You can blame past, present (and future) state representatives for the cutbacks in city budgets. They refuse to go where the money is to find needed tax revenue.
If state law were fair at all, it would allow local communities to tax all sources of income fairly, not primarily the worker’s weekly paycheck.
Ohio doesn’t allow local governments to go after tax revenue where it is. That is to tax people who have the money. Neither do I see local politicians getting exercised by the inequality.
Often low income wage earners who don’t have to pay a penny in federal taxes still have to shell out money they need for their families to pay local income, or payroll, taxes.

Such taxes are unfair, since there are no deductions, as there are with federal taxes, and doubly unfair when you work in a different community than you live. You get taxed, usually with some rebate, in both communities.

There are big bucks in the Charity Industry. It doesn't receive the attention it deserves.

To prove how profitable the Charity Industry can be you need to look at Bill Clinton's income tax return, recently revealed.

A couple of years ago when Forest City was selling its site for a new convention center to Cuyahoga County's Facilities Commission (since disbanded), Al Ratner casually mentioned that I would have lots of fun if I were tracking all the money Forest City got in subsidies around the nation.

I thought I'd share this reflection from someone who worked Carl Stokes' first campaigns for Mayor of Cleveland. He had some of the same feelings I have had about similarities between Stokes and Presidential candidate Barack Obama.

WHY WE DO NEED NEWSPAPERS

1968 – Start of Cleveland Decline

The year 1968 – 40 years ago – provides rich, if disturbing, historical background to the reason Cleveland is in the shape it is today. For me, 1968 was the year that changed my life and direction. I invite you to read a long piece on that year’s events to see what you think. You may do so by going to www.readroldo.com. I hope readers will take the time to read this piece published today

For a look at Cleveland’s racial division, or as Barack Obama says “racial wounds,” I’ll cite a couple of passages from the 1968 piece, involving among other events, the Glenville shootout:

I got my Plain Dealer the other day to see what new spectacle I’d find.

Oh, my. A full-page, front page of LeBron. “Mr. Cavalier,” the headline said, noting that “LeBron is Cleveland’s all-time leading scorer.”

Below is a taste of the article from the Times mentioned a moment ago.

Six of the Fallen, in Words They Sent Home

If anyone missed the New York Times piece on yesterday's  front page giving the words six fallen soldiers sent home to their families and friends, please read the attachment below.

It is one of the most moving things I've read. For link, go to "read more."

The Nation magazine chose Cleveland as the city to illustrate the cost of the War in Iraq to one troubled city. The two-page spread in the March 31 issue shows what could have been bought to meet public needs with $479.2 million, Cleveland’s share of the war cost.

The County has pulled another Gateway. Only better - for the operators.

It looks as if the medical mart and convention center will cost County taxpayers – and this is if there are no snafus - $1 billion.

The Cuyahoga County Commissioners have given me a  great idea.

Let's privatize the Commission by hiring one person who actually  knows what he or she is doing and do away with electing our three Stooges for Private Businesses of Any Kind, aka, Tim Hagan, Jimmy Dimora & Peter Lawson Jones.

Just as a reminder to relate to the cost of the medical mart and  the new convention center construction, bonding and payments, don't forget that the County already spends heavily with tax fund for the convention business.

Pee Dee Propaganda Machine
The front page of the Pee Dee this a.m. represents Ms. Goldberg’s contribution to the journalism here: big, splashy headlines, much wasted space, but scarce information.

The Pee Dee is always on the bandwagon when it comes to “Progress.” However, never rely upon the newspaper for hard evidence beyond cheerleading.

Here’s what we have under the Huge Headline: “Medical Mart now a ‘when,’ not an ‘if’”- 4 and a half columns wide and 13 inches deep before a skimpy 4 inch story. Wish we had more about "how."

DESPERATION CITY
We have a deal!

The public today was given, as one observer at the meeting says, an “information free” description of the deal between Cuyahoga County and Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI).

Finally, someone tells the County Commissioners that they owe the public some answers on the increased sales tax for the proposed medical mart and convention center.

Cleveland City Council members Brian Cummins and Zach Reed, as you can read below, are asking for the repeal of the quarter percent sales tax increase that the Commissioners - at least Tim Hagan and Jimmy Dimora - placed upon County taxpayers without consultation of those who pay the tab.