It has hit written all over it. Not the first time cars have turned up without their owners. Two specific hits that are reminiscent of this: the Carabbia hit and the Moceri hit in Akron. Bodies were never found, just their cars.
Hoping for the best, but it is not the first time in history this situation has happened.
So, basically in Democratic primaries the candidates have to do all of the work the Republicans have to do for a General Election. Door to door, going to events, actually campaigning, etc. etc. etc. Not to mention SPEND MONEY.
In light of that reality, then I am 100% against Democratic endorsements. Put the time in and do the work. It keeps you honest.
Personally, I think if the Mob came back, most people would walk in stride right behind them again. It makes me sad to say that, but we haven't come that far in 10 years.
What is even more unfortunate is when the FBI did clean house, we traded one brand of criminal for another. At least when the Mob was here, the violence we have seen in the city of Youngstown was not nearly what it has become today.
If crime has become better or worse is a matter of opinion, but I'm not necessarily sure we traded up when we cleaned house judging by the crime situation we face ourselves with now.
Until the ex-girlfriend of one of the hitters called in a tip, Paul Gains and the FBI had absolutely nothing in the way of leads on that case on Christmas Eve 1996.
I respect Paul for taking a few bullets, but at the end of the day he got lucky in both the hit job and the fact a lead turned up out of nowhere.
The FBI was ultimately what got the Mob here in Mahoning County, and it was pretty much in spite of themselves. Assuming we all believe the Mob actually left here, because I think that is up for debate.
I don't think it is that simple. I think that is a Reader's Digest version of a romanticized account, but again, I don't think it is as simple as that.
For the record, I called the Secretary of State and was told specifically that on issues such as these unions can give directly from their general treasury, AKA union dues.
Now, if you wish to challenge me, call and ask for yourselves. Because if it was union PACs giving, they'd be subject to campaign contribution limits, which I assure you no limits were adhered to.
I feel sorry for you people that you are completely ignorant to how things work. I'm not even angry how vicious and full of venom you are--that is a culmination of generations that has grown more vicious over time. But when the SOS Office says unions dues can be spent unlimited on state issues, I will take their word for it.
But, please leave the personal attacks at the door next time before you go jumping on me not knowing about campaign finance loopholes and the campaign finance laws. I've been doing campaigns for over ten years and have done campaign finance half of that time. When you've put the time in and know how the laws work, get back to me.
Fd, Issue 3 means EVERYTHING. If we were just talking about Issue 2, it would be one thing.
But....how exactly does Issue 2 go down and Issue 3 NOT go down? If the Democrats came out to vote, and I can assure you they did in massive numbers, why did Issue 2 fail and Issue 3 pass?
I will give you the easy answer: Democrats like unions, but they don't like Obama here. When Republican Issue 3 passes in Mahoning County, I think that is more revealing than Issue 2 failing. Issue 2 was SUPPOSED to fail here, and yet those same Democrats voted down Obamacare in huge numbers.
If I was Obama, I'd be taking a real hard look at this election.
As far as stopping, I am calling shennanigans on Issue 2. I called you liars before, and I'm calling you liars now. This election was about justifying the existence of public employee unions and the campaign money train (which the Secretary of State's office did say union dues fund these issue campaigns, not PACs), not because it had the interests of its members at heart.
And another thing: I don't want to hear anymore about corporate lobbying and unions playing victim. The campaign finance reports speak for themselves--$17 million to $6 million? Sounds like the unions continue to pull the wool over the eyes of the Ohio citizens, and what is worse, most of that money came from D.C., not from Ohio.
Avalon Gardens closes; owner still missing
It has hit written all over it. Not the first time cars have turned up without their owners. Two specific hits that are reminiscent of this: the Carabbia hit and the Moceri hit in Akron. Bodies were never found, just their cars.
Hoping for the best, but it is not the first time in history this situation has happened.
January 24, 2012 at 10:42 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Running for office is tough
So, basically in Democratic primaries the candidates have to do all of the work the Republicans have to do for a General Election. Door to door, going to events, actually campaigning, etc. etc. etc. Not to mention SPEND MONEY.
