Posts Tagged corruption
Dan Gilbert Among Businessmen Giving Money to Disgraced Detroit Mayor
Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Economic Development, Media, Politicians on October 30, 2009
October 30, 2009… Wonder if The Plain Dealer will headline this story: Four billionaires have “loaned” $240,000 to the disgraced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. One of them our casino king: Dan Gilbert.
The Pee Dee has been supporting in its news columns Gilbert’s desire for a monopoly casino in Cleveland, along with other cities. The vote Tuesday will decide. Issue 3.
The loan to the former mayor, who resigned in September 2008, suggests that Gilbert will spread his money around. It makes you wonder what politicians he might be helping here. Jimmy Dimora, Frank Russo?
The loans have not been repaid.
Kilpatrick was sentenced to four months in jail. The charge was obstruction of justice. However, there were many other charges against him and his administration.
The “loan” was made, according to reports, as he left jail.
A link to the Detroit Free Press article is here:
A link to another article (don’t let the link title fool you) on this matter can be found here:
Scene Tries to Balance Plain Dealer Issue 6 Coverage
Posted by Roldo Bartimole in Economic Development, Media, Politicians on October 28, 2009
The Cleveland Scene this week offers some antidote to the noxious coverage of The Plain Dealer on Cuyahoga County reform. Issue 6 ain’t the joy ride into the sunset that the paper would like us to believe.
Issue 6 may be a sunset on real reform.
The Scene’s cover really tells it all: A photo of a menacing hand gun pointed at you. The title: “Give Us Your County and No One Gets Hurt – The story behind the Issue 6 power grab.” Couldn’t say it better.
The article by Damian Guevara (I’m becoming a fan) gives us, if not more facts than the Pee Dee has produced, a better slant on the power issues so crucial to the essence of the new County government Issue 6 would bring to us. You can find it here:
http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/give-us-your-county-and-no-one-gets-hurt/Content?oid=1702408
Veteran reporter Anastasia Pantsios writes a piece that debunks the idea the Pee Dee has tried to sell that Issue 6 offers essentially the same kind of reform that Summit County adopted. The title tells it: “Issue 6’s Bait & Switch – Summit County: different process, different result.” Her piece can be found here:
http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/issue-6s-bait-and-switch/Content?oid=1702471
Both reporters note the influence of corporate interests in the design and execution of the Issue 6 ballot choice facing voters next Tuesday.
If you want to give the Parma gang – headed by county prosecutor Bill Mason – power over the County vote yes on Issue 6.
If you want to wait for a better deal on county reform, vote NO on Issue 6.