco in Mayfield Heights. Some residents were opposed to it, so they pressured the city to deny the zoning variance. Shemo sued the city and won, the Costco got built, and I’d bet money that most who were opposed to the Costco are now members. Garry says that the situation with Shemo and Oakwood are not comparable because the Costco site was a barren field next to a highway and Oakwood is a green space. But those distinctions are irrelevant. Why? Because the very attempt spearheaded by the anti-Oakwood group to get South Euclid city council’s zoning change overturned backfired when the citizens of South Euclid voted in favor of rezoning. The issue was placed on the ballot, the people voted. But the vote didn’t turn out the way Garry & Fran wanted. At least Fran has had the sense to move on and focus on the Cleveland Heights portion of Oakwood, which will need a zoning change if the senior housing Schneider wants built is to go forward. How do I feel about Schneider’s plans for the Cleveland Heights part: I think it’s a great way to retain residents in an area that has been shrinking in population. And that’s the last I’ll say about it, because that’s not my town and not my business. I’ve said my piece. Time to move on to other issues, like trash collection and recycling, and figuring out who on the new council and on the planning board is going to be naughty and who’s going to be nice. And what’s the next plan of attack from South Euclid’s perpetual critics?
You see, Garry’s problem is he just can’t let go. He doesn’t know when it’s time to stop. Judging from his appearance, he doesn’t know when to push back from the table at the end of a meal either. And as a dedicated Heightster, he can’t handle the fact that the people of South Euclid made this decision for themselves and actually had the gall to defy the wishes of a few activists in Cleveland Heights. HOW DARE WE?!
Follow up December 29:
True to form South Euclid Oversight has published Garry Kanter's and Fran Mentch's letters: http://southeuclidoversight.blogspot.com/2011/12/sad-year-for-oakwood.html
Also Garry Kanter is posting comments on the Sun Messengers' web page under one of his many sockpuppets. See the original link for up to date comments.
It’s been almost two months since the voters of South Euclid voted to approve the rezoning of the defunct Oakwood Club and allow developer Mitchell Schneider make productive use of that privately owned land. Most of the local world has moved on. Fran Mentch said her weepy piece. The commenters at the Plain Dealer website did their post-mortem. Construction has begun at Oakwood.
But there is one sore loser who just can’t let go: Garry Kanter. For the last few weeks, he’s been begging for help to launch a suit against the city of South Euclid to prevent construction of Oakwood. He’s been on the “Citizens” for Oakwood’s facebook page, the Cleveland Heights Patch, and now his letter has been published in the Sun Messenger. From what I can see, even the activists who oppose development at Oakwood are maintaining a discreet silence – afraid to say what they really believe: this guy is 75 cents short of a dollar.
Let’s talk about the substance of Garry’s rant: Garry says that the zoning at Oakwood is unconstitutional. He also brings up the Shemo case. For those who don’t know, Shemo was the developer who wanted to build the Costco in Mayfield Heights. Some residents were opposed to it, so they pressured the city to deny the zoning variance. Shemo sued the city and won, the Costco got built, and I’d bet money that most who were opposed to the Costco are now members. Garry says that the situation with Shemo and Oakwood are not comparable because the Costco site was a barren field next to a highway and Oakwood is a green space. But those distinctions are irrelevant. Why? Because the very attempt spearheaded by the anti-Oakwood group to get South Euclid city council’s zoning change overturned backfired when the citizens of South Euclid voted in favor of rezoning. The issue was placed on the ballot, the people voted. But the vote didn’t turn out the way Garry & Fran wanted. At least Fran has had the sense to move on and focus on the Cleveland Heights portion of Oakwood, which will need a zoning change if the senior housing Schneider wants built is to go forward. How do I feel about Schneider’s plans for the Cleveland Heights part: I think it’s a great way to retain residents in an area that has been shrinking in population. And that’s the last I’ll say about it, because that’s not my town and not my business. I’ve said my piece. Time to move on to other issues, like trash collection and recycling, and figuring out who on the new council and on the planning board is going to be naughty and who’s going to be nice. And what’s the next plan of attack from South Euclid’s perpetual critics?
You see, Garry’s problem is he just can’t let go. He doesn’t know when it’s time to stop. Judging from his appearance, he doesn’t know when to push back from the table at the end of a meal either. And as a dedicated Heightster, he can’t handle the fact that the people of South Euclid made this decision for themselves and actually had the gall to defy the wishes of a few activists in Cleveland Heights. HOW DARE WE?!
Follow up December 29:
True to form South Euclid Oversight has published Garry Kanter's and Fran Mentch's letters: http://southeuclidoversight.blogspot.com/2011/12/sad-year-for-oakwood.html
Also Garry Kanter is posting comments on the Sun Messengers' web page under one of his many sockpuppets. See the original link for up to date comments.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Dr. Miller is pissed and he has a right to be.
