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Sunday, October 14, 2012

RENEWAL OF TAX LEVY FOR PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND THE ISSUE OF NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING

No matter how this election turns out, I think the residents in Maple Heights (and especially African American residents) will get the short end of the stick.  Millions of dollars pour out of Maple Heights to non-residents on a regular basis.  ... Yep, I said millions.  While homeowners (residents) are losing their homes and jobs, a lot of money is being outsourced to non-residents.
 
Full time Maple Heights government employees who are non-residents are sucking up too much of our community dollars.  A lot of our money, instead of circulating within the city (creating a healthy vibrant community), flows out of Maple Heights. 
 
We need more neighborhood policing (and that probably means using our auxiliary police).  I want most of my money going to members of the police force who actually live in Maple Heights, and I want my money used for neighborhood policing. 
 
[Addressed to protective service employees] Get out of your squad cars and walk through the neighborhoods and get to know the residents.  After all, isn't your job "to protect and serve" (emphasis on "serve")? 
 
In my opinion, if our leadership (and that includes the leadership in protective services) is not taking the necessary steps to insure that a significant amount of our "protective services" monies is directed towards community/neighborhood policing, and  goes to  employees of  protective services departments who are residents (esp. of the auxiliary police) for neighborhood policing, then that leadership needs to step down, and if necessary, voted out of office.
 
Elaine Stone

PS: Everyone, I thank you for hanging in with me.  I started a mission of obtaining public documents (and public information) to confirm certain suspicions I had regarding the governance of Maple Heights. 

I took it (and take it) seriously when folks urged me to be careful, that I might be putting myself in harms way by asking questions.   

While on that mission, I had a very pressing health matter that took me off course.  I'm still not fully recovered; however, no matter what rosy picture is being painted by this administration, I have been able to expose why all is not rosy in Maple Heights; and I am getting closer and closer to the truth.  I think this administration thinks they've stopped me from gaining access to those public documents, and stopped me from asking relevant questions.  Make sure you see the law director's email regarding Linda Vopat and also affirmative action agreements. (see my Requests ) / and do read related articles below.

The only way to fight injustice and incompetence, and possible corruption, is to expose it. .....  But to expose it,  you need full transparency, you need undeniable proof.   
 
Always read the comments because I find them fascinating.

If you want the Maple Heights African American Gazette to post your comments, just call or email or hand them to MHAAG to post for you.  They'll make sure it's anonymous.


Update:

Wealth Gap Among Races Has Widened Since Recession, April 28, 2013


Related:
 
 
Use of Arbitration with Community Policing 
 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Saw this on one of the Human Resource - Criminal Justice websites:

CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFICERS
What are the most desirable characteristics of community police officers? In community policing, officers are called upon to be particularly thoughtful, creative problem solvers. They are asked to listen to the concerns of community members, to logically reason out the roots of problems, to identify and research potential answers, to implement solutions, and to assess results.
Education: Preliminary findings suggest that police officers with some exposure to college education have an advantage in performing these tasks. Higher education can provide a framework for the particular tasks associated with community policing, as well as help develop research and reasoning abilities.
Personality: Most importantly, officers who are ethical and responsible are sought for community policing posts. People with a record of using good judgement in their discretionary decisions, while abiding by the þdo no harmþ ethical credo, are good candidates.
In addition, the ability to communicate effectively is crucial for community police officers. They must establish rapport with diverse groups in order to resolve problems and disputes. The most important communication skills are an even temper, empathy, helpfulness, and a positive outlook.

TRAINING
Unlike some policing tasks like criminal investigation or traffic enforcement, community policing tasks may vary greatly among jurisdictions. As a result, training needs are also varied. Topics which may be relevant to training include:

Communication skills
Logic and deductive reasoning
Applying creative ideas and using discretion
Information about community resources, bureaucratic structures, and making referrals
Special knowledgeþ training (e.g., building and health and safety codes)
Community organization and motivation
Negotiation skills

Anonymous said...

