Here's that letter Leis' workers will get
Here's the letter that opponents of the jail tax are sending to Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis' employees. The sheriff must allow the letter to be sent as part of a settlement agreement with anti-taxer Jeff Capell. He filed a federal lawsuit against Leis for sending a pro-sales tax letter to workers a few weeks ago. Read the Enquirer story.
40 Comments:
at 11:50 AM, October 26, 2007 
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at 11:56 AM, October 26, 2007 
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at 12:21 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 12:48 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 1:14 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 1:47 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 2:36 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 4:03 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 4:15 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 4:16 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 5:12 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 6:22 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 8:14 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 8:24 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 8:29 PM, October 26, 2007 
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at 10:28 AM, October 27, 2007 
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at 10:38 AM, October 27, 2007 
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at 10:51 AM, October 27, 2007 
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at 11:26 AM, October 27, 2007 
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at 11:29 AM, October 27, 2007 
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at 12:30 AM, October 28, 2007 
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at 8:30 AM, October 28, 2007 
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at 8:30 AM, October 28, 2007 
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at 11:49 AM, October 28, 2007 
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at 8:57 PM, October 28, 2007 
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at 9:27 AM, October 29, 2007 
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at 11:02 AM, October 29, 2007 
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at 1:35 PM, October 29, 2007 
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at 2:37 PM, October 29, 2007 
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at 3:00 PM, October 29, 2007 
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at 3:57 PM, October 29, 2007 
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at 11:50 PM, October 29, 2007 
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at 11:00 AM, October 30, 2007 
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at 11:39 AM, October 30, 2007 
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at 12:08 PM, October 30, 2007 
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at 12:48 PM, October 30, 2007 
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at 3:07 PM, October 30, 2007 
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at 5:40 PM, October 30, 2007 
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at 11:20 PM, October 30, 2007 
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at 2:12 PM, November 01, 2007 
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Post a Comment*Cincinnati needs more people like Jeff Capell. Issue 27 is a huge waist of tax payer money. His letter to the sherrif department employees should be read by everyone voting. I hope the Enquirer picks up on this and prints a copy for everyone. There's also a great article at City Beat, 'Too many behind bars', by Kevin Osborne. I'll bet the letter falls on deaf ears at the sherrifs dept. Can you imagine having to work for someone like Leis. Even a good cop would have to turn bad after working with that SOB.
STOP WAISTING YOUR MONEY AND VOTE NO ON ISSUE 27.
Let the personal attacks on Cappell & DeWine, etc. begin!!
And don't forget to mention "comprehensive" in every other sentence.
Funny how the Enquirer refuses to make this letter front page news along with every Simon Leis or Pepper press release. Did anyone notice Leis is building an new large hanger for his ever increasing fleet of helicopters at his HQ up on Hamilton Ave ? This is how the extra money will really be spent.
That letter doesn't present any new information, it just rehashes the half-truths that they've been using all along. To wit:
- The Portune/Pepper plan is more than 2.5 times more expensive than the tax rejected by Hamilton County residents last November by 57% to 43%.
Yes, because Issue 27 is a different plan.
- The “Comprehensive Safety Plan” is not a plan at all. The on-line version of “Comprehensive Safety Plan” sales brochure says: “The current County Commission is developing a comprehensive safety plan.”
I thought he said he researched this thoroughly? This is a misleading statement.
http://www.hamiltoncountyohio.gov/administrator/bsi/jail/SafetyPlan.pdf
http://www.hamiltoncountyohio.gov/administrator/bsi/jail.asp
http://cetconnect.org/ELECTIONS2007/issue27.asp
http://safercommunity.org/Links.html
Why is it so hard for him to find the information? In fact, if he really did want to research it and couldn't find the information online, he could always *gasp* get it by going to the County Administration building and asking for it.
In 2003, Butler County built a new state-of-the-art, federal standard complaint jail of 800 beds for $35 million, which is around $43,000 jail bed, less than ½ of the cost.
That was 4 years ago. Construction costs have risen.
Warren County, this year, agreed to build a 180-bed expansion to their current jail at a cost of $5 million, less than $28,000 per bed. Cincinnati Enquirer, Sunday, July 15, 2007.
The key word here is "expansion". Hamilton County is not expanding. Not a valid comparison.
These are just a few of the inaccuracies in this "thoroughly researched" letter.
It's a one half of one percent sales tax, and even then that's only for half of the term. I am amazed and astounded that there are people out there who are placing saving a half-cent on every dollar spent over improving public safety. I can't believe that people would rather save a half of a penny than solve a problem that is not going to be addressed by another band-aid solution. It's unfathomable that people are willing to lie about the issue so they won't have to pay an extra half cent on their Big Mac and fries while criminals are being released due to lack of adequate jail space.
