Someone said they thought Ed was murdered and I thought it was a long shot, but to see this.

Does anyone know about poison and if you can make people die the way Ed died... and we'll see about Vinci...

And then there is the arson at Cimperman's...

And lots of people connected to them being taken out by the FBI...

Unreal

Disrupt IT

Norm, your above comment contains a lot of speculation and no sensitivity about people who have recently passed away or been the victim of arson. Without any facts, I see little value in this kind of commentary.

The realneo that I know and like puts a little footwork and inquiry behind its publishing and elevates the conversation above lazy gossip.

If you think something shady is happening, then perhaps submitting a public records request for a death certificate might be a good way to start. Your personal conspiracy theories do not benefit our community unless they are followed up with investigation.

We all expected Ed could be killed for his activism... I warned him many times and we discussed specific concerns - he knew he put his life at risk, being an activist against very powerful and at times murderous forces.

A friend today said I should watch out.

People are killed for such things as speaking against authority, or plans of the rich and powerful... and to eliminate evidence and witnesses... all over the world, all the time.

That I say it in public is just being honest.

I have no idea how thorough an autopsy they did on Ed but now I am curious.

And, as I said, "we'll see about Vinci".

I believe it is a fact that there was an "arson at Cimperman's"

And there are "lots of people connected to them (the above) being taken out by the FBI"

And it is all "unreal", at least in my lifetime.

Where is there speculation or lack of sensitivity in any of that - or conspiracy theory - these are all facts and highly disturbing. There will clearly be lots of investigation into all of this before things are know in any real detail, and the lead for such investigation should be the Plain Dealer, I believe.

Disrupt IT

  Jenita's comments are well taken and can be said on RealNEO.  But, if you have lived long enough, you also know that there is a politics of fear that applies almost anywhere, if we let it apply with silence. 

We are all free to speculate that the people Norm listed are innocent victims of circumstance, or guilty of knowing too much, or just being in the way, which can be said for any of US in NEO.  If saying something can change our collective fate for the better, then it is certainly worth saying it.  

I will say this--I had given up hope for any real investigation from the Plain Dealer, but if Jenita has hope (facts are tricky--the PD is our only standard of evalution in NEO), then I will suspend my cynicism until we get a better explanation of seemingly related events, which, in my mind, would include the treatment of Frank Giglio in Tremont.

A segment from the Diane Rehm show on the old and new media contributing to investigative journalism is very relevent. It is available at the http://southeuclidoversight.blogspot.com/ which is doing an admirable job of documenting questionable dealings there. Including providing many of the presentations on youtube - Ed would be pleased.

We need to collect, validate, and share information - instead of just preaching to the choir we need the choir to get many voices to join in.

I believe the words of caution by Jenita are valid.

Wild speculation isn't fact and I believe should be avoided.

The PD itself is linking the death of Vinci in a manner that implies too much and seems more a desire to keep heat applied to Dimora and Russo than to report on someone's death.

You either show some responsibility or no one will believe anything you say or write.

While Henry speaks so very clearly from his area - it is exactly the same here in the Central Tremont section - most of the residents  have been here 30-40-50-60 years and even longer - and they are treated like second class citizens - these fine programs are passed out, yet a lot of these people are unbankable or they do not wish to sign on the dotted line that will put their old homes in jeopardy in case next year they can't meet the terms of these good programs and then lose the homes they have put sweat and blood into paying for. 

The paint program is thrown out there like a big red balloon - FREE PAINT - that's great - but nobody get's it - if you're old, the knees don't work, you can barely get up and down the front porch steps, how in the hell are you going to get up on a ladder to paint the dam house - and if you're on a $8k annual income, you can't afford to pay someone to do it - so wow!!! the paint is great. 

And what about a Corp that paid $1.4m for UGP properties - and is putting $20m + in the rehab and has purchased several other properties for parking - then TWDC takes $10K of model block funds and buys an addition lot UGP Properties and the Flying Monkey for parking - in Central Tremont - but yet they can't find dollars to help those long time residents.  BUT THEY GOT FREE PAINT.

There is a lot of anger and a lot more questions - WHERE IS THE MONEY? Everytime the question is asked - you get the same run-about answer - all the model block funds is restricted funds.  So it is time for change and it is time for someone to speak up and I am not afraid to do that.  I am not afraid to call it like I see it.  Just like the Development Director/SII Program Manager position that pays $50k by NPI - Samuel Catania was hired by his friend Chris Garland - a conflict of interest by all means - 60 people applied for that position - but if you back track the events - it  is clear the position was going to go to Mr. Catania from the get go All they did was try to make it look good. 

