Posts Tagged Aquarium
Mayor Frank Jackson and “What Is Is” Campaign
Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Economic Development, Politicians on October 15, 2009
October 15, 2009… Could this be the dullest, most meaningless mayoral election of all time? Well, it is what it is, ain’t it?
If I were running against Jackson I’d say strongly and often, “What it IS should not BE.”
General election opponent Bill Patmon, who has no money and not enough name recognition city-wide, did attack Jackson for this anemic attitude of acceptance.
You’d think we have a monk, not a mayor.
“The message that the current administration does not care is clear. But the attitude, ‘it is what it is,’ is neither acceptable nor wise in a time when this city, and every other city for that matter, critically counts on its tax base for survival” Patmon told the Plain Dealer. He hit the right tone.
The problem also is that the news media have been turned off on the election. For Patmon that’s a disaster since he has no money to push any agenda into focus.
Patmon, of course, is correct. Mayor Jackson’s oath of acceptance is not good enough, not nearly good enough.
A city with no spirit isn’t going to be helped by some Buddhist-like mind-set. It’s not a brew that offers much hope.
Mayor Jackson seems to be in a go-along mode.
Two million bucks for an aquarium – which likely will be more like a fish tank – for Jeff Jacobs, okay. It is what it is. Hundreds of millions of dollars for a medical mart and convention center, alright. It is what it is.
Tens of millions of dollars for a diluted Wolstein project, why not? It is what it is.
A new port at the cost of hundreds of millions of dollars and one that negates other plans and studies? So? It is what it is.
Monopoly casino? Why not? It is what it is.
That’s not leadership. That is what it is, of course. But it is not what it should be.
Cleveland better start looking for new leaders NOW for the future. It’s already much too late for the city. It needs a leader who will do more than see acceptance as a policy.
Would You Help Fund a Snake Pit for Jacobs?
Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Economic Development, Media on June 23, 2009
June 23, 2009… I’m against any public money going into an aquarium for Jeff Jacobs who now must be a big-time multi-millionaire. Let him buy his own.
However, I would consider helping to fund a snake pit for Jacobs.
At least that would be so appropriate.
Jacobs said he’d put up $9 million and the city, state and county should pick up the other half. The other half, if I know anything about the Jacobs family, will be in the $20 to $30 million range. His $9 million will be a lot less even if he does pay himself a finder’s fee. That’s the way these things work out. Believe me.
Of course, the location of this aquarium would be at Jacobs’ Powerhouse in the Flats.
What’s so amusing about this story that greeted me on my return to Cleveland is that it is reported straight-facedly by The Plain Dealer, the paper of convenience for developers and their ilk.
It’s reported on the front page under a major headline starting with this paragraph:
“Downtown Cleveland could hook residents and tourists with a plan announced Wednesday to put a state-of-the-art aquarium in the Powerhouse in the Flats.”
Who sez? Jacobs? His PR firm?
Please, let’s have just a little bit of truth with our news.
The paragraph should have said that Jeff Jacobs “could hook Ohio, Cleveland and Cuyahoga County taxpayers” into subsidizing his desire for an aquarium to help his Powerhouse project, just as his dad, Dick Jacobs, did for a new stadium.
Can’t we have a little reality in these Pee Dee drumbeating articles for greedy developers? Not a lot. Just a little. And maybe only once in a while. Or maybe just ONCE.
Get the snakes ready.