Treasurer Candidate Speaks to Democratic Women's Group

Candidate for Treasurer Richard Cordray spoke at the 50th Annual Democratic Women Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner last week. If you missed it, you can read about it here. After all, when's the last time you knew anything about a candidate for Treasurer?

Here's something to know: Cordray's campaign treasurer is a former U.S. Treasurer. That seems like a pretty solid endorsement.

At Least It's Not the Black Fist

Who could be the first person elected to office from the ALSD, the Association of Luxury Suite Directors? Well, who else?

Baltimore Offers Parking Discounts for Hybrids

The program is offered to hybrids with monthly parking contracts. It would save a person about $55 per month. Only 17 hybrids are known to have monthly contracts, so the program would barely affect overall parking revenue (over $18 million per year).

However, the number of registered hybrids in Baltimore has increased 80% in the last year to over 1500 vehicles.

Kudos to Baltimore for recognizing the importance of fuel efficiency and for promoting it in a simple yet effective way.

If FOX News Had Been Around for Centuries...

...Oh, I think it's safe to say we'd see history a bit different. Maybe something a bit like this?

Coleman Has Great Campaign Poster

You may not know much about Michael Coleman, but you should at least know he has a great campaign poster.

Will the Democratic Party Capitalize on GOP Troubles?

How can the national Democratic Party best capitalize on a cracking GOP? What should it's strategy be? Some good analysis on the matter is at LegalFiction, such as this:

When you get down to it, the only real glue holding this coalition together is hatred for liberals. As Yglesias said yesterday: “A gut-level hostility to liberal elites is not a governing philosophy.” No, but it’s heck of a way to keep an otherwise incoherent political coalition together. “Conservative” means so many things today that it’s hard to find any essence to the concept anymore.

“Conservative” seems only to have negative meaning – that is, it is defined by what it is not, rather than what it is. And what it is not is the despised liberal elite, or Howard Dean, or Ward Churchill, or John Kerry, or Bill Clinton, or Dick Durbin, or whoever the designated “Other” for the week happens to be.

By staying on the sidelines (at least for now), Democrats rob Republicans of the opportunity of creating an “Other” to rally against – which is really the key to their recent success.

The Latest Plamegate Development

WaPo reporter Carol Luennig said on The NewsHour that the Special Prosecutors investigation took a peculiar turn today when investigators met with neighbors of Valerie & Joseph Wilson. The investigators wanted to know whether the neighbors had any idea that Plame worked for the CIA before Robert Novak outed her in his column. They said they had no idea.

More dark clouds on the horizon, it seems.

Vision for Findlay Mkt Tomorrow 7-9 pm

WHAT: Visions for the Findlay Market Neighborhood
A Presentation, Discussion and Display

WHERE: Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm Street, next door to Music Hall
Plenty of free, on street parking

WHEN: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Free and Open to the Public


Who: Moderator: Dan Hurley, Host of “12 Newsmakers” on
Local 12 TV
PANELISTS
Margery Spinney, Cornerstone Community Loan Fund:
“Renting to own at St. Anthony’s Village”

Reverend Damon Lynch III, New Prospect Baptist Church:
“Bringing African Food, Clothes and Music to Elm Street”

Andy Hutzel, RESTOC:
“Mixed Income Housing South of Liberty Street”

Darrick Dansby, SmartMoney:
“Home Ownership for O-T-R Residents”

Mike Moose, Glaserworks:
“Loft Living in the Brewery District”

After the Program, enjoy free Findlay Market refreshments.
Sponsored by the Friends of Findlay Market

2000th US Soldier Vigil Tomorrow 4pm

October 26 -Memorial Vigil for 2000th U.S. Soldier and all who have died in IraqSadly, CNN is reporting that we've reached the tragic milestone of the 2000th U.S. Soldier killed in Iraq. So, tomorrow, October 26, please join us in a solemn vigil to honor all who have lost their lives in Iraq and help highlight the human cost of war in Iraq.

The event will have two parts: People are welcome to join in at any time in any part of the event in which they are able to participate.*PRE-MEMORIAL VIGIL SILENT PROCESSION beginning at 4pm at the Federal Building (6th St at Main). From there we will walk silently with banners and a mock coffin through downtown proceeding to Central Parkway and Vine Streets arriving about 5:00pm.*MEMORIAL VIGIL from 5-6pm on the grassy island at Central Parkway and Vine St (where Women in Black have been standing each Monday since before the war began) It will be a solemn vigil. 2,000 placards have been prepared, each marked with the name and age of a U.S. soldier who has lost his or her life in Iraq.

Each name in turn will be held by participants as they respectfully circle the grassy island until all the soldiers have been honored. Banners mentioning the troops as well as the Iraqis who have been killed in Iraq wil also be on hand.

