Fundraiser for Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson by Carla Yvette
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Volume 33, No. 6 “And Ye Shall Know The Truth...” May 27, 2015 A Dream Come True! Miss Debutante 2015 Djhream Carter and Pastor George Hodges In This Issue... Soulcial Scene Claudette Garcia Maryoral Vocal Arts Perryman and Fifth Third’s eBus Page 6 Fundraisers Competition the Mayor Page 4 Page 9 Page 12 Page 2 ASSETS Toledo Page 7 Fatherhood The Cotillion Classifieds Tolliver Walk Cinco de Mayo Page 16, 10-11 Pages 14-15 Page 3 Page 5 Page 8 Page 2 The Sojourner’s Truth May 27, 2015 Cool Under Fire By Rev. Donald L. Perryman, D.Min. The Truth Contributor Every black person who rises is subject to a greater degree of criticism and more than any other segment of the population. - Coleman Young Incumbent Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson faces stiff competition in the to say that just cause termination is appropriate. Or, I guess, if I asked upcoming election from Sandra Drabik Collins, positioned as the “sec- him to resign, he would. But I don’t feel that I should be bullied, and ond coming” of late Mayor D. Michael Collins and Carty Finkbeiner, that’s what these guys [Firefighters Union] are doing. the resurrected former mayor from Toledo’s “good old days.” Perryman: Right. However, the most intense skirmishes in the campaign seem to oc- Hicks-Hudson: But the reality is that the union head doesn’t like the cur, not in the day-to-day battles between candidates, but from sniper chief, and the chief doesn’t like the union head. I’ve talked to Captain attacks launched against Hicks-Hudson by her own “supporters” in a Jeff Romstadt, president of Toledo Firefighters Local 92, a number of cultural conflict over how the city’s first black woman mayor exercises times, and in those conversations it goes back to, ‘you have to hold this power and authority. man accountable for the deaths of those two officers.’ And there were For certain, black women leaders are in a no-win situation where so many factors that went along with that, but the main thing that ev- leadership is often perceived as a matter of specific personal behav- erybody seems to forget is that a fire was started, and that’s the reason ioral traits synonymous with white male-dominated stereotypes. for those deaths is that someone started an arson. They basically set If a woman leader is a young, fresh, hip and stylish, her youthfulness that apartment house on fire. If they hadn’t done that, no one would and femininity are likely to invite criticism that evolves from a hyper- have been there. But Romstadt dismisses that because he wants to get scrutiny that is not usually subjected to white males. If she is assertive the chief. and direct, the woman leader will be accused of being “bitchy” and And so there’s a lot more internal stuff. And, in fact, I’m going to talk aggressive but if thoughtful and reflective, she is likely to be deemed with some of the black firefighters just to get their take. But the people too weak for the leadership task. I’ve talked to all seem to think that it’s a personal. But I’ll know more Hicks-Hudson, who suddenly found herself in the eye of an econom- as soon as I get the report back from the panel. ic storm with the untimely death of previous Mayor Collins has forged Perryman: It puts you between a rock and a hard place as so many ahead in solidifying the ProMedica move downtown and presenting a of these issues do, because to get rid of him will alienate you from viable package to keep Jeep production and jobs at current levels. the Hispanic community, and not to puts you on the outs with the fire- Are the public whispers and water cooler critiques of Hicks-Hud- fighters union, which you’re probably not going to get their support son’s mayoral performance legit? Or are these criticisms merely resis- anyway. tance to and discomfort with black female leadership and a manage- Hicks-Hudson: Anyway. From the very beginning I have said, this ment style that is non-conforming to traditional white male-dominated is not about getting or garnering their support. They’ve not ever given stereotypes? support to an African-American candidate as far as I know. And with In the following discussion Mayor Hicks-Hudson addresses her crit- Sandy Drabik in the race, they’re going to go with Sandy, or they’ll go ics head on. with Carty. But as for the firefighters, most of them don’t live in the Perryman: The January 2014 arson that killed two Toledo