In light of that reality, then I am 100% against Democratic endorsements. Put the time in and do the work. It keeps you honest.
January 20, 2012 at 7:25 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Gains’ re-election is not guaranteed
Personally, I think if the Mob came back, most people would walk in stride right behind them again. It makes me sad to say that, but we haven't come that far in 10 years.
What is even more unfortunate is when the FBI did clean house, we traded one brand of criminal for another. At least when the Mob was here, the violence we have seen in the city of Youngstown was not nearly what it has become today.
If crime has become better or worse is a matter of opinion, but I'm not necessarily sure we traded up when we cleaned house judging by the crime situation we face ourselves with now.
January 14, 2012 at 12:58 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Gains’ re-election is not guaranteed
Until the ex-girlfriend of one of the hitters called in a tip, Paul Gains and the FBI had absolutely nothing in the way of leads on that case on Christmas Eve 1996.
I respect Paul for taking a few bullets, but at the end of the day he got lucky in both the hit job and the fact a lead turned up out of nowhere.
The FBI was ultimately what got the Mob here in Mahoning County, and it was pretty much in spite of themselves. Assuming we all believe the Mob actually left here, because I think that is up for debate.
January 14, 2012 at 12:49 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Police levy shows trustees’ error
Point of irony:
Issue 2 Failed, which rejected cost saving measures to local government.
and
The vast majority of additional tax levies across the state failed, which prevented local government from getting cash infusions.
So..... we are against cost saving measures AND are against giving more money to local government?
Sorry, you can't have it both ways.
January 13, 2012 at 9:57 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Gains’ re-election is not guaranteed
I don't think it is that simple. I think that is a Reader's Digest version of a romanticized account, but again, I don't think it is as simple as that.
January 13, 2012 at 9:51 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Stealing our democracy
If only that could be said for Mahoning County.
December 15, 2011 at 6:17 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Traficant: Delusional to the end
So, yet another rehash of the same column we have been seeing for the last ten years.
Must be a slow decade....
December 11, 2011 at 7:09 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Winners played to win: President loses big
For the record, I called the Secretary of State and was told specifically that on issues such as these unions can give directly from their general treasury, AKA union dues.
Now, if you wish to challenge me, call and ask for yourselves. Because if it was union PACs giving, they'd be subject to campaign contribution limits, which I assure you no limits were adhered to.
I feel sorry for you people that you are completely ignorant to how things work. I'm not even angry how vicious and full of venom you are--that is a culmination of generations that has grown more vicious over time. But when the SOS Office says unions dues can be spent unlimited on state issues, I will take their word for it.
But, please leave the personal attacks at the door next time before you go jumping on me not knowing about campaign finance loopholes and the campaign finance laws. I've been doing campaigns for over ten years and have done campaign finance half of that time. When you've put the time in and know how the laws work, get back to me.
November 21, 2011 at 5:52 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Winners played to win: President loses big
Fd, Issue 3 means EVERYTHING. If we were just talking about Issue 2, it would be one thing.
But....how exactly does Issue 2 go down and Issue 3 NOT go down? If the Democrats came out to vote, and I can assure you they did in massive numbers, why did Issue 2 fail and Issue 3 pass?
I will give you the easy answer: Democrats like unions, but they don't like Obama here. When Republican Issue 3 passes in Mahoning County, I think that is more revealing than Issue 2 failing. Issue 2 was SUPPOSED to fail here, and yet those same Democrats voted down Obamacare in huge numbers.
If I was Obama, I'd be taking a real hard look at this election.
As far as stopping, I am calling shennanigans on Issue 2. I called you liars before, and I'm calling you liars now. This election was about justifying the existence of public employee unions and the campaign money train (which the Secretary of State's office did say union dues fund these issue campaigns, not PACs), not because it had the interests of its members at heart.
And another thing: I don't want to hear anymore about corporate lobbying and unions playing victim. The campaign finance reports speak for themselves--$17 million to $6 million? Sounds like the unions continue to pull the wool over the eyes of the Ohio citizens, and what is worse, most of that money came from D.C., not from Ohio.
November 20, 2011 at 12:29 p.m. permalink suggest removal