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Fracking - or how the Plutocrats decide our Future-Poison anyone??Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 01/19/2013 - 18:17.
Some of you may have missed the Plain Dealer's glowing review of fake-environmentalist Rich Cochran at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy (also home to REALNEO's favorite Cuyahoga County crook)-- The Land Bank allows rich folks to get title on properties cleansed. That's all folks. http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/12/part-visionary_part-realist_al.html Crain's Cleveland is also hosting a Shale Summit with Rich Cochran as the key note speaker: http://www.crainscleveland.com/section/SHALE_SUMMIT_agenda For Ed Fitzgerald, What you are reading in the comment section is just a part of the real problem in Cuyahoga County , The Non-Profit Sector is Mismanaged. Harmony with the world will not be achieved by helping frackers. There will be hell to pay for that instead. At least you said you're concerned. Sure haven't been until now.
With some concern I have read the comments associated with this story. It is interesting to observe that Frolik's story begins with "in an age of over-heated, I'm right, You're wrong, public discourse" and in the story he tries to celebrate a more civil and balanced discourse. And then there appear a series of over-heated comments. While the merits of my convictions are always subject to debate, I have to wonder why some people attribute such malintent to me and our organization. We are all doing our best to make the world a better place. I am sorry if we do not always do that in the manner that everyone believes to be right. We will continue to do our best, we will always consider new and challenging points of view, and we will grow and change as the world evolves with and around us. I hope that everyone who is interested will participate with us in this process in a constructive and harmonious manner. This is the ultimate lesson of nature; when we seek harmony with the world and with others we succeed, and when we fight we all suffer. Happy new year to all ...
Please, refute any statements I have posted as being incorrect.
I am of a mind to move that the original conservancy that I belonged to REMOVE ITSELF form WRLC IMMEDIATELY. I will see if this can happen. Including all it's lands. NO clue if it's legal, but boy am I fired up! Listen , folks, the ppl I know saved land FOR the people and it is STILL for the people, not the rich. That's why we did it. Not for this gas and oil -developer serving nonsense calling itself a "Conservancy" I AM INCREASINGLY ASHAMED OF THE LAND CONSERVANCY THAT I AND MY OWN HELPED TO FORM. WHY AM I SHOUTING? BECAUSE WRLC NEEDS TO LISTEN. ... Rich Cochran! Please GROW A SPINE!!!!!!! SPINE was what CREATED WRLC, not giving in to gas and oil interests and developers who you dub "conservation minded" - what you called Mr Schneider of 1st Interstate. CONSERVATION MINDED? Are you insane????... The DUTY of a Land Conservancy such as WRLC IS to oppose such horrors as fracking. To dub it a "an impending blizzard. You can't be for or against a blizzard; it is coming and you need to deal with it as best you can" is to give up before you have even tried. I choose to remain anonymous, but Mr Cochran, I am one who saw the formation of WRLC and am deeply entrenched at the root of the groups that founded it. Your decisions lately, with this, and with having Mr Schneider on the board, are questionable and tear at the heart of what WRLC should be. You are turning it into a Club for the Rich, not a tool for the People as it should be. Wake UP before it's too late. Shame on you and shame on WRLC if you do NOT oppose fracking as a matter of principle. What is WRONG with you? This horror literally will poison the ground BENEATH CONSERVED LANDS!!!! Excuse me while I go puke and mourn all the early work done by myself and other folks who ARE THE CORE OF WRLC. ... Ya know, the "bigger picture" here, imho, is how "charitable" organizations have taken the place of the old-style country clubs. Oh, and their the Knights In Shining Armor, to boot!... they're Looks like Rich Cochran has his head screwed on correctly.
Yes, that's a good sound bite. User ID:http://connect.advance.net/user/GarryKanter/index.html Rokkakis spent a decade battling the foreclosure crisis??? Really? That long? Didn't the foreclosure crisis start about 2007 peaking after that? And he left office when? A decade ago was 2002 if we're going by today's "...about a decade ago." Hey I'm all for giving credit where credit is due, but embellishing is not the stuff of Pulitizer Prize winners or even 7-day-a-week newspapers, is it?...
