If you are curious, please feel free to watch as the website comes alive (and becomes fully functional). (Please note that obviously not all of the features of the website are or will remain operational until the website is completed.

AkronWatch can be reached at info@akronwatch.org.

Aside from the fact that the Mayor suddenly looks frazzled and desperate, there is little encouraging about Akron’s Mayor Don Plusquellic’ s latest political maneuvering. He accuses Warner Mendenhall of expecting taxpayers to foot the bill for his personal political obsession.  That is not only unfounded, since Mendenhall has already said he will not run for Mayor, but would better describe what has been happening in this City for the past 23 years.  Talk about expecting taxpayers to foot the bill; the Mayor’s call for a vote to sell our sewers might be admirable if he or his sponsors were paying for it but they expected you taxpayers who already owned it to pay for it again!  The 2 for 1 deal didn’t mean you got 2 for the price of 1; instead you would have paid twice for 1 sewer.

There is no secret posse of radicals being lead by some ringleader trying to force Plusquellic out of office.  The Recall effort has been forthcoming with ongoing information, facts, truth, and names.  Where is the same from the supporters of keeping the Mayor?  After all, it is more about a man’s ego and ambition than any concept of good control.  Akron is turning into a city of Plusquellic Monuments constructed as a tribute to him; empty monuments at that.

The worst thing about the mayor’s abuse of the governing process is that it will likely damage the process itself. Initiatives and referendums are the application of direct democracy and those of us who truly believe in democracy are wary when politicians attack the process when it does not serve their purposes. Certainly, there should be reform to remove big money and restore the grassroots to the process. No one should be compensated to collect signatures yet there was an event hosted at Tangier’s on Thursday, June 18^th offering food, music, and even transportation to the Board of Elections to vote.   The real question is: Since we are going ahead with this recall special election, why is the Mayor working so hard to catch the attention of the voter?  Should he, could he, would he be Recalled?  YOU BET!

That is not the issue now. It is not difficult to understand the Mayor’s motives. Don loves the lights. The Democratic process has shamelessly chosen to stand in his way rather than to continue to turn the other cheek and assist him in the building of his kingdom. Certainly, he would be a suitable Emperor for the next occupation.

I understand the Mayor’s distaste for supporters of the Recall. In spite of operating in a virtual media blackout they tend to read, listen, investigate, analyze policies and events, and communicate their facts to the taxpayers of Akron, family and friends any way they can. This my friend, is “grassroots”.  They know a fraud when they see one and Don’s compassionate activist act is growing old.  He wants to get rid of those who bring up truths damaging to his image.  He is very vindictive.

This is not about his failure to keep campaign promises.  That alone would not be reason enough to recall an elected official.  However, since being elected in 2006 to his 6^th term he has abused the power given him by the people through his incompetent, mismanagement of the public affairs in his office.  He has initiated at taxpayers expense; costly tax abatements, sweetheart deals and spent millions in private projects benefiting private owners NOT taxpayers.  He has exhibited hostile behavior towards city officials and employees which has embarrassed and violated the trust that we the people have placed in him.  Remember the hostility towards the general public?  I do, he had the audacity to have a parking lot attendant fired over where he would park his car?  His contempt for the public is inexcusable.  His excessive international trips, his lavish administrative staff get-a-ways and dinners and his travels about the country to feed his ego and ambition are all at the taxpayers’ expense.  His unethical and fiscal abuse must be stopped.  WE CAN’T AFFORD IT! I understand the need for growth and reform in rebuilding this City but it is not a pressing matter for a city in fiscal crisis and it is nothing more than self-serving in the hands of this Mayor.  Nothing he has done so far has worked.  So is it try, try again while we are in this fiscally disastrous state economically?  We have severe credit card debt. 

What I do not understand is why Recall Don is considered radical.  We have asked again and again, for what reasons should he not be recalled?  Supporters of the Mayor; Where are your facts?  What “honest” information can you give the citizens, property owners and income tax payers of Akron? From the beginning you have remained asleep at the wheel?  Gone fishing?  Striking poses for the cameras?  While we have been getting the facts from “your” public records.  There is only one effective way to stop the abuse that began with the multiple elections of Don Plusquellic.  Recall! What comes around goes around and all that jazz. Unfortunately, we are saddled with a gutless and self-serving brand of politicians on both sides of the proverbial aisle and we needed someone to organize the effort.  A ringleader?  No, just an ordinary citizen who knows the truth about what has really been going on at city hall.

It is thick with irony that this special election ballot will offer a proposal to “re-regulate the power industry.” How special indeed. It has been 23 years of fleecing this City’s Taxpayers to the tune of hundreds of millions dollars by a handful of corrupt corporate bureaucrats; it is in fact the reason for our current financial crisis.  There is something truly rotten in the bowels of the City. What have we been waiting for? Another episode of massive fraud and redistribution of wealth with the blessings of all parties?  The last chapter will end with the gallant effort of those who have tried to expose the realities with accuracy and proof not empty words.  Who will take the blame for the next few years?  If Don is not recalled, the voters will.

If we have learned anything at all from these sorry facts, it is that neither side offers any real solution to our long-term problems.  It becomes a question of which side is more interested in securing their power base and lining their pockets with corporate payoffs and which side wants to stop the corruption.  The obvious answer is not to disable direct democracy but to enable greater, broader and uncorrupted participation in politics.  Give democracy a chance: vote for a new candidate.  When enough people say no to the political plotting of well-established politicians, they will finally begin to listen.

