There have been some really interesting articles, locally and nationally, about political polling.
I just finished reading:
Asian Americans, Shifting Right - The New York Times
It's primarily about Asian Americans. But it has other more general stats that I find very interesting. For example:
Nationally, the rightward drift of Asian voters is connected to a new class divide in American politics. The Democratic Party, especially its liberal wing, has increasingly come to reflect the views of college-educated professionals. This development has had some benefits for Democrats, helping them win more suburban voters and flip Arizona and Georgia in recent elections.
And this:
The trend has long been evident among white working-class voters, and many liberal analysts have claimed that it mostly reflects racial bigotry. But recent developments have weakened that argument. Class appears to be an important factor as well. Since 2018, more Asian and Latino voters have supported Republicans, and these voters appear to be disproportionately working-class.
I think the summary is: if you have a college education you are a Democrat. If you don't have a college education you are a Republican.
Doug Livingston has written 2 really interesting articles on polling Akronites:
There are A LOT of good stats in those articles. But this summary jumped out at me:
And this graph:
It's so tempting to morph into the stats as a political candidate.
Part of it is trying to be responsive to the citizens of Akron. But part of it also is just trying to win the seat.
Russ Neal, Ward 6 council representative, recently told me to not worry about the politics of things. When you get in, work in the political mechanisms. But don't try being something you are not just to get votes. People will see through it.
I deeply admire Russ. And I'm also going to trust that top number: 76.1% of people want leaders with a high ethical standard.
So, I'm an open book. I'm going to tell you some things I believe. And if you want me to expound on things I haven't mentioned just ask and I'll give you an answer.
During Black Lives Matter and the Jayland Walker protests you could hear me say anything and everything about the police. I like the word "fuck" because it isn't pejorative against any particular person and it's also really strong. So, "Fuck the Police" was definitely a common phrase out of my mouth and on the Internet.
I don't say it any more.
It's not because I'm suddenly in love with the police. I have some police I work with that I REALLY like. I've run into some that I don't.
I'm not saying it these days because I've evolved my thinking. My target is now leadership. I think Chief Mylett should resign.
I did an hour long podcast on why I think he should resign. It was based on these 5 items:
Here is the video:
And I'm also really upset with Clay Cozart, President of the Fraternal Order of Police Akron Lodge 7. He exhibits strong racist tendencies and protects criminals.
He will gladly tell his version of the Jayland Walker story and then tell anyone who disagrees with him that they are tainting the investigation and should stop talking.
And here is the statement from the FOP on the policy of jamming snow into the face of a person so they can't breathe:
Akron Fraternal Order of Police issues statement on use of force case
"Experienced supervisors investigated and came to the conclusion, that Officer Turnure’s use of force was within the policy of the Akron Police Department and within the law.
Here is another perspective of that story:
Suspect says 'I can't breathe" after Akron officer shoved snow into his face during arrest
Over the course of 15 seconds, former officer John Turnure shoved snow into Charles Hicks’ face three separate times on Feb. 7. When he finally caught his breath, he told officers: “Yes sir. I can’t breathe.”
And most recently:
Akron, Ohio, police condemn councilwoman's comment on Jayland Walker
“Our members are furious and very upset by these comments,” said FOP President Clay Cozart. “We had close to 100 members here Wednesday and the no-confidence vote was unanimous. We condemn her comment.”
The union has issued a no-confidence vote against Akron City Councilwoman At-Large Linda Omobien for stating at a recent council meeting that “Jayland Walker was murdered by police.”
There are only two organizations that I can think of that get 100 people to unanimously agree on anything: Totalitarian States and gangs.
When 100 people vote unanimously for anything that means one thing: they are afraid of the consequences of doing otherwise.
These issues make it very challenging for me to have a meaningful response to my friends that think we should abolish the police.
If the heart of the union and police leadership provides cover for bad cops how are we ever going to get better? It's impossible. Maybe it should just be torn down and started over.
But I don't actually believe that. I'm a reformer, not an anarchist. All of our institutions are diseased and rotten. We'd have nothing left if we destroyed every terrible organization.
