The Jones project.

I have viewed with interest the activities of Mainstreet Cleveland and their flagship project, the revitalization of  the Five Points area. They are trying desperately to win taxpayers over on the idea. Is Speculator and developer Allan Jones really what the revitalization is all about?

When unconnected people owned and operated stores on Inman Street they were all but forgotten. No grand plans for development then, just cracked pavements and weeds. Now Jones has a stake in the area it has become a top priority. It would be wonderful if Jones was to finance renovations himself but I have a hunch that the requests for "citizen input" is a prelude to tapping the public treasury. Already $20,000 of public money has been spent and you can expect it to climb from there. Jones knows that without public acceptance the project will fail so Mainstreet has to make it taxpayer friendly.

Mainstreet Cleveland, is a private entity with the appearance of government authority, even County Executive Gary Davis referred to them as a "department" when handing out taxpayer dollars.

The idea of revitalizing downtown is a noble one but like almost everything else done in Cleveland it has a good ol boy spin. I predict that this revitalization project will split the community and ruin reputations and will never become a success -  not because it shouldn't be done but because the same mistakes featuring the same arrogance has prevailed from its inception. Mainstreet asks for public input but politic watchers know all the major decisions have already been made. There is always a call for public input on projects like this - take zoning, the fire contract, expanding the city fringe area, Walker Valley High School, the new jail or the airport - the pubic was ignored on all of them. So it will be with the Allan Jones project.

What do you think?

Pixie and Dixie's last stand.

So Sheryl Graham and Sandy Wallis of the Bradley County Board of Education are being sued for $200,000 by Lake Forest Middle School Principal Ritchie Stevenson for defamation. These ladies have a spitefully vicious and nasty side that is unbecoming for a county official but that is not what concerns me, Stevenson will likely douse their fire. What concerns me is a remark Wallis made on hearing of the suit. Her first reaction was to consult with the school board's attorney. For years these women have been slandering people because they say they are fighting for school children's education - now they have a chance to prove their sincerity by hiring and paying for their own attorney and paying the settlement if they lose.

If they really care about education they wouldn't burden the school budget with this lawsuit. Bet they do though!

What do you think?

"The J. Michael Leonard Experiment"

For those of you familiar with this landmark of scientific research, the experiment was due to commence this month but I have had a change of heart. I thought it would be fun but the truth is I cannot muster any enthusiasm for destroying a man's dignity because he wrote something stupid. The point has been made and I would be no better if I took advantage of him. I thank all the people who gave me their support and apologize for the disappointment of those who had a score to settle.