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BREAKING NEWS: WAS CITY CLUB IN BED WITH THE PROMOTERS OF THE SIN TAX (ISSUE 8) AT THE EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2015?Submitted by Satinder P S Puri on Sat, 10/31/2015 - 21:42.
*BREAKING NEWS: WAS CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, (“CITADEL OF FREE SPEECH”) IN BED WITH THE PROMOTERS OF THE SIN TAX ON CIGARETTES (VOTE YES ON ISSUE 8 – CUYAHOGA ARTS AND CULTURE LEVY) AT THE EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2015? THERE WAS NO SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR THE OPPOSITION – THE VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN. CITY CLUB CEO NEVER TOLD THE AUDIENCE ABOUT A $15,000 GRANT RECECIVED FROM CUYAHOGA ARTS AND CULTURE -- A DISTRIBUTOR OF SIN TAX GRANTS AND ALSO A PROMOTER THE SIN TAX IN THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN. WAS THERE COLLUSION (WITH STEVEN LITT, ART AND ARCHITECTURAL CRITIC OF THE PLAIN DEALER) TO KEEP OUT THE OPPOSITION -- THE VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN? *YOUTUBE LINK: The September 28, 2015 event at the City Club in Cleveland, Ohio, is available on YouTube at the following link:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC8QtwIwA2oVChMI0P_WpKrtyAIVBUImCh2XHQai&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D8-xl-s0XCC0&usg=AFQjCNHbb-1nk_gj-MPhuQizhW75jf7H5w
*BREAKING NEWS (cont.)
There was no seat at the table for the opposition –
the VOTE NO ON SIN TAX campaign.
Note: As of October 30, 2015, the VOTE NO SIN TAX campaign has demonstrated 96 times for a total of 329-hours which is the equivalent of walking nearly 1,000 miles all over Cuyahoga County. No Transparency: Dan Moulthrop, City Club CEO, never told the audience that City Club had received a $15,000 grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture – a distributor of Sin Tax grants and also a promoter of the Sin Tax in the current campaign.
 *BREAKING NEWS (cont.)
Did City Club CEO (Dan Moulthrop) collude with The Plain Dealer
Art & Architectural Critic (Steven Litt) to deny a seat at the table to the opposition – the VOTE NO ON SIN TAX campaign – Issue 8, November 3, 2015, Cuyahoga County, Ohio?
 *CITY CLUB EVENT:
On September 28, 2015 – the City Club of Cleveland, Ohio – “Citadel of Free Speech” – located at 850 Euclid Avenue in downtown -- hosted an event in the early afternoon – a one-sided panel discussion without any opposition -- to promote Issue 8 -- Sin Tax for the Arts and Culture in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
There was no seat at the table for the opposition –
The VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN.
The 10-year Sin Tax (2007-2016) on cigarettes is up for renewal at the November 3rd election. If approved by the voters, the Sin Tax will extend for another ten-years: 2017-2026.
The discussion was moderated by WKYC’S Russ Mitchell. The panelists included two Sin Tax (Vote Yes on Issue 8) proponents – Fred Bidwell, Art Collector and owner of Bidwell Projects; and Deena Epstein, former Gund Foundation, Arts Program Officer.
 SPONSORS FOR CITY CLUB EVENT:
The Northeast Ohio Media Group – the digital wing of The Plain Dealer was one of the sponsors of the City Club event.
According to Steven Litt, esteemed Art & Architectural Critic of The Plain Dealer, writing in his blog on cleveland. com on September 29, 2015, about the September 28 event wrote:
*Moulthrop said the club recently received a $15,000 grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, the political subdivision that awards money from the cigarette tax revenues. ”Note: The YouTube recording shows that Dan Moulthrop, City Club, CEO, said no such thing during his public appearance on September 28, 2015.
