The Cincinnati NAACP reports that Cincinnati City Council Member Laketa Cole has renounced her affiliation with Cincinnatians for Progress, the organization opposing the Issue 9 anti-boondoggle charter amendment."This shows leadership and a respect for her own African American Community. The Cincinnati NAACP does not know why this group challenges African Americans right to petition our government. Some of the statements are racist based on the history of African Americans not having the right to vote in this country. Shame on Mayor Mallory for having his name attached to such a group and website. Mayor Mallory is the chair of the group and Mayor Mallory is African American. This could explain why his public policy continues to exclude African Americans from economic contracts in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati NAACP finds this website based on its positions to stop African Americans from exercising their constitutional rights to petition our government as racist. This is what institutional racism looks like! We are concerned with any elected official who allows their name to be attached to this public policy position. It is one thing to support a $200 Million Streetcar. It is another to say the Cincinnati NAACP or African Americans do not have the right to petition our government."Cincinnatians For Progress have repeatedly cited the NAACP's "constant petition drives" as a primary reason to oppose this ballot measure. COAST, the Southwestern Ohio Green Party, and the Libertarian Party stand solidly with our brothers and sisters at the NAACP for the right to vote on matters of public policy, and to petition our government for a redress of grievances, a right which is embodied in the first amendment of the United States Constitution.
Vote YES ON ISSUES 8 & 9.
Wow, even Cole is getting fed up with the racism of the "Progressors" and their twin sisters at CincyPAC. This all-white Streetcar is getting derailed.
ReplyDelete"All white streetcar"
ReplyDeleteIsn't it all white people against it?
Suburban white people who want to tell us how to live in Cincinnati.
Do you believe gas will stay low forever?
Scope it out
5chw4r7z - The NAACP opposes the streetcar. They're hardly all white, unlike the all-white Council slate endorsed by streetcar progressor groups like CincyPAC.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the Co-Chair of Cincinnatians4Progress is Bobby Maly. He doesn't even live in the City of Cincinnati. Why should we listen to him tell us how to live in Cincinnati?
Chris Finney the lawyer from COAST doesn't even live in the city of Cincinnati. Why should we listen to him tell us how to live in Cincinnati?
ReplyDeleteYou know, I had some photos go on display this past weekend at an exhibit. (Shameless plug: http://queencitydiscovery.blogspot.com/2009/09/queen-city-discovery-announces-new.html) While hanging out at the opening reception, in walks Mark Miller, treasurer of COAST. Now, it's no secret that I'm not COAST's biggest fan and while I do agree with COAST on certain issues and tend to be more conservative, I stand on the opposite side of the issue when it comes to COAST and the streetcar. You would think Mark Miller and I would not get along. However, while we don't see eye to eye on this particular issue, I find Mark Miller to be a hell of a guy. Meeting Mark and speaking with him made me gain a little more respect for COAST.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the fact that COAST continues to try and turn the streetcar issue into a 'race' issue and would stand by the NAACP making blatantly false and ignorant statements such as this...
"It is another to say the Cincinnati NAACP or African Americans do not have the right to petition our government."
...ruins any credibility or respect I had for COAST. What a flat out stupid statement for the NAACP to make. It's one thing to oppose the streetcar from a political standpoint, but to falsely accuse the opposition of saying a particular race of people "do not have the right to petition our government," is outright nonsense.
Your charter amendment is so wide spread and loosely written that even your own group contradicts itself when it comes to outlining it's effects. Your blog states the amendment won't affect the 3c corridor, your lawyers stands in front of council and says otherwise. The language affects all boards and commissions, being that the zoo is run by a city commission, it would even affect the childrens train at the zoo. The absolutely ridiculous charter amendment is what groups like Cincinnatians for Progress came forward to oppose, not a particular race of people's right to petition the government. Shame on COAST and Chris Smitherman for their outright fabrication and attempt to play up that political angle. Luckily, I've had the experience of working with many NAACP members the past two years while on assignment covering various civil rights events, and I've seen that not everyone involved in that great organization is as despicable as Chris Smitherman.
It's a shame, while their are great people involved in COAST like Mark Miller who truly believe they are doing the right thing and working for something they believe in, there are those who post nonsense like this and will subtract any decency and their so called "conservative" values by stooping to the "race card" level in a foolhardy attempt to gain support.
Shame on COAST, shame on Smitherman.
