Mayoral hopefuls take platform to Point Place
Natural resources, neighborhood identities emphasized
10/16/2013Mayor Mike Bell and his opponent in the Nov. 5 election, Councilman D. Michael Collins, took their campaign messages to Point Place today, emphasizing their willingness to help the community grow as a tourist location.
About 100 people turned out for the evening forum in the Friendship Park Community Center.
Mr. Collins circulated a pamphlet showing different kinds of bricks and other architectural elements that he invited neighbors to choose from.
“You want to capitalize on the natural resources and the beauty that surrounds you,” Mr. Collins said, suggesting Cullen Park as a destination for birding and fishing piers.
He compared the city to a symphony orchestra and the neighborhoods to the different instruments.
“You can pick out your streetscape. We will work together with Point Place, with every neighborhood, and we'll create a music theme throughout Toledo characteristic of that symphony. It will not be noise, it will be beautiful music,” Mr. Collins said.
Mr. Bell recalled his upbringing in the Stickney Avenue area not far away in North Toledo and said he used to play football every Sunday in the park.
“I know this is an extremely proud community. We are trying to work very well with the people in this particular portion of our community to turn it into what you want it to be,” Mr. Bell said.
“We have not ignored this particular area,” Mr. Bell said, citing the administration’s help with projects such as the Howard Pinkley pathway, the Nautical Village project, the replica lighthouse on Summit Street, and the dikes along the river and lake.
“If you want to turn this into a destination point you need to have housing and hotels for people to stay in,” Mr. Bell said.
The candidates will meet each other again on 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Broadway Corridor Coalition, 1411 Broadway. At least two neighborhood forums are planned in the city next week, and two televised debates are set for Oct. 29, on WTVG-TV, Channel 13, and on WTOL-TV, Channel 11, on Oct. 30, both at 7 p.m.
The mayoral candidates were followed by candidates for city council, Toledo Municipal Court, and Toledo School Board.
Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419--724-6058 or an Twitter @TomFTroy.