HALL OF SHAME SERIES #8                  
LOCAL SUN NEWS (RELATED TO THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER (A CORRUPT NEWSPAPER) -- BOTH ARE OWNED BY ADVANCE PUBLICATIONS) IS BECOMING A MOUTHPIECE FOR MIS-INFORMATION FROM COUNCILMAN SWEENEY’S (CLEVELAND'S CORRUPT POLITICIAN'S) CRONIES ON THE $50 MILLION JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT!

IN ADDITION TO MIS-STATING, IN THE SUN NEWS ARTICLE OF DECEMBER 7, 2012, THAT THE TWO STONE EAGLES (COVERED IN THE EARLIER REALNEO POST OF 12-21-12) HAD BEEN REMOVED, THE SUN NEWS HAS ALSO MIS-STATED THAT CORNICES HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

Quoting Ian Heisey, mediation coordinator at the Bellaire Puritas Development Corporation -- which takes its orders from Councilman Sweeney, -- Sun News stated:

“Fixtures salvaged thus far from the old high school are cornices, medallions, sandstone arch, limestone eagles, front steps, railings — and more are being set aside for use in the new building or for community art, he said.”

Please see the photograph of cornices taken on 12-24-12 – stone architectural elements which exist at the top of the exterior walls of the original 1932 John Marshall High School building – that are still in place and have not yet been removed. Cornices can also be seen on either side of the main entrance of the two photographs in the REALNEO post of 12-21-12.

The cornices run along the top of the building – along the east face  (parallel to West 140th Street) and along the north and south faces. So far none of the cornices have been removed – contrary to what the spokesperson for BPDC (Bellaire Puritas Development Corporation) told Sun News.

Here is the link to the article: “Demolition to start Dec. 17 on John Marshall High in Cleveland” by Ken Prendergast, Sun News, published in Cleveland.Com on December 7, 2012:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDgQ...

A 100% CORRUPT SYSTEM IN CLEVELAND, OHIO:
THERE WAS A THREE-WEEK LONG HUNGER STRIKE BY A 70-YEAR OLD SIKH-AMERICAN TO SAVE JOHN MARSHALL. THE HUNGER STRIKE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL.
 
 “I WAS UNABLE TO OVERCOME THE 100% CORRUPT POLITICAL SYSTEM IN CLEVELAND, OHIO – LED BY PHILISTINES AND CORRUPT POLITICIANS – MAYOR JACKSON AND COUNCILMAN SWEENEY AND WHICH IS AIDED AND ABETTED BY A CORRUPT  MEDIA – THE PLAIN DEALER AND CHANNELS 3(NBC), 5(ABC), 8(FOX), AND 19(CBS) – WHO ARE IN BED WITH CITY HALL AND WHERE THE SEWER FLOWS FROM CITY HALL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BELLAIRE PURITAS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – AND ENGULFS EVERY ONE OF MAYOR JACKSON’S AND COUNCILMAN SWEENEY’S CRONIES, GOONS, AIDES, AND ABETTERS -- WHO WALLOW IN THE MUCK!”

INDIAN ETV TELEVISION NETWORK WHICH COVERED THE HUNGER STRIKE SIX TIMES DURING THE THREE WEEK PERIOD PUT THE CLEVELAND, OHIO BROADCAST MEDIA – CHANNELS 3(NBC), 5(ABC), 8(Fox), AND 19(CBS) TO SHAME ON ZERO COVERAGE OF THE HUNGER STRIKE!

THE HUNGER STRIKE WAS A CRY FOR JUSTICE – WHICH TO THIS DAY HAS NOT BEEN SERVED. THE PLAIN DEALER AND THE BROADCAST MEDIA IN CLEVELAND – CHANNELS: 3(NBC), 5(ABC), 8(Fox), AND 19(CBS) COMPLETELY IGNORED INVESTIGATION OF CITY HALL’S COLLUSIVE INACTION, VOTE RIGGING AND DENIAL OF DUE PROCESS TO OVER 2,400 PETITIONERS WHO WANTED TO RENOVATE HISTORIC JOHN MARSHALL HIGH!

CARL MONDAY, CHANNEL 19 ACTION NEWS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, AND OTHER INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS ARE IN BED WITH CITY HALL. AND WILL NOT INVESTIGATE IRREGULARITIES IN THE $50 MILLION JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

COUNCILMAN SWEENEY: & VOTE RIGGING:
Councilman Sweeney has always advocated for a new John Marshall High School contrary to the wishes of the community and over 2,400 petitioners who wanted to renovate historic 80-year old John Marshall – similar to the renovation of 83-year old John Hay and 80-year old Rhodes High Schools.

