Business

This in via email from Tom Obst:

Are the recent actions of Amy Bishop and Andrew Slack a sign of the times or are they an aberration and no cause for alarm?

The life situations of both individuals were markedly similar. One was unemployed and one was scheduled for unemployment in the very near future. Both felt persecuted and took out their anger on innocent people. One shot and killed three colleagues and injuring more, the other flew his airplane into a building killing an employee and himself while injuring scores of others.

~An investigation into how campaign cash is corrupting America's courts~
February 19, 2010
(VIDEO)
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02192010/watch.html

Another sad accolade for Toledo. Maybe someday things will get better.

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/americas-most-miserable-cities-2010

"Robert P. Watson, Ph.D. Coordinator of American Studies
Lynn University"
Email: rwatson@lynn.edu

COLUMBUS—State Representative Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville) today introduced House Bill 440, legislation that requires the director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to seek federal approval to establish an alcohol and controlled substance testing and treatment component within the Medicaid program.

On Friday February 12, 2010, 7:03 pm EST
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/State-Budget-Woes-A-Drag-On-ibd-483598023....
As Washington works to rev up the economy and spur hiring with yet another dose of stimulus, state and local governments are busily applying the fiscal brakes.

Tax hikes, spending cuts and layoffs top the agenda as states continue to wrestle with severe budget crises that largely can't be deferred by borrowing.

13abc has this story on the City plowing clean a mayor's street. Bell is the current mayor, but the story covers previous mayors. If I was Bell I would put a stop to this asap. It sounds snotty.
===
But no other government employees received preferential treatment.

Want your side street plowed first? Move next to the mayor! 13abc's Greg Bilazarian checked in how Mayor Mike Bell's Old Orchard street looked.

Like Central Avenue, the mayor's street was cleaned down to the pavement and the city admits that it's no accident. When the snow falls, the plows head for Hopewell.

United Way files application for demolition TOLEDO, Ohio – United Way of Greater Toledo is moving forward with its plan to bring its operating expenses down by constructing a new building and demolishing its previous one. D&R Demolition & Removal filed an application today on United Way’s behalf with the City of Toledo for demolition of its vacant building located at One Stranahan Square in downtown Toledo. Rudolph/Libbe will be overseeing the demolition and Midwest Environmental Control, Inc. will be performing abatement.

Mayor Michael P. Bell today sent to members of Toledo City Council and the City's union leadership an updated forecast for 2010 revenue and the current state of the anticipated deficit. That information is attached electronically to this release. To date the administration has identified $25.6 million in deficit reduction measures.

The Mayor met on Wednesday with the union leaders to present them with the potential cost savings to be achieved through employee concessions, which would affect all employees in all funds and agencies. The concessions and deficit reduction measures, coupled with the ballot initiatives the administration has proposed for council action would remediate the 2010 deficit without seriously affecting the level of service provided to Toledo residents. All measures would nevertheless pursue a long-term improvement in the efficiency of internal operations for the City of Toledo.

On Thursday the administration will meet with representatives from the State Auditors office and on Friday there will be a budget working meeting with members of the administration, city council, department directors and union leaders. Public input sessions are also being scheduled to allow citizens the opportunity to offer suggestions and weigh in on the service priorities they feel need to be addressed.

The Mayor has committed to providing multiple draft budget scenarios to City Council by March 1 to allow them time for discussion and action before the March 31 deadline.

Latest newsletter from Senator Voinovich:
===
Currently, the U.S. Debt is estimated at: $12,264,478,112,700

Your share of today's public debt is: $39,934

Spearheading Debt Reduction Task Force Legislation

Official: State Farm warned NHTSA on Toyota in '07
Nick Carey
DETROIT
Mon Feb 8, 2010 5:42pm EST
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE61751H20100208
DETROIT (Reuters) - Private insurer State Farm informed a government regulator of a worrying trend of vehicle-caused accidents involving Toyota Motor Corp as far back as late 2007, an official at the company said.

Fox News has generously placed the full, unedited conversation between Bill O'Reilly and Jon Stewart online, so we can see precisely how unfairly and deviously Fox edited the interview in order to weaken Stewart's case: A lot!
http://gawker.com/5465299/im-not-saying-your-mothers-a-whore-how-fox-new...

We need to pay attention to this brewing issue at BP. Toledo is supposed to be one of the main, mainland processors of oil sand crude and if there already is shareholder concern, what will happen to the future of the refinery in Oregon especially after they spend lots of money to convert it to process oil sand crude? If the Oregon plant is converted and BP pulls out, will it be rendered useless and close down? We will have to watch this.
===

New Bulk Pick Up Rules
Beginning Monday, Feb. 8th, you will need to call 48 business hours in advance of your regular refuse pick up if you have oversized or overloaded refuse. In other words, if it doesn't fit in the automated container, please call 419-936-2511 and call 48 business hours prior to your scheduled pick up.

New School in Old Foodtown?

Mayor Bell wants to increase taxes. TPS wants more taxes. Ohio wants to raise taxes.
You can't park downtown without getting a parking ticket. I don't know what the attraction is
going downtown anyway. I can't fit in the seats in the Lucas County Arena. You better pay your red light tickets, though I don't know what Toledo will do when they will have to refund everyones money after the Supreme Court rules on the cameras. Did I miss anything?

Zachary Roth | February 3, 2010
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/02/mcconnell_raised_big_b...
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02052010/watch2.html

Toledo Public Schools and Lucas County appear to wanted to try to dismiss a request to lower property values of Michaelmas Manor by 1 million on a technicality. Ohio Supreme Court says not so fast.
===

In the video below Kate talks about being laid off by the Blade during the show and starting her Web site http://rustwire.com/ . Kate's story is talked about in the new book "The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution that Will Begin the World Again" by Robert McChesney and John Nichols

WASHINGTON- Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) made the following statement after voting against H. J. Res. 45, a bill that would increase the United States’ national debt limit to $14.29 trillion dollars. Congressman Latta also voted against a national debt limit hike on December 16, 2009, less than two months ago.