Ok, I'm back! I spent most of August and early September travelling and subsequently getting caught up on work.

There's an article in the Chronicle Telegram today attacking Mayor Foltin. The primary complaint seems to be that Mayor Foltin (gasp) took a vacation!

The charge is being led by Lorain Councilman, "Crazy Eddie" Edwards. He is still upset that the mayor didn't attend the criime prevention community forums from a while back (which appear to have been nothing more than posturing anyway... nothing ever came of them, not even the committees that were to be formed). Edwards is also upset that Foltin didn't cut his vacation short when that 15 year old girl was killed a couple of weeks ago.

“I think if he takes these trips, he ought to come back if something happens,” Eddie raved, eyes popping and arms waving.

Foltin did have Safety-Service Director Craig Miller attend a meeting at City Hall after the shooting, and was in touch with his office often. But, apparently that wasn't good enough.

"Ancient Anne" Molnar also got into the act, saying that city hall officials aren't being outspoken enough against crime.

“I think that overall, he’s not really getting involved with the crisis, and that’s my only problem with the mayor — he’s not at the helm to stop the crime in Lorain,” she croaked. Gee, maybe he should grab an 2x4 and go Walking Tall in the streets.

Even Elyria Mayor Bill Grace got a piece of the action.

“In the last six years, I’ve probably taken about four or five weeks of vacation,” Grace said. “I go to Oak Rapids one week every year, and I went on a long weekend vacation last year." Way to showcase those math skills, Bill.

What's really funny is that the article started out by admitting that Foltin has only taken one week a year for the past 20 years. Then it spent the rest of it wailing and gnashing its teeth because he went on a 3 week camping trip this year. Doesn't seem all that excessive to me.