Please see the following posts dated 12-20-12 and 11-28-12 for the role played by Councilman Sweeney in rigging the 5 to 4 vote to demolish John Marshall at the January 12, 2012 – CLC (Cleveland Landmarks Commission) meeting:

12-20-12:
PANTS ON FIRE! PANTS ON FIRE! COUNCILMAN SWEENEY’S BIG TIME LIE ABOUT JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

11-28-12:
DAY 8 OF HUNGER STRIKE & DID COUNCILMAN SWEENEY LIE IN THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE 80-YEAR OLD JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL?

BPDC – CRONIES FOR COUNCILMAN SWEENEY:
BPDC (Bellaire Puritas Development Corporation) located at 14703 Puritas Avenue – following Councilman Sweeney’s position – has also consistently opposed the SAVE JOHN MARSHALL campaign’s objective of renovating the historic school. Their newsletter has never covered news about the campaign – and instead has been mouthing mis-information both from Councilman Sweeney and the School District.

After a discussion lasting for nearly two hours, by Neighborhood Education Committee of Ward 18 at their monthly meeting held in the office of Bellare-Puritas Development Corporation at 14703 Puritas Avenue on November 1, 2011, passed the following unanimous resolution:

 “Tearing down John Marshall and building new is not an option as far as this group (NEC) and community are concerned.”

Councilman Sweeney was not present at the November 1, 2011 meeting. Nevertheless, Bryan Gillooly, Executive Director of BPDC and three to four of his staff members (including Mr. Heisey who has been feeding mis-information to Sun News) showed up at the January 12, 2012 CLC meeting – advocating for a new John Marshall.

In addition, Mr. Gillooly presented a letter from Ken Tischler, President of the John Marshall High School Alumni Association – advocating for a new John Marshall – same position as Councilman Sweeney.

In September 2011, the JMHS Alumni Association had passed a unanimous resolution supporting full renovation of the the historic school – but then Mr. Tischler – on January 12, 2012 reversed his position – never told the membership -- and went to bed with Councilman Sweeney. While I never went to JMHS – I was made a member of the Facebook – JMH Alumni group. When I stated that the President of the JMH AA – Mr. Tischler – was in bed with Councilman Sweeney – I was kicked out by the Administrator of the JMh Alumni Facebook group – a trustee of the AA – and also an advocate for a new JMHS – who also had supported the unanimous resolution for full renovation -- but was also openly advocating for a new school.

Cleveland’s politics is dirty – both at the City Hall level and at the lower levels of BPDC and the JMH Alumni Association.
 
MIS-INFORMATION FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT:
*CMSD (Cleveland Metropolitan School District) that aspires to be the premier district in the United States and teaches our children ethics and fair play has played dirty with over 2,400 petitioners in the $50 million John Marshall High School (JMHS) Construction Project.

*It took Mr Eric Gordon – CEO of the $700 million CMSD – 8 months and 11 reminders to provide the first request for information – a response which unfortunately does not address errors in the financial numbers – errors that were questioned by the Chair of CLC -- nor provide requested critical information: For example, how the School District decided that renovation was the preferred alternative for both John Hay and Rhodes High Schools – meaning it was cheaper than building new schools; why renovation in the case of John Hay and Rhodes took less time than building new schools; and a detailed schedule explaining why renovation (from project start to project finish) will take longer than building a new John Marshall.

CEO Gordon, in his letter of November 30, 2011 – addressed to me, stated:
“Please note due to the considerable volume of info which is being gathered by a team comprised of OSFC, the architects, the construction manager and Mr. Sautter’s department, we expect to forward that information by CD format as requested by the end of next week.” End of next week, according to the letter was Saturday, December 10, 2011.

No information was received by the specified date -- the first response was received over five months later --- on May 14, 2012 -- a response which unfortunately does not address errors in the financial numbers nor provide requested critical information.

CEO Gordon stated, to a Channel 5 reporter (in the article: “Clevelanders say No to Tax Levy” by Stephanie Ramirez of newsnet5.com dated 08-18-12): "We can promise to the community better results, which is what we deserve.”

How trustworthy is CEO Gordon’s verbal promise when a written promise (made to me) to provide the requested information by end of next week -- means nothing?

*According to the Sun News article: 
“The Cleveland Metropolitan School District considered renovating the building, but the Ohio School Facilities Commission would not fund renovating major portions of the old JMHS. Thus, the district’s share of costs would have been $32 million for a complete renovation, $27 million for partial renovation and additions, compared with $21 million for new construction, school officials said.”

Unfortunately, there are errors in he School District’s financial numbers – errors that both Sun News and the Plain Dealer (both in bed with City Hall) have done nothing to either publicize or correct.

