I confess.
I hate election season.
Like some holidays, election season seems to start earlier and earlier each
year.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised…. not when local retailers start trotting out Christmas displays along with their Back-To-School shopping promotions.
I hate the annoying (and many times incomprehensible) robo-calls, the mailbox-congesting, over-sized glossy postcards, and yard signs promoting candidates who don’t even live in our city.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised…. not when local retailers start trotting out Christmas displays along with their Back-To-School shopping promotions.
I hate the annoying (and many times incomprehensible) robo-calls, the mailbox-congesting, over-sized glossy postcards, and yard signs promoting candidates who don’t even live in our city.
Most of all I hate the political game playing.
We’ve certainly seen our share of that in Highland Heights.
For some ego-driven politicians, winning isn’t sufficient.
For some ego-driven politicians, winning isn’t sufficient.
They have to win BIG to show the world (I guess) just how POWERFUL, IMPORTANT and ADMIRED they are.
They remind me of football coaches who, facing clearly over-matched opponents, refuse
to put in their 4th string and opt to run up the score instead.
To all that I say:
To all that I say:
Bah Humbug!
THE MAYORAL RACE
It’s hard to notice, but there’s a mayoral race in Highland Heights this year.
At least that’s what the official ballot shows.
It’s hard to notice, but there’s a mayoral race in Highland Heights this year.
At least that’s what the official ballot shows.
If signs count, Mayor Scott Coleman has already won the race.
Coleman, who has an extensive war chest, has papered the city with red-white-and
blue (of course) re-election signs.
You’d think there was an actual contest going on…and that Coleman was fighting for his political life.
He’s not.
On October 7th, NEOMG reporter Sara Dorn posted a story,
detailing the mayoral candidates’ endorsement interview.
http://www.cleveland.com/hillcrest/index.ssf/2015/10/highland_heights_mayoral_candi_1.html\
http://www.cleveland.com/hillcrest/index.ssf/2015/10/highland_heights_mayoral_candi_1.html\
Photo by Cleveland.com
Coleman’s opponent, Mike Calabrese, is a sincere and well-intentioned libertarian who
apparently embraces a no government, every-man-for-himself philosophy.
Dorn reports:
Dorn reports:
“Calabrese said he is miffed by ordinances that regulate backyard fires and prohibit residents from parking vehicles with signage in their driveways.,,, (and) claims city officials violate citizens' Fourth Amendment rights, which protect from unlawful search and seizure, when they enforce residential ordinances …“
Who needs ordinances?
Let chaos reign!
Zoning ordinances and other “quality of life” regulations are
part and parcel of living in an upscale suburban community like Highland
Heights.
Residents give up a little bit of personal freedom to benefit their neighbors and for the good of the community at large.
Yet some people…..Calabrese and, come to think of it, maybe the Rutland Drive pool owners with the monstrous, over-sized deck as well--- apparently think they should be entitled to the benefits of living in our wonderful city without having to live by its rules.
Residents give up a little bit of personal freedom to benefit their neighbors and for the good of the community at large.
Yet some people…..Calabrese and, come to think of it, maybe the Rutland Drive pool owners with the monstrous, over-sized deck as well--- apparently think they should be entitled to the benefits of living in our wonderful city without having to live by its rules.
The kind of “constitutional republic” Calabrese envisions for our community already exists elsewhere.
There are places in this country (Texas, for example) that don’t have any
zoning laws.
Property owners can do whatever they like on and to their property, without regard to the impact their actions might have on others.
Which makes me wonder:
Property owners can do whatever they like on and to their property, without regard to the impact their actions might have on others.
Which makes me wonder:
Might Calabrese be happier (and more successful) running for mayor there?
RUTLAND DECK DISPUTE: POLITICAL GAME PLAYING?
The dispute over the monstrous, free-standing deck that
Rutland Drive residents installed 11 feet from their rear property line began
in May of 2014.
Since that time, two administrative hearings have been held and a lawsuit has been filed.
The City---with Council’s blessing---is fighting the suit tooth-and-nail.
Leaving Highland Heights taxpayers to foot the legal bill…again.
Law Director Tim Paluf and the Rutland Drive residents’ attorney have already filed several motions.
They asked the court to dismiss the case and to throw out the evidence that the aggrieved neighbors filed to supplement the sparse "official" record that the city filed with the court.
Since that time, two administrative hearings have been held and a lawsuit has been filed.
The City---with Council’s blessing---is fighting the suit tooth-and-nail.
Leaving Highland Heights taxpayers to foot the legal bill…again.
Law Director Tim Paluf and the Rutland Drive residents’ attorney have already filed several motions.
They asked the court to dismiss the case and to throw out the evidence that the aggrieved neighbors filed to supplement the sparse "official" record that the city filed with the court.
The trial judge told them no.
He wants to look at all of the evidence
and decide the case on the merits.
On August 31st, the judge set a briefing schedule.
On August 31st, the judge set a briefing schedule.
After all this time and all the prior proceedings, it should be abundantly clear to everyone involved what the legal and factual issues are.
The parties should be well-prepared to present the court with their written
arguments.
The neighbors’ attorney filed his brief on time on September 25th.
Paluf and the Rutland Drive residents’ attorney were ordered to file their responsive briefs on October 9th.
Instead of filing a brief, Paluf filed a motion on October 7th seeking an “extension of time”.
How long an extension did he seek?
The neighbors’ attorney filed his brief on time on September 25th.
Paluf and the Rutland Drive residents’ attorney were ordered to file their responsive briefs on October 9th.
Instead of filing a brief, Paluf filed a motion on October 7th seeking an “extension of time”.
How long an extension did he seek?
Long enough to guarantee that a decision won’t be rendered in the lawsuit until after the November 3rd election.
Paluf wants to wait until October 26th to file his brief…which will
push the entire legal process well into November.
Paluf’s excuse for needing more time?
“..absence from (his) office and professional calendar..”
and
”…the extensive filing by the Appellants in the application of Ohio Rev. Code Section 2506 on appeal..”
Was he visiting his Florida pad..is that why he was “absent” from his office?
Paluf doesn’t say.
But it’s a bad sign for the City if---at this late date---Paluf is actually surprised by either the evidence or the legal issues in this case.
FOLLOWUP: HERITAGE HOMES POSTCARD
My last blog included a picture of a postcard sent out by the Cleveland Restoration Society, which declared that the Heritage Home Program was being operated “in partnership with Mayor Coleman”.
My last blog included a picture of a postcard sent out by the Cleveland Restoration Society, which declared that the Heritage Home Program was being operated “in partnership with Mayor Coleman”.
I wondered: was it intended---implicitly or explicitly---as a political endorsement?
“We are not affiliated with any political party and do offer endorsements to candidates. The wording of partnership with the mayors on our postcards simply refers to the fact that the mayor’s and councilman of participating communities are often involved with the decision for the city to participate in the program.”I pointed out to Flowers that local politics can be tricky and that, in singling out a mayor by name, there was a chance his group might slight and offend other officials who were, in fact, the Program’s biggest boosters.
Flowers responded:
“…we do not offer endorsements to candidates and we do not get involved in local politics…We do two mailing every year regardless of the timing of political elections…”So...what the Program representative says:
They don’t get involved in local politics or offer candidate endorsements and they acknowledge that both mayors and councilmembers are often involved in making the decision as to a city’s participation in the programWhat the program actually does:
Send out a postcard, during election season, naming and spotlighting (only) the mayor---by name---as a Program “partner”What do you think?
Is this Obliviousness? Political Naiveté?.... Or something else?
