Hang on to your hats folks. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any crazier - it did. The following videos are of the South Euclid City Council Meeting held on March 9, 2009.
The first video is of Councilperson David Miller reading a statement which appears to be fueled by anger over a letter to the editor which was published in the Sun Messenger on March 5th. A link to that letter is included below along with the previous related posts on this subject. There are some blatant inaccuracies among his words. All of the city’s department heads are not men. Sally Martin is the head of the Housing Department and Georgine Welo serves as Safety Director as well as Mayor. More outrageous is that both he and Councilperson Ruth Gray (in the second video) insist that the reason for any objections to a proposed $15,000 pay increase is because the Director of the Community Center is a woman!
There were two “Budget Hearings”- the first was approximately a 4 hour session, the second was 1 hour. It is most important to note, at NO time during those meetings was there ANY mention of gender based discrimination during the discussions which included all 7 of the Councilpersons and the Finance Director. In fact, the only two Councilpersons who DID object to the amount of the proposed raise were Jane Goodman, who initially seemed aghast by the proposal, and Sunny Simon. Further, when the topic was brought up at the open session of Council on February 23rd by a female member of the public, nothing was said by either Miller or Gray on the subject.
Additionally, Ruth Gray incorrectly says that on February 23rd, Council President Moe Romeo took responsibility for the proposal of the raise. In reality, when questioned on who suggested the $15,000 increase, Mr. Romeo clearly indicated it was “the Administration.”
The need for such wanton theatrics over the matter is perplexing and pathetic, unless, City Hall feels South Euclid Oversight is truly having an impact on municipal issues.
Finally, if the elected officials of South Euclid feel justified in awarding such a salary increase to the Director of the Community Center, get on with it already and stop talking about it.
- time: 5 min. 03 sec.
- time: 4 min. 15 sec.
To view the previous related posts regarding this matter, please click on the following links:
12 comments:
It all starts with 5 humble students of the democratic process, along with a handful of the all important foot soldiers, coming together and confronting 5 of the 7 council members on that all important November ballot in this year’s election. The other 2 and the mayor will have to wait their turn, but you can bet they’ll all be diligently maneuvering, and raising cash, throughout the course of the coming days, weeks, and months to protect the best gig they’ve ever had or will have in any sane world’s future. I for one do not accept the inevitability of an insane future or unchallengeable greed. The Cuyahoga River may still be crooked but Cuyahoga County is beginning to straighten out thanks to some higher powers. On this planet, what power deserves more respect then that of the common middle class taxpayer? Remember them? They’re all around you. Tell a friend, make a connection, and let us use South Euclid Oversight for the exciting task that lay before us. SEO is merely a tool akin to Johannes Gutenberg's printing press invented in Germany in 1440. I dare say, "let the ink dry where it may, or in this case the bits & bytes."
Come to the Round Table people, Come…… and bring a friend.
Thank You, Joe Liptow.
m# 216-538-0470
I just watched both videos. WOW!
I've been workin by ass off for 35 years and never sniffed a $5,000 raise much less a $15,000 raise. Ruth Gray called a $5,000 raise an INSULT?!?! Just because someone elses pay increase was slipped in under the radar, the next in line deserves the same treatment? Oh my, this is insane. I think I could go on and on about those two videos but I got to get back to work and help pay those salary increases.
What planet does Councilman Miller live on? It's sad he spews venom and insults that sure sound like a threat against the truth and free speech. Citizens come to Council meetings, free to question council, to express anger, to be outraged, and to watch how our elected officials behave. Council meetings are the proper, public, political forum for such expression. Miller is clueless.
All citizens need to get involved!!
Discrimination? Are they kidding? This is some kind of joke right? They can't be serious. I agree that it's obvious he's pissed by the letter to the Editor in the messenger. The truth hurts. Who cares who questions these people as long as somebody does. Someone sure needs to. Sorry guys/girls (don't want to be accused of discrimination!) but you don't get to pick and choose who is critical of you. Isn't that what open government is all about? No. Not in SE. Questioning those that question them makes me very suspicious. I don't beleive what i'm hearing. Talk about self righteous. And what's the deal with some other raise Ruth Gray was talking about with a promotion? That was ok because it was a man? What the hell was that about. Any 411 on that? I read in the messenger there were money issues like all city's and people are having. What's going on here?!
