I agree with the Advertiser-Tribune on the principle of protecting the use of our TAX DOLLARS.
In his recent editorial entitled: "Bailout shouldn’t protect profits, salaries" (http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/509337.html?nav=5006) the A-T Editor reminds us that TAX DOLLAR decisions "...must not cross the line to protecting the profits - or the salaries - of companies and executives that will benefit."
Unacceptable behavior is permitted by government officials, and encouraged by big business, whenever the big financially successful institutions are subsidized by our tax dollars. Remember what the A-T Editor wrote:
"Taxpayers who probably will be on the hook for $700 billion to fund the bill are reluctant enough to spend that kind of money to keep financial institutions from sinking. If they learn anyone, either personally or corporately, actually has made additional profits as a result of the measure, they will be furious. They should be."
Thank you, Mr. Editor, and everyone else at the Advertiser-Tribune who supports this line of responsible thinking! It is clearly in every one's best interest that NO single person, business or institution profiteers from TAX SUBSIDIZED decisions that are supposed to benefit ALL of us...but would abuse us, instead. I agree with the A-T that we should all be "furious"!
Do you notice the civic-minded principles the Advertiser-Tribune espouses, and to which nearly all Tiffin Citizens agree?
Did you notice that these principles clearly explain what has gone wrong with the financially powerful Tiffin University and their Miami Street Project? Did you notice TU Officials are trying to get TAX MONEY to pay for their Miami Street Improvement project, even if it would harm every Tiffin Tax Payer in the neighborhood, while it benefits a select group of businesses?
Tiffin University continues its march as the most financially powerful and influential business in Tiffin, Ohio. They don't need the tax subsidy from financially struggling taxpayers, but every private business person in line for a contract is "drooling". The financial drooling of these private businesses is based on the hope that Tiffin University Officials, along with the Chamber of Commerce Board, will be able to confuse Tiffin Taxpayers into abusing each other from the voting booth.
I agree with the Advertiser-Tribune when the Editor said,
"That is human nature. It is understandable. But it is not acceptable."
So, get furious! The right thing to do is to vote 'NO' on the Miami Street Project Referendum from Ordinance 07-70.
I'm glad to hear that the Advertiser-Tribune agrees with good principles of Citizenship! This is only one more principled reason to vote 'NO' on Tiffin University's Miami Street Improvement Project. Please vote 'NO' on the Referendum for Ordinance 07-70. Your 'NO' vote is for responsible use of our TAXES. Please get furious, now!
Thank you,
Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter
Showing posts with label abuse of power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abuse of power. Show all posts
Friday, October 10, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Vacate Street, vacate alley, vacate alley, vacate alley, STOP...just take it through eminent domain!
There was a time when Tiffin University Officials played fair and honorably` in Tiffin, Ohio. Remember when they wanted to create that nicely landscaped walkway through what is now the North Campus? That area used to be called "Jackson Street" and was home to about a dozen taxpaying home owners. Tiffin University negotiated the purchase of the last of those properties about 20 years ago. Since they purchased the entire block on both sides of Jackson Street, they petitioned Tiffin City Government and were rightfully awarded that part of the public street through a "vacate" ordinance. No one else had a claim to that end of Jackson Street as it dead-ended at the railroad tracks.
Tiffin University followed the same rules for vacating the alleyways that split Jackson Street about halfway down the block and again for the alley that ran parallel to the railroad tracks. University buildings now sit on those former alleyways of the North Campus.
Again-and-again, Tiffin University Officials negotiated the purchase of more properties and used Tiffin City Government "vacate" rules to capture many of the other neighborhood alleyways that used to abut private property. As Tiffin University has grown and prospered with its enormous additions to student population, buildings and financial clout, its appetite for real-estate has fueled a lucrative neighborhood market for real-estate rentals and growth in property valuations.
As Tiffin University has captured more and more real estate through "vacate" ordinances, their purchases of bordering private properties is getting significantly more expensive with time. If you believe in free enterprise, own property, and have been paying attention to property values in the neighborhood, you can't help to smile with glee on the news of the "deals" Tiffin University has made with some of your neighbors!