Does that new Black cadet that was sworn in, live in Maple Heights?
Great to know we now have .. What? 2 Blacks out of 40 full time cops. Whoopee!

These politicians are something else. They talk about projects, and projects are nice.. but they’re totally relying on one thing. That thing is that you won't examine the money source for these projects (federal, state, county), what is required when u get that money, to whom it is to be dispersed and how, the bidding process, and the contractors who get paid. If you try to find out, and they don't like the person doing the asking, road blocks go up all over the place.
[If they've created road blocks, they need to be rooted from office].

Chances are those millions they got from grants, etc. never got into your pocket or your neighbor's pocket. Chances are those millions went to people who don't own a business in Maple Heights and don't live in Maple Heights.

If I was investigating fraud and corruption in Maple Heights government, I would follow the money.

Career politicians are masters at deception, and they use placement of stories and photos, use of picture opps, and overblown events to manipulate the public. Lot of smoke and mirrors.

Career politicians look at all the stuff that is written about them, and try to counter with things meant to distract from really serious problems. Looking at the most recent newsletter coming out of Maple Heights, there's a whole bunch of manipulating going on. Note the use of expensive glossy paper, and color. Someone has gotten themselves some good PR and marketing goobers.

Guys, I think this mayor thinks you’re stupid (and maybe a lot of you are). How many of you residents have worked on these projects, received valuable training via these projects? How much money did you personally make with the millions of dollars that came from grants, etc?


My guess, he got a Black cadet because he was under fire regarding complying w affirmative action agreements, and outright accusations of racism.

But what really irks me is these people love to pay non residents a boat load of money, while residents can barely hang on financially, and residents let them. How insane is that?

Anonymous said...

Regarding the recent Maple Heights newsletter:

Oh yeah, ask Keenan to give you a list of every Maple Heights graduate since he became superintendent, and you tell him to track down each and every one of them, to see how well they are doing now, and then report back to you. He should know this stuff .. Right? How else do you judge your effectiveness if you don't have a results oriented model?


Just because some career politician (who probably wouldn't know what to do if he lost his public job) tells you someone is great, doesn't make it so.

An award doesn't make you great. Tangible, authentic, relevant, positive, long term results do.


Why are we so eager to believe a politician that keeps trying to distract by making some stupid, pointless remarks about partisan politics? This is about the money. Who has it and who doesn't, and why.


Maple Heights population went from 26,000 to 23,000 during this mayor’s term in office.


Mayor states "Charlie Keenan .. serves ... not to advance his personal ambitions" .. Spoken like a true politician.

Heard Charlie Keenan refused to take a pay cut, while a whole bunch of teachers had to suffer with cuts.

And give me specific examples of all this opportunity and prosperity. Start with telling me where all the graduates are, how all of them are doing; and if they are doing well, did they come back to Maple Heights. [And he should know because some organization made him "Superintendent of the Year".]

And ask that man about that big lot where Raymond Elementary school used to be, and why it seems all the elementary schools (for those little kids) are on the predominantly white side of town?


This mayor and his cronies keep talking about partisan politics, probably because they’re the ones practicing partisan politics.

Give me a break, most people can't stand either political party and definitely not career politicians.

These career politicians get back in because they're either masters at manipulation and/or doing whatever it takes to win. Most of them don't have a clue how to create vibrant communities.

And oh yeah, ... The tax levy is not really the issue, it's what you do with the money. Put the damn money into community policing using auxiliary police. Keep the money in Maple Heights and in Maple Heights resident’s pockets.

Anonymous said...

And did u see that bit about "Police Department Award".
& "Message From the Fire Prevention Bureau", and that well placed picture of the Black cadet, and lieutenant next to that box with information on the Tax Levy.

Yeah, they've hired some marketing goobers.

But they might also be trying to play down a credible rumor that 4 to 5 police officers got out of their squad cars at Wendys around 10pm (sometime this summer) to surround a senior citizen's car because she requested information from public documents regarding government employees (title, residence, salary, ethnic code, etc) Thank God the woman was not hurt by these bullies. They should be fired, and the DOJ or FBI brought in to investigate the entire police department.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the previous comment.