firefight- city. Many of them are Republican, from a political standpoint. ers appears to have you “jammed up” by the fire union’s call for Chief And so, therefore, if I put that in the calculation, it’s easy not to dis- Santiago’s resignation. Various factions have criticized you for not miss what they want. But if I’m really looking at and listening to what making an emphatic statement by either firing Santiago or supporting they’re saying and their concerns, I’m just going about it the way I’m him 110 percent. Your response? going, which is to have that committee look at - - not only that report, Hicks-Hudson: I impaneled three people to examine, not only the but some other reports, interview both the chief as well as some of the report that the union is using to go against him, but also to look at some - - I don’t know if they’re going to interview any of the firefighters that other things and come back with a recommendation of next steps, not were there on the scene or not, because I’m leaving it up to them how just for the personality of the fire chief, but for fire service in gen- they do their investigation. eral. But the bottom line is that this is something that I’m doing. I think There is - - at the core of this issue, a personal dispute, I think, based it’s the right thing to do and not be pressured because of someone’s on personalities. They [union] just don’t like the chief. But, whether personal agenda. Or if it’s not a personal agenda, what they perceive is this guy is doing his job or not doing his job is based upon what I the right thing to do themselves. would call just cause. And, at this point I don’t have any information Perryman: The perception of many is that by not coming out either for or against makes you appear as weak or waffling. Hicks-Hudson: No, I have come out. I have said on two different occasions that I support the chief, and then I’m looking at this re- The Sojourner’s Truth ... continued on page 13 Toledo’s Truthful African American Owned and Operated Newspaper Fletcher Word – Publisher and Editor Community Calendar Marticia Hurst – Office Manager May 31 Tricia Hall – Reporter United Church of God Family and Friends Day: 10 am service Carla Leonard – Social Editor Ebenezer MBC Musical: “Going Back to the Old Landmark;” 5 pm; Featur- Rev. D.L. Perryman – Columnist ing singers from around the city Jennifer Retholtz – Webmaster June 20 Kathy Sweeny – Graphic Designer Annual Block Party/East Side Reunion: Edgar Holmes Park; Free food, Jessica Crans - Layout family games, entertainment, vendors and raffles; All day – opening cer- emony at noon: 419-309-4021 or 4567-395-0363 A Certified MBE The Sojourner’s Truth, 1811 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604 June 28 Phone 419-243-0007 * Fax 419-255-7700 Calvary MBC Annual Women’s Day Program: “Christian Women Trans- [email protected] formed by God;” 4 pm; Guest Speaker Evang. Sheila Cook of New Life COGIC May 27, 2015 The Sojourner’s Truth Page 3 Oh, Please, Give It A Rest! By Lafe Tolliver, Esq Guest Column Well, let’s all release our breath! Release You do not need a “legacy” mayor to spout the pigeons! Strike up the band! those sound bites to a voting populace. May- Get the pom-poms out of the closet! or Hicks-Hudson is doing a commendable Why? What the auspicious occasion? job in all of those areas and when one person Didn’t you hear? Sandy Drabik-Collins or is is already committed to those tasks, you do it Sandy Drabik or is it now (at least for the not need another person to jump in and say, political season) Sandy Collins, is running “My ice is colder than your ice!” for mayor. In the interest of journalistic transparency, To avoid any possible name confusion, I I have devised a questionnaire for Sandy to will call her, Sandy. answer and return back to me. Below are just Sandy wants to be your next mayor. See a few of those questions and possible an- Sandy run. Run Sandy run. Sandy will run. swers. Why will Sandy run? Good question. Any good answers? None I want to run for mayor because: yet save for the political pabulum of (get out (a) I am bored with my current job. your crying towels everyone!), “wanting to (b) I like the view from the mayor’s of- carry out her late husband’s campaign plat- fice. forms.” (c) I want a city car to run around in. Is that it, you say? Yeah, that is it! Sandy Lafe Tolliver wants to be mayor to fulfill some nebulous My opinion of Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson legacy idea that she and only she can execute is: upon.