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    <title>Middletown City Council</title>
    <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/list.php?80</link>
    <description><![CDATA[Talk about issues facing the Middletown City Council.]]></description>
    <language>EN</language>
    <pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:55:38 -0400</pubDate>
    <lastBuildDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:55:38 -0400</lastBuildDate>
    <category>Middletown City Council</category>
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    <item>
      <title>Re: Here Is Why Middletown Never Changes...</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75592,75872#msg-75872</link>
      <author>Non-AK Worker</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Or could it be that those in charge are acting in their own interest?  
I'm sure the Republican Party is not guilty of gathering homeless people to vote for them.  I'm 100% sure that Republican voters are well informed of McCain's politics and not just voting for him so an African American isn't elected.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75592,75872#msg-75872</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:55:38 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Here Is Why Middletown Never Changes...</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75592,75592#msg-75592</link>
      <author>The Watchdog</author>
      <description><![CDATA[its because we have uninformed voters like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-xwtGHQjHE]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75592,75592#msg-75592</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:21:58 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Russian Politics In Butler County?</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75557,75557#msg-75557</link>
      <author>the anonymous donor</author>
      <description><![CDATA[This is how Russia does its elections, and the KGB candidates always win:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vJcVgJhNaU]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75557,75557#msg-75557</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:18:43 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: ACORN?</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75523,75538#msg-75538</link>
      <author>Briarhop1</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Found the ACORN fight song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpKRd2xQeq8

Yer frend,
Briarhop1]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75523,75538#msg-75538</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:43:31 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ACORN?</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75523,75534#msg-75534</link>
      <author>Briarhop1</author>
      <description><![CDATA[A Corrupt Organization of Revolutionary Nuts.

Yer frend,
Briarhop1]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75523,75534#msg-75534</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:54:28 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Gov Strickland Allows Theft by Deception</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75523,75523#msg-75523</link>
      <author>the anonymous donor</author>
      <description><![CDATA[A fed appellate court 2-1 allowed secretary of state Brunner of Ohio to continue to steal the election by addicts, homeless, and prostitutes. The dissenting judge could not believe the decision, calling it a mockery and abuse of American democracy. I recommend Dewine appeals this decision immediately. I was going to consider to vote for Zettler, but the Dems are so corrupt when they get power, I wouldn't dream of it. Butler County residents, ACORN is stealing this wlection. Anyone give a damn?]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75523,75523#msg-75523</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:12:44 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Section 8 once again</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75502,75502#msg-75502</link>
      <author>S</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Section 8 is alive and well in Middletown even though Middletown's City Manager once again recommended turning the program over to Butler Metropolitan Housing.
 
Also during the last Council Meeting the Council hired Consultant recommended as his number one choice turning the program over to BMH also.  The question is why do we even have a City manager and why do we waste money on consultants when Council has already decided that it is going to maintain the status quo.  
 
By turning the program over to BMH the number of vouchers would not be reduced. No one currently on Section 8 would lose their voucher.  But by turning the program over to BMH any new Middletown Citizen would have to get on the waiting list with BMH, this would hopefully reduce the amount of Section 8 Housing in Middletown.  it would also reduce the number of people who move to Middletown to just be able to get Section 8 housing, as currently you must reside in Middletown to get a Middletown Section 8 voucher.
 
Now the main concerns of Middletown have been:
 
1) The Police and Courts want more control over Criminal background checks.
2)  Section 8 residents having to travel to Hamilton to see BMH.
3)  Preference is given to Middletown residents for a  Voucher in Middletown's program.
4)  Middletown wants control over housing inspections.
 
Now that being said:
 
1)   Middletown Police and Courts have stated that the system that BMH uses to screen applicants for vouchers using Sheriff Jones and Butler County Courts is excellent.
 
2)  BMH is willing to open an Office in Middletown to Service Middletown's Section 8 population.
 
3)  Middletown residents would have to get on the waiting list at BMH with the rest of Butler county, that is just the way it is and should be.
 
4)  Middletown could still maintain control of Housing Inspections. 
 