Should the Mayor of Akron be removed from office?  Yes, Yes, a thousand times Yes!

 “How best can we arm the people to protect themselves?   When enough people say no to the political plotting of well-established politicians, the politicians will finally begin to listen”    

VOTE FOR THE RECALL

In one of the mailers being sent out by the Anti-Recall group in Akron, it says, “The Mayor has helped revitalize our city…and generated enough revenue to provide for 100 additional police officers in our neighborhoods.”

Huh?  Where are they Mayor Don Plusquellic?  Numbers don’t lie, but you do!  In order to decipher the truth and the lies about just how many Akron police officers we have here in Akron and to see just how many have or have not been added, we complied a chart of the number of sworn officers going back to 1986, where his reign began.  These statistics are from the Akron Police Departments Annual Reports.

Strength of Sworn Akron Police Officers

*As of 6/10/09 the latest count of sworn Akron Police Department officers is 466.  However, according to the Akron Beacon Journal the AUTHORIZED strength of sworn APD offices is 526! (ABJ, 10/1/07)  C’mon Don, where are those 100 additional police officers you added?

Why doesn’t Akron have its AUTHORIZED strength of 526 officers?
I bet those extra SIXTY officers would come in handy now that crime is on the rise in Akron.  Why don’t we have those officers Mr. Mayor?  I am certain Akron residents would gladly welcome an extra SIXTY officers patrolling the neighborhoods, but they just are not out there, WHY?
To account for some of the fluctuation in numbers, we took a look at year 2007.  On 10/28/07 Akron lost four officers to the University of Akron; James Gilbride after eight years with APD, Todd Hough after six years with APD, Kerry Jackson after 13 years with AP and Kevin Kabellar after thirteen years with APD (Westside Leader, 11/6/08).  This is just in one year’s time reflecting why APD lost four officers from our ranks, plus the officers retiring and leaving the City to work in the suburbs.  The fluctuation from year to year is most likely similar to this, but as you will see from the chart above there is NO jump in increased numbers of sworn officers.
It is no secret that violent crimes in Akron are on the rise. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics that ran in the Akron Beacon Journal on June 2, 2009, violent crimes went up 19.8% with 1,897 crimes in 2008 from 1,584 in 2007.  That’s an additional 313 per year in Akron!  WOW!…and the Mayor’s boast of 100 additional officers. Even if we don’t have what the Mayor boasts, the additional 60 AUTHORIZED officers sure would come in handy now! Take a look at the burglary statistics in 2008, they rose in one year’s time to 3,770 up 12.3% from the previous year! That is 414 burglaries per year!

Click here to view “FBI Uniform Crime Report”

It should be a priority for our City to not only bring our police force up to the AUTHORIZED strength, but to increase that authorized strength up to the 100 offices our Mayor claims to have done. So, the

Mayor gets a “big fat LIAR” stamp on his record

and a  “big fat FAILURE ” stamp for not having the 60 officers that are AUTHORIZED to join the current force.  The citizens of Akron deserve to be safe, they have already paid for it.  The additional officers would make it happen in no time at all, so Mr. Mayor just where are they?
The Mayor is now advising the community (6/10/09 ABJ) that he will seek federal stimulus money which is needed to hire at least 21 additional police officers. Why would you need stimulus money Mayor if you had added the 100 officers as your political anti-recall literature states? That same ABJ article mentions, the 21 officers he seeks to get federal funds to support which is 19 FEWER than he pledged (40 officers) to add earlier this year. Does our Mayor know how to tell the truth or keep his own facts straight?
Sounds like he has a problem with that, so thankfully AkronWatch can pull the statistics, run the numbers, do the math and let YOU, the better educated taxpayer, know just what is going on in Akron because the local media sources like the Akron Beacon Journal do no investigate or look any further into the Mayors “facts” or follow up on his promises.
Now, because the Akron Police Department (FOP) endorsed the recall effort the Mayor advised the members of APD that if they were to support the recall effort, they would be driving sleds before he would buy them any new cruisers. Sounds like the Mayor has the best interest of the citizens of Akron in mind with that statement. Fortunately that threat did not sway the majority of the votes but it does speak volumes of how our Akron Mayor feels about the APD and how little he values the safety and the lives of the citizens of Akron. Imagine, just what the outcome would be if ALL reported crimes in Akron had police officers responding on SLEDS.

The following chart is information printed in the City of Akron, Ohio Annual Informational Statement prepared by the Director of Finance for the City.

Comparative Average Annual Employment in the City of Akron

*From Akron Beacon’s editorial writer Steve Hoffman’s article “Analyzing the Plusquellic factor” dated 5-15-09.

The average employment in the City is 103,148 per year for the last 14 years.  In the next breath, the Mayor boasts that he has brought 31,000 jobs plus 5,200 jobs from International efforts for a total of 36,200 jobs.  Yet (see the chart) our employment in the City in 2000 is approximately 1,680 jobs less than the average over the past 14 years.  Looks like it is more spoon fed Donald Plusquellic rhetoric (err bullsh*t) that he lies and feeds to the taxpayers.

