Commission Meeting September 24, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4iJNSZoUFM&list=PLgMuFaWBmSmiUYyiLvdgOHuHr36hJMtaK

Estrop and Houston not there.

**Focus
The Don exclaims, "Let's get them more resources!!", and orders the Mayor's call to Big Daddy DeWine for the 2.5 million (which went to translators and translation services, a DMV simulator video game, and a new urgent care facility for "anyone" to use).

**Presentations/Staff Report

**Rue Statement
The prayer/invocation and pledge. Please give us peace in our community, Lord. (This is always directed at the citizens - we're still dangerous.)

They don't do a prayer like this anymore. And they don't do the pledge on speaker now either.

But this meeting was different. It was the first after JD Vance and Trump made the town public. So we have to pray for our neighbors and slow to speak and quick to listen.

Only calling on cards in Clark County. He's giving a big speech that he normally doesn't do. That's why we ask for contact information, posted on the website, all BS.

We want a constructive dialogue.

Heightened security measures. Don't approach us.

We have entered into unprecedented times. Threats to individuals, gov't facilities, schools, and medical buildnigs. Dsitracting from the real issues we work on in this city. We continue to ask for your help and support. From our state and federal leaders.

Thank Cincinnati police, the Ohio state patrol that are here. Moraine, centerville, beavercreek - even farther away have offered support to Springfield during this time.

(NONE of this was happening.)

His usual warning to citizen speakers about disruptions.

**Citizen Speakers

Bill Monaghan - Why traffic laws aren't being enforced for the migrant population - driving away no tags, just leaving the scene. Last December a woman was run over and killed and the guy was never punished. Provision in TPS - if convicted of 2 misdemeanors they lose their TPS. Are you aware of this? Is that the reason?

Jacob Payen - I'm here on behalf of the Haitian Community Alliance. We want to thank you for how you're helping us. The message of unity. We dont' need to fight over nonsense. A tragical accident - wasn't his fault - and we lost him. Why are you being so angry, when accidents happen. Today, it happened to us. We don't' complain or get angry - it's an accident. Mr. Mayor we think you're doing a wonderful job, but you need to implement more programs to help us chase the American Dream. I served in the Navy. My people don't need to be paying the price for something they didn't create. We need to come together as Americans. Thank you Mr. Mayor for allowing us to be here.

Applause. Rue said please no clapping. Then, someone said something in opposition. No comments of you'll be asked to leave.

Diana Daniels - Frustrated and angry. We did not need to come to this point. I have stood here and begged for the citizens to come to your table for more than 3 minutes to voice concerns. You called us racist. For months and months and months. CCHD slides about racism. That's what you thought of us. City of Springfield Facebook - the challenges are intolerance and racism. I was all your NAACP meetings. I was verbally assaulted.

Isaac Eldridge - Why do we not have a curfew for minors? Why do we have to walk through metal detectors to pay our city taxes? But not in our schools? Bag scanners in our schools - we need.

Jessica Shafer - lifelong resident. I'm tired of being told I should fear. I don't fear the migrants. I fear the members of our city who have been dragged into their anxiety. White supremacists and proud boys. I fear for the refugees who have done nothing who have escaped and tried to find safety. I fear for the black kids. Because of all the racists. They look wrong. I spend time with the kids here and they're fearful - not of the Haitians but the hateful people here spewing the hate. I refuse to be broken and bitter by your hate. We are tired of the chaos because WHEN one of us is killed or there's a riot - those with hate are the reason it happened. Blood on their hands. Having republican after your name isn't going to save you.

Robert Spinelli - We don't need hate groups here. Immigrants have come here for a long time. Why has it taken so long to ask the feds for help. you bought 2 hotels for homeless and 22 families are living in tents. We're becoming a big city. The next Detroit because we're going to be bankrupt. Where's the extra patrol with all the accidents? I don't see them. I see accidents, but nobody charged. We have diversity here. Now we've added the Haitians. It shouldn't have taken a presidential debate. That's why we need new city gov't.

Richard Jordan - I'm tired of people portraying white people as racist, that we hate black people. Haitians are trying to be black Americans. They're not. Why are they being coddled and being given this life that I don't even have on my tax dollars. Rumors - about them buying guns at pawn shops here. Having citizens buy guns and hand them out. Red carpet treatment, why do they need guns. We're second class to a bunch of people who don't belong here. Chaos here. A third world country. Why are we supporting this? They seem so proud of their own country. Getting a bunch of free shit off of all of us. And they hate us and everyone's calling us racists. Tings sent to Haitians about how they can vote. Rue cut him off.

