Following a hunch, the closing of the post office at 10 N. Williams Street made me do some digging. From today’s Dayton Daily News:
At risk, according to a list released by the Cincinnati District of the U.S. Postal Service are:
* Station B Finance, 10 N. Williams St.
via ‘No job cuts’ from 5 post offices on list for possible closure.
I wanted to see who owned the building and maybe find out how much rent the Post Office was paying.
Heading over to the Montgomery County Treasurers office site- I find that the City owns a vacant lot at 20 N. Williams Street- and Google Maps confirms there is a post office at 10 N. Williams Street– but the treasurer’s office doesn’t have a listing at all for 10 N. Williams (you have to enter in Williams St. and North- FAIL). Odd.
However, when doing a search on just Williams St- it comes up 8-10 Williams Street, and the property shows up belonging to Scherrie McLin– Mayor Rhine McLin’s sister, who ostensibly bought it 12 Feb 1992 for $30,000
The tax bills, until 2007 were sent to the Germantown St. address that the Mayor used to live at, but now are delivered to Scherrie’s home in Dayton View. When did the US Post Office decide to put an office here?
And, how much was the Post Office paying in rent? Both of these tidbits of information may be quite interesting to tax payers.
Is knowing about a potential post office, and then buying a building to rent one of those perks of being in office? In the corporate world, it’s called insider trading. In Dayton, it’s a foul not called.
That post office has been there for many years. It was there long before McLin’s entry into the political scene. It was slated to be closed several years ago when the Dayton View Post office opened on Salem Avenue. But, apparently it continued to operate. I would say the building was purchased by the McLin interests at the time the Postmaster had slated it for closing.
@Jackie, it may have been a CJ McLin deal- and done long before Rhine was in politics. However, her family is still reaping the benefit- long after CJ’s departure.
Stop the PRESSES. State one thing, not two or three.
You TWEETED that Mayor McLin may have got a sweetheart deal, your post says Mclin’s sister owns it, and then you post in the discussion forum what it was a CJ McLin deal. Well, Mr. Investigator, it may be one of the above but not all three.
Stick to piping off about Dayton, your “journalistic” skills are lacking. You did not retract your post regarding the DT Hotel and the 7-10 million dollars, and this story is not a story until you have ALL the facts, not 3 “maybes.”
This is a poor job posting on your part, and yes I am calling you out on it. Real people, real journalist do their homework.
There is NO END to what kind of BS you are posting. People could say all sorts of things about you that are not true (and some do) but I did not think you would stoop to that level.
key word Gene – may.
Much bigger ramifications than does or did.
and the question mark is ample evidence for anyone that only an inference is being made, not an outright accusation.
Gene: the DDN article- has updates- deleting it just doesn’t work- esp. since it’s been duplicated and linked to – the answer is to redact.
As to who has benefited from this deal- let’s see- I can’t figure out when the lease was signed- or resigned. The fact is- the McLin family- has interests in a building that has been getting government money- and now is being closed. Are the sisters still partners in the Funeral Home?
I don’t know how Rhine got to be a State Rep when her daddy died either- I thought we had elections in this country- not a monarchy, but, that’s another question for another day.
How much do you want to bet that the lease was a long term one, well in excess of the value of the property? Something like $4K a month- for a building that was “sold” for $30K.
I’d love to be able to get some sort of deal like that- but, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
OK, DDS, David Esrati may be a racist bc he posted something negative about Rhine McLin, an African American woman who happens to be the mayor or Dayton.
It never ends. A little bit more investigation and FACTS are needed, DDS. You folks want to play that game, fine. But that game never ends.
He always says Joey or Nan never communicate, but when you post suspicions and half truths and speculations – well, big Frickin deal. Anyone can do that. Facts and opinions on relevant matter is important.
This may be a dirty deal. BUT he has essentially said THREE things. How about gather all the facts and then tell the story, not the other way around.
Still speculation on your part DE. Play that game. I will as well.
Get the facts and THEN make the post. Yes, I am confident something is not cool with this, but until you have all the facts it just makes you a conspiracy theorist. That should not be the game an wanna-be elected official should play.
BTW, on the DDN thing, You could make a NEW post saying you did not have all the facts. No need to delete the old post. That is what big boys do.
The story isn’t finished, if there is one.
he has stated 3 different things. you only start when you can connect all the dots.
Gene- maybe you should go and do a FOIA from USPS for their leases.
Help out a bit.
You could also go down to the County building and start researching the building transfer history- instead of just complaining. How much do people pay for the DDN- how much advertising do they accept? Do you see my pay for all this? It took way longer than it should have just to find the buildings owner- since McTreasurer knows how to put his face in the favicon but not get his N. in the right place.
That is your excuse for posting an unfinished story with only some of the facts?
I don’t want to look into anything – I am not the one who posted something on our Mayor that may or may not be true.
