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    June 2009

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    All for one and one for...oh, nevermind!

    There is another story in The Courier today (read it before it goes in the archive) about the ineptitude of city and county leaders. What?!?!? Yes, I am as shocked as you are (he wrote sarcastically).

    The issue of how to merge the county and city health departments has been around for awhile now. I can remember back to the last mayoral election and how the idea was discussed then. For this to still be an issue almost two years later...I am not saying whether it is a good idea or bad, but seriously, waiting this long to make a decision and move forward on a project? It's not like we're asking for someone to settle the River Place issue (he wrote sarcastically).

    If you don't want to read the article, here's what happened: since August 2007 (remember the flooding issues at the time) the city and county were being reimbursed by FEMA for the cost of renting a temporary location for the health departments (around $38k annually for each). Fast forward two years...since neither the city nor county health departments have a plan in place to move to a permanent home, FEMA said "that's enough" and the payments stopped May 31.

    Yes, I know that the money they were getting was from the taxpayers (so it was really a wash for us - at least some of it was coming back into the area in the form of rent). However, we're still paying taxes to the federal government, and now we're on the hook to fund the housing of two health departments. Before, we weren't directly on the hook for the cost. Well, I guess the city and county are doing well enough financially that this shouldn't be a big issue (he wrote sarcastically).

    SERIOUSLY!!! - doesn't someone know that this was going to happen? We constantly hear how the city/county are facing a crisis of finances, yet no one can take some simple (or should be simple) actions to find some permanent office space? They passed on the old Washington school (I guess anything North of the Blanchard River is verboten)...they have passed on the numerous empty buildings that dot the Main Street landscape...they have passed on their duties to be responsible!!

    It will be interesting disheartening to see how this is going to be spun by Ed Ingold/Pete Sehnert/Bruce Hardy, but that doesn't change the facts. On the surface it may seem like a minor issue, but lack of action just shines a big ol' spotlight on the larger problem: the inability of our elected officials to plan and lead effectively.

    The possibility of developing a charter for the city seems to be gaining support, and when events like this happen, it is very enticing. Even though we could not change how the county commissioners act, creating a charter for the city gives us an opportunity to construct the virtual shell of a local government that is more responsive to the needs of the citizens and gives our electees the power to act accordingly.

    I am confident that the only thing our elected officials needs is the right framework and our support to take action and be successful. With both those things, we will give them the right environment to lead, and I am sure they will shine brightly and not let us down again (he wrote sarcastically).

    -RSKnopfJr

    June 22, 2009

    I've got mail!

    PLEASE NOTE: These are not real e-mails. They are a just a literary tool and are not meant to imply an actual question or comment from anyone, real or imagined.

    Things were going so well. Then - North Korea with their nuclear threats, Iran's election, and no one seems to be excited about my plan for health care. What? My approval rating is dropping? Let's forget the last few weeks, and focus on what got us here.  Want to see the official portrait of Bo? He's cute isn't he?  Yes we can! Yes we can!
    B. Obama
    Washington, D.C.

    It is not easy being President, is it? You're doling out taxpayer money like it is going out of style (and who knows - it might be).  Just when things seem to be going your way, BOOM…things pop up quickly. Your goodwill tours started to put the US in a good light in the eyes of other countries, so I will give you a lot of credit for that. It was needed for the longest time, so change is indeed good.

    Now, however, you need to step it up. Before people start thinking about whether McCain would have been the better choice, dealing with North Korea and the situation in Iran is very important. So far, you seem to have the right strategy - do not let people force you into doing something we are unprepared for.  Remember your campaign promise…diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy!!  Hillary Clinton should be your new best friend - she needs to start racking up frequent flyer miles.

    BTW - Bo?  Sure he’s cute, but what about a real family dog…like a beagle (right Sammy)?


    Did you read The Courier editorial about how communications are still not improved before city council meetings and how they brought up a few ideas to improve things? Didn’t you have a posting about something similar to this?
    E.M.Gaylord
    Fairfield Glade, TN

    Not one to toot my own horn (I am not sure how I could do it even if I wanted), but there was a column where I did stress that communication was…oh, I don’t know…IMPORTANT!!  Seriously, can’t the city do something to take care of this issue? It seems strange (I want to use a stronger word, but am not sure I can) that our administration can council cannot take care of even the simplest tasks.