The Mayor hit the nail on the head when he was captured in living color saying , “I can lie with a straight face and I passed the test”.  You can Click here to “hear his own words”. That statement neatly fits into these employment figures where he boasts his addition of jobs in Akron.

In a nutshell, with the jobs the Mayor claims he brought to Akron our employment figure would be at 137,000 plus. That would be an increase of over 30%, not the deficit number shown on the chart above.

Jobs are leaving the City of Akron at the speed of light, faster than he can spend millions of taxpayer dollars to bring them in.

Something just doesn’t smell right here, what do you think?  Make a comment and give us your opinion.

In the mid 1990′s see the following “Actual Investments Subject to Abatements”

In addition when Goodyear built their Tech Center the City constructed streets, sidewalks, storm and sanitary sewers, street lights and landscaping with a $11.4 million UDAG, a $1 million USEDA grant and $1.25 million Ohio Department of Economic and Community Development.  The City of Akron funded $7.35 million plus interest to finance a major portion of the $23.5 million public improvement, (this was not a public improvement, it was for Goodyear).

June 8, 1999 – Akron City Council, calling it a “no-brainer”, council voted unanimously to give Goodyear the 10 year tax break.

Planning Committee Chairman, John Otterman, D-6, said failure to act on the abatement could be “catastrophic” for the City.  He said the tax incentive package the City put together for Goodyear was important not only for the 250 new jobs, but to keep the 4,000 current ones.  Remember this number 4,240 jobs total.

In 2005 Goodyear through a cooperative agreement with the Summit County Port Authority, Cleveland – Cuyahoga County Port Authority, the Director of Development, State of Ohio, the U.S. Bank National Association and Goodyear for a $12 million Utility Optimization (HVAC) project.  The City of Akron would make the payments on the principal & interest should Goodyear default on the loan.

On December 5, 2007, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced its plans to establish new facilities for its global and North American headquarters.  A total of 2,900 jobs would be retained.  What happened to the other 1,350 jobs  (see above) we paid for with tax abatements?  If that’s not bad enough the City, County, State and other government entities would provide nearly $200 million ($200,000,000.00 - an awful lot of zeros isn’t it?) towards the cost of the project.  These are taxpayer dollars!

This is not armed robbery, Goodyear doesn’t have any guns.

If the above isn’t enough there’s more:

1. Personal Property Tax of 90% abatement over the next 10 years.
2. Goodyear has been awarded a tiered 25 to 27 percent Job Retention Tax Credit for a term of up to 15 years for the retention of 2,900 positions.  The value of the tax credit is estimated at another $30 million.
3. A $3 million Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant for asbestos abatement and demolition of the old fire house.
4. A $750,000.00 Clean Ohio Assistance Fund grant to clean up and demolish the 99 Seiberling Street building.
5. The City and the School Board will give Goodyear Real Estate Tax abatements on all the improvements on this project, also know as Tax Increment Financing (TIF’s).  This means no taxes collected for the schools, libraries, children services and the list goes on and on…….
6. The City of Akron approved spending $751,000.00 on March 23, 2009 to improve Tech Way off Kelly Avenue.
7. Summit County has requested $32.8 million in stimulus money for the Goodyear parking deck and skywalk work.
8. A $956,049.00 Clean Ohio Revitalization fund  for environmental remediation and demolition of Goodyear building #116.
9. Five City of Akron road projects worth $19 million, the S. Main Street, Tallmadge Avenue, Darrow Road, and two on W. Market Street, were officially killed and the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation study committee voted to move the money to the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company project.

And on and on it goes, you taxpayers keep paying your taxes to finance this Goodyear project and to hell with our streets, hiring more police officers, correcting our sewer problems, and etc.

Investing all this money in Goodyear should make us all stockholders but don’t spend your dividends.

Wake up people…Wake up taxpayers, how much longer are we going to let this go on?

Enough is enough….letting the Mayor and his cabinet burn your money!

Seeing that the Mayor likes to hype his international travels as a push to boost Akron’s economy, we here at AkronWatch thought we would take a quick look at home sales in the Akron area and compare them to the national figures to get an idea of just how prosperous our Mayor is making our town. AkronWatch visited the National Association of Realtors website (www.realtor.org) to compare Akron to other metropolitan areas in the United States.

According to their website, the “NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® provides a facility for professional development, research and exchange of information among its members and to the public and government for the purpose of preserving the free enterprise system, and the right to own, use, and transfer real property”.  We chose to use their statistical data to do this comparison. According to their list of 149 metropolitan areas in the United States, Ohio has seven metropolitan areas: Akron, Canton-Massillon, Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, and Youngstown-Warren-Boardman. This chart not only reflects these seven areas, but also reflects the other 142 areas in the country:

TO VIEW THE CHART CLICK HERE

Take notice at these figures:

Out of all seven metropolitan areas in Ohio, Akron has the highest drop in median sale prices of existing single-family homes. From the first quarter of 2008 to the first quarter in 2009, Akron home sale prices DROPPED 48%!  Maybe a better description would be SANK like a stone thrown into an ocean.

