Commentary: In Praise of Everyday Government

By R. T. Andrews

It’s Sunday afternoon and I have just returned from voting in person at the Board of Elections. It was a thoroughly satisfying experience in every sense of the word.

The plan was to vote curbside, an accommodation by the Board for those who are either disabled or at high risk of exposure to COVID-19. But an officer monitoring traffic, apparently unfamiliar with the procedure, denied its existence. Fortunately, we were armed with ballot familiarity, face shields,  N-95 masks, warm clothing, and hand sanitizer, and decided to stand in what was, at 4:20PM or so, a fairly short line on East 30^th Street extending only halfway down the block from Euclid to Chester. 

The sidewalk was marked with a green "X" every six feet, the line proceeded with alacrity, and we were soon enough at the door, where a pair of nurses stood digitally measuring forehead temperatures. We next entered a labyrinth of plastic sheeting that doubled back on itself again and again so many times that the hundred feet we might actually have covered felt more like ten times that, but not in any cloistered or uncomfortable way. A reassuring number of Board employees and County Sheriff deputies stood all along the path, giving us a feeling that we were in a safe space engineered for both safety and efficiency. 

When we got to the place of signing in and receiving our ballots, I noticed a Board employee with disinfectant spraying the place where a previous voter had sat. After verifying my identity [government issued photo ID] and confirmation of my address, I was given a printed ballot, instructed on how to complete it, an “I VOTED” sticker, and directions to a voting spot where I could stand or sit to complete my voting responsibilities. Five minutes later I was done.

The entire process, from getting in line to scanning my ballot at the end, took less than an hour. And I was sure, as always, to complete my ballot all the way to the end. If I skipped a judicial contest or two, it was an intentional statement and not an action born of fear or ignorance.

In addition to relief at having completed an important task, I felt a certain joy and camaraderie at completing a communal activity with my fellow citizens. I appreciated the palpable sense of collective responsibility among my fellow masked electors. 

I give kudos to our public officials, from the elected Secretary of State to our appointed County Board of Elections, to the Board’s professional staff, as well as to any volunteers or temporary employees involved in this year’s elections. 

It’s not a simple government operation in the best of times, and we are far from the best of times. We are in the midst of a life-threatening and life-altering pandemic, our economy is a wreck, our civil rights and liberties are under constant assault from well-organized foes both foreign and domestic, and our nation is in peril. People we should not trust are telling us we cannot trust ourselves, that our public officials are illegitimate, ill-meaning, and/or incompetent. 

Thousands of people are early voting in person in Cuyahoga County every day, in a complex operation across multiple jurisdictions. My vote today, along with the unprecedented numbers of early and absentee voters to date, both here and around the country, is not just a direct rebuke to the President and all others acting in collusion with him — yes, there is collusion — to undermine faith in our electoral system. It is also a testament of the efficiency and intelligence of many of our government systems that, notwithstanding their imperfections, constantly work to serve us all. We should continue to support them, even as we work to improve their operation and ensure evermore equitable access to their resources.

I hope and believe that Americans in 2020 will continue to vote in record-breaking numbers all across the nation. It may not be as easy for millions for them as it was for me today, but I assure them the rewards will be at least as sweet.

If that happens, I will stand in assured accord with Victor Laszlo  from Casablanca and repeat his resolute and immortal words: “This time I know our side will win!”

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This article originally appeared in The Real Deal Press. Republished with permission.

Community leaders, activists, organizing to oppose judge who acquitted Brelo in '137 bullets' case

Councilman Conwell, community activists say ‘no’ to Judge O’Donnell candidacy

By Rhonda Crowder

SPECIAL TO THE REAL DEAL PRESS

Councilman Kevin Conwell, Bishop Eugene Ward and others gather to announce the campaign to defeat Judge John P. O’Donnell in his bid to win a seat on Ohio Supreme Court this fall.

Cleveland Ward 9 Councilman Kevin Conwell, Bishop Eugene Ward and a cadre of activists gathered yesterday at the GlenVillage amphitheater on East 105^th St.  and Ashbury Ave. in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood to denounce the endorsement by the state and county Democratic parties of Judge John P. O’Donnell for the Ohio Supreme Court in this year’s race.

“With Judge O’Donnell, the Democrats are taking us for granted,” said Conwell. “We’re telling our people to march to the polls. We cannot put Judge O’Donnell on the court after he allowed Brelo to go free.”

O’Donnell was the judge in the trial of Michael Brelo, the Cleveland police officer charged in the “137 shots” case for shooting Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams on November 29, 2012, at the conclusion of a 22-minute police chase which started in downtown Cleveland and ended in the parking lot of Heritage Middle School in East Cleveland.

Thirteen police officers fired 137 shots into the automobile, killing Russell and Williams, but only Brelo, who stood on the hood of the car and fired down into the windshield, was charged.

Brelo waived a jury trial in the case, putting his fate in the hands of the judge. O’Donnell found Brelo not guilty, reading a 34-page opinion from the bench that the community has hotly contested ever since.

“Do not vote for Judge O’Donnell. They’re going to be mad at me for going against the ticket but...”, Conwell continued, “we’re putting together a committee to make sure our community knows. We cannot accept this.”

Fred Ward, president of FIINPAC (Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Necessary PAC), said, “I was in the courtroom during the ‘137 shots’ trial. I saw the condescending attitudes. I’m asking all who care about justice to not support Judge O’Donnell. He shouldn’t be on the bench at all. That’s my official word.”

Mariah Crenshaw, lead researcher at Chasing Justice, LLC, agreed. “We not only need to not vote for him, he needs to withdraw for the race. We don’t reward bad behavior,” she said, arguing that O’Donnell exhibited unethical behavior during the trial.

Bishop Ward said, “We continue to be exploited as a people. We’re not concerned about Democrat or Republican. We’re concerned about justice. [Brelo] fired 49 bullets out of one gun. You cannot continue to ask for elevation and don’t know how to treat people.”

Crenshaw also talked about “prosecutorial accountability,” saying all the officers should have been charged. “Let’s be real about what happened in that case.”  

Activist Richard Jones echoed Crenshaw on “prosecutorial accountability.” He said the prosecutor set the case up for Judge O’Donnell to rule the way he did.  

Activist Al Porter said the Democratic leaders who are upholding O’Donnell don’t deserve to hold onto their seats either.

A spokesman for the committee said they will be meeting with groups from Akron, Youngstown, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo. He urged everyone to, “Call five people you know and tell them to not vote for Judge O’Donnell. Call them every week.”

Conwell led a similar effort against O'Donnell in 2016 that had measurable success.

“I feel insulted that the Democratic Party didn’t give us anybody else,” said Conwell. “You can’t let somebody go for killing black folk and expect us to vote for you.”

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