Welcome! This free speech community journal was created so the Maple Heights African American community could share videos, photos, events, articles, posts, ideas, thoughts, and information.  We're now exclusively on Facebook, so don't forget to also check out our Facebook page.  Have a fantastic day!



Showing posts with label CONTRACTORS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CONTRACTORS. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

BLACK HISTORY FACT: ON THIS DATE IN 1965, PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER 11246 WHICH ENFORCED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Post by Maple Heights African American Gazette.
No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

MAPLE HEIGHTS IGNORES KEY ISSUES REGARDING ITS RECENT DECISIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS



Why would a city open itself up to a potential litany of lawsuits and other legal problems when it is already in fiscal watch?
The use of traffic enforcement (such as red light and speed) cameras (in many cities and states)  is under fire for being unconstitutional.  In addition to, and at issue 1. where the cameras are used (in too many instances, predominantly poor and/or heavily minority areas)  2. the fact the registered car owner  (who may not be the driver) is cited  3. the appeal process (of appealing the traffic ticket)  4. Green Light Yellow Light Traps  5.  *Harm to the local economy  6. Photo radar/red light/speed cameras where the speed changes abruptly, and then 7. there's the issue with speed and red light camera errors [see also***] [and also ****]

And of course there's the  the whole safety vs revenue generation debate regarding the use of traffic enforcement cameras.

----                                           ---                                          ---

Side notes REGARDING BUSINESSES AND CONTRACTORS (LIKE PHOTO ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT COMPANIES) HIRED BY MAPLE HEIGHTS:
[Maple Heights is a predominantly African American city with predominantly African American taxpayers (who pay sales taxes, income taxes, property taxes).  Their money and other public (tax payer) monies go to hiring contractors, yet we see time and time again, African Americans being left out of the picture when it comes to hiring/training.  It is felt that contractors are predominantly of European ancestry, most  (it's) felt have no or very little" African American staff/workers, and (and it appears that) tend to get away with no insistence by city officials that the contractor show  minority paid participation/labor or the willingness to provide training to minorities.]  

Finally at issue is where private and public money circulates.  It has been proven that communities/cities, where money circulates within the community/city, do better financially.  Maple Heights has a high unemployment rate (9.8%), over burdened tax payers, not enough locally owned businesses, and  to have a lot of money flowing outside the city  is  detrimental to Maple Heights local economy.   [see: Related articles regarding money circulation below]
Unfortunately, it's felt that Maple Heights city council [and remember Maple Heights is under fiscal watch ] rarely if ever thinks  about  these facts  when making decisions about the disbursement of money.  Heck, do they even understand the principle of local money circulation?   


22 comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Saturday, December 14, 2013

PROBLEMS WITH OUTSOURCING AND PUBLIC MERGERS

Cities have turned to outsourcing  and mergers as a  panacea  to financial budget constraints  [a result of,  to some degree, poor  government policies and a lack of intelligent, creative urban planning].   Unfortunately, this has led to other problems; specifically, higher unemployment rates among the poor and "people of color". 
It's   bad enough (even insulting at times)  that predominantly African American communities are under-represented in the workforce (public and private), but increasingly devastating are the ongoing threats ... "outsourcing" and "public mergers".
Aside from the issue of a lack of minority contractors, does outsourcing release a city from regulations and laws designed to protect certain groups from being discriminated against in hiring? 
Are these private companies [that we've outsourced to] scrutinized for their hiring practices?  It shouldn't matter if you are public or private, if you are receiving tax payer dollars, public monies, you should be bound by the same state affirmative action programs, anti-discrimination laws, EEOC regulations, etc. [A word to the wise ... those cities who band together to use the same private company,  ... you better make damn sure those regulations and laws are being complied with.]  


African Americans need to take a look at  the companies their city contracts with. 