So we have 3 of Councils Concerns resolved with very little effort, yet they insist on maintaining this program.
 
Marconi is furious at Bloggers because they don't know what they are talking about.  Seems pretty straight forward from my position.  I have no problem with Section 8 I have a problem with an overabundance of Section 8 as compared to our population in Butler County. I have a problem with a City Council that refuses to see that having this amount of Section 8 is damaging to the City overall. Moving the Section 8 to BMH will not hurt one person that is currently on the program, as once you have a voucher you have it for life or you no longer qualify.
 
The average income of a Section 8 recipient is $7800.00 in Ohio.  We do not need to continue and attract an over abundance of low income residents.  
 
Quotes of the day for this meeting go to the clueless Ms Ford, who states, Landlords in Middletown's Section 8 program are a significant economical underpinning of Middletown.
 
And another jewel from her was , &quot;be honest about who we are&quot; I took this quote as very demeaning to the residents of Middletown and that we all should admit that we are just poor slobs who don't deserve a city that is vibrant and growing economically.
 
Becker and Armbruster seem to be open to reducing the number of Vouchers.  Mulligan was once again less than a leader and pretty much stood for nothing.  Schiavone and Ford would add more vouchers if they could was my impression and Marconi is  hot about the issue and especially the bloggers and just wants to maintain the status quo.  He wants to blame the previous Councils and City employees for the current number of vouchers yet he doesn't want to do anything to solve the situation.  Scott-Jones wants to maintain the status quo.  Ms Scott-Jones stated that compared to Middletown's population 1662 Vouchers is Minuscule.  For being so damn minuscule they sure make one hell of  big problem which will take years to fix.  Minuscule I don't think about 10% of the population is so minuscule.  It is unfortunate that Council can't put this much time and efort into the Major problems econcomic developement, etc.
 
It would appear to some that the number of Vouchers was increased so dramatically over the years because the City is Paid $56.00 per month per voucher in use to administer the program.  Now if you add that up that comes to about $1.1 million dollars a year to administer the program.  The city keeps a portion of that and the managing company gets part of those funds.
 
Overall the City needs to let go of this program and concentrate on growing the City economically.  Nothing is lost by giving this program to BMH other than the new residents would then have to be put on a waiting list with the rest of the county's residents to get a voucher.   If this is good enough for 99.99999999999% of the cities in Ohio why does Middletown have to be so different.  Lets do what is best for the City as a whole.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75502,75502#msg-75502</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:08:35 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Lonestar</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75220,75470#msg-75470</link>
      <author>Non-AK Worker</author>
      <description><![CDATA[thanks---good to see soemthing is working...]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75220,75470#msg-75470</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:35:05 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Trickle Down Effect?</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75299,75299#msg-75299</link>
      <author>the anonymous donor</author>
      <description><![CDATA[The Prophet, the 1, is to make a harvest for the world. We just lost $ 10 Trillion and counting daily. Taxes don't provide the harvest. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_kQ0bqBaxY]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75299,75299#msg-75299</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:32:55 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Horse Thiefs Were Hung!</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75228,75228#msg-75228</link>
      <author>the anonymous donor</author>
      <description><![CDATA[What about election thiefs. Investors Business Daily asks what Barack Obama knows about the epidemic of voter fraud in ACORN, and it’s not an unfair question. Not only has Obama publicly endorsed ACORN, he has paid them at least $800,000 for their services, an amount that he didn’t immediately disclose until pressed. ACORN has responded in kind, with their voter-registration efforts that have resulted in criminal investigations in more than a dozen states.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75228,75228#msg-75228</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:46:19 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Lonestar</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75220,75227#msg-75227</link>
      <author>80corvette</author>
      <description><![CDATA[My son worked there for 6 years before he went to school. He knows the managers and was told that they are still waiting for the insurance to do their thing before rebuilding. That's the latest I have heard.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75220,75227#msg-75227</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:39:26 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lonestar</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75220,75220#msg-75220</link>
      <author>Non-AK Worker</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Anyone know what the status is with Lonestar?  Last I heard corporate was going to make a decision soon, but I haven't heard anything since.   Doesn't look like they have started anything from 122]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75220,75220#msg-75220</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:06:07 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>When pigs fly</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75178,75178#msg-75178</link>
      <author>tomahawk35us</author>
      <description><![CDATA[then I will believe this council is more concerned about citzens of Middletown than some underlying scam concerning this section 8 business. We may have to have some section8 but not the whole hog,take that and BBQ it.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75178,75178#msg-75178</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:54:36 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Bad Decision</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75078,75171#msg-75171</link>
      <author>S</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Is this Council know for making any good ones on a regular basis.....NO, so why should this be any different.  Just another major nail in Middletowns non-exsistent future.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75078,75171#msg-75171</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:54:49 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Bad Decision</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75078,75078#msg-75078</link>
      <author>80corvette</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Armbruster says keep Section 8. No reason, just keep it. Bad for the city image, bad for crime, will attract some undesirables and needs to be trimmed from the overextended budget.Time for all of you to go, council.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,75078,75078#msg-75078</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:30:07 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Swallens Building/Section 8</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71694,74865#msg-74865</link>
      <author>Non-AK Worker</author>
      <description><![CDATA[If Perry Thatcher wants to keep the Swallen's building up, why doesn't he start paying the bills to keep it up?   Better yet, let him buy it.  Which I am sure what he wants to hear.  But he should have to pay fair market value, not low ball the City.  Then again, given our current real esate market; I'm sure it is only worth a few thousand dollars anyway.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71694,74865#msg-74865</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:48:05 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Swallens Building/Section 8</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71694,74858#msg-74858</link>
      <author>Briarhop1</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Whoops! Meant to say Colonial Arms is across the street from River Arms
but I havent quite figgerd out how to edit on this msg board.