Wes Babian (see bottom of this page***) - Our new neighbors are here legally looking forward to living in peace and well-being. Coming from tragedy and danger. We need to act in kindness. And show the goodness that resides in Springfield.

Mark Sanders - What a 2 weeks it's been. Everything in the last two weeks is YOUR fault. In March of this year, I brought the evidence of domestic animal abuse. I've been harping for a year about towing vehicles of unlicensed drivers. Police said it's a command decision not to tow. You admitted in March that you had heard the same thing, and then the City Manager got on tv and said he had no information about this. City Manager - Rue said speak to me - I demand an apology - to everyone who's been speaking here for the last months. You impuned us on national tv.

Rue kicked out Monaghan got kicked out for speaking up.

Jonathon Francis - That you would go on national tv and - Rue said you have to speak to me - City Manger takes no personal responsibility and causing exactly what you wanted. For a year now, you let this happen and did nothing. When someone moves here, how soon is it until you know? W-4, etc - how is that reported to you. If I was to move my retired mother here, how soon would you know she's here? What legal authority does the city have to supersede on a rental agreement? Decide who can live where. No, you cannot live in this home. What is your legal authority to remove them? You just decide?

Roger Meadow - Pictures of Lincoln school and the drug addicts living there. I brought pictures two weeks ago. 8 X 10 photos. The commission and chief of police had it cleaned up. Why did that take this? I chased them off every single day. Why now did you do something? Sept 16th - a Haitian ran a stop sign, t-boned a police officer. They can't drive. Let's stop this. One less officer now? On workman's comp now?

Melissa Skinner - I wish the citizens would've felt they were heard sooner. A person waiting 6 weeks on a case that was dismissed about a minor on a 4 wheeler - something. She'd have to pay 100 to get information for insurance. Is the YT post that hit a house - Haitian - the finally got it repaired - says this person has different names listed in public records, multiple offenses, and how is this happening and able to drive? First Dieversity getting tax incentives from the city to hire Haitians? What have the police done about the driving without licenses? Any race...How many cars have been towed. Unity comes when all abide by the same rules/laws. People here have been fighting for fairness for weeks. Nothing.

Ms. Crawford - Masked. It's so sad that we're having this "politick" going on. These bomb threats. Children are in school talking about a bomb threat. Think about our kids being threatened with bombs. We need to check kids going in. How do I sign up my kid for free driving lessons? If you're doing this, we should have them, too. Governor is sending 2.5 million - why now and where is it going?

Maximillian Clark - (fake guy) in a suit and tie. Weather - beautiful day - raining cats and dogs. Representative of JD Vance. thanks you for your support. I'm appalled that ppl are saying that we're saying something's not true. We do not live without chaos. Guatemalans are coming for your birds.

Walter Madison - JD Vance campaign, too. We mean no disrespect to the Haitians. They dress like proms. Immigrants using our services to becoming functioning taxpayers. We have to stop this American Dream..

Julia Bell - anxiety meds. Afro freak ia mask. This is a man calling himself a woman. Talked about itself for 2 minutes. Rue calling it a distraction, but this is an issue since Gore. It's not a culture war. It's bigotry. Justifications of bigotry. This one's nuts. Haitians have to invoke their military, they're good workers - that we are requiring them to justify themselves.

Josh Brewer - disabled vet lived here all my life. I'm tired of the migrant, the racist stuff. They're here. I blame Springfield, not you guys. (he's so mad and starts crying?) You see something wrong. Fix it. They're not.

Darrell Summers - I've been following this for a year now. I'm in the county. It gets worse every week. The county is scared, too. We have an opp to show the world how Americans act. We are making history today. Both sides need to come together with all the city and county commissioners, etc. Solutions we can come up with together. These meetings are useless.

Dr. Alvin - about the negative press now. I want to highlight good things. He's with The Springfield Foundation. he's been receiving a lot of donations from all over the country to support our immigration situation. Scams are out there. You can donate on our website.

Amanda Richardson - born in Springfield. She talks sarcastically in every meeting.

