Could this be the dullest, most meaningless mayoral election of all time? Well, it is what it is, ain’t it?
If I were running against Jackson I’d say strongly and often, “What it IS should not BE.”
General election opponent Bill Patmon – who has no money and not enough name recognition city-wide – did attack Jackson for this anemic attitude of acceptance.
You’d think we have a monk, not a mayor.
“The message that the current administration does not care is clear. But the attitude, ‘it is what it is,’ is neither acceptable nor wise in a time when this city, and every other city for that matter, critically counts on its tax base for survival” Patmon told the Plain Dealer. He hit the right tone.
The problem also is that the news media have been turned off on the election. For Patmon that’s a disaster since he has no money to push any agenda into focus.
Patmon, of course, is correct. Mayor Jackson’s oath of acceptance is not good enough, not nearly good enough.
A city with no spirit isn’t going to be helped by some Buddhist-like mind-set. It’s not a brew that offers much hope.
Mayor Jackson seems to be in a go-along mode.
Two million bucks for an aquarium – which likely will be more like a fish tank - for Jeff Jacobs, okay. It is what it is. Hundreds of millions of dollars for a medical mart and convention center, alright. It is what it is.
Tens of millions of dollars for a diluted Wolstein project, why not? It is what it is.
A new port at the cost of hundreds of millions of dollars and one that negates other plans and studies? So? It is what it is.
Monopoly casino? Yes, why not. It is what it is.
That’s not leadership. That is what it is, of course. But it is not what it should be.
Cleveland better start looking for new leaders NOW for the future. It’s already much too late for the city. It needs a leader who will do more than see acceptance as a policy.
Links:
[1] http://li326-157.members.linode.com/content/maybe-greed-will-save-us-will-sam-knock-out-mmpi
[2] http://li326-157.members.linode.com/content/roldo-bartimole-0
[3] http://li326-157.members.linode.com/content/mayor-jackson-mayor-these-times