I Thought we are to tighten are belts. I have been working for to same company for 33 years and I don't make nowhere near that. I just happy to have a job. I don't care if she a man or a woman 1500$ is way to much. Heck we don't have a rec, center like some of the nicer city's have.I have been living is So Euclid for 26 years i Wish I can leave. Are taxes are way to high.Vote them out
DITTO TO ALL OF THE ABOVE COMMENTS!
MR. MILLER IS EXACTLY WHY I WON'T WRITE ANY MORE LETTERS TO THE SUN MESSGR.,PUTTING YOUR NAME OUT THERE FOR SOMEONE LIKE HIM TO ATTACK AND RIDICULE.NOT TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER CRAZYS OUT THERE.THE SUN NEEDS TO ALLOW NAMES BE WITHELD BY REQUEST.UNTIL THEN I'LL VOICE MY OPINIONS HERE ON THIS SITE.YES,THIS AMERICA,LAND OF FREE SPEECH,AS LONG AS YOU DON'T QUESTION,OR CRITICIZE THOSE IN POWER.YES,I DO FEAR RETRIBUTION FROM THESE PEOPLE.I HAVE A FAMILY TO PROTECT.
THESE COUNCIL PEOPLE ARE DRUNK WITH POWER.AND THEY WILL SAY ANYTHING TO JUSTIFY THEIR AMBITIONS.RACISM,SEXISM WHAT CRAP!
A RAISE AND PROMOTION ARE 2 DIFFERENT THINGS.ARE WE TO BELIEVE MEG WAS GETTING A PROMOTION,MORE RESPONSIBILITY,MORE DUTIES,MORE SAY ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS? I DIDN'T SEE THAT.SHE KNEW WHAT THE SALARY WAS WHEN SHE ACCEPTED THAT POSITION.AND SHOULD ACCEPT THE SAME 3% ANNUAL RAISE THAT EVERY OTHER EMPLOYEE IS GIVEN.PUBLIC OR PRIVATE EMPLOYEE.I'VE GOT 30 YEARS IN MY PROFESSION AS A MFG. ENGINEER,I'VE NEVER RECEIVED MORE THAN 5%.USUALLY 2-3%.PAY YOUR DUES LADY LIKE THE REST OF US MERE MORTALS.OR FIND ANOTHER JOB.30 YEARS AND I'M UP TO AROUND $68,000
A YEAR.AND I'M VERY HAPPY.20 YEARS AGO I QUIT A JOB BECAUSE I FELT I WAS UNDERPAID.I'VE NEVER LOOKED BACK.NO MATTER HOW YOU WANT TO SLICE AND DICE IT,15K IS FAR AND AWAY LUDICROUS.THE 5K COUNCIL SETTLED ON IS EVEN A VERY GENEROUS RAISE.ESPECIALLY SINCE THE JOB DESCRIPTION,AND RESPONSIBILITIES REMAIN THE SAME.THESE PEOPLE NEED A DOSE OF REALLITY.
IDLEING CARS IS THE LEAST OF OUR AIR QUALITY CONCERNS.THE HOT GREENHOUSE GASSES EMINATING FROM CITY HALL IS DOING FAR MORE DAMAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I COMMEND JOE LIPTOW FOR HIS BRAVERY.JUST WATCH FOR VISITS FROM THE CITY INSPECTOR,OR WORSE MR. MILLER.WHEN POLITICIANS ATTACK PRIVATE CITIZENS FOR EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWS WE SHOULD ALL BE AFRAID.WHEN POLITICIANS CATAGORISE OUR FREE SPEECH AS THREATS,SLANDER,
IGNORANT AND UNWARRENTED,WE ARE NOT FAR FROM A DICTATORSHIP,REPRESSIVE,COMMUNIST,
OR SOCIALISTIC GOVERNMENT THAT WILL SEEK TO SILENCE ANY DISSENT.GOD HELP US!
WE ARE WATCHING,AND WE WILL SPEAK OUT.MOST OF ALL,WE WILL VOTE THIS NOVEMBER,YOU CAN COUNT ON THAT!