I don't know what Mr. Rokakis did or didn't do, but there *were* people at the local level who recognized the fraud that was taking place, well before the collapse. Based on the statements of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy's president, the Western Reserve Land Conservancy's function is to reduce taxes for the wealthy, not to protect the environment. Mitchell Schneider's presence on the board is a sign of corruption and a clear statement that the Western Reserve Land Conservancy's primary goal is self-perpetuation, not concern for the environment. thomtoenail likes this. Yeah, that fracking capitulation is jaw-dropping to me. Since the turn of the 19th century, *real* environmentalists fought as hard as they could, for as long as they could. Logging, oil, animals, water, you name it. To equate legislation as being as inevitable as a blizzard is off the chart. No environmentalist could believe that. For this group to state that in their annual report tells me *everything* I need to know about them. ... The aforementioned concerns are a big problem with this group. It would be great if their motives were truly altruistic, however from studying their actions it appears that a lot of times they act in the interests of developers bankrolling their operation. Kind of defeats the purpose of a true conservancy group. We here living in the Heights are still mightily disappointed in how Oakwood played out.... I'm all for private conservancy groups using privately-collected money from donors to make their land purchases for conservationist goals; that's what America is all about.
Oh, and check out the $6.5 MILLION new & restored digs mostly paid for by a single anonymous donation.
Garry, it's difficult to understand your arguments here.
There's nothing to refute.... Thank you. I agree.... With the following attitude, Mr. Cochran should be Big Gas and Oil's best friend.
Well actually if you rely upon snow to make a profit then I think you would be "for" a blizzard especially when typical snowfalls are lacking. Bad answer. Here's a better one: "When we see an opportunity to jump in bed with someone who benefits our reason for existence, then we jump by golly!"...
I guess the 154 acre Oakwood golf course in South Euclid and Cleveland Heights wasn't good enough for the WRLC to look out for. ThePhoenician likes this.
Yep, the Oakwood/Walmart developer is on the Board Of Trustees of the WRLC, and is included in the largest donor category in the annual report linked in the article.
So let me get this straight: Cochran doesn't spend his conservancy's resources exactly how you think is important (in your back yard, no less) and somehow his group is suddenly 'fishy'. Let me ask you, where *exactly* does my "back yard" begin and end? 'Cause the Oakwood/Walmart developer and the South Euclid city council called us Cleveland Heights folks outside agitators, and worse. The SE council president is quoted in the Sun Papers telling us to crawl back under our rocks. Now, you're calling me a NIMBY. You got a rule book, or something, that clarifies these things? I ask all the time, but no one ever gives me the rules....
I need to make a correction: The board member I referred to is not in the largest, "Leaders", donor group, he's listed in the "Guardian" group.
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WRLC is a front...fake philanthropy for the RICH...
SEE the playbook - in NYC like CLE - a town that LIKES to pride itself on their complete control of the media.
http://realneo.us/content/forest-city-politics-money-corruption-real-estate-high-class-pimps-sheldon-silver-bruce-ratn
http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2014/12/cleveland_city_council_to_disc_2.html
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Based on the statements of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy's president, the Western Reserve Land Conservancy's function is to reduce taxes for the wealthy, not to protect the environment. Mitchell Schneider's presence on the board is a sign of corruption and a clear statement that the Western Reserve Land Conservancy's primary goal is self-perpetuation, not concern for the environment.
No one who cares about the environment should donate to them--neither individuals nor philanthropic organizations. WRLC's opportunistic stance on fracking speaks loud and clear that they are an "environmental" group that DOES NOT defend the environment.
I will tell everyone I can not to donate to them. There are lots of alternatives if you want to conserve land in our area; support Trust for Public Land . At least they tried to save Oakwood.
Here's Rich Cochran's INSANE 2012 salary $326,616 and Jim Rokakis' KICKBACKS $128,500 - a friend just told me that Thieving Communities is pawning their "tree program" in the suburbs - PURE Bullshit... DON'T GIVE TO THIS FAKE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP!!!!
They are also pawning a "Tree Stewardship" program to CLE council folk and to heavy Dem suburbs like Parma, Brookpark and Brooklyn - TRAIN residents to PRUNE trees in public parks - I KID you not... INSANE>>> Watch your pocketbook - you are being FLEECED!
