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Treece Blog: Eliminating the 2013 deficit without raising taxes

By
Ben Treece
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After my column “Eat the rich and starve to death,” a reader challenged me to draw up a balanced budget for the United States federal government. As an added bonus, I was asked to outline the consequences of any cuts or reductions made. I quote the reader, “You have to explain the ripple effect of each program you cut. If it means people die, then you have to say that. If it means all of our insurance rates will go up, you have to say that.” While it is impossible to predict the exact outcomes of each program cut, I can make general assumptions about what we could assume would happen.

I would like to point out that I used the numbers provided by the White House from their proposed 2013 budget. If there is any overlap in funds or discrepancies I apologize in advance, however I did my best to make sure that no funds were double-counted or exaggerated.

The fiscal 2013 budget looks to add $901 billion to the national debt according to the White House. As a fiscal conservative, most readers would assume that I would slash Medicare/Medicaid spending to nothing, cut Social Security, alter tax structure, etc. However, overhauling the system is a difficult task that I would use as an approach to lowering the deficit, since it is a long-term plan that takes time to implement and see real changes. I have taken the approach of decreasing wasteful spending and eliminating programs that require less funding, receive alternative funding or have been unsuccessful at accomplishing the goals they set out to achieve.

Congressional salaries

Currently, members of Congress take home $174,000 a year, while House/Senate party leaders take $193,400 and the Speaker takes $223,500. The president takes home a $400,000 salary, a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 nontaxable travel account and $19,000 for entertainment. The vice president then takes home $230,700. I would pay all members of Congress, the president and vice president a modest salary the same as the median U.S. household income, $50,000. This would save us $67.9 million a year. A small dent, but a necessary change.

Military spending

Defending our nation and promoting interstate commerce are truly the two main purposes of a federal government. However, having bases in foreign nations such as Germany or Japan seems unnecessary given our current economic situation. Furthermore, according to Business Insider, $11 billion has been “lost” in Iraq since ’07. If we were to cut down on wasteful spending such as that and cut the $851 billion broadly labeled “National Defense Budget” by 25 percent we would save $223.75 billion, roughly 25 percent of the deficit so far. I should also point out that if this cut meant a decrease in pay or treatment options for service members, I would reinstate these funds in a second (Veterans Affairs is separately funded).

Unemployment insurance solvency

This is the section for which I am sure to get an angry response or two; all I can say is do not blame the messenger. When the nation is in the state that it is in, we cannot afford to pay for individuals to sit around and not work. This is not a moral conflict or an ideological statement, it is a fact. In 2013 unemployment insurance is set to contribute nearly $4 billion to the deficit, but the White House states that by 2015 this spending will result in a nearly $8 billion decrease of the deficit. If it is going to net out anyway, why not just do away with it all now? That puts $4 billion back on the books.

Wastebook

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) created the 2011 Wastebook, which highlights useless government grants on ridiculous studies and projects. Once totaled the 100 items listed sum up to nearly

$7 billion in waste. Let’s assume a 10 percent deviation in case anything has been double-counted so far, that is $6.2 billion in waste. If we spend frugally and stop using federal funds to buy iPads for kindergartners (one of the items outlined in the report), we could see some real savings.

Programs to severely cut

There are a few programs that I would drastically cut for one of three reasons — their job details do not require massive funding anymore, they receive alternative funding, or they have been unsuccessful in accomplishing their goals. Those programs I would reduce funding for would be NASA ($17.7 billion to $2 billion), the Department of Defense ($525.4 billion to $325.4 billion), Treasury Department ($14 billion down to $2 billion), Department of Transportation ($74 billion halved to $37 billion), Health and Human Services ($76.4 billion down to $1.4 billion), State Department ($51.6 billion down to $600 million) and the Department of Justice ($27.1 billion down to $10 billion).

Programs to eliminate

The amount of money spent on ineffective programs in this country is truly nauseating. When the national debt is continuing to climb due to frivolous spending, it is time for some programs to go. I would eliminate Housing/Urban Development ($44.8 billion saved, they already receive funds from the sale/purchase of any home, which should adequately fund them), the National Science Foundation ($7.4 billion saved), Department of Energy ($27.2 billion saved), Department of Education ($69.8 billion saved), Corporation for National and Community Services ($1.1 billion saved, the government does not need to try and fund citizens who want to help make a difference and work with charities), Corps of Civil Engineers ($4.7 billion saved), Overseas Contingency Operations (separate than D.O.D. or defense budget, works to train foreign militaries and promote coalition partnerships, save $96.7 billion) and the Department of Labor ($12 billion saved).

Sum it all up and we have savings of more than $905 billion, all without raising taxes or touching Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security.

Some of these cuts would mean that federal employees will lose their jobs, federal funds for research will diminish, and some regulatory holes will open. My suggestion as an alternative would be to allow states to have the right to regulate industries and fund research (it is not in the constitution that the EPA must exist), and allow the private sector to thrive. Brokers and dealers are governed by FINRA, a self-regulating organization (SRO). While FINRA is a bad example due to their demonstrated incompetence, there are several SROs out there who effectively regulate their specific fields. As for the federal employees who will be out of work due to these cuts — it truly is for the best for our struggling economy. These employees do not contribute to GDP or economic growth; they draw pay from the tax pool but do not create any goods or services that result in positive economic growth. Hopefully, these employees would be forced to find a job with the private sector and contribute to strengthening the economy.