Unreal.
enough with the taxes already. thanks Jeff! apparently we have to count on other non-elected citizens to represent us as it seems that the elected officials pay little attention to what we actually want.
To Anonymous @ 11:50 a.m. Don't confuse the messege with the messegner. Although Mr. Cappell may raise some very good points, his tactics are not all above board, and I am not certain Cincinnati "needs more people like Jeff Cappell." I have worked with Mr. Cappell in other capacities and do not find him to be truthful or willing to listen reasonably to opposing points of view.
Actually, to read why everything Cappell has written is totally bogus, go to:
http://www.safercommunity.org/10_Myths.html
and:
http://www.safercommunity.org/Facts.html.
Is Mr. Cappel an attorney? Seems to me he's interpreting the law via this letter and giving legal advice - bad legal advice.
For a guy who's so quick to file ethics charges against everyone else - he might want to be a little more careful about issuing legal opinions
what's good for the goose (Leis) is good for the gander (Cappel)
I wish Cappel would spend a little time analyzing DeWine's Plan B, afterall, DeWine has had almost 4 years to put together an alternative - I'd really like to see exactly how big of a band aid fix DeWine is offering.
DeWine just drafts "cut and run" alternatives to juggle the county budget. He cuts one program to pay for another and runs away from the problems created by cutting those programs.
Cut and run, DeWine --- just like Heimlich did - he cut every program to bare bones and now he's runs for another office so he can do more cut and run management.
This cut and run mentality is equivalent to robbing Peter to pay Paul -- a juggling match that ha bankrupted the county.
If the "facts" in that letter are what the Issue 27 opponents are hanging their hat on, they better start looking for a new hook.
Why Anonymous ? Why not put your name on your letter of Opinion ? Are you a Coward ? Spineless ? What ? Put your name on your opinion or shut the hell up !
Joe Pfaffl
I do not think the point is really about a raise in taxes at all, the voters voted no for the tax last year because the voters obviously do not think we need a new jail (majority rules). However you must realize that people are going to be quite upset if politicians try to force the issue under the rug and regular citizens are forced to make this a vote (not a good move by pepper and portune).
More jail space does not solve the issues with the slow court system in Cincinnati, a new jail is as much of a band aid as anything that Dewine would do (not that I agree with him either).
If you really want to make Cincinnati a safer place then get involved with your commuinty and force the police to help you. The real solution to crime is community enforcement and it does not cost a thing at all.
In the 11:56 post, you'all were advised to start the personal attacks on Cappell & Dewine - you have done an excellent job.
But you failed miserably on the 2nd point (mention "comprehensive" often)- what's your problem??!!
"Cut & Run" Dewine? - doesn't Jean Schmidt have a copyright on that phrase? Or was that W?
12:48's counterpoints to the anti-tax letter were very convincing!
I'm convinced, more than ever, to vote NO on ISSUE 27!
12:21 anon - Please lay off of criticism of Simon's "Air Force". One of the helicopters was used to track down and capture the infamous "water-balloon throwers" downtown.
I can only speak for myself, but I feel MUCH safer.
NOTE to the uniformed, all of the Sheriff's "toys" were either donated or bought with seized drug money....NO TAXPAYER DOLLARS used to purchase or maintain. Of course DeWine and crew already know that, but the lying soundbite is too easy to pass up.
Cappell, who?
Where was he last year?
Did he speak at any of the public hearings in on the tax proposal?
Has he attended a Hamilton County Criminal Justice Commission meeting?
Does he have some profesional experience on the topic (perhaps a criminal justice planner, ex-judge, previously ran a jail, designed and built a jail, developed and implemented a jail diversion program)? Perhaps he knows people with these qualifications? If so, who are they and what do they say? Sounds like he is just a fluffer for COAST.
A political stance does not make a compelling argue unless you are playing to your base. Please tell me that the GOP cares more about the plight of the community beyond tax burden?
domethius wrote:
If you really want to make Cincinnati a safer place then get involved with your commuinty and force the police to help you. The real solution to crime is community enforcement and it does not cost a thing at all.
************
We already do all that. We are members of Citizens on Patrol, CPOP, and Court Watch.
Because of that, we are voting FOR Issue 27. Especially with Court Watch, we see the issues of recidivism, dependency and no space in the jail that contribute to lowered or dropped charges, repeatedly being put on community control, etc.
Yes, our crime numbers are down this year. But we still need all that is being proposed in Issue 27. We've needed some of it for 20 years and have been limping along with band-aid fixes.
I'm convinced, more than ever, to vote NO on ISSUE 27!
Congrats! Be sure you buy a huge piggy bank to store all those pennies you'll be saving.
In the 11:56 post, you'all were advised to start the personal attacks on Cappell & Dewine - you have done an excellent job.
