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Showing posts with label PETITIONS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PETITIONS. Show all posts
Monday, December 22, 2014
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
MAPLE HEIGHTS IGNORES KEY ISSUES REGARDING ITS RECENT DECISIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS
According to the Maple Heights News, senior housing development and speed cameras will be coming to Maple Heights.
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?
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?
RELATED:
Traffic enforcement camera [Wiki]
Cleveland traffic camera case hits red light at Ohio Supreme Court while similar case is decided
Ohio Supreme Court to hear case on traffic cameras Wednesday
Ruling on traffic cameras rejects suit claiming they are saturated in black, poor neighborhoods (REJECTED FOR IMPROPER FILING NOT ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE), July 8, 2014
Are traffic cameras unconstitutional? Editorial Board Roundtable April 10, 2014 - great comments
*COUNTERPOINT: Proposed expansion of speed camera use in Illinois
NMA Objections To Red Light Cameras
***The New Miami Traffic Cameras: Sending over $1 million dollars to Optotraffic LLC of Lanham, Md.
****Surveillance systems warrant careful research March 17 2013
Cheverly Replaces OptoTraffic Speed Cameras January 19, 2012
AAA Clashes with City, Optotraffic Over Speed Cameras [2011]
Red-light cameras leaving a bad taste: Editorial March 28, 2014
Ruling on traffic cameras rejects suit claiming they are saturated in black, poor neighborhoods (REJECTED FOR IMPROPER FILING NOT ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE), July 8, 2014
Are traffic cameras unconstitutional? Editorial Board Roundtable April 10, 2014 - great comments
*COUNTERPOINT: Proposed expansion of speed camera use in Illinois
NMA Objections To Red Light Cameras
***The New Miami Traffic Cameras: Sending over $1 million dollars to Optotraffic LLC of Lanham, Md.
****Surveillance systems warrant careful research March 17 2013
Cheverly Replaces OptoTraffic Speed Cameras January 19, 2012
AAA Clashes with City, Optotraffic Over Speed Cameras [2011]
Red-light cameras leaving a bad taste: Editorial March 28, 2014
Judge raises issues with speed camera citation enforcement
The Arguments Against Red Light Cameras
Red light camera traps: Does science prove our yellow lights are too short?
Palm Coast Getting Fleeced of Red-Light Camera Dollars, Harming Local Economy Nov 1, 2013
The Arguments Against Red Light Cameras
Red light camera traps: Does science prove our yellow lights are too short?
Palm Coast Getting Fleeced of Red-Light Camera Dollars, Harming Local Economy Nov 1, 2013
Black Wall Street
Related articles regarding money circulation (something Maple Heights does not do and one reason why this city is in financial trouble):
Black buying power increases, but circulation of dollar within community remains low Nov 30, 2011
'Money is like blood – it needs to circulate for local economies to survive' Feb 20, 2013
Buying Local: How It Boosts the Economy June 11, 2009
Group Economics
Where you spend your money is important | Business Connections July 29, 2013
Black Wall Street
Durham's "Black Wall Street"
Taking Care of Business by Lee Jenkins
Why local money flows matter
New Study: Spending locally generates four times more economic benefit Sept 3, 2012
Know Your Worth: If We Don't Know, We Can't Grow Our Community Sept. 24, 2012
Related articles regarding money circulation (something Maple Heights does not do and one reason why this city is in financial trouble):
Black buying power increases, but circulation of dollar within community remains low Nov 30, 2011
'Money is like blood – it needs to circulate for local economies to survive' Feb 20, 2013
Buying Local: How It Boosts the Economy June 11, 2009
Group Economics
Where you spend your money is important | Business Connections July 29, 2013
Black Wall Street
Durham's "Black Wall Street"
Taking Care of Business by Lee Jenkins
Why local money flows matter
New Study: Spending locally generates four times more economic benefit Sept 3, 2012
Know Your Worth: If We Don't Know, We Can't Grow Our Community Sept. 24, 2012
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
PETITION: CONGRESSIONAL REFORM ACT OF 2012
FROM PETITIONS2CONGRESS
"Congressional Reform Act of 2012":
1. Term Limits.
12 years only, one of the possible options below:
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
1. Term Limits.
12 years only, one of the possible options below:
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective the day this is signed into law.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
SIGN THE PETITION IF YOU AGREE (and then maybe Congress can come up with something the taxpayer and they can agree on)
All mayors should have term limits too, don't you think?
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
AFRICAN AMERICANS IN MAPLE HEIGHTS CALL FOR PUBLIC MEETING
Many among the African American community in Maple Heights, want to discuss the city's finances. In light of, the superintendent of Maple Heights school's call to renew a levy, this administration's call to renew a levy in November, *very high home foreclosures (and see Plain Dealer article listing Maple Heights as worst regarding property values in Cuyahoga County / 2009), continued high unemployment, troubling signs in this economy, and the perception that the current administration is hiding something from residents, ... a public meeting is definitely warranted.
