Mayor Carty and his dog Scout
November 1, 2007 - Your tax dollars pay for city offices located inside One Government Center. People who work there are prohibited from bringing their pets to work for a number of reasons, including health and safety. Yet, Mayor Finkbeiner brings his dog nearly every day. 13abc's I-Team reporter Ronnie Dahl has been investigating whether he's breaking the rules.
Pets are not allowed in One Government Center. But assistance dogs are and that seems to be how Scout is gaining access to the mayor's workplace.
Scout was on his way to becoming an assistance dog when a medical condition sidelined his career. He developed arthritis in his elbow and that disqualified him from being a working assistance dog. So, the mayor adopted the yellow lab.
He's now a regular fixture at One Government Center, attending press conferences, taking walks with city employees and even enjoying curbside service at pickup time.
We wanted to know who he is assisting. The mayor's spokesperson Brian Schwartz said, "He's not assisting anybody. He's with the mayor. He's the mayor's pet and companion."
According to a statement from the department which oversees operations of One Government Center for the state of Ohio: "The Ohio building authority has a policy prohibiting pets being brought into any of our facilities by tenants. An exception to this policy is made for an employee of any of our tenants requiring an animal to provide 'medical assistance'."
Since Carty won't talk with us directly, we put our questions to the mayor's mouthpiece. We asked, "Does he have a medical condition to have Scout?" Schwartz said, "The mayor has no medical reason that requires an assistance dog."
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Read the rest here:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=local&id=5735315
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http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=local&id=5735315&POLL312=80000...
So what that the mayor of a major metropolitan city (yes I consider Toledo as such) wants to bring his dog to work. I
"I refered to this code
Submitted by neighborhood co... on Mon, 2007-08-06 10:26.
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/955.011 and Mr, Schwartz responded:
with sensorg. I couldn't possibly care less if Carty wants to bring Scout to work with him. I don't like Carty, I don't approve of Carty's bad behavior, but I like dogs. For my money, the dog would make a better mayor than Carty ever will.
Scout may not be above the law, but Carty is. At least he is when he's in Toledo, and I'm willing to be that the police in the surrounding vicinity wouldn't bust him for speeding, reckless driving, menacing, disturbing the peace, assault, assault and battery or assault with intent to do grievous bodily injury all of which I believe he's committed in the past and none of which he's been arrested for.
Aside to MaggieThurber: I tried to comment on this story on Thurber's Thoughts and the web site blew up each time. You may want to check for a glitch somewhere.
And therein lies the crux of the biscuit.
Is he because we as citizens fail to hold him accountable?
Why stop at the Mayor, why not let the Councilors do as they please and county officials and so on.
We had Coingate and others because failed to heed the law and the Mayor in this case is doing so and the double talk from him and our PIO shows it.
http://toledoohioneighborhoodconcerns.com/blog
Who Cares? Get a life, or perhaps an assistance dog.
Well, let us look at this then.
"We wanted to know who he is assisting. The mayor's spokesperson Brian Schwartz said, "He's not assisting anybody. He's with the mayor. He's the mayor's pet and companion."
"Scout was on his way to becoming an assistance dog when a medical condition sidelined his career. He developed arthritis in his elbow and that disqualified him from being a working assistance dog. So, the mayor adopted the yellow lab."
"According to a statement from the department which oversees operations of One Government Center for the state of Ohio: "The Ohio building authority has a policy prohibiting pets being brought into any of our facilities by tenants. An exception to this policy is made for an employee of any of our tenants requiring an animal to provide 'medical assistance'."
"But we've learned, in September, building management sent Mayor Finkbeiner a letter saying: "I need documentation indicating that a health-care professional has prescribed for you to have a 'therapy dog' as part of a treatment plan." We asked Schwartz what type of treatment plan the mayor needs. He replied, "I'm not familiar with that document."
Is the issue really Scout?
Or is it a lack of integrity, ethics, moral compass off kilter and others.
If we do not care about an elected official openly flouting the law then what good are laws?
Do we not care about laws when they are not followed? Is this what an elected person is to be allowed to do, not follow the laws that we are ma ndated to follow?
Why stop here. Let's no worry about the budget, taxes and so on, let the elected do as they please and we can just go on like there is nothing wrong.
When we overlook the little things they grow into larger problems but do we care about following the law?
http://toledoohioneighborhoodconcerns.com/blog
... because the building isn't owned by the city. If this were a city hall owned by Toledo, there might be some justification for a 'perk' on behalf of the mayor - but it's not. It's a state-owned and operated building with rules that all tenants are supposed to follow. And if the mayor can bring a pet to work with him, then everyone else should be able to as well.
