Phil Heimlich’s plan for funding a new jail was released today, and it clearly indicates that he would rather spend money on housing criminals than caring for those who cannot care for themselves.  Heimlich characterizes his proposed sales tax not as an increase, but as a “shift”—holding up those new costs with “savings” from killing the Drake and Indigent Care Levies.  See the full report yourself here.

In the report, he has some line items in response to this question:

That’s $430,000,000 in money from levies that Heimlich has slashed—but not just any levies:  we’re talking about those that provide services to some of Hamilton County’s neediest.  Remember, Phil’s failed campaign against the 2004 Drake Levy was funded largely by nursing homes.  He’s even had his friend and influential lobbyist Dick Weiland sit on the Drake board.  Chris Finney, Heimlich’s real-estate business partner, is also a leader in COAST—the anti-tax group that has endorsed Heimlich’s plan for a jail tax earlier today.  (Chris Finney is also one of only two citizens to donate to Phil’s failed anti-Drake campaign in 2004, and he’s the guy Phil appointed to the Tax Levy Review Committee.)

This is an inside job that has been in the works for years.  Si Leis has wanted more jail space for ten years.  Heimlich spent the last several years doing whatever he could to kill levies that provide care to those who need it, lining the pockets of his nursing home friends and giving a sweetheart deal to the Health Alliance.

(By the way, The Health Alliance has a part in a federal lawsuit between Dr. Ed Patrick and The Cleveland Scene.  Seems Patrick wanted to file a defamation case for this article.  The Cleveland Scene, however, is ready to defend itself, and the thing has been moved to federal court.  You can keep up-to-date on this suit .  Why might this matter?  The allegations at The Cleveland Scene suggest a relationship between Dr. Patrick, Dr. Henry Heimlich, and the claim of a faked medical residency.  Jewish Hospital is now under the Health Alliance.  Phil might get awfully close to this lawsuit—so it seems questionable that he’s giving The Health Alliance such great deals.)

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