The so-called "deals" are only partially reported in the newspaper, because they are too financially complex, and would require the Tiffin Advertiser -Trubune to publish about 100 lines of text instead of the one-liner "Property Transfers" that are traditional. Besides, private owners and Tiffin University Officials do NOT want the public to know that they have agreed on sale compensation packages that have been valued at nearly 200 thousand to 500 thousand or more dollars. These same homes, if located away from the University by only two more blocks, would not be valued at half the "deal" compensation. Needless to say, the real-estate professional practice of valuing property by "comps" (comparing recently sold and similar properties) does NOT apply in the Tiffin University neighborhood. This is the reason that property owners, if they can set any jealousy aside, will smile with such glee! They know that one day, their long term determination, foresight to invest in the neighborhood, or luck will eventually see them likewise rewarded.
Because of its success, Tiffin University Officials, sometimes acting in the dual capacity as Private Property developer, have the opportunity to create good will and share their new-found wealth with Tiffin Citizens in the neighborhood. They can afford to buy homes, even at the extraordinary valuations that they created, because they are bursting with resources and know-how and can recover their investment in only a few short years. This "financial machine" is made possible because of the increased cash flow from various fees they charge the continuously growing population of students. It is no secret that college students are a lucrative business.
So, with Tiffin University's wildly successful wealth-generating machine, civic leadership, political clout, and know-how; why are they jeopardizing their own and other's reputations by flogging the five remaining private property owners out of their rights to use the Jackson/Miami Street intersection?
Why is Tiffin University by-passing the normal procedure on Jackson Street for securing a "vacate" ordinance from Tiffin City Council? Why are they taking preliminary Eminent Domain Action against the Monaco Family?
Why does the Miami Street Project from Ordinance 07-70, if allowed to go through, abuse the many neighbors of their right to use Jackson Street, enjoyment of the mature shade trees, and suffer other indignities?
The answers are simple if you think about them. Tiffin University Officials could choose to do the right thing, but how would they save face? That too, is simple. [Just think about it and it will come to you, Dr. Marion.] Please act before it is too late. Not even the Monaco's want TU to fail. They just want to stop the abuses to their family and the neighbors...and so does most everyone else.
Please Vote 'NO' on the Miami Street Project Ordinance 07-70 Referendum.
Tiffin University followed the same rules for vacating the alleyways that split Jackson Street about halfway down the block and again for the alley that ran parallel to the railroad tracks. University buildings now sit on those former alleyways of the North Campus.
Again-and-again, Tiffin University Officials negotiated the purchase of more properties and used Tiffin City Government "vacate" rules to capture many of the other neighborhood alleyways that used to abut private property. As Tiffin University has grown and prospered with its enormous additions to student population, buildings and financial clout, its appetite for real-estate has fueled a lucrative neighborhood market for real-estate rentals and growth in property valuations.
As Tiffin University has captured more and more real estate through "vacate" ordinances, their purchases of bordering private properties is getting significantly more expensive with time. If you believe in free enterprise, own property, and have been paying attention to property values in the neighborhood, you can't help to smile with glee on the news of the "deals" Tiffin University has made with some of your neighbors!
The so-called "deals" are only partially reported in the newspaper, because they are too financially complex, and would require the Tiffin Advertiser -Trubune to publish about 100 lines of text instead of the one-liner "Property Transfers" that are traditional. Besides, private owners and Tiffin University Officials do NOT want the public to know that they have agreed on sale compensation packages that have been valued at nearly 200 thousand to 500 thousand or more dollars. These same homes, if located away from the University by only two more blocks, would not be valued at half the "deal" compensation. Needless to say, the real-estate professional practice of valuing property by "comps" (comparing recently sold and similar properties) does NOT apply in the Tiffin University neighborhood. This is the reason that property owners, if they can set any jealousy aside, will smile with such glee! They know that one day, their long term determination, foresight to invest in the neighborhood, or luck will eventually see them likewise rewarded.
Because of its success, Tiffin University Officials, sometimes acting in the dual capacity as Private Property developer, have the opportunity to create good will and share their new-found wealth with Tiffin Citizens in the neighborhood. They can afford to buy homes, even at the extraordinary valuations that they created, because they are bursting with resources and know-how and can recover their investment in only a few short years. This "financial machine" is made possible because of the increased cash flow from various fees they charge the continuously growing population of students. It is no secret that college students are a lucrative business.
So, with Tiffin University's wildly successful wealth-generating machine, civic leadership, political clout, and know-how; why are they jeopardizing their own and other's reputations by flogging the five remaining private property owners out of their rights to use the Jackson/Miami Street intersection?