*EVENTS TO PROMOTE ISSUE 8:
The City Club event, held in the early afternoon, was one of two events held on September 28, 2015 to promote Issue 8. The second event was held in the evening at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
I attended both events on behalf of my VOTE NO ON SIN TAX campaign which did not have a seat at the table at either event.
Before I asked my questions (one per event), I stated that I was a retired Structural Engineer; don’t smoke; love the Arts; have integrated the Arts in the teaching of science, math, and engineering; and that I was actively opposing the Sin Tax with my VOTE NO ON SIN TAX signs.
Promotion Events: Both events were organized by proponents of the Sin Tax to promote passage of Issue 8 in the coming election on November 3rd. Supporters, promoters, and recipients of the Sin Tax – appeared to be all around. At the Museum of Natural History event – voter registration forms, glossy fliers, and yard signs were in abundance.
One-Sided Discussions on Issue 8: The panel discussions at both events were one-sided discussions to promote the Sin Tax.
Unless you have an opponent present – you cannot expect the proponents to speak for the opposition in the same way the opposition would make their own case.
There is an old saying: “If you run alone, you always stand first.”
Note: Steven Litt, Art & Architectural Critic of The Plain Dealer, wrote about both events in his blog on cleveland. com on September 29, 2015.
PROS & CONS OF ISSUE 8: PROS: Arts & Culture works, Vote for 8, Not a tax increase.
CONS: Arts & Culture in Cuyahoga County, Ohio should not work on the backs of the young, poor, and uneducated – who are much likely to be cigarette smokers.
This is a Social Justice issue. VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015, IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO.  BALLOT LANGUAGE OF ISSUE 8, NOVEMBER 3, 2015, CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO::
Proposed Extension of Excise Tax on Cigarettes for Cuyahoga Arts and Culture County of Cuyahoga
A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage. Shall an excise tax on the sale of cigarettes at wholesale continue to be levied throughout Cuyahoga County for the benefit of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture for the purposes of making grants to support operating or capital expenses of arts or cultural organizations in Cuyahoga County, to defray the costs of acquiring, constructing, equipping, furnishing, improving, enlarging, renovating, remodeling or maintaining an artistic or cultural facility, and to meet operating expenses, at a rate of 15 mills per cigarette, which amounts to 1.5 cents per cigarette, for 10 years?
 *DAN MOULTHROP, CITY CLUB CEO, MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS AT THE SEPTEMBER 28 EVENT, ACCORDING TO STEVEN LITT, ESTEEMED ART & ARCHITECTURAL CRITIC OF THE PLAIN DEALER, WRITING IN HIS BLOG ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2015:
(NOTE: NONE OF THE STATEMENTS ASCRIBED TO MR. MOULTHROP WERE MADE IN PUBLIC AND ARE NOT ON THE YOU TUBE VIDEO)
LINK: Here is the link to the September 29, 2015 article by Steven Litt Titled. “Issue 8 backers tell thin audiences that voter turnout is crucial to approval: Cuyahoga Arts Tax Renewal”
#Dan Moulthrop, the CEO of the club, said the nonprofit organized Monday's event as a simple forum with two advocates of Issue 8 instead of a pro-and-con debate because
"there's no visible, organized opposition" to the measure.
#Instead, he said the club asked Mitchell to ask questions about the tax that opponents would be likely to ask.
#Moulthrop said the club recently received a $15,000 grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, the political subdivision that awards money from the cigarette tax revenues
 *DID CITY CLUB CEO (DAN MOULTHROP) COLLUDE WITH THE PLAIN DEALER ART & ARCHITECTURAL CRITIC (STEVEN LITT) TO DENY A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO THE OPPOSITION – THE VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN? BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 EVENT,
STEVEN LITT, ESTEEMED ART & ARCHITECTURAL
CRITIC OF THE PLAIN DEALER MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ON HIS BLOG AT CLEVELAND. COM ON THE DATES SHOWN:
“No formal opposition to the levy has yet emerged.” (on June 23)
“No organized opposition to the renewal has emerged.” (on July 23)
“No organized opposition to the tax has yet emerged.” (on July 31)
“No formal opposition to Issue 8 has emerged” (on September 27)
According to Mr. Litt, Dan Moulthrop, City Club CEO, speaking about Issue 8 made the following statement at the September 28, 2015 event: "there's no visible, organized opposition" to the measure.