Just like the tree lawn and the face in parking on west 7th  - as it turns out, TWDC and our good Councilman was right in the middle of approving the plans but they didn't know anything about it - and then when the homeowners stepped out and weren't going to let it happen - the planning commission came out and Myrl Roberts came out - But Councilman Cimperman wouldn't show - then all of a sudden IT WAS A MISTAKE - that wasn't supposed to be part of the parking lot -yet I saw the blueprint - everytime they get caught - the tale changes. Just like Frank's house - Chris Garland said TWDC didn't have anythig to do with that - yet it is right in the Board minutes where they supported it before the Landmarks commission.

That is why they are no longer believed, trusted and so much is coming down all at once.  It's not about negativity - it's about the-------finally hitting the fan.  They can shut down Tremonter, cry and moan all they want but the wheels have started turning - as they say round and round they go and where they stop nobody knows. 

We're not just bitchin' - we still appreciate the nice things and are thankful for all the good things we have in our lives - but we want to keep those as well as restore some of what has been lost and to do that we must stand up and fight.      

  Please see this article--the CDCs are a sham.   NPI could shut them down and instead they annoint six of the "functioning" CDCs as especially economically "distressed" areas, worthy of their targeted funding.  On top of this gross misuse of federal money(aka your money), we have now annointed our county treasurer to essentially perform housing services and "redevelopment" that would have fallen under the CDCs, if they were functioning in their capacity. 

The land bank takes authority completely out of public control--and all the while, we will continue to use our money to fund useless CDCs--mostly run, by the suburban progeny of our "suburban" foundation and "civic leaders"...read-- leadership that makes a total pretense of  championing administration free from discrimination based on skin color, income, religion, language, and disability, all the while straining our community infrastructure and resources and local economy to build fake communities as far away from us as possible... Add to this, a land authority with no oversight that will clear land for the "right" developers.

This is the RealNEO...

  What a joke, Jerleen...my elderly, disabled neighbor applied and was denied.  But, they sure as hell took down all of her personal information and filled out a number of forms to make it LOOK like she was being served.  She demanded the paperwork back and never got it.

  We're not just bitchin' - we still appreciate the nice things and are thankful for all the good things we have in our lives - but we want to keep those as well as restore some of what has been lost and to do that we must stand up and fight.     

The "nice things" we have are seniors who tutor kids at Denison Elementary, teens who can say "thank you," immigrants working two factory jobs to put their kids through school, disabled individuals who get around on their own and retain some dignity, and men and women who still work with their hands to help a neighbor fix a porch or plant a garden.

Thank you to all of the exiled REAL "Tremonters," who have the courage to stand up and fight.

  Dbra--it is my hope that you are annointed with a job in the Obama administration as it tackles social issues with real social welfare.  The system is broken.  I don't canonize my neighbors, who sit around collecting federal funds to raise their families at the bare level of human decency, but I also refuse to canonize the people, who come in and milk our social welfare system for every dollar they can take home to their house in the suburb. 

Self-reliance should be rewarded, but a community that has found a balance deserves recognition, too.  I look at Metrohealth hospital and hope that it finds a way to define itself as a community provider with employees who give back to the community by living here and maintaining the infrastructure within its radius--safety forces, schools, libraries, parks, streets, stores, coffee shops, taverns, pharmacys (not drug store chains), theatres, restaurants...I could enjoy that type of company town.

is the good deed that gets punished.

Being responsible to yourself gets met with attacks of "why you should be doing more for others."

Those who are self-reliant do not have do-gooder fund-raisers to save our homes.  No those same do-gooders attack and bad-mouth the self-reliant, as if they know or care at all about our lives.

Sorry to be bah-humbugging on Christmas but this past 6 months in Tremont seems like much drama and little result . .save for do-gooders patting themsleves on the back.  Dying for the cause.  Bashing people they know nothing about.

And in that process assisting all those "evils" they claim to be calling out to be accountable.

Have a good one and Merry Christmas to you lmcshane and all the other self-reliants who are not silently suffering - BUT actually getting the real work done.

When one actually does the real work they do not have time for fanfares, fund-raisers, glad handing or back-slapping.  Too much to do . .no time for posting either . .just taking a breather on a day when much is closed.  

I would not have known about his death and the Ohio connection, if not for a patron

Here's your link dbra--click on disable rich text. Highlight text or image for link, then insert the relevant url:

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/12/22/republican_it_specialist_dies_in_plane