For example, calculations have not been provided  - since September 6, 2011 to explain mathematical contradictions, in an over 50 million dollar project:

a. Why the floor area for John Marshall’s auditorium (19,108 square feet) is larger than the floor area of John Hay’s auditorium (14,850 square feet) while the seating capacity for John Marshall (600) is lower than the seating capacity for John Hay (1600)?

b. Why the option for full renovation uses one floor area for John Marshall’s auditorium (19,108 square feet) in the Total Renovation Cost and another floor area (8,280 square feet) in determining the cost for the Auditorium Renovation?

c. While no new construction took place between 2001 and 2008, the floor area of
the existing John Marshall High School increased from 256,924  to 292,357  square feet – an increase of 35,433 square feet.

No calculations have been provided to explain the increase in floor area.

d. While no new construction took place between 2001 and 2008, the floor area of the existing JMHS auditorium school  increased from 6,588 to 19,108 square feet – an increase of 12,520 square feet.

Again, no calculations have been provided to explain the increase in floor area.

Increase in floor areas adds to the Renovation Cost.

At a renovation cost of say $150 per square foot. the increase in area has a cost value of 150 x 35,433 = over $5 million.
 
SCHOOL DISTRICT DID NOT PARTNER IN GOOD FAITH:
The School District did not partner, in good faith, with the petitioners to renovate 80-year old historic John Marshall High School (opened in 1932) into a first class institution of learning while also preserving our heritage – similar to what the School District has already done for the renovations of landmarked 83-year old John Hay High School (opened in 1928 and renovation completed in 2006) and 80-year old Rhodes High School (opened in 1932 and renovation completed in 2009). This renovation must include the renovation of the Auditorium, Underground Running Tracks, and Swimming Pool.

Eric Gordon, CEO, CMSD was requested via e-mail on September 9, 2011:
“The last Public Meeting was over 5 months ago. The time for presentations is over. It is time to sit down and work together on the Renovation Option.

We have to work with our landmark buildings. Demolishing landmarks should never be an option.

We are an enlightened community of problem solvers that would like to work with Cleveland Metropolitan School District in renovating 80-year old landmarked John Marshall High School into a first class institution of learning while also preserving our heritage.

Again, CEO Gordon was requested both, verbally and in writing, on behalf of petitioners at the September 27, 2011 CMSD Board of Education Meeting:

“We are an enlightened community of problem solvers that would like to work with Cleveland Metropolitan School District in renovating 80-year old landmarked John Marshall High School into a first class institution of learning while also preserving
our heritage – like what was done for the landmarked and renovated John Hay and Rhodes High Schools.”
 

SUN NEWS IS IN BED WITH CITY HALL:
Quote of: “Investigate City Hall” was deleted in SUN Article of January 19, 2012:
A great disservice was done to the SAVE JOHN MARSHALL campaign when Mr. Prendergast (reporter for Sun News) in the Sun article of January 19, 2012 deleted the quote of “Investigate City Hall” even though e-mails are on file where Mr. Prendergast assured me in writing that the quote of “Investigate City Hall” would be included. Mr. Prendergast is aware of the deletion.

PLAIN DEALER IS IN BED WITH CITY HALL:
Please see the following previous REALNEO posts pertaining to this topic:

12-07-12:
PLAIN DEALER IS IN BED WITH CITY HALL AND WILL NOT INVESTIGATE IRREGULARITIES IN THE $50 MILLION JOHN MARSHALL HS CONST. PROJECT

12-06-12
PLAIN DEALER IN BED WITH CITY HALL DELETES COMMENTS PERTAINING TO RIGGED VOTES TO DEMOLISH LANDMARKED JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL!

12-04-12
70-YEAR OLD SIKH AMERICAN CANNOT POST COMMENTS IN THE PLAIN DEALER PERTAINING TO AN ARTICLE ABOUT HIM & SAVE JOHN MARSHALL HS!

11-26-12
ZERO COVERAGE BY CLEVELAND’S PLAIN DEALER TO 70-YEAR OLD MAN’S FIGHT IN 7th DAY OF HUNGER STRIKE TO SAVE JOHN MARSHALL SCHOOL!

11-13-12
HOW HONEST & TRUSTWORTHY IS THE PLAIN DEALER WITH THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL IN CLEVELAND, OHIO?

REALNEO:
PLEASE SEE PREVIOUS POSTS ALL RELATED TO THE SAVE JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL CAMPAIGN!

FACEBOOK & YOUTUBE:
Follow the SAVE JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/160386844035662/

Also, see the following three YouTube clips:

1. Save John Marshall High School, Cleveland, Ohio http://youtu.be/S6Shgwi5cuU

2. Save John Marshall High School Pt. 2: Demonstration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdTaCQrwoF4
 
3. Save John Marshall High School Part 3: Call for a Hunger Strike http://youtu.be/nyoL5sFBjeA