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WM |
on 18 August 2010, at 10:38, writes: |
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On Monday, City Council voted to place several changes to our Akron Charter on the ballot. Generally, these changes reduce citizen oversight of City Hall and reduce City Council's oversight of the Mayor. If they pass the Mayor can spend more money without council approval and can hire and fire more top level administrators.
Despite the fact that there have been less than a handful of successful initiative petitions in Akron's history, City Hall wants to triple the number of signatures needed for referendum and initiative petitions to almost 10,000 valid signatures. Grassroots initiative petition drives would need to gather almost 20,000 signatures to meet that increased threshold of valid signatures.
Thankfully all these changes have to be voted on and we have a chance to make our voices heard.
If you want to help please attend the:
"Community Forum on Protecting Democracy in Akron"
Tuesday, August 31, 7:00 PM
Akron-Summit County Main Public Library
Room A-B
Please attend this important forum to:
1)Hear about the proposed anti-democratic charter changes 2)Ask questions 3)Share your views 4)Help develop a grassroots people's plan to oppose these charter changes and protect democracy in Akron.
For more information, contact Patti Longville at 330-724-9225 This message was sent by: Change Akron Now, 430 Woodland Ave, Akron, Ohio 44302, Akron, OH 44302 |
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yekimi |
on 24 July 2010, at 02:56, writes: |
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He's leaving on a jet plane, don't know if he'll be back again...... |
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??????????? |
on 23 July 2010, at 06:29, writes: |
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beer,baseball browns......wake them up warren.....it wont ever happen....hey wheres Lebron?????? |
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yekimi |
on 21 July 2010, at 13:40, writes: |
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Will that be "The Sound Of Ideas" program? |
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WM |
on 21 July 2010, at 08:41, writes: |
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Citizen led movements to investigate and change local government are sprouting throughout Ohio and the nation. Social media such as facebook, google groups, moveon.org, and email listserves are driving this phenomenon.
Warner Mendenhall will appear tomorrow (Thursday) on Cleveland Public Radio from 9am to 10am (WCPN 90.3 FM) to address this topic. Please tune in and call in during the program: the local number is 216-578-0903 or toll-free 866-578-0903. |
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WM |
on 28 June 2010, at 07:12, writes: |
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Today's Beacon Journal contained an intellectually dishonest editorial apparently opposed to a public speaking period at City Council meetings. The Beacon has launched an attack on the public speaking proposal without reviewing the language of the proposed ballot issue. How do we know that? Because Change Akron Now, the American Friends Service Committee, and Citizens for a Better Akron are working to incorporate ideas received online and in person before releasing the final language for the initiative petitions.
The Beacon apparently wants to sink the proposal, before reading it, because it doesn't approve of some people who back the proposal. That is called an "ad hominem" attack: An attack on a person who supports a proposal in order to discredit the proposal without addressing its substance.
It is truly a said day when Beacon editors refuse to engage in intelligent debate about important matters. The substance of this debate should be whether or not Akron's citizens should have the right to speak to City Council. Hundreds of people have been denied the right to speak to council over the last several decades. To list a few of the many activist groups that have been denied in part or in whole from speaking to Council:
1) The Hickory Street Neighborhood Coalition;
2) The Coalition for a Safe Community;
3) Citizens SOS;
4) Change Akron Now members;
5) The American Friends Service Committee;
6) Neighbors for Responsible Land Use;
7) Families Against City Transfer Stations;
8) Yes on Issue 7.
Please let your council person know that you support a public speaking period at Council Meetings. The Akron City Council Phone # is: 330.375.2256. |
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ukiddinme? |
on 27 June 2010, at 08:50, writes: |
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Dear Mr. Mayor:
ABJ quoting Crains as Albrecht with 2009 sales revenue at $400 million but yet we can't get a grocery store! What's been going on since your State of the City address 6 months ago swore to get us a store?? |
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WM |
on 13 May 2010, at 08:38, writes: |
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The Charter Review Commission is moving forward quickly to amend our City Charter. A major issue at tonight's meeting was the campaign finance limit law overwhelmingly enacted by the citizens of Akron in 1998. Current limits are $100 for each election for Ward Council races and $300 per donor for each election for At-Large and Mayoral races. Vice-Chair John Frank seemed to want to remove the limits from the Charter altogether. Other members wanted to increase the donation limits.