Garcity Jones - Round of applause for the commission and the mayor. Salute to the Highway Patrolman who is here. We American business. Mark Sanders - you guys are concerned about towing and driving? Go open a school or a business. find No youth initiatives, Ms. Tackett, Ms. Brown. The Haitians, the homeless, everybody's going to be okay. The real issue is the youth. Two shot this week. We should get apologies from Mark Sanders for the Stop the Influx page - spewing all the hate.

Kristopher Anderson - This is not about race. I am black and support your voices. If you reach out to me with a complaint or issue, I have 10K followers. The mayor has white guilt - from the George Floyd years - he feels like he grew up with white privilege. 9 NGOs here. Duplicating what they're doing in TX. Millions of dollars. Catholic Charities and De Paul. East High area has a Haitian academy. Living in the Cash transfers - they spend EBT but sell back home. Car dealerships? How are they getting brand new cars? kandersonakron twitter.

Darlene Yealy - I'm sorry I didn't wear my Trump shirt tonight. I'm tired of being called racist and hateful. Just because I'm not for this influx, it doesn't make me all the names you use. What are YOU doing to us? That's the hate. Car accidents - running red lights and backed up and u-turns. Derr close to Rose's crashed into a concrete bank. Our youth. We throw millions everywhere else.

Applause. Rue stopped it.

Randall Pelmer - born and raised and high-school here. I feel compelled to speak to show my support for the Haitian community here. Those stand against the lies and hatred against them. Reagan - originated Make America Great Again. His farewell address in 1989, referencing some Christian thing, liberty justice opportunity. If cities have to have walls, there are doors for anyone with the will to get here. At great risk and sacrifice to come here. We're the neighbors and how do we treat them? We must rely on moral, Christian teachings.

Diane commented and Rue kicked her out.

Charlie the Fence Man? He's talking about coffee and Christ's forgiveness. I want to compliment y'all. You're doing a great job.

DeWine's Deputy Dog Andy Wilson - Heck's accomplice in "getting them resources".

**Rue's Immediate Comments

All the mentions about traffic, so we have State of Ohio Safety Director Andy Wilson here to speak on that. The state has some stats and what DeWine is going to do for us.

The 2.5 million from DeWine - directly toward health care. Critical care and the Rocking Horse funds. Public and accountable how we spend those.

"All of this is for all people". Then, "Some will be spent on translation deficits."

To the Haitian man saying, "Thank you for letting us live here.'" I had no decision in this. People who are here are here. Our job is to make it secure, and wrap out arms around it. It's the human thing to do. We are subject to the federal policies.

Vivek came to town and had a good Townhall. That's where the discussion on immigration policies has to be.

We don't make immigration rules here.

This has been a hard two weeks, personally. It is not true that we don't care. It is very stressful. You want answers now, and they're not coming now.

We are doing the best we can.

I want to say to Springfield: for all the vitrol, the hate, the bomb threats. Want to sit down for an hour and listen to my voice mails? It's all very scary. Not what I signed up for at all. We go to the schools just to show support that we care and we're listening.

**Ohio Safety Director Andy Wilson

The people of Springfield should be incredibly proud of the people you have in uniform here. We all bleed red.

We had a meeting with the city leaders in August asking us for help. So we brought some extra forces here. Areas you are having issues. Letting data drive. Race-neutral. We address all violations. Started on Sept 11th. Those troopers have made 337 stops, 136 enforcement actions, 12 OVI arrests, 121 warnings, 3 felony offenses, 33 crash investigations.

Driver's training. That falls within public safety. Nobody in Ohio has to go through any training after age 18. Any and all nationalities. There is an issue with increased crashes with the Haitian drivers. We just don't have adult education curriculum. It's not free for Haitians. It's for anybody. Time behind the wheel with an expert. A driver mentor program in businesses and churches, so you can teach people. If you want to change the law about who can get a license, that's to address with the assembly.

Free training question. DeWine established two grants. Driver's schools. Clark County received two grants for $500K. A new driving school in Clark County. And a Drive to Succeed program so low income can get cost subsidies.

Money is to keep ALL drivers safe.

**Heck's Reports and Answers

You don't have to wait two weeks. You can submit questions on our website, too.

We'll continue to look at the FACTS on traffic information. With complete information.
We appreciate you bringing us information but we need specifics.
We take every report seriously.

Driver not charged? That was outside the city limits. Investigation now handled by us.

I don't know about the TPS law. I'll look into that.

Curfew ordinance. We do have that - it's midnight.

Schools - that's a separate entity we have no control over that.

Haitians buying guns. If things like this are brought to us, we look into it. We hand off to the ATF. If they're sold illegally...

