June 1, 2009

For several years, more than the nine dedicated to writing "Echoes", citizens have been complaining about utility services provided by the City of Cleveland. The sky rocketing cost of electric, water and sewer tops the list of gripes. And complaints about the charges in most cases pretty many amounts to migraine headaches after all is said and done. Satisfaction is not a government business practice.

Not just for Cleveland’s but for suburbanites whose unrest is turning into pleas to obtain water elsewhere. However, that’s easier said than done. Politicians in high places are more apt to keep water and sewer services in place than switch. They may argue switching is more costly than it is now.

Cleveland’s water works can be pointed to as an early example of regionalism. But for many suburbanites who are critical toward the spread of regionalism, as in partnership with Cleveland, the water and sewer complaints, are prime examples for an argument against.

The charges do not comprehend and fail to pass human understanding. Many citizens grudgingly pay the bills and feel it’s a government rip-off. It does not matter if the mind set is real or imagined; politicians do little to change the conception. They might just suggest, take your dispute to an arbitration committee within the water department.

What they don’t tell you is hire a lawyer who understands the jargon you’ll receive in return. But most citizens cannot afford legal representation and most will not allow others who know the answers before questions are asks, to scramble their minds, smile and walk them to the door…to leave with migraine headaches.

Be prepared to see another charge added to your sewer bill. And the politicians are not saying enough is enough. Rain water, including snow when it melts, that goes down the sewers in front of all kinds of structures will be billed to owners of properties. The plan is still in the preparation stages but the charges are coming. This one is for the news media to pick up on and explain to citizens how and when…before the bills arrive with additional charges. No one likes these kinds of surprises. But hay! Don’t sweat it, the money schemers are still trying to find ways to charge for the air we breathe. Now that one surely is giving them migraine headaches.

The cold hard fact of life is, don’t sweat the cost, pay the bill, or wonder if there will be water to flush the toilet in the morning. Now that’s something to sweat about.

Although Cleveland has a monopoly on water beyond its boarders, electricity has a competitor from within. And when Cleveland Public Power got greedy back in the days when Mike White was mayor, I switched to the Illuminating Company. But not before I argued my case in a letter to White. Did he actually read it? I do not know, but my request to communicate via email was granted and turned over to an assistant of his. After several emails were passed back and forth, I was back to squire one. And yes, I did avoid a migraine headache by switching. And found satisfaction when comparing CPP bills with their competitor. If interested in reading about CPP's back turning, click on .

But even if the Illuminating Company charged more, the charges for their services would have been worth the extra bucks. CPP services in comparison were poor years ago and still are now. The complaints heard today, are the same I experienced in the past. Some of the top frustration citizens’ experience today is…

Meter readings. Ever receive a CPP bill that states, "Actual Reading". Actual meter readings are rare. Estimated bills lead patrons to believe something is not right, especially with the charges. But who cares, pay it or lights out. Meter readings from the Illuminating Company have been "Actual" on most of my bills.

I could go on addressing other complaints but does anyone from CPP, the mayor or members of Council care? No, not at least among political veterans who heard all the complaints before and now are immune to the pleas. What’s it going to take to wake them up? Cleveland City Council are known for their laid back ways in dealing with issues, that is until leaders from other urban centers beat them in the race toward implementation. Council members should consider the following from another city where the leaders blew dust in the faces of officials here.

Council members from another urban city are on the national computer screens because of their bold steps forward in ordering an independent audit of their water and sewer department’s financial operations. Well, its only an audit, and may if Council members who ordered the report can be bribed with friendly chats, from insiders who been singled out, or well be as incompetents (of course not with money), the report could collect dust on selves in the basement of City Hall.

But that could be unlikely because the federal government is involved. Highlights in the report is as follows…

3.9 million dollars in refunds should have been paid to thousands of customers.

The water department is failing to collect millions on accounts every year. The amount is currently at fifty million.