Please wear black or other dark clothing.People from Greater Cincinnati will join people from more than 390 communities from 49 states across the USA to honor those who have died and to say that the country’s pro-peace majority wants Congress to stop the deaths by stopping the dollars that are funding the war. To see a full listing of events planned across the United States, see http://www.afsc.org/2000/Call IJPC at 513-579-8547 if you have any questionas about the local event.

Alter... Active? Reviewing the Future of Transport

Monday Oct. 24
6:30-7:00 Music and tasty snacks.
7pm sharp We talk.
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mt. Adams Circle.

Creating a Kick-Ass Transportation System; buses and bike lanes, light rail and interstates, high gas prices and urban sprawl

John Schneider
Alliance of Regional Transit
Dusty Rhodes
Hamilton County Auditor
Peter Block
Guru of Creative Conversations

Pay-What-You-Can Listen-and-Learn Say-What-you-Think
INKTANK NEWS!

Will Kroger Make Albertson's Its Biotch?

Struggling northeast grocery chain Alberston’s recently went on sale, and Kroger is one of five interested parties. Some interesting facts: [NYTimes]

The acquisition of Albertson's 2,300 stores would give Kroger a strong presence in the Northeast, a region where the company does not have a significant presence.

The bid comes as traditional supermarkets are struggling to regain market share in the face of discount retailers like Wal-Mart and Costco and the organic and specialty stores like Whole Foods and Wild Oats.

Grocery sales at Wal-Mart are now far larger than that of any supermarket, jumping to $109 billion in 2004 from $82 billion in 2002. Sales at Kroger were $56 billion in 2004.

The combination of Kroger and Albertson's would have sales almost as large as that of Wal-Mart's grocery business. Kroger, which is based in Cincinnati, operates 2,500 stores under names like Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Smith's and King Soopers.

No word yet on whether Albertson’s employees will get parking perks as part of the deal.

Hackett Has Electability Edge Over Brown

Sherrod Brown may be a good guy, but he'll never get votes like this: [The News Blog]

Butch Davis, a 70-year-old lifelong Republican, pulled up at Hackett HQ in a 1943 Marine Corps jeep, complete with a mounted 30-caliber machine gun, sporting a “Veterans for Hackett” sign. “I’m a redneck from Brown County,” he declared proudly, extending his weathered hand. “Paul’s pro-choice,” he added. “I’m pro-life. He said educating the young fellas and gals is the answer to the problem, not outlawing abortion.”

Davis continued in a thick Southern drawl, “I used to think clinic bombers were doing the right thing. My preacher said I was too uptight.” He chuckled. Now, he said, “I think Paul’s approach is as good as mine.”

Ohio Town to Hold Father-Daughter Purity Ball

A popular story in the recent news has been the high school principal who cancelled prom because he doesn't want the school promoting a night of "drugs and orgies." Hey, we all know what happens on prom night, so it's not like anyone can really get on his case for being wrong. Frankly, I'm surprised prom night (or as it's also known, "your daughter thinks she's ready" night) isn't more of an issue among parents and schools.

Well, the town of Van Wert (in NW Ohio) is doing something about the drunken debauchery of high school formals. The organization SolidSource ("Building solid relationships and solid marriages in Northwest Ohio") is sponsoring a father-daughter "Purity Ball" on Nov. 19.

The "Christ-centered event" starts with dinner, followed by a purity ceremony in which fathers will pledge to set good examples, and daughters will pledge to "remain pure" (symbolized by the purity ring they will receive). Afterwards there will be dancing to "the best in Christian dance music, Christian ballads, and classic dances tunes (YMCA, Celebration, etc.)."

The cost is $70 per couple. Additional daughters are $25 each.

Performence Art Evening, Saturday October 22nd

Including the ceremonial, spoken-word, body painting, fire dance, etc.
TO BE HELD AT LEIGH WALTZ’S GROUND FLOOR STUDIO
at 18 E. Central Avenue in Miamisburg, Ohio from 7 PM to 11 PM
(Contact at bottom of the post.)

This is a private function. Regional performance artists have been invited to create an annual event
and in order to realize this goal, participants (both “active and passive”) are asked to contribute $35.
Active participants are performers and tech support/documenters of performers. Passive participants
are audience members (curious, open-minded, art-friendly friends of the performers) and jurors ( Judith Huacuja, PhD. Art history U. of Dayton, Tuliza Fleming, Associate curator, Dayton Art Institute and a
third juror to be announced).

The monies garnered from contributions will afford food and drink for participants, cash awards for the
best three performances and audio CD AND DVD documentation of the evening’s performances for each participant (to be mailed to the participants). This is not a for-profit event per se. Future events are intended to be sponsored and grant funded.

