notorious opponents of exactitude

The expenses were piling up. Not the hospitals bills you understand, No, everything was being covered medically for Chris thanks to the 100 percent coverage his then “resident” wife received from the Cleveland Clinic. That, in itself, was truly amazing and because their Oncologist did not enter him in the SGN 35 trial they had at the Cleveland Clinic ,as it had closed on the Friday, before he went to his doctor’s appointment on the Monday. The Clinics insurance also paid for the trial of SGN35 in Houston at M.D. Anderson.

Of course we still had to pay for the living expenses, the flights etc. Chris wanted to use their savings. People had been extremely generous when he and Angela got married in the previous June. Chris was not happy with the fact his family were paying for the Houston expenses and flights and rental car etc. He felt he should be able to cover those expenses .

Our wonderful neighbor of many years “Rich” suggested he would like to put on a fundraiser for Chris , who was almost like a 3rd son and member of his family. Chris, was at first very hesitant , one reason being he was private when it came to his illness but he also was aware his mum and dad weren’t wealthy . Chris reluctantly acquiesed in the end.

I told Rich to contact the Lombardis , as at one point ,they had also made mention a fund raiser (in the very begining) but Chris had refused as all the medical bills were being paid for under the no deductible insurance of the Cleveland Clinic. Chris’s godparents, his sister and my friends and other neighbors also wanted to help and so I left it in my neighbor’s capable hands, or so I thought.

It wasn’t until weeks after that I was told Rich, Chris’ godparents in fact everyone but Nikki were told they didn’t need any help and that Sue and Tim Lombardi and the sisters of Sue would be handling through Tim’s bank First Federal. So those that offered help in baking, food, clean up and organizing were told NO THANKS., they weren’t needed the Lombardi Clan would be doing this !

Well now of course I know the reasons. “Control” a trait that Sue Lombardi definitely has in her resume in my opinion borne out later on in the saga of the dollar signs.

Not knowing of the Lombardis decisions to keep out of the fundraiser anyone from Chris’ side I wrote blog posts and advertised as much as I could for the sake of this young couple. Chris designed the Logo in Texas

“The Committee for Chris- aka Chris’ Crew would very much like a head count by this weekend so please if you haven’t got the tickets yet and plan to come please contact Nikki at 440-282-3195

FUNDRAISER FOR CHRIS
When – Sunday – OCTOBER 25TH -1:00 -5:00

Where- Rosewood Place- 4493 Oberlin Avenue- Lorain Ohio 44053

What – Spaghetti Dinner- Silent Auction – 50/50 raffle – Browns Game ( on a big screen TV)

How Much – $15.00 – kinds under 5 eat free.

Tickets and or reservations – please call Nikki -440-282-3195

The Crew tells me there are literally dozens of gift baskets containing something for everyone – from tools, firepits, Cavs games, Browns games and everything to go with them- professional teeth whitening – Celtic goodies- romantic weekends – ( beach condo steps from the water at Catawba )- and hotel rooms- food and drink and a flat screen TV is also in the baskets- So please call is you haven’t already got your tickets- Loraine”

IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THEN WHAT I FINALLY WAS MADE AWARE OF , I WOULD HAVE STOPPED THE WHOLE ROTTEN MESS.

But I didn’t know and being in Houston I was relying on emails and half truths being told. When I questioned Tim Lombardi as to why Rich wasn’t involved in the accounting of the fundraiser as “

Hi Tim,

I hear the sales are going really well that IS good news ( and we need good news) . I did ask Angela over the weekend about the account at First Federal but she said that you were handling everything. I have a couple of questions, as you know I have run Charleston Villages non profit 501C3 for twenty years so I was a little confused……….On a personal note after the numbers and figures are all in if I could have a list of those that donated straight to the account I would very appreciative as Chris’ Dad and I want to send our personal thank you to those individuals .

he replied “

”

Angela , Sue and Tim Lombardi

Hi Loraine,Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 3:49 PM

Hope all is well with you and Chris in the Lone Star State. Angela may have misunderstood what we did. The account opened at First Federal is a non-interest bearing account as we didn’t want to report any type of interest…….We have tried to keep track of donations and will certainly provide you with the list we have. What do you think about running a thank you ad in the paper? The generosity of the donors has been over whelming” Tim

I didn’t need to take out an ad . Tom Skoch editor of the Morning Journal ( lorain) ran an item as did The Chronicle ( Elyria) and blogs. People came through from the Highland Dance Community from all over the world with basket items, money, Nikki rallied her friends and Jims friends and realtives all donated . Since I was in Houston Nikki took everything to the bank and deposited in that damned account. In hindsight I feel sick even to this day. Nikki dropped off baskets and took flyers all around her neighborhood. Tim Lombardi was right the response was overwhelming .

People of all walks of life , professions and places apparently came to the event.

Chris and I waited to hear from Nikki and family as to how things were going. Nikki called me she was upset , apparently Sue Lombardi was telling anyone that would listen the Chris was staying in a terrible place , crime ridden . I was furious and frankly hurt , I had done my damndest to get Chris and Angela , who I naively thought would want to be with her husband as much as she could be. I was wrong about that too.

Chris came into the living room in Houston he asked what was wrong and I burst into tears something I rarely did but the emotiona and exhaustion won out.I blubed and blubbered saying I was sorry … the apartment was the best I could find.. and

I was sorry it was not what Angela wanted…

What are you talking about ? said Chris

Finally I was able to tell him what was being said….. he called his sister and told her ”

“don’t tell mum anything that the Lombardis say about anything it has upset her and remember [Angela’s sister], Allie didn’t call her mother “Psycho Sue ” for no reason. “

Later on that evening Chris came out of the bedroom after talking to Angela to tell me the fundraiser had made $8,000.00 on the baskets alone and $36,000.00 in donations etc. not counting the money that had already been deposited by Nikki etc to the account in the bank.

I learned later from the very mouth of Sue Lombardi she opened a “safe deposit box ” in her bank in Angela’s and her name for the cash from that night. I questioned them as to a list of donors and what they donated so I could write thank you notes

Sue said

Oh well we aren’t sure

I said

well you must have deposit slips..and ticket sales. There was over thirty thousand from the fundraiser alone

Where did you hear that ?

It was then I said:

Angela told Chris and I know other checks were put into the accouint at First Federal , I have that list from Nikki.

And that is when Sue Lombardi told me directly she had opened a safety deposit box in Angela’s name for that cash……..

( So much for keeping track. ) and there is more to come.

Pillars of their Church but money apparently can cause even pillars to fall for the 7th deadly sin of AVARICE!!!!!!

Avarice the 7th deadly sin

to be continued :

October 3, 2021 at 12:39 pm 4 comments

Morning Journal- Punishing Press-Part 4

Chris Ritchey

Part One : https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/morning-journal-lorain-the-punishing-press/

Part Two : https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/14/morning-journal-lorain-the-punishing-press-part-two/

Part Three: https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/15/morning-journal-the-punishing-press-part-3/

Part Three cont. https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/morning-journal-the-punishing-press-pt-3-cont/

I have spent hours going through old writings and blogs. Unfortunately, as I have said a lot of the links are missing and in fact blogs have disappeared from the WWW. I can only go by the hard copy I have. I can only assure you the reader the information is true and I have those documents in hard copy or in my files electronically.

Here were go:

Front Page News .. a tale of a super woman, well maybe not 😉

WoM Logo by Scott Baklar

Jon Veard & word of mouth scott bakalar on 22 Nov 2006

SO SAYETH THE NAYSAYERS:

““I’m going to extricate myself from downtown Lorain,” Veard said.
[…]
“I don’t have to do business in Lorain, especially if I’m not wanted,” he said. Veard, 65, who has run his United Properties development company in downtown Lorain for the last 44 years, said it will be “easier to do business elsewhere.”
Why?
“Admittedly, council has taken Jon to task a few times, but council has approved projects with him involved, such as the restoration of the Duane Building,” Foltin said.
Veard said he hasn’t faced opposition only from council, but criticism from citizen activists, such as downtown resident Loraine Ritchie. Veard said Ritchie has been a critic of his developments.

