The campaign is opposing the Sin Tax levy to support Arts and Culture paid for by the Cigarette Smokers of Cuyahoga County, Ohio that will be on the November 3, 2015 ballot.

 

The campaign officially kicked off on June 24, 2015.  As of September 19, 2015 – there have been 62-demonstrations for a total of 235-hours. 

 

My campaign is opposing the estimated $1.6 million campaign launched by the proponents.

 

The ten-year levy (2017-2026) on cigarettes, if it passes, at the rate of 30 cents per pack will be a continuation of the existing (2007-2016) levy. The Sin Tax levy, promoted by Jimmy Demure, was first approved in 2006 by a vote of 56 to 44%.

 

While I don’t smoke, I love the Arts and the role they play in enriching our lives on a daily basis. As a volunteer teacher, for the past 10-years, at a CMSD (Cleveland Metropolitan School District) school -- I have integrated the Arts in the teaching of Science, Math, and Engineering. 

The practice, in Cuyahoga County, to tax cigarette smokers to support the arts is unfair, totally repugnant, and aesthetically insensitive.Sin Taxes are regressive taxes that take a higher percentage of income 

from our poorest and most vulnerable citizens – the young, poor, and uneducated 

– who are much more likely to be smokers. This is a social justice issue. 

We need fair funding for the arts where we all pay – not just taxing cigarette smokers to pay for an activity we all enjoy.

 

 

We also need to stop corporate funding of the arts:

 

*For example, our famed Cleveland Museum of Art with nearly $1 billion in assets ($896 million to be exact) has received, since 2006, $11.8 million from taxes on cigarettes. 

 

*Also, the Cleveland Orchestra, with over $250 million in assets,

has received, since 2006, $15.3 million from taxes on cigarettes.

(Ref. Roldo Bartimole: “OLD CLEVELAND WEALTH CAN FUND THE ARTS”, May 28, 2015)

 

So far there have been 62 demonstrations for a total of 235-hours in all eleven Cuyahoga County districts except district 6 – from South Euclid in the East to the county border with Lorain on the West, and from the shores of Lake Erie in the North to Middleburg Heights in the South – covered by walking and use of Greater Cleveland RTA public transportation. I demonstrate along streets and at busy traffic intersections using my VOTE NO ON SIN TAX signs. I walk for miles on end and use public transportation to cover long distances. So far, I have walked the equivalent of over 700 miles. I have distributed over 900 flyers (only to those who request a copy), and thousands have seen the campaign signs. The demonstrations officially started on June 24, 2015. More demonstrations will continue on a regular basis all over Cuyahoga County challenging the $1.6 million campaign launched by the proponents of the 2015 Sin Tax. 

 

The estimated $1.6 million campaign that is being supported by Cuyahoga County’s political machine, the rich arts establishment, the powerful business community, corporate welfare recipients, and the Plain Dealer’s reporters is being challenged by a senior citizen -- an army of one -- CEO, President, Secretary, and Treasurer – all rolled in one – based on the belief that it takes only one finger to stir the pot. I have a dedicated Facebook group and my own blog at REALNEO. I have literally no expenses. The $5 VOTE NO ON SIN TAX signs are left over from last year’s campaign. The flyers are printed at home.

 

I have spoken at six Cuyahoga County Council meetings – calling for fair funding for the arts where we all pay, not just cigarette smokers, for an activity we all enjoy. Unfortunately, the council members ignored all my requests.

 

At the June 23, 2015 meeting, I posed a question for our Council members pertaining to the issue of Social Justice:

 

 

Well, two members responded: Councilmen Germana and Schron said that the Sin Tax was not perfect but did not address the issue of fairness as stated in the question. 

 

Four other members spoke: President Brady and Council members -- Conwell, Simon, and Miller -- but did not respond to the question. 

 

Four members did not speak: Council members -- Greenspan, Brown, Gallagher and Hairston.

 

Vice President Jones, the eleventh member was absent 

 

All ten members present voted YES to ask the voters to continue the 10-year old levy on cigarettes (30 cents per pack) for another ten years – to pay for Arts and Culture. The entire discussion lasted less than 10 minutes for such an important legislation that may be around for another ten years – strangulating the poor.

 

The Sin Tax levy, promoted by Jimmy Dimora, was first approved in 2006 by a vote of 56 to 44%.

 

I continue to speak at Council meetings, post June 23, 2015,  updating members about my campaign. So far I have spoken at five  such meetings. 

 

Artists are known for portraying social injustice in their works. 

 

At the Cuyahoga County Council meetings of May 12, May 26, and June 23, 2015 – a parade of speakers urged continuation of the Sin Tax because the Arts benefit the community.

 

That the Arts benefit our community is indisputable. 