African Americans (esp. in  predominantly Black neighborhoods) also need to take a close look at:  who is delivering their mail and packages;  who is reading their gas and electric meters; who the cable guy is; who represents them; who teaches their children; ... Where I live, I see a lot of white males in these roles (with the exception of teachers who are mostly white females).
What is most alarming is that more and more Blacks (esp. Black males) are disappearing from the [full-time] workforce.  While this is alarming, it is not surprising.  The "system" has created problems (social, financial, political, legal, structural) that is unique, offensive, and devastating  to African Americans and other "people of color".  In the mix  [laws that give certain groups (dominated by whites)  an advantage,  our unjust legal/justice system, overcriminalization,  the for-profit prison system, and law enforcement (which is predominantly white and designed to act in one's own best  interests)  which has the power to completely destroy an individuals life], and you  get some understanding why Blacks and other "people of color"  have higher unemployment rates than other racial/ethnic groups.


It's high time we  address these issues, and also come up with intelligent and creative ways to insure that "people of color" are properly represented in every industry in the workforce.

RELATED:

Top 6 Outsourcing Disadvantages: Outsourcing Disadvantages: Reasons That Outsourcing is Bad for Your Company  By


How Employers Weed Out Unemployed Job Applicants .. 1/14/2011


Employment Law Outsourcing Checklist (Mar 2006)


What is White Supremacy?

Michelle Alexander at Riverside: New Jim Crow convict under-caste 

 
Police addicted to drug money: Column


[BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLER] Jonathan Ferrell: Supposed to Die?
3 comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, June 28, 2012

A COMPILATION OF SOME QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND OPINIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN RESIDENTS IN MAPLE HEIGHTS







There have been a number of questions, comments, complaints, and opinions made by residents in Maple Heights. A list of some of those questions/comments/opinions are listed below. Feel free to answer, add to, or comment on those questions and/or comments/opinions. (smile) It is doubtful you will get relevant/specific comments or answers from this administration or council representatives about these matters, but ask anyway. If you do get answers and/or comments, demand that they provide proof. Better still, give your representatives homework assignments. Tell them if they don't complete the assignment, they don't get your vote.


 When abandoned buildings were demolished, did we use city workers, or did we use outside contractors? If we used outside contractors, who were they, and what are the names of the owners of these companies? How many were minority contractors?







A comment: The city (at the mayor's request) recently increased fees and the cost of permits. What most people don't realize, those costs are passed on to us either directly, or through the contractor who wraps it into what he charges us to do the work.







Why has construction stopped at the school site on Raymond?







A comment: Real estate agents and government home buying workshops should be required to tell home buyers about what is expected of them when they buy a home (ex. upkeep of property, property taxes, adhering to city ordinances, etc). Real estate agents should be required (when they show a house) to present the city ordinances, so the buyer knows what is expected of him/her before buying a house.







How many auxiliary employees are in the police department? Are they all police officers?







A comment: Every public employee (which includes elected officials) should remember that their function is to protect and serve the residents in the city where they are employed. Their first duty is serving and protecting the residents. That means, if a city’s population is declining, and there is high unemployment, they should expect an adjustment (downward) in their pay and benefits. When the community is financially stable, public employee’s pay and benefits can be adjusted (upward).







List of projects Maple Heights has been involved in. Who were the contractors? What materials were purchased for these projects, and from whom were they purchased? How much did we pay these contractors, and where did the funds come from (tax payers, donations, grants, etc)?







Do we charge businesses/contractors any fees for doing business in Maple Heights. If yes, are all of them charged fees, and if not, why not? How are fees determined?







Do all the businesses in Maple Heights pay taxes to the city of Maple Heights? If some do and some don’t, who does and who doesn’t? At what rate are they taxed? Do they all pay the same tax rate?







List of businesses that contracted with the city of Maple Heights over the last 4 years?







List of minority owned businesses/ contractors used over the past 4 years?







A comment: All public records requests should be provided to the requester w/in 30 days without the mayor's approval.







What is the monthly salary or hourly wage, city of residence, job title, date of hire, and race of each city worker (broken down by department)?







Are African Americans denied information about the city, while Caucasians have no problem obtaining information?







Do all requests for information about the city have to go through the mayor?







Why are there so many miscellaneous categories in the budget, etc.?