More griping from the sore loser's gallery. Bystander75 aka Garry Kanter is foaming at the mouth again. Read the article and come back here, I’ll wait for you:
http://blog.cleveland.com/sunmessenger/2011/11/south_euclid_council_president.html
OK. Welcome back. Let’s call bullshit on Garry’s post about "unfounded" allegations of racism. No one in went into a public forum and said the N-word. Even the anti-Oakwood people aren’t that stupid. But anyone who thinks there wasn’t a racist element to the anti-Oakwood group is blind, delusional, or in denial.
Click on this picture and read Rich Sones’ highlighted section here. It originally appeared on the Heights Observer blog but has been deleted. Cover-up, anyone?
When you have a candidate for city council office going to an anti-Oakwood meeting and saying he’s against Oakwood Commons because it will bring the “wrong element” to South Euclid, you don’t have to read between many lines to understand what he means. Especially when that same candidate has made it a personal hobby to be a pain in Dr. Miller’s ass. More so when that same candidate spat on a city worker after a shouting match. Even more so when his cronies at South Euclid Oversight post vandalized photos of Dr. Miller and Mayor Welo.
When you have anti-Oakwood people most of them not even from South Euclid, harassing yes on 96 people and telling them to go back to East Cleveland, that’s racism.
Just how many African-Americans in South Euclid or even Cleveland Heights opposed Issue 96? The only one I saw was in one of their silly videos.
You don’t have to spout the N-word to be a racist. There are people who will say “some of my best friends are black.” But they’ll lash out when their black “friends” get too “uppity.” And that’s exactly what happened with the anti-Oakwood crowd.
Miller may have a thin skin, and his language was rough. But his animosity for these peeps was justified.
http://blog.cleveland.com/sunmessenger/2011/11/south_euclid_council_president.html
OK. Welcome back. Let’s call bullshit on Garry’s post about "unfounded" allegations of racism. No one in went into a public forum and said the N-word. Even the anti-Oakwood people aren’t that stupid. But anyone who thinks there wasn’t a racist element to the anti-Oakwood group is blind, delusional, or in denial.
Click on this picture and read Rich Sones’ highlighted section here. It originally appeared on the Heights Observer blog but has been deleted. Cover-up, anyone?
When you have a candidate for city council office going to an anti-Oakwood meeting and saying he’s against Oakwood Commons because it will bring the “wrong element” to South Euclid, you don’t have to read between many lines to understand what he means. Especially when that same candidate has made it a personal hobby to be a pain in Dr. Miller’s ass. More so when that same candidate spat on a city worker after a shouting match. Even more so when his cronies at South Euclid Oversight post vandalized photos of Dr. Miller and Mayor Welo.
When you have anti-Oakwood people most of them not even from South Euclid, harassing yes on 96 people and telling them to go back to East Cleveland, that’s racism.
Just how many African-Americans in South Euclid or even Cleveland Heights opposed Issue 96? The only one I saw was in one of their silly videos.
You don’t have to spout the N-word to be a racist. There are people who will say “some of my best friends are black.” But they’ll lash out when their black “friends” get too “uppity.” And that’s exactly what happened with the anti-Oakwood crowd.
Miller may have a thin skin, and his language was rough. But his animosity for these peeps was justified.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Anti-Oakwood Heightsters hold flash Mob
Anti-Oakwood RACISM exposed
The stain of racism has once again raised its ugly head among the anti-Oakwood creeps. Anti-Oakwood activist Bruce Knarr posted on the Yes 96 facebook page making allusions to people from East Cleveland, stating that we don't want THEM shopping here! This is part of a continuing pattern going back months. How many African-Americans are there among the anti-Oakwood set? The only one I've seen canvassing is an old woman with a Saturn station wagon.
Read my original post from March here: http://iheartsoutheuclid.blogspot.com/2011/03/heightsters-hidden-agenda-racism.html
Follow up: Rich Sones, the original anti-Oakwood racist, lives at the anti-Oakwood handquarters on Bainbridge in Cleveland Heights.
Read my original post from March here: http://iheartsoutheuclid.blogspot.com/2011/03/heightsters-hidden-agenda-racism.html
Follow up: Rich Sones, the original anti-Oakwood racist, lives at the anti-Oakwood handquarters on Bainbridge in Cleveland Heights.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Follow the money: a detailed look at No on 96 funding
I've sharpened my pencil and here are the numbers behind the No on 96 campaign.
