Ohio Chamber lies & hides election buys
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce will not reveal the list of individuals and corporations that have funded its election campaign in the Buckeye State, despite having promised to do so in a public hearing.
In Columbus on Monday, November 1, Cliff Arnebeck, lead attorney for the King-Lincoln-Bronzeville election theft lawsuit, argued in a racketeering complaint in front of the Ohio Elections Commission that the Partnership for Ohio's Future, an affiliate of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, should disclose its secret donors. We are co-counsel and plaintiff in the King-Lincoln suit.
Arnebeck argued that former George W. Bush strategist Karl Rove and the Chamber of Commerce are illegally coordinating donations in Ohio. While the recent Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision allows for unlimited contributions from independent campaign organizations, it does not allow coordination between candidates and independent committees.
In Columbus on Monday, November 1, Cliff Arnebeck, lead attorney for the King-Lincoln-Bronzeville election theft lawsuit, argued in a racketeering complaint in front of the Ohio Elections Commission that the Partnership for Ohio's Future, an affiliate of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, should disclose its secret donors. We are co-counsel and plaintiff in the King-Lincoln suit.
Arnebeck argued that former George W. Bush strategist Karl Rove and the Chamber of Commerce are illegally coordinating donations in Ohio. While the recent Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision allows for unlimited contributions from independent campaign organizations, it does not allow coordination between candidates and independent committees.
Closed Council meetings = Better informed public: Absurd “less is more” rationale for Issue 12 from the Columbus Dispatch
It is hypocritical for the Dispatch, a consistent champion of open records and sunshine laws, to advocate for Issue 12, the ballot issue allowing closed City Council meetings (“Open Secrets,” Tues., Sept. 21 editorial). Tax-paying Columbus citizens do not need to be shielded from hearing varying opinions and disagreements between our elected representatives. In fact, some dissent would be a refreshing change from the homogenous and suspiciously “unanimous” votes we repeatedly witness.
The Dispatch editorial explained that most of Council business goes on “outside of public meetings” already, so why not give them our blessing to continue these backroom deals by changing the charter language. We don’t like the backroom deals going on now, and we certainly don’t want Council emboldened to hold sanctioned secret meetings. The Dispatch’s absurd claim that the “City charter change would provide public with more information” insults all Columbus citizens. With this logic, then, if the Dispatch stopped printing its newspaper, I’m sure we would all be more informed citizens.
The Dispatch editorial explained that most of Council business goes on “outside of public meetings” already, so why not give them our blessing to continue these backroom deals by changing the charter language. We don’t like the backroom deals going on now, and we certainly don’t want Council emboldened to hold sanctioned secret meetings. The Dispatch’s absurd claim that the “City charter change would provide public with more information” insults all Columbus citizens. With this logic, then, if the Dispatch stopped printing its newspaper, I’m sure we would all be more informed citizens.
Help Save Kevin Keith's Life in Ohio
This is it. We have only days to save an innocent man's life. Yesterday, the Ohio Parole Board made a nonbinding, advisory recommendation to Governor Strickland that Kevin Keith should be executed, but the Parole Board's own findings do not erase the doubt about Mr. Keith's guilt. We need you and your friends - especially people living in Ohio - to urge Governor Strickland to spare his life, when so many questions about his case remain unanswered.
Thanks to you, more than 20,000 petition signatures have been delivered to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, asking him to save Kevin Keith. But that is not enough. Now, with Mr. Keith's scheduled execution less than one month away, it's time to turn up the volume and make our voices heard.
Please send a letter to Governor Strickland today asking him to grant clemency to Mr. Keith, who is scheduled to be executed on September 15, despite new evidence of his innocence.
Thanks to you, more than 20,000 petition signatures have been delivered to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, asking him to save Kevin Keith. But that is not enough. Now, with Mr. Keith's scheduled execution less than one month away, it's time to turn up the volume and make our voices heard.
Please send a letter to Governor Strickland today asking him to grant clemency to Mr. Keith, who is scheduled to be executed on September 15, despite new evidence of his innocence.
Durr's last wish from death row
[Editor's Note: Da'rryl Durr was executed this year at the maximum security facility in Lucasville, Ohio. During the two decades he spent on death row, Durr maintained that he was innocent of the murder which put him there. His conviction was tainted by a lack of physical evidence and the appearance of racial bias. To the end, he claimed further DNA testing would absolve him of guilt. His requests were denied.
