Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Lorraine Fende's ex-husband back in the news

Mayfield Heights fire captain to be arraigned today - The News-Herald News : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

We reported that fire captain Daniel Serge is State Rep. Lorraine Fende's ex-husband when this story first broke. Of course, the News-Herald failed to mention anything about fire captain Serge's link to Rep. Fende.


Monday, July 26, 2010

ANOTHER REASON: WATCH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR APPOINTEES CLOSELY!

Former Cuyahoga (Crooked) County Sheriff Gerald McFaul was sentenced to one year of house arrest and ordered to pay $151,000 in fines and restitution in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court today.  McFaul also received a six month suspended jail sentence.  The sentence today was the result of McFaul's guilty plea to two felony counts of theft in office and a misdemeanor ethics violation.

This case was handled by a Lucas County Ohio Prosecutor and presided over by a retired Geauga County Judge.

One year of house arrest and a six month suspended jail sentence for Gerald "The Political Animal" McFaul?!?

Outrageous.

This travesty of justice proves that the political class takes care of its own.  No pesky jury to get in the way here!  Instead, McFaul's gangster lawyer John Climaco probably negotiated this slap on the wrist.  Climaco has represented plenty of people tied to organized crime. John Climaco also represents embattled Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo.

What kind of message is being sent to the elected officials on the take?  The next time a local councilman, mayor, or other official steers a contract...takes a bribe...cuts a deal with a union...do you think a year of probation will scare them?



Former sheriff Gerald McFaul sentenced to house arrest

Friday, July 23, 2010

WH tax hike heads to ballot - The News-Herald News : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

WH tax hike heads to ballot - The News-Herald News : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

That's right, the story reads: "According to city estimates, about $76, 000 will come from city residents and $546, 000 from businesses." More than one half of a million dollars will be sucked out of businesses to feed Willoughby Hills, according to the article.

It's sad that Bob Weger continues to be dismissive toward other's ideas. According to Councilwoman Nancy Fellows, "This issue has affected council like none before." She also said "It's compromised friendships." Trust us...some friendships were hurt, but other relationships prospered...especially some business relationships.


WH tax hike heads to ballot - The News-Herald News : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

WH tax hike heads to ballot - The News-Herald News : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

That's right, the story reads: "According to city estimates, about $76, 000 will come from city residents and $546, 000 from businesses." More than one half of a million dollars will be sucked out of businesses to feed Willoughby Hills, according to the article.

It's sad that Bob Weger continues to be dismissive toward other's ideas. According to Councilwoman Nancy Fellows, "This issue has affected council like none before." She also said "It's compromised friendships." Trust us...some friendships were hurt, but other relationships prospered...especially some business relationships.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

The Tax Tsunami On The Horizon - Investors.com

The Tax Tsunami On The Horizon - Investors.com

That's right! On top of all the local tax levies, local income tax increases, the retroactive state income tax increase, fees, ..., here comes the federal income tax increases:

"The lowest bracket for the personal income tax, for instance, moves up 50% — to 15% from 10%. The next lowest bracket — 25% — will rise to 28%, and the old 28% bracket will be 31%. At the higher end, the 33% bracket is pushed to 36% and the 35% bracket becomes 39.6%."

It's just foolish to raise taxes right now, foolish.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Lake County's Freedom Fighters: fighting for democracy!

We found this picture over at Councilman Reichelt's webpage. From left to right, Councilman-at-large Dave Reichelt, Council President Kevin Malecek, and Mayor Bob Weger.  Nice photo-op.  We thought it would be good to share with the public some of the smiling faces that are working to preserve democracy in Lake County.

After all, these freedom fighters said in today's New-Herald fighting against the tax increase--woops--giving the residents the right to choose is undemocratic.

"I was very disappointed at the committee's action (July 12)," Weger said. "Nancy Fellows and David Fiebig (are) on the finance committee and they just feel they don't have enough information.


"They're basically holding up the democratic process of letting the people decide whether or not they want this. We need to think of the needs of the city and the health, safety and welfare of the citizens.