…………………….
NOTE: THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN STATEMENTS MADE BY
MR. LITT AND MR. MOULTHROP IS STRIKING!
 *VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN: There was no seat at the table for my campaign.
I (Satinder P. S. Puri) -am a Cleveland activist, retired Structural Engineer, a senior citizen, and a volunteer teacher at an elementary CMSD (Cleveland Metropolitan School District) on the west side. This is my 11th year.
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 -- I have integrated the Arts in the teaching of Science, Math, and Engineering. That the Arts benefit our community is indisputable. What is also indisputable is that this benefit results from Sin Taxes -- 30 cents per pack of cigarettes -- paid by the weak and powerless. 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. I have spoken, so far, at fourteen Cuyahoga County Council meetings – calling for fair funding for the Arts where we all pay, not just taxing cigarette smokers, for an activity we all enjoy. I am playing the role of 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 VOTE NO ON SIN TAX signs are left over from last year’s campaign. The flyers are printed at home. Since June 24, 2015 -- I have been regularly demonstrating all over Cuyahoga County using $5 VOTE NO ON SIN TAX signs. As of October 30, 2015, I have demonstrated for 96 times for a total of 329 hours which is the equivalent of walking nearly 1,000 miles carrying a sign.
The proponents are waging an estimated $1.6 million campaign that is is being supported by Cuyahoga County’s well-oiled political machine, the rich arts establishment, the powerful business community, corporate welfare recipients, and sustained propaganda from The Plain Dealer.
*DOES VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN LOOK LIKE AN ORGANIZED OPPOSITION TO THE 2015 SIN TAX? The following composite slides show that the VOTE NO ON SIN TAX campaign is not only visible but is also an organized opposition to the 2015 Sin Tax – no matter what Steven Litt, esteemed Art and Architectural Critic of The Plain Dealer says in his posts on cleveland.com – as a propagandist for the powerful Arts establishment in Cuyahoga County. As of October 30, 2015, the VOTE NO SIN TAX campaign has demonstrated 96 times for a total of 329-hours which is the equivalent of walking nearly 1,000 miles all over Cuyahoga County.
      *ASKING A QUESTION, ON BEHALF OF THE VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN, AT THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ON SEPTEMBER. 28, 2015 I was allowed to ask the following one question:
Question: “Is it fair that in Cuyahoga County, a noble activity like the arts, should be supported on the backs of cigarette smokers who for the most part tend to be poor, young, and un-educated -- making this a social justice issue?
Answer: Fred Bidwell, Art Collector, and a supporter of the Vote Yes on Sin Tax issue provided the following short response: “There is no perfect Tax”.
The complete response can be heard on the YouTube video.
 *HOW CORRUPT IS CLEVELAND, OHIO?
#CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, (“CITADEL OF FREE SPEECH”) RECEIVED A $15,000 GRANT FROM CUYAHOGA ARTS AND CULTURE – A PROPONENT OF THE SIN TAX!
#CITY CLUB HELD A PUBLIC EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2015, TO DISCUSS THE SIN TAX -- ISSUE 8 – CUYAHOGA ARTS AND CULTURE LEVY -- WHICH IS ON THE BALLOT ON NOVEMBER 3RD.
#CITY CLUB NEVER TOLD THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE $15,000 GRANT.#ONLY PROPONENTS OF THE SIN TAX (VOTE YES ON ISSUE 8)
WERE INVITED TO THE ONE-SIDED DISCUSSION.
#THERE WAS NO SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR THE OPPOSITION –
THE VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN.