Look at the Akron sales drop compared to the other six metropolitan areas in Ohio:

Columbus – 10.4%  (37.6% difference)
Dayton – 20.7%  (27.3% difference)
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman (24.4% (23.6% difference)
Canton-Massillon – 25.2%  (22.8% difference)
Toledo – 27%  (21% difference)
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor – 31.5% (16.5% difference)
Akron – 48% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ohio’s average drop of median sale prices was 27.4% in the seven metropolitan areas.  Akron is 20.6% BELOW that at a whopping 48% DROP in sales prices!

Ok, if you’re thinking the entire State of Ohio is in distress take a look at the big picture across the nation. Out of the 149 metropolitan areas tracked nationwide, Akron has the THIRD largest DROP in median sale prices of an existing home!  The steepest price decline was in Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida down 59% from a year ago, followed by Saginaw, Mich., with a 54% drop. And third was, you guessed it, Akron, Ohio, with a 48% decline.

And finally, Akron median home sales prices dropped 34% MORE than the NATIONAL U.S. AVERAGE!

You have to ask yourself if the mayor’s travels have helped Akron’s economy and by just taking a look at Akron’s home sales prices compare to the other 148 metropolitan cities in the U.S. you can clearly see Akron is in a sinking ship of despair. Sinking into the deep that’s where we’re going.

Perhaps Akron’s Mayor should take a look at the Cumberland, MD area mayor. That area had the biggest rise in median home sale prices, not only did they have an increase in sales price, they produced an overall positive percent change in the same 2008-2009 time frame. Their area home sales rose by 21.1%!  

Wonder if their mayor jet sets around the world in order to make their local economy better for its citizens?

Citizens of Akron, put on your life jackets, join hands and start swimming as fast as you can to get help and save your sinking ship.  Maybe, just maybe, it it’s not too late and if the Recall is successful, we might make it safely to shore in time.  We desperately need a new captain at the helm that can keep our ship from being lost at sea.

http://www.ohio.com/news/politics/43734522.html

1. The Mayor states; “We’ve put Akron on the Map!” “I can show- not a couple of million – but tens of millions that we have received as a city as a direct result of my travel.”Mr. Mayor please, please, please share with us how you arrived at the tens of millions statement. Who are they, where are they located, how many employees do they have, and what are their gross sales?We taxpayers would really like to know about these accomplishments. It could make a difference in the Recall vote.
2. Bob Bowman, the mayors deputy mayor for economic development, in the same article states; “Since 1994, the city’s international efforts have resulted in the creation or retention of more than 5, 200 jobs at 40 companies in the Akron area that have combined annual sales of nearly $3.4 million.”"Creation or retention” – how many jobs were created and how many were retained? How does travel around the world help in retaining workers already here? What companies were retained? How much of taxpayers dollars were used to accomplish this?Mr. Mayor please, please, please give us taxpayers names and numbers so we can better understand these accomplishments. It could make a difference in the Recall vote.

Now – Since 1994 the international efforts have resulted in the creation or retention of more than 5,200 jobs at 40 companies with a combined sales of nearly $3.4 million.

Let’s break that down — 40 companies with sales of nearly $3.4 million, that equals $85,000 per year in sales per company or just $1,634.62 per week. This is just ridiculous, how do they pay for their gas, electric, water, street lighting, street sweeping, trash pick up, real estate taxes, mortgage or rental payments? What do they have left to pay the 5,200 employees?

If the $3.4 million in sales was used exclusively for just wages (none of the overhead items mentioned above) it would look like this; 5,200 employees – total sales of $3.4 million equals $653.85 each per year, or $12.57 per week or 31 ½ cents per hour based on 2,000 hours per year (50 weeks @ 40 hours per week).  That doesn’t sound like a good living to me.

This is blatantly ridiculous. It is these kinds of statements that make many of the taxpayers question just what is going on at City Hall and it only took 14 years to accomplish this since 1994 to the present.

I suggest that you disclose the truth on these  statements and let the taxpaying public know the real story. It could make a difference in the Recall vote.

P.S. Wouldn’t you think that good smart journalist would have seen this and asked questions before it went to print?

A journalist by definition is a person who practices the gathering and dissemination of information about current events, issues and people in their own words, making it creative in their own way so it will catch the reader’s attention but striving for viewpoints that aren’t biased. They find sources for their work, and should be expected to report in the most objective and unbiased way to serve the public good. In your opinion does our local newspaper do that?

We’d love to hear your opinion even if you hate us. Leave your comments for us at:  info@akronwatch.org

[Editor’s Note: This line remains from the previous version of AkronWatch.org before the site allowed direct commenting on a story. To comment on this, or any other story on the site now simply post a comment at the end of the story.]

Comments received on this story:

Wdl says…
at 2.45 pm May 20, 2009

The April 26th ABJ story states:

Plusquellic said he wanted to remain in Akron to show how seriously he is taking an effort to remove him from office.

and  the same ABJ story quotes Plusquellic as saying:

“‘I want to be here to explain” and  “I want to say to people, ‘I will be here.”

Of course Plusquellic couldn’t even keep that philosophy in effect for much more than 1 week.

“The Don” felt like the ‘business of the city’ was best addressed by him leaving town for two plus days so that he could be a “Featured Speaker” and participate in a “Photo Opportunity” at the United Nations in New York City on May 5th and 6th.

One would think that a trip of this nature, especially during the “toughest fight of my political life”, must certainly have dealt with one or more of the pressing issues within the city of Akron such as unemployment, foreclosures, crime, etc.