NOTE: THE ONLY CRITICISM I GAVE was his plans to build condos in the historic park”

“What is she attacking me for?” Veard said. “Let her develop downtown Lorain.”
Ritchie declined to speak to The Morning Journal.
But Veard said he’s tired of the criticism.
“I lost money on the Duane Building. I lost money on the Antlers Building. I haven’t made a dime yet on City Center. … Let them throw darts at someone else.”

The quote came from the article in the Morning Journal- Kate Giammarise November 2006

HOWEVER A DAY LATER… Mr. Veard stated to Joe Medici of the Chronicle

“Despite having three buildings up for sale downtown, local developer Jon Veard said Tuesday he has no intention of leaving the city…..“My roots are here. All my business and banking relationships are here. It would be a nightmare to move all that,” Veard said. “These people know me and when I ask for something it’s a done deal because they trust me.”
“I’m not selling because I’m mad about the park. Maybe (City Council) did me a favor when they shot it down. Building condos in downtown Lorain is risky business,” Veard said.

Which publication printed the correct information? Remember media moguls you are only as good as your sources ( biased or not)? This knee jerk reaction maybe to Cole and Co caused Cole to jump once more into the Editorial mode and chastise me a “history bonehead.. sorry can’t link to it BUT here is my response :

As I decided to BOYCOTT the Morning Journal…. You can find that WoM post here TUDOR Boycott

Who got it wrong John Cole? I think I know – tch tch tch – how much egg is on the face of your publication on this one? And poor Mr. Veard – he came across in your article as a whiney, sorry, pouting, juvenile, it seems I have more respect for Mr. Veard than his ”friends”. You did him no favor – believe me – in your portrayal of this Lorain Developer. What my international readers (and I have a “barrelful”) must think of this community, I shudder to imagine.
NOTE – Oh! and one more thing, it has been remarked that Mr. Veard is upset that he didn’t get the chance to show City Council his “plans” for our park ( that other editorial chastising Lorain City Council….before they voted No! the first time. Check the minutes, I think you will find that Mayor Craig Foltin ”called for the vote” that night – that is right Mayor Craig Foltin.

And then YOUR “Love letter to Veard” Oh! come on now – hearts and flowers begging him – Don’t go-Please stay – when he apparently had NO intention of leaving. I ask you who is the “blow-hard and crank and short sighted” individual whose “long winded” piece sent the negative message of Lorain’s developer diva -great publicity for Lorain? Shoe fits – wear it JC!

But all is not lost – Cole and Company you can – by a change in editorial policy, adhering to unbiased news reporting and an apology to all who ”dare to suffer the editorial wrath” by stepping up to the plate and to those “long winded politicians” who do the best they can to represent THEIR constituents on City Council stop this ”Old-Boy Cott” Up to YOU!!!!!!!!

2007 was the Lorain Bicentennial we had a city wide celebration focused in on the little park. Now don’t go looking for coverage- John Cole denied any coverage , that is until so many organizations involved took issue there was a small blurb in the Saturday section.

Link to a number of photos of the event :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/12219598@N06/with/1249174028/

However, the opening ceremonies were taped and one participant berated the Morning Journal for their stance and lack of coverage for the event. Problem was it was ME who was spearheading the whole shebang.. Oh well happened without him or the Morning Journal….

Tom Skoch

John Cole retired in February 2008 and a new editor Tom Skoch took over the editorial seat. Mr. Skoch reached out to me and we came to a friendly truce. He was really kind and instrumental in getting Charleston Village projects publicity etc. for the Admiral King Tribute Space, Eric Barnes Heroes Walk and Settlers’ Watch . He may not have been overly fond of yours truly but he could see past the tree to the forest.

Although I have been known to come out fingers flying when I felt the Morning Journal and others and its staff needed a different perspective : https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/media-as-the-word-turns-or-rolls-lorain/

You see at the same time all this bruhaha was going on with me the news media were all over Councilman Dan Given and others with the Community Reinvestment Areas. This too had its birthing in politics and the blame game ensued.

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/sigh-cra-p-p-stands-for-politics/

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/here-it-comes-crappppp/

Before I get pilloried once more let me tell you I was involved in the CRA situation before any of the media.I did my homework and I have files two inches thick, Courts, the players and their agendas, articles comments and documentation up the ying yang. Anyone wants to see them -only too willing… Oh and the politics are mind boggling.

However Dan Given became the scapegoat even though the Plain dealer article OCTOBER 2007 used in the court case had 11 inaccuracies ( I wrote to the Editor pointing out the journalists biased leanings – no reply)

NOTE: Article is no longer on line but I have the hard copy. There was a friendly relationship between the county’s attorney and the journalist….. I have the article

Later on I took Tom and the MJ to task over an article in 2009– I had just 6 days earlier lost my son to cancer – but it was still important to me that truth and the whole truth should be explored.

Dan Given was also pilloried in the article of December 10th 2009 but the readership of the Morning Journal has been denied the “rest of the story ” and denied so far as they would not print Mr. Given’s rebuttal leading their readership and those of the community in a direction that is less than accurate. I published his letter to the MJ because they wouldn’t- I would suggest a read of that letter found in the link below:

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/two-sides-one-published-one-denied/

When you go to the comments of that post you will find Mr. Skoch had his say .. but since the claim by the editors stated they had reached out to Mr. Given originally they apparently missed the part in all the bru haha that the Law Director had told Council members ( because of litigation they couldn’t comment ) although at least two did …

Does ANY of this matter NOW? You tell me as recently as March 12th 2020 Dan Given was accused of public corruption in a letter chastising now Mayor Bradley from the Lorain FOP for supporting a political candidate they have issues with. Click on jpg for a clearer picture.

Although letters and legal stating no wrongdoing 15 YEARS LATER DAN GIVEN IS STILL BEING ACCUSED. 10 YEARS cleared of any wrongdoing AND YET STILL IN 2020 THE FOP ACCUSATION OF public corruption..

MAYBE THEY MISSED THE ARTICLE FROM 10 YEARS AGO!!!!!

GIVEN CLEARED – CHRONICLE – BRAD DICKEN DECEMBER 10TH 2010

Given Cleared 2010

WHY ? If anyone had really done ALL the homework and evidence complied and not just dwelled on the surface of the CRA situation the story would be different, believe me I looked at that CRA situation until I was sick of it and the ones that should be held responsible weren’t.

AND NOW!!! We have Mary Springowski feeling the wrath of imho of a up-jumped egotistical 32 year old reporter Kevin Martin / Morning Journal trying the name and shame game because Mary , in order to reach out and provide information to her constituents with information and participation. by pasting an article on her facebook page ! Horrors she apparently single handedly has brought down the print media local by publishing the article

Facebook post by Mary :

THE REST OF THE STORY!!!!

( Mary) “What is happening with this money? Who should benefit from this? Who CAN benefit from this? There must be some regulations. If this is CDBG then it is geared towards low to moderate income areas. What are your thoughts? Remember, if you want them to be part of the permanent record, post your comments and thoughts on the city’s official Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/CityofLorainOH/

( Morning Journal)Lorain, Elyria to get stimulus money in coronavirus response By Richard Payerchin rpayerchin@morningjournal.com @MJ_JournalRick on Twitter Apr 1, 2020

The cities of Lorain and Elyria will receive money from the first allocations in the federal government’s economic stimulus bill due to the novel coronavirus.

The city of Lorain will receive $725,720, while Elyria will receive $439,110 in Community Development Block Grant money, according to an announcement from Sen. Sherrod Brown.……..

