While they might have two years to fill out the paperwork as they claim, the fact they are still soliciting funds under the guise of the 501(c)4 framework to me seems about on par with how the Obama Administration does business.
To me, that is a pretty shady move, but given everything this administration claims not to have been involved in the last five years, I am not surprised they would operate in this manner.
"In carrying its work, OFA will operate as a "social welfare" organization within the meaning of section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code."
There is your proof right there, right off Organizing for Action's website. You can read about it in its "About" Section, or you can read about it on Wikipedia.
So either they are a 501(c)4, or they are not and they are holding themselves out to be one. Which one is it?
I don't think anyone can expect miracles tomorrow or next week when looking at Youngstown unless you are looking more long term. None of the issues mentioned are a quick fix, and that is a fair point. Yes, blight is a problem, crime is a problem, the schools are a problem, and the income tax is not doing anyone any favors at 2.75 percent. I think most people already know this.
The reality that downtown has become viable is impressive on its own in spite of those problems, and a lot of people have done a lot of hard work to help that along. There is a fair amount of suburban money coming into the city on the weekends, and that is a really good start.
For a couple looking at moving to the city, it comes down to schools, safety, and taxes. So in 2013 the benefits of moving to Youngstown may not exceed the costs. In 5-10 years, it could be a very different picture. The new mayor has a lot to address, but these issues will not be solved overnight.
Did anyone here even care to read the bill of particulars? No wonder they didn't pursue the charges because they were a joke! The bigger waste of taxpayer dollars was the money spent putting together that Mickey Mouse list of charges against McNally and Sciortino--the Feds might as well call themselves Stretch Armstrong because every one of those charges at best were a major stretch.
I'd tell you not to quit your day job Bertram, writing this kind of drivel, but seeing as how it IS your day job, you might want to consider quitting and signing up for unemployment to spare the rest of us from losing any additional brain cells by reading your columns.
At the end of the day, an indictment is not a conviction, and to date there has been zero evidence of wrongdoing of any kind by McNally.
Maybe Obama would set a better example for Americans by cutting back on all of his vacation time, because a paltry $20,000 a year paid back by him pales in comparison to the estimated $20 million it has cost taxpayers the last four years for his vacations. With the costs associated with using Air Force 1, the security, the staffers, and the lodging expenses, they really do add up.
The idea of him giving back $20,000 is a joke and is more likely about throwing a bone to the public, but really it is more insulting than benevolent.
Look, it is doubtful the body got down the Mahoning to the Ohio River, and then all the way south past Wheeling all by itself. Not without some help getting there by someone. Condolences to the family, I am glad there can finally be some closure, but something is not right about this whole thing. Sadly this is not the first time this kind of thing has happened in this town.
You know, you really do give a lot of crap to the Cafaro Family who has invested more money in the Mahoning Valley than you will in 1,000 lifetimes Bertram.
This looks like a witch hunt if I ever saw one, the Feds and the AG can't make a case when there isn't a case to be made. The Feds tried to trump up some charges, that at best could be considered flimsy, because the targets were high profile--and being in Mahoning County, they love the high profile stuff because deep down I think they were hoping to make another high profile case that could make national news like they did in 1999.
Bertram, I rarely compliment you, but I will say this was a well thought out and researched article, examining the effects of statewide issues on the outcome of who will win in statewide races.
Obama administration is using intimidation with shades of fascism
While they might have two years to fill out the paperwork as they claim, the fact they are still soliciting funds under the guise of the 501(c)4 framework to me seems about on par with how the Obama Administration does business.
To me, that is a pretty shady move, but given everything this administration claims not to have been involved in the last five years, I am not surprised they would operate in this manner.
June 10, 2013 at 6:12 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Obama administration is using intimidation with shades of fascism
"In carrying its work, OFA will operate as a "social welfare" organization within the meaning of section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code."
There is your proof right there, right off Organizing for Action's website. You can read about it in its "About" Section, or you can read about it on Wikipedia.
So either they are a 501(c)4, or they are not and they are holding themselves out to be one. Which one is it?
June 10, 2013 at 6:07 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Youngstown continues to shed people
Actually a decent column Bertram.
I don't think anyone can expect miracles tomorrow or next week when looking at Youngstown unless you are looking more long term. None of the issues mentioned are a quick fix, and that is a fair point. Yes, blight is a problem, crime is a problem, the schools are a problem, and the income tax is not doing anyone any favors at 2.75 percent. I think most people already know this.
The reality that downtown has become viable is impressive on its own in spite of those problems, and a lot of people have done a lot of hard work to help that along. There is a fair amount of suburban money coming into the city on the weekends, and that is a really good start.
For a couple looking at moving to the city, it comes down to schools, safety, and taxes. So in 2013 the benefits of moving to Youngstown may not exceed the costs. In 5-10 years, it could be a very different picture. The new mayor has a lot to address, but these issues will not be solved overnight.
June 9, 2013 at 11:40 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Oakhill haunts McNally
Did anyone here even care to read the bill of particulars? No wonder they didn't pursue the charges because they were a joke! The bigger waste of taxpayer dollars was the money spent putting together that Mickey Mouse list of charges against McNally and Sciortino--the Feds might as well call themselves Stretch Armstrong because every one of those charges at best were a major stretch.
I'd tell you not to quit your day job Bertram, writing this kind of drivel, but seeing as how it IS your day job, you might want to consider quitting and signing up for unemployment to spare the rest of us from losing any additional brain cells by reading your columns.
At the end of the day, an indictment is not a conviction, and to date there has been zero evidence of wrongdoing of any kind by McNally.
May 12, 2013 at 3:07 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Will Valley racino ever be built?
Lighten up Francis
April 14, 2013 at 8:36 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Community response saved a boy
Maybe Obama would set a better example for Americans by cutting back on all of his vacation time, because a paltry $20,000 a year paid back by him pales in comparison to the estimated $20 million it has cost taxpayers the last four years for his vacations. With the costs associated with using Air Force 1, the security, the staffers, and the lodging expenses, they really do add up.
The idea of him giving back $20,000 is a joke and is more likely about throwing a bone to the public, but really it is more insulting than benevolent.
April 14, 2013 at 8:15 a.m. permalink suggest removal
James Donofrio body found on Ohio River shoreline
Look, it is doubtful the body got down the Mahoning to the Ohio River, and then all the way south past Wheeling all by itself. Not without some help getting there by someone. Condolences to the family, I am glad there can finally be some closure, but something is not right about this whole thing. Sadly this is not the first time this kind of thing has happened in this town.
April 9, 2013 at 8:42 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Will AG DeWine take action?
You know, you really do give a lot of crap to the Cafaro Family who has invested more money in the Mahoning Valley than you will in 1,000 lifetimes Bertram.
This looks like a witch hunt if I ever saw one, the Feds and the AG can't make a case when there isn't a case to be made. The Feds tried to trump up some charges, that at best could be considered flimsy, because the targets were high profile--and being in Mahoning County, they love the high profile stuff because deep down I think they were hoping to make another high profile case that could make national news like they did in 1999.
And they just couldn't pull it off again.
March 31, 2013 at 5:21 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Same-sex marriage time bomb
Bertram, I rarely compliment you, but I will say this was a well thought out and researched article, examining the effects of statewide issues on the outcome of who will win in statewide races.
Do more of this, less Mafia three decade rehash.
March 5, 2013 at 7:07 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Stroll down Mafia lane with snitch
I wish I could get a job rehashing the same story over and over and over and over and over again.
February 24, 2013 at 4:32 p.m. permalink suggest removal