Of course not!

“The Don” was participating in the “Mayors For Peace” lobbying effort with UN diplomats, asking for “complete nuclear disarmament by 2020″ during “NPT PrepCom”, the Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee.

http://www.pww.org/article/view/15532

This get-together put “the Don” in contact with people like Dr. Hans Blix and the mayors of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

(Perhaps he was looking for advise on how to bring back a town after the activities of its own entrenched politicians have caused it to be blown off of the face of the earth?)

Below you will find the May 4th “Mayors for Peace” press release and event schedule.

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/05/04-6

  We received a reprimand from the Akron Beacon Journal today (5/8/09) about infringing on their rights to a letter which was published on May 5^th, 2009 in the Editorial “Voice of the People” section titled “A mayor of vision” We agreed to remove it from this site but you can read it by following this public link which ties into our own editorial as printed below.

http://www.ohio.com/editorial/vop/44341062.html

Our rebuttal to that “Voice of the People” editorial is an editorial of our own….

A mayor of bleeding cash?

We did not start but do endorse the labors of Change Akron Now to recall the mayor in an effort to stop the bleeding of the citizens and taxpayers of Akron.  We are already of the opinion that soon enough we will see more red than has been anticipated or reported.

Taxpayers must unite against the wasting of tax dollars which is ruining our economy!  Our leaders are addicted to the money and are caught up in a system where they can’t survive without being bought by lobbyists, special interest groups and even their own colleges through deals that buy votes. Yes, we refer to this as corruption defined by Webster as dishonesty, bribery, and sleazy.  The antonym is the obvious “honesty”.  We, the taxpayers must demand that it stop now, or we must get ready to face the consequences and watch our city and economy go down the toilet.  If you think it can’t get much worse, just do nothing, and watch our elected city officials try to spend their way out of the monumental problems we face, and buy us with more and more debt.

We need a mayor who really understands the problem who can passionately develop a plan to get us out of this mess.  The current elected officials are not!  If they understood their financial mismanagement, and the fact that it’s the mountains of debt that we have accumulated over the last 20 years, that has created the “fear” of our economic condition and the viability of our future, they would stop the out of control spending and the waste.  They do not!  Instead, we have the same old tax and spend mentality and politics as usual.  Unfortunately, pointing fingers, naïve pacification and empty promises of how we will pay for this, are the only games they know how to play.  It is disgusting!

The debt this city has incurred is spiraling out of control.  It’s the out of control debt that is driving this crisis and there is no end in site until we step up to the plate and make it stop!  We must demand no more tax hikes! Period!  We all pay enough taxes so we must demand a freeze on spending and only fund programs that are CRITICAL or that fundamentally support our infrastructure.  Wasting money on a fence for the “Y” bridge is exactly that, WASTING!  It is financial insanity!  The leaders pass it off as federal “stimulus” money….and who in the hell funds that?  EXACTLY!  The taxpayer, including those who pay taxes in Akron.

We must take control of our money and show our local leaders who is really in charge.  It is now up to us, the taxpayers, to unite and take the lead in solving the real issues we face.  Getting control of our debt, stopping the waste of our tax dollars, and demanding tougher penalties when prosecuting fraud and corruption on all levels is mandatory and must begin at home right here in Akron, Ohio.  It is time to make our demands known and back up the demands with a plan of action that will wake up the elected officials and put us in the drivers’ seat.  We must show them we mean business!

All we need to do is unite together and stand up for ourselves and let them know we will not wait for them anymore!  They have had plenty of time to solve these problems but can’t get it done.  It doesn’t matter who caused the problem and we don’t have time to play the blame game.  We all need to take responsibility for where we are right now and it is time to get to real solutions that will save this city from disaster!  More importantly we must understand that we were living on borrowed time and now we must find the silver lining within this crisis and realize we can solve this with some creative solutions that will not cost the taxpayers anything but a little of our time and some good old fashion gumption.  It is time for action!

Recall Day will be the Day that we Reclaim our POWER.  It will be a celebration of the power of the people to change a city that is broken!  A city we can fix together, if we can get our financial house back in order we could use our hard earned money paying down the debt.  As individuals, we get by on what we have to work with, why our city shouldn’t be expected to do the same is beyond me.

It’s apparent that the citizens of Akron are angry, frustrated and feel helpless against this dynasty.  We believe and want you to  be assured that together we can solve this problem.  If we don’t there will be more unrest, and the unrest will lead to violence and chaos.  We will never advocate violence, but, if we continue on without real solutions, the anger will grow and violence will continue to grow on our city streets.

So, in conclusion and in our editorial opinion “Father Don” and his disciples, “Akron City Council” did buy a dilapidated building on 3 acres of waterfront “pond” property.  The writer of the editorial in the ABJ stated that it was of historic value as being the location of a French Jesuit Priest who in 1654 made an effort to Christianize the Indians.  We find this debatable.  How do you know it wasn’t at, say, Turkeyfoot Lake instead?  As for the mayor’s respect for religious history being notable and his being a “thoughtful, religious mayor”, he should probably go further back than 1654, say to the time of Moses and the Ten Commandments.