#WAS CITY CLUB – “CITADEL OF FREE SPEECH” – BOUGHT OVER WITH MONEY?
 *CORRESPONDENCE WITH DAN MOULTHROP, CEO OF CITY CLUB, CLEVELAND, OHIO A.K.A. “CITADEL OF FREE SPEECH”:
I have exchanged correspondence with Mr. Moulthrop. I have sent e-mails and a certified letter.
According to Steven Litt, Art and Architectural critic of The Plain Dealer, Dan Moulthrop, City Club CEO, speaking about Issue 8 made the following statement at the September 28, 2015 event: "there's no visible, organized opposition" to the measure.
So far Mr. Moulthrop has not provided a fact-based response to support the above statement. Note: The YouTube recording shows that Dan Moulthrop, City Club, CEO, said no such thing during his public appearance on September 28, 2015.
The responses received so far from City Club are full of inconsistencies and contradictions.
I am waiting for Mr. Moulthrop to responds to my 9-page e-mail dated October 29, 2015. *RESPONSE TO STATEMENTS MADE BY FRED BIDWELL – ONE OF THE PANELISTS IN THE ONE-SIDED DISCUSSION:
“Arts and Culture is not an amenity for a modern city – it is a necessity” – Fred Bidwell. “We are providing millions of free educational experiences to our kids when public school support for the Arts is challenged – Fred Bidwell. Response: Arts & Culture in Cuyahoga County, Ohio should not work on the backs of the young, poor, and uneducated – who are much likely to be cigarette smokers. This is a Social Justice issue. VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015, IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO.   *PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE CITY CLUB EVENT: THERE WAS NO SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR THE OPPOSITION – THE VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN AT CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND, OHIO A.K.A. “CITADEL OF FREE SPEECH.”
   The photographs show the presence of actual VOTE NO ON SIN TAX signs – in front of the entrance to the City Club Building, in the lobby on the 2nd floor, and images of signs plastered on the walls to show how the event held in the “citadel of free speech” did not have a seat at the table for the opposition.
Attendees at City Club Event: Tables were reserved for the R Strategy Group, CPAC (Community Partnership for Arts and Culture), Arts and Culture Action Committee, and the Cleveland Institute of Art. The R Strategy Group – a local political consulting firm and the Arts and Culture Action Committee are in charge of the estimated $1.6 million campaign to promote passage of Issue 8. CPAC promotes Arts and Culture in the community. The Cleveland Institute of Art is a recipient of the Sin Tax which at 30 cents per pack has collected $125 million since the start in 2007. Of the $125 million -- $60 million (about 50%) – was distributed, as corporate welfare to five organizations – Cleveland Museum, Cleveland Orchestra, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Playhouse Square, and Ideastream.            SECOND EVENT AT THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: MONEY IS MORE ADDICTIVE THAN NICOTINE!
On the evening of September 28, 2015, Circle Neighbors held a one-sided discussion in the auditorium of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History on the Sin Tax for the Arts which will be listed as Cuyahoga County issue No. 8 on the November 3, 2015 ballot.
The discussion titled as “Strong Communities and Local Public Funding for Arts & Culture:
A Dialogue” was basically a campaign event. Flyers and yard signs promoting a Yes vote on issue 8 were distributed to the attendees.
The panelists included (left to right in the photograph):
LaJean Ray, Director, Fatima Family Center, Catholic Charities;
August A. Napoli, Jr., Deputy Director and Chief Advancement Officer, Cleveland Museum of Art; Tom O’ Brien, Program Director, Neighborhood Connections; and Dr. Evelyn Gates, Executive Director & CEO, Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
The one-sided discussion was moderated by: John R. Corlett, President and Executive Director, Center for Community Solutions. Q&A at the Museum of Natural History: Is it fair that the Cleveland Museum of Art with nearly a billion dollars in assets needed assistance to the tune of nearly 12 million dollars paid for by the cigarette smokers of Cuyahoga County who for the most part tend to be poor, young, and uneducated – making this basically a social justice issue that artists are always fighting for? Mr. Napoli representing the Cleveland Museum of Art responded by saying: “Yes, it is fair.”