Wil Groesz-Held, a friend of Durr's, wrote The Free Press from the Netherlands on Durr's behalf. Groesz-Held is not a native speaker of English, but his plain words effectively cut past the conflicting details and angry rhetoric, which confuse the case. Groesz-Held's frank emotions for his friend are reminders that the incarcerated and condemned are fellow humans and thus deserve every possible avenue of defense. His simple statements are reminders that execution is just taking another life. The Free Press reproduces the letter here in accordance with Durr's final wishes. - Evan Moore, Assistant Editor]
Wil Groesz-Held, a friend of Durr's, wrote The Free Press from the Netherlands on Durr's behalf. Groesz-Held is not a native speaker of English, but his plain words effectively cut past the conflicting details and angry rhetoric, which confuse the case. Groesz-Held's frank emotions for his friend are reminders that the incarcerated and condemned are fellow humans and thus deserve every possible avenue of defense. His simple statements are reminders that execution is just taking another life. The Free Press reproduces the letter here in accordance with Durr's final wishes. - Evan Moore, Assistant Editor]
State officials used a flawed investigation report to force Attorney General Marc Dann from office
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann was driven from office in May 2008 based on a report written by two lawyers in his office. Dann had asked the lawyers to investigate sexual-harassment complaints filed by two female employees against the office’s director of general services, Anthony Gutierrez.
The lawyers, executive assistant attorney general Ben Espy and senior assistant attorney general Julie Pfeiffer, collected evidence and interviewed employees, managers, and the attorney general. Then they issued a scathing report on the office.
They said Gutierrez had subjected the complainants, Vanessa Stout and Cindy Stankoski, to a hostile environment of sexual harassment in the general services section. The report indicated the women were innocent victims of boorish and lecherous behavior.
The report also suggested that Gutierrez had driven and crashed state vehicles while drunk, carried a gun in the vehicles, and frightened employees by telling them he was associated with the Mafia.
The lawyers, executive assistant attorney general Ben Espy and senior assistant attorney general Julie Pfeiffer, collected evidence and interviewed employees, managers, and the attorney general. Then they issued a scathing report on the office.
They said Gutierrez had subjected the complainants, Vanessa Stout and Cindy Stankoski, to a hostile environment of sexual harassment in the general services section. The report indicated the women were innocent victims of boorish and lecherous behavior.
The report also suggested that Gutierrez had driven and crashed state vehicles while drunk, carried a gun in the vehicles, and frightened employees by telling them he was associated with the Mafia.
Has Chief Wahoo again cursed Cleveland?
Another tomahawk has sailed into the hearts of Cleveland sports fans.
Is it the work of Chief Wahoo, the most racist logo in all of sports?
Has the ridiculous, buck-toothed profoundly offensive caricature of a single-feathered native poked yet another hole Cleveland's soul?
Mark Welch, part Ho-de-no-sau-nee (Iroquois) and part Lakota (Sioux) might say so.
Mark is a mainstay of the native community in Ohio's capital. For years he's joined other activists when the season opens in Cleveland. They picket in protest of a cartoon they find deeply offensive.
In response, Cleveland Indian fans throw beer at them.
It's time to reconsider.
The departure of LeBron James from the Cavaliers is a death blow. Barring a miracle, no major sports franchise in this tough, depressed lake town has even a remote shot at a league title in the near future.
Not since the glory days of the football Browns and their great running back, Jim Brown, has there been a champion in Cleveland.
The Browns and Cavs have both threatened since. The Indians twice came within a run of winning the World Series.
Is it the work of Chief Wahoo, the most racist logo in all of sports?
Has the ridiculous, buck-toothed profoundly offensive caricature of a single-feathered native poked yet another hole Cleveland's soul?
Mark Welch, part Ho-de-no-sau-nee (Iroquois) and part Lakota (Sioux) might say so.
Mark is a mainstay of the native community in Ohio's capital. For years he's joined other activists when the season opens in Cleveland. They picket in protest of a cartoon they find deeply offensive.
In response, Cleveland Indian fans throw beer at them.
It's time to reconsider.
The departure of LeBron James from the Cavaliers is a death blow. Barring a miracle, no major sports franchise in this tough, depressed lake town has even a remote shot at a league title in the near future.
Not since the glory days of the football Browns and their great running back, Jim Brown, has there been a champion in Cleveland.
The Browns and Cavs have both threatened since. The Indians twice came within a run of winning the World Series.
Progress for Ohio's Farmed Animals
Today great progress was made to lessen the suffering of millions of farmed animals in Ohio - progress that is a direct result of the tireless effort of our volunteers and supporters.
For months, Mercy For Animals has been on the ground, in the streets, and behind-the-scenes working diligently to mobilize support and gather signatures as part of the Ohioans for Humane Farm's campaign to place an initiative on the November ballot that would phase out cruel factory farming practices in the state.
Just recently, once it became known that animal advocates had gathered enough signatures to put the initiative on the ballot, animal agriculture finally agreed to discuss meaningful reforms.!