Meter readings are estimated on bills for about 10,000 accounts each month.

Rate hikes in 2008 were based on overestimates of how much sewer work the department could pull off, not factual cost of the undertakings.

The four issues above, perhaps the most important of the 83 in the report, should raise concerns among Council members here…that is if they are really listening to complaints from citizens.

Does the following statement sound familiar; "Rate hikes in 2008 were based on overestimates…" Some citizens in Cuyahoga County are now looking at bills that may have doubled in charges from just six months ago. Where is the justification? It’s really difficult to rationalize this one away.

Council leaders, who really feel they are working for the people, should feel motivated in getting an audit report done, to find out if citizens are due refunds on bills that go back in years. And it would be nice to include patron accounts from Cleveland Public Power.

Here’s one for Jackson, the man with dollar signs in his eyes (I really think he is a republican in disguise). Is it possible that millions every year are not being collected? Doesn’t look good for the business end of government. An audit of both (CPP also) collection departments, may reveal weaknesses within that needs attention from wizard accountants and top of the line collection agents.

Now, am I crossing the line by making a mountain out of an anthill, by raising an audit report, sparked by Council members elsewhere, as an example of what should be done in Cleveland? Council leaders, who really feel they are working for the people, take that tough step beyond just listening to utility complaints.

Council members from Atlanta Georgia, showed respect to the citizens by ordering the audit report. And The Atlanta Journal Constitution article titled, "Atlanta water customers due $3.9M in refunds City’s water department also fails to collect millions in delinquencies, audit says," dated May 6, 2009 states in part…

"Of all the issues discussed Wednesday, council members seemed most concerned that the department owes Atlanta ratepayers millions in refunds."

The Plain Dealer knows about the audit but mum seems to be the word.

But citizens must not forget, the political power players in government, will be out in force to crush candidates whose aim is to work for the people, whose aim is to balance time between government duties and the civic concerns of the common folk. If incumbents kept daily logs, like many people in private business must do for employers, release them to the voters (the employers) within a reasonable time before the election. If this is done, there is no need for "the political power players" to possibly lie up a storm for unworthy incumbents during campaigns.

Candidates, who wish to separate themselves from the mixed images the public has toward local politicians, should center attention on issues the leaders shy away from. The Atlanta sewer department audit mentioned above in this article, may not find acceptance among incumbents who may feel Atlanta’s problems need a touch of Cleveland’s political expertise. I repeat, hang with the issues that incumbents shy away from. Bound to raise eyebrows, and if I get invitations to the rallies, I’ll be wearing my Mickey Mouse for mayor button.

I must back up to my last article, and put the utility issues aside for a moment, because a few readers mistook what I stated as endorsements for BRIAN CUMMINS and ZACHARY REED. I do not give endorsements. It’s bad enough that when I vote for whoever (a kind of endorsement), and that person turns out to be a common folk untouchable, but a servant for the aisto-clouts, I rake myself over the hot coals for being so uniformed before the vote. REED and CUMMINS did what no other Council member did. Speak out against the sales tax increase, for the building the new aristo-clouts convention center. Cuyahoga County citizens voted against supporting the site and that should have been considered sacred, an ideal in democracy no one has a right to deface. But Tim (The Dictator) Hagan found a way to "stick it" to the public, turn his back with no regrets, and find safe haven among the aristo-clouts and politicians who lined up against the will of the people. Except for two, and a few other leaders in Cuyahoga County, who understood that when the vote is tallied, it becomes the law. 

It is a shame the sales tax proposed increase never hit the courts. But as "the Dictator" knows, there are not too many lawyers willing to take on a battery of government attorney’s who know where the weak links in the law can be found.

REED and CUMMINS may be only among the few Council members that spoke out for the people. I don’t think I ever found reasons to second guess their words to the media. But not so when other leaders speak, especially Polensek and Jackson. Whenever I get "writers block," these guys come through for me. They are so funny, in a peculiar kind of way.

