Straw Houses

Cleveland City Council President Martin Sweeney can’t keep his house in order, literally. Accusations resurfaced this week  about work for his home’s expansion and related payment documentation from contractors.

The conversation didn’t go well for Sweeney: “‘They’ve never asked me for nothing,’ Sweeney says about [Doan Pyramid President Michael] Forlani and [Solomon & Associates President] Roger Solomon, ’so I really don’t have anything further to say about it. I put an addition on my house, I did everything appropriately, filed all the paperwork, so I think I’m going to be OK.’ Did you pay for the work? ‘Absolutely. The record will show for itself.’ What record? Do you have the receipts? But Sweeney is done talking about this. He smiles silently for a moment, then says,’I'm still waiting for the next question.’”

Politicians love press conferences. Sweeney should hold one and wave invoices and receipts in front of the camera. It’s a simple matter, but his lack of enthusiasm indicates either complete contempt for proper transparency or a complete lack of proper documentation. Sweeney’s approach contrasts with Councilman Michael Polensek’s response when asked about a foreclosed home he purchased from a local community development agency. Polensek quickly provided a council  colleague and the Cleveland Plain Dealer with relevant permits and invoices.

Standards are already at rock-bottom for Cleveland politics. Sweeney has provided low-grade leadership to Council during a tumultuous two-year tenure that has included questions about sexual harassment, inappropriate airport construction contracts, and the attempted hiring of Vince Russo—the son of Cuyahoga Country auditor Frank Russo currently under federal investigation.

Sweeney’s distracted and bungling leadership comes at a poor time for a city badly in need of fixing. He once zinged the media with the revelation that he doesn’t wear underwear. If county or federal prosecutors don’t get to the Council President first, voters should take up a collection for a new pair of boxers along with his recall petition.

~ by deadmanscurve on February 28, 2009.