Rural King issue was investigated and deemed to be unfounded.

First Diversity - there's an ongoing investigation. We take things very seriously. We refer things to the state and federal level about human trafficking, etc.

Logan Cobbs has a meeting with all the non-profits about the homeless plan for the winter.

The 2.5 million is focused on primary care. "For everyone".

I am still being asked by JD Vance and reporters about pets. I have been consistent in my response. We investigate any report of a crime. When asked specifically "Are people's PETS being eaten?" My answer has been consistent: "There is no substantiated evidence".

**Commission Comments

Brown
I don't have any comments tonight.

Tackett
I have plenty for the both of us.

Bryan and I have advocated for mental health for two weeks. All the additional stress on our children.
Increasing the bussing. Issues around driving.
Homeless update: direct service providers have been meeting. Named umpteen NGOs. They''l have a plan.
Gun violence was big before all of this. Gun violence grant at OIC - said he's been trying to spread the message that we need to reduce gun violence Awareness Program.
Thank the Nehemiah Foundation for the prayer session praying for our city. It was good for my soul.
Attended a Second Harvest breakfast.
Beautification awards coming up- my grandfather won it several times.


**My Thoughts

*** Wes Babian attends every meeting to talk about how much he loves the commissioners, the city manager, the mayor. How selfless and wonderful they are, especially in such stressful and challenging times. He gushes about the love he has for "our new neighbors. He is the Board President of the Clark County Combined Health District (CCCHD) and has a salary listed as zero but directly (in descending salary order) under the top two making over $360K. The CCCHD has made a literal fortune off the Haitians from other people's tax dollars. Wes Babian was Warren Copeland's pastor at the First Baptist Church for 20 years. He is now on the Board of Rocking Horse and the CCCHD, among others in the health field. He is listed as having no salary, and organizations never publish bonuses and benefits for the public. He lived in a 4 BR 4BA, 4300 square foot house on a quiet dead-end street neighboring only about a dozen houses that he sold for $370K in July 2025. According to the Interwebs, he has a net wroth of 1.375 million. These things explain why he's on the Board of everything and as he sees it, chooses to represent his god at every meeting. Thanking Rue for allowing him to speak for 3 minutes. Sanity to me!

100%: The citizen speakers were hand-picked, because they knew more people would be watching.

There were no threats to any facility, other than those DeWine made up and threatened any and all gov't employees with gag orders. People protested at the mayor's house, yes. As they should have.

Rue is forever mispronouncing the names of citizen speakers he can't stand that he has to listen to. It's a p-word bully tactic.

DeWine's Deputy Dog Andy Wilson - Heck's accomplice in "getting them resources". All the speakers talking about the driving, so the city and state's response is Andy Wilson touting the 2.5 million to be spent on "getting them resources".

Rue saying the city doesn't make the immigration laws here. BUT, they sure did create the Resolution for "welcoming" and take advantage of all the corrupt ways to profit off of them.

Rue "as a guy who's been put in a leadership position". Wasn't exactly elected, so not an incorrect statement.

Update in August 2025:

Tackett talks and yet....NEVER ANYTHING.

(Logan Cobbs, nor any of the umpteen non profits, came up with a winter homeless plan. Barron opened his own warming center.)

The 2.5 million is focused on primary care. "For everyone". This was a lie. It was for Hairians. And was spent on anything in Springfield's huge and generic "public safety" pie slice on the graph of spending. Simulators.

When Heck said he had a consistent response to JD Vance and all reports that he had no substantiated evidence specifically about PETS being eaten. Clearly a Legal Groupie Jill check. He did have evidence of dead pets. Since 2022, from what I understand.

Dewine is the problem. He is on a personal Haiti mission, because He loves him some Haiti men and children for some reason. Has a school and a house there. It’s a mystery why Haiti is still a cesspool with all the money spent there. 🤔🤔

Rob Rue's self-invoked (well, with the orchestration of DeWine and the bomb threats strategy) emergency powers were all to keep Trump from visiting.

City mgr Brian Heck said at the end of September commission meeting, “Let’s get them more resources”! Within 24 hours sugar daddy DeWine sends 2.5 million (I haven’t seen any more troopers). The money is for THEM!!! To teach them how to drive, not attack women, not kill other people’s and park animals, not to carry machetes in grocery stores (my experience here), all the things. More translators, more teachers, and even more housing! It’s insanity.