wcpn reviews Mayor Jackson's new safety plan,

This morning's nine to ten a.m. slot on WCPN radio was an examination of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's new get tough on crime Public Safety Plan , which entails getting both gangs and the guns that gangs would brandish off Cleveland streets in an effort to reduce homicides and violent crimes. A great idea. The wcpn host was joined by Cleveland council representative Nina Turner who was "encouraged" ,by Mayor Jackson's plan , and stated that " desperate times call for desperate measures". A point well taken. Also on board was Professor Ronnie Dunn from Cleveland State Universities Department of Urban Studies , who felt that a " community awareness component " , was an important consideration in this plan that was not addressed directly , and he expressed concern for the potential abuse of of racial profiling when Cleveland police start enforcing this plan. Guns are color blind , and the felons that use them in committing crimes come in all colors , ages , and demographic profiles. Callers to the show were of mixed opinions , though the distinct majority seemed to agree in principle with the mayor's plan , with the exception of a concerned mother of a five year old , who stated she was " against Mayor Jackson's plan" , citing concerns of the potential abuse of racial profiling as her reason.Professor Dunn departed halfway through the program , and was replaced by Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association representative Steve Loomis , who assured that the rank and file officers will work within the letter of the law in enforcement of this plan , not be overly aggressive or punitive in their approach. Loomis also stated that due to thin ranks officers were more often than not " reactive , not proactive" , when working with crime in Cleveland these days due to the Cleveland Police layoffs of 2004 .He also stated that "politics , simply politics" , play a major role in the diminished number of police on the streets at any given time. Adding that the City needs to add 300 officers to the 1500 that currently serve. With Cleveland's population at the 478,000 figure The ratio of even 1800 police officers to 478,000 citizens appears to be quite a low percentage. In checking the police to citizen ratio in Cuyahoga County's second largest city , Parma ,Ohio , I found that Parma employs 128 police officers to serve 85,655 citizens , an average of 1.03 officer to every thousand citizens. Digging even deeper I discovered the National average of police to citizen ratio per city is 2.8 to one. It does not take an Einstein to see how thin the Police Department in Cleveland , Ohio is in comparison to other cities. This numerical disparity translates to a very thin blue line indeed , and it would perhaps serve wcpn to research and include similar statistics in their future programs concerning Cleveland Police and their relationship to fighting crime. Severely understaffed seems an understatement! Some discussion occurred concerning the origin of the firearms that exist in Cleveland's streets. No one seemed to get the big picture , that firearms are big business , and that money on the streets of Cleveland can purchase just about any old item one desires for the right price. I sited in my January 2 , 2008 post entitled RESOLUTE , that a group of us were pinned down by gunfire on New Years eve , and it is an odd week that passes when some type of gunfire is not heard in our East side neighborhood. The obvious solution is to hire more Police officers to fight crime in all American cities afflicted by heinous and violent crimes. Our Federal Government currently has placed us in great debt by mustering the mostly United States troop strength in Iraq and Afghanistan for the purpose of holding fragile peace in those Countries and establishing democracies. Well politicians , democracy begins and ends on our home battlefields , and cities like Cleveland , Ohio and Detroit , Michigan could sure use the efforts of soldiers , police , or the United States Marines to fight crime and hold the fragile peace that exists in our war torn urban neighborhoods! How can any of these Federal politicians keep up the ruse of fighting a war to hold a peace overseas , when our own citizens face similar warlike conditions on a daily basis in America? Time has come for breaking the cycle of crime and poverty that send adolescents into gangs as a means of survival on Cleveland's tough streets. Prevention is always a better strategy than the proactive interventions that result after the crime is committed , and leads to increased incarcerations. The WCPN host did a credible job with regards to addressing this ongoing urban problem , but would better serve his audience with a bit more preparation prior to taking the airwaves.....On a sad though similar subject. One week ago , on Tuesday January 8 ,2008 , a high school friend , Jim Cappetto was struck from behind and knocked out in the hallways of Cleveland's South High School while attempting to break up a fight between gangs at the high school. Jim was best man at a mutual friends wedding some years ago , and he was the leather lunged voice at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium who vocalized the cheer JULIOOOO! , whenever Julio Franco stepped up to the plate for the Cleveland Indians. Jim Cappetto is quite a nice man , possessing an easy demeanor and smile , and a dedicated teacher for