There will probably be no more than 45 tickets available and they are being distributed IN ADVANCE.
The tickets are “FOUNDERS’ TICKETS,” 4” x 10” pieces of crescent board collaboratively hand-painted in acrylic by five of the performers… and they will be valid admission to next year’s event as well.
All non-performers must show their ticket to be admitted.

Persons interested in tickets should call or e-mail Leigh Waltz :
(937) 859-7123 Wednesday and Sunday mornings from 7 to 11 unless you “like machines.”
l_waltz@yahoo.com or contact other performers.

Miami U Plans to Take it Up a Level

The Miami Student reports that the university has been increasing its focus on faculty research in recent years, and plans to continue that to boost its academic profile. Top-quality research will attract top-quality faculty, which will attract top-quality students.

It's a good plan because it will make Miami more nationally competitive in a time when Ohio's colleges are struggling for students and money.

Miami is already a respected school. How much better will it get? Could we have a 4 or 5 star college in our region?

Cincinnati School Board Cadidate's Forum Wed.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Mayerson Academy Auditorium
2650 Highland Avenue
Corryville

Sponsored by the
Citizens School Committee

Please join us...the Citizens School Committee, a broadly representative group of community organizations and individuals committed to positive constructive action that supports academic achievement for each child in the Cincinnati Public Schools while encouraging diverse parent, family and community involvement and support.

For more information including candidate questionnaire responses please visit www.cincinnatipps.org and click on the "news" button or email CitizensSchools@aol.com.

Downsizing Prisons

From Sasha Abramsky's review of Michael Jacobson's book Downsizing Prisons at CityLimits.org, she writes:

Five years ago, the journalist Joel Dyer published The Perpetual Prisoner Machine. Dyer argued that a series of interlocking policies, budget choices, influences of tough-on-crime advocacy groups, and media representations of crime and punishment had come together to create an almost irresistible momentum toward expansion of the U.S. correctional apparatus. Whether crime went up or down, Dyer argued, enough people, businesses and government entities now had a vested interest in seeing the prison population rise that it would be extremely difficult to create effective counterweights.

Jacobson argues for creating such a counterforce to the status quo. It makes sense-- after all, we've been hearing tough-on-crime mumbo jumbo for decades and the results have not been spectacular. It's time to deal with crime in a more intelligent way and it's time for officials to recognize this. It's a great issue for the Dems if they can get it together. Saving money and reducing crime can still get Americans to vote for you. Actually, just telling them you're doing it and the other guy isn't also seems to work. But it's still better to do it for real.

Sir, Are You Wearing Boxer Shorts?

Nashville has been quite a trip... We are on our way to tailgait for the Bengals game. Last night, we were adored by the throngs of Bengal faithful who make the trip. One of the four in out group donned a Bengals helmet which drew the respect of football fan, Bengal-nationer, Bengal hater AND hott girl far and near.

On a Saturday night in laaaiiid back Nashville, one man was called on stage by the band... was kicked out of the bar, dropped a girl on his head, stuck in a tree... we were almost arrested. We were in fact banned from the McDonald's in Tenn... I had 10 Red Bulls... its been crazzy so far. Headed to tailgate.
Picutured is Joe Montag in Bengals jersey and boxers with the drive through girl who would sell us nothing, not even lettuce.

Bengals won... great weekend.

Michael

Wright State Republicans Stick By DeLay

Calling the 2 indictments a "misunderstanding" and ignoring a history of blatant ethical lapses, the chairman of the Wright State College Republicans, Courtney Cunningham, expressed support for Tom DeLay and said "may God be with him in this difficult time."

"It is ignorant to compare the troubles of one politician with the fate of an entire party," said Cunningham in response to Nancy Pelosi's attempt to do exactly that in a press conference. Unfortunately for Cunningham, the things Pelosi mentioned-- corruption, cronyism, and incompetence-- are indeed characteristic of the Republican Party, not just DeLay.

So whether DeLay is ousted or not is really not the issue. If he goes, he will be replaced by protege Roy Blunt who will continue government-by-the-highest-bidder. The problem is institutional, not personal, and the way to change it is by changing campaign finance laws.

"Official" Student Blogs at U of Dayton

From UD's student newspaper, the Flyer News:

Student blogs are a small but growing trend in campus admission offices. It is an admission tool which is supposed to let prospective students view what life is really like on a college campus.

The six UD student bloggers were hand-picked by administrators and earn $500 per semester for writing at least one blog entry per week.

“Current students are in the best position to tell prospective students what the University of Dayton is all about,” said Robert Johnson, vice president for enrollment management.

