Berkeley of the Midwest: Toledo mayor orders Marines to leave
Berkeley’s troop-bashing virus has spread to Ohio. Looks like the mayor of Toledo hates the Marines. He’s demanding that they leave town and treating them like demons. Via the Toledo Blade:
A company of Marine Corps Reservists received a cold send-off from downtown Toledo yesterday by order of Mayor Carty Finkbeiner.
The 200 members of Company A, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., planned to spend their weekend engaged in urban patrol exercises on the streets of downtown as well as inside the mostly vacant Madison Building, 607 Madison Ave.
Toledo police knew days in advance about their plans for a three-day exercise. Yet somehow the memo never made it to Mayor Finkbeiner, who ordered the Marines out yesterday afternoon just minutes before their buses were to arrive.
“The mayor asked them to leave because they frighten people,” said Brian Schwartz, the mayor’s spokesman.
“He did not want them practicing and drilling in a highly visible area.”
The article doesn’t tell you want political party Finkbeiner belongs to…but you can guess.
Seems like the guy’s got a history of jerkitude, if even half of this Wikipedia run down is accurate:
* Toledo restaurateur John Skiadas filed a law-suit alleging that Finkbeiner physically and verbally assaulted him at the Erie Street Market in 2000. The lawsuit was dismissed by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Charles Wittenberg in 2004.
* Finkbeiner was the focus of a segment on the Daily Show poking fun at statements he made suggesting that Toledo could be the next Hollywood. During the interview, Carty expressed his ideas while the camera fixated on Toledo’s most rundown neighborhoods, contrasting them with the glitz and glamor of Hollywood. The segment aired during the 1997-98 season.
* On July 1, 1998, Carty was fined $400 and court costs after pleading guilty to ethics charges when he was Mayor, realized a $10,000 profit from Owens Corning’s purchase of his condo, and his failure to publicly report the gain.
* Finkbeiner suggested relieving the problem of noise complaints from neighbors of Toledo Express Airport by selling homes nearby at low cost to deaf people.
* In early 2006, political adversaries scoffed over the Mayor spending $9,996 of city money to complete the installation of shower facilities in the City Government building. They attempted to label the project a “controversy” because the shower quote was originally $10,006, six dollars over a threshold that requires approval from City Council. The contractor was able to shave $10 from the project, something a vocal minority felt was unethical.
* In May 2006, he called Toledo’s African-American Fire Chief Michael Bell “King Kong” at a staff meeting. Finkbeiner later clarified his remarks as relating to the Chiefs physical stature, and Chief Bell has acknowledged in public that he took no offense to the remarks.
* In June 2006, Jack Smith resigned from his brief tenure as Chief of Police after what he described as a near-physical confrontation with the mayor after they exchanged words.
* In January 2007, Finkbeiner claimed that both he and wife Amy were treated unprofessionally by Ottawa County sheriff’s deputies when they tried to visit Amy’s son, an inmate, on separate occasions. Amy Finkbeiner claimed she was not allowed to use a ladies’ room at the jail, while Finkbeiner said he was denied a chance to visit after visiting hours had concluded. Sheriff Bob Bratton said the deputies were only doing their jobs.* Also, in Jaunary 2007 Finkbeiner and his press secretary were sued by radio station WSPD, claiming that First Amendment provisions regarding freedom of the press were violated when the press secretary forcibly kept a station employee out of a public press conference. Finkbeiner’s objection to the employee is that he produces opinions and editorials, and is not in fact a reporter on behalf of WSPD. On January 31, a federal judge granted the station a permanent injunction requiring Finkbeiner and his staff to admit station personnel.
* FinkBeiner has also suggested a cafe be built on the Martin Luther King bridge so city employees could eat there while the bridge was undergoing construction.
* In August 2007, Finkbeiner was confronted on two occasions by reporters because he parked in a handicapped spot and left his dog in the car during a hot spell. Finkbeiner was ticketed and fined, but denied mistreating the animal.
***
Contact info for the mayor:
mayor.toledo@toledo.oh.gov
***
Reader Paul e-mails:
Michelle,
A recent post on your website labled the city of Toledo, Ohio the “Berkeley of the Midwest.” While telling the Marines to get out of sight because they “scare people” is a…heh…a good first effort, My hometown of Madison, Wisconsin has long had the “honor” of being the “Berkeley of the Midwest” and it will take more than that little stunt to dethrone us. Has Toledo ever banned the Pledge of Allegiance from its schools? Does Toledo have a University that holds a celebration on the anniversary of the Russian Revolution (the Bolshevik one, not the Democratic one)? Does Toledo have a street where you walk past an honest-to-God hippie drum circle on your way to (I am not making this up) The Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative?
