What can Bell do for you?

Fix the roads. Please.

I agree!!!!

My biggest concern is for the mayor's office to work WITH the council to get things done. Given the fact that council cannot even work with itself, that may be tough, but I expect some real effort on that front. I would also like to see him replace all the welcome to Toledo sings with a version that does not have to be changed every 4-8 years because it includes the name of the current egomaniacal mayor.

Other than that, I am looking for the same things everyone wants from government - good infrastructure, fire and police, and as little other involvement in my life as possible.

Start with the basics AND THEN STAY THERE!!!!

Police, Fire, Roads, etc, then stay out of the rest. Let private business take care of private business...

No more market places, hotels, apt buildings....

I do a lot of driving and I see plenty of you looking to get roads repaired, but where are you talking about? Being from Pittsburgh, Pa, the roads were really horrible. I mean potholes that could blow out a tire or do some real suspension damage. Here, I don't really see the horrible roads that Pittsburgh has. I'm not saying they are perfect, but I've seen worse.
I'd like to see the police department made over. Either put together a board or panel to oversee TPD and make changes. Whatever is going on, doesn't seem right.
Fire should also be a priority.
Definately no Erie Street Market projects, or hidden "shower" expenses.

Seriously? You must not get out of the rust belt much, because these roads seriously SUCK compared to other like-sized cities around the country.

Economic development.

Make it so that, when my kids grow up, they don't have to move away to be able to earn a living.

Our roads are bad, but not that bad for our city. If you want bad roads, visit New York or Detroit - that will teach you about bad roads when you can hit a pothole so bad it will flatten a tire. I have traveled and live in a number of cities....we bad mouth toledo worse than it really is.

Our roads could use some help, but its by no means that bad.

Believe it or not, Toledo has alot of potential and the ground works for a number of good possible developments have been laid. I have hopes. The recession has hit everyone, the ground works for a boom post-recession have been laid..it meerly is a matter of people taking advantage of such.

Buy me a margarita next time he's at El Camino

HAH, ohiokimono! We had 3 flats from potholes (in Toledo) last winter in a span of 2 weeks! And they were all nice new tires.

I lived in NYC before moving to the midwest and the roads weren't half as bad as they are here. The minute Toledo gets a mass transit system the likes of what New York has, I'll stop complaining ;).

In the 5 years I've lived here, the first thing I notice when traveling--which is far more than I care for--is how nice the roads are in other cities. I've got a pretty damn positive outlook on Toledo but that doesn't pull the wool over my eyes when looking at the dire states of our roads.

You must never go to Michigan. :)

Roads are way down on my list, unless it creates a schload of jobs.

Very true, outside the trek up to DTW.

1) Full audit of the city books and budget -- put it online.

2) Remove the living wage policy and union preference policy for contracts.

3) re-privitize ambulance and towing services, and the Erie St. Market.

4) Sell unused city buildings and real estate.

5) Require newly negotiated contracts to include: Heath care premium contributions and co-pays, and retirment system contribution by all city employees.

6) support/facilitate a change to the city manager system of government.

7) Police, Fire, Courts THEN garbage, storm drainage, roads and infrastructure.

Just some starts.

TAHL

Remove the trash tax.

Take back the steamplant and Marina district. Get the Anderson's to open a downtown market.

Good ideas mikey - does the city even work with the Andersons any more, I wonder? Jack Ford stopped getting supplies from them in favor of an out of town supplier because he thought the Andersons had too many white folks and not enough black folks workin' for em.

I like the idea of a down town market - privately run...

I love that idea as well. I would be a huge supporter if they brought a market downtown.

When Bell enters the 22nd floor office, I wonder if he'll ever make use of that $8,999 fitness room with shower that "you-know-who" had installed?

"Get the Anderson's to open a downtown market."

I don't understand how that's a role of government. I think The Andersons understands the Toledo area grocery market. If The Andersons thinks it's a worthwhile endeavor to open a market in downtown Toledo, then they'll open one like they did in Sylvania. I'm guessing stores like Monette's, Churchill's, Sofo Foods, Sautter's, Kazmaier's, and chains like The Fresh Market and Trader Joe's also know the Toledo market, including downtown.