The purpose of the UD blog is to provide readers with a realistic representation of daily life as a UD student. The content of the blogs is supposed to be driven by the personal experiences of the bloggers as well as their observations.

UD is one of the first universities in the country to use an admissions blog and is the first university to use podcasting and RSS (Really Simple Syndication) technology. People can even download blogs onto their iPod and listen to a blog entry.

Visit the student blogs at http://mylife.udayton.edu.

Cleveland Gallery Exhibits Bourke-White Photographs

If you'll be in Cleveland sometime in the next month and you like photography, you shouldn't miss the exhibition of Margaret Bourke-White's photographs at the Contessa Gallery.

Bourke-White is one of America's most important photographers and photojournalists. If you can't make it to Cleveland, check out Contessa's online gallery instead.

The exhibition runs until Nov. 7.

Did A Reporter Suppress a Story that Could Have Cost Bush the Election?

The Toledo Blade broke the coingate story early this year. But soon after, rumors began circulating that people knew about GOP corruption before the election and chose to suppress it. A sort of proactive damage control measure, apparently.

But it looks like the rumors are true. Fritz Wenzel was a political reporter for the Blade until May of 2004, when he left to work on Jean Schmidt's campaign (for which he received $60,000). Prior to his job at the Blade he was a Republican operative in Oregon.

While at the Blade, Wenzel was a friend of the Noe's and close to the GOP. The Noe's attended his son's wedding.

According to information available, Wenzel was aware of GOP corruption at least as early as January 2004, well in advance of the election.

Curtis Wells for Council Press Release

An Advocate for the People

Successfully advocated for public disclosure of utilization analysis for minorities and women by Hamilton County Community Mental Health Board provider agencies in Fiscal Year 2005.
Successfully researched recent hiring disparities for the Cincinnati Board of Education and Drake Hospital.
Conducting ongoing inquiry into potential violations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and potential misconduct by Hamilton County Board of Elections staff related to the 2004 General Election.

Wells for Cincinnati City Council
Curtis Wells, Treasurer
Education:

Master of Science in Counselor Education,
University of South Alabama

Bachelor of Arts in English,
Alcorn State University

NACEP Long-Term Care Nursing Assistant Training,
S.D. Bishop State Community College

Licensure/Certifications:

Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board,
Passed the Licensed Professional Counselor Examination

Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners,
Passed the National Counselor Examination

Ohio Department of Education,
Long-Term Substitute Teacher License

Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services,
Registered Candidate

Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Program,
Passed the Written Evaluation and Manual Skills

Employment History:

Public and Parochial Education

Juvenile Counseling

Juvenile Forensic Substance Abuse Services

Geriatric Nursing Assistance

Federal Tax Examination

Sam Heard Announces Pilot Jobs Program

CINCINNATI – Samantha Herd said today her pilot jobs program will help hard-to-employ residents find and keep jobs.

Herd said her proposed Community Jobs Program will create 100 publicly-subsidized jobs combining work experience with, among other things, training in basic skills, mentoring, and financial education.

“The jobless in Cincinnati are in the thousands,” Herd said. “This program will give people a sense of hope and opportunity.

“It’s a real chance to begin tackling the problem of chronic unemployment – a major factor in poverty, crime, and the break up of families,” she said.

Leveraging state and federal funds, this program is similar to a dozen in states and cities. As part of the Cincinnati pilot program, Herd proposes that participants:
work for 25 hours each week; the City of Cincinnati is the employer of record and pays each client $5.15 per hour
attend ten hours per week of professional development training through the Cincinnati Jobs Center
are mentored by a work partner at their work site
are eligible for child care and transportation subsidies for up to six months
Herd’s proposed pilot program is part of her vision for making job creation priority one for Council.
“We need to put job creation on the top of Council’s to-do list,” she said. “Nothing can be more important to our city’s health than bringing back families, businesses, and jobs. That’s why we must put jobs first.”

John Eby's Aunt...

Hi, I'm John Eby's aunt living in Augusta, Georgia. I follow John's agenda on the net and came across your page. I've been chumping at the bit to get my two cents worth in on the ability of this wonderful young man.

John as a little boy was always the sweetest, kindest, most obedient, loving child.

I missed his growing years for I was living in another city in Ohio and busy raising my own family, but when we had the opportunity to visit John was always there with a smile on his face to greet us.

John is a devoted young man to his father and mother, and is very well thought of by all of his siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, he can make you laugh at the drop of a hat, and have a serious discussion on any subject, he listens well, and when he speaks you listen because you just know you will learn something, he never talks down, he has a genuine respect for all people.

Thank you for this opportunity to express my views.

Yours truly,

Jackie Gilroy