Posted by mapetranek on 10/08/10

The League of Women Voters has been sponsoring forums for all the Cuyahoga County Council offices and the Cuyahoga County Executive office for the upcoming Novmeber election. I attended the West Side Executive Forum this past Thursday evening to see and hear all six candidates answer questions.

The League of Women Voters has a very efficient and well prepared forum agenda. The candidates got two minutes to answer and they all answered each question. Each candidate was allowed a two minute opening and a one minute closing. A candidate couldn't run over-they had the time they were alotted.

My absentee ballot has been in house for well over a week. I wanted to hear each of these candidates after researching their websites. My eyes were truly opened to who each was after listening to them. It got to be a real contest to hear what "me, me, me" had already.done. Rarely did a candidate talk about the people this new county government was going to represent.

One candidate did address the impact on the people. A well-seasoned politician who was literally run out of office by his party 6 years ago is paying attention to the people. His answers reflected his concern for the county, the people and the new government. Tim McCormack has a history of being honest and taking his position seriously. I didn't hear him falling all over himself stating what "me,me,me" has previoiusly done and big "visions" for the future. He spoke about a county government that is accountable to the people. A county government that needs to become more efficient.

Tim McCormack was the only candidate who addressed the sad departure Cuyahoga County communities have reduced their citizens to by installing red light cameras, charging new and excessive fees for trash collection and charging their citizens for street lights. ( Yes, it's true. A suburb of Cleveland is actually charging an additional fee for having street lights).

I needed to see and hear the candidates. Reading websites and presuming you have done the necessary research is nothing compared to listening to six people all answer the same question. Being able to read the body language of the candidates is equally important.

The sad commentary on this forum is most of the people in the room were over 70. Nestled right in the heart of Baldwin-Wallace College, the students didn't even bother to attend. I project there were approximately 60-70 people in the room. The night before, the area 912'ers and other area patriot groups had a rally and there were 350-400 people in attendance. I wasn't going to vote, I couldn't vote until I heard these candidates in person. Weren't we asked to be vigilant by our Founding Fathers? As an American citizen and a liberty lover, isn't it your duty to attend? How else do we educate and change others, if we ourselves don't participate in the process?

You have two more chances to see and hear all six candidates before the election. Tuesday, October 12, 2010 on the East Side of Cleveland in Shaker Hts and on Tuesday, October 19 in downtown Cleveland at Cleveland State University.

One more item. You have the ability to write a question on a 3 X 5 card, hand it in and have an individual candidate answer your question. The questions are screened for legibility and content. Only two of the six candidates had to answer to the people. It was everyone's opportunity to attempt to get their question answered.

Before you go to Shaker Hts or downtown Cleveland in the next two weeks, grab a 3 X 5 card and write your question before you go. Think it out and ask an important question of an individual candidate. Choose the candidate you think you want to vote for and ask them a pertinent question about this new county government. You might be very surprised by the answer you get.

Posted by mapetranek on 09/29/10

Ohio Tea Party PAC Endorses in Ohio Attorney General Race September 28, 2010 - Cincinnati, OH  

Robert Owens, Constitution Party candidate for Ohio Attorney General, becomes the first statewide candidate to receive an endorsement from Ohio Tea Party PAC in a general election.  

Requiring a 7/8ths majority of voting members, endorsement from Ohio Tea Party PAC makes a strong statement about support for Robert Owens amongst tea party and liberty groups throughout Ohio.   All Ohio Liberty Council member groups may have a representative vote for their organization vote on Ohio Tea Party PAC endorsements, and with over 50 groups represented on the Ohio Liberty Council - an Ohio Tea Party PAC endorsement is quite an accomplishment for any statewide candidate.   "We are proud to stand with Robert Owens in his campaign to bring a strong sense of liberty minded principles to the Ohio Attorney General's office. We know that in keeping with his responsibility to uphold the law for Ohio citizens, he will pursue an agenda consistent with our belief system rather than those of his two major party opponents.  

In contrast to the history of this office, we fully expect Mr. Owens to prosecute corruption and avoid frivolous lawsuits. This is still an office that serves the people of Ohio, not a personal agenda," said Chris Littleton, President of the Ohio Liberty Council and Cincinnati Tea Party.  