Yer frend,
Briarhop1]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71694,74858#msg-74858</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:34:24 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Swallens Building/Section 8</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71694,74857#msg-74857</link>
      <author>Briarhop1</author>
      <description><![CDATA[80corvette Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
&gt; Just reviewing Gilleland's notes for Sept. Perry
&gt; Thatcher was suppose to approach council to delay
&gt; knocking Swallens down. Haven't heard any outcome
&gt; on that . Did I miss the decision? Are they gonna
&gt; demolish it or hold on to it for awhile? Tomorrow,
&gt; we'll get to hear all about the Section 8 as
&gt; council will discuss the direction of this
&gt; program. They need to unload this and give it
&gt; away, contrary to what Marconi wants. It's bad for
&gt; the city and helps lower the image standards
&gt; immensely.Let's move it out of here and
&gt; re-distribute it somewhere else in Butler County.

You Sir, have hit the nail on the head. I have several friends who are
fed up with Section 8 problems that spillover too near their homes. Whether
the problems are a result of domestic violence or just plain trash blowing
into their yards, its time to take action. Years ago, the City of Franklin
was able to negotiate a deal in Lebanon in which they merely transferred
a large portion of their Section 8's to Carlisle's Colonial Arms Apartments
and River Arms.

Over a few years, the crime rate in these areas became so high, the Carlisle
Police opened up a sub-station in the Colonial Arms complex, which is located
directly across the street from Colonial. This was due to the fact that
about 75% of their 911 calls were from this area.
(it saved them a lot of gasoline and response time)

Then again, you will have the NIMBY factor to deal with. I wish you all
the luck in the world.

Yer frend,
Briarhop1]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71694,74857#msg-74857</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:31:28 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Swallens Building/Section 8</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71694,71694#msg-71694</link>
      <author>80corvette</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Just reviewing Gilleland's notes for Sept. Perry Thatcher was suppose to approach council to delay knocking Swallens down. Haven't heard any outcome on that . Did I miss the decision? Are they gonna demolish it or hold on to it for awhile? Tomorrow, we'll get to hear all about the Section 8 as council will discuss the direction of this program. They need to unload this and give it away, contrary to what Marconi wants. It's bad for the city and helps lower the image standards immensely.Let's move it out of here and re-distribute it somewhere else in Butler County.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71694,71694#msg-71694</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:25:16 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Why Have Butler Cty Property Values Declined?</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71557,71557#msg-71557</link>
      <author>the anonymous donor</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I know we have problems in Middletown, as the hospital is gone, the schools are below par, and our roads neglected. But, I was determined to appeal my property taxes and studied this issue carefully. I wanted to share what I discovered as part of the process. I hope it might help others make the right decision as they also reach the same conclusion.