Side note: Councilman Reichelt hasn't said a lot publicly, just on your anti-democratic blog here.

Time to pay back those safety forces!

WH Council to make taxing decision - The News-Herald News : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

WH Council to make taxing decision - The News-Herald News : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

We don't even know where to start with this article, so the scathing commentary will come later. However, we must point out that Bob Weger is a disingenuous, manipulative drama queen. Certain members of The Willoughby Hills City Council are little pawns in lazy Weger's game of duping the voters with superficial spending cuts and rhetoric.

Weger and certain WH Councilmen are reading from the same script: talking about "the democratic process," safety forces etc.

This levy is a payback for the wage freeze negotiated with the police...if Weger et al don't deliver they are afraid the WH police will stop writing tickets. Can't have those ticket writing machines in dodge chargers stop brining in the bucks!?!

Here's an idea, how about finding out if it is cheaper to get vehicles repaired other than at Willoughby Hills Auto Repair, at the top rate, Mr. Weger. Wasn't the owner a contributor to his campaign??

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Vince Russo Arrested at Willoughby Hills Home: The Russo's have helped Bob Aufuldish maintain a death grip on Lake County

Willoughby Hills resident Vince Russo was arrested at his home yesterday.   See the google map below to show where Russo lives according to the Lake County Auditor.  Several news stations covered the Russo family leaving the Willoughby Hills home to catch up with Vince Russo before his 2:00 PM court date yesterday, after which he answered questions in the video below.

Vince Russo and his flamboyant father, Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo, have dablled in Lake  County Politics.  That's right!  The Russo family have helped Lake County Commisioner Bob Aufuldish keep his death grip on a Commisioner's seat. 

Bob Aufuldish went dirty, real dirty, to defeat Willoughby Hills Councilman Ray Somich in the 11/07/07 election.  Aufuldish savagely smeared Councilman Somich in the last days of the election... probably using cash and resources which the Russo's helped in getting.

In the days to come WE will be discussing the Russo's influence in Lake County, particularly in helping the Aufuldish death grip on the county.

Vince Russo indicted on corruption charges






Wednesday, July 14, 2010

JUST ASKN': where have the Concord Township Trustee meeting minutes gone lately?

Perhaps the person who prepares and posts the Concord Township meeting minutes retreated to a lower taxed area..., say Florida.  Maybe, that's why there have been no meeting minutes posted for four months.

We have been looking for Concord Township Trustee meeting minutes for the past few months.  However, it seems that there are no meeting minutes posted for Trustee meetings AFTER the 4/21/10 meeting.

See here.  No minutes past 4/21/10.  There is a disclaimer on the webpage that says that meeting minutes will not appear until approved by the Trustees.

According to a link for Concord Township's Trustee meetings video archives there have been four (4) Trustee meetings since the 4/21/10.  See here.

Here's why we are "just askn:"
Concord Twp Trustee 4-21-10
According to Page two (2) of the 4/21/10 Trustee meeting, the Trustee Correspondance section, Taxn' Trustee Chris Galloway had nothing to say about the Police District levy.  Instead, the Taxn' Trustee punted to the Lake County Township Association.

We keep looking for the Trustee Meeting minutes to see if there is any new talk about the Police District Levy...but, there's nothn', notta, zip, ...no meeting minutes.

So, where are the Concord Township Trustee meeting minutes for the past four meetings?

Just askn'!?!

Tax Watch: Your wallet will be getting lighter!

It just doesn't end, does it?  Remember when you were a kid and you looked forward to getting mail...then at some point opening the mail box became scary?  Now, its just bills...bills...bills...requests for documentation, and GLOSSY MAILERS OF STEVE LATOURETTE AND BOB AUFULDISH TELLING YOU TO VOTE FOR A LEVY WHICH WAS ALSO ENDORSED BY BOB WEGER AND DAVE ANDERSON (I.E. THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES LEVY MAILER)?