No on 96 campaign contributions as of 10/27/2011:
$ 2,995.00 - Total contributions from Cleveland Heights residents
$ 1,495 – Total contributions from outside Cleveland Heights (broken down below)
$ 8,260.44 Total contributions from Severance SPE LeaseCO LLC (owner of Severance Town Center)
$ 25,000 Total contributions from Donald McTigue, Columbus based attorney for No on 96 and treasurer for Ohio Fact Check – a demonstrably phony front organization created by No on 96 campaign, and in no way related to the prestigious FactCheck.org run by the Annenberg Foundation.
Follow the money. This isn’t people power; this is the owner of Severance Center. Rather than making his own mall a safe and desirable place to shop, he’s trying to shoot down a developer with a better track record.
You can review scans No on 96's actual documents here:
http://iheartsoutheuclid.blogspot.com/2011/10/follow-money-documents-reveal-no-on-96.html
$ 1,495 – Total contributions from outside Cleveland Heights (broken down below)
- $ 695.00 - Total contributions from South Euclid residents ($500 of that from one person)
- $ 225.00 - Total contributions from Cleveland residents
- $ 250.00 - Total contributions from Shaker Heights residents
- $ 100.00 - Total contributions from Seven Hill residents
- $ 200.00 - from one Avon resident under Sierra Club name
- $ 25.00 - from one Euclid resident
Big money donations:
$ 25,000 Total contributions from Donald McTigue, Columbus based attorney for No on 96 and treasurer for Ohio Fact Check – a demonstrably phony front organization created by No on 96 campaign, and in no way related to the prestigious FactCheck.org run by the Annenberg Foundation.
http://iheartsoutheuclid.blogspot.com/2011/10/follow-money-documents-reveal-no-on-96.html
Monday, October 31, 2011
Follow the money: Documents reveal No on 96 funding - it ain't people power
Here are scans from county and state documents revealing the REAL people behind the No on Oakwood campaign. As I have stated on this blog before, the driving factor here is activists from Cleveland Heights. There are relatively few donations from South Euclid residents. Many of those come from one person: Linda Pagon of Parkside Blvd. The biggest donations come from Donald McTigue, the lawyer for the No on 96 brigade, and Severance SPE Lease Co, LLC, the owner of Severance Center. Here are scans of the documents. You can click on each document to read at full size.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Being realistic
Meet unreality:
Meet reality:
Vote based on reality, not fantasy. VOTE YES ON ISSUE 96!
Meet reality:
Vote based on reality, not fantasy. VOTE YES ON ISSUE 96!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
South Euclid Oversight caught in lie
The guttersnipes at South Euclid Oversight have done a parody post, posing as a pro-Oakwood letter. Here are the screen grabs. You decide.
Here is the grab from South Euclid Oversight. Note their inflated numbers for the No on 96 group.
Here are the grabs from the groups actual facebook pages - taken yesterday morning. South Euclid Oversight is run by two residents of Fairview Park. These two clowns, Joe Liptow, the three people who post over & over again on the yes96 page are trying to paint the no on 96 crowd as a vast movement of involved people. When it's mostly a few crybabies from Cleveland Heights, and a few would be polticians with an ax to grind. The real numbers tell a different story.
DON'T BE FOOLED. VOTE YES ON ISSUE 96!
DON'T BE FOOLED. VOTE YES ON ISSUE 96!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Cedar Center and Oakwood update
Did you see the latest flyer from the anti-Oakwood group? I won’t give them the free advertising by scanning it in here. But it’s a very slick clever document. It’s done up in Brush High School's colors, brown and gold so that at first I thought it was from the school district. Nope, it’s from southeuclidfactchech.org. It trots out the usual talking points about how Oakwood is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad. The developer is from Solon! Oh no, not Solon! We’ve heard it all before. Southeuclidfactcheck.org says it’s a project of Ohio fact check. But enter ohiofactcheck.org into your browser and it redirects to southeuclidfactcheck.org. Go ahead, try it. I’ll wait.
As Nixon said, “follow the money.” Who’s paying for this flyer? There’s no information to be found on the flyer or online.
~
OK, you back? Meanwhile, Coral Company announced the following tenants for the new Cedar Center:
Panera
Chipotle
Five Guys Burgers
Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches
China Gate
Chipotle was at the old Cedar Center. So was China Gate which is locally owned/operated.
Coral also announced that an Italian restaurant, a coffee shop, women’s hair salon, and pet supply store are also slated to sign on. I’d bet that the coffee shop will be Caribou, since there’s a Starbucks nearby and a Phoenix coffee at Mayfield & Green.
So things are at last looking up at Cedar Center. It would be a pity to dump Mayor Welo when her efforts to improve things around here are just beginning to blossom.
Re-elect Mayor Welo. And vote YES on Issue 96.
As Nixon said, “follow the money.” Who’s paying for this flyer? There’s no information to be found on the flyer or online.