To inform their decision, Ohio Tea Party PAC requested candidates complete a survey addressing a wide variety of topics designed to flush out philosophy and approach to elected office. Survey found here: http://www.ohioteapartypac.com/Candidate_Survey.html   Several other races around the state are being evaluated for endorsement with announcements being made over the next 2 weeks. All endorsed candidates can be found at www.ohioteapartypac.com  

About Ohio Tea Party PAC Ohio Tea Party PAC provides advocacy and support to candidates and issues which embody the principles of the Ohio Liberty Council - principles which focus on a fundamental limitation to government.   Ohio Tea Party PAC represents over 50 member groups of the Ohio Liberty Council, liberty minded grass roots organizations including Tea Party Groups, 9/12 Projects and many more.  

 Pertinent Websites www.ohioteapartypac.com   www.ohiolibertycouncil.org

Posted by mapetranek on 09/09/10

In November, 2009, the voters of Cuyahoga County passed Issue 6 - a reform of county government. The time to debate the issue is over. In November, 2010, the voters of Cuyahoga County will elect the first County Executive and the first County Council.

One person stands out in the field of County Council candidates. Matt Brakey, an area businessman, displays a clear understanding of the Constitution and representative government. His byline is, Principles Before Party. Matt was interviewed by The New York Times regarding his candidacy and in particular, his views on red light cameras.  

The Cleveland Scene picked up on Matt Brakey's anti-red light camera stand.

"The issue has bubbled up in places like Cleveland, where Matt Brakey, a 29-year-old businessman seeking a spot on the Cuyahoga County Council, has proclaimed his opposition to traffic cameras on his campaign Web site and at events like one he recently held at a busy intersection where he unfurled a banner announcing his stance.

"There were lots of honks," said Mr. Brakey, a Republican and first-time candidate for office. "This issue really taps into the general dissatisfaction with government."

Indeed, the outrage over the cameras echoes the general concerns about government that have fueled protests movements like the Tea Party.

But the protests also underscore the sting many Americans feel in these economic times at having to pay fines of $25, $50 or $100 for traffic infractions that, in some cases, they had no idea they committed.

"It's a huge pocketbook issue," Mr. Brakey said. "I've talked to people who can't renew their driver's license because they have all these tickets." "

It is up to each and every voter to find out more about the candidates they choose to support. Is Matt Brakey a one issue candidate? No, it only takes a little investigating to know where Matt Brakey's stand on other issues.

For instance, the voter guide published by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Brakey's website also enumerates the his top concerns with Cuyahoga County government.

Positions

• Ban all red light cameras.

• No corporate welfare.

• Efficient and limited taxation.

• Root out bureaucratic waste.

• Limit corruption through limited government power.

• Maintain the social safety net, not bloated government.

• Have the Sheriff's Department resume patrol of East Cleveland.

• Position Cleveland for a coming renaissance.

If you truly want a change in government, you will investigate candidates just like this. Now that the primary is over, it will be interesting to see the answers the other candidates in Matt Brakey's district have. Brakey actively supports his community by getting out and making a stand. Can any other candidate say the same? Matt Brakey was out gathering signatures to get the ban for red light cameras on the ballot long before he chose to be a candidate.

Posted by mapetranek on 07/22/10

Currently, Cleveland, Ohio is running a campaign to get enough signatures to put red light cameras to a vote by the people of Cleveland. We have already turned in petitions to the city council's in South Euclid and Garfield Hts., Ohio and have already received confirmation that the petitions from  South Euclid have been sent to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections for validation.

There are 36 stationary locations and 6 mobile units being utilized in the city of Cleveland to catch every last transgression at the intersections they are located at. I have received comments from people saying I support lawbreakers and I don't care about safety. Those comments couldn't be further from the truth.

I have never received a "red light camera" ticket for speeding or running a red light. The issue is not one of safety for the Cleveland City Council or the camera company in Cleveland. ACS is the camera company in Cleveland. ACS is a fully owned subsidiary of the Xerox Corporation and Xerox is a publicly traded company. All one has to do is look up the latest Xerox quarterly earnings report to see what this is all about. Rule #1 with publicly traded companies is make money for your stockholders. In fact, it is the only reason publicly traded companies exist.

Did Cleveland City Council put this to a vote of the people before they voted on it 5 years ago? No, they did not. Does Cleveland City Council keep "spinning" this is about safety? Yes, they do.

You have a choice. You have a choice to evaluate this for yourself or spew out the drivel you are being spoon fed by the media. There are many websites reporting the rest of the story about red light cameras. Some of these site include, camerafraud.com, thenewspaper.com and motorists.org. You could spend days reading all this information.