http://www.wrlandconservancy.org/TreeStewardTraining.htm
In case you doubted the "friends with benefits" connection between WRLC and Cuyahoga Land Bank - let me clarify:
https://twitter.com/CuyaLandBank/status/717688959887937536
Phillip Morris sings praise of fake messiah Rokakis-WRLC at behest of his editors:
http://www.cleveland.com/morris/index.ssf/2016/04/east_clevelands_limited_dowry.html
My comment which will be deleted:
How convenient - first Treasurer Rokakis and Deputy Treasurer Frangos sell every low hanging fruit tax lien in East Cleveland and then WRLC comes in to swoop up all of those "land bank" properties for the right investors. Keep protecting these two because Brent Larkin is a special friend of Jim Rokakis. One day, the feds will catch up and PD will look stupid again. http://realneo.us/content/archiving-pd-comments
RE: YMCA property at 3881 West 25th St:
I have several unanswered emails to Brian Cummins - ironically, he wants to pretend that he is transparent and a proponent of open govt. Not so - BTW - I archived this information:http://realneo.us/system/files/images/te...
Detroit Shoreway made close to a million dollars on the Templin low-income tax credit project. So, do the math on the PSH project and what they expect to get in return. Also - I sent this to Dane Reich : at 30.08 secs into this Ideastream interview - Akram Boutros admits he has fielded a request for a hotel and grocery store in the Metrohealth service area. Obviously, he did not follow the Ramsey-Cummins script because both of these crooks said there has been absolutely NO interest in a hotel or grocery store on W. 25th. So, who is lying?? http://wcpn.ideastream.org/programs/soun... I don't think the good doctor is lying - but he probably knows that WRLC that has former Old Brooklyn councilman Jim Rokakis on their special West 25th Corridor Thriving Communities payroll to the tune of $129K salary -and Rokakis is also pushing development on the Henninger property (former dump south of Big Creek) owned by ...you guessed it WRLC - and guess who is on the board of WRLC and Metrohealth!! Mitch Schneider.
November 6, 2016 -comments posted to Freshwater Cleveland Spin piece
http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/LandConservancy110316.aspx
I can tell you what's next - the big flip on the vacant YMCA next to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The Land Bank just accepted an industrial property from a property owner - the property at 3873 West 25th has not been in housing court and has been current on the taxes. The Land Bank will fraudulently use TARP Hardest Hit Funds or Cuyahoga County's $50 million dollar slush fund for demolition companies to demo the industrial building and the vacant YMCA building that was flipped and owed over 118K in back taxes allowed to accumulate while Brian Cummins was councilperson and Jim Rokakis was the County Treasurer.
After the large demo contract is rigged with a Cuyahoga County favorite like Marous Construction, the Land Bank will transfer to Detroit Shoreway and or Cleveland Housing Network to proceed with the OHFA application for low-income tax credits. This application is sure to net a cool million dollars for Detroit Shoreway and construction contracts steered to Giban, Fodor and/or Panzica. What is the community left with? Prison cells for chronically homeless people next to the number one, year-round family tourist destination in Northeast Ohio. http://realneo.us/.../172983-400-square-foot-studio-and...
As a community, we lose, forever, the potential to capitalize on trail connections to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The region loses a potential tax return on a highly commercial property site that is certainly more suited to a hotel development than a homeless warehouse.
BTW - CHN keeps building these cash cows - they were awarded the Emerald Alliance contract for another project this past springhttp://www.chnnet.com/permanent-supportive-housing.aspx The liberal bandwagon wants to chew me out over my lack of "compassion" for their efforts - well, the liberal bandwagon can put the housing next to their suburban homes (you'll note that these homeless warehouses are only in the City of Cleveland). Cleveland Housing Network is also the largest rental property owner in Northeast Ohio - and their properties look like this:http://realneo.us/.../cleveland-housing-network...
Blocked at PD - Use CHROME browser
I was alerted that the Cleveland.com site doesn't show comments or allow comments with browser IE and Mozilla. Try Chrome. It worked for me :)
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/12/part-visionary_part-r...
And, related-who is left at the PD anyway?? See: http://www.gabrielbaird.com
PD comments
Thanks,,
* My blogs expressing my Freedom of Speech Rights, especially on matters of public concern, are my opinion and not the opinion of my friends, family or employer*
NOW Taxpayers pay Zone's salary at WRLC
https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2020/09/27/councilman-matt-zone-to-resign-will-become-vp-at-western-reserve-land-conservancy?
WEEKEND announcement - the graft machine set up by Rokakis is in full swing. Little men love rackets. And, the Hellenic society keeps land gamble cash in the fold.