Another great piece of information for our readers as well- a new watchdog has been named to monitor stimulus spending in Ohio (4/16/09, www.cleveland.com). Winston Ford will oversee and monitor how state agencies distribute the funds, review contracts for projects and investigate any allegations of wrongdoing. Ohio was targeted out of 16 states to receive a deputy inspector general so the state can provide its own oversight. The great thing about having this inspector is that he wants to know if stimulus dollars being received are being misspent. Hum, do you think our Akron stimulus dollars are going to be misspent with the few projects the city has slated with our stimulus money?  Anyone who wants to file a complaint regarding alleged wrongdoing involving stimulus funds should visit:

http://www.watchdog.ohio.gov/oigcont.htm , and download the form, fill it out and email it to Winston Ford.

Star says…
at 9:10am April 15, 2009

Just like to say that at 338 Perkins St. where the Akron Auto Mall was to be was the home of Henry B. Perkins whom had built his home there around 1900 turn of the century. Henry School had been named after him and is where Summa had torn it down a year or so ago and there’s a new building on the block today. Dad had told me that on the deed as he remembered had said that it was an addition to Akron by Col. Simon Perkins? Henry had been his son or grandson? But once when I had gone through the maps of that area I seen Henry B. Perkins as the owner of 338 Perkins St. a white Frame and stone house with wood floors of rare wood had all gone to a dump site somewhere over the horizon? I knew of the house because that was our families first home my parents had owned. One of the most important places on that block in my opinion is 109 N. Union St. across the street.

As far as I can tell Perkins had sold that land the Castle sits on to Paul E. Werner who had been the first major employer in Akron before the rubber industry moved into. As the Beacon Journal had reported years ago that Werner had told reporters late in 1896 that he would build a fine new office building because the election of President William McKinley would restore peace and prosperity. The new office building for the Werner Printing company was of “Flemish Design” a touch of European design. To make a long story short I had gone downtown to ask them to save that old house but the city officials had told me that the building had already been slated for the wrecking ball? I have some pictures and history of the Castle I bought the place years ago and have a letter for the Castle being included in the “National Registry of Historical Places-Dept. of the Interior.” There should be a time limit like the Presidency that no one should be able to run for more than two terms as Mayor in Akron. Makes the system seem more like a dictatorship? Well that’s my input on what I have recently read and would like to raise the question of I had learned that some of the building materials being sold today that are of inferior quality have been rotting out new structures from the inside? There’s something else should be looked at because the underbidding to construction companies to cut corners to get the jobs and use inferior materials. Well that’s my opinion on the story.

MR. MAYOR, Mr. mayor did you hear?  you must adhere!

Misst says…
at 10:45pm April 13, 2009

Subject: Don’s unfinished business

Have you noticed the things Don starts and never finishes?? akronsaves.org he was going to announce in Jan. or Feb. of this year how much he had saved over the year and there was going to be parties….never happened…

Look at the dog park….big deal about it and then within the first week the city pulled the poo disposal units and left people to clean it, instead of the city (and seriously, unless it’s been cleaned, it needs it…that gravel needs treated as that has to be bad for the doggies…i won’t take my dog there because of how dirty it is…stow cleans their dog park weekly)….and yet at election time 2007 he was promoting he started the dog park….

Last election he also spoke to a LGBT group saying he was going to push for an ordinance not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation….what happened with that?

He made a big to do a few years ago that all downtown was going to be wi-fi (is it??) And then the whole city was going to be wi-fi….never happened…

Unfinished business…he says or starts something for the publicity and then either forgets about it or just doesn’t care…

I got about 5 more weeks of school and then I’ll be on this stuff full time…gotta do well in school though! i need to devote more time to my documents as i know I’ll uncover some more gems…and gee, maybe by then I’ll have that electric bill they’re hooting and hollering about!

ys says…
at 11:40am April 13, 2009

Could you please check out Don’s new appointment of a retired Akron police detective/friend of Don who has been given a job to oversee the management of Aeros Stadium? Another unneeded position and a pure political appointment.

How about the reno/reno/renovation of the Lock Three area where they are installing world class marble-shooting courts, and how about the downtown volleyball courts near State ST?

Who’s paying for the Zoo’s new lions, tigers and bears after they could not pay their Akron water bill.

What about the wasted Inventure Chuck E Cheese place, and the Quaker hotel boondoggle. who’s paying?

Are they going to continue to complete the building of the 18 field Soccer complex. Akron Roller and Akron Rockers. Firestone stadium. Civic theater, Recycle plant. Demolishing the innerbelt, still? So many boondoggles, so little time.

Is the Civic Theater making money yet? About as much as Aeros Stadium – zilch.

rmk says…
at 11:01pm April 8, 2009

Well, I would like to find out more about the deal on East Market Street
that was worked out for Ganley.  All that I know is that a property which Ganley coveted was taken away form the owner and the owner of the property not only lost his property but his livelihood also that good restaurant.

el says…
at 12:33pm April 7, 2009

I appreciate the work you guys are doing to present the facts; keep up the work. Thanks”