Innocent enough one would have thought HOWEVER Mr. Martin thought otherwise and through Twitter started on April 9th to chastise Mary for an article written NOT by Mr Martin but by Rick Payerchin……..although Martin states he is speaking for himself ( that didn’t last long ) Click on the jpg for a clearer picture

Has Mr. Payerchin , the journalist and writer of the piece, contacted Mary with his displeasure? NO! according to Mary. Has Daryl Tucker the Editor contacted Mary? No! apparently not BUT 13 days after Mary posted the article on face book Kevin Martin of Muck Rack fame and membership https://muckrack.com/ complained to the Facebook Police for copy right infringement –

APRIL 13th

If you believe that this content should not have been removed from Facebook, you can contact the complaining party directly to resolve your issue:

Report #: 253706562467430
Rights Owner: MediaNews Group Inc.
Email: kmartin@morningjournal.com
Copyrighted Work: Other

NOTE Martin does not use a personal email account in filing his complaint but that of the Morning Journal .

This should never have gone this far…. I wouldn’t have had to spend five days writing and reliving the punishing press… and maybe “raking the muck” because I was angry at the “punishment not fitting the crime”

All it would’ve taken was a phone call to Mary to take down the post, explain why there was a concern but No the crusading journalist jumped on his high horse and banner of punishing the politician of the people……

WHY? what is his agenda …. when obviously the writer of the offending piece and the Editor didn’t complain….. but because of Mr. Martin -Mrs. Springowski will no longer share , be interviewed or subscribe to the Morning Journal, and Mary is always newsworthy so who suffers by this petulant posturing? NOT Mary .. maybe Martin should be taught the old adage :

“Cutting off the nose to spite the face” is an expression to describe a needlessly self-destructive over-reaction to a problem: “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face” is a warning against acting out of pique, or against pursuing revenge in a way that would damage oneself more than the object of one’s anger

THE END then again maybe NOT!!!

April 17, 2020 at 12:22 pm Leave a comment

Morning Journal Lorain, The Punishing Press- Part two

Part One : https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/morning-journal-lorain-the-punishing-press/

This series stems from the fact a reporter from the Morning Journal, Lorain Ohio in my opinion got his knickers in a twist because Council Woman at Large Mary Springowski shared a full article on facebook ( but with the who what and where it was published) . Happens all the time but Kevin Martin took issue .. went to twitter etc ( operative word here TWIT) and one thing led to another. We will get back to Kevin Martin at the end of this series. He has not been alone in the pseudo bullying behavior over the years by the Morning Journal publication from the publishers to the editors.

However, I bet a lot of people from Lorain have no idea just what the meddling in Lorain has cost in dollars and cents.

ED NOTE : after the expenses were heading upwards of $100,000 dollars the monies were rolled over into a bond (see below) but before that happened I had started to make public records requests and here is the spread sheet from the City of Lorain Auditor at the time for the initial expenses incurred:

Casino Expenses

Hang on the ride continues. Since John Cole, former Editor, is now deceased he can not rebut my post but he had that opportunity more than once when he was alive and certainly took advantage of his position to make my life “interesting” . I will at the end of this series of course give the Morning Journal their unedited say on this blog!

2004

John Cole , Editor of the Morning Journal and then Mayor Craig Foltin put on a great dog and pony show, dangling the casino carrot to the desperate population of Lorain. It was touted as a cure all for all our economic troubles. My standing up to Cole re the Shawnee fiasco didn’t do me any favors and I was in danger along with Anne Molnar ( Lorain City Councilwoman. now deceased , the only city council person who took issue with the Shawnee ) of being “squashed “.

The following is from the article Condos for Cole which we will explore tomorrow!! Unfortunately the links imbedded in these articles have disappeared as has the original WoM Blog .

“It seems this town has a lot to thank Mr. Cole for in recent months. August 1st 2004 the editorial which pointed Lorain in the direction of the Eastern Shawnee. Starting off a firestorm of wheeling, dealing, controversy and spending of taxpayer’s money. The fact that National Capital One (in whose direction we were pointed) and Terry Casey, spokesperson for National Capital One who had a less than a sterling reputation was never mentioned in the editorial.

In fact although Dayton, Cleveland newspapers carried the story of Casey’s “faux paux” I could never find mention of that fact in any of Cole’s Editorials. The fact that National Capital One has pleaded guilty to securities fraud has not had any mention in any editorial I have seen since. And oh yes! the very person to whom Cole’s ability to “squash” was touted was that same Terry Casey in the infamous e-mail from Mayor Foltin: Also Terry Casey:

http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article/ohio-group-responds-to-tribal-casino-plans-148588

Plain Dealer 2005:

Repeatedly, Casey stressed that the Lorain plans had to remain secret. Foltin agreed but urged Casey to consider adding one person to the inner circle: John Cole, longtime editor of the local newspaper [Morning Journal]

ED NOTE: This article is no longer on line BUT you can access it here as I saved it : This article was in the Plain Dealer

Lorain mayor’s gamble paid off with casino deal

Talks with tribe kept secret from city officials, voters

Sunday, March 06, 2005

Molly Kavanaugh and Tom Breckenridge

Foltin Cole and Casino

Re: John Cole, longtime editor of the local newspaper. “I feel he should be briefed early (even in the next week or two) with the understanding that we are in very early stages and he will be the first to know if anything happens and when it becomes public,” Foltin wrote Oct. 11 in an e-mail to Casey. “He can personally squash any nay-saying and ensure broad community support.” – Plain Dealer 3/5/05

Now in 2007 I archived after another series of Cole’s decision making for Lorain for my records. The Shawnee fiasco the hundred thousand of dollars wasted and my take on Mr. Cole . Needless to say he wasn’t happy with me . And the citizens of Lorain shouldn’t have been happy with him, we were led down a very expensive garden path and I for one didn’t not like being threatened with being “squashed ” by him….

https://thbarchive.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/october-15th-2007-cole-and-foltin/

COLE-fuc-*-us say :
Apologies to Confucius

Since they don’t put the comics on line TP ( or That Paper) I always get a bit of laugh reading Mr. Cole’s take on life and so since we know that on August 1st 2004 Johnny Boy’s editorial sent Foltin charging off to the Shawnee and Terry Casey – his latest writings -especially this paragraph caused the bile to move up and out of the stomach and nearly choke THAT Woman!

The second throw of the dice for Lorain was Craig Foltin’s pillow talk with the Eastern Shawnee Indians. Predicated on dubious legal claims and if-you-say-so financial, planning and managerial expertise, the treaty was signed, the chief and the mayor blew a lot of smoke in the air and, before you knew it, Lorainites woke up one morning blood brothers to Tecumseh. It was a lot of fun if nothing else. John Cole

OH Johnny Boy! here I go again “nay saying” waiting to incur the wrath of the mighty King Cole! NO FUN for the tax payer -over $100,000 wasted by my calculations thanks to you supplying the bed for the pillow talk. And after a great deal of reasoning why we should jump in bed with your “slot sluts” you end up saying:

It’s time again for Lorain to jump into the casino game.

For your FUN peoples lives were disrupted and bunch of lemmings got on the casino tour bus

following General Foltin to the Battle of the Little Big Bucks – A town divided , people in other parts of Ohio having their property compromised. I could go on – YOU SIR ! HAVE A PECULIAR IDEA OF FUN?

It seems a lot of the FEES were apparently rolled over into “a Bond” What Bond would that be I wonder? Could it be the Bond for the Jail?

The legal bill from Anthony Calabrese and the law firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease was rolled into a bond sale .

ED NOTE Anthony Calabrese was jailed for his part in another scheme according to the FBI press release:

Anthony O. Calabrese, III was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay more than $200,000 for his role in a series of bribery schemes involving Jimmy Dimora, Frank Russo, J. Kevin Kelley, and others uncovered as part of the Cuyahoga County corruption investigation, federal law enforcement officials said.

Remember the “Jail that never was Bond“ Johnny Boy ? The Plain Dealer had an editorial on that subject .

Lorain, the largest city in Lorain County, has no jail. Its police send their criminal suspects to the county’s lockup. Some critics say the city of 68,000 people lacks a jail because Mayor Craig Foltin and Safety Director Craig Miller diverted available money that could have been used to replace the antiquated facility that was closed last year.

They say it was spent on City Hall improvements, downtown lighting, landscaping and the like.
So Johnny Boy the next time you decided to get us in bed together for some pillow talk – cause you good Ole Boys “just wanna have fun” – YOU FOOT THE BILL!!!