Why is Tiffin University by-passing the normal procedure on Jackson Street for securing a "vacate" ordinance from Tiffin City Council? Why are they taking preliminary Eminent Domain Action against the Monaco Family?
Why does the Miami Street Project from Ordinance 07-70, if allowed to go through, abuse the many neighbors of their right to use Jackson Street, enjoyment of the mature shade trees, and suffer other indignities?
The answers are simple if you think about them. Tiffin University Officials could choose to do the right thing, but how would they save face? That too, is simple. [Just think about it and it will come to you, Dr. Marion.] Please act before it is too late. Not even the Monaco's want TU to fail. They just want to stop the abuses to their family and the neighbors...and so does most everyone else.
Please Vote 'NO' on the Miami Street Project Ordinance 07-70 Referendum.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Did City Officials Abridge Tiffin Citizen's Constitutional Right to free speech?
I like Tiffin as four (4) generations of my family, and some of our neighbors, continue to benefit, at least in part, from the Tiffin University's growing presence in our neighborhood. As much as I like the idea of Tiffin University's growth, can't the TU Officials carry out their business WITHOUT abusing their neighbors...or by using Tiffin City Officials to carry out the resulting punishment to normal citizens?
I believe our Mayor Boroff to be an honorable man, but did our honorable Mayor and another Tiffin City Official violate Tiffin Citizen's constitutionally protected right of free speech?
[Click the Title, above, and read the Advertiser-Tribune's account of a recent Tiffin City Council meeting.] You decide. Here is what I decided and why:
A referendum petitioner, a small business proprietor, was following all the rules when asking people to sign the petition to put Tiffin University's Miami Street Project on the November 4th ballot. The petition signature page was attached to explanatory documents, so each voter would know what they were signing. Although he didn't have the Miami Street Project plan document in his possession, he informed voters of Tiffin University's 2005 plan to close Wall Street at the railroad crossing. This document is on file at the municipal building, or at: http://groups.google.com/group/rctohio/files
As I heard it, from a mutual friend, he was quickly and privately admonished for his petitioning activity by a Tiffin City Official. Again, as I heard it, this small business proprietor was told to stop telling voting citizens about Tiffin University's published Miami Street Plan that documents, complete with artist's rendering, their goals including closing of the Wall Street Railroad intersection.
I count our Mayor and most Tiffin City Officials as honorable. However, did TU Officials prompt attempts to thwart a referendum petitioner's First Amendment Constitutional right to freedom of speech? If it was TU's normally pervasive and powerful influence on our Tiffin City Officials, I can easily forgive City Officials their transgression. Do they at least owe an apology to the small business proprietor? To the petitioners opposing the closing of Jackson Street and other neighborhood citizen abuses? To all Tiffin Citizens?
The Advertiser-Tribune recounted Mayor Boroff 's action:
Mr. Boroff told me that they (meaning the Tiffin City Council and Himself) agreed with Tiffin University Officials in a deal that Tiffin City Officials would vote to pass ordinance 07-70, if TU would remove the Wall Street Railroad Intersection Closing as part of this current referendum issue. Mr. Boroff was deliberate and clear when he also said that this consideration of Tiffin University plans is only good on this particular referendum issue. It does NOT preclude Tiffin University from initiating an ordinance to close the Wall Street Railroad Intersection at a future date of their choosing.
I believe that Mayor Boroff and another Tiffin City Official simply made a mistake that unfortunately resulted in abusing the First Amendment right of Tiffin Citizens who have a right and duty to disclose the documented fact that TU still plans to close the Wall Street Railroad Intersection. If our Mayor had succumbed to the influence of a politically connected and powerful Tiffin University Official, I can easily forgive him, because I believe him to be an honorable man. It is the Tiffin University Officials to whom I will accord the same honor when they take the "high road", do right by their neighbor Citizens, and never again refer to Tiffin Citizen concerns as "irrelevant" (More on Dr. Marion's "irrelevant" comment, later)
So that you can view the Tiffin City Council file on TU Official's Wall Street Closing Plan, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/rctohio/files.
This kind of "abuse of power" in our City needs to stop, don't you think? Please join the growing number of Tiffin Citizens who have already pledged to vote "NO" on November 4th regarding the Miami Street Project Referendum - Ordinance 07-70 that includes closing Jackson Street WITHOUT neighborhood property owner permission.
