An exchange on Facebook, when I commented that I think it’s embarrassing that you can buy a house in Dayton for $20K. One that’s actually habitable.
John Patrick [1]I feel like you should not run for office in Dayton after these and other similar comments.
David Esrati [2]John Patrick- I’m sorry you feel that way. I guess you prefer to continue to watch taxes go up, services go down, schools fail, and people leaving not just Dayton- but Montgomery County. Do you even know who picks the candidates you see on the ballot? Didn’t think so.
Josh Opsahl [3]Wow. Gotta say I pretty much agree with John here. David, while I find you consistently informative and appreciate your knowledge and perspective, your inability to reign in your dickishness pretty much precludes your ever getting my vote. The last thing Dayton needs is more disparaging negativity. While I expect our elected officials to be able to meaningfully critique the problems at hand, and I think you’re fantastic at doing so, I also expect our elected officials to cheerlead our city and to be able to play nicely with others. These do not appear to be your strong suits.
I’m sure you’ll value my opinion not in the slightest, but as part of the voting public, I just want to point out that your tactics undermine your efforts.
David Esrati [2]To John and Josh. Let me explain something to you- cheerleaders don’t win football games, and you don’t want the most popular person in your high school doing brain surgery on you.
Keep voting for the idiots you elect- and watch as your region deteriorates. The collective IQ of those Daytonians elect isn’t enough to make it to triple digits.
An intelligent addition:
Donna Martin [4]David Esrati [5], Not surprising at all …The figures that keep being floated for sales of homes in Dayton by the press are misleading, as they combine the “area” and do not list Dayton alone. For 2014, Dayton had 1540 sales… with the median sale price at $35,000.
John Patrick [1]You’ll find cheap houses in any major city in the Midwest. Inexpensive homes are a direct result of sprawl so it’s tough to battle. Let’s rebuild our struggling neighborhoods instead of bringing them down with negative comments
and this is where I’m just tired of the stupidity-
David Esrati [2]And John- my neighborhood isn’t struggling- except to get adequate service from the city. Go fuck your “negative comments”- I’ve bought 5 houses and fixed them up- wtf have you done? Oh, excuse me- who the fuck are you?
Run for office just once please.
Oh, yeah- did I point out that John Patrick lives in Columbus….
For the record- I bought my first house in Dayton for $14,500 in 1986. I’m pretty sure neither of these armchair leaders were even born then. I bought my office in 1988 for $2,400 and $2,200 in back taxes. I bought the two cottages in 1995 for $19,500 each (I overpaid- but had to get the street under control and was looking forward to when I’d need to take care of my parents). I bought the house behind me in 1999 for $50K (I think) and sold it 2 years later for $138K after extensive rehab.
Historic South Park is one of the few neighborhoods in the city where they raised property taxes. This didn’t happen by accident. Our average home sale is probably 2x the city median. I’d say my brand of “dickishness” helps raise neighborhood expectations and standards better than our “leaders” with their tax breaks for GE, “economic development” scams, buying up empty buildings with no public use, cutting of services, pay increases for part-time jobs and love of keeping their friends and family in government jobs…
No, cheerleaders don’t win football games. Remember that.
Some individuals just want Polyannas, yes-men, cheerleaders, ostriches, ass-kissers, whatever to keep telling them the Emperor is wearing his finest despite his obvious nakedness. There are others who are detail-oriented, critical, truth-seekers that notice the cracks in the foundation and desire to correct them so as to “form a more perfect union.” Unfortunately, the former default to casting shadows on the later without doing careful though inventory (i.e., they are intellectually lazy).
Cheerleaders may not win football games but neither do people who don’t make the team. You may be great at playing football, David, but you’ve yet to make the team. Your critique of those who have made the team may be perfectly valid, but how are you going to get on the team?
Takeover the Montgomery County Democratic Party Central Committee in 2 years. It’s time to put an end to the monarchy of montgomery county.
And yes- I purposefully used the “inappropriate” and not “politically correct” f-word.
Some people think it’s their role in life to rate and review other people-
they don’t do anything- but sit and talk trash.
They hold people to standards that they can’t meet themselves- if they in fact ever tried….
If anyone thinks I’m electable in this current cesspool of a city- run by a bunch of inbred parasites (note- Nan Whaley’s husband works for Karl Keith, Mark Owens has a brother at the BOE, Matt Joseph’s brother works for Mark Owens, the list goes on) where the deck is stacked against anyone who hasn’t kissed the ring…. you’re living in the same la-la land these two clowns are.
Go get ’em Esrati! Critical mass is developing. As a reader of your blog for several years, it is noted that the tide has been changing towards your favor on many issues. This you rightly deserve. So as to not escape any reader’s attention, you are the ultimate team player. For decades, you have told the truth to power and authority and paid a heavy price personally and professionally owing to Dayton’s inbred, insular power circle jerk. Few people have the intestinal fortitude to endure what you have. And you endure it for the right reasons; Thomas Jefferson and the remaining Framer’s of our Constitution would embrace you for your courage and upholding the ideals upon which this nation was founded.
Oh man, so at twice Johns age, you have purchased several houses and fixed them up and unsuccessfully run for office? Thats super impressive. You might be the first person to accomplish such greatness. John is from Dayton and a very positive thinking guy. Its hard not to like him. You are some great visionary who cant help but pat himself on the back everytime you lash out at someone with a different opinion or hang a basketball net. Grow up, be less of a dick to citizens that care and just maybe you will have a chance to get your votes. You have assholed your way out of my vote many times.
@Andrew. By the time I was 30, I’d bought 2 properties and rehabbed them, served in the Army, and run for Mayor. I’d also been elected president of my neighborhood association- and completed a degree from Wright State in Marketing – and taught at UD. I’d also started my own business and hired people. I don’t know who John Patrick is. According to Facebook- he “Studied City and Regional Planning at The Ohio State University”- which is usually a way people say “I didn’t graduate” and he’s now a “Solar Installer at Ecohouse Solar” and living in Columbus. He went to CJ, where he graduated in 2007. He also attended Sinclair- where he didn’t appear to graduate either. He worked at the North Market, which means a part-time job. You really want to buy into this media/party/establishment picture of me that I’m an asshole don’t you? You, John Patrick, and a whole bunch of you have no idea what I’m like- because most of you have never bothered to meet me. I was a big brother for 27 years to a kid with more problems than Dayton has bedbugs. I’ve spent countless hours doing volunteer work- for my neighborhood, other non-profits and hanging basketball nets- which you blow off (because you are a dick). I’ve been elected precinct captain and then ward leader – which puts me on the central committee- and allows me to be the only one with the balls to stand up and challenge the un-democratic endorsement in primaries (often before the petition deadline when candidates are even known). Oh, but I’m the asshole, the dick- who says houses shouldn’t be selling for $20K? John Patrick and you, Andrew, grew up when it was ok to give a trophy for participation- where everyone is a winner. You have no problem hiding out and poking at others- and talking trash. Every time I rail against the party endorsing in a primary- people come up and whisper to me- “right on” – “keep trying” – but are terrified to speak up- for fear of losing their patronage job (which… Read more »
“DICKISHNESS”
I’ve learned a new word today.
And- here is the solution to the $20K house problem-
from the dickish guy you shouldn’t vote for…
http://esrati.com/the-20000-house-problem-solution/12681
Maybe you’re a dick, David, but for all the right reasons. I’m a fan of your honest “no more Mr. Niceguy” approach to politics. I like politicians who say what it is and don’t engage in blathering and doubletalk when the correct answer might not be politic. Keep talking.
“Dickensian”
That’s when it pertains to Charles Dickens.