The United States of America is a "rule of law" nation NOT "a rule of a man/woman" nation.
At the national level, America is undergoing an assault on the "rule of law" at the hand of our president.
Distressingly, we Stark Countians of the state of Ohio, too, are undergoing what The Stark County Political Report (SCPR, The Report) believes to be an assault of the "rule of law" at the hand of the publisher of The Repository and certain officials in charge of the National Football Museum, Inc. dba the Professional Football Hall of Fame (HOF, HOF-VP).
This blogger has done a search of the extensive archives of SCPR blogs going back to December, 2014 and it appears that The Report was the very first to question the accountability/viability of the HOF of Fame Village Project (HOF-VP), to wit:
"What's next?" (taken from the title of the 12/04/2014 blog title)
Here is a SCPR interview with Baker immediately following the Healy address:
Well, what started according to HOF-VP president/CEO C. David Baker was to be a $22 million Fawcett Stadium renovation (now named Tom Benson Stadium in recognition of the New Orleans Saints owner's $10/11 million contribution to the rehab) has turned into a $139, $150, $171 or $250 million dollar project (depending whose number one believes).
Along the way, a joint effort of HOF master developer Stuart Lichter (who was in Baker's office within days of Baker being appointed by the HOF Board of Trustees on January 2, 2014) and the HOF under the limited liability name of HOF Village LLC (HOF LLC):
- The Repository threw in with the project as "The Official Newspaper of the Pro Football Hall of Fame" (LINK) in June 2016,
- Note: to the credit of Local 1, Newspaper Guild (LINK), concerns were raised by The Rep's union members about the ability of union member reporters to report candidly about the HOF-VP,
- the August, 2016 annual pro football opening exhibition game had to be canceled (LINK) which resulted in the filing of a lawsuit on June 22, 2018 against the HOF Village Stadium LLC among others,
- in early 2018, millions of dollars liens were filed by a number of contractors against HOF owned properties (LINK),
- C. David Baker bounces around town blaming the Stark County commissioners' inaction of HOF demands for the failure of HOF Village LLC to timely pay contractors,
- a flap developed between HOF officials and minority contractors (LINK) building a parking lot close by Benson Stadium, and
- the project stands stalled as a New York sited reputed financial expert is reportedly (LINK) scouring private sector financial circles for "permanent" money to move forward with the HOF-VP while the project lives for the moment on a reported "up-to-$100 million 'bridge' (hence temporary [up to one year] loan,
This particular blog is a follow up to WHBC's Joe Palmisano and his "The Week that Was" weekly show that includes a hearty diet of programming which focuses on Stark County issues.
- Note: The SCPR has been a guest on Palmisano's show on two occasions in recent weeks
On July 21st, Palmisano had Stark County treasurer Alex Zumbar and North Canton mayor David Held in to deal with the issue of The Repository's and the HOF musceling down on those of us who have had the audacity to:
- follow the "rule of law" (Zumbar) in the treasurer's official relationship with those who are zealous for the HOF-VP to succeed, and
- question (Held) master developer Stuart Lichter's use of public monies on various projects he is involved with including North Canton's Hoover Company complex, and, of course,
- demand an accounting for public monies spent in the SCPR's case (regarding this blogger's appearances on the Palmisano show)
Quoting relevant parts to the HOF matter of his column to this blog, on July 8, 2018, Publisher James Porter, who obviously takes his marching orders from C. David Baker and Stuart Lichter, had this to say:
Jim Porter: Everything can change overnight
By Jim Porter / Repository publisher & CEO
Posted Jul 8, 2018 at 4:51 AM
. . .
Where am I going with this? I was told this week, by a person who read my column last week on leadership, to be patient, that things do not change overnight.
Really? Ask the Cavs. Our beloved basketball team is going through massive change for the third time in a handful of years.
With the right leader(s) in place and the correct diagnosis of the problem, things can change quickly. And folks, we need change. Soon.
I have no intentions of using this column every week to write about the woes of our county and the few leaders who cannot get out of their own way or who refuse to leave their personal agendas behind. We are all hoping to see signs of people who will rise to the occasion, people who will say “enough is enough.”
This happened this past week. County Commissioner Bill Smith, County Prosecutor John Ferraro and Visit Canton Executive Vice President of Marketing & Communications Tonja Marshall all mentioned to me in recent days they want to make a difference. After in-depth conversations with each, I am convinced they can form the core we need to recruit other leaders to help create change.
A county commissioner doing things for the right reasons will make a world of difference when working with developers on projects like ComDoc, Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, the new Gervasi Hotel, the Malone project — and I could go on and on. (By the way, we could use some help with the McKinley Grand Hotel.)
A county prosecutor who is willing to meet with individuals and groups to cut through the “red tape” when necessary is a powerful asset to our community. Bringing the current county treasurer to the table might be a tough task for anyone, though.