Now I know why the Republicans also stay in power in the county after reviuewing this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71557,71557#msg-71557</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:35:09 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Boehner commercial</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71525,71525#msg-71525</link>
      <author>Non-AK Worker</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Just saw the John Boehner commercial...what a hypocrit.   My wife and I must have contacted his office a dozen times about issues and he always replies with the same form letter.  I don't believe it is an area to get involved in and regulate.  But now all the sudden he wants us to believe he is going to get involved?  Please.  

But what should I expect from a man that received more votes than were present?]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71525,71525#msg-71525</guid>
      <pubDate>Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:47:28 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: The Tale of Two Cities</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71238,71452#msg-71452</link>
      <author>80corvette</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Spider- To fix the current mess, we have to purge the current mess makers. To purge the current mess makers, we will need some candidates to replace the mess makers from the &quot;numbers&quot; of the people that you referenced in your post. I wouldn't be so quick to pull the trigger on the approval of the city manager just yet. She has demonstrated in her correspondence that she can be bought and sold by the &quot;mess makers&quot; and gives indications at times, that she can be just as out of touch as our mess makers are. IMO, it will only get better if we see a trend in the voters to vote out the problem children and replace them with &quot;180 degree from current thinking&quot; thinkers, which will be a major effort to accomplish.You may be right on the &quot;crying about the past memories&quot; bit but I always use this for comparisons as to just how far we have sunk, particularly to people who say that they have only been in Middletown for 30 years as the Watchdog has stated.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71238,71452#msg-71452</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:36:15 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Well then, okay, there you go there again</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71378,71436#msg-71436</link>
      <author>The Watchdog</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Mike. Sorry, too much debate watching and fargoian accents. I have no idea where the $ came from. Did it come from the city (trees)? I suspect the city thinks a tree planted absorbs the toxic fumes from AK and soon to be SunCoke so a wise investment. You betcha those trees are needed to take our mind off the roads which are cracked and probably never going to be repaired. Maybe AJ Smith can get the Prophet to earmark about $100M for new roads for Middletown. Lets see: $250K for legal fees for school appeal which was lost (check), $50K for development of brand awareness for east end (check), $500K for roads for east end (check), $5M in new taxes for raises for all city employees and benefit perks (check), $50K in donations for Bill Becker and Larry Mulligan for their campaign (check), and a few small trees which see for $10.00 at Walmart (hmmm check- but chump change).]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71378,71436#msg-71436</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:20:10 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Lets be happy...</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71378,71435#msg-71435</link>
      <author>Mike Presta</author>
      <description><![CDATA[The Watchdog Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
&gt; The trees are not
&gt; numerous, maybe 100-200? $5,000.00 at most to buy,
&gt; maybe 1/2 that amount.


Dog:
The point is, why should money be taken from some poor retired lady, working as a waitress to try to make ends meet, (or from anyone else) to buy a tree for me, or for a council member, or for anyone else???

Is it the purpose of municipal government to take money from the working poor citizens within its municipality (or from anyone else) in order to buy landscaping for different citizens who, in many cases, may be in better financial circunstances???

I do NOT see that as a purpose of government, especially when so many of the primary purposes of municipal government in Middletown are found wanting!!!

