Real County Reform

Anyone with an ounce of brains could have seen this one coming a mile away: Carping and complaining over real reform, especially when it hits in the wallet. Here's the deal: Sheriff Bob Reid wants to save the county millions of dollars by housing all county prisoners in his own lockup, rather than renting jail bed space from surrounding municipalities. Over the last decade the bill has been $60 million. Sounds reasonable, especially since the county jail isn't overcrowded, right?

Hey, not so fast... the mayors of the suburbs that stand to lose money are now screaming. The simple fact is, catching and locking up petty criminals - say for having a roach in the ashtray - has been big business for cities and cops alike.

Not only do the municipalities make out by essentially running a flea-bag hotel (that we, the citizens are paying for with our tax dollars) but cops can make overtime by going back and forth to court on petty cases... again at taxpayer expense.

But now that real reform is about to happen, and they’re about to lose what amounts to a sweetheart deal, all of a sudden it’s a “public safety issue.” Sure, you know how dangerous those weed-heimers can be.

Kind of reminds me of this time back in the 70’s … I was at this real hip party in New York City. A dude passes a joint to this square-looking babe he didn’t know, and, with eyes widened, she loudly exclaimed, “Are you crazy? I’m not about to stick that thing in my arm!”

The public should get ready to be hammered with all sorts of over-the-top stories about how the sky will fall on us and criminals will run rampant in our streets (as if they aren’t already!) if we don’t continue to allow suburban lockups to continue to pimp the public. Hey, who wouldn’t want to own a hotel that was always on full, and if the “guests” complained you could tell them to go fuck themselves.

Sweet, huh?

Historic Black Golf Course in Jeopardy

Fifty years before Tiger Woods (who has since gone down in flaming scandal) made his much-heralded debut as a professional athlete, and went on to become the preeminent face of color in the virtually all-white world of professional golf, PGA Life Member William James (Bill) Powell of East Canton, Ohio, made a mark on the sport that was just as significant, even if it was far less publicized. He became the only African American to build, own and operate his own golf course. He died from complications of a stroke at age 93 on Dec. 31, 2009 in his hometown.

A decorated World War II veteran, Powell returned from the war and — like so many other soldiers of color who had put their lives on the line fighting for their country, only to face discrimination upon coming home — was denied permission to play on all-white golf courses because of his race. But, rather than give in to injustice, he built his own course in East Canton in 1946, and welcomed all people to come out and play … regardless of race or gender. As current PGA of America President Jim Remy stated upon learning of Powell’s death, “He was born with a fire within his heart to build on his dream. In the process, he made golf a beacon for people of all color.”

However, Clearview, the golf course he dedicated his life to (which, also, is on the National Register of Historic Places) is now in jeopardy of being destroyed because of a surface coal mine company, Buckeye Industrial Mining Co. that has plans to blast and strip the property that abuts this national treasure.

Powell became the teacher-coach of his daughter, Renee Powell, who competed from 1967 to 1980 on the LPGA Tour and later served as a head professional at a golf club in England. She now operates Clearview. “It’s imperative that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) deny this permit,” she said. “If the current plans move forward it will be the death-knell of this institution.” Powell, who earned a PGA of America membership in 1996, followed in her father’s footsteps as a promoter of the game and was the 2003 PGA First Lady of Golf. She continued by saying, “My father made his mark for equality, fair play and justice by building his dream, and I believe that God wants people to know about the mark he made on this nation, and that He wants me to preserve it.”

Current plans call for blasting operations to be conducted Monday through Saturday, April 22 to September 21, 2010, from 7am to 7:30 pm, and from September 22 to April 21, 2011, from 8am to 5pm. “This blasting will destroy business at Clearview,” said Powell, “since no golfers will be coming out to play with all the noise and dust.”

However, she faces an uphill battle since, to date, the ODNR has never denied a permit for coal mining in the State of Ohio. Nonetheless Powell plans to mount a vigorous campaign to prevent Clearview from being destroyed.
You can send letters of support to:

Renee Powell
P.O. Box 30196
East Canton, OH 44730
cv46@aol.com

From Cool Cleveland correspondent Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com. Frazier's From Behind The Wall: Commentary on Crime, Punishment, Race and the Underclass by a Prison Inmate is available again in hardback. Snag your copy and have it signed by the author by visiting http://www.frombehindthewall.com.