"WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU" grass roots
Well last night at Harvey was "Meet The Candidate Night For City Council" at Harvey High.
First off Derrick Advey runs a good presentation, and am thankful to him for setting up and moderating this meeting.
Well we at least met five of them? Seems Mr. Tom Fitzgerald had a previous engagement last night?
Seems we will never find out where he stands on reciprocity's, the city levies, his plans for Painesville if he is elected to council?
We know he has a nice house, expensive yard signs and his priority seems to not be city council? Wonder if he was out setting up the next tour to Dublin, Ireland for next year?
I must conclude Mr. Fitzgerald either believes the election is in the bag, or he could careless if he gets elected or not?
Enough about the no-show what about the five that believed spending an hour and a half with us.
Would help us decide.
First off all five candidates EVERYONE was against changing the city's reciprocity agreement with city resident. Leta all hold them to the promise.
Mr. Fodor and Mrs. DiNallo supported the city levies at least to the point of letting resident choose.
Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Aston as well as Ms. Becks opposed them.
Please first I have to get this off my chest. Arlene Becks facial and body gestures were not a plus for her while Mrs. DiNallo was speaking . Sorry Arlene this is not how a professional acts. When asked about her vote and the alleged 2+ million dollar loss on AMPGS in Meigs County she in her response confused Meigs with Prairie State and I viewed no remorse on here vote?
She wants to develop the hospital site with a mix of stores and affordable housing, never explaining what affordable housing consists of nor how to make this happen.
Mr. Fodor sounded like he was running for office for the first time? He is running for re-election. I'm having trouble defining his accomplishments for the first four years in office. Now he jumped into the Prairie State question with this analogy. If you were given a chance to by gasoline for the next thirty-five years at a dollar a gallon that deal would look terrible for the first five or six years, but you would reap the benefit for the over the last decade. Yes that analogy would work problem is according to AMP-OHIO they claimed the number of $48.06 was just an estimate and no guarantee was ever promised. We don't have a set rate period. Mr. Fodor must have realized that after attending Monday's AMP-OHIO meeting in Columbus.
Mrs . DiNallo presented her accomplishments for her first term, I have to agree she has proposed and passed more legislation than anyone else on council. I have criticized her numerous times in the past but look, what you see is what you get. She is responsive to residents concerns and I'll take honesty and ,knowledge over B.S. anytime.
Mrs. Aston this is her first run at public office, nervous yes. I believe she is result driven in her purpose to serve on council is a goal to get Painesville back on track and a belief of a better Painesville. She isn't even on council and is presently trying not just talking about bring a grocery store to Painesville. Not a superstore like Giant Eagle but a concept between a Aldi's and a Marc's. She appears to walk the walk not just talk the talk.
John Murphy was prepared and answered all questions directly. His claim as a former businessman you must put a certain amount of general fund dollars in reserve, as to not have a $8.00 surcharge on your water bill or wake up and find out we need 15 million dollars in road repair. Mr. Murphy will listen to other council members to solve the problems of Painesville. It's hard to compare answers if the other person isn't there to answer them.
Look this is my first post on the levies as well as the candidates. I plan two more.
Please feel free to comment or ask a question. These comments were only MY opinion please feel free to tell us yours.
posted by terminator1 @ 8:53 AM
16 Comments
16 Comments:
Just like magic. Flyer showed up in the mail today, from Painesville's unofficial "ambassador" Tom Fitzgerald. I know what he does and where. How long he's lived here. Where he goes to church along with being on the Planning Commission and where he volunteer's.
26 endorsements? How many live in town?
If you liked the way Abby DelaMotte, Joe Hada, Bill Horvath, along with Rita McMahon have put Painesville where it presently is Tom's your guy!
Not one bit of information on where and how to lead Painesville?
I thought Mrs. DiNallo did an awesome job at the debate. I also like Rene Aston. Win or lose, I think she's a future political star in Painesville City.
Have to agree about Arlene. Very unprofessional. Proud of heritage and party but nothing said about her education. Willing to work with Mrs. Aston but what about rest of council. Avoided and wanted to hide when AMP was mentioned and that she was part of that. Said she changed charter for extra 10 days for petitions, but was because she didn't turn in valid petitions last election. Funny, it's on ballot to change back to original deadline.
Where and who is her magic grocery store. How many homes, stores and parking can you put on old hospital property?
She kept saying I did this and I did that. Was she the only council person? Well "I" think she is more interested in her seat on council than representing ALL of Painesville's residents. Not much about diversity was mentioned from her like the rest of the people who are running for office in Painesville
The only way to go, in my opinion, is to vote for Mrs. DiNallo, Mrs. Aston, and John Murphy.
DiNallo has actually done some good things for this city already, and Becks was a horrible council person when she was in office...really horrible. I hope people do not vote her in again. She doesn't know what she is doing, and she never did -- she just liked to hear herself talk.
Mrs. Aston seems like she genuinely cares about Painesville, and as Term said, is already proactive about helping the city, even without being in office yet. I say let's give her a chance. She so far seems like she can think for herself, too. Fodor, on the other hand, just backs up Hada and the city no matter what they want to do. They can always count on his vote to be what THEY want it to be. Some of his explanations why everyone should go along with the dumb things that this city has done, and is doing, are just ridiculous. As far as I'm concerned, he can keep his analogies, which are a waste of time and a chair at the table.
John Murphy has been following every move of this city for years, and he has spoken out against many of the things that the city has done before they did them. If they would have listened, this city would be in a whole lot better shape. And people already go to him with their city troubles anyway. He thinks for himself and does a thorough job of investigating and researching every question and problem. I think Fitzgerald is just another Hada/city "yes" vote, and I'm not sure he's going to be here enough. We needed Murphy years ago, so let's get him in now.