ED NOTE: This article among others as I had felt the ire of the editor in his editorials and on his front page did nothing to calm the savage breast… but no-one was going to threaten and squash me not whilst I could write!!!!!

Continued Part three 2005-2007

April 14, 2020 at 11:24 am 8 comments

Lest we Forget – Lorain Administration Forgot –

Well I finally am angry enough to write , because that is what it takes to get my fingers flying across a key board. This was not the Remembrance Day post I had planned .

Lorain’s tangible history is almost extinct. I have given up for the most part because the interest in tangible history is not a priority in Lorain. If it is not maintained, knocked down , bastardized or moved about , it becomes a photo in file at the Lorain Historical Society on 10th street.

Tomorrow is Armistice Day , all over the world but Lorain Ohio, the administration under Mayor Ritenauer, Safety Service Director Dan Given and Chief of Staff Phil Dore decided in their “wisdom” that a little park ” was not worth the upkeep and had no historical significance” . Now to fill in readers NOT from Lorain but elsewhere in the country and world that come to this blog.

In April 1922 this town decided to honor the Great War’s war dead and injured they put their heart , soul, money and pride into a little V shaped park , commissioned a statue and the town gave due honors :

Photos courtesy of Dan Brady

Please access Dan Brady’s blog for the “historical research ” and story about the little park that became Victory Park https://danielebrady.blogspot.com/2012/05/ninety-years-of-miss-victory.html

Photo Dan Brady

Apparently this little tiny memorial park demands too much upkeep and was lumped in with other “vacant and overgrown lots in their mind.

“The city’s position is that we own hundreds of parcels all over that we’ve acquired over time,” Given said. “Why are we sitting on these things, maintaining them, cleaning up junk when we can actually make it productive?”

Photo Lorain 365

So the wheels started going round and round and talks were ongoing between “Veterans Groups” not with any transparency apparently because I live with a veteran and I had to tell him what was happening .

Ironically it was to me “that woman” to whom Dan Given and the city came to get the information about the “historical significance” to that V and the statuary . I duly got them all the historical significance and the who is who and how a city remembered in 1922 and for the past 96 years.

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/victory-no-longer-empty-handed-v-for-volunteers/

How annoying then to read from the Morning Journal www. morningjournal.com today the Chief of Staff of the City of Lorain quote :

He said the city also went out of its way to ensure the property had no historical significance for WWI and found none.

“It just so happened, that whoever funded the statue, put it there,” Dore said.

Did this man read any of the information given objectively or did they just cut and paste to fit what the intended purpose to do away with a “nuisance” hand it over to someone else.

I can taste my anger at the moment. They reached out to Veterans groups after the DAV post reached out to them but not the community that Mayor Ritenauer was concerned about . The agenda for Monday Night’s City Council meeting slipped this item in

Item G- ord – authorizing the Safety /Service Director to advertise for bids for the sale of two parcels no longer needed for municipal purposes.

The city council then went into executive session to discuss this with council members – of course not only can’t the community at large attend this session but Council members in their wisdom just voted on the matter when they came back to the floor.

Dissenting Votes,

Mary Springkowski, Greg Argenti and Josh Thornsberry. the rest could not apparently decide to send this to at least a committee so the “community could have its say?

NO! in their impeccable timing of the Administration and Dore and Given one week before NOVEMBER the 11th they decided this little park ” Dore: had no historical significance for WWI and found none. LOOK AGAIN PHIL!!!!!!

Well I beg to differ, there are still relatives of the American Legion Commander instrumental in organizing those honors ( see the article from 1922) who take pride in the Historical Worth of that little Park. Once the city sells it to whomever the Veteran Organizations decide that park can be torn down ,statues moved to monument row at Lakeview Park where they are totally out of context. or destroyed . We Only have “their word” this won’t happen in the future and forgive me but that isn’t good enough

The plan isn’t to go in and disrupt the entire community and move monuments,” he said. “But when we have veterans groups that their sole purpose is to honor the people who lead us in war with their bravery, it’s our obligation to listen to them.”

Been down that road before : Once bitten twice shy!!!!!! and so glad Mr. Given when YOU were on City Council you didn’t “listen to the Vets Council” when they wanted to give away the 200 year old park on 4th to make way for “Condos”

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/veterans-memorial-park-thanks-for-the-memories/

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/07/31/veterans-memorial-park-faulty-memory/

The mayor said ‘hey, I don’t want a nasty storm over this whole issue. If it’s good for the community, it’s good for the community,’” Given said

quotes from www. morningjournal.com article Lorain Clarifies Victory Park Plans .

Well maybe if the “Community” had been informed though discussion there would not be the blog post, the social media outrage at this “deal”

Never has so much blather been uttered by so few to cause outrage to so many!!!!

There is a “shame in this ” that shouldn’t be forgotten. Oh it will be forgotten yesterdays news!!! Lorain and her “non historical worth will move on” BUT as long as there is an internet and this blog is archived ” the “memory” of this debacle of decisions” will live on!

NOTE: I welcome any op ed for the city administration…. and this situation has earned the not so coveted Notorious Opponents of Exactitude Award

November 10, 2018 at 3:50 pm 6 comments

To Stabilize or DE-stabilize that is the question Lorain County

UPDATE!!!! today the 29th of April I drove past the property that was the Olde English Parlour and Lorain Creamery and what a difference in just a few days. The property has had the mattresses and tires and junk cars on the sidewalk of last week removed and the place tidied and cleaned – Thank you City of Lorain

The 10 hundred block of 4th street especially 1026 has been mentioned in the past few days . https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2018/04/23/a-dangerous-situation-castration-of-justice-lorain/

The Incarceration House

Interesting home , a pretty home and now a mini jail ( in my opinion ) where ,according to court records ( Judge John Miraldi’s court), there is a history. Check out these court cases from Lorain County Court of Common Pleas and John Miraldi’s courtroom – You be the judge – and please check out the indictments

16CR093607 03/25/2016

Then there is court case : 16CA011062 which is apparently ( not being an attorney I have struggled with some of the documentation ) an appeal … but that date is 12/27/2016

BUT this “gentleman – of our neighborhood “ was arrested less than one month later with regard to a heroin bust at 1141 W 14th Street

http://www.morningjournal.com/article/MJ/20170124/NEWS/170129722

Jan 24, 2017 – A Lorain Police Department SWAT Team member watches the front of Matatanes Auto Repair and Towing, 1141 W. 14th St., as narcotics detectives search the business Jan. 24, 2017. The Lorain Police Department Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at the automotive repair shop and at 911 W. 14th …

Approach the bench – side bar-

Lorain readers will remember this lovely little business at 1141 W 14th used to be the Lorain Creamery / Olde English Parlour . How many of us enjoyed ice cream and a a meal at the Olde English Parlour?

https://sites.google.com/site/loraincreamery/home/production

http://danielebrady.blogspot.com/2009/07/lorain-creamery-scoop-5.html

Photo Dan Brady

http://www.chroniclet.com/news/2012/03/18/Fire-damages-former-Lorain-Creamery.html

and now???? Just drive by , I did – past the trash , junk and mattresses etc. Who let that facility end up the way it has , where are the inspections???? … From Lorain County Auditors Site – Owners Nicolaou Petros & Elena – tax bill mailed to 897 S Lake St. Amherst . Ohio

Oh yes! been down that road before – Whomever it was should have been fired in my opinion….. but I digress back to the courts:

Case number 17CR095700 ( back in John Miraldi’s Court ) 02/14/2017

You may well be asking WHY am I still banging on about this guy and his court case ? You see there is a little more history on this 10 hundred block.

In my opinion the County and the Courts have acquiesced to having this person serve time ( under house arrest) in our neighborhood thereby “destabilizing” a neighborhood that has its struggles and abuts the downtown which everyone is wanting to “bring back???

He wasn’t originally living in this neighborhood NO! he was arrested at 911 W 14TH ST LORAIN, OH 44052 owned by Barreto Cadido and Megdalia and whose tax bill of $6,273.98 doesn’t look to have been paid in 5 or 6 years .