We have told you about various money grabs around Lake County, like Taxn' Trustee Chris Galloway's and Trustee Chuck Klco's handout to the Lake County Sherrif to what the Sherriff is mandated to do (i.e. police townships).

We have more money grabs to talk about (later), but need to tell you what's coming down the pipe now.

DOUBLE DIPPN' SUPERINTENDENT KEITH "MONEY BAGS" MILLER and the Willoughby-Eastlake School Board are asking for more money.  "Money Bags" Keith Miller and Treasurer Cliff Reinhardt are getting good at asking for more money.

Case in point, "Money Bags" Miller likes to brag about the one year wage freeze he negotiated with WES' bargaining units...then wham! Months later "Money Bags" gets a levy passed will reward the unions.

Side note:  Is a similar trick being played in Willoughby Hills?  Wasn't there a wage freeze negotiated with safety forces?  Pay back should be coming due soon on that one!

Today we learned that the Lake County Commisioners will be placing a levy on the ballot to support Morely Library.

This is getting depressing...let's finish later.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Willoughby Hills Doubles Down: Second reading of proposed income tax increase

That's right folks! One of our favorite Cities, Willoughby Hills, had a second reading for a proposed income tax increase last week, on 7/8/10.

However, the Willoughby Hills City Council Finance Committee met tonight, 7/12/10. Sources tell us that the Finance Committee meeting didn't go so well for Mayor Weger's and Councilman Malecek's income tax increase.

There are whispers that Councilman-at-Large Dave Fiebig may have done the right thing and torpedoed the income tax increase in the finance committee.

But, we digress....

Read the proposed legislation for yourself:
Agenda.0708  
Ordinance.2010 27
ORDINANCE NO. 2010-27 – SECOND READING
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE SAFETY FORCES OF THE CITY THROUGH AN INCREASE IN THE RATE OF THE MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX TO 2% AND FURTHER PROVIDE A TAX CREDIT OF 100% WITH SAID CREDIT LIMIT TO BE EQUAL TO 1.50% AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

What is even more disheartening is that Willoughby Hills City Council is going to "use" the safety forces to manipulate the electorate. Sad. Sad. Sad. Manipulative.  Disheartening.  Deceptive.

We expect the usuals to come on here and e-mail us about how we are meddling in Willoughby Hills' affairs, that this is giving WH's City Council's so-called crusade to give Willoughby Hills residents more power (in the future), blah, blah,blah.  Seems like this is more of a bait 'n switch.

Bottom line: There is a tax increase being considered by Willoughby Hills City Council.

Will Kevin Malecek and Mayor Weger get away with taking money out of the pockets of the workers in Willoughby Hills?

Friday, July 9, 2010

A few thoughts regarding Lebron James

Lebron James is the Obama of the sports world; both are all talk, all hype, all marketing--and, NO delivery.  One more thing: Tiger cheated on his wife, Obama failed the country, and now Lebron cheated Cleveland after failing us.

Maybe we can get back to the substantiative issues like, say, jobs, taxes, etc.

No one wanted to come play in Cleveland because the City is dying--it's hemorrhaging people, and has no zest.  Thank high taxes and race politics for all that.

Still wanna raise taxes?

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Retired FDNY Lt. John McLaughlin receives disability pension despite being known as "Iron Man" - NYPOST.com

Retired FDNY Lt. John McLaughlin receives disability pension despite being known as "Iron Man" - NYPOST.com
Retired FDNY Lt. John McLaughlin has literally run off with a fat, tax-exempted disability pension -- despite being known as "Iron Man" in the Long Island hometown where he regularly trains and competes as a triathlete, The Post has learned. 
The 55-year-old Long Beach councilman was deemed an asthmatic with diminished lung capacity when the city granted him a three-quarters-pay, $86,000-a-year disability pension two months after 9/11 -- earning him the sarcastic moniker "Johnny Lungs" among neighbors.
Another story reminding us why WE need to say "NO!" to any and every tax increase, tax levy, and fee proposed by local government.