Here is a cached snapshot of the fundraiser that occurred in April 2009. Worth noting:
Please join us in Supporting Jim Rokakis
Wednesday, April 2nd | 5:30pm to 7:30pm
The Union Club of Cleveland | 1211 Euclid Avenue
(The parking garage is connected to the club on E. 12th)
Suggested minimum contribution is $250 per individual, $500 per couple
Event Chair: Lou Frangos
Co Hosts:
Michael Alex Gus Bitounis Angelo Coutris
Gus Frangos Michael Henry George Loucas
Bert Moyar Christopher Pasiadis John Powers
Tony Sinagra Angelo Stames Theodore Zampetis
Lee Zapis
More information is available by calling Dee at 216.621.9255
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Executives at Forest City Enterprises, a powerful Cleveland developer, don't seem to mind solicitations.
Albert Ratner, the company's co-chairman, and family members contributed $10,000 to Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis in his last election cycle in 2008, and they gave $14,000 to Russo in his last election cycle in 2006, reports show.
"The land conservancy declined to reveal Rokakis' salary.
"We don't disclose our employees' salaries ever," said Cochran."
-2019Council Member(s)KelleyAN EMERGENCY ORDINANCEAuthorizing the Clerk of Councilto enter into an agreement with Western Reserve Land Conservancy d/b/a Thriving Communities Instituteto provideprofessional services regarding the Vacant and Abandoned Property Action Council (VAPAC), reforestation, demolition funding, rehabilitation,code enforcement, greenspace, and property information.WHEREAS, this ordinance constitutes an emergency measure providing for the usual daily operation of a municipal department; now, therefore,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND:Section 1.That the Clerk of Councilis authorized to enter into anagreementwith Western Reserve Land Conservancy d/b/a Thriving Communities Institute to provide professional servicesregarding the Vacant and Abandoned Property Action Council (VAPAC), reforestation, demolition funding, rehabilitation,code enforcement, greenspace, and property information,for a one year period beginningJanuary1,2020and concluding December 31,2020.Section 2.That the cost of said contract shall not exceed $150,000and shall be certifiedfrom Fund 01, Dept. 0101, Subfund001, Object Code6320.Section 3.That this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and, provided it receives the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to Council, it shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its passage and approval by the Mayor; otherwise it shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.Jho11-25-19For: Council Member Kelley
"So Cochran recruited Rokakis to run a new conservancy initiative, the Thriving Communities Institute. It soon will have helped launch land banks in 12 of the conservancy's 14 counties. But at Cochran's urging, Rokakis is ranging beyond that footprint."
The Land Bank allows rich folks (aka WRLC) to get title on properties cleansed. That's all folks.
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/12/part-visionary_part-realist_al.html
Matt Zone broke all kinds of laws when he KNOWINGLY voted to fund his own salary by voting on this legislation in November 2019. He steps down from Cleveland City Council in 2020.
Wake up to the racket that has destroyed black lives in Cleveland - federal dollars that have gone into the pockets of crooked politicians - working under guise of "non-profits" and CDCs that line up their loyalists to take their seat in Cleveland City Council - Blaine Griffin you need to speak out against the practice even though you benefited from the appointment process. What Zone is doing is insuring that the real estate control of city votes will continue under his hand-picked successor.
Roldo Rokakis lover Sam Allard reports
http://realneo.us/content/sam-allard-already-knows-wrlc-he-wont-out-rokakis
A trailer with a message supporting Euclid Beach residents crashes a WRLC fundraiser. Photo: Sam Allard/Axios
Driving the news: In a newly obtained letter from 2019, Western Reserve Land Conservancy president and CEO Rich Cochran inquired about buying the mobile home park from its Texas-based owner and discussed removing its occupants.
Why it matters: For residents, the letter is evidence that their displacement had been preordained and that the community planning process, which resulted in the decision to close the park, was a sham.
What it said: "In addition to the cost of physically preparing the site, there is the matter of convincing people to leave their current residential situation," Cochran wrote in his Aug. 13, 2019, letter to Jim Moore, the former owner.
Context: The Legal Aid Society of Greater Cleveland, which is representing the residents of Euclid Beach, obtained the letter via a public records request to the Cleveland Metroparks. The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) shared it with Axios.
The other side: A statement from NEOCH said Euclid Beach residents believed all along that WRLC was "hiding behind the veneer of public engagement."
The latest: The Mandel Foundation last week announced grants totaling $24 million that will go toward Cleveland's east side lakefront, including $10 million to help rehouse the mobile home park's remaining occupants.