So you see Michelle, the one consolation I take from living in this hive of Moonbattery is that we are as poorly regarded as Berkeley. With respect to the Mayor of Toledo, he still has a way to go.
Best,
Paul Courchane
People’s Republic of Madison
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I always wondered were the term “what A Fink” came from. Sounds like Toledo OH. needs to lose some federal funds also.
How do these clowns keep getting elected to public office?
He’s a dhimicrat:
Here’s the link<
I hope this helps.
GSP
Go Marines!
“Semper Fi”
The comedian Gallagher used to suggest that we move the deaf people out by the airports and have the Jehovah’s Witnesses deliver the mail.
I never thought anyone, let alone an elected official, would take the suggestions seriously. I guess if the feds didn’t control the Post Office, this jerk of a mayor would be following Gallagher’s second suggestion.
Are you Toledo residents so deep in the grip of the democrat party that you will suffer any embarassment rather than vote for someone else?
WTF? He has the authority to do that?
The Feds should make an example of someone before this kind of behavior become fashionable…
Yeah I thought our country’s 2nd Civil War would come about over immigration, but I guess it is going to be over military recruiters?
I’m pleased that the Marines terrify Finkbeiner.
Sad to say this but they get elected the same way John McCain will (if he is elected)
Witnessing The Fall of Western Civilzation, lets not and say we did.
Why do the people who are protecting you, frighten you and are you an American? Too many people have forgotten where they came from. The pussification of America marches on. The progressives won’t be happy till they tame what is left of the American Spirit. You know the American Spirit thats has kept us intact all these years. George Orwell sitting straight up and weeping in his grave.
Another corrupt politician obsessed with himself and with power. You’ll always have those around. Chavez “wannabes”. Add Toledo to the list of NO federal money.
Just say it Michelle…. Democrat!
I am embarrassed to say that I live in Ohio.
How frightened would the people be when the streets are patrolled by rag heads carrying AK-47′s?
Well…no need to look beyond this years Republican primaries to answer that one.
Mayor Fink has a history of violent confrontations, and he say the Marines scare people? Well, I guess he would know!
No surprise he is a Dem because he is definitely a jack-ass … (although it says he has run as a Rep and an Ind in the past as well)
From the link info I suspect he gets away with pretty much anything and everything legal or not that he does … and he realizes that if the Marines are in town for a few days he suddenly can’t run everyone and everything …
Most mayors would be proud that their city was selected for such a 3-day exercise and the money and recognition it would bring their city …
Sounds like he really should be brought up on fraud, graft and racketeering charges …
BTW … is Toledo in Kucinich’s district? … just curious …
Wow! That is some history of jerkitude to say the least. That’s enough material for Saturday Night Live to air for an entire season.
May God Bless the USMC!!!
They weren’t scaring the people…they were scaring the mayor. He probably doesn’t
believe the Middle East even exists. If he does, he must feel that they are just
friendly people wanting to get to know us better (preferably in pieces or inside out).
Dave Meserve in Arcata, CA has drafted an ordinance and submitted it to the Arcata, CA city clerk and the city attorney . They will have 15 days to review it and provide a title and ballot summary for the November 2008 ballot. Then Meserve can begin gathering signatures to get it on the ballot.
Here’s the draft ordinance:
ARCATA YOUTH PROTECTION ACT: AN ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT THE MILITARY RECRUITMENT OF ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN
To protect the welfare of our youth, the People of Arcata Ordain as Follows:
No person who is employed by or an agent of the United States government shall, within the City of Arcata, in the execution of his or her job duties, recruit, initiate contact with for the purpose of recruiting, or promote the future enlistment of any person under the age of eighteen into any branch of the United States Armed Forces.
This Ordinance is adopted and enacted pursuant to the authority guaranteed to the people of Arcata by the California Constitution (Article 2, Section1) and the U.S. Constitution (Amendments IX and X) which guarantee political power to the people and recognize the right to exercise that power through initiative and referendum (California Constitution Article 4, Section I).
Here’s where you can send an email and let the elected officials of Arcata know what you think about this: http://www.cityofarcata.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=89&Itemid=124
It is the job of the Marines to scare the crap out of the enemy. The mayor should take great comfort that they are on our side.
I doubt you can get ahold of the good mayor today. He is probably with his fellow “Vagina Warriors”.