These streets around downtown could be positive foot traffic for the big downtown renewal but what sort of foot traffic is being sent your way answer me that – Downtown Lorain?

In fact the county , under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program poured money into this block, taking down a derelict house that had stood abandoned for over forty years, upon the advise of another expensive “study” –

Thriving Communities Institute of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy- Sarah Ryzner, the institute’s director of projects, and Paul Boehnlein, GIS and conservation planning specialist had a lot to say starting with two doors down from the now “incarceration house”

The Icon House

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/16/welcome-to-fairyland-aka-in-the-pink-lorain-ohio/ and https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/away-with-the-fairies-living-in-lorain/

True to their word with much hoopla Lorain County Land Reutilization and Lorain County Port Authority came and took down the Icon House

“So under the auspices of the Lorain County Land Re-utilization Corp – Lorain County Port Authority
whose mission ” Improving Lorain County and Revitalizing Neighborhoods” the eyesore ,that was once a well-loved and cherished home, came down.”

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/history-demoed-another-rehabbed-pt-1/

This segues into the rest of the story because thanks to the Neighborhood “Stabilization” Program -the county and co – another historic property The Coleman House – 1031 W 4th was rehabbed see the story here …

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/history-demoed-another-rehabbed-pt3/

The county duly rehabbed the house- it was too far gone for an historic rehab, but supposedly helped with stabilizing the neighborhood. More than a few 10’s of thousands went into this “icon” project …We, in the street were pleased someone was recognizing the worthiness and rehabbing.

My question is will the county and courts get on the same page …. please make up their mind because using the “house across the road from the rehab house as a “16 hour a day place of incarceration” is not conducive to stabilizing this neighborhood .

And whilst we are at it and the cost to the “community”- that apparently has no say so in control- I asked the Judge John Mirald etc i- for which I never received and answer :

How much does a drug raid cost us the taxpayers , local, state and federal for our law enforcement to go on these raids as opposed to the amount of sentencing????

MAKE UP YOUR MIND LORAIN COUNTY – DO YOU WISH TO STABILIZE OR DESTABLIZE THIS STREET……… The community who have invested years have rights too………….. OR DO WE?????? Lorain County and Courts enquiring minds would like to know!

April 28, 2018 at 11:09 am 3 comments

My roses their guns – walk away from Lorain?

I don’t need a little Christmas- I need new leaves, blossoms, daffodils, tulips the sound of splashing water from the ponds, grass that is green . I need mother nature to take me away and screen me from those that dwell in the “hood”.

I can look at the snow drops peeking through and imagine I am far far away in a woodland dell instead of the “No Exit” that we are living. I use mother nature and her children – trees and shrubs flowers and vines to build a barrier between them and us.

I have been planted here because I chose a young, brown-eyed , perfect teeth of a guy and followed him to Lorain and this house. It has been home for over 40 years now. And the issues and problems with purchasing in a neighborhood that was transitioning has been well documented on this blog.

But in the past 10 years the bank dumps especially with the “Blue House” have lowered property values – caused the neighborhood that was at one point stable and going back to a more respectful quiet and family area to take a nose dive. 1121 W 4th now owned by one MARRERO – RAMOS MIGUEL . His “tenants” who obviously feel we should appreciate their foul language and loud – gun totting lifestyle as they hemorrhage it all over the rest of the block.

2012 I knew that this was going to be an issue from the very first day it sold…… after being dumped by the bank

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/banks-banking-on-lorain-business-of-blight-devaluing-lorain/

“Well First Federal Savings of Lorain I have seen and “heard ” the “people” who have come to see your listing . I spoke to a couple of them as the parked on the lawn next door under my dining room window- as I informed them they were parking on another’s property and that it wasn’t a driveway – they knew and didn’t care- they were buying the blue house? SIGH. Oh! and quite frankly I am dreading the rest of the summer thanks to you and your “business” decisions .

You, First Federal Saving of Lorain have, in my opinion, “dumped your unwanted housing” from $56,000 to 28 thousand (buy back )to 13,900 listing just two months later . NOTE sold for $12,500 – Great !!! And let us face it – it was your bank that made the decision just a few short years ago by giving a mortgage to someone unable to pay it in the first place that set in motion this chain of events.

You are responsible, in my opinion, for what will ripple out and effect this neighborhood. Don’t forget, you were also the mortgage holder and foreclosed on the other neighborhood house next door 1125, W. 4th street– now scheduled for demolition

AND then

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/05/17/money-where-your-mouth-is-part-one/

Flash forward 6 years later and many issues – the brown house was demolished- then came the highway cut through and parking wherever the needed to park… boats, trucks and vehicles. I suppose it was just a nuisance to me and mine that we had to live with this disrespectful behaviours.

We finally purchased the lot next door 1125 W 4th (2016) duly fenced , planted shrubs, trees, ponds and plants to make our little corner of the world a place for respite .

I argued there was hope for Lorain and this area , even knowing that it was an uphill battle due to business practices that have made the surrounding neighborhoods a concern for anyone wanting to open a restaurant or bring in an “up market” healthy business. It was going to be local and piecemeal at best. Through a 501C3 we have tried our best to bring something of which we can be proud to the area:

This particular house 1121, W 4th – a rental- with a plethora of tenants in the three bedroom 1 bath home- including a very loud lifestyle,. has a business in the form of a funeral home behind them – The fence behind the funeral home parking lot was knocked down and so now exposes those coming for viewing a view that I am sure isn’t what they were expecting :

March 11th found a “flock” of “yard birds” swilling alcohol comparing guns and shouting in the alley – and witnessed by more than me.

In the front of the house, across the street is a Charter School, and since these people live back to front their trash etc is always s there bidding a warm welcome to the parents dropping off their kids. March 18th

Trouble is we can nothing about the intimidation the “fear of ones safety” and IF WE don’t feel safe in our own street and back garden then does Lorain honestly think walking this street to the local opportunities or parking in the neighborhoods just blocks away is an option.

People read this blog who are not from Lorain- they use it to research the community – they come here to find out about Lorain-

This type of post does Lorain no good BUT it is the truth , it is what has happened all over this Ward 2 thanks to banks local , national and international ( all documented for years on this blog) , out-of-town LLC’s , multi property owners who don’t give a damn and a population that is being held hostage and quiet through fear of retaliation.

This past weekend March 18 my two little grandchildren coming to help their grandfather tidy the new lot – get ready for spring were subjected to a wild-eyed , irate witch calling them and their “Nog” – as she hauled herself on the flat-bed of a tow truck they have parked next to my fence – every form of filth she could muster from her large loud mouth.

The cause of this “in retaliation tirade” because I asked her on Sunday March 4th – as her music cranked up when she parked her vehicle in the alley doors wide open was vibrating every window in the neighborhood .

My request to turn it down was met with a torrent of Spanish peppered with “fu##” bitch .. was given the” talk to the hand” among the profanities pouring from her and I said either turn it down or I call the police –

“you go backa in your house, bitch I don’t need you… I gotta a new car and testing it out”

I said test it elsewhere – as she entered the house the tirade of go into your house mother- fu##er .

Back to this past Sunday – we were lighting the fire pit and preparing to have the kids roast hot dogs ( nice American pastime) apparently Tonya of the Tow Truck decided she no likka my smoke ( which I may add was NOT blowing east but south) and hence the abuse. Well I have news for her I am allowed to be in my own garden with my grandchildren .

Unfortunately , as I looked at the kids faces and what I was seeing , I became disenchanted , angry and fed up !

The littlest one now no longer wanted to be in the garden – he was frightened – they didn’t know what was happening- they aren’t exposed to this sort of behaviors with their neighbors and the oldest ( 8) saying:

Nog, I am sorry you have to live here–

it dawned on me he felt like I was in some sort of hellish world so unfamiliar to him… I was seeing our home through the eyes of an 8-year-old and I didn’t like what I was seeing there .