Remember, I am not suggesting that this is a long-term viable option. I am simply stating that if we want to eliminate the national debt we have to start with a balanced budget, and to do that cuts must be made. It is as simple as that.

 

Ben Treece is a 2009 Graduate from the University of Miami (Fla.), BBA International Finance and Marketing. He is a partner with Treece Investment Advisory Corp (www.TreeceInvestments.com) and a stockbroker licensed with FINRA, working for Treece Financial Services Corp. The above information is the express opinion of Ben Treece and should not be construed as investment advice or used without outside verification.

Steel tables ‘Joe Wicks Way’ decision; activist Scott threatens June 1 protest march

By
Toledo Free Press
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UPDATE: In reaction to what he called an unanticipated “vitriol and divisive” reaction, Councilman Steve Steel says he plans to table the ordinance he proposed May 8 to rename a Downtown intersection in honor of Joe Wicks.

Steel made the proposal as a way to honor Wicks’ activism the early 1990s in which he promoted AIDS awareness, prevention and treatment.

The response of downtown business owners, however, was quick and harsh, as Councilman Steve Sarantou received 23 emails in protest of the intersection renaming proposal in the first 15 hours following the City Council meeting. Business owners took intense issue with what they all referred to as Wicks’ failure to maintain his property at Caesar’s Show Lounge, formerly located at 725 Jefferson Ave.

Lair Scott, the gay activist who approached Steel with the intersection renaming proposal, says he’s not at all surprised with what he called “a homophobic overreaction to honoring Toledo’s gay icon.”

On the same day Barack Obama became the first United States president to endorse same-sex marriage, an activist accused the City of Toledo of being unresponsive to the gay community.

Gay rights activist Lair Scott warned City Council members that if they don’t approve the naming of a Downtown intersection in honor of the late Joe Wicks, “the people of Toledo will hear the voices of the gay community screaming at the top of their lungs.”

Scott’s warning comes in response to City Council’s May 8 decision to postpone a vote to name the intersection at the 100 block of Erie Street, which lies between Monroe Street and Jefferson Avenue, as “Joe Wicks Way.”

Wicks owned Caesar’s Show Bar, located at 725 Jefferson Ave. Caesar’s was known nationally as a gay bar and lounge with nightly performances by female impersonators.

Scott said he is “forewarning” City Council that a protest in which he has “invited thousands of gay and lesbian people from around the country” to participate is planned for noon, June 1 at One Government Center [located at 640 Jackson St.].

Scott said he chose the “Joe Wicks Way” proposal as a vehicle through which he could advocate for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender [LGBT] Toledoans.

Councilman Steve Steel, who introduced the resolution at the City Council meeting, said he doesn’t “personally believe Lair Scott came to me to get his march started. I believe it’s more coincidental than that.”

Other Council members said they are neither disturbed nor threatened by Scott’s warning.

“I’m not concerned that this may have been a nefarious act,” Councilman Tom Waniewski said. “I’m more concerned about how we run the government. This never should have seen the light of day. The naming of a street should be a fun, positive thing, and this situation just brings embarrassment to the City of Toledo.”

Councilman George Sarantou said opposition to the naming of the intersection has primarily come from Downtown business owners who tell him that recognizing Wicks “in this way is a slap in the face” for Downtown business owners.

Lair Scott

Waniewski said business owners accuse Wicks of not maintaining his property, thereby lowering the property value of their businesses.

“The uproar from the business people has been overwhelming,” Waniewski said. “They say he was rude to people, that he didn’t keep up his property, and that he wouldn’t get involved in the association of Downtown business people.”

Email uproar

The uproar Waniewski references are 23 emails Sarantou had received as of 2:30 p.m. May 9.

In response to an open records request from Toledo Free Press, Sarantou provided copies of 23 emails  he received from business owners in the 15 hours following council’s decision to not vote on renaming the intersection (see sidebar, at bottom of page).

The correspondence was directed to Sarantou after Bill Thomas contacted the councilman with concerns over the reaction he was hearing.

Thomas, chief operating officer of the Downtown Toledo Development Corporation and executive director of the Downtown Toledo Improvement District, said that after his discussion with Sarantou, he sent an email to business owners encouraging them to voice their opinions, either pro or con, in emails to Sarantou.

Sarantou said emails have been universally opposed to the renaming of the intersection.

“I’m not surprised at all,” Sarantou said. “They are all responsible people. They maintain first-class facilities and are offended that someone who did not maintain his property would be honored in this way.”

Waniewski agrees that the business owners’ response deserves City Council’s attention.

“I have never seen comments so eloquently articulated in such an elegant way about something so negative,” he said. “I’ve never seen such a groundswell of opposition.”

Scott said the responses Sarantou and Waniewski are receiving are not representative of Toledo, and that thousands of people would write to City Council in support of Joe Wicks Way if they only knew the intensity of Downtown business owners’ negative reactions.

Sarantou also cites business owners’ issue with the fact that Wicks did not pay property taxes on time. At the time of his death, April 19, 2010, both the Lucas County Treasurer and the Auditor reported that Wicks owed $30,954.83 in back taxes, and that those taxes have never been paid by Wicks’ estate.