You have to admit they're making it pretty easy for us. I mean, how do you send out a letter in which you say you've thoroughly researched the plan and then in one of your agrguments against it you say there is no plan to research despite there being tons of information out there about it?
C'mon - that's comedy gold right there!
OK, if it's "pennies", what is your personal yearly expected cost? And give, at least, a little support to your numbers.
And BTW, what does the extra $500 million actually get us? Stuff like "enhanced opportunities for at-risk youth" isn't really a good answer.
If the jail tax goes down it is ALL the Sheriff's fault.
How ironic.
If the jail tax goes down it is ALL the Sheriff's fault.
How ironic.
That was 4 years ago. Construction costs have risen.
Four years ago Butler County built a brand new jail for $44,000 per jail bed. Now Hamilton County wants to build a new jail for $110,000 per jail bed.
Are the Issue 27 supporters telling us that construction costs have risen 150% in just 4 years?
The information to rebut all the lies this Capell guy is putting out there in his letter and in the responses to this blog entry is easily obtainable via the Hamilton County website or the Enquirer's website. Simple things like the plan itself, the amount this tax will cost the average person, the reasons why the cost of construction is different after 4 years... it's all out there.
Take a minute and do some "thorough" research.
I have been vasilating back and forth on this jail tax issue. Last night, I was talking with my 18 year-old son (who is voting for the first time) about it.
He said, "We live in a country that extols the virtues of being democratic and free and we incarcerate more people per thousand than any other country in the world. Why would I vote for this?"
I couldn't think of any legitimate reason. I'm now a "no" on Issue 27 guy.
Maybe there are more people in jail because there are more people violating the law.
Just a hunch.
Did anyone see Jeff Capell on the news after he lost, err, "settled" his lawsuit? He looked like a wild-eyed nutcase. And lose he did; his "big victory" is sending letters to Co. employees homes, which he (and his COAST puppetmasters) could have done ANYWAY!! Their letters will be thrown away unopened. Way to go Jeff Capell!!
11:02-
Maybe we should look at some of those laws if we have so many citizens violating them.
Say, for instance laws that put drug users in jail in our free society.
I think the guy's kid hit it dead on.
Are these letters being sent at taxpayer expense?
Oh, the irony ...
2:37 -
Maybe we should look at the citizens who are breaking so many of the laws. Maybe we should stop enabling them by changing or eliminating the laws that they break. Maybe we should hold people accountable for their actions rather than blaming society.
Seems to me that the guy's kid has good intentions but does not have a realistic view of the world around him. Being a democratic and free society does not mean being a society devoid of the rule of law.
cincycapell >> the "personal attack" strategy only works in reverse.
Even Portune/Pepper/Leis/Deters have figured that out. Get with the program, currently, "it's only pennies".
3:57
THANK GOODNESS the "guy's kid has good intentions but does not have a realistic view of the world around him."
"Free Societies" exist elsewhere (inlcluding Great Britain and most of Europe) that do not waste their time and resources by jailing people with drug problems.
They also enjoy the benefits of having less violent crime and theft as the governnment provides the drugs at a cheap price, taking the whole black market out of the equation and eliminating the addict's need to steal to feed the addiction.
Drug addiction, by its definition, is a medical issue, it only becomes criminal when we create laws that drive it underground and support a whole new market place of theft and murder due to the inflated cost the dealers charge to overcome the legal barriers in their way.
Maybe "the guys' kid" is smart enought to see that obvious truth.
Yeah, "It's only pennies" you fools.
Actually 70,000,000,000 pennies.
Sounds to me like you have a bit of a drug addiction yourself. Otherwise why make such a stink about drug laws?
It's really very simple - avoid illegal activity, and you avoid going to jail. Why should we change the laws just because you don't want to follow them? Stupid argument.
12:08
It's a "stupid argument" that most of the civilised world has been following for fifty years or so.
You've got your dogs in the wrong fight, my man. You want to get high then you need to get a different referendum going. Until then I suggest you lay off the pipe so you can stay out of jail.
Either that or move to Europe.
I think Cincy"capell" needs to be more informed if he's going to try to impersonate the real Jeff Capell. The deal that was reached allows the anti-tax side to send an opposition letter to the Sheriff's employees to counter Leis' letter, and allows his side to hold a Press Conference outside the County Commissioners office. Previously this had been denied to them.
And the lawsuit still goes on. All the plaintiff had to do was drop the Temporary Restraining Order request to take that deal. Capell already has a big victory on his side, and didn't even have to drop the lawsuit to get it! If you want to be the real Jeff Capell, you're going to have to get a lot smarter than you are now.
VOTE NO ON ISSUE 27!
Business leaders in Warren County ask that you vote YES on 27.
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