Has DeMint been notified of this?
Here in the Phoenix area we are proud to have had the Marines practice urban exercises in the past and would welcome them again. I have had Marine helicoptors circle my house many times and the sound of freedom is a welcome pulse in my ears. I hope the Marines decide to come back for more training, we love them here.
This mayor strikes me as the type that would wear dresses like Corporal/Sergeant Maxwell Q. Klinger did on MASH.
Perhaps they can expand the Semper Fi Act of 2008 to cover any municipality that hinders or impeds the Armed Forces of the U.S in carrying out their duties in any way, shap or form.
dm60462, yup, becoming fashionable PDQ… wonder what the laws are for political indoctrination or gang recruitment for minors are in Arcata?
Is this one of the cities that floods annually in the Spring?
I wonder what would happen if they had a flood and the US military didn’t come and help out.
Wouldn’t want to scare them afterall.
JP
Texas Rose #19
Miss South Carolina said it, they would do better on geography if they had maps! You know that question about why American children couldn’t locate Iraq on map why is that? Maybe a map and the Mayor could figure out where that puts him in relation to the rest of the Country and just maybe we could point out there really is a Middle East.
I am sure Miss South Carolina could explain it better, it appears she speaks his language
I wonder how much this might have to do with Dhimmitude? Having been to Toledo several times on business (a couple of times just months before 9/11 and at least once more after), there are several prominent mosques (at least by location) there, and I recall seeing a taxi driver at the airport on his prayer rug, facing Mecca, at least once leaving that airport.
Oh, and I bet that mayor just LOVES the Sound of Freedom coming from the airport. The runaway is apparently shared between the civilian airport and some military contingent (possibly a reserve unit). On time I was sitting waiting for my flight to board and I heard this horrendously loud noise. Looked out the windows that run along the top of the wall in time to see a couple of fighter jets taking off. The noise rattled said windows… I thought it was cool, but maybe not so much for the Mayor…
Texas Rose,
Such as… I think the Mayor and Miss South Carolina have something in common such as…they both need a map to find their way out of a paper bag…such as
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww
I’m gonna plagiarize a comment I left elsewhere on the same subject:
US Marines do not scare Americans. They scare the enemies of America.
Follow that unassailable logic, and you can figure out what this Finkbeiner creep is.
Once again, you have to wonder about the mental capacity of the people who them in office in the first place. And keep re-electing them.
red #6
I was wondering the exact same thing. It’s like a local sheriff telling the FBI to butt out of an investigation— seems like federal power should trump local, at least in that scenario. But I guess Toledo is off the hook unless there is a directive from the Pentagon for troops to have a presence there. So when it’s left up to the mayor’s good graces and respect for the men and women of the Armed Forces, we find ourselves with another idiot who has neither the tact nor intelligence to represent his people. Yank their federal funding… don’t threaten to do it, just do it. Let the folks in Toledo really see what kind of jerk they elected.
He’s an attention grabber. How pathetic.
Maybe this will be what it takes to get him off of that first place on the ballot
and put his opponent there instead. I know that a lot of uninformed voters
will vote for the first name in any place on the ballot instead of reading the
ballot before casting votes. Other people just go for the name they
recognize or one that sounds even vaguely familiar to them. Don’t ask. I
don’t know why, but I do know it’s done.
http”//www.julescrittendon.com/2008/02/02/petard-hoistmanship/
This is about the dimms and their seating or not seating delegates from
Florida and Michigan. Hope it works.
Darn. I don’t know, maybe I’m a dimm. Keep messing
the link up. Please type it in, it’s interesting.
Yep, the Cult of Liberalism is spreading.
traveler49 said:
He’s an attention grabber. How pathetic.
Well he is getting attention here, & on Drudge too… guess the talk radio will be next…
I am starting to like this DeMint fellow, hmmmm maybe in 2012.
Seems we have an over-abundance of dweebs and moonbats that don’t care to pay any respect to our military, much less support their efforts to preserve the freedom of our nation.
These people are everywhere, but it takes a whole-hearted effort to keep from slapping them in the face with a wet mop…hmmm…on the other hand…what’s the penalty for wet-mopping a mayor?
“Carty Finkbeiner?” How the crap does a guy with a name like that not get laughed out of every room he steps in, much less get elected to the top city position?
I’m gonna change my name to Stinky McSnugglepants and see if I can get elected mayor of Toledo.