“Warner’s Wobbly Recall Wagon” The Beacon Journal April 2, 2009 editorial…

rdshack says…
at 2:41pm April 2, 2009

Thanks for getting rid of that a**hole. I for one am a taxpayer with a business that sucks bad, I hardly feel like being a sugar daddy for some playboy politician with access to the tax dollar cookie jar, especially these days TO DAY THE LEAST…

carpenter says…
at 2:29pmApril 2, 2009

Is it true that tax breaks were implemented for the (22 Exchange) project with the condition that the project be a prevailing wage project? It is my understanding that someone has allowed tax breaks on the project and allowed a bunch of Mennonites from southern Ohio to come in our city and take our work and leave to go home to their tax free havens (communities)! As a tax paying union carpenter in the city of Akron I definitely do not think it is a fair or reasonable deal for tax breaks for those who don’t get taxed! What this Country needs right now is good paying jobs for those who are proud to participate in our government and pay taxes and not to support other countries or people that choose immunity from us!

pt757 says…
at 2:29pm April 2, 2009

Can you tell me how I can reduce my property tax like Marco Sommerville (.46 Cents Sq. Ft.) & Sylvester Small (1.40 Sq. Ft.)?  If not, then as a concerned citizen I want this investigated and those individuals brought up on charges for abusing their power in office.

minority says…
at 2:29pm April 2, 2009

While the information on the school funding was very enlightening and I am shocked that the City would knowingly agree to engage in such activities and basically leave our children out there to fail because of needed funding.

Mlazare says…
at 2:48pm April 2, 2009

“Like the site. I have been reading the information on the schools with interest, since I have two currently enrolled (and yes, I’ve been having fits this year with some of what I’ve seen, especially from my six year old, and no, I don’t think they like me very much at this point). I have never believed that we don’t spend enough money (especially when I pick up my girls and see a Jaguar, Escalade and all other high-end SUV’s a practically brand new cars in the teachers’ parking lot). Perhaps it’s in the allocation of said funds that is the problem – though I personally believe that if discipline were brought back into the schools it would go a long way to improving the learning environment. That, and getting rid of stupid fluff programs like “100 book reading challenge” (and who knows how many thousands of dollars that rip-off program cost us?). So, which one of you there is going to start running for office (and persuade others of like mindedness to run) so we can clean up this mess? I’d be more than happy to help with the campaigning. Oh, and I prefer “Mayor-for-life Donald “The Duck” Plusquellic. Hey, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck…it more than likely is the man who likes to “duck” all responsibility…sure hope Disney doesn’t sue me on behalf of their guy for libel/slander whatever it is when you put it in writing.

tdl says…
at 3:55pm April 2, 2009

“Ok I see your articles, so where do I sign the petition. Lets get Don gone and start fresh with someone new.”
M H says…
at 2:42pm April 2, 2009

“I really feel for the Citizens of Akron. I don’t believe a word that comes out The Dons Lips. When he started his travels to find jobs for Akron I smelled a real big rat. Hey, a tax dollar paid vacation to where the potential JOBS are was a bigger scam than Madoff pulled. This guy has got to go ASAP. He may as well just pack it up, his days are numbered. U couldn’t GIVE ME A HOME IN AKRON right now. When he’s gone, I may change my outlook. I’m very proud of ALL OF YOU INVOLVED IN THIS. I am on your side 100%. The BEST TO ALL INVOLVED.”

K M says…
at 10:34am April 3, 2009

“If Steve Hoffman were a surgeon he would be sued for malpractice. He doesn’t even live in Akron. Lucky for him I don’t care what he thinks.”

Come Out, Come Out Whoever you are!

M W says…
at 10:06am April 1, 2009

“I think there should be a watchingwatchingakronwatch.org….”

Leah says…
at 2:57pm April 2, 2009

“Hmmm…I bet our tax dollars are paying for that too!  It’s like we have a bunch of whiney babies running our city. I think we should send city hall and the mayors office some diapers, a couple binky’s and some formula!”

Today’s Lunch Special:
Roasted Rat and Puréed Pigeon POOP

M G says…
at 3:28pm March 25, 2009

“Wasted MONEY once again thanks to stupid politicians.”

Ter W says…
at 3:29pm March 25, 2009

“Well, if it catches on fire, I ain’t going in there. I think part of the floor is collapsed and part of the roof is collapsed inside.”

T Up says…
at 4:13pm March 25, 2009

“Always has been gross. Smells like mold.”

Wa K says…
at 4:24pm March 25, 2009

“Excellent story here. It is all sad and true. A big waste of taxpayer money and an eyesore for sure. One question though, If pigeons taste like delicious chicken, do rats taste like tender steak????”

Mi W says…
at 7:12pm March 25, 2009

“People need to start filing health department complaints against this property. and can we do something about the health department??? The housing division is out of control with their harassment of people, I’ve been a victim of them and a neighbor is going thru it right now…they tear down perfectly good houses and leave unsafe ones….

Da B says…
at 10:24am March 26, 2009

Fortunately, I live just outside the Akron city limits. Unfortunately, this eyesore is on my daily path and next to the towpath. Young’s Restaurant looks to me like “something bad” about to happen, and someone is going to get hurt as a result.

Je B says…
at 8:57pm March 26, 2009

“Thanks for saying this!! I know my Mom would have been on the Mayor’s case if she were still alive and involved with her many campaigns against such public disgraces! Hello, Health Department? Anyone home? Don? Not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, our lovely Don!”

Just What is Going on In OUR “All America City”?