Yes so am I – I said

There is nothing I can do… This ward has become a “glut of yobos” gone too far – the tipping point tipped.

– and thanks to First Federal policies and devaluing the neighborhood ( in my humble opinion) by dumping this house for $12,500 I can’t even sell this property and my grandchildren will not want their inheritance- far from over the river to grandma’s house we go – it will be “dump it” for what we can get -I am not living there .

So Lorain you will lose again …. take that to the bank!!!!!

My roses against their guns ………. ain’t happening …

March 19, 2018 at 4:24 pm 2 comments

The Gatekeepers- Keeping us out!!!! Part One

They come in all shapes sizes – they populate the corners of the earth- the nameless , cubicle dwelling ,tickers of boxes. They are supposed to make life easier . They control our life and happiness, quietly making decisions as to our finances, healthcare, bill paying, pensions , entertainment , water, fuel , travel ( airlines , ships, ferries and trains) . Try to name one thing in our lives today that doesn’t go through the faceless gatekeepers.

We trust them to be there for us, especially when the gatekeepers work for government agencies, federal, state, local or for the crown, or republics. You see we the people are the employers of the gatekeepers. This is something many of them seems to forget .

http://see-service.com/the-customer-is-not-always-right/

Due to an upsurge of people getting annoyed with said gatekeepers – probably because by the time we the consumer/ client have already had a stressful day with others of their kind- we are warned with signs etc our annoyance won’t be tolerated and we can be thrown off planes, https://clark.com/travel/7-reasons-you-can-get-kicked-off-a-flight/

and in the case of Condor– a ferry service in the UK

https://www.bailiwickexpress.com/jsy/news/condor-react-after-threats-and-abuse-staff/?t=i#.Wo2AbUmosc8

” The ferry company – beset by problems since it launched its new £50 million Condor Liberation vessel on the Jersey-UK route last May – is putting up posters to remind passengers that abusive behaviour will not be tolerated.

And they say that some passengers have threatened to go to the media with their complaints if unreasonable demands aren’t met. Condor say that means they are now questioning whether much of the criticism they have faced is legitimate or not.

However it seems Condor is less than perfect in and of itself, which may explain customer’s irritation and irritable behavior-

Related News

Condor Rapide return from dry-dock plagued with further delays

16 Feb 2018

Amended Condor sailings for half-term weekend

08 Feb 2018

Condor pulls plug on bid for inter-island route

25 Jan 2018

High winds cause travel disruption

It wouldn’t be fair for me to pick on poor old Condor they are just the tip of the iceberg when it now comes to “be nice!! no matter the provocation OR ELSE! customer service

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/buyer-beware-europe-plane-train-boats-autos-hotels/

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/trains-and-boats-and-planes/

TEN YEARS AGO I WARNED AND POINTED UP THE – THEY HAVE YOU WHERE THEY WANT YOU GATEKEEPERS

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2008/10/19/where-do-i-begin-and-how-to-restart/

But above all “don’t complain, don’t moan and don’t get angry” I have learned that the “muppets” have power the power to decide whether you fly or not….

If you’ve ever wanted to end a complaint letter — or phone call, for that matter — with the words “I’LL NEVER FLY YOUR AIRLINE AGAIN!” or “I’LL SEE YOU IN COURT!” then let me offer a little advice. Don’t. Threats won’t just guarantee your failure. You could also end up on a company’s blacklist (oh yes, they have them)

French side of the Euro Star– Was it my fault there was a fire in the tunnel days previously- was it my fault they messed around with our tickets, tried to separate a pregnant daughter , mother and father, and then put them on a train with the incorrect destination for two of them. When we tried to explain in “English” we were met with the “language stall” and finally when I had worked out what the “employee was saying” ( high school French) we were then being denied from boarding any train PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS A PUSHY AMERICAN . All trains were suddenly full!!! WE WERE TOLD TO LEAVE THE STATION!!!

However , my beautiful daughter then had to turn on the charm , do the sympathy and blue eyes ploy give the “gatekeeper his due reverence” and got us on the train , which was going to our proper destination and was 3/4 EMPTY!!!

You learn to shut up because we have learned not to put our hands in the fire or upset the gatekeepers because the new power of claiming they feel threatened or loosely interpret the term verbal abuse- without benefit of any advocate for you the client/customer/ citizen , or the I am not paid to deal with irate people’s attitude- errrrr yes you are!!!!!if you are in the gatekeeper customer service industry.

You are held in the gatekeepers grip- locally I have been through the hell of the gatekeepers of government – I am sure I am on their black list –

as one Ms. Rosario of a local federal office stated to me – she wasn’t prepared to listen to my situation- probably because they were

“short-staffed and she knew better than I the protocol …

I say that because that is how the conversation started – “we are very short-staffed today so I want to get this done.….and her closing statement to me that day Dec 18th 2017 AFTER I had to wait 5 weeks for the phone call….

” I will not deal with you “

HMMMMMMMM well SHE WAS RIGHT!!! she wasn’t dealing with ME- NO! she was responding to the person who was scared to make waves incase the punishment for my actions would be taken out on a 99-year-old lady

However , I decided at three o’clock in the morning to Hell with it they would now deal with ME!!

The ME that writes, the me that gets on a soap box, the me that is nearing her sell by date and has hit bottom emotionally, the me of the big mouth……… the ME that by her attitude of “I will not deal with you” – denied ME and the 99-year-old “due process and the right to appeal”…. That is the ME to be dealt with…

One of the main problems – whether it is paying your water bill ( locally) this has become a trip up the River of Irate , getting cable TV or getting answers from any of the gatekeepers is – they are presumably DEAF!

They are the “pseudo listeners” – they have their “protocol of which boxes need to be ticked ” and that is it end of story- the computer says…….. and nothing you can do will make them stray from that course and think out of the “computer box”.

And there is more to come …………………

Free Speech by Chris Ritchey

February 21, 2018 at 4:36 pm 1 comment

Lorain’s Housing- owners of the dirty diapers- Part 3

And the clog in the system keeps on coming .

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/10/22/lorains-housing-the-owners-of-the-dirty-diaper-pt1/

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/11/06/lorains-housing-owners-of-the-dirty-diapers-pt-2/

You would think , this house at 1348 West Erie, after being front page in local media ( print and electronic) predatory property holders investigated by all and sundry ( including the NY Times) https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/08/26/when-vision-is-cloudy-property-holding-llcs-ny-times/ we would not find ourselves back to square one.

Touted as the poster child by realtors as being a negative because of the amount of money having to be put in escrow ( Point of Sale) as being a detriment to home sales in Lorain.

Lorain house sets record with $45,750 escrow requirement by R. Payerchin June 2014 –

http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20140620/lorain-house-sets-record-with-45750-escrow-requirement

Let us revisit once again the housing court history – First up after the dumping of the home by Federally backed mortgage company Fannie Mae to Kaja Holdings for ZERO dollars and NO Point of Sale Inspection, Fannie Mae acquired the property Aug. 2013


Sale Date:	8/5/2013
Sale Amount:	$95,116.00
Conveyance:	2013003968
Grantor:	KRAUSE TODD
Grantee:	FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION

it was purchased February 2015 from Fannie Mae 1 year and 1 month after Point of Sale was introduced to Lorain

Sale Date: 2/3/2015
Sale Amount: $0.00
Conveyance: 2015090327
Grantor: FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION
Grantee: KAJA HOLDINGS 2 LLC

Many trips to housing court and then finally the lawyer (after much publicity) arrived on scene only to be given “time” grace time to fulfill their promises- little discussions at the table to the side with the ” Lorain City Prosecutor ” who agree with giving the benefit of the doubt on more than one occasion ( sigh) First up for Kaja Holdings was attorney

JIANG, LEI
http://eb5info.com/eb5-attorneys/35-lei-jiang
From what I could gather that day of August 12th,2015, the attorney Jaing, Lei was given another court date of September 9th to remedy and or update the situation

Then a lot of toing and froing – another continuance this time December 9th,2015 nearly a year in housing court https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2015/10/22/housing-court-and-you-lorain-continued/

Fast forward to April 2016 5 months after the December 9th continuance another court date and another attorney this time

Mr. James White http://www.fkwdlaw.com/attorneys/james-r-white/

( who started a dialogue on this blog ) https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/04/07/plump-lady-plummets-and-the-housing-trip-continues/

I had contact with Mr. White through emails about 1348 West Erie and what his clients proposed to do : In fact August 3rd 2016 found the following email :

Hi Loraine- Several of the violations to the exterior have been repaired. The City’s required escrow to perform the repairs has been deposited with an escrow agent with repairs to follow.