It's the 'do as I say, not as I do' which undermines his credibility in so many ways - and the fact that he doesn't understand this is the bigger problem, imho.
He understands full well, rest assured.
The nonsense that Scout needs to be with the Mayor is that nonsense.
There are doggy day cares with trained staff that would welcome the Mayor's business, instead of giving us the business.
How many animal behaviorists are calling the office and offering to help, Scout I mean.
All of the reasons that Schwartz has put forth do not negate the hard cold fact that Scout is not an assistance dog and the Mayor does not have any condition that requires an assistance dog.
Scout is a family pet and should stay home.
http://toledoohioneighborhoodconcerns.com/blog
I think people are ridiculous when they feel the need to take their pets with them everywhere outside the home and I'm all for Carty being vilified, fined, whatever over leaving the dog in the car on a hot day, but other than that this is a big 'who cares?'
An elected official knowingly and willfully violates a state law and it is a non-issue?
No matter the official?
http://toledoohioneighborhoodconcerns.com/blog
I agree with NC on all of this. But nothing will change. Maybe Scout helps to lower Carty's blood pressure & lift his spirits; thus, mentally assisted? I don't really care if Scout goes to 'work' with Carty - but I have to wonder, is Scout really happy going to work with Carty? And, I really have to wonder what would happen if all the employees of that building brought their pets to work with them (Same day if possible). What would the backlash be? What could Carty say? Maybe it's time for the employees to do this, just for kicks.
I agree with NC on all of this. But nothing will change. Maybe Scout helps to lower Carty's blood pressure & lift his spirits; thus, mentally assisted? I don't really care if Scout goes to 'work' with Carty - but I have to wonder, is Scout really happy going to work with Carty? And, I really have to wonder what would happen if all the employees of that building brought their pets to work with them (Same day if possible). What would the backlash be? What could Carty say? Maybe it's time for the employees to do this, just for kicks.
We called cities all across the United States and didn't find one mayor who brought his or her pet to work on a regular basis.
LOL, if this news organization actually wasted their time and manpower doing this...well, I can't even finish the sentence, LOL.
Look, Carty's a dunce. OK, an arrogant dunce. OK, an arrogant, state-law-breaking dunce. But there's gotta be more important stuff going on out there than this.
Locally, yes.
But what about integrity and honesty and leadership.
Are those the qualities of someone who openly flouts the law?
http://toledoohioneighborhoodconcerns.com/blog
... and what is the difference? I tried to "google" this, and didn't get much help. I would assume a "policy" is something that the state would like all leasees to follow, but isn't subject to fines, or imprisonment.
Though perhaps I am wrong. I did find a reference to "policy" on sentencing guidelines. Perhaps if judges don't follow such "policy" they are subject to fines or imprisonment. Perhaps violating a "policy" is more serious than I think it is.
Lets commplain about things that are much more important than the dog. There are so many other issues.
We are.
The issue is not the dog. It is the Mayor's position that he does not have to abide the law as we do.
http://toledoohioneighborhoodconcerns.com/blog
Quite.
But this is a an elected official sworn to serve the people and uphold standards.
Scout is not an assistance dog, Schwartz has stated that and this is a direct violation of State of Ohio ORC.
Is the Mayor, insert name here, above the law?
It is really not about Finkbeiner although he makes him self an easy target.
http://toledoohioneighborhoodconcerns.com/blog
...but the problem must be on your end - I've had three posts on that thread over a period of time ... If you'd like to try again, and still get the same results, you can email me (maggie at maggiethurber dot com)
I am not looking for people to agree with me on things, but thanks.
The issue is an elected person knowingly, willfully and full knowledge violates a law and people take little notice, so far.
And the baloney that Scout needs to do is but one more out right deceptive comment to shield a person from the very fact that the office holder is violating a state law, plain and simple.
And the other part I find amusing is the opinions that some because Carty and his tantrums are legendary people seem to lack the will to stand up to him.
There is no legislation allowing him to fire citizens is there?
The legacy of tantrums shows how weak a person he really is, in character to not admit he has done wrong and get on with it.
He will see the light, eventually as we all have to follow laws.
http://toledoohioneighborhoodconcerns.com/blog
But they're also not the qualities of a politician.
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"When I say your dumb name, please stand up briefly, but then quickly drop to your knees and forsake all others before me." -Ignignokt