The pro-gambling-interested Cleveland Plain Dealer announced today [1] that "Cleveland's City Council passed a resolution this week endorsing state Issue 3", which changes the Ohio constitution to give a monopoly on casino gambling to Cleveland Cavaliers owner and overnight "Don" Dan Gilbert. Councilmembers Brian Cummins and Zack Reed did not sign the resolution supporting Issue 3. The support of the other council members follows the endorsement of Issue 3 by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. As these endorsements show support by these specific people for gambling in our community, and all the ills that go with that, it is time to set in place the names of these people as those accountable for addressing all the harm that is caused by expanding gambling here from now until they are dead... these are our advocates for gambling addiction in Cleveland.
This list should be discussed in the media and at community meetings and churches this week, and every week going forward, through the November 3 election and long after, as these people propose to change everything here, for everyone, in ways many people considered economically harmful and immoral. Responsible analyses of the costs and benefits of gambling show great social costs. This is an event that will cause real people real hardship. The endorsement of gambling here gives the impression gambling is already alright.
For the weeks leading up to November 3, when people still have the choice to vote on whether gambling is alright, we must have very broad, serious, honest discussions about whether gambling is alright... especially if Cleveland+Gambling is alright.
If gambling is expanded here, because of endorsements by powerful people here, the list of people causing gambling to be expanded here must be kept updated with current contact information, as these people leave their positions in government and business and move on in life, so the people harmed by gambling may always let these specific people - those who are forever hereinafter responsible for expanding the harm of gambling here - know exactly what resulted from their actions to benefit Dan Gilbert, this week. Such responsibilities for such morally significant decisions do not die with any future elections... the costs to Cleveland citizens, real NEO, society and real families will be $ billions.
Below are the names and email addresses of the Cleveland Mayor and the members of the Cleveland City Council who, as of October 7, 2009, openly support gambling in Cleveland... to be updated with their future contact information as they move on:
Mayor Frank Jackson
MayorFrankGJackson [at] city [dot] cleveland [dot] oh [dot] usCleveland City Hall
601 Lakeside Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Cleveland City Council Members Supporting Issue 3, as of October 7, 2009:
Ward 1
Terrell H. Pruitt
Council Phone: (216) 664-4944ward01 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 2
Nate Wilkes
Council Phone: (216) 664-4237NO EMAIL LISTED ON COUNCIL WEBSITE
Ward 4
Kenneth L. Johnson
Council Phone: (216) 664-4941
Ward Office: (216) 421-8639
Home: (216) 421-8639ward04 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 5
Phyllis Cleveland - Majority Leader
Council Phone: (216) 664-2309
Home: (216) 431-3349ward05 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 6
Mamie J. Mitchell
Council Phone: (216) 664-4234
Ward Office: (216) 791-8683ward06 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 7
TJ Dow
Council Phone: (216) 664-2908
ward07 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 8
Shari L. Cloud
Council Phone: (216) 664-4231ward08 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 9
Kevin Conwell
Council Office: (216) 664-4252
Ward Office: (216) 791-6642
ward09 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 10Eugene Miller
Council Phone: (216) 664-4743
ward10 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 11
Michael D. Polensek
Council Phone: (216) 664-4236
Home: (216) 531-7648
ward11 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 12
Anthony Brancatelli
Council Phone: (216) 664-4233
ward12 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 13
Joe Cimperman
Council Phone: (216) 664-2691
Ward 14
Joe Santiago
Council Phone: (216) 664-3706
Ward Office: (216) 458-1493
ward14 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 16
Kevin J. Kelley - Majority Whip
Council Phone: (216) 664-2943
Ward Office: (216) 351-7077
ward16 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 17
Matt Zone
Council Phone: (216) 664-4235
Ward Office: (216) 939-1717
Home: (216) 961-1235
ward17 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 18
Jay Westbrook
Council Phone: (216) 664-4230
Ward Office: (216) 664-4230
Home: (216) 281-1811
ward18 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 19
Dona Brady
Council Phone: (216) 664-3708
Ward Office: (216) 961-4999
Home: (216) 961-4999
ward19 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 20
Martin J. Sweeney - Council President
Council Phone: (216) 664-2942
Home: (216) 252-0986
ward20 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 21
Martin J. Keane
Council Phone: (216) 664-4239
ward21 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
If you would like to thank or recognize the councilmembers who did not sign the resolution supporting Issue 3, they are:
Ward 3
Zachary Reed
Council Phone: (216) 664-4945
Home: (216) 921-5117ward03 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org
Ward 15
Brian J. Cummins
Council Phone: (216) 664-4238
Ward Office: (216) 459-8400
Home: (216) 661-6821ward15 [at] clevelandcitycouncil [dot] org