UPCOMING ELECTIONS
“Vote for me” signs are sprouting on lawns like dandelions
in the spring.
It must be election time.
I prefer voting by mail.
I pour myself a cup of coffee and leisurely fill in all
those silly ovals.
Unlike last year, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections won’t be sending
out vote-by-mail applications to voters. You will have to get your own
application and send it in to the BOE. You can pick up an application at the library or print one out by going online to the BOE’s website:
I have to wonder:
In this techno era, why does the Cuyahoga County Board of
Elections still follow a two-step, double postage process?
Wouldn’t it be great to be able to apply online and get a ballot sent lickity-split?
Well I never said I wasn’t a dreamer….
I don’t know about you, but I’m always happy to see lots of
residents running for Council.
It’s nice to have choices.
Of course some choices are more real----and some candidates
more serious---than others.
Next month residents will have 4 candidates to choose from
for 3 Council-at-Large seats.
Sean Milroy is the new face in the crowd in that race. The rest are incumbents.
Milroy is a working engineer. Infrastructure is near and
dear to his heart.
While he might not be widely known throughout the city, he isn’t a Johnny-come-lately.
While he might not be widely known throughout the city, he isn’t a Johnny-come-lately.
Milroy has been a regular Council meeting attendee for
several years.
He also serves as a Mayor Scott Coleman appointee to the city’s Zoning Appeals Board.
He also serves as a Mayor Scott Coleman appointee to the city’s Zoning Appeals Board.
The only other new name on the ballot belongs to Rose Burrello-Gype,
who is challenging incumbent Councilman Bob Mastrangelo for the Ward 3 seat.
I’ve spotted Burrello-Gype at a couple of Council meetings since throwing her hat into the ring, but she hasn’t necessarily stayed the whole time.
She left early last week after Council went into a brief executive session prior to voting to approve a labor contract with Service Department workers.
I’ve spotted Burrello-Gype at a couple of Council meetings since throwing her hat into the ring, but she hasn’t necessarily stayed the whole time.
She left early last week after Council went into a brief executive session prior to voting to approve a labor contract with Service Department workers.
Burrello-Gype's campaign literature indicates that her main interest has
been---and continues to be---the Mayfield Schools.
Why the sudden interest in city politics?
I really couldn’t tell you.
But according to her flyer she wants:
“To continue my visibility within our community and interaction with residents” (emphasis added)
She also wants to:
“Ensure that parks and recreation programs meet the needs of our residents”
Whatever the heck that means.
So there you have it. Those are the new faces this time
around.
The choice of candidates is yours….just vote!
SHOPPES AT BRAINARD CROSSING
Developer Lance Osborne has his anchor tenant, economic
development money and tax abatement deal.
That means the Catalano’s grocery store property will
(finally) be redeveloped--without a mega GetGo gas station.
Like most residents I say:
Halleluiah!
It’s been a loooong time coming.
I still think Council has a lot of ‘splaining to do with
regard to how they handled the $800,000 development and tax abatement deals.
Residents were kept in the dark and shut out of the
discussion.
Why do that----unless you’ve got some ulterior motive or something to hide?
Interestingly, it was not just residents kept in the dark about the tax abatement.
Why do that----unless you’ve got some ulterior motive or something to hide?
Interestingly, it was not just residents kept in the dark about the tax abatement.
At least one Council member was surprised to hear Osborne and Council President Cathy Murphy publicly insist that tax breaks were “always” part of the deal.
Not according to that Council member.
It appears that not only was important information about the deal kept from residents, it might have been kept from selected Council members as well.
Residents were very anxious to see the city become more
actively involved in getting the Catalano’s parcel developed in a
zoning-compatible matter.
That task, of course, fell to the city’s Chief Executive
Officer, Mayor Scott Coleman.
Residents sometimes get confused about roles.
Although Council may have approved the economic development package, it didn’t put the package together.
Residents sometimes get confused about roles.
Although Council may have approved the economic development package, it didn’t put the package together.
That duty fell to Coleman and his designee: Law Director Tim
Paluf.
Unfortunately the fact that he works in the corporate tax field doesn’t necessarily mean that Coleman is an astute business negotiator.
The economic development package means that residents will end up paying (out of the city purse) almost a quarter of the total purchase/redevelopment costs.
Ironically, too, the tax abatement deal appears to include tax abatement on that public money---not just Osborne’s private investment.
City Finance Director Joe Philippo recently told Council that he estimates that the city will reap about
$15,800 in income tax revenue per year from Fitworks.
Based on that figure, it will take the city over 50 years to recoup its investment.
No doubt Osborne claimed during the negotiations that he couldn’t do the deal without significant
public largesse.
That's an argument I'd make.... Wouldn't you?
Some due diligence might have separated out the smoke from the fire…
Some due diligence might have separated out the smoke from the fire…
Was the redevelopment really in jeopardy, especially given that the anchor tenant had apparently been pursing Osborne for years, seeking to move into the city?
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| Finance Director Filippo's Tax Abatement Analysis Presented at the Oct. 1st Council Committee Mtg |