    It may be asking too much for anyone to read what is placed in front of them, but it should plausible that they at least have the documentation in a timely manner. I think it shows (however minutely) how unorganized things are, and how little our officials put into short/long-term planning and preparation. Forget trying to get the big issues right…let’s get the little things corrected first before we move on.

     

    I’m not a great leader, huh?  My safety director runs the city, huh? Do you think you could do any better at this job?  Do any of you? I don’t see any of you trying!  Now please excuse me - there’s a couple that wants to get married, and I love that part of my job.
    P. Sehnert
    Findlay, OH

    I was going to respond to this e-mail until I got this next one…


    Sorry about that last message. Sometimes I forget to lock the computer and the mayor starts playing around with things. He should know better than that now. I constantly tell remind him what his job is, but sometimes he likes to take matters into his own hands. You like how we ‘found’ the money in the budget to make sure the pool was going to be open this summer?  All thanks to us not buying sandbags! You better remember this when election time rolls around…how good ol’ Barker Sehnert kept your kiddies cool during the summer. That ought to be good for a few thousand votes. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get on the road and head home before it gets dark. It’s a long drive.
    J. Barker
    Findlay, OH (sort of)

    If people are so upset with how the city is being run, where are the recall petitions? If it can happen in Toledo, it could very easily happen here. I am not suggesting that is should happen - I am just questioning why there isn’t more of an outcry if the safety director mayor is doing such a poor job.  The real problems this city faces require real leadership and real ideas. So far, I don’t see much of either coming from those who are complaining.

    Our budget issues are not going to go away any time soon, but here we are spending money on running a pool when there were other options available (options that would not spend taxpayer money). With the Findlay City School District and Hancock County Commissioners seeking more money, wouldn’t it be prudent to conserve as much as we can at this point? Even if it means turning over non-essential services to groups who are able – AND WILLING – to take them on?

    The story in The Courier today about council revisiting the idea of becoming a charter city was very interesting. On the one hand, it is just another opportunity for our local government to really make a mess of things. How can a group of people, who cannot seem to handle what they are currently tasked with, seriously consider the idea of trying to localize power even more? On the other hand, this may be the only opportunity we have to get things changed for the better. What about it, citizens of Flag City? You up for the challenge?


    Things were going so well. Then - one of my writers messes up a joke and the ‘Fire Letterman’ chants start. I get passed over for The Tonight Show again, and now I have to deal with untrue accusations and the ire of the far right? I know I don’t follow the news; if I did, I would know which Palin daughter was at the Yankee game. I am just coasting right now. I’ve only got a few years left doing this shtick, and I don’t need no headaches? Right, Paul?
    D. Letterman
    New York, NY

    Two apologies and thousands of stories later, things seem to be dying down?  Or are they?  Want to let things go and move on, or does the controversy stoke the ratings a little bit?  I know that Conan was beating you (especially with the coveted 18-34 males), but it’s nothing a good political controversy can’t fix, right? Why don’t you work on making the show better, and leave the political commentary to others.

    I believe you when you said that you were not talking about Willow Palin. You didn’t mention anyone by name, and even though the jokes were crass, I have heard worse during other talk shows. I think the whole thing was blown out of proportion - by the Palins, and then when the media latched onto it. Anytime you bring it up in your monologues now, especially after the governor accepted your apology, makes it seem like you are doing it out of self-preservation.

    You are not going to be fired by CBS. Because any publicity is good publicity (especially since you have a new competitor) you may not be eager to let this go. As someone who grew up watching you on NBC, and then followed you faithfully to your new network, I have four letters for you: WWJD - What Would Johnny Do?


    Honey - on your way home, please pick up a gallon of milk, some cream cheese and a loaf of French bread. I have a new recipe I want to try. And don’t forget, you promised to bag and take out the garbage tonight. Don’t be late - we still have a few episodes of Private Practice to watch.
    T. Knopf
    Findlay, OH

    Even in a fantasy mail bag, I still cannot escape my wife.

