Maple Heights Residents Meet to Voice Concerns About Their Local Government_January 3, 2012

Yesterday was the first meeting of Maple Heights residents who are up in arms about what the Mayor, Members of Council, and the law director are doing in regards to them picking District 5's council representative, instead of the voter's in District 5.  They say it's legal, ... we say it's unconstitutional, and it's unjust.  See previous post & remember, Jim Crow Laws were also legal.

Our esteemed and gracious (Ohio) State Senator Nina Turner honored us with her presence at the meeting.  Senator Turner delivered a powerful message that we all needed to hear. 

Considering we had bad weather and a holiday weekend, we were happy to see that there are still  people who care about their city, and they were more than willing to sign hard (paper) petitions. (Again see previous post)

Maple Heights Residents (& 1 Cleveland resident) Paper petition signers (addresses are private):

  Theresa Smith

  Essie Cloud

  Alphonso Bostick

  Edward Sankey

  Yvonne Stoudenmire

  Sandra Jackson

  Alonzo Sistrunk

  Mareia Colley

  Carolyn Gamble

  Derrick Whatley

  Judy Knight

  Beverly Crawford

  Kenneth Pierson

  Ruthie Benson

  LueJessie Williams

  Adriane Williams

  Pamela Dawson

  David Dawson

  Charlene Hayden

  Doris Hendrix

  George Hayden

  Aurelia Ray

  Leonard Ray

  Renata Matthews

  Eddie Hullum

  James Ford

  Angela Robinson

  Anthony Robinson

  Gaylord Hayden

  Elizabeth Pritchard

  Elayne Barnes

  Maurice Wilson

  James Evans

  Charlie Hendrix

  Sharon A. Oliver

  Fred A. Oliver

  Catherine Board

  Grayland E. Smith Jr 

We will continue taking signatures online along with paper petitions.

If you haven't already signed our voting rights petition, please do so now:
Stop This City Council From Trampling on Our Voting Rights

or Martin Luther King Would Be Outraged and You Should Be Too!

or you can sign one of our paper petitions - just call 216.202.4083, or email us at mhaagazette@gmail.com  and tell us you want to sign a paper petition.

Those in attendance also had issues related to distribution of monies regarding the railroad settlement fund.

People in attendance were also not aware that Maple Heights department heads, the administration, law director, finance director, (those who hold leadership, high salaries, & positions of power) were with rare exception, Caucasian.  In addition, there has never been an African American fire fighter in Maple Heights, and the police department's record for hiring minorities (as police officers) has been almost as dismal.  For a city of 70+% minority, people were very upset when they learned these facts. 

[Percentage of Maple Heights residents living in poverty in 2009: 13.2%(8.7% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 15.7% for Black residents, 13.3% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 0.0% for American Indian residents, 0.0% for other race residents, 24.1% for two or more races residents)]

Got a question: Why is the Mayor touting that we have a population of over 26,000 people, when the 2010 census said 23,138? [Update 7/2012: mayor finally corrected population figure]

Among those present, were our strong beautiful African American women who have never given up trying to bring justice and equality to Maple Heights.   Those women are:  Neomia Mitchell, Dee Price, Edwina Agee ... we love them and thank them for their service and dedication.  

We also want to embrace and encourage Aaron Mitchell, who is doing some great things for the youth in our community.  He is an awesome leader.

We are urging every resident to attend Maple Heights City Council meeting January 18th (7pm, Maple Heights Senior Center).  We'd also love for you to quietly sit in caucus (6:30pm) at the Maple Heights Senior Center (next to the Maple Heights Library).

Remember, government serves you.   You are the employers of those who serve you.   NEVER FORGET THAT!

If you have any questions or concerns, please email us:  jadeisnumbr1@live.com

We'll be holding meetings on a regular basis so those who are interested in their government, can become familiar with their government, and find out how they can affect positive change in their own lives, and the  Maple Heights community.  (CHECK THE CALENDAR PAGE FOR THOSE TIMES, AND OTHER EVENTS)