A friend wrote me to say she had one drink at an E. 4th new street restaurant. The bill: $13. She questioned it. The server proclaimed, “This is DOWNTOWN.” Downtown? Downtown Manhattan, you mean?

 Looks as if Eaton Corp. bigwigs are laughing heartedly at all us suckers in Ohio. They are ready to pocket $90 million in subsidies for INCREASING jobs as they plan further to CUT jobs, the company says.

“I would suggest to you that the Mall C site is by far the superior site for several reasons,” writes Jeff Jacobs in an ad today. He didn’t add, “And my dad owns the hotel and parking garage across the street!”

The retirement of Glenville Councilwoman Sabra Pierce Scott should mean a return to city hall of Jeff Johnson. With a bit of humility Johnson becomes a strong future possibility for Mayor of Cleveland.

The desperation of our grasping corporatists has to amaze anyone who has watched the fiasco that goes for civic and public decision-making.

If there is any evidence that symbolizes the indecency of our society it’s the story of a young Newark, Ohio student on the front page of the New York Times today.

Did the Plain Dealer actually think that Cuyahoga County Commissioners would really insist MMPI pay property taxes?

Our two-faced hypocrite Sen. George Voinovich has been caught revealing his true nature.

Cleveland’s Scene does a well-deserved job on County Commissioner Tim Hagan.

Did anyone really expect anything but a screw job from the final deal for MMPI?

The taxes keep rolling into Cuyahoga County. County taxpayers are a hardy bunch.

I recently wrote about Mark DeMarino leaving journalism, at least temporarily. He felt a bit shortchanged in one department.

Plain Dealer editor Susan Goldberg won’t be joining political free-loaders at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction dinner. We don’t know about PD publisher Terry Egger.

More discouraging words about the Medical Mart planned here by MMPI and its use of $1 billion tax dollars – a furniture mart in plan.

 One of the unsung heroes of Cleveland journalism quietly ended a long broadcast career here last week with no fanfare.

 If you have an interest in our state parks I’d suggest you take some advice from Randy Cunningham.

Okay, you poor losers in Cleveland get on your knees to Christopher Kennedy. Beg Chris to come.

Hopefully, the Rock and Roll induction in Cleveland will help put money into the pockets of waitresses, waiters, some downtown businesses and panhandlers.

WOIO TV 19 has the search warrants on Sheriff Gerald McFaul on its website. McFaul resigned yesterday as FBI agents raided his offices.

“I’m shocked! Shocked to find gambling going on in here,” wrote Brent Larkin this morning. Not literally but you get the idea.

People, get your handkerchiefs out.

The decline in sales tax receipts in March for Cuyahoga County was the highest in two decades, indicating troubles in retail sales here.

 How far away can the end be?

 Someone alerted me to a WCPN show yesterday where Chris Evans of the Plain Dealer described County Commissioner Tim Hagan as aptly as anyone could.

 Ohio’s jobs picture looks more than dismal. It’s pathetic.