One reason we should not say agree to that levy. Why would we want to fund a police department that has thugs.

My question ... who put them up to this? The mayor, police chief? Who?

Scary that we've got this kind of government in Maple Hts.

Anonymous said...

Saw that newsletter: Blacks in Maple Heights always fall for the flim/flam.

Boy does this mayor and his cronies have a bunch of folks in Maple Heights fooled. Playing nice for the time being ... but watch out!

Thugs and bullies remain thugs and bullies.

Very scary! Fitting for this time of the year, don't you think? Halloween and all ... Unfortunately, they're for real

Anonymous said...

YES, THAT NEWSLETTER ...


THERE ARE WAYS TO DISTRACT PEOPLE WHEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE LEAVING A COMMUNITY AND GOING TO NON RESIDENTS, ALL WHILE RESIDENTS ARE LOSING THEIR HOMES AND JOBS, AND THE TAX BASE IS DECLINING, AS WELL AS THE # OF CHILDREN IN THOSE SHINY NEW SCHOOLS THAT COST HOMEOWNERS $50MILL. /I DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF IT'S ONLY HALF OF THE TOTAL COST. HELL, IT'S $50MILL - AND REMEMBER HOMEOWNER, U ARE ON THE HOOK TO MAKE THOSE BOND PAYMENTS EVEN IF THERE'S ONLY 100 HOMEOWNERS LEFT IN THE CITY- NOBODY TELLS U THAT;


[AGAIN, UNDER MAYOR LANSKY .. POPULATION DECLINED FROM 26,000 IN 2008 TO 23,000 [WHEN THE CENSUS WAS TAKEN IN 2010]. WOW! AND FOLKS ARE STILL LEAVING MAPLE HEIGHTS.]



OKAY, BACK TO HOW TO DISTRACT:

1. START GIVING OUT AWARDS AND PLAQUES, AND CRUMBS OFF THE TABLE.
PUMPKIN PARTIES, AND THINGS THAT DON'T REALLY COST MUCH OR ARE DONATED .. OR THE RESIDENT IS ACTUALLY PICKING UP THE TAB.



2. MAKE SURE SOMEONE IS NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD, RECEIVES SOME GIFT CARDS, (REMEMBER THESE ARE ALL TRINKETS COMPARED TO THE MILLIONS GOING TO NON RESIDENTS/ CONTRACTORS)



3. HIRE A MARKETING AND PR EXPERT TO PROMOTE YOU AND YOUR AGENDA (IT'S ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS, BUT VERY EFFECTIVE IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN BE EASILY MANIPULATED).



THIS MARKETING AND/OR PR EXPERT MUST BE GOOD AT CRAWLING THE INTERNET FOR TAGS THAT SAY MAPLE HEIGHTS, MAYOR LANSKY, ANYTHING GERMANE TO MAPLE HEIGHTS ...
IF THEY SEE SOMETHING NEGATIVE ABOUT THE POLITICIAN OR CITY, THE EXPERT OR WHOEVER IS ASSIGNED THE TASK, MUST DO DAMAGE CONTROL.



ONE EXAMPLE OF DOING DAMAGE CONTROL: GET SOMEONE TO BESTOW SOME HONOR ON THE POLITICIAN, OR PLEDGE MONEY SO THE POLITICIAN CAN RECEIVE AN HONOR.



OR GIVE A PLAGUE OR GIFT CARDS, OR A CAKE .. TO SOME INFLUENTIAL BLACK PERSON WHO CAN GET OUT THE BLACK VOTE, WHO, OF COURSE, DOESN'T LIVE IN MAPLE HEIGHTS.



THESE GUYS SPEND THEIR ENTIRE CAREER MANIPULATING THE PUBLIC, UNTIL ONE DAY RESIDENTS WAKE UP AND THEIR CITY HAS BEEN DRAINED DRY.