The City of Middletown should NOT be spending one thin dime without asking the question:  &quot;Is this more important than infrastructure?&quot;]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71378,71435#msg-71435</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:03:40 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Lets be happy...</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71378,71402#msg-71402</link>
      <author>The Watchdog</author>
      <description><![CDATA[that Rumke is making a round tomorrow w/ the city to at least do some cleanup, more than many expected, including me. The trees are not numerous, maybe 100-200? $5,000.00 at most to buy, maybe 1/2 that amount. And, we are a Tree City. I heard through the grapevine there is a bus headed to Berkley at the University of Califormia to lure tree huggers to Middletown. So, with tree huggers and artists from San Franscisco, Middletown will be restored. spiderjohn, got anymore of that koolaid you can share? You must have House, M.D. make you some poetnt stuff as you've been saying this &quot;getting better&quot; stuff now for years. I guess its how one perceives &quot;better&quot;.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71378,71402#msg-71402</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:34:10 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: The Tale of Two Cities</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71238,71394#msg-71394</link>
      <author>spiderjohn</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Don't buy the Lebanon snake oil.
They have no real business community downtown, and few of the social issues creating a large part of our ball and chain. Lebanon is nice upscale anglo community with little to no serious business presence. Their downtown is like a cardboard facade. What can you actually buy there? 

Time to quit crying about past memories and to concentrate on fixing this current mess.
It can be done, and will be done.
And by fresh new faces.
Our city manager is one of them.
Read today's leeter in the MJ by Chris Lacy(another young positive thinker who could play a strong role in reviving a community in which he loves dearly).

It ain't over, folks.
It will get better, and it will happen sooner than many of you expect.
Don't give up--give yourself to more positive participation.
We have the numbers and will win out here!]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71238,71394#msg-71394</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:13:16 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>New tree give-away</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71378,71378#msg-71378</link>
      <author>Mike Presta</author>
      <description><![CDATA[There is a story in today's Journal about the City giving away free trees (5 to 7 feet tall).

It was interesting to note that no mention was made about where the funding was found for this latest giveaway!!]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71378,71378#msg-71378</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:28:14 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: The Tale of Two Cities</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71238,71364#msg-71364</link>
      <author>80corvette</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Born here in 1948- puts me 9 days shy of 60. I started seeing the decline in the 70's with ideas like the enclosed mall downtown being implemented. I agree with you on the decline. Sad to see, knowing what this town was like in the 60's. None better. Had a good reputation, great sports programs, decent housing, decent shopping, decent jobs, and small pockets of &quot;trashy areas&quot;. Now, since the 70's, and with the help of the past /current economic development departments and past/current city councils/commissions, we have armegeddon. When the &quot;outsiders&quot; started occupying positions of power in town, and the &quot;locals&quot; started losing that power, the town slipped into the abyss. This &quot;new breed&quot; of leader didn't seem to have in them, the town's best interest nor the progressive, logical thinking, causing Middletown to become what we all see today- a hollow shell of ineptitude. Like the country, longterm damage has been done. It will take a total cleanout of the current thinking/ replacement with new concept people and a lot of convincing to turn it around.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71238,71364#msg-71364</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:04:41 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Isn't the real issue the following...</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,70716,71363#msg-71363</link>
      <author>S</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Non-AK you basically have two organizations in Butler County dealing with Section 8 housing.  One is Butler Metro Housing which has 960 Section 8 Vouchers and the other is Middletown Section 8 program which has 1663 vouchers.

Where would you go to try and get Section 8 housing Butler County or Middletown?]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,70716,71363#msg-71363</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2008 10:59:35 -0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: The Tale of Two Cities</title>
      <link>http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71238,71298#msg-71298</link>
      <author>The Watchdog</author>
      <description><![CDATA[vette, I've got 30 yrs in the city. Saw it go down in the 80's, and really accelerate after the hospital move. As Ohio continues to lose population, while state taxs go up, with cold weather, my friend I think it only gets worse for the city. I suspect your're a little older than ten, as I think it will take decades for Middletown to turn around if it ever does. Unfortunately, if you are 59-60, you got alot of deadwood in front of you vette. The good news is about all the deadwood &quot;lifers&quot; children are moving elsewhere, at the recommendation of Mom and Dad. Sawyer will be out of here in a year, as more and more follow. Then, Middletown will become a Cincinnati. Most will move out and you'll have a sterotype of downtown running all through Middletown.]]></description>
      <category>Middletown City Council</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://discussions.middletownjournal.com/read.php?80,71238,71298#msg-71298</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:32:42 -0400</pubDate>
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