Link: http://www.prezforcouncil.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*P.R.E.Z. FOR COUNCIL CAMPAIGN SPONSORS BLOCK WATCH FORUM*

In an effort to connect and listen to Toledoans, the P.R.E.Z. for Council
Campaign will be sponsoring a Block Watch Forum at the West Toledo branch
library on July 13th from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Block Watch leaders and
attendees from all across Toledo are encouraged to come to voice their
concerns as well as offer ideas and solutions for the problems facing their
immediate communities as well as all of Toledo.

"As a potential representative," says P.R.E.Z. "It's incumbent upon me to
develop a healthy and obligatory regimen of listening to citizens so we can
truly address their concerns. This is not a time for political
speeches. It's a time for all of us to put our heads together to come
up with solutions to the problems in our city."

Some of the topics that will be discussed are:

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Trash fee

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City infrastructure

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Council meetings

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Police and fire services

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Red light cameras

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Local business development

P.R.E.Z. For Council
Sometimes Less Is More
Web: www.prezforcouncil.org
Email: prez@prezforcouncil.org

Link: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090630/OPINION03/906300359

Ms. Bonds, Director of the Neighborhoods Department, wrote this in a letter to the editor.

"Much has been said about ticketing residents parked on their gravel driveways. Most of what has been stated or reported is misleading or just plain wrong. The fact of the matter is that no tickets were issued to any resident for parking on gravel driveways. Tickets, however, were issued to residents parking on an unpaved front or side lot."

What Ms. Bond, also wants us to know;

"Toledoans interested in knowing whether their particular on-street or off-street parking practice is within the parking regulations of the City of Toledo, are welcome to call Robert Mossing, manager of code enforcement, at 419-245-1400."

The real question is, why is an acting commissioner out writing tickets when the department charged with enforcing the rules and regulations, is already capable of doing that, enforcing the rules.

Why is the Acting Commissioner, printing her own tickets? Doesn't the city have printed tickets?

Why is the Acting Commissioner, out doing the work of the other department, when there is so much to be done in the department that she heads, or is acting as a place holder for the position.

Is the person even qualified for the position of Commissioner, acting or otherwise, as Professional Engineer certification is required by Toledo Ohio Municipal Code.

If the administration is hell bent on following the code, there were is the certification for the acting commissioner?

Link: http://www.WardforToledo.com

Toledo, OH – It was reported by WTOL news that 15-year-old Dailahntae Jemison confessed that he punched Dr. Robert Brundage, then knocked him off his bike, and rode away. Dr. Brundage is listed in critical condition at St. V's.

Ward asserts, “This was a cowardly and disgraceful act committed. My prayers are with Dr. Brundage and his family during this time. I hope Dr. Brundage recovers soon. He has done so much for the betterment of the community. He has served on such boards as the Toledo Central City Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation, Community Shares of Northwest Ohio, Greater Toledo Housing Coalition and the list goes on and on. He is truly a champion for social and economic justice for all people. He is a quiet and peaceful man, who I had the pleasure to meet and esteem highly. For anyone to want to hurt this man is simply opprobrious.”

"All East Toledo residents of the Raymer and neighboring areas are invited and urged to attend the Block Watch 422A meetings!
 
We will have regularly scheduled meetings for the rest of the Summer & Fall of 2009!

We always meet on THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH,
at the Memorial United Church of Christ, located at 1301 Starr Avenue, which is at the corner of Plymouth Street.

There is a parking lot next to the church.(near White Street).
 
Our meeting time will ALWAYS BE FROM 6:00 pm. until 7:00 pm. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
 
Our next meeting will be held on the second Thursday of July, which is on July 9th, 2009,
 
Our Blockwatch area encompasses the 4 to 7 block radius around Raymer School,
but any and all East Toledo neighbors and business owners are always welcome and are ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT!
 
We provide crime information which is also found at http://www.spotcrime.com/oh/toledo/east+toledo
 
At our meetings, we have the opportunity meet our neighbors to better allow us to approach & inform them personally and properly regarding neighborhood problems.
We share information regarding crime that may occurring in our own individual areas, that may not be published or on the news, which gives us the advantage of being able to keep an extra watchful eye.
You may also view local crime on a map at this web page, provided by the Toledo Blade:
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090509/DATACENTER01/3050\99998
 
At our July 9th meeting, we will have Attorney Charles Boyk speak & answer questions.
On August , we will have Teresa from Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur's office.
Please try to attend and show these volunteers that we appreciate their time and effort...
 
We will also, as always, discuss our primary concerns regarding crime and illegal disturbances, gangs, curfews, unsightly properties,
and ways we can work together as a team, as well as individually, to eliminate these problems the proper and legal way.
I saw our most efficient code-enforcement officer, Ms. Snyder, back on the job on our street today, so our city departments are starting to get back on track!
 
Just a reminder, if your area is vandalized with gang or any other graffiti, PLEASE find some old paint and cover it IMMEDIATELY,
or take newspaper and duct tape and cover it until the owner can get to it.
Some gang graffiti causes gang wars. We need to do whatever we can to avoid gang activity in East Toledo.
Turf wars sometimes start from the gang members on one side of East Broadway to annoy the gang members on the other side of East Broadway.
 
We are looking for volunteers to help with the Blockwatch Annual Picnic on August 15 at Ottawa Park. If you are interested in helping,
OR
need further information regarding our Blockwatch 422a meetings, or if you would like to start your own neighborhood Blockwatch, you may contact me at 419-697-9975, or via this Yahoo group email.
 
Surrounding Blockwatch meetings are: Thurston/Howland/Dearborn area - the 1st TUESDAY of the month at 7 pm at Hope Wesleyan Church on Mason St.,
& the Garfield and St Louis area team together in the Summer and have their meetings at the Martin Luther Church on Nevada St.on the 1st MONDAY of the month at 6:30 pm.
Let's join together and brainstorm to make our neighborhood a safer place to live!

Link: http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=10546438&Call=Email&Format=Text

People are outraged! Really!?

Well, then council needs to take a long hard look at the services and operation of the departments in our fair city.

We have an Acting Commissioner out responding and writing, some 50+ tickets as reported by the media, and that garnered us headlines around the world, as the city in the U.S. that tickets its residents for parking in their driveways, when in reality there was nothing improper about the parking, it was about the loose gravel area between the driveways.

And when one drives around the city, there are literally thousands of driveways that are not paved.

And we even have brick streets in the old neighborhoods.

This recent tempest in a tea pot, coupled with the round and round about fire hydrants and the apparent finger pointing and painting of hydrants and not knowing that there is sufficient pressure, is another example of a boat adrift with nobody at the helm.

And then there is the Public Utilities Department sitting on 12+ Million dollars of unpaid water bills.

These unpaid bills didn't just occur recently, no, it had to time, a lot of time and yet, nothing was mentioned about the arrears, until now.

The time for review is here and not more, Business As Usual.