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Tuesday, May 14, 2024 |
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Questions And Answers With Leslie Ford |
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Marianne
MUSA Resident Joined: Jul 13 2008 Location: here Status: Offline Points: 165 |
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First, I think it's admirable that Ms. Ford responded to the questions. Knowing the derisive tone of much discussion regarding the city here, I'm surprised anyone would do so.
Second, I'm curious as to what would have "impressed" or even satisfied some of our most frequent posters on this site. Third, why don't some of the folks who post so often here offer their responses to at least a few of the questions asked keeping in mind Vet's admonition that one needs to practice cerebral problem-solving. Thank you. |
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Mike_Presta
MUSA Council Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483 |
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Sorry, Mr. Beagle, but it appears that you are easily impressed.
I would like to see a few things progress. In the second ward, I would like to see continued progress towards unity of areas of the second ward, specifically the Amanda area and the Douglass Park area. They are only separated geographically by less than a mile or two, but they still "feel" separate. I would like Amanda, Douglass Park, and Downtown to be more united. In addition, while I have supported East End Ms. Ford seems interested in Second Ward unity, and I don’t blame her but by continually focusing only on the Second Ward can’t she see that it is contributing to the DIVISION of the Second Ward from the rest of the city? Ms. Ford is not alone in this myopic view. “Diversity” or “Unity”??? Which shall it be??? We can’t have both. I admire the fact that Ms. Ford is “optimistic that the coming rail system (if we are selected as a stop) will be a catalyst for more development on this side of town”, but what in the world makes her think that it actually WILL be a catalyst, if it occurs? What is your plan to replace the businesses that Middletown has lost? Aside from more incentives that the city can provide (tax relief) I would like to pursue a more aggresive advertising campaign to lure businesses to relocate here. I realize that will be of some expense, and given our budget situation, we really can't spare much at all. However, I think the long-term gain to the city will be well worth the expense. Ms. Ford, that is not much of a plan. I would rather heard you say something about what our new, expanded Economic Development Department IS DOING for our city, and what will happen if they do not produce results!!! We could do a lot more “advertising” with the money saved by eliminating that department if they cannot produce results. The first thing that needs to be done is to UN-do all of the business-killing damage that Mr. Kohler has done.
How would you begin to repair and strengthen our relationships with the surrounding communities?
The “key is to continue” the “steps” that “the leadership have already taken”??? Ms. Ford, are you not aware that we are either in, or have just finished, litigation with our two closest neighbors: Franklin and Monroe??? Have you noticed that the Butler County Commission has held one of their regular weekly meetings in nearly every other political subdivision in this county except for Middletown, the second largest city in this county??? Yes, the County Commission has thrown a few bucks our way in the last several years, but no where nearly as much as we SEND to them and no where nearly as much as we might expect proportional to population, area, or need. What would you like to see happen with the downtown area? My dream is for downtown to be highly developed. I would like to add that Downtown and the East End are not (or should not) be competing entities, but rather they ideally should be complementary. Downtown could be artsy and eclectic, with specialty shops, and have homes for artists and students. I'd like to see stores that reflect the character of Middletown. Dreaming is fine, Ms. Ford, but when will we begin being PRACTICAL for a change. Is there any LOGICAL or statistical reason that you can cite WHY our FORMER downtown should be “highly developed” with PUBLIC funds??? Middletown has been waiting for over thirty years to hear this information!!! Please share it with us!!! Yes, it COULD be “artsy and eclectic”, by why SHOULD it be, especially at public expense??? It COULD be a light industrial center, or it COULD have been a hospital, or a community college or a number of things. But there are REAL REASONS why it became none of those things. And Ms. Ford, as far as “stores that reflect the character of Middletown”, haven’t you looked lately??? There ARE pawn shops and second-hand stores. It DOES reflect the current character of Middletown. Would you kindly explain how “artsy and eclectic” reflects the current character of Middletown??? Ms. Ford, what you and the others refuse to understand is that IF Middletown‘s true character was “artsy and eclectic”, private developers would be fighting over the cheap downtown properties to market the “specialty shops and homes for artists and students” that you non-realists think there is such a need for and are so anxious to develop at someone else’s expense!!! It’s that simple, Ms. Ford…it really is!!!