    -RSKnopfJr

    How do you feel about Findlay | Hancock County?

    conducted May 12 - June 21, 2009

    6-22-2009 7-07-09 PM 

    -RSKnopfJr

    May 12, 2009

    It's up to us!

    If you weren't from Findlay, but have heard about the city through the regional/national media, what have you learned over the past year?

    1) The city has major problems with flooding, and things are not going to get better for years.

    2) Findlay is one of the best 100 communities in the country for young people.

    3) This is a rust-belt town, where the population is 93% white, possibly racist, and where "people (in Findlay) are kind of funny about change" - and this was an actual quote from the Mayor.

    4) Findlay is the home of the Super Bowl winning quarterback.

    5) The local University won a national basketball championship.

    6) A school in Findlay suspended a student for attending a prom.


    Now, if you are a company looking for a place to locate your business...or if you are a couple looking for a nice place to start a family...or if you are a high school student looking for a school and community to spend the next four years...does the good outweigh the bad?

    I think everyone understands how things can get blown out of proportion or how a few bad characters or circumstances can unfairly characterize a community. We hear about it all the time on the news. Yet, it seems like it is happening more and more to us.

    Everyone is smiles when Findlay gets mentioned alongside Big Ben, or Gavin Creel, or the Oilers. It is nice to see our name in lights or associated with winners. When we see these successes, we take it is a credit to our hometown and belief that the way these people were raised and supported over the years was correct. We feel that we are doing it right.

    So how do we feel when the opposite happens? How do we feel when national media portray the city in a negative light? Do we accept personal responsibility for what happened, or do we explain it by saying that those from the outside do not know who we really are.

    Flooding still happens, and yet we blame the Army Corps of Engineers for not being able to move fast enough on a solution. Not happy with our local representatives; no one runs for office and an (almost) entire slate of candidates will be unopposed in November. A student decides to attend a dance and understands the punishment for doing so; blame the school and principal for their archaic rules.

    Maybe we aren't that different from how we're portrayed.  It is difficult to look at ourselves objectively and see how our responses may be inappropriate. Instead of looking to put the burden on others, maybe we should look inwardly to see how our actions and words affect others.

    Do you want to stop the cycle of negativity and ignorance and contribute positively to your community, or do you want to sit in the background and do nothing? Do you want to help organize your neighbors to accomplish something, or do you want to hide behind an electronic veil and spew hatred and ignorance through on-line comments? The civic and organizational leaders that I grew up admiring and being mentored by would choose the former. How about you?

    When I started this post, it was more out of concern that Findlay was portrayed inaccurately. Now, I'm not so sure what I'm trying to convey. It just seems that with the economy in the dumps, and all the financial issues in the community, and the fighting over layoffs, and the name calling and bad feelings that have developed...it is going to take more than a letter to the editor by Mayor Sehnert to get a positive attitude flowing through the city again. 

    I'm not sure what to even suggest at this point. It is frustrating and enough to give me a headache. It physically hurts to see us in this kind of mess. I know there are people out there who feel the same way, so I'm looking to you for help. What do we do? What can we do? It is up to us!

    -RSKnopfJr

    Did you vote in the 2009 primary election?

    conducted May 4-11, 2009


    Poll051209
    -RSKnopfJr

    May 06, 2009

    Happy 2nd Anniversary!

    Welcome to the Flag City Politico.

    Over the next several weeks, months and (hopefully) years, we will explore the local, state and national political landscape.  Together, we will try to understand what is happening in the political arena, and how decisions made by others can affect all of us.

    - Sunday, May 6, 2007


    WOW!  Has it really been two years?  400+ posts later, I am still standing.

    Oh, that Barney Rubble. What an actor.

    As with any anniversary, it is a time to look back and reminisce about the wonderful days that have gone by.  It seems like just yesterday that I was talking about Andy Peters' mustache. Since I started, Findlay elected a new mayor and the country has a new President.

    Looking back over the past two years, I found a few of my favorite posts (Top 10) and wanted to share them with you again

    Those certainly bring back some memories. Can you see how my design skills have changed over the past two years?  If Levi says I am improving, then it must be so.

    Thanks to everyone who reads FCPolitico, make wonderful comments and send me messages. If it wasn't for you, I would not continue to do this. Thanks to Findlay Publishing for allowing me to do this and for sticking with me - even if I am busier than ever and cannot update every day.