Great news “finally something happening BUT…. looking through the paperwork on the home of 1348 West Erie PDF found here : 1348

Mr. White did get that escrow “lowered” from $45, 750 . to $16,680 and then lo and behold the property changed hands AGAIN ( twice – albeit to the same man but different LLC’s- Mr. Farah Issa and Kaja Holdings got their escrow money back!!!!

Mr. Issa was duly notified he had to assume the escrow amount and he apparently did according to the PDF file pages 34,35,36 of the PDF .

and

Certainly Mr Issa was not unaware of the issues with the house . Contacting the BHP Dept I received this email via Mr. Given SS Director (my bold):

Attached is the file for 1348 West Erie Ave. Page 34,35 and 36 of this document is the current hold of escrow for the property from the new buyer. The escrow was released back to Kaja once the funds were placed for the new buyer. This property actually transferred to Prosperity Investment Fund LLC and then again to FICC Realty Holdings – same agent on the Corporations though (Carmen Camino). They were supposed to be in court on October 11th (the summons shows service on court site) but they did not come to the hearing. I must assume that Law will attempt service again (since they won’t issue warrant on corporation).

And yet after the Demolition Board of Appeals pronounced sentence on October 19th, 2017

http://www.morningjournal.com/article/MJ/20171019/NEWS/171019306

because of the numerous complaints – Fannie Mae, Kaja , etc etc. and lack of action on this property ( well apart for the legal eagles that is) Mr. Issa showed at the November 16th, 2017 Demo Appeals Board ( even though his property was not on the agenda)

as covered by Rick Payerchin of the Morning Journal

“Owner makes plea for house that has been Lorain ‘problem for decade’”

http://www.morningjournal.com/article/MJ/20171117/NEWS/171119547

and HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!!! you would have thought Mr. Issa would have gone by his property and at least secured the doors to the garage and little out building ( cottage)when he was in town.

The only ones , it seems to me in my opinion, making headway with 1348 is the attorneys , it certainly has been a fairly lucrative proposition for the past months and now years.

We, Lorain, are allowing this behavior. Where is our Law Dept.? They, including Law Director Pat Riley, are supposed to represent us, fight for us , this home , once loved , still loved has been left rotting whilst the legal system floundered around like the last dying gasps of that fly. Those who represent the legal aspect are accountable for the last 2 years of this history and if this is the way we proceed legally in Lorain then we need to address that aspect!!!

One , unless they have researched the disappointing process of legalisms, inspections, housing courts, thinks it is easy but trust me on this after years of the “history ” of 1348 – we, the public are naïve and welcoming the big fat spider into our parlour to devour our quality of housing, buildings and life. It is the biggest foulest filling of the diaper yet and it oozes out a putrid stench ….Picture: Arleevector)

November 19, 2017 at 6:06 pm 5 comments

Lorain’s Housing -owners of the dirty diapers- Pt 2

DEJA VU the dirty diaper is reeking 3620 Clifton November 3rd 2017

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/10/22/lorains-housing-the-owners-of-the-dirty-diaper-pt1/

October 19th- 2017 another year another Demolition Board of Appeals . (9:00 am) Hours of sitting scribbling notes and feeling filthy – hundreds of photos – disgusting photos of human and animal waste, homes that had been built with families in mind left rotting and decaying , carpets heaving with mold and fleas

and heaven knows what else that was breeding in those structures. The mold in this home had attached itself not only to the surface areas but has literally compromised the wood and structure of the home. Well what do you expect when it had been open to the elements for years.

In other properties , stairs to the 2nd floor so dangerous that even the squatters had brought in a step-ladder to gain access, whole floors missing as they had been torn up to burn in a partially working fireplace. Even more disgusting –for me at least – is that human beings were actually living, partying and doing drugs in amongst the human waste, mummified cats and some more recently dead animals , rat feces everywhere, a drive up window where apparently the dealer of drugs sat as his/her customers made their purchases. Hypodermic needles , remnants of alcohol containers, food littered every horizontal surface. One home, although a small tree had grown through a window awning, was not in the same terrible state therefore the Demo Board took the home off the list voluntarily.

There is a sub culture in this town using these nauseating dwellings as evidenced by the insides of these structures. These structures are obviously deemed safe from prying eyes by those who frequent the vomitus homes for their illegal and dangerous dealings because no one in their right mind or any sort of consideration of their own worth would enter these places let alone sleep on an excruciatingly filthy couch surrounded by human feces and animal waste, rats and fleas – It just doesn’t bear thinking about .

It is no wonder those that had to inspect had to wear masks and environmental protection gear. The Lorain Police Dept. having to check to make sure the properties were at least free of the dangerous human elements. Hundreds of photos later I was thankful the smells of those places were missing from the presentation.

Everyone was sworn in who intended to speak . I didn’t take the oath for once I wanted to observe and keep my mouth shut……. and then Deja Vu. One of the homes 4310 Meister Road – empty and decaying for 5-7 years

Since this was an appeals board, people could appeal the property being put on the demo list. A property LLC representative came before the board offering $70,000 to save this house. There was much discussion and to the needs of the house, all which apparently could be rectified. Oh that is a positive one would think : So why was I sending out panicked mind messages to the Board members ( not having been sworn in) NO! NO! please NO!!

Back I was transported to another demo board of appeals 3620 Clifton on January 2013.

January 2013 Photo Lorain 365

1. We now know that a property 3620 Clifton purchased in 2011 after five years of being open to the elements was deemed bad enough to be issued a search warrant in Sept 2012-

2. Declared a public nuisance and uninhabitable – the property listed for demolition ( along with two neighboring properties ) Jan 4th 2013

3.Given a reprieve because the “Duo of Will Do” ( Barbee and Johnson) owners pleaded before the Demolitions appeals Board for more time a week later Jan 11th 2013 by that same board . A board that had doubts caved to the “give em a break mentality”

You can find the series and reports ( all documented ) https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/a-tale-of-two-the-why-land-of-iz-not-woz/

The fact the gentleman at the mic was well meaning didn’t change my mind. You see he had not purchased or even had letter of intent to purchase from the supposed owner of the property ( another of those wonderful banks) –

he did not have a business plan or list of contracted subcontractors showing the intent to do the work or even a check as a gesture of intent.

As the representative of the legal dept. spoke those words (paraphrasing because I was instantly sent back to another time -2013) “we can always re-inspect……. aaaaaahhhhhhhhh”and FAMOUS last words from 3620 Clifton

“Mr. Cantu 2013 : Yes! because we could cite him on property maintenance if he doesn’t continue to go on. NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOO please no!

Because those same words uttered led to 3620 sitting for another 4 years and having to start the process all over again…….. see the photo at the top of this post. The Statute of Limitations ran out.

When we (Lorain 365 Blog) https://lorain365.com/ researched the process of 3620 Clifton , we found that inspections are not all what they are cracked up to be . For instance for the inspectors etc to go through the inside of these properties there is a lot of legal procedures. The city has to get a search warrant. ( these are for these abandoned homes).

We found the properties could only be inspected from the street or neighboring property ( with permission) in the case rehabbing a property ( residential) unless the inspectors were “invited in by the owners”.

Should electrical or plumbing permits are pulled they can fall under inspection process.

BUT what if people don’t ask them in or pull those permits – and that does happen a lot believe me – happened to the house next door to me on both sides – one is now demoed). You see not everyone follows the rules ( if they did we wouldn’t have these structures in the first place!!!!