How much do we pay in benefits to Maple Heights public employees (including elected officials)?







What is the totalhealth insurance premium for Maple Heights public employees? What percentage of the total do Maple Heights public employees pay?







How much interest do we pay to bondholders? How often are these interest payments made? When was the last payment made?







Is the affirmative action agreement (involving the police departments and schools) available online?
Update: Affirmative Action agreements (1) (2)







Where can we obtain a copy of that affirmative action agreement?
Update: Affirmative Action agreements (1) (2)







What is the job description of safety director, and why is it necessary to have one?







A comment: The position of safety director should be replaced with a civilian review board.







Number of foreclosures each year since 2007







A comment: Council should not be able to pass any resolution without first holding a public meeting/debate, and also having a citizen's advisory board review it.







A comment: We should pass a resolution and/or change charter making it mandatory that there be a special election held w/in 90 days of a council seat becoming vacant.







A number of people have expressed interest in community policing.







A comment: You should not be able to declare a council seat vacant for any reason.







What's the total cost for the 4th of July fireworks?







Do the people who work at the Food Pantry receive a wage, or are they just volunteers? They should receive a wage.







What is the city doing about the continuing problem of high home foreclosures?







A comment: This city should be reducing the salary of the mayor and council right now, and not after their term in office (call your council representative about a recent council resolution regarding the mayor's salary and their salary). Council salary will still be too high regardless of that resolution they passed. We have high unemployment among African Americans, more losses in population, and high, ongoing home foreclosures, and these politicians still fail to address the city's financial problems adequately.







A comment: This city is 73% African American. Name more than 1 African American department head  [Waller - who doesn't live in Maple Hts,  ...  Who  hired her? This mayor's record on diversity in leaderhip positions stinks. There are no African Americans in this mayor's inner circle, one in a leadership position and high-salaried position, and only 1 elected African American in council, the other African American in council was sought out and appointed by council (not the people in his district).







The mayor knew about state budget cuts to local municipalities in June 2011. Why wasn’t appropriate action taken then regarding salaries (esp. mayor’s salary), etc? Why didn’t council make a resolution last year to cut council members salaries and the mayor’s salary for the next four years or more?







What was so important about the state funds? What did those funds pay for? Maple Heights mayor blames state cuts on Maple Heights problems. Tell us why you needed those state funds.







What salary/benefits and other concessions were made last year and this year by each department? Name the individuals affected. %age African American affected?







A Comment: Cut council meetings to 1 day a month, and no council meetings in the summer month.







A Comment: The mayor should not use glossy newsletters.







Why aren’t council and mayor, etc. salaries being cut now?







Explain what a safety director does, and why does the mayor need that title?







Who okays salary increases? Who can order salary cuts?







What communities were hurt most by state budget cuts? Were they mostly communities of color?







A Comment: All out of town trips by public employees must be documented and approved by council or perhaps a citizen’s advisory board.




A Comment:  Mayor said: "Lansky said it was expected the city would spend $150,000 a year less in legal fees when compared with the prior administration."  Did we save money in legal fees?





A Comment and a Question: Linda Vopat hired a dance instructor to perform at the senior center.  Who is that person? What city does she reside in? Is she a Maple Heights government employee? How much was she paid (need to see checks written), and what were the financial arrangements made between the instructor and the city of Maple Heights?  How long is the contract for between the dance instructor and the city of Maple Heights?  Can anyone use a Maple Heights government facility (like the senior center) for profit making purposes?  Can a Maple Heights resident use a Maple Heights government facility (like the senior center) in order to make a profit? Can a Maple Heights resident use a Maple Heights government facility for social events? If yes to the last 3 questions, under what provisions and conditions, and what facilities are available?  Why is there so much secrecy surrounding the financial arrangements with this dance instructor?

Comment:
Council should not be able to call a council seat vacant "for any reason" (reasons should be clearly stated)

Comment:
A special election (within 60 days) should be required if a council seat becomes vacant and there is more than 12 months left in the term.



Information:  Ohio Sunshine law manual
4 comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)