thirty plus years in the Cleveland system , and please keep him in your thoughts and prayers for a complete and quick recovery. An interesting and scary fact is that on the day of January 8 , 2008 when Mister Cappetto was attacked and injured , two Cleveland police officers and six security guards were present on the South High School campus. Not a small number of people to hold the peace. Enough said! Book Selling Time! The spike in Cleveland's murder rate in 2007 is reason for concern , though we must note that a decrease in other crimes was concurrent. We offer today an earlier view of the same sorry fatal subject the 1947 edition of CLEVELAND MURDERS , edited by Howard Beaufait. Merely one volume in a series on the subject by City in America. CLEVELAND MURDERS chronicles the notable examples of this sorry subject , including the Kingsbury Run multiple murders that remain unsolved to this day. Not exactly an uplifting read , but take note that events do not change that much through the years in Cleveland , Ohio. Not for the better at least.

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MODERN MANNERS

In keeping with the seasonal Holiday tradition that is now upon us , we will attempt to be full of good cheer and light , spreading abject joy and whimsical folly about as if constructed with aid of " sugar plums and candy". Who has been naughty? Who has been nice? Who really deserves the decade old defrosted carp pieces in their stockings?......For the Cleveland Browns Stadium crew increased business for 2008 .Plenty of tractor pulls , miniature automobile races , circus and carnivals acts , music events , softball tournaments , rooster fights , paper airplane toss competitions , watermelon seed spitting contests , rodeos , horse shows , new age meditation / levitation groups , motorcycle rallies , horseshoe toss , dwarf toss , corn hole player toss , pro rasslin' , boxing matches, [so kid action joe's bartender can eat], and most important of all international football { soccer} matches to increase the annual use of this facility that is currently occupied sixteen of the three hundred sixty five days of the year that it is available. Just imagine the extra glee the casual tourist from say , Iowa or Indiana , will feel when offered an additional tourist attraction that involves big engines , tires , warm beer , greasy food ,and yet another mindless activity to complement the big Cleveland vacation experience. Cleveland has turned over it's downtown lakefront to tourism so let the big canine house woof , goof ,and rock all summer long! Remember , a full house is a happy house , especially when playing poker......While we are in this neck of town we can't forget the main tourist trap downtown in our seasonal wishes. For the rock n' roll hall of fame we provide an unlimited supply of clothes hangers and laundry soap to do the wash and clean up the sordid aesthetics that plague this creatively impacted edifice. If our budget allows , a high colonic for this institution and those who occupy it daily would be in order. Everyone agrees that a clean house is a happy house...................The American daily newspapers are having a terrible year financially in 2007 , I thought of our tepid little propaganda mill at 1801 Superior , da pd , and thought that if they were sick and not doing so well perhaps they should see a doctor and get well. Surgical removal of this dying dailies foot from it's mouth a fitting gift. Perhaps then with this obstructions removed it might find it's voice again. Always brush your teeth and gargle after every meal . Antiseptic gargle required at the quilting bee located 1801 superior ...... We will continue these kind gifts to those naughty or nice enough to receive them into next year. Book Selling Time! Have a good look at our fine old symbol of downtown lakefront civic pride when Cleveland was still a major city . James Toman and Blaine S. Hayes CLEVELAND STADIUM SIXTY YEARS OF MEMORIES.Profusely illustrated and well researched , and an excellent choice for the true honked off lifer Cleveland sports fan who remembers the year 1964 and the Cleveland Browns NFL title game victory , and as well the last time any Cleveland sports team won a definitive championship. I listened to that December 1964 game in the kitchen of our family home via the ageless medium of radio. The television coverage was blocked out here in Cleveland. A warm roast cooking in the oven , my father's stoic response and our mutual reverence for # 32 Jim Brown .That time and inherent memories seems every bit as long as the forty three years that have since passed. Cleveland Stadium was built in 1932 , and still in fine shape when offered for slaughter to the modern demigods of the nfl as partial payment for a new old franchise here to replace our original Cleveland Browns. I visited the new cleveland browns stadium just once at half time courtesy of our friend Kim's kindness. Within the space of the single third quarter of play we observed in the stands a man fall head first while sitting up in his seat woofing , splitting open his head and bleeding profusely. Another near rabid fan was removing his clothing and was in turn removed by the stadium police. The whole experience of the fans was not in watching the game on the field , instead that grand old local sports tradition of getting shitfaced drunk and obnoxious. Somethings never change! Best wishes to my family , Kim and John , Get well soon Orley!

