Columbus City Council Played with Speaker Slip Trick « Columbus Underground Messageboard

Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Politics

Columbus City Council Played with Speaker Slip Trick

[12 posts] [9 contributors]

Topic Rating:

(Total Ratings: 1)
Rate this topic:

Started 1 year ago by pacerpaul
Latest reply from squid

Tags:

pacerpaul
Columbus
Login to Send PM

An old was game played on Columbus City Council:

--------------

Speaker was against it before he was for it
By: Doug Caruso
The Columbus Dispatch
January 24, 2012 16:01 PM

Clintonville Area Commission Chairman John DeFourny pulled a fast one last night. He signed up for one of three slots to speak at the City Council meeting against placing a parking lot in a residential neighborhood. And that's how he started out: "I oppose commercial encroachments into residential neighborhoods," he told the council. But then, as council members looked on in puzzlement, he told them he's not against this encroachment into residential neighborhoods. The Wesley Glen Retirement Center, which was requesting a zoning change to allow the parking lot, needs more employee parking, he explained.

READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-city/2012/01/forgainst-it.html

Posted 1 year ago #
mazzyD

Login to Send PM

Clintonville Area Commission Chairman John DeFourny pulled a fast one last night.

And by the chairman of the Clintonville Area Commission no less. This is not an acceptable way for the representative of the community to behave. It's sad but not surprising from John DeFourny. This is just one more in a long line of this kind of behavior from him. He's the same commissioner that was discussed on here last summer when he took issue with food carts and tried to drive Yerba Buena out of neighborhood.

"We take people at their word when they fill out a speaker slip," he said. "We hope they're honest and respect the other people at the meeting."

It's a shame because John DeFourny has just proved that you can't count on honesty and respect from some people. I agree with the commentor on the article that council should not allow this kind of disingenuous behaviour to go unaddressed. It only serves to penalize those speakers who are honest and respectful.

Posted 1 year ago #
Lakee911
Clintonville (South)
Login to Send PM

I had to ask myself, "Why am I so surprised (and angered, to be honest)?" This type of dishonesty and rule bending/breaking is so typical John DeFourny that it shouldn't even phase me. But it does... What is unfortunate is that it makes Clintonville look bad--something that has been happening since DeFourny has been chair of the Commission.

As said, this isn't the first time that it has happened. It might seem like City Council must be partly to blame but that is not the case. How can they really police public speaking? Even if they did/could, what is the consequence for speaking something other than what one said he/she would? It gets ridiculous quickly. Now, City Council could censor public speaking much the way that John DeFourny does, but they won't stoop to his level.

This is just more evidence on how disfunctional our Comission is--remember most of them re-elected this crooked person (even after his disastrous first year) to represent the Comission which is supposed to be representing Clintonville.

Who's holding their breath for an apology?

Posted 1 year ago #
Anidem
NE Ohio
Login to Send PM

I'm looking at the map and am trying to figure out where they're putting this parking lot unless they tear down some houses across the street on Fenway. Am I missing something here?

Pretty crappy all the way around, though, even for Wesley Glen to not have the foresight and to go ahead with their project and worry about particulars later.

Posted 1 year ago #
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
Login to Send PM

Heh.

This same dude forced out a very successful and very beloved local food business (Yerba Buena).

And now a Hustler store graces the gateway to Clintonville.

If it weren't so tragic, it would be funny.

Clintonville deserves better leadership, hoping some smart locals step up (Jim Ellison?).

Posted 1 year ago #
cheap
Westgate
Login to Send PM

this idiot is one reason why these associations should be abolished

Posted 1 year ago #
ssnyder5
Clintonville
Login to Send PM

Anidem said:
I'm looking at the map and am trying to figure out where they're putting this parking lot unless they tear down some houses across the street on Fenway. Am I missing something here?

Pretty crappy all the way around, though, even for Wesley Glen to not have the foresight and to go ahead with their project and worry about particulars later.

Anidem, you're not missing anything. They are in fact planning to tear down two residential houses to build the parking lot.

lizless said:
If it weren't so tragic, it would be funny.

Clintonville deserves better leadership, hoping some smart locals step up (Jim Ellison?).

Agreed. This was unfortunately just more of the same from DeFourny. It's especially troubling that someone who is supposed to be acting as the community's representative would instead game the speaker system and interfere with the community's ability to communicate their views with council.

Posted 1 year ago #
ssnyder5
Clintonville
Login to Send PM

More about last Monday's Council Zoning Meeting in The Other Paper:
Wards and rewards
http://www.theotherpaper.com/blogs/over_the_top/article_04d5c73c-4856-11e1-9d94-001871e3ce6c.html

Posted 1 year ago #
Lakee911
Clintonville (South)
Login to Send PM

cheap said:
this idiot is one reason why these associations should be abolished

Some communities are moving towards more civic associations doing away with a commission... food for thought.

ssnyder5 said:
Agreed. This was unfortunately just more of the same from DeFourny. It's especially troubling that someone who is supposed to be acting as the community's representative would instead game the speaker system and interfere with the community's ability to communicate their views with council.

C'mon, who are you kidding? He's not the community's representative. He is his own representitive. When someone said you have to look out for "number one," he really took it to heart. I've rarely seen such an selfish egotistical crooked man remain in a position of authority so long. Props to him, I guess... Oh wait, you said "supposed to be acting..." My bad. :)

We should all write, visit, and telephone him and let him know how we feel. Can someone post contact info? In fact, in one step futher, I would like one or all of our other trustworthy Commissioner's to raise this at the next meeting. His actions should be questioned and it should all be entered in to the meeting minutes.

Posted 1 year ago #
Pablo
Crestview Addition
Login to Send PM

Clintonville flip-flop leads to suspicions of a quid pro quo
Wesley Glen got its new parking lot; commission’s chairman gets listings

By Mark Ferenchik
The Columbus Dispatch
May 3, 2012

On the morning of Jan. 23, Clintonville Area Commission Chairman John DeFourny signed up to speak to the Columbus City Council against a retirement center’s plan to build a parking lot in a residential area.

Instead, he spoke for it that evening. Council members voted 6-1 to approve the rezoning.

Now DeFourny, a real-estate agent, is listing two homes owned by the beneficiary of that vote, the Wesley Glen Retirement Center. One is on Fenway Road, the other on Westview Avenue.

READ MORE

Posted 1 year ago #
cheap
Westgate
Login to Send PM

like i said before.

more politics

more corruption

these commissions need disbanded,they are a joke.

Posted 1 year ago #
squid
Cowlumbus
Login to Send PM

cheap said:
like i said before.
more politics
more corruption
these commissions need disbanded,they are a joke.

Not sure I agree. What needs to happen is more legal protection from dirt-bags like this that use their position to fleece the public or line their pockets. They should be held financially and legally responsible for things they vote on.

This joker has caused a TON of trouble lately and it doesn't seem like the public in Clintonville give a damn. *shrug* Wonder if you can 'recall' a commissioner? Anyone know?

Posted 1 year ago #