A marketing professional has the awesome job and responsibility to build our tourism industry, with magnets such as Gervasi Vineyards, The Pro Football Hall of Fame and Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, McKinley Monument, Massillon Museum, National First Ladies’ Museum and many others. Her commitment to assisting positive change and bringing people together is extremely important.
These three join the likes of Randy Gonzalez, Jackson Township fiscal officer and economic development director; Maria Heege, president and CEO of our local United Way; Denny Saunier who leads the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce; Bob and Linda DeHoff, owners of Dehoff Realtors and Development; Ray Hexamer from the Stark Economic Development Board; Tom Bernabei, mayor of Canton; Fonda Williams, deputy mayor of the city of Canton; David Baker, president and CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame; Chris Smith, majority leader of Canton City Council; Joe Chaddock superintendent of Stark County Education Service Center (ESC); Frank Forchione, Stark County Common Pleas judge; and Rich Desrosiers, executive editor of this newspaper.
This is an all-star team. I will take this lineup against anybody, including the new Cavs.
. . .
Note: The SCPR added large print and in the case of Porter's statement on Stark County treasurer Alex Zumbar for emphasis sake inasmuch as the emphasized material is the focus of this blog. Also, see Appendix this blog for a link to the entire Palmisano interview with Zumbar and Held.
First, a SCPR comment on Porter's failure to use "the current Stark County treasurer['s] name.
Undoubtedly, this was done as a subtle attempt to derogate Treasurer Zumbar from the group Porter cites by name.
The SCPR thinks that in holding fast to "the rule of law" by Zumbar deserves accolades and notice by name as contrasted to Porter's description of Stark County prosecutor John Ferrero as:
A county prosecutor who is willing to meet with individuals and groups to cut through the “red tape” when necessary is a powerful asset to our community.
Hmm?
It is likely that Porter and his "official" friends at the HOF think that Zumbar's stand on not approving a tax lien agreement is an unwillingness to cut through "red tape" which is this instance happens to be the basis of statutory law of Ohio which has been interpreted by one of Ferrero's assistant prosecutors to forbid Zumbar from bending to the will of Porter and friends.
Here is the "actual agreement" that Zumbar on the advice of the prosecutor's office says he cannot sign and be in compliance with Ohio Law:
And here is the Zumbar letter to The Repository challenging Porter's dissing of his determination to be a "rule of law" public official: (Note: The SCPR has had a copy of the letter since July 13th and has been waiting to give Porter an opportunity to respond.
Note: So far as The Report has learned, there has been discussion between Zumbar and Porter (via Desrosiers) on whether or not The Rep will publish the letter. It appears that the thinking at The Rep is that it will only publish with its response)
Note: So far as The Report has learned, there has been discussion between Zumbar and Porter (via Desrosiers) on whether or not The Rep will publish the letter. It appears that the thinking at The Rep is that it will only publish with its response)
Obviously, Prosecutor Ferrero and Zumbar's taxpayer provided assistant prosecutor do not think the repeated demand by Porter and his HOF friends is "red tape."
It is a very dangerous thing for the stability of our society for the publisher of Stark County's only print media outlet (a monopoly folks, The Rep is a Stark Countywide newsprint monopoly) to be pressing (as it appears to the SCPR that Porter et al are doing in pressing Zumbar) anyone—let alone a sworn under oath elected public official to support the constitutions of the United States of America and Ohio and the laws promulgated thereunder —to violate Ohio law.
Not long ago Porter was chiding the Stark County commissioners' on his suspicion that the commissioners' office is the source of leaks on non-executive session information.
Isn't that strange?
Can one imagine a national publication, let's say USA Today, not pushing for the dissemination of information that the public ought to know, especially when it is in the possession of a government?
Not long ago Porter was chiding the Stark County commissioners' on his suspicion that the commissioners' office is the source of leaks on non-executive session information.
Isn't that strange?
Can one imagine a national publication, let's say USA Today, not pushing for the dissemination of information that the public ought to know, especially when it is in the possession of a government?
Maybe just maybe Porter has gotten so unbalanced on his enthusiasm for HOF-VP matter that he needs to step back and recuse himself from having anything whatsoever to do with commenting on the accountability (or lack thereof) of how taxpayer money is being spent on the stadium/HOF-VP and on the viability of a completed nearly $1 billion plus HOF-VP.
To the SCPR, it is shocking that a guy who obviously sees himself as a Stark County leader to be so irresponsible.
Where are those other Stark County leaders (start with Porter's own list) in counseling Porter, Saunier and Baker to tone it down?
Where have they and the HOF Board of Trustees been as HOF top gun C. David Baker billed as being in March, 2015 (see photo above) a $22 million stadium rehab project has turned into what even The Repository says is at least a $139 million rehab?
And for added measure, throw Porter himself into the mix!
This is America. We question the use of taxpayer money and demand that it be spent for vouched for in accordance with the "rule of law." And when we find that the law has been violated we hold the offenders (no matter who they might be) accountable.
Of all people, C. David Baker should understand accountability before the law (LINK).