In a May 4 email to Sarantou, City of Toledo Commissioner of Building Inspection and Acting Director of the Department of Inspection Chris Zervos wrote, “The misuse and abuse of its last owner, Joe Wick [sic] has rendered the building unusable in its present state.”

Waniewski also said the response to City Council’s decision to not act is a clear indication that Council must adopt an official policy regarding the naming of streets and intersections.

“This is a big deal,” Waniewski said. “We need a process in place by which we’re sure we’re doing the right thing. Just relying on a councilman’s judgment isn’t good enough anymore.”

Scott said opposition to the proposal has nothing to do with Wicks’ upkeep of a building.

Scott is adamant that “this is an issue of social justice. When streets were named for honorary people in the past, did City Council have a need for a policy back then? Why now? It’s because of the homophobic attitude of certain City Council members.”

Scott also said that he does not believe Waniewski’s claim that Council President Joe McNamara and Waniewski have discussed establishing a policy in the past, and are now recommitted to establishing that policy in light of the past days’ events.

Steel said he is stunned at the negative reaction.

“I did my research,” he said. “I read the Blade obituary, talked to local people. I was aware of the building problems with his business, but I thought Joe’s work with, and his legacy and contribution to the gay community with AIDS awareness, AIDS prevention and AIDS treatment back in the early ’90s far outweighed everything else.

“I was stunned by the flurry of emails in opposition as to why this would even be proposed in the first place. This is a level of scrutiny I’ve never seen before.”

Scott said Steel’s observations are a clear indication that the current scrutiny is discriminatory.

“Why are they concerned with the policies in naming streets for people?” he asked. “Why, all of a sudden, does a gay icon in Toledo have to be under changing policies or procedures? This has nothing at all to do with Caesar’s Show Bar. It deals with Joe’s legacy and the millions of dollars he brought into Toledo over the past decades.”

Sarantou said Steel and Scott do not recognize what he calls “Wicks’ true legacy.”

Sarantou cited former presidents Richard Nixon and Lyndon Baines Johnson as examples to illustrate

his position.

“Richard Nixon, despite all the good he did in his career, will be remembered for the stupidity of Watergate,” Sarantou said. “And LBJ, despite the civil rights legislation he passed, will be remembered for Vietnam, an albatross that will always hang around his neck.

“It’s the same case with Joe Wicks. Like it or not, God rest his soul, Joe Wicks has left a reputation as someone who did not maintain his property. That’s a fact.”

‘Lack of leadership’

Scott also cited what he calls Mayor Mike Bell’s “lack of leadership” as a mitigating factor in City Council’s lack of action.

“I appreciate that he just passed the city employees domestic partnership [ordinance], giving benefits to gay and lesbian partners,” Scott said. “But that’s not enough. Mayor Bell should follow the footsteps of our president, Barack Obama, and back him for his May 9 statement for equality. Mayor Bell has had an opportunity to be on a board with other mayors of cities in Ohio to assist in passing Ohio’s right to same-sex marriage. He was offered and declined.”

Bell responded to Scott’s accusations through Jen Sorgenfrei, public information officer for the City of Toledo. Sorgenfrei said Scott does not understand the complexities of the legal process.

“In fact, Mayor Bell did not pass anything,” Sorgenfrei said. “Domestic partnership is just an ordinance. Mayor Bell just introduced the ordinance. It must be passed. It requires Council approval.”

Sorgenfrei also dismissed any claims that Bell does not support all Toledoans. She said Bell is committed to working with the local community.

“The mayor says he was not asked to join a committee of other mayors to assist in the passing of a same-sex marriage act,” she said. “He said he was presented a petition of mayors, and he did not sign it. He does not hold a position on same-sex marriage, one way or another. What he does do is continue to engage in conversation with members of our local community.”

Sorgenfrei questioned Scott’s motives, pointing out that he lives in Chicago, not Toledo, and no longer has roots in the local community.

Scott said he is deeply offended that anyone suggests he may be an outside agitator.

“I left Toledo because of the oppression of Toledo back in 1980,” Scott said. “I owe Joe Wicks with my time and my passion for the gay community. Whether I live in Toledo or not doesn’t make any difference. A lot of people come into Toledo to do their business. And the gay community is my business.”

In  August, Scott made national news with a petition, “Let Bert & Ernie Get Married On Sesame Street” on Change.org. It collected 9,000 signatures in two weeks. The Facebook page “Bert and Ernie Get Married” has more than 6,700 fans.

Emails protest Joe Wicks Way

Emails sent to Toledo City Council:

  • “I’m unclear why we would be honoring this individual? What specifically did he do during the course of his lifetime that is triggering this action? If it is simply that he was the proprietor of Caesars then I humbly ask how that validates such an honor? If there is more that is behind this initiative, please advise.”— Rich Schurfeld, CEO, REDSSON (May 6)
  • “This is not appropriate. This individual did not maintain his property in downtown Toledo. How can the city single out this individual? There are so many other people who have been responsible, contributing citizens.” — Dennis Johnson, president, Brooks Insurance (May 4)
  • “With all of the honorable citizens that have done so much for Toledo I think we could honor them prior to someone who has left buildings in decay creating hazards on our sidewalks. If this is approved I will be joining the ranks to have this repealed.” — Glen Blohm, facility manager, SSOE Group (May 4)
  • “I am a partner in a property on Ontario St., less than 1.2 block from Jefferson and Ontario — I received the complaints from my tenants because his clientele, lack of concern by him for other businesses and property owners around the neighborhood. …  Think we can find better qualified individuals to name streets after.” — Ken Marciniak, principal, Signature Associates (May 4)
  • “The designation of any public street, park, bridge or other structures is a coveted honor. To preserve the value of such recognitions, this honor should be reserved for a person who advanced the city or specific community through their extensive volunteer efforts or philanthropic work. An entrepreneur whose ingenuity and willingness to take a risk by investing personal assets created a product or service that enhanced the lives of others. This may be an ideal time to establish a ‘Criteria of Worthiness’ for such honorable designations.” — Vickie Rapp, Registry Bistro (May 4)
  • “I’m not sure why anyone would want to spend time on this Joe Wicks issue. What did this guy do for the city to warrant attention such as this? We have more important topics to be discussing on behalf of our taxpayers and I believe you will find many who believe this way if they would even give it the time to respond and share their feelings.” — Tony Plath, vice president, CBRE | Reichle Klein (May 4)

Conference to address conservative issues

By
John McCartney
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Citizens interested in learning about and discussing issues important to the conservative political movement are invited to attend the NW Ohio Conservative Conference, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 19.

The seven-hour conference will take place at Hilton Garden Inn, at Levis Commons in Perrysburg.

There is a $25 registration fee for adults, $15 for students, which includes lunch. Attendance will be limited to 650 people. John McAvoy, conference chairman, said he believes it will be a sellout crowd. He encourages people to preregister at www.nwohioconservativeconference.com.

McAvoy, who defines “political” as “supporting a particular candidate,” is adamant that the May 19 conference is not political.

“This will present conservative views on subjects, but it’s an information resource for people that just don’t know that there are resources out there, for people who want to get more information on a particular subject.”

McAvoy said conference leaders are planning breakout sessions and forums that will present information about national, state and local issues.

National issues to be discussed include health care, the right to bear arms, state sovereignty, the National Defense Authorization Act, home schooling, the balanced budget amendment, and the role of the Federal Reserve.

State and local issues to be discussed include the Ohio Workplace Freedom Amendment, voter identification, the pending Senate bill on voter fraud and the Lucas County Charter Group.

McAvoy encourages people from all political persuasions to attend.

“If you’re an honest liberal, and there are a few of them out there, if you really want to do some research and get the other side of the story, come to this. I always believe in getting the other side of the story. Don’t shut yourself out to one side because you’re doing yourself a disservice. If you want to try to get the other side of the story, come to this.”

Some Northwest Ohioans who have already registered for the conference have said that they’re attending because they have concerns with the direction the United States appears to be taking.

Anita Hahn, a Fremont resident in her early 50s, said she is attending the conference to meet other people interested in the same causes she is. She said she would like to find out what she can get involved in because she doesn’t like the direction the country is taking, “and I want to help change it.”

Hahn encourages people to attend and “just come out to find out what’s happening. You don’t have to get involved or join a cause. Just come and see what’s going on.”

Judith Ehret, 70, a Maumee resident, said the conference will be about issues that apply to people “whether they know it or not.”

Ehret said the current administration is manipulating citizens to “accept social justice or social redistribution rather than reliance on self and family.

“I’m concerned that we are losing our freedoms set down by our Founding Fathers. It’s to the point where people are treating this country as if it’s a democracy. It’s not. We are a republic, which is a nation of laws.”

Robert Densic, 45, a Rossford resident, is the founder and president of Back to Basics, an organization he describes as “committed to promoting the conservative, libertarian, constitutionalist approach to government.”

Densic said attending the conference will give people the chance to answer the “why” to policies and laws established by politicians.

“This is about the principle of America,” he said. “A principle which was framed when the founders asked the overriding question, ‘Can man govern himself?’

“We really are at a turning point in this nation. We have many options. The key from this point forward is not in reinventing America, but rediscovering our principles, our history and our heritage.”

Tammy Leinbach, 52, the mother of three children, registered for the conference at the end of April.

Leinbach plans to attend because “ignorance is not bliss. It’s dangerous. The best way I can combat my ignorance is to become more informed in my world in Maumee, my world in Ohio, my world in the United States and the world as a whole.

“I want to be a better citizen and a better person. It will increase my value of the role I play as a mom because I’m more informed. I need to be a watchdog at the gate. Maybe that comes from, especially comes from, being a mom.”

Osburn: Romney seeks VP

By
Ben Osburn
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If you’ve ever seen HBO’s “Game Change” or read the book, you know that choosing a vice presidential candidate can make or break a presidential campaign. The movie, with questionable accuracy, depicts the trials and tribulations of Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential campaign. Although Palin may have “fired up” the Republican Party’s conservative base, the campaign failed to stop the Democratic tide in 2008.

Perhaps that is why Sen. John McCain recently said on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” that when picking a VP, presumptive nominee Mitt Romney should pick a person he “knows and trusts” and who is “well-qualified” to take his place.

It must first be noted that Romney will most likely not make a pick for at least two months, possibly longer. Research by the University of Virginia Center for Politics shows that presidential candidates historically have chosen their running mates several days before their party’s conventions. In 2008, McCain made the Palin announcement on Aug. 29, three days before the convention. Trending along the same lines was President Barack Obama, who chose Joe Biden two days before the Democratic Convention.  If history repeats itself, it is safe to bet that Romney will make his announcement sometime after Aug. 20, but before Aug. 27, when this year’s GOP convention starts.

