Shaker Heights Taxpayers Union Axes Logo
Group that opposes tax rate increase ceases use of controves
There's nothing new about the Shaker Heights Taxpayers Union's opposition to the upcoming tax ballot issue, but the group's way of promoting ideas has changed.
Its logo is gone.
The group, led by Mark Zetzer, once used a logo that made a parody of the city's four leaves, replacing two with dollar signs. The group is operating without a logo for now, as a result of a request from Shaker officials that the Taxpayers Union cease and desist use of the logo and the threat of a SLAPP — Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.
"We're going to lay off," Zetzer said. "We just have move on and do the best we can."
That includes detailing what the group would like the city do instead of raising the income tax rate from 1.75 percent to 2.25 percent. The group's suggestions include "eliminate other nonessential departments and services" and "implement all cost reductions listed in the Mayor's Financial Task Force Report."
Zetzer says message-focused material serves his group better than a parody with five weeks until voters hit the polls to decide where they stand on the issue. Taxpayers Union members will pass out new, logo-free fliers to residents over the next month. It is working on developing a website. However, the page that announces the upcoming full site includes the old logo.
"The threat of a SLAPP lawsuit against me from the City of Shaker Heights has done it's job in lessening the visual impact these materials may have had in representing our citizen group's case to the public," Zetzer said.
If you missed our tax rate coverage, check out these stories:
Mark Zetzer
8:27 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Correction: Shaker Heights City Law Director Bill Gruber has allowed the Shaker Heights Taxpayers Union to continue using the logo on the Internet. However, we had originally planned on using the clever parody on yard signs, flyers, bumper stickers, oval stickers, t-shirts and business cards, so the City's cease and desist order has nevertheless had a huge chilling effect on our freedom of speech.
Citizen Chump NoMore
11:24 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Shaker civil servants have feather- bedded med and pension benefits much better than the overwhelming majority of the capitlaistic business people who are the residents for whom they're supposed to be " civil servants."
More and more , the residents are 'serving" the civil servants more than the other way around. We're ' funding' way too many benefits and are being over-serviced ,
One example , is the building department which has the empathy and understanding exemplified in the saying, " Pa's Rich , Ma Don't Care. ."