Was on the news last night that Frank 'living dead' So-Lousy isn't going to try a lifetime career in lucas county after all. WOO-HOO!! Break out the champagne!! They're dropping like flies!!
My year was just made! So-Lousy NOT RUNNING for re-election!!
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Darkseid, this makes it easier for your good friend Rob Cruddyman to get back on council as an at-large rep, and he did such a wonderful job as a district hack for 14 years.
I'd like to see Rob and the other council candidates speak out against taxes like Szollosi did this spring, which is consistent with Frank's statement from three years ago when he said about Toledo's continual population decline: "It's an indication that taxes are too high in Toledo."
I certainly have not agreed with every vote by Szollosi, but here are some that I've liked from the past couple years.
Two years ago, Toledo government implemented a new city tax that they code-named "refuse fee." Here's the spring 2007 vote for this tax that the mayor now wants to increase:
Voting FOR the new city tax :
- Joe Birmingham
- Mark Sobczak
- Rob Ludeman
- Betty Shultz
- George Sarantou
- Wilma Brown
- Phil Copeland
Voting AGAINST the new city tax :
- Michael Ashford
- Mike Craig
- Ellen Grachek
- Joe McNamara
- Frank Szollosi
Also in the spring of 2007, Toledo city council voted to waste money on flowers because it will attract businesses. Szollosi voted against this lunacy.Council voted 7-4 to approve Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's request for $39,900 to contract with a landscaping firm to plant flowers at and maintain 22 gateway gardens.Voting in support were Councilmen Rob Ludeman, George Sarantou, Betty Shultz, Michael Ashford, Joe Birmingham, Wilma Brown, and Phil Copeland.
Voting no were Councilmen Michael Craig, Ellen Grachek, Joe McNamara, and Frank Szollosi. Councilman Mark Sobczak was absent.
Last summer, Szollosi voted against using taxpayer dollars to fund utilities for a closed COSI building.Council voted 9-3 in favor of a request from the Finkbeiner administration to approve an amended lease between the city and the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, which contracted with COSI to be located in the city-owned riverfront building. Councilman George Sarantou said he supported the measure because the city is responsible for about $6,900 a month to pay for utilities and a security system in the building regardless of COSI's troubles. Councilmen Frank Szollosi, Tom Waniewski, and D. Michael Collins voted no.
Last year, council voted to continue to fund the Erie Street Sinkhole, but Szollosi voted against it. Two votes were held. In January 2008, council voted to fund the ESM for four months, so that Czarty could devise a scam-reason to keep the ESM alive. Then council voted in May 2008 to fund ESM for the rest of the year because they bought Czarty's snake oil. Both votes were identical.Voted FOR wasting more money on ESM:
- Joe McNamara
- George Sarantou
- Betty Shultz
- Mark Sobczak
- Wilma Brown
- D. Michael Collins
- Mike Craig
- Tom Waniewski
- Lindsay M. Webb
Voted AGAINST giving more money to the Erie Street Sinkhole were :
- Michael Ashford
- Frank Szollosi
Phillip Copeland was absent for both votes.
A little here, a little there, this wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars adds up.
I cant go along with keeping a crappy one in there just because a different crappy one is running.
toledo needs to smarten up and get rid of all the crappy ones.
Two years ago, Frank voted FOR Toledo taking over a chunk of the private ambulance business, which I believe was a money grab for the city and had nothing to do with safety. Even Sarantou voted AGAINST this idea, and George made an intelligent observation about it: "It sends the wrong message to the business community."
But in my opinion, Szollosi has changed some of his views for the better over the past two to three years. During this time, I don't think anyone else on council has voted against wasteful spending as much as Szollosi. WSPD Golden Boy Tom Waniewski voted to waste money on the ESM.
Ellen Grachek generally voted against wasteful spending in her final year of office. She was a one-termer. She chose not to run for re-election. I guess when they wisen-up, they quit politics.
Excerpts from Szollosi's May 1, 2009 press release, asking Toledoans to say "No" to new and higher taxes:
Mayor Finkbeiner continues to demand more money from Toledo families to bailout his flawed budgets. From 2006 through 2008, Finkbeiner and his allies on Council, led by Mark Sobczak and Rob Ludeman, surged city spending from $226 million to $252 million - a $26 million increase in General Fund spending in just three years - fueled in part by new taxes and fees, including the garbage tax.And how does the Mayor threaten hardworking Toledoans?
Essentially: “Keep paying a greater share of your income to the city or we’ll lay off cops and you won’t be safe.”
Finkbeiner - and apparently the Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association - expect City Council to raise taxes to finance the unique and inequitable Toledo way: Taxpayers contribute both the city’s share AND the employee’s share towards individual pensions. No average Toledoan has it this good even in a great economy, yet the average Toledoan is being asked not only continue their support, but to reach into their pocket in tough times to pay more!
Fundamentally, both sides must understand that City Council has shown rare, principled unanimity in holding out for union concessions through collective bargaining in lieu of damaging tax increases.
Mayor Finkbeiner and his allies only make it worse for middle class Toledoans with their insistence on increased taxing and spending at the local level.
Spring 2009 Important Toledo City Council Votes which have now spilled over into mid-summer.
Woo Hoo!! Another politico who's been owned and operated by the unions for years is stepping down!! Im with ya Dark, Mojito's all around!!
posted by billy on Jul 02, 2009 at 07:29:35 am #