The question on everyone’s mind is whom he will pick. Many questions surround the issue. Will Romney try to balance the ticket by choosing someone from outside the Northeast, perhaps from a swing state? Will he go with someone who is part of the Washington “establishment,” or someone who represents a change? Will he try to choose someone with a more conservative reputation? Each potential prospect addresses these issues in one way or another. Although the list is long, perhaps the three most salient candidates are Rep. Paul Ryan, Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio’s own Sen. Rob Portman.

Representing the southeast Wisconsin area, Ryan has served in the House since 1999. He has become one of the leading activists for the Tea Party movement and has risen within the ranks of the party to become the House Budget Committee chairman. Ryan also has become an influential figure on the economy, frequently criticizing the Obama administration’s lack of commitment to the issue. Ryan’s budget plan, which would reduce taxes at all income levels, cut discretionary spending to 3.75 percent of the gross domestic product by 2050 and reform Medicare into a voucher based program, was hailed by fiscal conservatives of the party.  Wisconsin is a swing state and Ryan is a social conservative, two reasons Romney might want to select him. However, Ryan’s polarizing stance on health care and budget issues may not sit well with independents.

Rubio’s name has been thrown into the ring as well. Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants and is also a leading Tea Party activist. Rubio, a former attorney, has spent most of his life in politics, quashing beliefs many critics have about him not being experienced enough to hold the vice presidential position. Rubio served in the Florida House of Representatives for ten years, before being elected to the Senate in 2010. In the Senate he has been a leading voice behind tax reform and recently was in the news for sponsoring a Republican version of the DREAM Act, which would grant temporary residency to illegal aliens in college or in the service. Picking Rubio may appeal to Latino voters and the more conservative members of the GOP.

Ohio Sen. Rob Portman. Portman is the possibly the most qualified person for the job. Also a former attorney, Portman served in the House for 12 years representing Ohio’s 2nd District, which consists mostly of suburban Cincinnati. Portman also held two cabinet-level positions under the George W. Bush administration. From 2005-06 he served as the U.S, Trade Representative. From 2006-07, he served as the director of the Office of Management and Budget, which assists the president in budgetary preparation and supervision.

While not the greatest campaigner and a Washington insider, Portman’s credentials will be difficult for Romney to pass up.

 

Ben Osburn is a graduate student in political science at the University of Toledo.

Former Rocket Marrow running down a dream in Houston

By
Mike Bauman
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Desmond Marrow said the Houston Texans like the fact he can play cornerback or safety. Toledo Free Press file photo.

The road to former University of Toledo cornerback Desmond Marrow’s dream of reaching the NFL has not been gone as he pictured it.

When he committed to UT in 2006, he had no idea that the Rockets would fall on hard times. The team failed to register a winning record until Marrow’s fifth year, after racking up two Mid-American Conference championships and two bowl victories in the five seasons prior to his arrival. He had no idea he would suffer two serious injuries that would cost him two full seasons at Toledo and finish his collegiate career in 2011 at 24-years-old and a sixth-year senior.

As a 24-year-old sixth-year senior during the NFL Draft last month, those themes of difficulty and perseverance continued for the Youngstown native. He watched the draft round by round with family and friends back home and never saw his name flash across the bottom of the TV screen.

“I remember, like, two or three times I just went upstairs, man,” said Marrow, who received First Team All-MAC honors in 2011 after leading the Rockets with 83 tackles, intercepting three passes and ranking fourth in the country with 15 pass breakups. “Just laid in my room; just waited for my phone to ring.”

Though he went undrafted, Marrow’s chance to fulfill his dream still came. The Houston Texans, whom Marrow had visited in early April, were interested in him and kept in touch throughout the draft. Then Houston’s defensive backs coach, Vance Joseph, finally gave Marrow a ring.

“They called me,” Marrow said. “They were like, ‘We want you.’ Then they told me that I was coming in with a chance to play right now and they couldn’t wait to get me down there, so it was pretty much a done deal after that.”

Desmond Marrow

Given all he’s been through in the past six years, the moment was emotional for Marrow.

“When they called me, it was just crazy, man,” Marrow said. “My mom started crying; my aunts were crying; my cousins were crying; then I started crying. I mean, you want to play in the NFL your whole life — then it happens — then it’s like, ‘Man, it’s here.’”

As one of 21 undrafted free agents Houston agreed to terms with, Marrow will have to prove his worth to the Texans, whom he reportedly chose over Dallas, Detroit, Jacksonville, San Francisco and Tampa Bay.

The 49ers were his favorite team growing up. But with two former Toledo teammates on the Cowboys’ roster in safety Barry Church and center Kevin Kowalski — and recent teammates Mike VanDerMeulen and Danny Noble heading down to Tampa Bay for a chance to play for the Buccaneers — Houston was ultimately where Marrow wanted to be.

“I mean, I’ve always been a person who will try to do everything, like, different from anyone else and try to leave my own legacy, pretty much,” Marrow said on choosing to sign with the Texans. “I just wanted to go up to Houston by myself, make my own mark and make a name for myself and help the team as much as I could.”