Remember The Market on St. Clair located on West St. Clair St? It was a small, neighborhood market. It seemed like a good business idea to serve people living in the Warehouse District. But it only lasted two or three years, I think. Why did it close? Bad location? Too small? Items too expensive? No advertising? No name brand? Bad management?

it closed for several reasons and being over priced one definitely one of them

Like most failed businesses downtown, it closed due to mismanagement and a poor business model.

"Like most failed businesses downtown, it closed due to mismanagement and a poor business model"

You could say that about any business that fails.There are many examples and they are not all in downtown Toledo.Just look at the Southwyck area and also in Maumee.

I agree with jr that I don't think that it is the role of gov't to make sure that there is a grocery downtown.

That being said -- I'd like Bell to work on economic development. However, I don't think that he had any real plan for economic development. Hmm.

I have said often that a SAFE clean affordable market downtown is key to getting the younger professionals to live downtown. You have to be able to buy a half gallon of milk at 10pm on a weeknight, close by, for people to want to invest in condos or apartments in the city.

Could one survive? I don't know - they need business outside of lotto tickets and beer to stay open, and people need the market before they will move downtown and be customers. Kroger just left the downtown market for lack of profit, granted however, it wasn't on Summit st.

The revitalization of the Erie St. Market, Swan Creek area was a long shot - but a full scale development with a market might draw the type of investment by young couples and singles to make downtown viable. As of right now the light switch is turned off at 6pm downtown unless there is a baseball or hockey game.

TAHL

THE key? I'd say it is part of the set of keys, but not THE key.

I work for The Andersons, and a Downtown Market is not in any of our plans that I know of. Just an FYI to all of you Andersons Shoppers, we have several new buyers that have been adding new products across the store... so check out the store... not just our Grocery area... We're competitive priced and we have some great roots in this community... SHOP LOCAL! Thanks for all your support!

Michael Navaree has got to go. Like Nixon said; It's the man at the top. Navarre has lost the respect of most of the TPD officers that I have talked to....
Come on - five police killings in one year ?????

Mike Bell, I understand the wisdom of not making too many changes too soon....
Chief Wolever is a good choice, Michael Navarre is not.

I hope that in due time you will pick a Police Chief that understands gangs instead of denying their presence here in Toledo.

uhhh....I think Jack Smith is still available.

Jim from The Andersons, that's a shame because think of all the young professionals living Downtown and in the Old West End that would love to shop closer to home. My husband and I just got back from a trip to Costco and The Fresh Market and were talking about how lame it is that we have to drive all the way to Secor/Central for groceries. You would probably also get a lot of people from Point Place shopping downtown too...

they should close the andersons on woodville and move it downtown. that way both the east siders as well as central toledo residents can shop local and support a great company. :)

"My husband and I just got back from a trip to Costco and The Fresh Market ..."

The Fresh Market is a nice little grocery store. Why did the North Carolina owners choose Westgate over downtown Toledo or any other location in the area? Maybe it's because of the young and old professionals living in West Toledo, Ottawa Hills, and Sylvania Township.

Yeah, I suspect it's because of it's proximity to Ottawa Hills and Sylvania. You certainly couldnt expect a higher end place like Freshmarket to succeed in central Toledo, but something like the Andersons that offers much more value and variety could work out quite well. I can dream right? :)

The Andersons... a nice new Kroger... a Monettes... a very "value" oriented Trader Joes...

anything would be nice.

"The Andersons... a nice new Kroger... a Monettes... a very "value" oriented Trader Joes... anything would be nice."

Yes, it would be nice, but I assume those businesses are for-profit orgs, and I'm guessing they like to operate with some financial success. The fact that those local grocery market owners have not opened a store in downtown Toledo should indicate something.

And what about the Erie Street Market? That was "anything." It even contains the word "market."

Toledo Talk post: The Erie Street Market circa 2001-2002

About 10 years ago, the ESM was a vibrant, fun weekend market with some of the businesses operating during the week for at least a few days. I visited Messina's during the week as well as on the weekend in the ESM. Back then, I thought the ESM would evolve to be nearly as active on Mon-Fri as it was on the weekend with even more businesses and longer hours. So much for my prognostication abilities.