Thank you,
Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter
I believe our Mayor Boroff to be an honorable man, but did our honorable Mayor and another Tiffin City Official violate Tiffin Citizen's constitutionally protected right of free speech?
[Click the Title, above, and read the Advertiser-Tribune's account of a recent Tiffin City Council meeting.] You decide. Here is what I decided and why:
A referendum petitioner, a small business proprietor, was following all the rules when asking people to sign the petition to put Tiffin University's Miami Street Project on the November 4th ballot. The petition signature page was attached to explanatory documents, so each voter would know what they were signing. Although he didn't have the Miami Street Project plan document in his possession, he informed voters of Tiffin University's 2005 plan to close Wall Street at the railroad crossing. This document is on file at the municipal building, or at: http://groups.google.com/group/rctohio/files
As I heard it, from a mutual friend, he was quickly and privately admonished for his petitioning activity by a Tiffin City Official. Again, as I heard it, this small business proprietor was told to stop telling voting citizens about Tiffin University's published Miami Street Plan that documents, complete with artist's rendering, their goals including closing of the Wall Street Railroad intersection.
I count our Mayor and most Tiffin City Officials as honorable. However, did TU Officials prompt attempts to thwart a referendum petitioner's First Amendment Constitutional right to freedom of speech? If it was TU's normally pervasive and powerful influence on our Tiffin City Officials, I can easily forgive City Officials their transgression. Do they at least owe an apology to the small business proprietor? To the petitioners opposing the closing of Jackson Street and other neighborhood citizen abuses? To all Tiffin Citizens?
The Advertiser-Tribune recounted Mayor Boroff 's action:
"Mayor Jim Boroff in his report also addressed rumors he has heard
that the project involves closing the Wall Street railroad intersection.
He said that intersection is not involved in the plans.
that the project involves closing the Wall Street railroad intersection.
He said that intersection is not involved in the plans.
Mayor Boroff also said anyone with questions on the project can call his office."
So, I called Mr. Boroff with my questions. When asked if the Tiffin University has revised their Miami Street Project Plan (on file at the municipal building) to exclude the Wall Street Intersection closing, he admitted that Tiffin University has NOT revised their plan to close it.Mr. Boroff told me that they (meaning the Tiffin City Council and Himself) agreed with Tiffin University Officials in a deal that Tiffin City Officials would vote to pass ordinance 07-70, if TU would remove the Wall Street Railroad Intersection Closing as part of this current referendum issue. Mr. Boroff was deliberate and clear when he also said that this consideration of Tiffin University plans is only good on this particular referendum issue. It does NOT preclude Tiffin University from initiating an ordinance to close the Wall Street Railroad Intersection at a future date of their choosing.
I believe that Mayor Boroff and another Tiffin City Official simply made a mistake that unfortunately resulted in abusing the First Amendment right of Tiffin Citizens who have a right and duty to disclose the documented fact that TU still plans to close the Wall Street Railroad Intersection. If our Mayor had succumbed to the influence of a politically connected and powerful Tiffin University Official, I can easily forgive him, because I believe him to be an honorable man. It is the Tiffin University Officials to whom I will accord the same honor when they take the "high road", do right by their neighbor Citizens, and never again refer to Tiffin Citizen concerns as "irrelevant" (More on Dr. Marion's "irrelevant" comment, later)
So that you can view the Tiffin City Council file on TU Official's Wall Street Closing Plan, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/rctohio/files.
This kind of "abuse of power" in our City needs to stop, don't you think? Please join the growing number of Tiffin Citizens who have already pledged to vote "NO" on November 4th regarding the Miami Street Project Referendum - Ordinance 07-70 that includes closing Jackson Street WITHOUT neighborhood property owner permission.
Thank you,
Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter
Friday, April 25, 2008
On-Fire Citizenship Shows Itself throughout Tiffin
Well, its been a couple of days since the public hearing on Ordinance 07-70 which has the Tiffin University seeking permission to spend $800,000 worth of our tax dollars to make Miami street prettier, close Wall Street at the railroad crossing and to close Jackson Street, too...without the permission of bordering property owners. TU officials Paul Marion and Mike Grandillo know that neighboring property owners resent the suggestion that they should loose some of their frontage, have eleven 75-100 year old shade trees destroyed, give-up free access to their homes via the Jackson/Miami Street intersection, and suffer other indignities.