Dave Meserve in Arcata, CA obviously does not know the first thing about any US Armed Forces recruiters …
You have to be 18 or older to enlist … if an individual approaches the military at age 17 they can not enlist prior to truning 18 without signed permission from their parents … and they go to a recruiter office and ask on their own … they are not actively sought out by the recruiters …
I enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17 so I should know … I had already graduated from High School and was still 4 months away from my 18th birthday … my parents had to sign legal papers with the Marine Corps for me to join before I turned 18 … had they not signed those papers I would have had to wait until I turned 18 to enlist on my own …
I am sure that Dave Meserve has never served this country or even given it a thought at any point in his life … and I would pretty much be willing to give odds as to his political affiliation … any takers? …
sorry … that was response to #20
I don’t know if a person can plagiarize himself, MrS!
But this gives me an idea; lets have the Marines routinely practice marching drills down America’s streets. (With marching bands, of course.) Americans can gather on the sidewalks to cheer, wave flags, visit with one another and just have a good time in general. Everybody loves a parade.
The big side benefit is that it would keep the anti-America types curled up in a fetal position, terrified and sobbing in their basements. One way to keep ‘em off the streets and out of trouble!
Does the preventing of allowing the Marines to train for urban combat come under the following text from the US Constitution?
Assuming there are two people residing in Toledo that have had it with this individual and his inappropriate behavior it almost seem like a slam dunk for any Federal prosecutor in the state of Ohio. Sounds like a good job for a fired up conservative to start making a difference in their local community.
By the way for the good Mayor of Toledo the US Marines Corps are supposed to be scary!
Gang,
I live just outside Toledo, and I thank God for it. Toledo elected Fink back to office after having Jack Ford as mayor. Ford, a big, big guy, was filmed sleeping during staff meetings. Carty getting re-elected was easy.
Carty is a former football coach, and is big on the rah-rah stuff. He’s not as good on the details – plans, commitments, laws, etc. He’s currently facing a recall campaign, and has been accused of threatening and coercing the recall workers.
Toledo is a Democrat town, in a Democrat district. The Blade makes the NYT look conservative and error-free by comparison. Needless to say, Toledo is going to he11 in a handbasket, about 8-10 years behind Detroit. Anybody who can get out is heading to the ‘burbs.
However, Ohioans are very, very pro-military. We have and support the Air National Guard locally. My guess is that Carty will have a hard monday morning. I can’t wait!
Bigurn
I believe that Klinger was from Toledo.
If the mayor is facing a recall that could be why he did such an asinine thing.
Could be so stupid as to think it would get him some positive press. He got
the press all right. Positive? Not.
I’ll vouch for that, I did the same thing.
Come on, this is a little funny!
Time to look into the number of Fed.$$$$$$$$$$$$ (my money and yours)
going to Toledo and Madison.
Wasn’t the eugene debbs school of labor (communist) stationed in Wisconsin?
# 20 Thanks for the info.
Time for Arcata,CA to lose its Fed.$$$$$$$$$ (my money and yours).
The City of Toledo website had this
The Mayor is interested in what you have to say! Please complete the form below to send your thoughts to the Mayor.
Mayor Fink’s Suggestion Box
Sounds like a bunch of Fink Stink to me.
I was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, based in Toledo Ohio at Bayview Park in the 60′s after my time in Viet Nam. Toledo was a great city in those days. Today it is a dump and I am glad I moved in 1970. This mayor is a turd and needs to be removed from office.
Toledo was the biggest ‘small town’ I ever lived in. Aprx 600,000 people, but Fink and the town council ran the place like Mayberry RFD.
The article mentioned that the Marines would practice in an empty office building. Half of the office buildings were empty thanks to the Fink and his bunch. But, that didn’t stop them from wanting to tear down the federal building. The town council detested the federal building.
Ms Malkin mentioned Fink’s condo deal. Basically, Fink and the council owned condos on a small island in the Maumee River. They conned Owens Corning into buying the island from them and building a new headquarters. In the deal, each condo owner received aprx 100k inconvenice monies, full price for the condos and the condos were moved to ‘Lake Front’ property at no expense to the owners. 10k, oh heck no, Fink made big bucks on that deal. The socialist Toledo blade would not even print the real story. They only printed how the Fink Bunch saved Owens Corning, kept them from leaving town.
The city is a corrupt, democrat stronghold. The daily paper, The Toledo Blade, is a socialist rag that leans so far left, the populace simply call it the daily wipe.
Years of socialist rule have all but emptied the town of industry. The downtown is empty by 5 PM. I mean, it is a ghost town.