So the Cleveland Museum of Art said that receiving corporate welfare from the poor, young, and uneducated is O.K.
While I was not allowed to display my signs inside the Museum of Natural History, the proponents were passing out campaign literature and yard signs. I was cautioned by one of the museum staff – that if I protested – I would be ejected from the premises.
 STEVEN LITT, ESTEEMED ART & ARCHITECTURAL
CRITIC OF THE PLAIN DEALER & THE VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN:
Mr. Litt who never wrote one word I (Cleveland Activist, Satinder P. S. Puri) said, as the lone opponent, in the public session of the Cuyahoga County Council Meeting f June 23, 2015 but covered all the five proponents, has never recognized my VOTE NO SIN TAX campaign which as of October 30, 2015 has demonstrated 96 times for a total of 329-hours which is the equivalent of walking nearly 1,000 miles
all over Cuyahoga County.
As of October 28, 2015, Mr. Litt has written the following on is blog at cleveland. com on the dates shown: “No formal opposition to the levy has yet emerged” (on June 23)
“No organized opposition to the renewal has emerged” (on July 23)
“No organized opposition to the tax has yet emerged”) (on July 31)
“No formal opposition to Issue 8 has emerged” (on September 27)
“No visible organized opposition to the levy renewal has emerged” (on October 15)
“No visible organized opposition to Issue 8 has emerged” (on October 23)BREAKING NEWS:
 IS THE PLAIN DEALER IN BED WITH THE RICH AND POWERFUL IN CLEVELAND TO PROMOTE THE SIN TAX FOR THE ARTS?
IS THE PLAIN DEALER, OHIO’S LARGEST NEWSPAPER, IN BED WITH THE RICH AND POWERFUL, IN CLEVELAND, TO PROMOTE THE SIN TAX FOR THE ARTS IN THE COMING ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015?
Steven Litt (seated, front row), Art & Architectural critic of The Plain Dealer reported on the supporters of the Sin Tax for the Arts who spoke at the June 23, 2015 Cuyahoga County Council meeting – but made no mention of Satinder P. S. Puri – a Cleveland activist (shown speaking) who has been consistently opposing the Sin Tax for the Arts, (VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015 campaign) and has spoken at six Council meetings – all available on YouTube, see Appendix for linls.  Steven Litt, Art and Architecture critic of The Plain Dealer (seated, front row), in his article (see Appendix), never reported a word said by the activist (see Appendix) at the subject meeting but covered all the supporters of the Sin Tax who included for the most part -- the rich and powerful in Cleveland, Ohio: Joe Roman (President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership),
Paul Dolan (Owner and CEO of Cleveland Indians),
Kevin Kelley (President of Cleveland City Council), and
Natalie Ronayne (Executive Vice President of the Cleveland Botanical Garden).
ONE OPPONENT (VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015 campaign) AND FIVE SUPPORTERS AT THE JUNE 23, 2015 MEETING:
 In his article (see Appendix), Steven Litt, Art and Architecture critic of The Plain Dealer, never reported a word (see Appendix) said by Cleveland activist, Satinder P. S. Puri, an ardent opponent of the Sin Tax, at the June 23, 2015 Cuyahoga County Council meeting -- but nevertheless covered the five supporters of the Sin Tax who for the most part included the rich and powerful in Cleveland, Ohio.
Clockwise, Left to Right:
Opponent: Activist Satinder P. S. Puri (VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015 campaign), and
Five Supporters:
Artist Gwendolyn Garth,
Joe Roman (President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership),
Paul Dolan (Owner and CEO of Cleveland Indians),
Kevin Kelley (President of Cleveland City Council), and
Natalie Ronayne (Executive Vice President of the Cleveland Botanical Garden).
