That doesn’t sit well with some residents who worry that Love’s political views — a small-government, “anti-Sharia-Law” ideology oft-associated with the Tea Party — will reflect poorly on the inner-ring suburb to the East.
“If your views align, then by all means vote for her,” read a letter signed by 23 Cleveland Heights residents in the Heights Observer. “But if some of her opinions make you feel uncomfortable, think twice. Look beyond the simple messaging. Decide whether these fringe views—for they are indeed fringe no matter where you stand on a simple issue like tax increases—truly represent Cleveland Heights and what we hope is its future.”
Love campaigns on a platform based on Cleveland Heights’ dwindling tax base. Her stated solution: classic Reagan-era trickle down economics:
“Lower tax rates actually increase government revenue,” Love wrote in a May 27 blog post. “People have more money in their pockets, they can then turn around and spend that money at restaurants and buy shoes. All of the businesses make revenue and pay taxes on that revenue. The wealthy flock to areas of lower taxation, bringing in even more revenue. Yes, the rate is lower but because more people pay in on more dollars, tax revenue actually increases.”
And though lower taxes may be “broadly appealing,” the self-christened “educated voters” of Cleveland Heights aren’t crazy about Love’s country-girl-in-the-inner-city shtick, or, for that matter, her affiliation with Tea Party media outlets.
(Believe us, Julie: We’ve been out to Cleveland Heights and know its perils intimately. As for Muslims and their aversion to bacon — we can’t say we’ve ever had an issue.)
From the Heights Observer letter: “As more and more residents visited her site and then expressed their shock and concern on Facebook and Twitter, Ms. Love began slowly removing her most controversial posts, hiding her words from the public instead of owning up to them.”
At a candidates’ forum earlier this week, when Love was questioned about her views, she reportedly said she is a victim of a “smear campaign.”
Here’s her platform and vision (from her campaign site).
This article appears in Oct 14-20, 2015.
Since part of our problem in Cleveland Heights is that we don’t have a strong retail (non-entertainment) tax base, I think it’s likely any money residents spend on “shoes” and other goods will be spent in University Heights, South Euclid, or Beachwood.
Yikes! She’s a bit nuts
It’s not a “smear campaign” when others are simply quoting you word for word. The lack of knowlege demonstrated in Ms. Love’s blog is pretty scary.
The letter is retaliation for Love’s supporters writing letters critical of this:
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49:43
“Thank you. Alright, first part of the question. I do believe that tax structure can be a disincentive for “certain people” to move into our community. I’m not entirely sure that I need those people in our community, but there are certain people who would pick a community that doesn’t require them to contribute to their community and doesn’t ask for them to make a decision to contribute more if it’s deemed necessary.
So there, I think there are some people, I’m not entirely sure that those people are people that we want here, um, in a certain respect.” – Kahlil Seren
https://youtu.be/wFNTELBkstA?t=2983
Her social views she shared on her blog are pretty extreme, although it seems she has taken most of them down now. Why is she trying to hide her real views?
It appears to me that only radical leftist views are welcome in Cleveland Heights and on our Council. I don’t believe it is written anywhere that in our City, that prides itself on “Diversity” “Tolerance” and “Civility ” that a Conservative , or a Tea Party member cannot have a voice in Govt. Why can’t someone with Conservative views serve on Council. I think that Mr. Allard is wrongly assuming that many in Cleveland Heights don’t agree with Julie Love and her campaign.
How many ways do people have to see trickle-down fail before they stop believing in it?
Ironically, the Democratic base is solidly behind Julie’s campaign in opposition to higher taxes. Rich liberals actually enjoy tax increases as they feel it brings them closer to their own “Messiah” moment as government grows larger and larger. But, for the “people ” worshipped by the Sanderistsas, the taxes are increasing much faster than their income. Twice majorities have voted down higher taxes, but the liberals keep coming back to the ballot for more, and not one Democrat Council member spoke up for the working class.
I am not opposed to her view on taxes, although I do not believe trickle down has ever or will ever succeed. I will not, however, vote for someone who has shown so much disdain and ugly views about the citizens of the city she is running for. Then when asked for real comments about her ugly commentary, she blames another council candidate rather than addressing her nasty comments.
The city of Cleveland Heights has more issues then someone stating an opinion. The problem they have is they keep raising property taxes and now income taxes. They have prices the millennialist out of their community. If the city had wisely learned to invest into the city the right way then you would have a thriving city not one desperately seeking funds year after year.
The City Council is a joke if you don’t agree with their views you are automatically discounted.
I for one am 42 and when my lease is up in my Cleveland Heights apartment I am ready to buy a house. However at the rate the city is increasing taxes I’ll take my hard earned money to another community. Until they figure out how to fix their issues not worth buying a home.
I have a young daughter and in way shape or form would I send her to the school system. The system is broken. Invest in the schools and my generation may come back. Years ago my parents graduated from Heights and it was an amazing district. Now it’s on par with the City of Cleveland.
Leave this lady alone God forbid she shake things up in the good ol’ boy town!
There’s a difference between being conservative and being batshit crazy that has been lost in this century. I remember when conservatives were not crazy, but that was a long, long time ago.