In addition to Houston not selecting any defensive backs in this year’s draft, another big factor in Marrow choosing the Texans was his initial impression after getting to spend time with some of the team’s brass during his visit last month.

“They’ve just got an overall great organization,” Marrow said. “I met [Houston head coach Gary] Kubiak. He’s a great coach. Then my position coaches [Vance Joseph and Perry Carter], both coaches were real good guys. I went out for dinner with them, and Houston’s just a nice city, man.”

Marrow said Houston likes that he can play either cornerback or safety, adding that he’s willing to compete wherever the team needs him. With his dream now in his grasp, Marrow’s ready to turn his opportunity into an NFL career.

“A lot of people want to play in the NFL, but they never get that chance,” Marrow said. “So I definitely just look at it as a blessing to have an opportunity.”

Owens Community College partners with Hollywood Casino for job training

By
Caitlin McGlade
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Students practice dealing blackjack in preparation for job auditions at Hollywood Casino. Toledo Free Press photo by Sarah Ottney

Shortly after voters approved Penn National Gaming Inc.’s move into Ohio, Owens Community College offered to help the casino company with job training. College representatives have multiple corporate partnerships that typically involve visiting a business and training on site.

The Hollywood Casino Toledo partnership differed because the business didn’t have a training site readily available, considering the months of construction.

“We knew it would be an opportunity for members of the local community to be employed there,” said Michael Bankey, vice president of the college’s workforce and community services.

A wing of one of the buildings on campus was vacant, so the college constructed walls, laid down carpeting, installed ventilation and brought in tables to create a space for dealer training, he said.

Bankey and his colleagues then set out to find instructors to teach blackjack. As casinos are new in Ohio, Bankey had to look out of state and research curriculum. But the casino made a deal to send its own instructors.

Each job seeker enrolled in blackjack training paid the college $200, which the casino will reimburse if that employee stays with the company for at least six months, said Chrystal Herndon, vice president of human resources.

Herndon said dealer schools typically cost $400-$500.

Before enrolling, future blackjack dealers had to be approved by the casino team. The process began with a group interview among 20 to 25 people, which flowed like an informal conversation. If the hiring team liked an individual, it would set up a one-on-one interview.

Few applicants had any dealing experience, so the successful candidates were chosen based on personality, Herndon said.

“We can teach you the technical skills but we cannot teach you how to be nice,” she said.

From there, the college conducted registration and casino instructors kicked off classes. Blackjack dealing instructor Amy Marinov said the students had a 98 percent success rate.

“The drive was there; they really wanted to learn — it’s a new career move and it’s a good living,” Marinov said. “I’ve done this for years and these were probably some of the best students I’ve ever had.”

Irick Shikwana applied for the job for just that reason — a new career. He was working at Fifth Third Bank when the casino posted job openings.

“I’m an energetic person and I like talking, and in the bank we just sat down and cashed checks and did the same process over and over and I didn’t mind it but I just needed something more refreshing,” Shikwana said.

He learned blackjack within three days. He was promoted to a supervisor position. Most people in training catch on by the third week, Marinov said.

Blackjack dealers make about $16 to $22 an hour with tips, adding up to about $40,000 a year on average across Penn National Gaming’s 27 properties, Herndon said.

Fort Meigs: If you want it built right …

By
Toledo Free Press
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Years ago I undertook the building of a wooden barn in my backyard, from a kit consisting of nothing but raw lumber and nails. (Man-grunt!) After careful consideration, the best location was determined. The blueprints were reviewed and a couple construction-oriented friends were coerced to guide me through. They worked hard, even on rainy weekends, but if I ever left to run an errand, I’d often return to find them lounging rather than hammering. The construction of Fort Meigs proceeded in a somewhat similar fashion.

In late January 1813, Gen. Harrison was leading U.S. troops toward Monroe, Mich., to aid in a battle with the British and Native Americans. While marching through the soon-to-be Toledo area, a retreating survivor of the conflict ahead, announced the massacre of Americans along the Raisin River. Harrison turned and withdrew, realizing that a new defensive post needed to be established immediately, lest the enemy push south into Ohio.

The mouth of our Maumee River at this time was a pivot-point of transportation. It opened northward into Lake Erie for access to British-occupied Canada; and wove southward toward the frontier’s main artery, the Ohio River. As well, at least four major trails radiated out from the Maumee rapids area. So it was not on a whim, that as Harrison stood on the high bluff over the south side of the Maumee River, he declared, “This is the best position that can be taken to cover the frontier.” The garrison was named in honor of then governor of Ohio, Return J. Meigs Jr.

Capt. Charles Gratiot, the Northwest Army’s chief engineer, agreed on this location and designed the fortress accordingly. Construction began on Feb. 2, 1813. By the way, you’re right, that street you travel going to a ballgame in Detroit is named after him.

The 1,500-plus men were divided into units by Gratiot and assigned to build particular sections. After only a few days, however, Gratiot fell seriously ill so supervision was assigned to a young, fellow West Point engineering graduate named Eleazer Wood. For his heroic direction and patriotic service, the county in which the fort still stands was later named in his honor.

