Glass City Jungle

The Toledo Free Press has a story online about a press conference held today by Jeff Simpson & Paul Hoag where they called into question not only the residence of several of the Stainbrook Central Committee faction, but criminal records. (link). Part of the article:
During an April 30 press conference, Simpson said [...]

This in via e-mail from the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce:
Toledo Chamber Board Opposes Issue 3
Toledo, OH – The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees cannot support the Toledo Public Schools (TPS) ¾% income tax request (Issue 3) placed by the TPS board on the May 4, 2010 Primary Ballot. The [...]

Earlier today, Democratic Lucas County Commissioner Candidate Ben Krompak held a press conference on a mailer sent out by Democratic opponent Mike Zychowicz, below is the statement made during that press conference and the mailer is included below as well.
Statement By Democrat Ben Krompak Responding To Deceitful Direct Mail Smears By Opponent Mike [...]

This in via e-mail from Toledoans for Public Trust:
Toledoans for Public Trust Finds TPS Teaching Time Wasted
Cost to Taxpayers in 2009 is $3.8 Million; Practice Dates Back a Decade
In its ongoing efforts to hold Toledo Public Schools accountable for the proper education of our community’s children, Toledoans for [...]

Okay maybe not, though plagues of insects are supposed to be one sign…It does sound as if things got a bit buzzy just over the river in watching this WTOL story about thousands of bees invading an East Toledo neighborhood…
Goes to show some of you that diss East Toledo that it’s clearly a sweet spot…
[...]

This in via e-mail from the Toledo Botanical Garden:
Join us for a festival of gardening… the Spring Plant Sale!
Toledo Botanical Garden Spring Plant Sale May 7 -9, 2010
Toledo – The first step to expanding and beautifying your garden this year is a visit to Toledo Botanical Garden’s annual Spring Plant Sale. Gardeners from beginner [...]

The following was received via e-mail from the Buckeye Forest Council for those of you interested in taking action:
FOREST PROTECTION ACTION ALERT!
US Senate Climate Bill will Endanger Forest in Ohio and Across the Nation
Please contact US Senator John Kerry, immediately, and ask him to remove wood burning biomass from being included as “clean and [...]

This came in via e-mail this morning from the office of Rep. Barbara Sears:
Representative Barbara Sears to Hold District Office Hours
Columbus—State Representative Barbara Sears (R-Maumee) today announced that she will be holding district office hours on Friday, April 30th.
The office hours will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Sylvania Branch Library, [...]

The Columbus Dispatch has an article about the release of the Inspector General Report (link) and they also provide the full report in a pdf form, (link). I recommend taking the time to read the 48 page report. The office of Governor Strickland also sent out a media release on this topic which [...]

This has been out there as an issue mentioned by several members of Council who have tried to help people with what they felt was wrongful billing by the City for assessed water/sewage charges which has now gotten media coverage in the Blade (link) with the decision of Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez to not [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Mayor Mike Bell:
April Showers Bring May Flowers For Toledo Neighborhoods
City Offers Garden Partners Program to Continue Beautification Efforts
The City of Toledo will once again offer the Garden Partners program in an effort to maintain urban beautification projects in neighborhoods throughout the city despite the recent budget [...]

Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Gov. Ted Strickland released his federal tax records today and challenged his gubernatorial candidate, John Kasich to do the same (link).
Kasich’s campaign response to the challenge was to state that he had already disclosed more than Ohio law requires. The Strickland campaign has launched a petition to urge [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor Applauds General Motors’ $115 Million Investment in Defiance Casting Facility
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland applauded today’s announcement that General Motors will invest $115 million in its Defiance casting facility as part of the company’s plans to produce a new generation of [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Mayor Mike Bell:
City Joins Friends of Pickford Park to Celebrate Arbor Day
Community program to include tree planting and educational opportunities
The City of Toledo will join Friends of Pickford Park and students from Beverly Elementary School to celebrate Arbor Day on Friday, April 30th. The event [...]

Having recently spoken out on the dangers of digging without checking with utility companies, the April 27 Toledo City Council first addressed a resolution Declaring April 2010 as Sexual Assault Awareness month – it goes without saying the resolution passed unanimously as most of these types of resolutions do, though I can’t help but wonder [...]