 *AND WHAT HAS ROLDO BARTIMOLE, EMINENT INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE PLAIN DEALER IN PROMOTING THE SIN TAX:
“The proponents of the tax, according to Steve Litt, unpaid PR person for these interests, have already raised half of $1.6 million they will use to convince YOU of the need to extend the cigarette tax for 10 more years. Litt has become a propagandist posing as journalist. He doesn’t look further than where the elite point.”
“The PD (Plain Dealer) is a bought propaganda machine.”(Ref. Old Cleveland Wealth can Fund the Arts, May 28, 2015)
 *WAS CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,
(“CITADEL OF FREE SPEECH”)
IN BED WITH THE PROMOTERS OF THE SIN TAX
(VOTE YES ON ISSUE 8 – CUYAHOGA ARTS AND CULTURE LEVY)
AT THE EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2015?
HOW CORRUPT IS CLEVELAND, OHIO?
VERY CORRUPT!
–
WHERE THE RICH AND POWERFUL
AND THE MEDIA
(THE PLAIN DEALER & TV STATIONS)
WORK HAND IN HAND TO SCREW THE REST OF US!
VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015, IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO.
 REFERENCES:
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
09-19-15: BING IMAGES ON VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOV. 3, 2015 CAMPAIGN!
09-21-15: VOTE NO ON SIN TAX CAMPAIGN OUTSIDE FIRST ENERGY STADIUM DURING OPENING GAME OF 2015-16 FOOTBALL SEASON!
DISCUSSION ON ISSUE 8 -- SIN TAX FOR THE ARTS ON CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY RADIO STATION WRUW-FM WITH HOST MERYL JOHNSON
ADDITIONAL SLIDES WITH TEXT & IMAGES:
LOVE THE ARTS:
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
  ENDS SHOULD NEVER JUSTIFY THE MEANS:
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
  CIGARETTE SMOKERS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY,
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
  Remember, only Taxes on Cigarettes pay for Arts & Culture.
VOTE NO ON 8,
TAX ALL OR TAX NONE.
VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO
  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
    CIGARETTE SMOKERS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY PROVIDED CORPORATE WELFARE TO ARTS’ ESTABLISHMENTS!
For the ten year period: 2007-2016, the Cigarette Smokers of Cuyahoga County will have provided a total of $125 million for Arts & Culture. Of this total -- $57.4 million – nearly 50% was distributed to five organizations.
These five organizations had assets totaling nearly $1.4 billion.
.
The five organizations with their assets and grants received
are listed below:
*The Cleveland Orchestra with assets of $250 million received $15.3 million.
*Playhouse Square with assets of $99.2 million received $12.7 million.
*The Cleveland Museum of Art with assets of $896 million received $11.8 million.
*Ideastream with assets of $43 million received $7.9 million.
*The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with assets of $88 million received $7.7 million.
While we love our Arts’ organizations – they should not be funded
on the backs of Cigarette Smokers of Cuyahoga County who for the most part tend to be poor, young, and uneducated. This is a Social Justice issue
CORPORATE WELFARE FOR THE CLEVELAND ART MUSEUM!
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!
  CORPORATE WELFARE FOR THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA!
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!
  CLEVELAND ORCHESTERA’S STAR-SPANGLED SPECTACULAR 0N JULY 1, 2015 IN MALL B, DOWNTOWN, CLEVELAND, OHIO WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
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
 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
  Arts & Culture in Cuyahoga County, Ohio should not work 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
  MESSAGE FROM RODIN’S THINKER:
“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
 FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE! VOTE NO ON 8,
VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8, ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO
      HEY!
GET OUT THE VOTE WEEKEND STARTS TOMORROW:
VOTE NO ON 8
FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8,
NOV. 3, 2015, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
 MESSAGE FROM THE “Q”!