Did Fitzgerald do any house to house campaigning? The other candidates went around to homes in Painesville to get votes and let people know who they were. Maybe he did, but I haven't found anyone who saw him. I was looking forward to finding out where he stands on issues at the candidate night, but he was a no show. Has he put any effort into this campaign?
Let's see, what was talked about at meeting. Painted lines to direct Lake Erie students to town. WHAT do they do when they get there? The bar down under couldn't serve most of them drinks. Did they want another Mexican restaurant? All we have is drug stores, fast food, and government offices. People stop at one then leave. Work then leave. A grocery store is nice but we need so much more. We need a reason for people to stay. If you don't need to visit a government office or work in one, why would anyone come to Painesville. We have new schools but get the same poor results. Who wants to move here to settle down and stay.
The town is full of renters. Will they stay? Invest or support city, schools or levies? Will businesses invest in the city when people can't wait to leave town? Retail looks at how many people would purchase from their business. We just don't attract the amount of traffic with what we have.We need a reason for people to stay. Pride in the city. The college is an asset to the city but is the city an asset to the college? Are our schools an asset?
The city has less money. Everyone has less money. We have to accept the fact and work with what we have left. Schools must improve, need to revitalize the city by reducing number of rentals. Bring back the single family home and get reduce the multifamily houses.
The hospital, Coe, Core are gone. Look for new ones but bring back the small town that was here years ago. Get away from the main business now of a city of rentals.
11:08 I like the thinking of our new city manager. He's out looking for businesses with 30/40 employees, not the next Lordstown.
5:25 I have no idea if he did or didn't. Should have. It appears if voted in it will be the same as it aways has been around here and I'm surprised so many are happy with that?
2:31 Is right if you liked the way things have been running aroud here look at those endorsements 2:31 mentioned. If you are wondering how Mr. Fitzgerald will vote, just ask JaHada.Fitzgerald will be his vote on council. The reason JaHada is missing on the ballot this year? Wait until the law director retires it will all come clear.
So now your spreading rumors about the jail? When will people around here get wise to you?
This is the same meeting that was change for Becks ,but not to accommodate Tom. Now we will a talk bad about him. Every think what ever he was doing was planned many months ago and he could not change it..
11:08 spot on! One thing I have seen work in other small towns floundering is a business incubator. They take a block or section of town and offer free or amended rent to new business. Partner with Lake Erie College and see what sticks. Most start up businesses cannot afford $1500 - $2000 for a store front. Coffee shop anyone? How much coffee do you need to sell just to break even on the rent?
I don't know if Fort Collins still has their program going but they offered one block of empty storefronts to up and coming business models. It worked beautifully. There was mentorship available through the college. After one year in the incubator, the business could make the decision to go forward, moving into another section of town or go out of business. There was a waiting list and a deserted part of town became vibrant. You need more than one storefront. A city block worked great and new merchants worked together to get business going. First Fridays worked, open late and stuff to do. After a brewery moved in it really took off. Would I vote for a levy to support this? Yes I would!
What about neighborhood gardens or even one community garden. They have one in Kirtland that worked great last summer. Cleveland in on fire with their gardening programs in the inner city and schools. It makes a difference in the crime rates and enhances neighborhoods. We have 5 crew members who are currently struggling to keep the cemeteries and parks mowed and cared for. Then we added 5 more parks to mow but no money to add crew members. This doesn't make sense, nobody is happy. Maybe these gardens could start at the schools? I would volunteer for this program. We really need to act on a vision and not keep paying for studies.
You want people down at the other end of Main Street? Put a fountain in or luminaries.
there are better ways than beating your head against the wall.......
Mrs Dinallo might have done an awesome job but one question begged to be asked; Will she serve a full term before running for a state office?
She tried to jump to Columbus shortly after being elected last term. I have a problem with that.
1:33 I caled Mr. Advey and Mr. Fitzgerald never contacted him about a change? Look Derrick would have done anything to make the meeting a sucess. Most of you view this as a political event. No it's just an opportunity to meet the candidates.
7:38Sandy I guess the question you have to ask yourself. Is two years of Lori DiNallo better for Painesille than four years of Arlene Becks?
12:29 Stay tuned.
Meet the candidates night.
Knew some and met some and learned some.
Four people were professional and one very unprofessional. Some had a few new ideas and others just told us what they thought we wanted to hear.
My thoughts are Dinallo was most knowledgeable.
Becks the most unprofessional and least knowledgeable and only out to get elected.
Fodor was just status quo, same old, same old. No new ideas but paint someone else mentioned.
Aston was a little inexperienced but willing to work hard to make Painesville better.
Murphy wants to work to attract more business with our utilities and special rates.
Fitzgerald is just unknown because he didn't show. ???
Well, we will get some new blood and maybe weed out a non performer.
Dinallo or Becks, do we need someone who couldn't even get her petitions right last time she tried to run and was there for AMP or someone who gets things done but might run for another office latter?
Becks performance and lack of professionalism made up my mind.
Well, Tuesday night we will know.
HADAENOUGH You must not been invited to Fitzgerald's fundraiser? Put on a Irish Whiskey tasting event. Don't know what he knows about running a city but he knows his way around a whiskey bottle?
You ever wonder why so many signs and literature with his house pictured? Maybe he's trying to write this campaign off as a business expense?
Why vote for someone, who doesn't have any new ideals. ( forget about it TOM.
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