PETA is still killing puppies: Euthanasia At PETA’s “Shelter” Still Occurring At Alarming Rate - Lexology
There is some pretty compelling evidence that the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, was a racist and a eugenicist. (You don't have to debate me on this. I know the complicated nature of this issue.)
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow. Jim Crow Stories . Democratic Party | PBS
The Democratic Party identified itself as the "white man's party" and demonized the Republican Party as being "Negro dominated," even though whites were in control.
I think police history has it worst of all:
The Origins of Modern Day Policing
The origins of modern-day policing can be traced back to the "Slave Patrol." The earliest formal slave patrol was created in the Carolinas in the early 1700s with one mission: to establish a system of terror and squash slave uprisings with the capacity to pursue, apprehend, and return runaway slaves to their owners. Tactics included the use of excessive force to control and produce desired slave behavior.
Humans are a messy group.
*************************************
We have a violence issue in Akron. Everybody is carrying a guy. The new Ohio concealed carry law lets anyone conceal carry (as long as they haven't been legally forbidden to do so) with no training. And they don't have to tell a police officer that they have a gun.
So everybody is carrying in Akron. Felons, non-felons. Everyone. It's more dangerous for police, without a doubt.
We need to be mindful of what police say they need so they can be part of the solution to help reduce violence.
But please take note of what I just said: Police need to be PART of the solution. They cannot be the entire solution.
I believe we, the people of Akron, need to be as much a part.
I am working on presenting to you a program I'm REALLY excited about. I'm calling it: THE WARD 8 COMMUNITY ALLIANCE.
It starts at the block level. Maybe a dozen houses. I believe we need to come out of our houses and be part of our communities. I think Block Clubs could be part of this. And I think a Ward leader is just the person to help organize something like this.
THE WARD 8 COMMUNITY ALLIANCE is going to be at the heart of everything I do during my time as ward leader.
I have a lot of ideas on this. But I still need to organize them better. So stay tuned on that.
I believe WARD 8 is a ward of smart, kind and thoughtful people. I believe Ward 8 can lead Akron into the future of the kind of compassionate, innovative and progressive city the future of America needs.
I have a lot of friends and family members that are racist.
I believe that we are all on a racist spectrum. There is nothing more fundamentally human than creating in-groups and out-groups. It's how we have survived for hundreds of thousands of years.
But if you believe Black people, LGBTQIA people, addicted people, homeless people are inferior to you then you need to leave Akron. Go to Wardworth or Medina or Hudson. We don't want you here.
If you are open to thinking about your racism and bigotry, that's a different story. But if your mind is made up that you are better than anyone else you are just not what Akron needs. Go away.
Addition is not a crime. It is a brain disease. It is in the DSM as a substance use disorder.
DSM-5 Criteria for Addiction Simplified
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, or DSM-5, is the American Psychiatric Association’s goldstandard text on mental health that was crafted by hundreds of mental health experts. The DSM-5 has eleven criteria, or symptoms, for substance use disorders based on decades of research. The DSM-5 has helped change how we think about addictions by not overly focusing on withdrawal.
We are throwing people in jail because they have a mental disorder.
It's regressive thinking. We will look at this era like we look at the shock treatment era of insane asylums.
Akron is a holy city to hundreds of thousands of people. They come here every year to pay homage to the founding of AA.
AA might be our single greatest contribution to the world.
I have been sober for 19 years. I'm so thankful for that gift I gave myself. (I used SMART Recovery primarily. But AA and AA meetings have always been with me as well.)
I have a long-term vision of making Akron the Recovery City of the World. A place where all are welcome to come and decompress, unwind and recover.
***************************
This has turned into a much longer article than I anticipated. I have to get to some other work. But that should get you started on how I feel about some issues. If you have any questions about these issues or any other issues please let me know.
A big part of me being the Ward 8 representative is community and communication. We will definitely continue these discussions about the most important issues facing Akron.
I truly believe we are in decline as a city. And if we don't address the big issues like violence, addiction, homelessness , housing, mental illness... we will die as a city. I truly believe it. These issues are rotting the foundational pillars of our city.
PLEASE VOTE FOR ME, SAGE LEWIS, AS THE NEXT WARD 8 REPRESENTATIVE ON MAY 2, 2023.
Paid For By The People for Sage Lewis