~
OK, you back? Meanwhile, Coral Company announced the following tenants for the new Cedar Center:
Panera
Chipotle
Five Guys Burgers
Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches
China Gate
Chipotle was at the old Cedar Center. So was China Gate which is locally owned/operated.
Coral also announced that an Italian restaurant, a coffee shop, women’s hair salon, and pet supply store are also slated to sign on. I’d bet that the coffee shop will be Caribou, since there’s a Starbucks nearby and a Phoenix coffee at Mayfield & Green.
So things are at last looking up at Cedar Center. It would be a pity to dump Mayor Welo when her efforts to improve things around here are just beginning to blossom.
Re-elect Mayor Welo. And vote YES on Issue 96.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Who are the "citizens" for Oakwood?
Fran Mentch = 1413 Lynn Park Dr, Cleveland Heights
Susan Miller = 3165 Berkshire Rd Cleveland Heights
Garry Kantor = Cleveland Heights
Bruce Knapp = Ardoon Rd, Cleveland Heights
Charlie Mosbrook = Cleveland Heights
Rich Sones = 3790 Bainbridge Rd, Cleveland Heights
Deanna Bremer Fisher= Cleveland Heights (also runs Future Heights)
Bob Rosenbaum = Cleveland Heights (blogger at heightsobserver, published by Future Heights)
Adele Eisner = 2932 Clarkson Rd, Cleveland Heights
Carla Rautenberg = 3065 Berkshire Rd, Cleveland Heights
Richard Wong = 2654 Exeter Dr, Cleveland Heights (CH planning director)
Kathy Schaeffer = 1172 S Belvoir, South Euclid
Jerome "Joe" Liptow - 4501 Anderson Rd, South Euclid
David Furry = 3867 W. 226th St, Fairview Park
Emilie Difranco = 3867 W. 226th St, Fairview Park
DON'T BE FOOLED BY HEIGHTS ACTIVISTS, THEIR LACKEYS IN SOUTH EUCLID, OR GUTTERSNIPES WITH AN AX TO GRIND.
VOTE YES ON ISSUE 96!
Update 4/24: I received a note from Emilie DiFranco claiming neither she nor David Furry were members of Citizens for Oakwood. We apologize for the mistake. Judging by their post history they were definitely fellow travelers.
Susan Miller = 3165 Berkshire Rd Cleveland Heights
Garry Kantor = Cleveland Heights
Bruce Knapp = Ardoon Rd, Cleveland Heights
Charlie Mosbrook = Cleveland Heights
Rich Sones = 3790 Bainbridge Rd, Cleveland Heights
Deanna Bremer Fisher= Cleveland Heights (also runs Future Heights)
Bob Rosenbaum = Cleveland Heights (blogger at heightsobserver, published by Future Heights)
Adele Eisner = 2932 Clarkson Rd, Cleveland Heights
Carla Rautenberg = 3065 Berkshire Rd, Cleveland Heights
Richard Wong = 2654 Exeter Dr, Cleveland Heights (CH planning director)
Kathy Schaeffer = 1172 S Belvoir, South Euclid
Jerome "Joe" Liptow - 4501 Anderson Rd, South Euclid
DON'T BE FOOLED BY HEIGHTS ACTIVISTS, THEIR LACKEYS IN SOUTH EUCLID, OR GUTTERSNIPES WITH AN AX TO GRIND.
VOTE YES ON ISSUE 96!
Update 4/24: I received a note from Emilie DiFranco claiming neither she nor David Furry were members of Citizens for Oakwood. We apologize for the mistake. Judging by their post history they were definitely fellow travelers.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Oakwood opponents stink of desperation
Did you see the latest flyer from the "citizens" for Oakwood? They're sending one out every few days, so it may be hard to keep track. Where are they getting all the money for these?
So, this latest missive, which I didn't bother to scan before putting it into the circular file, ranted about the "rich developer from Solon." DUH! Of course Mitchell Schneider's wealthy. He's one of the area's most prominent developers, and he's good at his job. I suppose the anti-Oakwood crowd would prefer a POOR developer, as long as he's from South Euclid.
Friends, DON'T be fooled by the desperate rantings from a coalition of Heightsters, greenies, and candidates with an axe to grind. VOTE YES ON ISSUE 96!
http://voteyes96.com/index.html
So, this latest missive, which I didn't bother to scan before putting it into the circular file, ranted about the "rich developer from Solon." DUH! Of course Mitchell Schneider's wealthy. He's one of the area's most prominent developers, and he's good at his job. I suppose the anti-Oakwood crowd would prefer a POOR developer, as long as he's from South Euclid.
Friends, DON'T be fooled by the desperate rantings from a coalition of Heightsters, greenies, and candidates with an axe to grind. VOTE YES ON ISSUE 96!
http://voteyes96.com/index.html
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