The limits were, in part, designed to stop the Mayor's dominance of ward and at-large council races. In the 1990s, Plusquellic gave tens of thousands of dollars to his favored candidates to insure their loyalty to him and not the people who elected them. That changed once the limits were in place and has led to increasingly competitive elections. In 2009, over 50 people ran for council and 5 new council-people were elected. In 2007, Mayor Plusquellic was almost defeated by Joe Finley in the first real election challenge he has faced since his appointment to the seat in 1987.
Recently, Mayor Plusquellic was found to have violated our campaign finance law and the Akron Law Department was ordered by the judge to investigate the extent of those violations.
The Charter Review Commission will be taking public testimony on Thursday, May 20th at 4:00 p.m in the City Council conference room. That is the time for you to give your input as to what changes to our Charter you would like to see.
Some examples of Charter Changes that would improve our democracy:
1. A public speaking period during council meetings.
2. Whistleblower protection for city employees who report criminal activity by public officials.
3. Salary reductions for top officials.
4. Public financing of council campaigns.
5. Election of Charter Review Commission members. (They are currently appointed by the Mayor).
6. Provisions to provide that local people are hired first to work on city contracts.
Please send your ideas to CAN by return email, or better yet attend the meeting on May 20th. |
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hmmmm? |
on 10 May 2010, at 14:39, writes: |
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And how much did that ill-fated recall scam cost the tax payers? |
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WM |
on 10 May 2010, at 08:19, writes: |
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In a ruling that could cost Akron taxpayors tens of millions of dollars, the Ohio Dept of Insurance has held that the City of Akron violated Ohio's coordination of benefits laws therby depriving its retired police and fire personnel of health benefits. The decision can be found here. Mayor Plusquellic has refused to address this problem preferring instead to have retirees bear the burden of the City's wrongdoing. This is causing some retirees to come out of pocket hundreds of dollars every month to pay for health insurance. The Department of Insurance used harsh words in its opinion calling the Plusquellic Administration's acts "unfair and deceptive" in its "knowing failure" to follow Ohio law.
This is just one more multi-million dollar financial blow to the city caused by the Plusquellic Administration. Fines, penalties, and other costs resulting from violations of federal and state laws are now in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The US EPA, the Ohio Department of Insurance, the State Auditor and even our local Court of Common Pleas have found that the Plusquellic Administration can't seem to follow the law. |
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WM |
on 7 May 2010, at 14:25, writes: |
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The Akron Charter is the fundamental governing document of our city. Once every ten years, the Mayor appoints a Charter Review Commission to review possible changes to the Akron City Charter. Information about the Commission is posted on the City website here. The members of the Commission are as follows:
Terry Albanese, Chairperson
John Frank, Vice-Chairperson
Sophie Albrecht
Candace Campbell Jackson
Elizabeth Quirk Sheeler
Garry Moneypenney
Jacqueline Silas Butler
William Rich
Marco Sommerville
Change Akron Now and the American Friends Service Committee among others are monitoring the Commission's deliberations. It is certain that Mayor Plusquellic wants to roll back democratic provisions in the Akron Charter.
It is up to us to remain vigilant to protect and expand our democratic rights. Our successes changing the Charter to protect our public utilities and in limiting contribution amounts, have served as examples to many other communities around Ohio and around the United States. Our success at getting the Mayor on the ballot last year has led to many requests for help from around the country from people trying to do the same. Akron citizens have set a high standard for citizen participation and direct democracy. |
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YEKIMI |
on 5 April 2010, at 13:32, writes: |
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Who was the backup QB.....Warner? |
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