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Cleveland's political vegetables

Hero's have changed mightly since my youth's passage. Presently the two mature adult Afro - American men dressed in cast off clothing , pushing an appropriated supermarket cart past my doorway at two a.m. while in search for cast off aluminum can's qualify.Whatever sustains them against a bitter November's weather proves to me the true grit and spirit in our eternal quest for survival far more than any professional athlete's endeavors possibly could. A bunch of hapless men and a few women live the year around huddled in the confines of near bye Erie Street Cemetery. Hammocks slung over tree limbs during the summer months , building makeshift tented structures with building materials under bridges during colder months. These nomadic folks are survivors. Television clowns posing as such brave creatures while playing a reality game" , fall short. The former would consider eating insects as means for survival , the later for amusement and profit. Combining a homeless tribe of American citizens and a culinary reality show could be in the works? A morbid reality culinary big game three ring circus replete with contestants hunting , gathering , and ...... ? I suppose you can can fill in the blanks concerning this fictitious matter. Sadly , a morbid success would occur , and a new window into the narcissistic American " foodie " movement unfold as well. My current cooking heroes are the men and women that serve those less fortunate by donating their most precious resource , time , in volunteering in a soup kitchen. The real culinary art is to make fresh ingredients of a common or utility nature sing with flavor and feed a multitude . Stews , soups , chowders , salads , grains , tubers , thick with fresh vegetables , rudimentary proteins ,and the occasional sharp edge provided via very fresh spices the trick. . Fresh ingredients and scratch preparation the operative words. This form of work , given freely by those that have to those who do not , a great gift for all involved. Like those two men pushing the scrap metal gathering grocery cart up and down city streets until they gather enough for the scrap dealer. Real survivor's in today's America might live under freeway bridges on the edge of your downtown area. Thirty years ago Cleveland , Ohio had a terrible bitter cold winter , that barely saw any above freezing weather from early December through April 1978. That June of 1978 in old Cleveland Municipal Stadium , I witnessed snow in the air while attending a Indians game. Point is that it remained cold for quite sometime that spring. That same winter a number of homeless men had taken up residence in a abandoned multiple level parking structure on East Second Street between High Street and Huron Avenue , in the Historic Central Market district. These men had built human nests a few stories above the street and within the airborne spaces designed for the automobiles . Imagine a honey comb of multiple colored cloth American male human beings wrapped in cardboard boxes and attempting to survive such a brutal sub zero streak of weather with winds that drove the temperature into double digit " chill factor " territory. We stayed awake most evenings playing cards and drinking in the apartment above the Italian food store next to the homeless men in their parking lot suspended above the food store. I was always amazed by the resilience of these true " survivors" , and how they were able to still function after spending a night in a cardboard cocoon? One cold evening we were interrupted from our games with the loud wail of fire sirens. Seems that one of these men had built a fire for warmth and it got a little out of hand and caught a citizen's attention. Pretty weird on the eyes at three a.m. People that work long and hard at providing children with stability and education in the face of poverty and social ills of life in contemporary urban America are my heroes as well. Athletes and entertainment figures who give back to the world via a charitable pipeline to those with less on their plates are heroes as well. By the way , after the winter of 1978 I moved to North Carolina swearing off the absurd graven politics and darker nature of Cleveland , Ohio. Not to mention the