By Roldo Bartimole
Mayor Frank Jackson has had a slow start.
That’s not a criticism.
He’s a most careful guy. It’s showing.
A veteran of many city administrations agrees about the slow start. However, he does not believe it will hurt.
“He is very sincere and I’ve enjoyed his demeanor so far,” says this high official.
“I think what I have observed so far that I like best is that he asks questions and actually listens when you respond. So he’s engaging in that way,” he adds.
However, Jackson is not averse to taking chances. Naming of Martin Flask as Safety Director is an example. Jackson has a white police chief and now a white safety director.
Although he’s fighting a new state law that would do away with residency, Jackson named Flask, who lives out of Cleveland. (Flask was a police officer before the residency law was enacted). Because the police unions advocated abolishing the residence law, Jackson set himself up for criticism.
I don’t think he cares. He cares about what he believes is the right move.
Jackson was criticized for the choice because Flask is white.
Politically, that might ordinarily hurt a new mayor. However, I think people are tired of traditional politics that follow decision-making based on the fear of racial backlash. Other politicians might worry or be frightened about such a move. Jackson, I don’t believe, worries about this.
He’s convinced, I think, that results are what people want.
Jackson’s State of the City speech at the City Club was a perfect example of a man not worried about critics.
“I’m just standing here running off the mouth,” Jackson said, comparing himself to other mayors and their City Club speeches.
His run-of-the-mouth was brief and absent the city-on-the-hill promises, though he does say that he wants to make Cleveland “great” again.
His speech conservatively was probably half the length of Mayor Jane Campbell’s and a third of Mayor Michael White’s traditional annual boasts. Jackson’s speech was a seven-page, double-spaced presentation.
His speech was nuts and bolts. It was absent fanciful language.
He warned a budget shortfall, a $14 million problem of a $503-millon city budget. Jackson said he address the discrepancy by utilizing a 2005 carryover and decertifying purchases not actually made. He also asked cutbacks by departments that would save $15-million a year.
He signaled cuts in major projects. There was no beautiful talk about lakefront development.
“Basically, our credit card was maxed out,” Jackson said. The city doesn’t have the fiscal resources to meet promises of capital dollar expenditures, he said.
That should worry anyone interested in a new convention center. A convention center would require heavy bonded debt. He did not even mention the subject. More than likely another mayor would have tossed a bone at least to the City Club audience typically made up of people who don’t live in the city. Nor was there any talk of a 50-year lakefront plan.
Ignoring grandiose plans, Jackson set a different tone – doing small government activities that effect residents.
He accented a philosophy that argues against tax abatements and other “incentives,” that I would call give-aways to developers. The theory suggests these incentives attract development to the city.
“We are spending too much time, energy and money fighting amongst ourselves for jobs and industry,” Jackson said, referring to cities trying to steal businesses from other cities with abatements. He also suggested sharing tax revenue when a firm moves from one city to another in the region.
He asked for a total ban on income tax abatements. Businesses locating in Cleveland, particularly downtown, were eligible for reimbursement of half their income tax. Campbell offered tax incentives to business bringing 25 new employees up to half return on new income taxes for five years.
A city so short on cash can’t afford to continue to allow tax income to escape into the pockets of wealthy developers.
Jackson should assign someone to quantify exactly how much Cleveland has given to developers in abatements and other incentives. Then he will have the ammunition to fight corporate interests that undoubtedly will fight any cuts in abatements.
He called for “educational excellence,” and for a “regional approach to education.” I could see Jackson calling the bluff of surrounding suburbs on this question. He mentioned regional magnet schools. That would be a way to integrate city and suburban kids and step up educational achievement.
He noted, “There is no panacea” for the city’s problems.
Last week, police conducted a round up of children absent from school and on the street. That’s another signal Jackson intends to set higher standards and take action to enforce them.
That seemed a first action as he promised in the speech. It also was setting the tone he seems to want to convey to city residents.
“Safety in Cleveland schools and in our neighborhoods is essential,” he said.
Jackson continued: “We will send the message that we as a community have zero tolerance for violence and crime… If you commit a crime in Cleveland, you will go to jail.”
These are words clearly desired by Cleveland residents.
Jackson went on, “We will not allow violence and crime to rule the streets, while our law-abiding citizens are locked in their homes in fear.”
Jackson ordered an increase of 30 to 35 security jobs in the schools with a number of these in mobile gang units.
I’d say that the slow start might be a good start if he can make – by inspiration or imposition – city workers believe he’s serious about his motives and his aims.
One guesses that the Plain Dealer is saving money by putting out a reduced Monday newspaper. It might be better instead if the Pee Dee sent out a news release every Monday telling subscribers to read the Tuesday paper.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Roldo Bartimole roldoATadelphia.net (:divend:)