ALL - I BELIEVE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM LOST ONE OF IT'S PLANETS LAST YEAR. I THINK SOME UP AT CITY HALL ARE ON IT, IF NOT ALL. GOING BACK ALL THE YEARS OF MY WORKING IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL SETTING, I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVEN AVERAGED A 3% ANNUAL INCREASE AND I'M AT $53,000K/YR, IN MY 40'S, WITH 2 WEEKS VACATION, NO DENTAL, NO EYE, AND $150/MONTH HOSPITILIZATION CONTIBUTION. IN THEIR DEFENSE, I WILL SAY THAT THEY ARE JUST DOING WHAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH AND IT'S PROBABLY HAPPENING ALL OVER THIS (NOT SO MUCH ANYMORE) GREAT LAND OF OURS. IT SEEMS POLITICIANS SPEND ALOT OF TIME AND MONEY FIGURING OUT HOW TO COUNTER ANY UNCERTAINTY OF THE "POPULAR" VOTE. IF GIVEN A CHOICE IN NOVEMBER, I WILL CERTAINLY BE VOTING.
I WAS THE "BLOGGER",WHAT A TERM,JUST BEFORE YOU.I AGREE WITH YOU,EXCEPT THAT I THINK THESE POLITICIANS AREN'T EVEN IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM!I THINK THEY ARE FROM ANOTHER GALAXY,FAR,FAR AWAY.ANOTHER DIMENSION OF TIME AND SPACE.A MIRROR IMAGE OF OUR EXISTANCE.WE WORK TO SUPPORT OURSELVES AND FAMILIES,THEY ARE PARASITES AND SUCK THE LIFE AND EARNINGS FROM US.WE ARE DECENT,HONEST,AND LAW ABIDING,THEY ARE EGOTISTICAL ELETISTS,IMMORAL,DECEITFULL,AND THINK THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW.AT OUR JOBS WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE HARD WORKING,TO CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING OUR EMPLOYER A PROFIT IN ORDER FOR US TO REAP SOME REWARDS,THE ALIENS HAVE NO SUCH WORK ETHIC,JUST SPEND,SPEND,SPEND,AND WHEN THAT'S NOT ENOUGH,TAX,TAX,TAX THE HUMANS,PASS LAWS SO WE CAN SUCK MORE FROM THE HUMANS.WE WILL CALL THEM GREEN LAWS,INSPECTION FEES,POINT OF SALE INSPECTIONS,AND WE WILL SAY IT'S FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY,IT WILL IMPROVE THEIR LIVES......
MANY HUMANS MUST HAVE A TERRIBLE SENSE OF SMELL! WE KEEP HEAPING THIS BULL**** ON THEM AND THEY DON'T MIND.
THANK GOD SOME OF US CAN SMELL THE CRAP COMING FROM ALL OUR POLITICIANS.
AND YOU ARE CORRECT MY FRIEND,IT IS ALL OF THEM.IT'S NOT A CASE OF 1 BAD APPLE SPOILING THE REST,THEY ARE ALL SPOILED.AND THE VERY,VERY FEW THAT AREN'T,NEVER MAKE IT TO THE TOP OF THE HEAP.
ONE MORE THING,
THE ACTIONS OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS IS PROOF THEY SHOULD NOT BE HOLDING THESE POSITIONS,SHOULD NOT BE MAKING DECISIONS THAT CAN DEEPLY AFFECT OUR LIVES.3 POINTS:
1.THE INNABILITY TO DEAL WITH CRITICISM.
IF YOU HAVE THE CONFIDENCE,AND BELIEF THAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS TRULY THE RIGHT THING,THEN YOU CAN DEFEND AND EXPLAIN YOURSELF WITHOUT GOING ON THE ATTACK AND INSULTING,DEMEANING AND BELITTLING THOSE WHO QUESTION YOU.YOU CAN SEE THEIR POINT OF VIEW AND FIND COMMON GROUND TO SOLVE THE ISSUES.
2.BELIEF THAT ONLY THEY CAN EFFECT CHANGE BECAUSE THE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A MANDATE THRU ELECTION.
WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN IS THE PRIVELIDGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITIES BEST INTERESTS.NOT A MANDATE TO IMPOSE YOUR PERSONAL BELIEFS AND SERVE YOUR PERSONAL INTERESTS.
3.HAVE THE SELF CONTROL AND RESTRAINT TO MAKE CLEAR JUDGMENTS,
AND CHOICES IN MATTERS THAT AFFECT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
IF YOU ARE AT BATTLE WITH US YOUR JUDGEMENT WILL NOT BE CLEAR.ACTING IN ANGER AND SPITE SERVES NO ONE.GET TO THE ROOT OF PROBLEMS AND SOLVE THOSE ISSUES.IF THERE IS MASSIVE BLEEDING,DON'T APPLY A BANDAID,IF THERE IS A MERE CUT,DON'T APPLY A TOURNIQUET.
WE ARE NOT BLIND,DEAF,OR DUMB.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THIS APPLIES TO COUNCIL ALSO.WE SEE YOUR ACTIONS,WE LISTEN TO YOUR MEETINGS AS YOU LISTEN TO OUR VOICES,AND WE WILL BOTH SPEAK OUR MINDS.
LET US BOTH DO SO WITH ALL RESPECT,WITHOUT ANGER,AND HAVE THE HUMILITY,AND SELF RESPECT TO HONOR EACH OTHER.
BOOYAH....
OK,OK,I MY DOCTOR SAYS I HAVE SPLIT PERSONALITY DISORDER,BUT NEITHER ONE OF US REALLY CARES.SO THATS WHY I CAN RIP ON OUR COUNCIL,SORRY MR. MILLER DONT GO ALL PITT BULL ON ME,AND THEN TALK ABOUT RESPECT AND SELF CONTROL BLAH BLAH BLAH.I HATE MYSELF,YET FIND GREAT DELIGHT IN COMMENTING ON ALL THE HORRIFICALLY FUNNY AND INEPT ATTEMPTS PRESENTED BY OUR CITY OFFICIALS IN THEIR FEEBLE,CRIMINALLY INSANE ATTEMPTS AT CONTROLLING WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS THEIR LITTLE KINGDOM.WE WILL CONTROL YOUR CARS IDLING ENGINE,WE WILL TAX YOU IF YOU TRY TO LEAVE OUR KINGDOM,WE WILL TAX YOU IF YOU STAY IN OUR LAND,WE WILL BUY UP PROPERTIES,AND FAIL TO REDEVELOPE THEM,BAAAHAAAHAAA,WE WILL DRIVE YOU INSANE IF YOU
TRY TO STOP US.......
ENOUGH ALREADY.I CANT TAKE IT ANY MORE! I THINK I WILL START WEANNING MYSELF OFF THIS GARBAGE.
CRACK ADDICTION WOULD BE EASIER!
I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A POLITICIAN WAS.PRE HIGH SCHOOL COUNCIL FER' SURE.THAT'S WHERE THEY GET STARTED,THE MISERABLE SCHEMING ,BLOOD SUCKING ,EGOTISTICAL MANIACS.
RUN FER YER LIVES IF YA CAN!RUN AS FAR ,AND AS FAST AS YOU CAN.PUT AS MANY MILES BETWEEN YOU AND THIS GOD FORESAKEN PLACE.IT'S DOOMED,,,
FIRST SIGN OF ARMAGEDDON....COUNCILMEMBERS ATTACKING CITIZENS FOR EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWS...AND YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS THE LAND OF FREE SPEECH....HAAA
THOSE DAYS ARE GONE MY FRIEND....
HISTORY,,,,DOOMED TO REPEAT ITSELF,,,,,THE FALL OF GREECE AND ROME,,,,EGYPTIANS,AZTECS,MAYANS,
GONE FOREVER,
PREPARE FOR IT....
STOP THAT BAD SIDE...OK.....
GOOD SIDE GIVE ME THE HIGHLIGHTS.........................................................................................................I'M WAITING........................................................................................................
I wish my employer would insult me with a 5 thousand raise! I'm a woman and i take offense to them playing the gender card. sheesh.
ASK FOR AN EXPLAINATION? THE GREAT OZ DOES NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING!
Hey everybody, grap a thread and heave-ho pull that curtain aside...or better yet just yank it down.
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