And today, just hours before over 500,000 signatures were slated to be filed, a major animal protection agreement was reached - preventing costly and contentious campaigning.
Mere hours ago, a landmark settlement was reached between animal protection advocates, Gov. Ted Strickland, and the Ohio agribusiness lobby.
For months, Mercy For Animals has been on the ground, in the streets, and behind-the-scenes working diligently to mobilize support and gather signatures as part of the Ohioans for Humane Farm's campaign to place an initiative on the November ballot that would phase out cruel factory farming practices in the state.
Just recently, once it became known that animal advocates had gathered enough signatures to put the initiative on the ballot, animal agriculture finally agreed to discuss meaningful reforms.!
And today, just hours before over 500,000 signatures were slated to be filed, a major animal protection agreement was reached - preventing costly and contentious campaigning.
Mere hours ago, a landmark settlement was reached between animal protection advocates, Gov. Ted Strickland, and the Ohio agribusiness lobby.
UPDATE! - Dairy Farm Worker Arrested on 12 Counts of Cruelty
Yesterday police arrested one of the dairy workers documented maliciously torturing animals at Conklin Dairy Farms in Plain City, Ohio by an undercover Mercy For Animals investigator. Billy Gregg, Jr., 25, was taken into custody by the Union County Sheriff's Department and charged with 12 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals.
MFA commends the City Prosecutor and law enforcement for their swift and decisive apprehension of Gregg, a violent individual who is extensively documented sadistically abusing newborn calves and cows.
Following the arrest, MFA conducted news conferences statewide and released the undercover footage of farm workers beating, stabbing, clubbing, and kicking cows and calves. Even the owner was caught on camera kicking a cow.
A media flurry erupted as the case crossed the nation on outlets such as CNN, ABC, Fox and the Los Angeles Times, and in scathing coverage on CBS affiliate WOIO in Cleveland. The case went on to receive worldwide coverage, including in the UK and Australia.
MFA's investigator documented Ohio dairy workers:
MFA commends the City Prosecutor and law enforcement for their swift and decisive apprehension of Gregg, a violent individual who is extensively documented sadistically abusing newborn calves and cows.
Following the arrest, MFA conducted news conferences statewide and released the undercover footage of farm workers beating, stabbing, clubbing, and kicking cows and calves. Even the owner was caught on camera kicking a cow.
A media flurry erupted as the case crossed the nation on outlets such as CNN, ABC, Fox and the Los Angeles Times, and in scathing coverage on CBS affiliate WOIO in Cleveland. The case went on to receive worldwide coverage, including in the UK and Australia.
MFA's investigator documented Ohio dairy workers:
Suburban Ohio man resists foreclosure with direct action
(Stony Ridge, OH) For decades a quiet neighborhood in the suburbs of Toledo, Ohio has been home to working class Americans and the place where their children were raised. There is even a local park and playground right around the corner complete with Little League field. Its idyllic serenity has not been spared from the pains of the current economic and housing crisis. On the morning of May 3rd, one working-class anarchist and laid-off auto-worker facing eviction resulting from just one more of the nearly 1.5 million foreclosures in the U.S., decided that now was the time to stand his ground.
The return of Ken Blackwell: Mad Hatter back with the Tea Party in Ohio
The panic has set in at the Big D in the state capitol. The staid daily monopoly, also known as the Columbus Dispatch, published an op-ed by senior editor Joe Hallett confirming what the Free Press previously reported – Tea Party activists will take over the Buckeye State’s Republican Party.
By Hallett’s estimate, the 66-member Republican state central committee has 54 Tea Party activists running in Tuesday’s primary. How many are expected to win? A high-level Republican official told the Free Press that he thinks 50 of the 66 seats may go to the Tea Party. However, the official cautioned that he’s not as sure as the Free Press or the Dispatch that the Tea Party activists are “far right.” He claims most are “fiscal conservatives.”
Hallett doesn’t see it that way. He writes that if the Tea Party takes over the Ohio Republican Party central committee, “…the Ohio GOP will die.” Where does Hallett see the Tea Party heading? That direction, indeed, is "right, far right."
By Hallett’s estimate, the 66-member Republican state central committee has 54 Tea Party activists running in Tuesday’s primary. How many are expected to win? A high-level Republican official told the Free Press that he thinks 50 of the 66 seats may go to the Tea Party. However, the official cautioned that he’s not as sure as the Free Press or the Dispatch that the Tea Party activists are “far right.” He claims most are “fiscal conservatives.”
Hallett doesn’t see it that way. He writes that if the Tea Party takes over the Ohio Republican Party central committee, “…the Ohio GOP will die.” Where does Hallett see the Tea Party heading? That direction, indeed, is "right, far right."