So, why doesn't Tiffin University just quietly get the Tiffin City Council and the Mayor to approve of it? Didn't Mike Grandillo run City Council since about 1990? Doesn't he curiously appear to still order some Council members to do his bidding for him? He knows how to make things work at City Hall.
If I was a devious Tiffin University official, I'd simply start a campaign to misrepresent the facts, repeat them over-and-over again, and declare with absolute authority that it is for the good of Tiffin, Ohio. (Don't bother justifying the project on any particular principle) If they say it repeatedly, certainly enough city council members will learn the correct wording and thus have compelling reasons to vote for the Ordinance. This strategy would silence all Citizen opposition...who Dr. Marion believes to be "irrelevant", anyway.
This strategy has worked in the past, so it will work now, as long as we can keep those loud-mouthed, pesky, voting citizens out of it.
Or...Tiffin University officials Marion and Grandillo could STOP the destructive aspects of the Miami Street Project, and let us forgive them, so we can ALL live and work here in Tiffin, Ohio.
If they don't do so, they may create so much acrimony among more people of Tiffin who will count themselves among the abused. Remember, a record-setting number of Citizens came to the hearing to voice their opposition to the Miami Street Project Plan. Thousands more saw the hearing on cable television. It will soon be clear whether Council will vote with the voices of the citizens, or ignore those voices.
What do you think is going to happen? Will Drs. Marion and Grandillo use their high standing in our community to take the high road and prove themselves to be responsible and welcome Leaders of the Tiffin Citizenry? Will they see that forgoing the abusive aspects of the Miami Street Project will benefit them many times over in the future?
Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter
So, why doesn't Tiffin University just quietly get the Tiffin City Council and the Mayor to approve of it? Didn't Mike Grandillo run City Council since about 1990? Doesn't he curiously appear to still order some Council members to do his bidding for him? He knows how to make things work at City Hall.
If I was a devious Tiffin University official, I'd simply start a campaign to misrepresent the facts, repeat them over-and-over again, and declare with absolute authority that it is for the good of Tiffin, Ohio. (Don't bother justifying the project on any particular principle) If they say it repeatedly, certainly enough city council members will learn the correct wording and thus have compelling reasons to vote for the Ordinance. This strategy would silence all Citizen opposition...who Dr. Marion believes to be "irrelevant", anyway.
This strategy has worked in the past, so it will work now, as long as we can keep those loud-mouthed, pesky, voting citizens out of it.
Or...Tiffin University officials Marion and Grandillo could STOP the destructive aspects of the Miami Street Project, and let us forgive them, so we can ALL live and work here in Tiffin, Ohio.
If they don't do so, they may create so much acrimony among more people of Tiffin who will count themselves among the abused. Remember, a record-setting number of Citizens came to the hearing to voice their opposition to the Miami Street Project Plan. Thousands more saw the hearing on cable television. It will soon be clear whether Council will vote with the voices of the citizens, or ignore those voices.
What do you think is going to happen? Will Drs. Marion and Grandillo use their high standing in our community to take the high road and prove themselves to be responsible and welcome Leaders of the Tiffin Citizenry? Will they see that forgoing the abusive aspects of the Miami Street Project will benefit them many times over in the future?
Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Large Crowd of Tiffin, Ohio Citizens Overwhelm City Council Hearing
Click on the title, above to see Advertiser-Tribune's report on the Public Hearing and 3rd reading of Tiffin City Ordinance 07-70: Miami Street Improvement Project that includes closing Jackson Street to neighborhood private property owners. Why did City Council decide to NOT vote that night?
Here is my take:
Wow! I think an important event in Tiffin's history is being made, starting with last night's Tiffin City Council Public Hearing that was supposed to conclude with a vote of City Council...but didn't.
Never before in the history of our local government did so many Tiffin Citizens unite in opposition to a Tiffin University initiated ordinance that would normally get "rubber-stamp" treatment by City Council and the Mayor. In fact the Tiffin Citizens are so angry that they converged on city hall, where some turned away or left early because of the crowded, uncomfortable court room pews. It was so crowded that people were standing ten-deep in the hallway. Terminally ill and elderly people, one of which was using an oxygen canister, came early. Young people who would speak out in opposition came with their families. Normal Citizens came from every Tiffin City Ward and beyond.
This was Tiffin Ohio Citizenship at its finest! Starting now, Tiffin Citizens can claim to be different from others in the United States where citizens often complain of their lack of influence on their government. But, they never act to perform their civic and constitutional duty to set their government straight..."or to remove it".