The short version would be that some on Council balked last week at the idea of giving Brenner 75 Marine LLC a three year contract costing up to $124,000 annually, that in all practicality could have cost more since the City would take any losses, hence this committee hearing today before the Council meeting [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Mayor Mike Bell:
Issue 5 Will Help Reduce Fees
Transfer of funds will reduce refuse fee and maintain capital program
Mayor Michael P. Bell and various members of Toledo City Council today joined together to urge Toledo voters to support Issue 5 on the May 4th ballot.
Issue 5 [...]

Maggie Thurber sent out an e-mail to let several of us know that a recent mailer sent out by the Steingraber for Commissioner campaign contains a quote taken from her blog that is written in such a manner that it appears she endorsed Dan Steingraber. Which she did not…
The link to her blog post [...]

As promised, an update on the earlier story of a complaint filed against retired judge and judicial candidate Steve Yarbrough in the form of a release from election ethics advocate Dave Schulz via e-mail tonight:
Probable Cause Found By Supreme Court Commission On Grievances
Schulz Calls On Yarbrough Committee To Follow Through On Their Promise To [...]

I saw this referenced on Facebook the other day and meant to check it out further, but didn’t – then I saw it reported on NBC24’s website, (link) so, I stopped by and visited, mygodmadesex.com. I watched the videos – I really recommend watching Sex – You vs Your Parents. As the parent [...]

Yesterday there was a door to door push in my neighborhood to garner support for Issue 3 which is the TPS income tax ballot issue. For those of you following this story, below are the links to the media coverage and the title of their stories:
Fox Toledo – Support for Issue 3
WTVG – TPS [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor Calls for Aggressive Response to Wall Street Excesses
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today sent a letter to members of Ohio’s Congressional delegation pressing for the need to adopt legislation that will rein in Wall Street practices that led to the worst [...]

Alexis Means of WTVG, posted the following information on Facebook a short time ago:
A local Pastor is sentenced for child endangering. Bishop Lawrence Hancock Sr. was accused of beating a 4yr old with a belt several times leaving bruising all over the child. According to court documents a judge sentenced Hancock to 180 days in [...]

As a brief intro, I want to provide more information/discussion on our environment, especially related to the Maumee River and Lake Erie. Recently having the opportunity to speak with Sandy Bihn, her dedication, passion and knowledge, created my asking her if she would consider writing a monthly guest post. She agreed, so what [...]

Inspired by the Barenaked Ladies song, If I had a million dollars Blue America is launching a contest to see which one of five progressive U.S. Senate candidates can get the most votes (donations). Ohio’s Jennifer Brunner along with Jack Conway of KY, Bill Halter of AR, Elaine Marshall of NC and Joe [...]

I grew up listening to the comedy stylings of Bill Cosby, if you are a fan too then this week’s Toledo Free Press cover story is one that you’ll enjoy, Vicki Kroll’s “Conversation with Cosby” (link). It made me go searching for one of my all time favorite Cosby skits, “Chocolate Cake for Breakfast” [...]

This in via e-mail from the Yost for Ohio Auditor campaign, (link) to the referenced Dayton Daily News editorial/endorsement.
YOST ENDORSED BY DAYTON DAILY NEWS
Chooses “Breadth of experience” and “specific record in management” over “politician”
This morning the Dayton Daily News paper endorsed Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney Dave Yost for Ohio Auditor of State.
In [...]

Matthew Cantrell, the Libertarian candidate for State Auditor has not gotten a lot of media attention, this article written by John Michael Spinelli, (link) is a recommended read for that reason and also because the topic of pensions and pension funds has been one we’ve discussed here in the past. Part of the recommended [...]

There’s a whole gray area for me when it comes to sharing information that was written that was not intended for publication, accessing people’s private MySpace accounts and things they publish on Facebook. Since the end of March I’ve been struggling with something I saw on a Facebook page that bothered me. It [...]

The title of Lafe Tolliver’s most recent column in the Sojurner’s Truth caught my attention as it was most likely designed to do, “Tea Party: White folks behaving badly” (link). From a fact standpoint, not all tea party members are white, (link) though no one would dispute that a majority of those involved [...]