The SCPR believes that Baker is likely the primary person who is pushing Zumbar to do what Zumbar's lawyer is telling him he cannot legally do.
The SCPR believes that Baker is likely the primary person who is pushing Zumbar to do what Zumbar's lawyer is telling him he cannot legally do.
When tax dollars are involved, public officials who have any financial/economic development infrastructure connection whatsoever (including Canton City School officials and Plain Local School district officials) with the HOF-VP, they owe it to the Stark County public to speak out like Alex Zumbar and North Canton mayor David Held have done.
Here is an excerpt from the Palmisano interview of Zumbar and Held: Palmisano's summarization of the controversy.
The SCPR lauds Zumbar and Held for outing the skullduggery that seems to be going on in an unholy alliance between The Repository, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the HOF-VP folks.
Joe Palmisano and a those in charge at WHBC 1480 are behaving the way a news organization ought to be conducting themselves.
The Repository's head is not.
Palmisano has it right in saying that we all hope that the HOF-VP succeeds at some level despite the fumbling and bumbling of Baker, Lichter, Saunier and Porter.
On top of abrogating its responsibility to its readership as spin off of having "an official relationship with the HOF, it appears to The Report that Porter is playing a role of being Stark County's "divider-in-chief" as evidenced by his differentiating Commissioner Bill Smith from his fellow commissioners Janet Creighton and Richard Regula.
A player in this scenario, the SCPR has learned from several sources, by virtue of his telling Commissioner Regula he needed to resign because of his critical comments in a New York Times article about the NFL wanting taxpayers to pick up the tab for the likes of the HOF-VP.
Regula is reported to have apologized to the NFL.
Why?
Hell would freeze over before the SCPR would apologize for what many Americans, Ohioans and Stark Countians think is the unmitigated truth.
The person who ought to be apologizing is The Repository's James Porter.
Porter, who reportedly has worked himself up from the bowels of The Repository, apparently has worked himself into a position that is above his level of competence.
For many of us Stark Countians, his leadership (if that is what one calls it) and being part of the decision to make The Repository "the official newspaper of the Professional Football Hall of Fame" is dragging the credibility of this newspaper on the HOF-VP matter to about as low as it can get!
Shame on James Porter for trying to show up Treasurer Zumbar to adherin the "the rule of law."
"Praise be" for the Alex Zumbars, David Helds and Joe Palmisanos of Stark County for supporting "the rule of law."
The "rule of law" may be in jeopardy in some circles of those who fancy themselves as being Stark County leaders but Stark County treasurer Alex Zumbar is proving to be an "actual" promoter of lawfulness in his stand against Baker et al.
APPENDIX:
Here is an excerpt from the Palmisano interview of Zumbar and Held: Palmisano's summarization of the controversy.
The SCPR lauds Zumbar and Held for outing the skullduggery that seems to be going on in an unholy alliance between The Repository, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the HOF-VP folks.
Joe Palmisano and a those in charge at WHBC 1480 are behaving the way a news organization ought to be conducting themselves.
The Repository's head is not.
Palmisano has it right in saying that we all hope that the HOF-VP succeeds at some level despite the fumbling and bumbling of Baker, Lichter, Saunier and Porter.
On top of abrogating its responsibility to its readership as spin off of having "an official relationship with the HOF, it appears to The Report that Porter is playing a role of being Stark County's "divider-in-chief" as evidenced by his differentiating Commissioner Bill Smith from his fellow commissioners Janet Creighton and Richard Regula.
A player in this scenario, the SCPR has learned from several sources, by virtue of his telling Commissioner Regula he needed to resign because of his critical comments in a New York Times article about the NFL wanting taxpayers to pick up the tab for the likes of the HOF-VP.
Regula is reported to have apologized to the NFL.
Why?
Hell would freeze over before the SCPR would apologize for what many Americans, Ohioans and Stark Countians think is the unmitigated truth.
The person who ought to be apologizing is The Repository's James Porter.
Porter, who reportedly has worked himself up from the bowels of The Repository, apparently has worked himself into a position that is above his level of competence.
For many of us Stark Countians, his leadership (if that is what one calls it) and being part of the decision to make The Repository "the official newspaper of the Professional Football Hall of Fame" is dragging the credibility of this newspaper on the HOF-VP matter to about as low as it can get!
Shame on James Porter for trying to show up Treasurer Zumbar to adherin the "the rule of law."
"Praise be" for the Alex Zumbars, David Helds and Joe Palmisanos of Stark County for supporting "the rule of law."
The "rule of law" may be in jeopardy in some circles of those who fancy themselves as being Stark County leaders but Stark County treasurer Alex Zumbar is proving to be an "actual" promoter of lawfulness in his stand against Baker et al.
APPENDIX:
Even though it runs for more than a hour, the SCPR encourages readers to invest the time to fully understand entire WHBC 1480 NEWSTALK podcast of the July 21st Palmisano interview of Alex Zumbar and David held (LINK).
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