Link: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100729/OPINION02/7280370

"Toledo Mayor Mike Bell voted against a City Council resolution that called on Congress to enact comprehensive reform to address the root causes of illegal immigration. His reasoning: People he talked to didn't seem to care about the issue all that much."

Yes, comprehensive legislation is needed to address the problem.

But, back on earth in Toledo, Ohio, we need administration and council to focus on the issues that matter to us locally.

Job creation, stop the exodus of business loss, stop the crop of vacant lots, stop the policies of the past, that lead us to the mess that the city is in.

If, council has time to mull over the immigration issue, why does council fail to look at review, act on change, of the practices of the "laws" of the city, when it comes to the ever expanding vacant home inventory.

Sure, immigration concerns are concerning, but what about right here, the loss of property tax, the loss of income tax revenue, the failures and continuing failures of city departments to operate in a business like manner, and stop the flow of red ink.

Action begins at home and lets have more of it, before head out west.

Link: http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/view_newsletter.php?newsletter_id=1410425773

A Reminder: Toledo City Councilman Tom Waniewski and the Ohio Department of Transportation are holding a public meeting Tuesday, July 27th at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanger Branch Library on Central Ave. east of Secor.

Link: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100725/OPINION02/7240365

"The bland assertion that the city can do nothing about potentially hazardous vacant buildings that do not pose immediate, overt "structural" issues is unacceptable to the neighbors who must live in the shadows of these hulks."

Yes, it is unacceptable, but on the other hand we have administrations and councils that do not want to admit the obvious, that there is an ever growing inventory of vacant homes, mainly falling apart.

Administrations and councils, do not want to tackle the issue, it is too hard, wedded to the past, and people are simply being negative, because we have the Toledo Zoo, The Toledo Museum of Art, a Baseball stadium, an arena, every thing is just fine.

We have put new lamp posts in the south end along that vacant lot, that was Southwyck Mall. We have put new street lights on Dorr, to make the street more reminiscent of the old days, while we still have boarded and vacant homes either side of the street lights.

The city leadership has long sought to distract us, with flower planters, fire hydrants painted to beautify the city, awards based on made up visions of the city.

"In the meantime, city and county officials must be aggressive in monitoring vacant buildings, collecting back taxes on those buildings, and requiring absentee owners to maintain and secure unoccupied, so-called nuisance properties."

Novel idea, but when the leaders in the departments are asked why we can't do better, chapter and verse is repeated that the employees of the city are doing bang up job.

But the leaders fail to see that they are the problem, be satisfied with the current business as usual practices. No, change is difficult and scary and they prefer the comfort of the same old, same old and they will shout down those who want change.

And, yes, when are the past due fines, fees and penalties going to be collected and the excuses stopped that land owners cannot be found.

This was the same rationale used for why the city could not collect on past public utility bills, but like some magic was used, the new administration has motivated people to step up and pay up.

When will the Mayor turn his attention to the Neighborhoods Department and exact some semblance of change in the department, for the good, and not more of business as usual.

Link: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100723/NEWS16/7220346

"Meanwhile, the city had filed 2,600 cases in Toledo Municipal Court so far this year against delinquent taxpayers in an attempt to collect some of that money. More than $1.1 million has been collected so far."

This simple paragraph begs the question; why was the previous administration unable, unwilling, etc., to follow through and go after the scofflaws?

Why do we appoint people to offices and positions and leave them there and allow them to run the city down and not review and remove them if needed if they fail to get the job done.

Link: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100722/NEWS16/307229990

"Mr. Sarantou, a Republican, said council had no business taking up the issue.

"I voted no because I believe we should not as a city council be dealing with an issue in Arizona," he said. "These are federal issues and the President and the Congress need to deal with these issues, and not the city of Toledo."

Quite.

Now, how about our administration and council take a long hard look at the inventory of vacant homes? Something local perhaps? Something that council and administration could work on toegther, right here at home, perhaps?

How many homes do we need to tear down before, those in office, see the picture that with every demolished home and then vacant lot, our property values decline, the revenue from the property taxes decline, the expenses to the city rise, as the city is left taking care of property that returns nothing to the city, because the lots are empty.

And while administration and council, are not distracted, much like the previous years with flower planters, awards, press headlines, can we get some attention paid to the city neglecting to collect on fees, fines, penalties accessed against property owners that fail to maintain properties, board up and walk away from an ever growing inventory of property in the city of Toledo.

Previous media has reported on the Bob Mossing of the Neighborhoods Department, commenting on how the department goes after property owners.

Mr. Mossing as well as the management of the department and the associated departments at city hall, that they city routinely fails to collect on fees, fines and penalties accessed by the department, despite the comments made to the media by Mr. Mossing or Director Bond.

The department has failed to collect on this, for over five years;

"Case / Application / Permit Number
CE05-2201 Type / Classification CEPMNTS
NOL: NOTICE OF LIABILITY
CDEN: CODE ENFORCEMENT
Address 1170 HORACE ST
TOLEDO, OH
Parcel Number N/A
File Date 2005-12-06
Status APPLIED
Status Date N/A
Valuation $0.00
Fees $825.00
Payments $0.00
Balance $825.00
Online Payment
There is an outstanding balance. You can make online payment here by
clicking on the link above. This agency accepts:
Visa Mastercard
Description 1st Violation Date - 11/28/05
2nd Violation Date - 7/10/06 3rd Violation Date - 4/24/07 4th Violation
Date - 1/23/08 "

All a matter of public records @ https://www.velocityhall.com/ for anyone that wants to look it up or other properties.

The department rountinely fails to collect and it is yet another vestige of the previous administration locked in the past and incapable of moving forward.

We need change, here on the home front, let the federal government deal with matters of the nation and concentrate on our house and get it in order.