What became the largest wooden fort in North America had a circumference of well over a mile. Wood said, “With the exception of short intervals for blockhouses and batteries, this extent was picketed with timber fifteen feet long, from ten to twelve inches in diameter, set three feet in the ground.” The blockhouses were made of double timbers to withstand oncoming artillery. Wells were dug. Storage and ammunition houses were raised. Gun batteries were built. Even extra pickets and planks were piled inside the fort to replace any that might be blown apart by enemy fire.

Progress continued into March despite of adverse weather conditions. Snowfalls up to 6 inches were repeatedly cleared so the men could work, eat and sleep. The river was frozen, the ground was frozen, even one of the sentries was frozen – to death -while at his post. Really! Picks and shovels ricocheted off this tundra as they dug trenches along the perimeter. And can you hear the clatter of all those axes felling trees day after day?

In early March, Wood was ordered to coordinate construction of Fort Stephenson in Fremont, Ohio. During the few weeks he was gone, Fort Meigs was left in the command of an aging general named Joel Leftwich — a Revolutionary War veteran who was only weeks away from fulfilling his current military commitment and retiring to his Virginia home.

Upon Wood’s return, Leftwich was blasted as, “a stupid old granny who stopped the progress of the works entirely … (the men) were permitted to burn the timber, which had been brought into the camp with an immense deal of labor for pickets and blockhouses; not only did they burn this timber, but … the men (were) actually employed in pulling the pickets out of the ground, and conveying them off for fuel.”

Obviously, it was hotter under Wood’s collar that day than in the flames of those burning pickets! He retook command and the fort was completed well before the first attack of May 1, 1813.

Frank Kuron is author of the War of 1812 book, “Thus Fell Tecumseh.” Email him at [email protected].

Bugle Call: upcoming events

  • Fort Meigs will host the next in its monthly Bentley Lecture Series presentations on Thursday, May 17. Historian and author Anthony Yanik will speak on “William Hull and the Fall of Detroit.” The presentation is free and starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Fort Meigs Visitor Center, 29100 W. River Road in Perrysburg.
  • Visit Fort Meigs May 18-19 for “Drums at the Rapids,” a miniature war gaming conference. Tabletop battles include historical events and fantasy and sci-fi games. Come fight the Civil War, World War II, the War of 1812 and more!
  • Visit Fort Meigs May 26-27 and see recreated battles, musket and artillery demonstrations, and camp life demonstrations during their “1st Siege 1813: War of 1812 Re-enactment & Memorial Day Ceremony.” On Memorial Day, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. in front of the monument within the fort.

Visit www.fortmeigs.org or call (419) 874-4121 for complete details about all upcoming events.

Hickey: Putting a face on same-sex marriage

By
Emily Hickey
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Same-sex marriage. We all have feelings about it, whether we are for it or against it. Politics aside, I want the Toledo community to put a face to same-sex marriage. I want the Toledo community to understand this is not just a fight for a law, this is a fight for me.

My American dream is to live a fulfilled life complete with a wife, children, a home, a career. A compilation of all the things I can be proud of when my life is over. I want to be married one day, yet my world is telling me I’m not worthy of being married.

My heart swells up with hope and confusion and disappointment and joy at all of the headlines today that speak of same-sex marriage.

I come from a strong and supportive family that has taught me the true meaning of what a family is meant to be. It’s meant to be an escape from the troubles of life, a place to run to when the times get tough. It’s meant to be a source of unconditional love that never wavers. It’s meant to be a model for society and to show just what greatness the feeling of love can create. My parents have taught me that a family can not be defined, it has to be felt.

Same-sex marriage. Take religion out of the fight and what do you have? You have a fight for love. You have a fight for what defines a family. A family should not be defined, it should be felt.

Allowing the ban that the State of Ohio has on same-sex marriage to continue to be lawful, denies my very right to recognize that feeling. Now let me tell you why I want to be married one day.

I want to be married because I want to share the rest of my life with one person like my parents have done.

I want to be married because I want my future children to have two parents who can equally protect them.

I want to be married so that my future wife will be legally and financially taken care of after I pass away.

I want to be married so that the children I do have with my future wife are not taken away from her just because she is not legally recognized as their parent.

I want to be married so that my future wife can be provided the same benefits as me to ensure whatever life brings our way I can be confident she will be taken care of just as well I am.

I want to be married for me.

I want an equal whom I can love and gain support from.

I do not want to be married to ruin society.

I do not want to be married for any God.

It was not my choice to be a lesbian; therefore I do not see it as fair that someone is able to choose to take away a right that every heterosexual American has the luxury of registering for Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

In the argument of choice, ask yourself this: Who would choose to be something that other countries would kill you for? Who would choose to be something that entire religions condemn? Who would choose to be something that people automatically hate you for?

There is no excuse for you as an American citizen to pretend that you don’t know any gay person, because through this column you are getting to know me.

Should you still be against my fight for my American dream, I would like you to look me in the eye and tell me exactly why I, Emily Hickey, am unworthy.

Take religion out of the fight and what do you have?

You have a girl named Emily Hickey who was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, who is fighting for a right that every heterosexual person has whether or not they have a desire to be married, whether or not they are religious and whether or not they have ever been in love.

You have a girl who is a hopeless romantic and just hopes that one day she can find someone to love and be with for the rest of her life, just like her parents who have been married for nearly 30 years.

You have a girl who wants to raise a family with another woman to ensure they are provided with the most fulfilling life.