I want to bring to light an article that was written in the Cleveland Plain Dealer in November, 2009. This date pre-dates the beginning of the campaign in Cleveland.

Read the article here.

The tickets are not collectable. Why is anyone paying these? Out of fear and nothing else. Go back and read the article. The rest of this doesn't make much sense unless you read it. It is a fraud, pure and simple.

If Cleveland wants to improve the safety of the intersections, they can add 1 second to the yellow light ( this alone diminishes 80% of all red light violations), they can add turn lanes where appropriate and they can put police at dangerous intersections. When the police give you a ticket, you stand to get 2 points on your license. If you are a multiple offender, good-bye license and get off the road. Isn't this what safety is supposed to be about? If someone murdered someone, you wouldn't let them go and just give them a fine, would you?

If the citizens want safer intersections then they need to remember what they were taught in Driver's Education. When you are approaching an intersection and see yellow, stop in enough time. If you can't stop, honk three short times and clear the intersection. If you are waiting for a red light and your light turns green, look both ways to make sure the intersection has been cleared. Anyone who believes it is their right to start up on green without looking both ways must have a death wish. Who cares if you are right, if you or a family member is dead.

Ask yourself if you want an hospitable community or a community that wants to "get you" for every last transgression you commit. Ask yourself how fast you drive down residential side streets when the posted speed limit is 25? I imagine there are plenty of lawbreakers out there who are screaming the same thing about red light camera violators---look at your speedometer the next time you drive down a residential side street and see how fast you are driving. Take the lead out of your foot and respect the neighborhoods, their children and animals.

The Cleveland Campaign to Ban Red Light Cameras needs more circulators. We are in the homestretch to get this on the November ballot. You don't have to be a Cleveland resident to circulate the petition. You do have to be a Cleveland resident to sign the petition.

Be safe and respect the rights of other people. It is what liberty is all about.

Posted 09/02/10 moharra Whitehall , OH

I see nothing wrong with the cameras as long as communities can afford them. I would venture to say that it is cheaper to maintain a camera than pay a police officer's salary...so your suggestion about staffing a police officer at dangerous intersections is completely off track...could the city add 1 second to the yellow lights? I suppose they could, but we can't just keep adding seconds whenever "red-light running" becomes epidemic...as for driving 25 through residential streets, you bet I do! no kidding, there are kids in my neighborhood and at any minute one could dash out after a ball or on bicycle cause their kids! they don't pay attention, so if you don't drive 25 in a 25 zone shame on you...but it's not just abiding by the speed limit that's important, you have to stay alert too

Posted by mapetranek on 04/12/10

I will post a quick update to the initiative in Cleveland, Ohio to ban red light cameras and all photo enforced cameras in the city of Cleveland.

What an issue!!! People from all across the city, all across the suburbs are calling and emailing to assist with this initiative. Wow! Our local group, Cuyahoga County for Liberty, was involved in a press conference last Friday and we got all the media out on a day that was both raining and snowing. Temperatures had dropped in the 24 hours before the press conference and we still had a large media turnout.

I update these developments on our Facebook page, See Red Cleveland--Ban the Cameras and also our website, cc4l.org. Quickly, here is what we have accomplished:

1. Our petition has been printed and is ready for circulation. In fact, petitions are already circulating

2. We need just over 8100 valid signatures to place this on the ballot in November, 2010

3. Our facebook page has over 200 fans with the first 100 joining within an hour of the page being opened.

4. The Cleveland Tea Party and BEMAD are co-sponsoring this with us.

5. We are grateful for the assistance COAST in Cincinnati has given us----they have supplied the petition and the legal work for free and they will do that for any city in Ohio who wishes to get a similar petition going.

6. More people have heard about us in the past two months, than the past two years.

Read #6 again. If you want an issue that cuts across all lines and draws people together, this is it. If you want to form lasting coalitions with other groups, this is the issue. If you want to prove you can be successful, this is the issue.

In Cuyahoga County, we want lasting coalitions, we want lasting friendships. We are tired of violence, we are tired of hatred and we are tired of having politicians ram their ideas down our throats. Government is from the bottom up and we are doing it. This is just the first issue. I will post updates to this blog as we go along. It won't take long to get the signatures we need. Right now, it seems like everyone in Cleveland will be carrying one of our petitions.