    I look forward to hearing from you.  I may be the person in front of the keyboard, but your thoughts, suggestions and opinions are critical to the "fair and balanced" blog I have tried to develop.  Please leave comments along the way, or contact me by e-mail (flagcitypolitico@gmail.com) or via Twitter (updates at top of left hand column). With a little assistance from you, I think this journey will be interesting and informative.  And who knows...maybe we'll all learn something along the way.

    Most of all, however, thanks to my wife and kids. They have been very supportive about 'one more thing' I need to do some nights, and are understanding when I cannot give them my full attention. I love the three of you very much!!

    -RSKnopfJr

    May 05, 2009

    Remember to vote today!

    Vote09

    Polls are open from 6:30am to 7:30pm.

    To find out the candidates on the ballot, click here.

    To find out the issues on the ballot, click here.

    To find out where you vote, click here.

    To find out the results after the polls close, click here.

    The weather for today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.

    Remember to get out and vote!

    -RSKnopfJr

    May 04, 2009

    GOTV

    Vote09

    A new municipal court judge, a preview of the second ward council contest, a renewal for Blanchard Valley, and a bevy of school levys across the county.  The 2009 election does not have many contested races, but with the actions of the last few months by city and county administrators, it feels like 2009 is just a prelude to the next two years of elections.

    With not much to vote for, the most interesting thing about tomorrow may be whether the enthusiasm from last November will carry over to this election. The board of elections is predicting that only 25% of registered voters will be going to the polls, but once again, I have faith that the people of Findlay and Hancock County are really going to come out tomorrow and beat that number.

    Even if you do not feel like it, please get out to vote tomorrow. Our democratic process of electing leaders and then the transfer of power and responsibility from one person to another is one of the truly great things our government has sustained. It is a shame that so few people accept this opportunity for what it is: the right to have your voice heard.

    Get Out To Vote!

    -RSKnopfJr

    If Findlay was a stop on the passenger train system being proposed for Ohio, would you use it?

    conducted April 5 - May 3, 2009
    Poll
    -RSKnopfJr

    April 05, 2009

    Choo! Choooooo!

    While sitting at a hotel in beautiful downtown Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (Best Western - the nicest one I have ever seen), I came across this Quinnipiac poll from a few weeks ago, and there were a few numbers that were interesting. First, take a look at these three questions:

    How satisfied are you with the way things are going on Ohio?
    • Very Satisfied 2%
    • Somewhat Satisfied 30%
    • Somewhat Dissatisfied 39%
    • Very Dissatisfied 28%
    Do you approve of the way Strickland is handling the economy?
    • Approve 39%
    • Disapprove 45%
    Do you think Strickland will improve education in Ohio?
    • Yes 31%
    • No 29%
    • Do Not Know 40%

    Based on this, you would think that Strickland would be in trouble as we head toward next year's election. Despite the support he received when he was elected, and how Democrats have done over the past few years, these numbers seem a little low. Despite the dissatisfaction, Republicans do not appear to be making any advances...

    In the 2010 election for Governor, who would you (registered Republicans) select as your candidate?
    • Mike DeWine 32%
    • John Kasich 27%
    • Kevin Coughlin 2%
    • Someone Else 2%
    • Do Not Know 37%
    Who would you vote for Governor?
    • Strickland 51%
    • Kasich 31% 
    • Strickland 50%
    • DeWine 34%
    Do you approve or disapprove of the way Strickland is handling his job?
    • Approve 56%
    • Disapprove 30%

    My favorite question in the poll:

    Is the passenger train service between Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and Cleveland a good idea?
    • Good Idea 64%
    • Bad Idea 29%
    • Do Not Know 7%
    If train service is established, would you use it?
    • Very Likely 18%
    • Somewhat Likely 28%
    • Not Too Likely 14%
    • Not Likely At All 39%
    So - the train service is a great idea, but no one is going to use it? Sounds like the perfect use of stimulus money. It's a good thing none of it is being wasted.

    -RSKnopfJr

    Do you approve or disapprove of the job Mayor Sehnert is doing?

    conducted March 11 - April 4, 2009

    Latestpoll
    -RSKnopfJr