No Comment…

Ke M says…
at 9:54am March 23, 2009

“Some of the other local media folks have now crossed the line from shameless cheerleading for this mayor to insulting the citizens of Akron too. Democracy is not free. Questioning the morality of the right to have a recall is just a stupid statement to make. There is nothing bogus or immoral in exercising our democratic rights, and to suggest otherwise is just foolish.”

M Wind says…
at 10:43am March 23, 2009

“And why aren’t the media investigating the credit cards, travel, campaign funding? the price of the All America City award would pay for a full time officer plus lots of overtime!”

Ki Mre says…
at 11:39am March 23, 2009

“Whatever happen with moving the waste plant out of the residential area on the eastside?

JosDa says…
at 8:14am March 24, 2009

“This town just needs super-heroes. That’s all.”

ARK says…
at 9:10am March 24, 2009

“We have all known for years that the mayor was a colossal moron but the one or two people who have tried to unseat him have failed…. unfortunately there are still people out there who think he is doing a good job…….I hate to say this but I am really glad I don’t live there anymore”

JenBol says…
at 7:52am March 25, 2009

“Akron was my hometown. I am relieved, now that I have children, not to reside there anymore. I am also saddened!”

To Whit W says…
at 10:36am March 17, 2009

“Though I don’t live in Akron anymore, I work there, and this is terrifying!! ”

 DaKocs says…
at 10:55am March 17, 2009

“Akron is a third world country. It has one leviathan university that is on a mission to own the city; its remaining businesses are McDonalds, payday lenders, pornography stores, and now casinos. Driving around Northeast Ohio is like watching a surreal, post-apocalyptic movie where the world has fallen apart and is being propped up with two by fours.”

NanMe-Mo says…
at 12:40pm March 17, 2009

“God forbid the mayor might support the police.”

Jac says…
at as:24pm March 23, 2009

“It helps to keep in mind that the U.S. Conference of Mayors is an advocacy organization, not an honorary organization. See http://www.usmayors.org/about/overview.asp

Also, check out the other cities that are “All America Cities.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-America_City_Award

Mayor Don Plusquellic of Akron tells Akron voters to go to HELL!

CMack says…
at 2:52pm March 20, 2009

“If there is a special place in H*ll for anybody, The Don is at the head of the table.”

Mi W says…
at 3:12pm March 20, 2009

“What kind of politician has outbursts like that? He acts like he’s 8…”

Demolition Don strikes!

Da K says…
at 8:59am March 19, 2009

“We’re gonna buy up this town
And pull it all down.
How I love to hear the demolition sound
Of concrete crashing to the ground.”

KDud says…
at 9:05am March 19, 2009

“Maybe Don knows a parking lot attendant he treated like crap in the past and he’s repaying a favor????? Would our Don do that??????? LOL”

MiWind says…
at 9:30am March 19, 2009

“This might be an extra lot for Goodyear? or First Energy?”

MicM says…
at 9:33am March 19, 2009

“Let Chrissy Hynde sing it best…”My City Was Gone” replaced by Parking Spaces……”

Ja Crg says…
at 1:18pm March 19, 2009

“Hey, ho, way to go, Ohio.” Or is it more like CD Truth: “I Am the King of the Highland Square Losers”?

Eric says…
at 12:58pm March 19, 2009

“How do you add 55% for interest? I think there’s a lot missing here ..”

Akron Watch replies…
at 2:14pm March 19, 2009

“Eric- actually it is the average used by using the city’s own percentage rates published in the City of Akron Annual Reports- Bond Payment Fund. If you visit www.akronwatch.org and read our O’Neil’s story from a few years ago, we attached a page to show the percentage rates. I would be more than happy to show you these public government documents or you can call us at 330-376-8021″

C S W says…
at 8:13pm March 19, 2009

“Maybe the undisturbed asbestos was a public “nuisance”. Or maybe this city government is the real public nuisance.”

ONE SUPER SWEET DEAL !

Kn Jb says…
at 7:40am March 18, 2009

“And I just received my “Vote No on the Recall” notice in the mail. I wonder how much that cost us!?”

W M says…
at 3:58pm March 16, 2009

“OMG. City Hall has lost its marbles.”

ToWit says…
at 4:13pm March 16, 2009

“It had some??????”

Jn Dla says...
at 8:42pm March 16, 2009

“Land Banking”. What a great idea. Well the bank is going broke and residents are the shareholder taking the plunge. Where is the transparency in this administration? And why is this not getting reported by the media?”

Ktie Does says…
at 9:59pm March 16, 2009

“Our fine government at work! I love Akron Watch for this reason but something needs to be done! RECALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Is There More Spice in Your Life?

Mlle Coer says…
at 1:15pm March 13, 2009

“The condos must kick a** inside…but who would pick this SH*TTY neighborhood to live in…MOVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE OR GIVE IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

What’s a Barbeque Without Hickory?

CharMur says…
at 2:04pm March 25, 2009

“I think you are doing something great for the city!- helping people escape generational poverty?”

JoH says…
at 3:50 pm March 16, 2009

“If the City of Akron is doing these types of deals maybe they will sell or lease me some property cheap so I can build the restaurant I have been working on for some time now. At least I would be creating some jobs and adding to the downtown entertainment value….”

Mia says…
at 11:48am March 13, 2009

“Just like the rest of the area… that is why I moved south….”