 

What is also indisputable is that this benefit results from direct exploitation of the weak and powerless.

 

Yet no one at the three meetings (May 12, 26, and June 23)  – I repeat no one -- questioned whether this exploitation of the weak and powerless to fund a noble activity like the Arts was the right thing to do. 

 

It is very easy to talk about and portray social injustice in works of art – but not so easy to fight social injustice if one is benefiting from the exploitation with financial grants.

Note: While I have heard from individual artists, outside the Cuyahoga County Council chambers, who oppose the Sin Tax for Arts and Culture – there is no organized effort on behalf of the artists to oppose the 2015 Sin tax levy that I am aware of. 

 

Steven Litt, famed Art & Architectural critic of The Plain Dealer, while reporting on the June 23, 2015 Cuyahoga County Council meeting wrote about the supporters of the Sin Tax for the Arts -- for the most part -- the rich and powerful in Cleveland, Ohio -- who spoke at the meeting – but made no mention of me (Satinder P. S. Puri) and what I said at the meeting. As a Cleveland activist, I have been consistently opposing the Sin Tax for the Arts, (VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015 campaign) and have spoken at six Council meetings. Details of the June 23, 2015 meeting and the absence of full coverage by Mr. Litt can be found on my blog at REALNEO: http://realneo.us/content/breaking-news-plain-dealer-bed-rich-and-powerf... ORGANIZED OPPOSITION?:

Steven Litt, Art and Architectural critic of The Plain Dealer– writing on 

Cleveland .com on June 23, 2015 stated: “No organized opposition to the renewal has emerged.” Again on July 23 and July 31, 2015, Mr. Litt stated: “No organized opposition to the renewal has emerged.”

 

In my opinion, The Plain Dealer has become a propaganda machine for the rich and powerful in Cleveland, Ohio. Also, according to Roldo Bartimole, Cleveland’s conscience, The PD is a bought propaganda machine.

 

07-11-15: BREAKING NEWS: IS THE PLAIN DEALER IN BED WITH THE RICH AND POWERFUL IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

 

08-07-15: LATE NEWS: 26TH ANNUAL PARADE THE CIRCLE EVENT WELCOMED VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN!

 

08-23-15: VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN OUTSIDE THE “Q” DURING THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

 

09-08-15: VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN OUTSIDE PROGRESSIVE FIELD IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

 

09-14-15: VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN AT THE 2015 ANNUAL LABOR DAY PARADE IN CLEVELAND, OHIO

 

 

Music, Painting, Drama, Drawing, Dance, Sculpture, Opera, etc.

We should all pay taxes to fund the Arts, not just tax citizens who smoke. 

VOTE NO ON 8,

VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO

 

 

 

 

SUPPORT THE ARTS BUT NOT ON THE BACKS OF THE POOR.

FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

VOTE NO ON 8,

VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO

 

 

 

have provided, since 2006, $125 million, for Cuyahoga Arts & Culture including Parade the Circle event. 

THIS IS NOT FAIR! FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE!

VOTE NO ON 8,

VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO

 

 

 

 

VOTE NO ON 8,

TAX ALL OR TAX NONE.

VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO

 

 

 

  

 

FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

VOTE NO ON 8,

VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paid for by:

The Cigarette Smokers of Cuyahoga County.

 

Cleveland Museum of Art with nearly $1 billion in assets ($896 million to be exact) has received, since 2006, $11.8 million from taxes on cigarettes. (Ref. Roldo Bartimole: “OLD CLEVELAND WEALTH CAN FUND THE ARTS”, May 28, 2015)

THIS IS NOT FAIR!

VOTE NO ON 8,

on November 3, 2015, fight for Social Justice and VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paid for by:

The Cigarette Smokers of Cuyahoga County.

The Cleveland Orchestra, with over $250 million in assets,

has received, since 2006, $15.3 million from taxes on cigarettes.

(Ref. Roldo Bartimole: “OLD CLEVELAND WEALTH CAN FUND THE ARTS”, May 28, 2015)

THIS IS NOT FAIR!

On November 3, 2015, fight for Social Justice and VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8!

 

 

 

 

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture a.k.a. Cigarette Smokers of Cuyahoga County. 

FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

VOTE NO ON 8,

VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO

 

 

 

 

FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.

VOTE NO ON 8,

VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO

 

 

 

VOTE NO ON 8,

VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I’ve given it a lot of thought …..

And Arts & Culture WORKS in Cuyahoga County, Ohio on the backs of the young, poor, and uneducated – who are much likely to be smokers. This is a Social Justice issue. 

VOTE NO ON 8,

VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO

 

 

 

VOTE NO ON 8,

VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO

 

 

 

 

VOTE NO ON 8,

VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO