Communication Art

Andy Warhol said: Everyone will be famous for 15 minutes. The Dayton City Commission allows you three minutes, which means if I go five times at three minutes, I will have my 15 minutes, I hope that is all I will have to attend to put Dayton on the map, for it dog parks.
Here is what I will be saying on my first one, Sept. 1st, at six pm:

Martin Luther King had a dream; I have a vision… for an inner-city dog park. Here are some hand signed Petitions and letters of support for my idea and just an idea, of Dayton having an inner-city dog park, preferably to be at the rear of Emerson School close to the walk over bridge over #35 that connects Historic South Park and the Oregon Historical district (though not necessarily that area). Dog Parks are the Watering Hole of the Future, of meeting and bringing people together, with todays out sourced economy, people now spend more quality time around home, as well as hand walking their dogs. Some people consider their dog as part of the family, even an extension of their personality. As of August 2010 Dayton has over 70,000 registered dogs. I in all honesty don’t know how many of those registered dog owners are registered voters.
I am well aware that we have two great dog parks located on Webster Street, in Vandalia and one located on River Road, but none in walking distance for the inner-city core. My vision is for an established fenced-in, off leash Dog Park where well-behaved canine citizens can exercise in a clean, safe environment, which will also provide elderly and disabled owners an accessible place to exercise their companions.
The Progressive City of Dayton has lost some of its strength not having an inner-city dog park; I would like to change that, and make Dayton the Gem City that it is. I trust that you can see the value of my idea or vision for a dog park, and you can bring that vision or idea to reality. Thank you for your time, and I will see you all again next City Commission meeting when I present my other idea for a Water Dog Park down close to Fifth Third Field and Workflow One, on or near the Miami or Mad River.
Visit my web site at communicationart.net

I am not going to bring up the letter that I had written to the City Commissioner Tim Riordan dated 06/13/2010, and have to date not received an answer, here is the letter I had written to him, with me asking you what did I say that he will not respond?

“”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”

City Manager Tim Riordan
Dayton City Commission
City Hall, Second Floor
101 W. Third St.
P.O. Box 22
Dayton, Ohio  45401-0022

6/13/2010

RE: Dog Park

Dear Tim:           

It was a pleasure to be a part of the kickoff of “The Budget Ideas Tour,” I must admit it failed to take me by surprise regarding Dayton, OH. To take it one step further I would say that pointing to the entire U. S. of A. would have been much more apropos. This is not just a Dayton condition. From what I read in the newspapers and what I see on TV; this is a global issue, except for China. I would have liked to hear you say more about “Out Sourcing, World Trade Organization, and North American Free Trade Agreement” and not playing so much the 9-11 card as to when this dilemma first started here on earth  (U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, June, 9, 2010).  I, like the majority of people in my social-universe place the blame on Out Sourcing and Greed, but not necessarily in that order, though this is not the crux of my letter, I want to talk about Brian Inderrieden and about giving back to my deserving city of Dayton.

Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Larry Sizer. I was the person standing at the side door during the Southeast Priority Board meeting, when you almost pulled your arm out of the socket. I said at that time you must be a Republican. Then I went on to ask you if you recalled when President Bush tried to open a door that was locked and the ensuing look on his face. We both chuckled. Then you told me another Locked Door Story that topped the Bush story and again we chortled. I liked that quick comeback because it shows me you are understanding, and have a good grasp on what it means to be a human being.  I took that opportunity to hand you my proposal for a dog park which I truly hope you have had time to read. To quote from the letter, “Dayton has been good to me” I would like to give something back to Dayton for its kindness. As I see it now, the “Times” they are a-changing and we as citizens have to start giving some “Time” back to the city if we expect it to survive in these changing “Times.”

I received a response from Brian Inderrieden, Department of Planning & Community Development (enclosed) where he states…“Thank you very much for your interest in creating a dog park in Emerson Park. While your proposal is commendable, our current policy is to lease land to individuals and organizations that have proven experience with their proposed land use. My question now, what is the current policy? What is the criterion needed to qualify for land leasing? May I have copy of the people who currently are leaseholders?

When I first talked to Brian about a dog park, it was he who suggested I lease the land from the City. He even mentioned that I could secure a water tap for the dog park at no cost, if a house were located in the area. I had never given leasing a thought until he brought it to my attention. So my question is why now is the current policy to only lease to individuals and organizations that have proven experience? Why didn’t he tell me this when I first contacted him to discuss the dog park. To expand on this letter, he suggested that I contact:

Montgomery County Animal Resource Center,
6790 Webster St.
Dayton, OH 45414
(937) 898-4457

AnimalShelter@mcohio.org
Humane Society of Greater Dayton
1661 Nicholas Road
Dayton, OH 45417
(937)268-7387

I have done the follow up contact and I spoke to April Wheeler, Montgomery County Animal Resource Center, about how to start a dog park. I was met with the response you want to build a what? With a smiling voice, she asked why I was calling her about it. She went on to say that I should contact the Priority Board or Planning. When I informed her that Planning was the reason for my call that Planning told me to contact this department, Ms. Wheeler said something about passing the buck, amid muffled laughter as I thanked her for her time and hung up.

With respect, I do question Brian Inderrieden’s decision. I wonder if he is displaying prejudice, since I snitched on him to Mayor Rhine McLin about the house at 242 Oak Street, (picture enclosed, the one with foliage was taken in June, 2010, while the other photo was taken October, 2008), date of first violation; 11/06/08 and an extension on 01/30/09, then another extension on 07/27/09, with today being 06/13/10 there is still nothing done to the exterior. Historic South Park Inc. has heard me complaining for more than a year and a half and has done nothing regarding this blighted house. They tried to pass it off on Mike DiFlora, The Home Group Company. This is the same Mike DiFlora who remodeled the house next to me. The house sings when the wind blows, the noise stemming from loose flashing I assume. Then the house next door to that one is where he left a jagged top edge of the rear fence. It is unprofessional, to be an embarrassment to the rear facing alley. Then there is always the bandaged checker board cement pattern to the front of the same house. Why he even took the alley fencing next to me up to the edge of my garage, he shall we say rustled our property away from the House of Sizer without an Easement Agreement as proof of how unprofessional; or small he is.

I talked to Brian on how I could get a house declared a nuisance, and go to court like Historic South Park Inc. did with the infamous property caper at 529 Hickory Street. It was there where they pressured the suspected effeminates with jail, and fines (one went to jail). These owners were harassed until they sold their house to Karin and Mark Manovich. Was this property noted in your lecture June the 3^rd when you were talking about investing for tomorrow? Was that what you were talking about? Brian knew about this and of course failed to act on it.

Thus: Back to the body of this letter, and that is a dog park in the core of the City to the rear of Emerson School. The dog park would bridge the inner-city, the Oregon and South Park Historical Districts, as well as walking distance to the University of Dayton and the inner-city dwellers, also there is parking for automobiles along Buckeye Street. Another Dylan quote: “If dogs run free, then why not we.” Historically speaking, dog parks have proven to be a joy for the dog owners, in watching and interacting in a safe contained environment with their dogs, that is not possible within a city environment. The area also has tennis courts, basketball court, slides and playground for the young children, and has some adult supervision of the shaded roofed shelter area, that is regularly frequented by crack heads and related dopers. From route 35 travelers would see the dog park as a city living  attraction, and would not have to relocate in other parts of Montgomery County that have dog parks.

I had not considered a lease until Brian brought it to my attention, in a modest position I would like to be, help, and see a dog park in the cities core, and it is just that simple. “Times” have changed; dog parks have become the new social-gathering-water-hole. Now People just hang out together, relaxing with their special pooch friend; either lying or bragging about their dog/dogs. The City of Dayton has lost some of its strength not to have an inner-city dog park; I would like to change that. Can you help me or point me in the appropriate direction to make this dream that dog owners experience in a waking life having the characteristics of a dream?

I wait your response with anticipation covering an inner city dog park, the misadventures of Historic South Park Inc., as well who has qualified for land leasing along with their credentials.  

Sincerely, 

Larry Sizer

 Larry Sizer
212 Bonner Street
Dayton, Ohio 45410

           …GPS…
Latitude…….39º 44′ 56.28”
Longitude….84º 10′ 42.83”
H: 937.223.1711
C: 937.545.3058
lsizer@woh.rr.com
www.communicationart.net

Cc:
Mayor Gary Leitzell, Dayton, OH
Val Hunt, Five Rivers Metropark
Sandy Gudor, Downtown Dayton Partnership
George Wymer, President, Oregon Historic District Society
Dr. Michael E. Ervin
Clayton L. Mathile
Layshca Smith, Dayton Parks & Recreation Department
Nan Whaley, City Commission Office
Historic South Park, Incorporated
Matt Joseph, City Commission Office 
Rhine McLin
April Wheeler, Montgomery County Animal Resource Center, 

 Talk to me Tim?