Toledo has three major assets, shipping, The University of Toledo and The Toledo Mudhens. Other than that, there is a place called Bergers, that makes the best Hamburger I have ever had the pleasure of eating.
Prior to living in Toledo I was a conservative Democrat. During the first Clinton campaign I became a conservative Independent. The socialist in Toledo chased me away from the party for good.
When I transferred from Toledo, the town was dying. It was a shame. Toledo has the location, infrastructure,the railroads and dock space to be a real powerhouse. But, without conservatives, it is a lost cause.
….If the Marines scare Mayor Fink, I would like to extend him an invitation to come to NJ. I’ll drive him to one of our fine cities; Paterson, Passaic, Jersey City, Newark, Irvington, Trenton(the Capital), or Camden. I’ll drop him off after dark and let him tour the area on foot for a few hours then go back and pick him up…..
I don’t think he’ll fear the Marines anymore!
Semper Fi Marines. Thank you and God bless you for your service.
My mother-in-law lives in Toledo,is a life-long Dem and she has always despised Finkbeiner.The funny thing is that the Marines were probably the only people downtown, since Toledo is deserted on the weekends.They even closed their Children’s Science Museum due to lack of attendance!
I’m not sure his demand would even have been legally enforceable.
The Marines should have just told him to piss up a rope.
Actually, the military DOES recruit persons under 18, they just don’t enlist them without parental permission under 18.
Every time a military recruiter visits a high school and gives a presentation or whatever,m they are actively recruiting persons under 18. This statute is designed to prevent that and is probably mostly aimed at eliminating HS visits by recruiters.
Update from Toledo:
The mayor is about to have a news conference (it’s now 10:34). The city and surrounding area have responded with outrage. I’ll blog it as live as I can.
Conference is on:
Didn’t know about the drills. Too late to warn citizens. Friday night is not the time.
He offered the troops another time and place. No to downtown toledo. Been here since 2004, and it’s never been a problem before.
City Council is amazed at all this. Once local bozo says its OK to kick Marines out, and he’s willing to give the mayor the benefit of the doubt.
Carty swears that he will find out when the unit notified the city, and will report it when he knows. Everybody hold your breath!
Conference over.
Two years till retirement! Thank god cause I’m tired of serving pieces of crap like this guy, Berkley and every mom that told me to F*** off while I was a recruiter for the Marines back in 1997-2000. I Love the corps, I love this country but I’m tired of busting my a** for jerkoffs like this. I read some threads on other places and I’m furious. I’m so tired of the liberal rejects in this country who apparently live in another dimension than the rest of us. Damn left over irrelevant hippie garbage. I don’t expect to be praised or for people to fawn over me. I don’t even need a thank you, I chose to do this. However what I don’t need is to deal with Americans like this. And it’s always the left over hippie liberal freaks that cry for help when their perfect little cooperative kuymbaya world gets disrupted. Screw every dang one of them! ………….whew….looks like I picked the wrong decade to quit drinking.
I think it’s better that the Marines used the “moral high ground” against the man.
And in all seriousness, telling the mayor such a thing and going on with the exercises would have been a bad thing.
Gator70…I know you asked for no thanks but, Thank You!
You are America, you are a Patriot, you are a hero, at least to me. Again, Semper Fi.
Is it ok to question their patriotism now?
It was always ok to question their patriotism and finally people are starting to see what conservatives on the blogsphere has been saying all along.
GSP
To those that serve-Thank you and your family!
Man, what a crock of crap. Just got off the horn with a pal o’mine who was with Alpha Company’s advance party, who laid the details out for me.
This training rotation had been in the planning stages for something along the lines of 8 months. The Marine’s CO had numerous meetings with both the mayor and the Cheif of Police, with the last one in January, about this training. The Marines had used the same building in the past. For the mayor to say he didn’t know is an outright lie. The same goes for saying that there was no time to notify the local citizens, since last Tuesday the local PD put out an announcement to the public telling them not to be alarmed when they saw big men in green with guns shooting up around the building in question. There was plenty of advance notice, local PD was on board and even had the appropriate roads and buildings blocked off. The citizens of Toledo are behind the Marines on this one, as well. The only hiccup here is the mayor. A mayor who, apparently, lacks the stones it takes to tell the Marines himself about his decision, and instead sends one of his sycophants out to do the dirty work.
Semper Fi, Marines, from the other side of the Big Green Machine.
In response to my email to the Mayor of Toledo:
Sounds like the Mayor is stretching the truth a bit in his rendition of events.