Hope to hear more stories like these, so, as Chas Rich says, the “victors” can’t write only their side:

Tuesday, July 24th I received an invitation to attend a meeting at Gypsy Beans and Baking Company. I went. I think it may have changed my life. I thought I was through with my days of political activism. Turned out I was wrong. When I went, I did not know the reason for the meeting other than it had something to do with the last public hearing about the convention center/medical mart. Turned out PutItOnTheBallot.com was born that day.

A group of activists and others were concerned that the commissioners were bent on adding 1/4% sales tax to our state tax without a vote…

Gloria Ferris » Blog Archive » And So It Began

Had a long talk with Tim and Gloria after our MTB interview with Joan Perch tonight. It’s getting down to the wire. Gloria’s doing a tremendous job rallying volunteers to collect signatures. If you’re so inclined, she could use your help.

Tim Ferris: inculcate a sense of urgency, now

Frazier is much more informed/eloquent then I can be on this issue:

What we are witnessing in Ward 11, other parts of Cleveland, inner-ring suburbs, and communities across the nation as well, is a clash of cultures. New people move in (read: Black) and those Whites who cannot afford to move out — trust me, they are usually the only Whites that remain — get up-in-arms to “protect” their neighborhoods against the perceived “invaders.” And this clash has been continuing in one various degree or another since the dawn of the civil rights movement.

Here is where I fault Mike Polensek and other politicians like him: Over the years he (and the others) has done virtually nothing to make the inevitable integration of formerly all-White communities any smoother, easier and less confrontational. With few exceptions most White elected community representatives like Polensek will follow on the issue of race instead of lead. And if they were wiser they would have followed the lead of communities like Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights and initiated programs to ease the friction between races. The simple fact is, those communities are comprised of better educated Whites, who are not as small-minded on matters of race … or anything else.

Even if the leaders are not themselves racists (and I don’t think Polensek is a racist … he’s worse, he’s a politician) they will do the bidding of the racists in their wards and help circle the wagons of exclusion…

CoolCleveland.com - Straight Outta Mansfield Polenseks Rage

65

When we’re conscious,
the few small things that we can do
become more important
than the thousand we can’t.

Small and slow
are sometimes faster and bigger.

Nothing moves more slowly
than plans the size of large binders.
Nothing inspires less authentic engagement
than goals the size of big screens.

© 2007 Jack Ricchiuto

Preview and pre-order Conscious Becoming here.

Funny. I’m looking at the photo of Mike Polensek on the MTB website, sitting in a Christian Bookstore/Cafe right under the cross lettered with Agapé (the Greek word for divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. Greek philosophers at the time of Plato used it in a way that suggested a universal, as opposed a personal, love; this could mean love of truth, or love of humanity). Quite a contrast to the actual letter or the supportive comment he’s getting.

Meet the Bloggers » Cleveland City Councilman Mike Polensek

Monday through yesterday I attended a great Conference at the Renaissance Hotel on Public Square with 200 professional real estate investors from all over the country.  I was attending because next week I start working with a fast growing local technology company called realeflow and they were one of the organizers (i.e. their web-based on-demand software is a comprehensive business management system for the attendees allowing them to simultaneously manage 100’s of transactions at a time, and everything in between).

Tuesday it occurred to me that no one from the CVB, etc. had officially welcomed the delegates to Cleveland.  What a great opportunity and a nobrainer to speak well for the city.   Tuesday night I was lucky enough to connect with the Tech Czar, Michael DeAloia, in the evening and mentioned this to him.   Unexpectedly he offered to come over on Wednesday to welcome the delegates.  He did just that to kick off the afternoon session after I introduced him, apologizing for all the construction (but leverage this as evidence of all the exciting development going on downtown) and invited everyone back again.

Everyone was excited and impressed by this welcome from a City Official who cared enough to call them out.  I’d like to publicly thank the Tech Czar for doing this.  He’s truly a class act and one of the best ambassadors I know for Cleveland.  Now you could argue that no one from our group made it known we were in town.  On the other hand, how difficult is it to check with event sales at all the downtown hotels and send an official over from any of our handful of official organizations to welcome those who are spending good money to fly in and come downtown for a conference?

It’s really the little things that count…