My suggestion now is to get a county-wide property tax levy on the ballot and convince people in Sylvania and Maumee and the rest of Toledo to cough up some green to fund a market in downtown Toledo.

"You would probably also get a lot of people from Point Place shopping downtown too..."

Monnettes has a market in Point Place.

Oct 30, 2009 - Toledo Talk - Monnettes is open in Point Place!

It would be tough to sell a county-wide property tax to the burbs for a market located downtown, certainly not in the current economic climate. Maybe when folks get back to work and feel better about their personal finances. Nice idea though.

First police and fire. The roads in Toledo are not that bad. I would like to see UT campus for law. Maybe even an ice skating rink in Promenade park next year.

jr, it certainly isn't a Toledo-specific problem we are talking about. Google "grocery locations in inner cities"...

but this is derailing and another thread for another time.

A few people have talked about a market downtown. There is one, the Farmers' Market. Pretty robust on Saturdays, not enough action to sustain it through the week, though. Chicken, beef, fruit, veg, bread, and more. Check it out.

"What can Bell do for you?"

Maybe less of this ...

Jan 27, 2010 - Toledo Blade - Bell raises pay of 2 top aides nearly 29 percent

Police and fire aren't going to allow any substantive cuts in their contracts. I think that it is best just to let things go until the state takes over the city. Then wholesale changes can be made to the contracts. The only danger might be that the present personnel we have might find better employment elsewhere. But if we want to see changes in the contracts that will only come about when the state takes over the running of the city. So Bell can do best just by sitting back, and letting the unions cause the state to take over.

"I think that it is best just to let things go until the state takes over the city."

Which state? Ohio? If so, how will that be an improvement? We should hold out for the state of unconsciousness.

Well, JR, the other option is to let the Mayor and council "negotiate" with the unions representing police, fire, and others paid through income tax. They have done so well in the past in that regard. Or you throw the contract to an arbitrator (and take your chances). I figure that those who do not like the results can move.

Well, JR, the other option is to let the Mayor and council "negotiate" with the unions representing police, fire, and others paid through income tax. They have done so well in the past in that regard. Or you throw the contract to an arbitrator (and take your chances). I figure that those who do not like the results can move.

"Regardless of the reason, the pay increase did not sit well with Dan Wagner, president of the "Toledo Police Patrolman's Association union. "That's not the only question my members have raised," Mr. Wagner said. The mayor raised 20 firefighter salaries by $10,000 to $15,000, and he is coming and asking us for cuts, but he has done things on the fire side that shows he is not minding his money," he said."

But, we also hired a new class of 40 firefighters that will save the city about 5 MILLION dollars in overtime...so my guess is that the FF needed these extra officers to be promoted because they brought in so many new 'footsoldiers'

Door St near UT should be rezoned for college friendly businesses. I.E. office supply stores, Ikea, bars, small resteraunts, college apparel. Get those kids from Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, and Indianapolis to spend some of mommy and daddy's money during the four years they're in town.

I heard that Bell said the Welcome to Toledo signs would be replaced without his name on them as they could get to them. In other words as workers worked in the area they would be included in the job. As far as the rest, the city needs to get out of the business of owning business's, Erie Street Market, City Pools, Ambulance Service, just some of the things that need to go. If they city can become self sufficient then they can add more services, until then they need to constrict back to the basic services call for in the city charter and not much else. Also with that constriction they need to cut back their taxes on business. Until a company or business can come to Toledo and make a profit your not gonna see any jobs. Government does not create jobs they only get the hell out of the way so business can.

I would like Mr. Bell to invite the Marines back to Toledo for their training.

MikeyA - Just wondering if the area has to be officially re-zoned? Do you mean make it more pedestrian friendly?

I think a Trader Joes would work downtown. It would be a “destination” store. Think of it this way; I live in Point Place, but if they built one in Monclova I would drive to it. I truly think that people would come downtown to shop Trader Joes. Well, at least the people that know how awesome that store is would. Great, now I want some Annies Mac n Cheese.

^I agree, I already drive to A2 for TJoes.