Christopher Smitherman lives in teh City of Cincinnati. Bobby Maly DOES NOT. Using your logic, you should listen to Smitherman and not Cincinnatians4Progress.
ReplyDeleteKeep outside interests from interfering in our City's future. Vote YES on Issue 9!
Nice work on the exhibit Gordon. Very well done!
ReplyDeleteBris, while my point was that there are folks on both sides of the issue who do not live within Cincinnati proper, this is by far one of the most ignorant things you've ever said:
ReplyDelete"Keep outside interests from interfering in our City's future. Vote YES on Issue 9!"
Outside interests like Christopher Finney who live in Anderson Township, yet find the time to write the amendment, come down to our downtown to campaign and go before our city council to make noise about issue 9 even though he won't be voting on it, he can't. If you're going to label Bobby Maly as an "outside interest," you should take a look at Mr. Finney too.
Also, we're aware that Smitherman lives within in Cincinnati. Remember, he was a city councilman and proved himself to be an incompetent man at that.
CAAST,
ReplyDeleteYou, and the streetcar advocates are the ones who have repeatedly made an issue of the residency of those involved with the streetcar an issue. I'm merely pointing out that you are picking and choosing when it is relevant based on your own personal preferences, which is hypocritical.
If outsiders should butt out of Cincinnati's issues, then you should insist that the CO-CHAIR of Cincinnatians4Progress, who is not a City resident, butt out as well. Or are you only opposed to outside meddling in city affairs if the outsider disagrees with you?
^Bris, I didn't say I was opposed to it. What I did say was that if you're going to label Bobby as an outside interest, you need look and see that Christopher Finney is one too.
ReplyDeleteMany people, even the ones outside of the city, are taking a great interest in this charter amendment, particularly because of how ridiculous it is. Even if the regional area wanted to pursue commuter, light or passenger rail (as they are doing now with the 3c Corridor), Cincinnati would have veto power over Hamilton County and would delay the project by waiting to hold a public vote, that's if they even decided to include or wait for a Cincinnati that approved Issue 9.
I don't think anyone on here has ever denied that Chris Finney doesn't live in Cincinnati. I certainly haven't. What in the hell is your point?
ReplyDeleteIt is the streetcar progressors that have repeatedly and consistently cloaked themselves in the veil of City residency in support of their viewpoint. I am pointing out that one of the leaders of your movement FAILS to live up to the same standard that you hold Finney to on residency.
If outsiders should stay out, then they should stay out on both sides of the issue, or residency should be a moot point in the argument.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"If outsiders should stay out, then they should stay out on both sides of the issue, or residency should be a moot point in the argument."
ReplyDeleteI agree. So by your logic, if you're going to criticize Bobby, then criticize Finney as well, they're both outsiders. If not, let it fall to a moot point.
Fine then, glad you agree. Moot point.
ReplyDeleteCAAST-away, I'm not sure what your point is. Your side has been frequently complaining that many of the Issue 9 supporters allegedly live outside the city. And because of this "fact", their points should not be considered.
ReplyDeleteNow, it has been alleged that one of the co-chairs of the "Progressor" campaign also lives outside the city, and you were asked to issue the same condemnation against them. You don't seem to be doing as well with this one.
I call on every "Progressor" who has criticized Finney and other Issue 9 supporters that live outside the city to stand up and condemn Maly as well. Fair is fair.
Streetcar opponents once again try to play the race card on this completely non-racial issue. This is right up there with Smitherman comparing the Streetcar to Jim Crow, or whatever ridiculous way he phrased it.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing, I emailed Councilwoman Cole this morning and she replied she has doesn't know where the NAACP is getting their info. She indicated that she has not spoken to Cincinnatians For Progress and did not know why her name had been removed and that she would look into it. She says while she has some questions on the streetcar, she still supports it.
ReplyDeleteJoe, you mean COAST lied?! Surely not! That has never happened before! (Someone should really develop a sarcasm font!)
ReplyDeleteWell, if that's what Joe from the internet says.......
ReplyDeleteI can't say for sure that someone is lying. I do know what Cole told me in an email. Now how her name came off the Cincinnatians for Progress sight, I have no idea. It had been there because Monzel was the only current council member not listed, as I recall. It's possible that Smitherman is basing his diatribe solely on her name being absent, for whatever reason. That's all I know to the matter.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete^^ Real classy COAST, think we could keep the racist comments to a minimum on your blog?