I think we as a city need to be honest about who we are and where we are, economically. We are a working-class city with a lot of citizens that need assistance. I think that the section 8 program should remain in place, and that we should not reduce the number of vouchers issued. I think stereotypes about citizens receiving section 8 assistance are unfounded. This is a program that assists residents in becoming more self-sufficient. We need to stop worrying about our "image" and get to the business of helping those in need. “I think we as a city need to be honest about who we are and where we are, economically. We are a working-class city with a lot of citizens that need assistance. We need to stop worrying about our "image" and get to the business of helping those in need.” …Leslie Ford (in preceding paragraph)Now, Ms. Ford, please repeat that THREE TIMES!!! It is the exact OPPOSITE of what YOU said in your answer to the previous question!!! I am glad to see that YOU are in COMPLETE AGREEMENT with ME!!! So how about it, Ms. Ford? Please “stop worrying about our image!” Stop wasting the taxes paid by our “working-class” citizens by trying to DREAM that we are “artsy and eclectic” and that our “citizens that need assistance” need a bunch of snooty “shoppes” and high end “townhouses” that no developer in his right mind would dare risk his OWN money to develop in our FORMER downtown!
This is a tough one, because the cuts we have made to city departments have our staff working on a shoe-string. I'll tell you what the answer is NOT. Staff reductions are not an option for me. That would be the classic knee-jerk reaction, but my belief is that you hold on to your good city workers in times of trouble. They've been fantastic. I think if we all work together, we will find a solution. Ms. Ford, please review your facts. Other than police and fire, how many employees were on the city payroll five years ago? How many are on it today? Since we keep hearing that “no one has gotten a raise”, how many people (note that I said “people”, NOT “positions”) are making more today than they were five years ago??? Case closed! In your opinion, what is the biggest problem that needs addressed in Middletown and how do we repair it?
Well, finally, I agree with YOU (mostly)!!! But can you kindly explain to me how ANYTHING you said anywhere above will do ANYTHING to improve our competitive position against the thousands of other similarly situated cities across the state and nation?? If you can do so…and do so with facts, and logic, and sense (as opposed to dreams and wishes, and the like) I will turn into your biggest supporter, and help to the best of my ability to get YOU elected!!! Respectfully, Mike Presta |
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“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012
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tomahawk35
MUSA Resident Joined: Nov 18 2008 Location: Middletown Status: Offline Points: 223 |
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My thoughts on Ms. Ford's answers; 1- I am impressed with her qualif
ications. 2- Her thoughts on the 2nd ward seems to be one of good concern. 3- Replacing businesses fairly decent considersing. 4- I don't buy the repairing relationships with our neighbors. 5- Downtown area- putting perfume on a pig. 6A- Section 8 - way off base- ( see apartments on Old Roosevelt) also assisting people to become more self-sufficient is like giving money to people who never had any real amount of money and expect them to be suddenly responsible,this will never happen without some type of training program. 6B- We all know why the huge amount of Vouchers were issued and know that they are one of the main reasons that this town has the image that you say we need to stop worrying about because you are part of group that help sink the image of this once fine town. 7- What cuts are you talking about?(the two garage workers) please don't belittle our intelligent with such a statement. 8- 12% says it all.
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spiderjohn
Prominent MUSA Citizen Joined: Jul 01 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2749 |
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I have been encouraged by her recent voting record(perfect score with me Tuesday evening), and think that she has gradually improved over time. I seriously ? her commitment to the job, though the job is honestly asking far too much for the compensation(if you are not retired and financially secure).
In no way do I ? her character or desire to do the best thing for everyone.
I really didn't understand her answers here, and hope that she will continue to express her goals and desires for the Council.
We could do a lot worse, have done far worse, and probably will do much worse in the future.
So--it that enough of a warm, fuzzy positive attitude?
A big plus being she doesn't resemble any of the Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy.
Extra credit for being the first to step up to the plate.
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katiebell
MUSA Immigrant Joined: May 28 2009 Status: Offline Points: 21 |
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I agree, she has been a non-participating member of council. Where is her support for the cemetary? if she wants to be elected this time around she needs to step it up!
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VietVet
MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008 |
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Sorry John to disagree with you on this. Ford's answers are glossed over, generalized, non problem solving talk. Anyone who can speak can recite non answers represented here. She has demonstrated that she doesn't have the capacity to offer any real solutions to our many problems in this city. To begin to improve Council's impact and credibiliity, she needs to be one of the first to go in November. She has done nothing but occupy a seat on Council and doesn't appear to have the overall sharpness of knowledge to help us out of our dilemma. She would do well not to run again unless she changes her entire approach to the job and gets a little more "cerebral" on problem solving. JMO
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John Beagle
MUSA Official Joined: Apr 23 2007 Location: Middletown Status: Offline Points: 1855 |
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I'm so impress with Leslie and her responsiveness to our request for more information.
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randy
MUSA Official Joined: Jan 13 2009 Location: Middletown Status: Offline Points: 1586 |
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Council Member Ford took the time to answers the question we asked a few weeks ago. To see her responses view the full story here Questions And Answers With Leslie Ford
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