Residents in CUMMINS ward who complained about the two vacant buildings on Fulton Road must be delighted in what they now see as they pass by. After the corner building was demolished, the land was leveled. And I assume seed was or will be planted for grass. This is a marvel because in too many cases, City Hall breaks their own rules when structures come down.

Residents were also concerned about the building next to it, which is in a limbo state of affairs. After all the legal matters are settled, the structure may get a makeover for use as…

City Hall's broken rules is after the waste is removed from demolished structures, the land must be leveled and seeded. So why is the Fulton land getting the full treatment of the law? Pure speculation on my part but if wrong, I’m sure someone will let me know. Was it out of respect for resident concerns about the buildings, or was the action taken because Fulton Road is a main route to the Cleveland Zoo. And once the Fulton Bridge, now under construction but upon completion, will have added thousands of people driving over it to the Zoo. The Zoo is a tourist site, a site marked by visitors from out of state, from the world, a must visit spot in beautiful pictures from travel brochures. And if this was the motivating factor in fulfilling the law when the Fulton building came down, I see nothing wrong in the action taken. I noticed Pearl Road leading to the Zoo is also getting some action. All this is good but…

What about the plot of land I have been writing about for nearly four years in Ward 14? The land has never been leveled and seeded. And other unfinished work (citizen complaints continue to be ignored) on the land was not done. Why? Well, fact is the land is on a side street that is not of priority interest. Citizens who drive cars up and down the street, or live close to the lot, are just common folk. They have a right to complain about what the city is responsible in cleaning up, but who is listening? Is Councilman Joe Santiago listening? Scratch the word councilman, there are too many citizens who feel Ward 14 does not have a leader that represents them in government. 

No, couldn’t be…he’s been invited to many meetings in the past but never showed. Well, this is an election year, but really-maybe he’s confused-maybe he’s just one of those dysfunctional politicians who lost touch with voters…in the first three year of serving…and now is a bit confused on who to serve. If they kept logs on actions taken, "FOR THE PEOPLE" the people may not have kept logs of inaction’s in minds, on paper, in blogs or as I did on this WebSite…but the beat of hope, of change in the human spirit keeps right on beating.

I added another entry into the log. The reader may find it of interest, because I feel the entry ads fresh insight into a mini-look at poor services leaders deliver to the common folk. Please click to read further.

Back to utilities. Attitudes, as in personnel who have direct contact with the public at Cleveland Public Power, should be mandated to take courses in public communication at least once a year. My wife works for a Fortune 500 company and every year she is mandated to read, study, view videos and other recourses related to good business practices, communication with the public is high on the list. And in part, she trains other new employees and "attitude" is closely observed and a negative disposition (even if the other person is belligerent) is not tolerated in phone conversation with clients. Cross that line and your gone in a New York minute.

And I repeat, "Rude is the word I hear the most." from CPP patrons. Rudeness by CPP employees that is not corrected in the early stages of communication, is not only disturbing to patrons, but callous attitudes (not monitored) can lead to something worse.

And that is what I zeroed in on when I presented a case of professional ignorance that originated at CPP.

I presented this case to the mayor (when he was councilman) and to the majority of setting Council members. I wrote about one person’s painful struggle to stay alive, and CPP’s dastardly attitude against treating this woman with proper respect as a senior citizen. Respect by not cutting off the electricity needed in sustaining life, prescribed as a major medical treatment by her physician. The response I received from all was silence; an act of cold-blooded compassionless anti-social behavior not suited for leaders in pubic office.

There is no need to rewrite the incident here. Click on Part Two to read what came before in an  excerpt from the article "A shocking issue - A test of compassion".

The following two articles in Part Two (excerpts from) are basic pleas to break the silence, and do something constructive, to prevent the possibility of these kinds of careless acts from happening to others citizens in the future.