With their action, and I'm sure more will follow, Tiffin Citizens are setting a fine example for what other American citizens can do to influence their local government...if they just focus on one issue at a time.
Even the grandson of the founder of Tiffin University, Dr. Thomas Keen, came with his wife to make an articulate and compelling argument for why City Council should defeat the ordinance. Mrs. Keen publicly chastised the President of Tiffin University, Dr. Paul Marion, for his lack of "integrity" for misleading information, attempts to mislead the public, and using his standing as a high-profile community leader to get Tiffin City Council and the Mayor to ignore our own citizen/neighbors. Dr. Marion is NOT even a Citizen of Tiffin.
For nearly 2 and a half hours, about 35 of the people each got up and spoke. Person after person gave one or more reasons for City Council to defeat the ordinance. After all were finished, I presented a Power Point litany that gave documented fact-after-fact that pointed to Dr. Marion, and Dr, Grandillo's lack of regard for the individual Citizens of Tiffin who were now opposing their Miami Miami Street Project Plan. Their Plan includes closing Jackson Street without the approval of the neighborhood property owners, and to have the private property owners suffer other indignities.
The hearing was covered on Tiffin's Cable Television network and viewed by about two-thousand people at home. My presentation disclosed misrepresentation-after-misrepresentation for which I believe these TU Officials should be held accountable. Yet, it seems that some Council members were getting bored as they pretended to listen. When Dr. Paul Marion was allowed, by Council President, to make the concluding statement, the Tiffin University President took the podium, turned to address the Tiffin City Council and said,
" Well, I heard a lot of emotion tonight.
I could NOT believe my ears! With his declaration to City Council that Tiffin Citizen concerns were all "irrelevant", Dr. Marion announced his dark political view and contempt for local governance. He might as well have said:
It is now clear and public knowledge that Drs. Marion and Grandillo, have acted arrogantly, and hurt the trust of Tiffin Citizens. They have publicly embarrassed the institution we call Tiffin City Council. It is hard enough for individual council members to do their often thankless job of governing our City. Our honorable council members do not need to be again flumoxed to provide their official votes to favor the tax-financed plans of Tiffin University Officials...because such plans are...wink...wink..."for the good of Tiffin"; any justification of which will never come. These Tiffin University Officials have thus acted dis-honorably.
Tiffin Citizens are people who can govern themselves in the true spirit of being an American...even if they are from this small Ohio town called Tiffin. City Council Members and the Mayor are elected from the ranks of Citizens, but they are human and not immune to powerful and beautifully crafted attempts to persuade their votes. They are under a lot of pressure, so before you judge them, please first understand their quandary in the face of raw political power.
Why did Dr. Marion think it appropriate to ask our Tiffin City Council President to come to his campus office at Tiffin University for a "Damage Control" meeting?
Is someone confusing the governance mission of Tiffin University with the governance mission of Tiffin City?
I think we need to take account of what has happened. The unusually large crowd of Citizens at Council's Public Hearing have delivered their certain message. Our normally quiet Tiffin Citizens have found their voice and have now taken an important step in learning how to use it.
The abuses of Tiffin, Ohio political power against those Citizens who can't protect themselves, needs to stop.
Now, it is up to Council Members and the Mayor to take the next step that will either embolden Citizens to participate more in their government, or embolden Tiffin University Officials to continue abusing the sick, elderly, and hopeful among us. Maybe both.
Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter
Here is my take:
Wow! I think an important event in Tiffin's history is being made, starting with last night's Tiffin City Council Public Hearing that was supposed to conclude with a vote of City Council...but didn't.
Never before in the history of our local government did so many Tiffin Citizens unite in opposition to a Tiffin University initiated ordinance that would normally get "rubber-stamp" treatment by City Council and the Mayor. In fact the Tiffin Citizens are so angry that they converged on city hall, where some turned away or left early because of the crowded, uncomfortable court room pews. It was so crowded that people were standing ten-deep in the hallway. Terminally ill and elderly people, one of which was using an oxygen canister, came early. Young people who would speak out in opposition came with their families. Normal Citizens came from every Tiffin City Ward and beyond.
This was Tiffin Ohio Citizenship at its finest! Starting now, Tiffin Citizens can claim to be different from others in the United States where citizens often complain of their lack of influence on their government. But, they never act to perform their civic and constitutional duty to set their government straight..."or to remove it".