rather frigid gulag winter's. Sworn never to return to Cleveland , Ohio again . Weather passed , and I returned to Cleveland in time for most of the 1980's , hoping against hope that a multi cultural progressive renaissance might occur. It never did. Hey Cookman! Here is a great way to clean out your vegatable drawer and feed a crew of hungry bipeds. In a large cast iron or non stick skillet over medium low heat shake in some olive oil or other fat. Add in this order the following combination of vegatables , chopped onions , peeled and chopped garlics and shallots , green , yellow , and red peppers , chopped , peeled , seeded , and devained. Any variatle squashes , members of the cabbage family , and whatever other non tuborous vegetable matter in your icebox. Season with fresh and dried herbs , including a large palm full of smoked parika , a shot of commercial hot sauce , and whatever flavor you personally find simpactico! Turn down the heat to low , cover , and simmer , turning occasionaly until done to your taste. Serve with a fresh loaf of crusty bread , pasta , or any starch of your choosing. Yes , you can add tomatoes in season or out , and a simple green salad is also a fine complement to this simple meal. Cleveland's Central Market district was a great asset to downtown, drawing customer's from both sides of the city drawn to it's fresh meats , fish , groceries , and especially quality fruits and produce. The Central Market served as a citizen freindly historic and festive public food market site downtown for over one hundred years until being dismantled for the short sited construction of the non historic district that is called today " gateway". Gateway is an example of corporate welfare that occured in the construction of the non descript " cookie cutter" baseball stadium called " Jacob's Field " for the Cleveland Indians , and the indoor sports facility " Gund Arena" for the Cleveland Cavalier's basketball interests. Ignoring an expensive 1970's urban plan executed for the City of Cleveland by Lawrence Halprin , which recommended preserving and embracing the Central Market District as a new urban residential area , the cabal of career corrupt politicians , and usual suspects in the media created enough ballyhoo and blather to pass a countywide tax by less than one half of a percentage in favor of establishing a sin tax to pay for these corporate sports facilities at the expense of the historic Central Market District. Less than one half of a percent! A recall should have been an immediate event , though when your media is merely the propaganda wing of government , you gets what you gets. In this case the citzens of Cleveland , who voted against the tax , lost valuable property now assigned to corporate professional sports interests got screwed mightly. This single political debacle has left downtown Cleveland the ghoulish creepy ghost town that it is now most days and evenings of a calendar year. A renevated public or municipal market with historic cache such as Cleveland's Central Market the dream of a contemporary City planner anywere in the world today. Destroying the Central Market District yet another Cleveland , Ohio mistake on a grand and profound level. The very wooden pear crates that hold the books inside the confines of Old Erie Street Bookstore are from the graces of a few kind freinds at the Central Market , and in choosing the location of this bookstore in 1980 much was based on the potential of a renovated Central Market District. Fast forward to 2007 , this booksotore is closed to the public due to lack of economic street level retail activity. Booze , cheap beer , and vomit are found in these parts instead. My old hero's the homeless men and women who lived and survived around the Central Market were polite and corteous compared to the coarse well fed drunken bums who gravitate around here currently. Bookselling Time! All this blather concerning vegetables , and not even a politician in sight. A scarce compendious tome is JANE GRIGSON"S VEGETABLE BOOK. If you are to own one volume on the subject of vegetables this would be a fine choice. Smartly researched and penned , this delightful volume won the prized 1978 Glenfidich Writer of the Year Award in England.

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