The mayor and Council members had allowed citizens to interpret the silence. And based on the above incident alone, all the politicians mentioned in Part two, had given voters a bit of reliable information when considering choices before votes are cast.

We live in a throw away society, but when politicians includes humans, voters need to do some hard thinking about throwing some leaders out of office, in favor of voting for citizens who show respect for the circle of life by removing obstacles to its downfall. There is not one politician from Jackson on down, who could not find respectable work that does not include possible harm to the public. Just being a politician, opens doors to many opportunities that are less demanding than what the public rightfully expects from leaders.

Clear the way and support "people" leaders who understand that silence to citizen concerns and issues is not an option, but answers, especially the ones people don’t want to hear, can lead to alternative input that keeps the dialogue open until conclusions become rational majority viewpoints.

But its the silence that keeps me writing and searching for ways to gain answers. In recent articles, I started addressing citizen concerns via E-mail to politicians, government officials, the media and others, which should be able to provide informative replies. I haven’t been lucky in getting responses to most, but why should I be treated any deferent from other common folk? But citizens may be interested in reading about the concerns and whom the E-mails were addressed to for answers. An E-mail well be featured in all future articles, with inquires and responses entered on a separate Web pages.

                                            - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The following E-mail entry this month went…

June 1, 2009,

To: Community and Economic Development Committee,

Chair: Anthony Brancatelli,

Vice Chair: TJ Dow,

Members: Dona Brady, Shari L. Clowd, Brian Cummins, Eugene Miller, Terrell H. Pruitt, Jay Westbrook and Matt Zone. (all received this communiqué)

Subject: Foreclosure and vacant homes suitable for repair.

I had chosen Atlanta, Georgia as a similar urban center to ours, in comparing notes on political actions taken that complement citizen concerns from that city. The concerns Cleveland citizens have are similar, and no matter how much progress has been made in certain areas of action, there are actions waiting to happen…here and in Atlanta.

Perhaps the following issue is already in action and I missed reading about it on the City’s Web site or gaining insight from the media.

The following title is from an article published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

I am encouraging all member of this committee and readers of "Echoes" to read a news brief to the citizens of Atlanta. Please click on

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funded the state of Ohio with $116,859,223 for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Cleveland received $16,143,110, About the same as Atlanta.

Many citizens who read "Echoes" would like an accounting, similar to what citizens in Atlanta received, through the curtsey of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. If the media here has already provided the information, please advise on where it can be found. If the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, that is a breakdown of where the funds will be used, is not ready for a public airing, please advice when citizens can expect disclosure.

Please consider the following and make it known to the citizens of Cleveland. The federal funds used for this program is in part, a wise investment of our (Cleveland citizen) IRS tax dollars. And wise citizens keep track of investments made. A clear review of fund used in the Stabilization program should be placed on a city Web page for every one who cares, can follow the progress in increment steps. What is the committee’s opinion or the consensus of individual members in raising the Web page?

Thank you kindly for reading this important message of civic interest…Len.

• - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

An update on the Tremont West Development Corporation resident concerns.

The Plain Press – "Parking problem raises safety concerns in Tremont" April, 2009 Click to read article

Last months E-mail was sent to Chris Garland, Executive Director for the Tremont West Development Corporation. The state of the memo is pending. Click to read to read the E-mail.

                                        - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

To be continued…

Previous articles in series...

Part One – Biographical Illusions                                                                                                                  

Part Two - Should Voters Prosecute the Prosecutor                                                                    

Part Three - The Gift That Keeps On Giving                                                                                   

Part four - A Landscape of Blight – to a Politicians Delight                                                         

Part Five - City Halls Attack On The American Dream                                                               

Part Six - Tremont - Where common folks are welcome - to live on land worth a dollar

Part Seven - The Plain Dealers contribution to urban plight and flight                                                 

Part Eight - When democracy bleeds in government – the political majority feel no pain.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =  

lhough36@att.net 

HomePage