You have a girl who wants to be married to make sure that her future wife will be legally and finally taken care of after she passes away.

You have a girl who just wants her wife next to her in her hospital bed after she’s had surgery.

You have a girl who wants her future wife to be provided the same benefits as me to ensure whatever life brings our way I can be confident she will be taken care of just as well I am.

You have a girl who is sick and tired of being told every single day that she is unworthy of the American dream she grew up believing she could attain.

You have a girl dreaming of her father walking her down the aisle.

Politics aside, when you choose to fight for equal rights or fight against them, you are directly fighting me.

Since 2004, the great State of Ohio has enforced a law stating that there is a ban on same-sex marriage.

To those that oppose, while I believe everyone is entitled to an opinion, when you have an opinion over my future I most certainly take every decision you make and voice very personally. To those that support, I encourage you to speak up even if your voice shakes. It is through our united fight that I am confident the State of Ohio will see the future of society, a future that will allow me to have the same rights as my older brother and my younger sisters.

Be brave, stand strong and help me fight for my future wife and the family that we will have together. Fight for my future children so that they will not feel unworthy as I have been made to feel unworthy for the past 24 years.

Many people I speak to are shocked by the laws that this state and this country have directly against me and how I hope to live the rest of my life. I ask those people to help me spread the word of our oppression and encourage those around them to stand up and fight.

For those that feel this social “issue” is worthy of being overlooked, I ask you to think again because it is the exception that you make and your choice to look past this social issue that cause me to feel unworthy of attaining my American dream.

We can’t all go directly to Congress and request a change but we can help to open the minds around us through conversation. Speak up in your college classes even if you become the minority. Speak up at your family parties even if you’re the only one. Speak up to the strangers behind you in line talking about why they deny me my right to live my American dream.

I will continue to fight until I am no longer a second-class citizen in my own country. Whether it takes five or 50 years, my desire for an equal life will not subside. Please help me fight for the right for my father to walk me down the aisle to my future wife, legally.

Singer-songwriter relearns guitar, working on Toad disc

By
Vicki Kroll
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Those who play in alternative rock bands shouldn’t sit on glass tables.

Just ask Glen Phillips.

“I was at Sean Watkins’ house, the guitarist from Nickel Creek and also Works Progress Administration, and I was just sitting there. They have this glass coffee table, whichimmediately sounds — you know exactly where the story is going from there. It had a thick metal rim that I thought was supporting my weight.

“I had been sitting on it for like 20 minutes and suddenly it just went crack,” the guitarist said. “It sliced my ulnar nerve on my left hand, so my fretting hand. My pinky and the outer side of that hand is completely numb and kind of pins and needles like when you hit your funny bone really hard, and then one half of my ring finger is numb, and there’s abunch of muscles that aren’t plugged in anymore.

“I had been asking for a challenge in my life — I’d been having this wandering around, I need something new, something to work at,” Phillips said and laughed about the 2008 incident. “I really wasn’t expecting it to come in that form.”

The frontman of Toad the Wet Sprocket usually jumps right into a new project, be it solo or with a band.

“With Plover and Remote Tree Children and Works Progress Administration and also with ‘The Secrets to a New Explorer’ EP, those were all — I had this huge burst of creativity a few years ago. I just decided to kind of leave any commercial aspiration behind and work with the people who made me the happiest and have the most fun I could,” Phillips said during a call from his home in Santa Barbara, Calif.

“I guess the problem with doing something that’s totally not commercially viable is that I did all of that and then I found that I was broke,” he said and laughed. “Back to trying to  finda balance between passion and work, which is always the issue.”

Phillips will play songs from Toad the Wet Sprocket, Works Progress Administration and his solo career at 8 p.m. May 18 at the Ark in Ann Arbor.Tickets are $20. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Jonathan Kingham will open and accompany Phillips.

The singer-songwriter is working on a new disc with Toad the Wet Sprocket, best known for “All I Want,” “Fall Down,” “Something’s Always Wrong” and “Walk on the Ocean.”

“We have most of it written, andwe’re recording a couple songs at a time. We’re hoping for later this year; chances are, it’ll be next year,” he said.

“The music I make on my own is somewhat recognizable as the guy from Toad, but it’s a really different thing. We only sound like Toad when we’re all doing it together.”

Job fair to educate expedited trucker hopefuls

By
Dock David Treece
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If you’re looking for a job that will take you places, stop by the Quality Inn and Suites in Monroe on May 17, 2012.
ExpeditersOnline.com will host a career fair and educational session day starting at 5 p.m.
Fifteen of the expedited trucking industry’s top companies will be present and a few of them will be looking to fill some job openings.
FedEx Custom Critical and Panther Expedited Services are among the list of companies seeking drivers, owner-operators and married couples to haul freight in Sprinter vans,  straight trucks and tractor-trailers.
Job fair attendees can arrive at 5 p.m. to meet the carriers and truck dealers. People looking to enter the industry can attend an educational session called Expediting 101 from 5:45-6:15 p.m. A lecture about truck specification assessment will follow at 6:15 p.m. Appetizers, beverages and door prizes will be offered afterward, followed by a session onfinancial essentials and fundamentals of insurance.
Register for free at www.monroetruckingjobfair.com or call 888-862-9831. Quality Inn and Suites is located at 1225 N. Dixie Highway in Monroe, Mich.

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