ReplyDeleteThe offensive post has been deleted, it wasn't from a COAST member.
ReplyDeleteUCStudent, who fails to condemn racist and anti-Semitic posts from anonymous cowards at the Beacon, now is concerned about what some fool posts over here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the delete Jason. As far as Jeff (at least I always post under the same pseudonym you coward) saying that I'm an anti-semite because I didn't call CincyCappel an anti-semite for calling the Old Testament and ancient book of fairy tales, quit digging, I'm a proud reformed Jew and I will call out anyone for anti-semitic or racist comments for that matter. My family and I donate plenty of time and money to Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and charities. Mark Miller even recently volunteered at a JFS event my grandmother. No need for your misdirection, there was a racist comment posted by some drunk at 3 am and as soon as a COAST admin logged on they deleted it because it was racist, end of story.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you're applauding COAST for taking a stand against racist commentary. Which is more than you've done when other posters have been racist and anti-semetic.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't endorse Laketa Cole.
ReplyDeleteOr Charlie Winburn. Or Anitra Brockman. Or Wendell Young. Or LeMarque Ward. Or Cecil Thomas. Take that.
Vote Yes on our Streetcar.
What are you trying to gain by attempting to discredit those who repudiate racism? This certainly isn't the first time you've tried to make an argument against someone who speaks out against bigotry. Notice how you don't dispute the message, but attack the messenger. Repudiating racism doesn't warrant applause, it is our civic duty as Americans to uphold liberty and justice for all. I'm not the blog police, I'm just practicing my individual responsibility, something you should be trumpeting you pathetic partisan hack.
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of local blogs. I find it particularly curious how frequently someone posts something embarrassing or controversial while "pretending" to be someone else on this one. (Re: "CincyPAC" comment)
ReplyDeleteUCstudent, what I've noticed about you is you loved to criticize racism or anti-semitism, except for those who are doing it right in front of you.
ReplyDeleteYou went ballistic on Marge Schott over at the Beacon, but ignored the liberal posters over there who have made slurs themselves against Blacks and/or Jews. Sure, Schott was a bigot and she deserved all the criticism she got. But she's also been dead for years. Her views don't mean a damn thing anymore. Yet for some reason you attacked her and gave the current bigots a free pass.
Then you went off on Smitherman because of a racist or anti-semitic comment made by SOMEONE ELSE on his radio show. He didn't make the comment, someone else did. Maybe he should have criticized her, then again maybe the best thing to do was move on, I'm not sure since I didn't listen to the show.
Smitherman is frequently the target of people's racist attacks and I never see you coming to his defense. I don't see you criticizing the actual living people making racist/anti-Semitic comments on the blogs. But you attack dead Marge Schott, and Smitherman for what someone else said. Don't sprain your shoulder patting yourself on the back for all you do to fight this bigotry.
So a black mayor endorses a racist agenda? And the African-American Chamber of Commerce? And the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce? And the co-chair of Cincinnatians for Progress Rob Richardson (a black man)?
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the only person of color whom thinks it is racist is Smitherman. Hmmm...
And when will Smitherman learn to issue statements with professionalism? Yet again with punctuation and grammar issues. Does the man not have spell check?
Marge Schott was a nazi apologist. If that isn't enough to condemn a person I don't know what is. She also made highly publicized racist remarks about black people. She was about as despicable and troubled a human being as one could be. I've defended the NAACP and Smitherman against racist remarks as well. That doesn't really matter. The point is, you are trying to misdirect away from repudiating racism by attacking my character, effectively trying to discourage anyone from repudiating racism because you will attack their character. Why do you want to stop people from speaking out against bigotry?? Thats pathetic.
ReplyDeleteYou shouldn't be so quick to condemn people UC Student. You've heard "hate the sin, but love the sinner"? I'm not really sure how we got talking about Marge Schott, but if you're going to point out her failings (and there were many), you should at least balance that out with the millions of dollars she gave to The Cincinnati Zoo, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Look at the folks that went to her funeral, all races and religions, they were not so quick to condemn. Perhaps too you might be a little less excited to condemn COAST every time you don't agree with us. You might be surprised to find out that were actually a good group of people from varying backgrounds who happen to believe limited government and lower taxes is the key for economic prosperity and freedom for all of us, not just the selectr few.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if Cincinnatians for Progress Co-Chair Bobby Maly is black or white. I do know that he DOES NOT live in the City of Cincinnati and is meddling in our business.
ReplyDelete