Several African American homeowners want to know what the police are doing to help raise revenue for themselves. Are they enforcing the noise ordinance, which carries hefty fines? Are they enforcing other ordinances that help generate revenue for this city?
Several African American homeowners want to know what the police are doing to help raise revenue for themselves. Are they enforcing the noise ordinance, which carries hefty fines? Are they enforcing other ordinances that help generate revenue for this city?
Years ago, the city of Maple Heights worked out an agreement (1) to make sure African Americans had more representation in the police and fire departments, schools, etc. Well, the plan is not working well (even though the schools have seen much improvement), and with some city departments, the plan is not working at all.
Minorities are still significantly under represented even though African Americans are almost 70% (or more) of the population in Maple Heights. What are the city's plans to address this? This also needs to be discussed in a public meeting, because if African Americans and other minorities are not significantly represented in Maple Heights government (especially in full-time and high salaried and leadership positions), and there are no plans to address this, and money keeps flowing from African American tax payers who help pay city worker's salaries and benefits, to [what looks to be predominantly Caucasian] city workers and contractors (many) who live outside the city, then getting a levy passed, may be fought vigorously by African Americans in this city to vote against the levy.
Minorities are still significantly under represented even though African Americans are almost 70% (or more) of the population in Maple Heights. What are the city's plans to address this? This also needs to be discussed in a public meeting, because if African Americans and other minorities are not significantly represented in Maple Heights government (especially in full-time and high salaried and leadership positions), and there are no plans to address this, and money keeps flowing from African American tax payers who help pay city worker's salaries and benefits, to [what looks to be predominantly Caucasian] city workers and contractors (many) who live outside the city, then getting a levy passed, may be fought vigorously by African Americans in this city to vote against the levy.
African Americans in Maple Heights also want a concerned citizen's group, an independent civilian review board and an independent citizen's advisory board (where the mayor has no authority to appoint board members, and city council members have limited input), because they feel their needs and wants are not being met, and their voices disregarded by Maple Heights government employees (that includes all elected officials). Some residents feel that community policing is also necessary. Generally speaking, people who live in Maple Heights have a vested interest in making sure Maple Heights is a vibrant, safe, and economically sound city.
Note:
Note:
African Americans who have voiced concern about, or are fighting for, more diversity in Maple Heights government, and wish to discuss a range of other pertinent topics (like holding a public meeting), have reported break-ins and acts of vandalism, some even called racist, etc. Not sure what the connection is yet (if any).
[*Just learned from ESOP that Maple Heights is still either the worst or one of the highest in foreclosures in the county. That means the city is still losing thousands of dollars in property taxes. Why didn't the city do more to help homeowners hold onto their properties? What are they doing presently to help homeowners prevent foreclosure? And I don't want the mayor or other members of council to take credit for what councilman Richard Trojanski is doing to address home foreclosures all by himself.
Property values are still in decline, yet real estate companies are still listing property in the $90,000 range even with foreclosed homes all around. Why is HUD selling foreclosed homes to real estate investors for $15,000 to $20, 000, who then list the property for $80,000 to 94,000? There needs to be an investigation. Also why are we seeing a company called Corelogic (**CORELOGIC, 2500 WESTFIELD DR, ELGIN, IL 60124) listed for the tax mailing address of many of these properties?]
[*Just learned from ESOP that Maple Heights is still either the worst or one of the highest in foreclosures in the county. That means the city is still losing thousands of dollars in property taxes. Why didn't the city do more to help homeowners hold onto their properties? What are they doing presently to help homeowners prevent foreclosure? And I don't want the mayor or other members of council to take credit for what councilman Richard Trojanski is doing to address home foreclosures all by himself.
Property values are still in decline, yet real estate companies are still listing property in the $90,000 range even with foreclosed homes all around. Why is HUD selling foreclosed homes to real estate investors for $15,000 to $20, 000, who then list the property for $80,000 to 94,000? There needs to be an investigation. Also why are we seeing a company called Corelogic (**CORELOGIC, 2500 WESTFIELD DR, ELGIN, IL 60124) listed for the tax mailing address of many of these properties?]
[To be further edited]
To request public documents: Ohio Sunshine law manual
Related:
Cuyahoga County cities brace for property tax losses by Laura Johnston, July 9, 2012
Update:
Please read the July 25, 2012 Neighborhood News (section that talks about Maple Heights - reduction in mayor and council salary) and also responses to this post in the comment section.
Update on Corelogic:
The Illogic of CoreLogic, August 26, 2012
To request public documents: Ohio Sunshine law manual
Related:
Black America's Mobility Crisis by Jamelle Bouie, July 18, 2012
Cuyahoga County cities brace for property tax losses by Laura Johnston, July 9, 2012
Update:
Please read the July 25, 2012 Neighborhood News (section that talks about Maple Heights - reduction in mayor and council salary) and also responses to this post in the comment section.
Update on Corelogic:
The Illogic of CoreLogic, August 26, 2012
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