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DEE/otherzoonosis/Mold.htm

I was very interested in the mold abatement – and it seems an unscrupulous builder, contractor could very well come in spray the bleach , chemicals put up new drywall change out the carpets and Voila…..you are non the wiser…… unless the Building Dept are asked in………. Yes I can see that happening with especially the out of town LLC’s – I don’t think so!!!!! From the City of Lorain BHP dept.

As to going in and inspecting the removal of mold etc. the Building Department has to be scheduled for an inspection. If the owner would like us to be out there for that inspection – we would go. In other words – we just can’t show up and expect to be invited in.

As far as the electrical, plumbing, heating etc. All of that work (the rough in inspections, undergrounds) will probably require permits (any new wiring, furnace/ac, water lines etc. require permits). Those inspections are encompassed within the Building Permit (and required Building Code regulations).

We, the law abiding citizens and property owners , are not protected by a system that has no accountability – and so it continues – back to 1348 West Erie next time …….. Welcome to my parlor (Lorain) said the fly to the spider – slice us and dice up

To Be Continued

November 6, 2017 at 5:02 pm 7 comments

Lorain’s housing- the owners of the dirty diaper- PT1

Come into my parlor said the FLY to the SPIDER – Lorain being the name of the FLY and the SPIDER -???)

Notorious Opponents of Exactitude

I am not an inspector, I am not a builder, I am not a politician , I am not a legal eagle , ( although in some cases around this “wonderland” the eagle fails to fly )I admit I have no qualifications what so ever pertaining to “housing” I am however an “expert taxpayer”. I didn’t come down with yesterday’s shower and I am not a complete fool.

I have written about housing in this city for years on various blogs, been picked up by national and local media- brought situations to the fore- and still the same behaviours when it comes to “predatory property LLC’s “continue …

Back to Lorain City Hall on October 19th and the Demolition Board of Appeals – ( why ? when I said I was done!) because the icon house of thousands of my words and documentation was on the list. 1348 West Erie

In 2012 I wrote about this house situated in one of the better areas and also along the main thoroughfare into what is called “Lorain’s downtown, business , entertainment, waterfront, social service and law offices abound District“-

In 2012, as I wrote about this home, we thought the house was one of the oldest , historically speaking in Lorain according to Ohio Historic Inventory

only to do some detective work to see the original house on that site was destroyed by the 1924 Lorain Tornado . After the tornado a home was built over the original foundation – https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/lorains-history-mystery-the-wurmser-house-a-tale-of-two-houses/

It wasn’t another tornado causing this home to be on the demo list.There is a blockage in the bowels of the building housing and planning system and Lorain’s right to decent housing .

The system is clogged, broken and the cause of a lot of Lorain’s housing ills

Cartoon Source – Sannimas – https//www.sswm.com

So who or what Lorain City / Lorain County Dept is helping to fill the dirty diaper of decay , to bugger up the system causing the foul stench to permeate Lorain’s older neighborhoods , streets and if something is smelling in Denmark

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”

it is positively putrid ( in my opinion) in Lorain!

The social media will have discussions of conspiracy, kickbacks and anecdotal evidence- to be fair that has happened – ( William Desvari Chief Building Inspector under Mayor Craig Foltin) comes to mind .. Those decisions made during that time have resurfaced just a few weeks ago

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/08/25/am-i-bovvered-lorain-fire-in-the-belly/

The mere fact reports stated from the Chronicle Telegram Newspaper that earlier in another administration ( Foltin) “inspections were “case closed” by an administration that was “landlord friendly” on this building.
http://www.chroniclet.com/Local-News/2017/08/07/Section-of-Broadway-remains-closed-until-Thistle-Building-is-razed.html

http://www.morningjournal.com/article/MJ/20120427/NEWS/304279955 The date on that particular article was around the same time the 1348 House documentation was starting to be written.

Even before that 2012 article the rot was setting in , the “waste product “of”friendly inspections” brokehomes started to clog the flow. Yes we did have the issues of fraud etc in the Building Dept.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/07/lorains_chief_building_officia.html

Desvari was placed on paid administrative leave in February while police investigated accusations of accusations of dereliction of duty, conflict of interest and issuing improper building permits against him. He was hired in 2003 for the $63,000-a-year job.

In 2004, he was charged with falsifying his job application for not disclosing felony convictions of fraud, forgery, theft and passing bad checks, all from Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court between 1987 and 1990.

And the tale continued http://www.chroniclet.com/news/2012/08/06/Former-Lorain-official-dies-while-awaiting-trial.html

You see it wasn’t that he was a fraud and a thief – known to have issues, criminal charges and legal issues but the fact that HE WAS HIRED by the Foltin Admin in the first place is my issue . And WHY when the initial reports of his “iffy ” resume reached us through the media – where was our outrage -why didn’t we use our collective voices to say NO! this isn’t right?

Did not Mayor Foltin, at the time, do due diligence he was and is a very intelligent person, you mean to say he did not check the on line university for the degree of Billy Boy was well pretty much non existent. Well the diaper may not have been full but it was fast becoming smelly. There were certainly enough red flags back then but it seems the Foltin Administration REPUBLICAN- 2000-2008 were red / green color blind.

Of course we also had issues with the next administration this time DEMOCRAT- 2008-2012 Mayor Krasienko – and that is still on going – a Safety Service Director – Robert Gilchrist ( also a resume that had flags) who was less than desirable and one of whose participation in the loan program is still under investigation by the FBI- Photo source Gilchrist’s Mug shot ( but I ask you who is really the “mug” in all this????

http://www.chroniclet.com/news/2016/07/08/FBI-probes-loan-program-by-Lorain-Development-Corp-ran-for-city.htmlhttps://thatwoman.wordpress.com/tag/robert-gilchrist-service-director-lorain/

Of course the whole 5th floor of city hall was also now starting to reek from the odours as to those in charge- we would be remiss if we didn’t mention Sandy Prudoff – controversial head of Community Development for many , many years ……… http://www.cleveland.com/countyincrisis/index.ssf/2012/06/sanford_prudoff_former_lorain.html

Sanford Prudoff, former Lorain official, pleads guilty to conspiracy; will testify against Anthony O. Calabrese III

found also to be entangled with Attorney Calabrese who worked for the law firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

This law firm was brought into the city also under the Foltin administration (according to Lorain City documentation)

http://www.morningjournal.com/article/mj/20131118/NEWS/131119348

Cleveland law firm to pay Lorain $3 million (with video)

http://www.cleveland.com/countyincrisis/index.ssf/2013/11/anthony_o_calabreses_former_la.html

You can see why people in chat rooms and face book pages call out corruption and kickbacks no matter who is in city hall or on city council . The smell of those involved hasn’t gone away and lingers on those who now work in the city environment and I can see the diaper being filled .

The smell oozing through the political cracks did start to attract attention and although we can “hopefully” eventually catch those that add to our decaying housing, decaying building who are found to be crooks -gaining money and power through nefarious means –they are the least of our worries .

No, it is my opinion what is happening now to fill the diaper , which is causing the blockage in the “system” of decent housing is far more dangerous- yes money and a lot of it is involved , but LEGALLY – which is even more horrendous than all the fraudsters we have had though the years. WE ARE INVITING THEM IN TO THIS COMMUNITY – we are the little fly inviting in the great big money grabbing salivating spider and its enablers!

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/08/26/when-vision-is-cloudy-property-holding-llcs-ny-times/

TO BE CONTINUED ……………..

October 22, 2017 at 4:09 pm 2 comments

Older Posts

That Woman’s Weblog

Posts filed under ‘notorious opponents of exactitude’

October 3rd- No LIMITS-Chapter 21-Chris Ritchey

Morning Journal- Punishing Press-Part 4

Morning Journal Lorain, The Punishing Press- Part two

Lorain mayor’s gamble paid off with casino deal

Lest we Forget – Lorain Administration Forgot –

To Stabilize or DE-stabilize that is the question Lorain County

My roses their guns – walk away from Lorain?

The Gatekeepers- Keeping us out!!!! Part One

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