YES, IT'S NICE TO HAVE (FOR EXAMPLE) A FOOD PANTRY; BUT IF YOU GAVE RESIDENTS A CHOICE, OF EITHER HAVING MONEY IN THEIR POCKET OR PACKAGED OR CANNED FOOD, I BET THEY'D OPT FOR THE MONEY.


YOU SHOULD WANT POLITICIANS WHO CAN PUT MONEY IN YOUR POCKET, WHO WILL ADOPT POLICIES TO HELP YOU BECOME FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT, NOT DEPENDENT, AND HAVE U KNEELING AT THEIR FEET SAYING "OH THANK U MASSA FOR THOSE CRUMBS U GAVE ME"


THERE ARE CAREER POLITICIANS WHO ARE TRULY ALTRUISTIC, DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO HAVE GREAT IDEAS TO CREATE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, BUT THEY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. BERNIE SANDERS COMES TO MIND AS BEING A TRULY ALTRUISTIC AND DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT WHO IS FOCUSED ON VIBRANCY.


A DEAD GIVEWAY THAT YOU ARE NOT DEALING WITH AN ALTRUISTIC CAREER POLITICIAN:


WHEN HE ATTEMPTS TO SMEAR A GOOD WOMAN'S CHARACTER AND NAME, WHEN YOUR RIGHTS ARE TAKEN FROM YOU, OR ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION IS BLOCKED, OR YOU ARE DEMEANED BY THIS POLITICIAN IN SOME WAY, OR IGNORED AND NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY, OR YOU ARE TREATED LIKE SOME LOW LIFE PEON OR EMPLOYEE, OR YOU'RE BULLIED, THREATENED WITH LAWSUITS, OR THUGS FOLLOW U AROUND (WHAT'S REALLY SCARY ARE THUGS WHO ENDORSE THAT CAREER POLITICIAN), OR WORSE.

Anonymous said...

What you need to understand about your mayor:

If there are any Blacks around him, they will be hand-picked and in a subordinate position, because he is about the business of keeping the African Americans in Maple Heights in check (even though they pay his salary).

One of the ways he does it, is thru the use of the police force.

Blacks in Maple Heights will continue to get crumbs off the table under his rule, and for that fact anyone who lives in Maple Heights will get crumbs off the table under his rule.

The majority of the money has and will continue to go to white contractors and the ridiculous number of white government employees who reside outside Maple Heights.

That whole farce surrounding those schools. He and Keenan's legacy that sealed the deal for millions of dollars to go to white contractors, while black and white Maple Heights homeowners lost their homes to foreclosure, and unemployment among Maple Heights residents (esp blacks in Maple Hts) climbed.

The word that comes to mind when I think of your mayor is "bamboozled". The blacks and whites in Maple Heights have been bamboozled.

What's sad is that there are thousands of these guys governing cities throughout the US, and it is most unfortunate that they are most insidious in areas where blacks are in the majority.

I wish you guys well.

Anonymous said...

But Elaine,

The mayor gave us recycle bags, and that minister (who doesn't live in Maple Heights, but has his church in Maple Hts) got a "Maple Heights Citizen of the Year" plaque (gee, I wonder how much that plaque cost - millions?).

Girlfriend, this mayor is racking up brownie points.

Anonymous said...

So much for no tax levies or tax increases.

December 19, 2012 Council Meeting

"COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilwoman Toni Jones, Chairwoman of the Finance Committee presented the minutes of the
meeting held on November 26, 2012 at City Hall. Councilwoman Jones stated that the entire
Council attended along with Mayor Lansky, Linda Vopat, and the Police and Fire Chiefs.
Councilwoman Jones stated that the Committee discussed various ways to increase revenue and
decrease expenditures of the City with possible levies and tax increases to retain fiscal stability
and to keep the City operating at the level that the residents expect."

http://mapleheights.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf/minutes/121912-Minutes-CouncilMtg.pdf