Where Have They Gone?
Dear Chardon Walmart,
(Sung to the song, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”)
Where have all the cashiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the cashiers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the cashiers gone? Gone to the stockroom everyone.
When will corporate ever learn, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the stockrooms gone, long time passing?
Where have all the stockrooms gone, long time ago?
Where have the stockrooms gone? Gone to China everyone.
When will multinationals ever learn, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the innovators gone, long time passing?
Where have all the innovators gone, long time ago?
Where have all the innovators gone? Gone to the bottom line everyone.
When will innovators ever learn, when will they ever learn?
Where have all your customers gone, long time passing?
Where have all your customers gone, long time ago?
Where have all your customers gone? Gone to Amazon everyone.
When will Walmart ever learn, when will you ever learn?
Sheldon Firem
Hambden Township
Public Tax Dollars, But No Public Voice?
I recently learned that the Geauga Park Board at their Sept. 13 meeting voted on a motion to allow limited pre-screened public input during their meetings. Sadly, the result of that vote was a 2-2 tie, meaning the motion failed and the public is yet again silenced.
I would ask the two gentleman who voted no to explain to the public at their next board meeting their reasoning. You owe that much to ‘We the People.’
As a township trustee and a member of the public who has attended Chester Township Board of Trustee meetings for more than 30 years, I find the silencing of the public by the county park board to be at the very least disrespectful and evasive.
Is the refusal by the county park board to receive public input at public meetings because meetings will take longer or might be more emotional or uncomfortable when the public challenges the board with questions that are deserving of answers? I really would like to know.
As a trustee for the township of Chester the past 10 years, and as a resident attending the meeting for 20 years prior to that, we have always permitted citizens to speak at our meetings. It is incumbent on the chair to skillfully balance the right of the people to be heard and the need to efficiently conduct the people’s business.
The citizens also have a responsibility to be considerate in their conduct and comments. It is a good thing when people respectfully engage with their government representatives (at all levels).
I have experienced public input in person for more than 30 years at our township meetings. At times, the people offer suggestions or ask questions that impact our decision-making process. That is a good thing, to be encouraged, not silenced.
If Chester (and other municipalities) can do it, why can’t (or why won’t) the Geauga Park Board allow public input? The public deserves a direct answer from those that voted ‘no.’
It is true that the law says a public body must only conduct its business in public and the people do not have a right to be heard at these public meetings. However, as retired Judge Forrest Burt once told me, “What the law says and what is right aren’t necessarily the same thing.” I ask our Geauga Park Board to do the right thing.
Ken Radtke Jr.
Chester Township Trustee
Health Board Deserves Support
I recently attended several Geauga County Health Board meetings and wanted to thank the board members and the staff for not only their participation in the meetings, but also their professional conduct in the face of some harsh criticisms.
The health board is comprised of volunteers. It is easy to stand in judgement and criticize, but much harder to do something about it.
I commend David Gragg, Richard Piraino, Lynn Roman, Ashley Jones and Patty Levan for their unsung and underappreciated efforts during these tumultuous times. I also thank the staff of the health district, interim Health Department Administrator Adam Litke and acting Health Director Dr. Reid for their efforts as well.
At the last meeting, I was glad to see an ‘engaged citizenry’ (and respectful conduct) and wish more people took it upon themselves to become more informed and involved in their local government. Whether it be a trustees meeting, board of health, park board or county commissioners, there are things to learn and questions to ask.
Many people who spoke, including myself, spoke of our constitutional liberties and freedoms. One person recited sections of our Declaration of Independence. It is important that we all refresh ourselves with the content and meaning of our founding documents from time to time.
It is up to us as individual citizens to push back against unconstitutional federal mandates and the best place for ‘We the People’ to start is at the local levels of township, city and county government. We must also remind our state and especially our federal elected officials of their constitutional obligations and require them to refuse to support unconstitutional laws and mandates.
Regarding the federal vaccine mandate for businesses with more than 100 employees, I would ask that our health board educate, defend and support our county businesses and their employees in opposition to this unconstitutional order.
Liberty, freedom, individual choice and individual responsibility are the hallmarks of our Republic, and we need to be vigilant against the ever-encroaching dictates of the federal government.
Would businesses be making this vaccine mandatory if it weren’t for this federal order? If not, then don’t do it. If businesses and employees comply now and it is found to be unconstitutional later, what recourse do people have, especially those who get an adverse reaction?
If the federal government believes it can “inject” itself into the very personal health decisions of a citizen, where is the limit on their intrusions into our civil liberties?
Businesses and their workers need our support, and I ask that our Geauga County Health Board to do what is necessary and within their power to object to this order and support ‘We the People’ and our businesses.
Ken Radtke Jr.
Chester Township Trustee
Health District Advisory Committee Chair