With their action, and I'm sure more will follow, Tiffin Citizens are setting a fine example for what other American citizens can do to influence their local government...if they just focus on one issue at a time.
Even the grandson of the founder of Tiffin University, Dr. Thomas Keen, came with his wife to make an articulate and compelling argument for why City Council should defeat the ordinance. Mrs. Keen publicly chastised the President of Tiffin University, Dr. Paul Marion, for his lack of "integrity" for misleading information, attempts to mislead the public, and using his standing as a high-profile community leader to get Tiffin City Council and the Mayor to ignore our own citizen/neighbors. Dr. Marion is NOT even a Citizen of Tiffin.
For nearly 2 and a half hours, about 35 of the people each got up and spoke. Person after person gave one or more reasons for City Council to defeat the ordinance. After all were finished, I presented a Power Point litany that gave documented fact-after-fact that pointed to Dr. Marion, and Dr, Grandillo's lack of regard for the individual Citizens of Tiffin who were now opposing their Miami Miami Street Project Plan. Their Plan includes closing Jackson Street without the approval of the neighborhood property owners, and to have the private property owners suffer other indignities.
The hearing was covered on Tiffin's Cable Television network and viewed by about two-thousand people at home. My presentation disclosed misrepresentation-after-misrepresentation for which I believe these TU Officials should be held accountable. Yet, it seems that some Council members were getting bored as they pretended to listen. When Dr. Paul Marion was allowed, by Council President, to make the concluding statement, the Tiffin University President took the podium, turned to address the Tiffin City Council and said,
" Well, I heard a lot of emotion tonight.
As far as I'm concerned, it is all irrelevant."
I could NOT believe my ears! With his declaration to City Council that Tiffin Citizen concerns were all "irrelevant", Dr. Marion announced his dark political view and contempt for local governance. He might as well have said:
"The Citizens of Tiffin are irrelevant, should
quietly pay their taxes and accept that they
have NO say in how they are governed."
or
"The Citizens of Tiffin are too stupid to know
what is relevant to their own governance.
Government needs to be firmly in the hands
of those who command power."
or
"How dare these people assume that anything they said at this public hearing will be given any consideration by those of us who really govern Tiffin, Ohio. Do they think this to be a Democratic Republic?"
quietly pay their taxes and accept that they
have NO say in how they are governed."
or
"The Citizens of Tiffin are too stupid to know
what is relevant to their own governance.
Government needs to be firmly in the hands
of those who command power."
or
"How dare these people assume that anything they said at this public hearing will be given any consideration by those of us who really govern Tiffin, Ohio. Do they think this to be a Democratic Republic?"
It is now clear and public knowledge that Drs. Marion and Grandillo, have acted arrogantly, and hurt the trust of Tiffin Citizens. They have publicly embarrassed the institution we call Tiffin City Council. It is hard enough for individual council members to do their often thankless job of governing our City. Our honorable council members do not need to be again flumoxed to provide their official votes to favor the tax-financed plans of Tiffin University Officials...because such plans are...wink...wink..."for the good of Tiffin"; any justification of which will never come. These Tiffin University Officials have thus acted dis-honorably.
Tiffin Citizens are people who can govern themselves in the true spirit of being an American...even if they are from this small Ohio town called Tiffin. City Council Members and the Mayor are elected from the ranks of Citizens, but they are human and not immune to powerful and beautifully crafted attempts to persuade their votes. They are under a lot of pressure, so before you judge them, please first understand their quandary in the face of raw political power.
Why did Dr. Marion think it appropriate to ask our Tiffin City Council President to come to his campus office at Tiffin University for a "Damage Control" meeting?
Is someone confusing the governance mission of Tiffin University with the governance mission of Tiffin City?
I think we need to take account of what has happened. The unusually large crowd of Citizens at Council's Public Hearing have delivered their certain message. Our normally quiet Tiffin Citizens have found their voice and have now taken an important step in learning how to use it.
The abuses of Tiffin, Ohio political power against those Citizens who can't protect themselves, needs to stop.
Now, it is up to Council Members and the Mayor to take the next step that will either embolden Citizens to participate more in their government, or embolden Tiffin University Officials to continue abusing the sick, elderly, and hopeful among us. Maybe both.
Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter
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Tiffin University Threatens Property Owners
Here is how it feels to be an Elderly Property Owner at Tiffin University