VOTE NO ON 8
 DON’T FORGET TO RETURN YOUR EARLY VOTING BALLOT, EVERY VOTE COUNTS!
VOTE NO ON 8
FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8,
NOV. 3, 2015, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
 VOTE NO ON 8
FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE,
VOTE NO ON SIN TAX, ISSUE 8,
NOVEMBER 3, 2015, CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO
   
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Roldo says Vote No on Cig Tax
From Cleveland.com guest columnest Roldo Bartimole - At one time Roldo was a steady Realneo writer....
By Guest Columnist/cleveland.com
on November 01, 2015 at 7:53 AM, updated November 01, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Unfortunate smokers have paid $179 million via the regressive art & culture and sports stadium taxes as of September 2015.
The arts tax has raised $151 million, including interest, and the tobacco portion of the sports sin tax since 2005 as of this September raised $28 million, according to Cuyahoga County documents.
There's a great cry from some that the cigarette tax for the arts should be renewed. Voters have already extended for 20 years the sports-stadium sin tax that applies to tobacco as well as alcohol purchases.
Why should smokers bear this burden? The arts/cultural tax would be extended for 10 years at 30 cents a pack if we vote Yes on Issue 8 on Nov. 3.
Smokers generally are low-income people. One anti-smoking group said: "Tobacco and poverty create a vicious cycle: low income people smoke more, suffer more, spend more, and die more from tobacco use."
It went on: "Low social-economic status populations include low-income individuals with less than 12 years of education, the medically underserved, the unemployed, and the working poor. They can also be prisoners, gays and lesbians, blue collar workers, and the mentally ill."
Cigarettes are killers. High taxes, it is said, does cut some smoking. If we really had health in mind, the revenue from the tax would go into anti-smoking efforts.
But they don't. Not a penny of the millions of dollars.
Why isn't there a more equitable tax found to fund these venues if they are that important to the community?
The arts tax produces huge amounts for major institutions. We hear, however, more about small arts organizations that get funding. Why? Because the smaller arts groups give cover to the millions of dollars given some of our larger institutions.
When I checked some months ago, I found that the Cleveland Museum of Art got $11 million; ideastream got some $8 million; Playhouse Square got $12 million; the Cleveland Orchestra $15 million; the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame got $7.7 million. Yes, Karamu House got $1 million.
Cleveland is a big foundation town. And foundations do give to some of the same arts institutions. But they have vast reserves. They can give more.
The city also has many wealthy individuals and trusts that give to arts organizations and they could do more.
This foundation money typically resulted from Cleveland's past wealth. That wealth was produced not only by the businesses that made wealthy men and women but from the hard work of tens of thousands of Clevelanders over the years.
Just a cursory look shows that the assets of four Cleveland foundation are more than $2 billion.
The Cleveland Foundation is worth $1.7 billion; one Mandel Foundation is worth $600 million; the Gund Foundation, $530 million; another Mandel foundation, $191 million; the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation, $157 million; Key Bank Foundation, $40 million; St. Luke's Foundation, $181 million.
There's plenty of money that has avoided taxation sloshing around Cleveland to meet the needs of the arts community.
This by no means exhausts the list, particularly since the major art institutions draw from an area wider than Cleveland and would include foundation and wealthy interests in Akron, Canton and other nearby cities.
Indeed, wouldn't it be fair if a tax were found where everyone could share in the burden in a small way, rather than taxing in most cases the least able to afford such taxes?
There also are other public funds awarded some of the big institutions here. The Cleveland Orchestra in its concert program lists "cumulative giving" of another $10 million or more from the state of Ohio, and the Ohio Arts Council gave another $10 million.
We do not have the right to tax the least among us. How can we feel good as a community doing so?
So vote "No" and ask that we find other progressive ways of dealing with the cost of arts in our community.
That would be fair.
Roldo Bartimole has been a reporter and commentator in Cleveland for nearly 50 years.