Is there anyone with a brain out there? How can I be the only one to see this as total BS? It is, to say the very least, irresponsible to post a story when you have only some of the facts and the rest is speculation, calling it a sweetheart deal. A journalist you are not.
Again, it may be worth looking in to. But you have to actually get all the facts before you state stuff like that – not to mention the fact you have linked this story in 3 different ways, CJ’s doing, Mclin’s sisters doings and possibly a sweetheart deal for the Mayor as well. WELL, what is it exactly?
Maybe you are involved? You may be a drug dealer bc a house you once owned had drugs in it, according to the guy on the street. See where this can go………. of course you are not a drug dealer but this is how how people are found guilty and then have to prove their innocence.
There’s also laws against that. David didn’t do that. He only posed questions, based upon the information he could find, and a “hunch.” But he never said that, “Subject XX broke the law because of evidence YY.”
But, if you were to say, “DDS is a murderous thug who eats dead babies”, well, there’s recourse for me if you do that, especially if I can prove that your comments have hurt me financially, or my reputation.
There is no law against what he did. We are all big and can understand that all he is doing is posing a QUESTION. The MSM should be posing questions ALL THE TIME. It’s their job to be our community’s Socrates.
I never said he broke the law – he posed a question, sort of, yet had 3 people accused (linking them only by last names, nothing else.) Like I said, that kind of logic could never end. We need all the facts, or certainly a whole lot more facts, before an article/blog entry should be posted.
Is McLin’s sister not allowed to buy a building? We could question any and all of it until the end of the world. If you want I will start on Esrati, using his logic.
I could use the “he may be a racist” by HIS logic. YES, McLin’s sister owns a building. That is not enough to say she did anything wrong and he goes further to say Rhine McLin did something wrong bc of her sister bought a building in 1992 is pure bullshit. We all know it.
It is a hack job.
Great write-up David – interesting theories and those with intelligence will be able to read between the lines and think for themselves and come up with their own conclusions.
Something interesting to note is that McLin’s sister owes $3,056.37 in property taxes on 10 Williams St. She hasn’t paid anything for 2008 and owes some money for previous years as well.
Rhine McLin IS GUILTY – her sister owns the property, must be guilty.
GUILTY!!!!!!!
@Kelly, thanks for digging that up- adds to the oddity of the whole thing….
Yes, and it makes our mayor guilty because of her sister.
Just like JFK was a DUI waiting to happen and killer because of Teddy Kennedy. Unfortunately he passed away before all of that……..
I know people who rent to others who are slum lords…….. ring a bell anyone?
The Recorder’s website shows that she obtained the property from CJ Mclin after his passing. So that would appear to be a reasonably legitimate transaction in processing his estate.
However, the tax records show that she owns a dozen or so other properties, all of which are delinquent. Court records show previous property trouble in the early 1990’s.
The McLin funeral home website lists her as the owner. The Ohio funeral home license changed hands in 2008 and indicates a new owner at that time. The Ohio Secretary of State records show that the McLin Funeral Home business license was canceled in April, 2009 for failure to file taxes.
It would appear that she has much bigger problems than the Postal Service.
It would seem that the McLin gravy train has stopped working.
I find it odd that the change in ownership of the McLin funeral home didn’t get any press coverage- or the cancellation of the business license.
This reminds me of the hall pass Richard Clay Dixon got for years on his work habits with the School Board (he was using his sick days to do City Business)- up until the powers that be, decided Mike Turner was heir apparent.
I’m not sure Gary Leitzell has the backing, but I think Ms. McLin has lost her hall pass.
Watch how things unfold.
Will Gary run with the ball?
Let’s stop again. Are we talking about RHIN McLin or her sister, or both. Make it clear. BC you stated it was Rhin McLin’s sister – not Rhine herself – that owned the postal building, so what ball would Gary run with exactly?
Once again, way to go with showing your ignorance, Mr. Esrati… distracting attention from our city’s urgent needs to humor your wild goose chase that belongs to the sister, no wait… the father, no wait…
How desperate are you??
Without a hope of obtaining an elected office of your own, this is the direction you’re going to head into now? What’s say you just get Jerry Springer on speed dial and maybe get a good old fashioned fist fight between you and Mayor McLin (and her sister)?
Gene you are right, this is total BS but when you consider the source (total egomanic lost in his own cyber fantasies), its what Dayton expects from our Village Idiot.
David, please spare us the cheap theatrics. Find other constructive ways to get “ratings” or whatever you hoped to gain with this post & twitter. There’s enough opportunities for improvement in the city that even a loser like you could score some home runs these days. Wow…there’s a novel concept – accomplish great things for the city and THEN run for office.
@Get A Grip – can you give ME specifics on those already in local gov’t that have done just this: accomplish great things for the city and THEN run for office.
I’m really interested in this {no sarcasm}
I am not sure if there is anything there or not, or if it involves our mayor or not. It is just irresponsible to throw it out there without getting all the fact (or a lot more facts.)
This may be about her sister. It may be about her. But get the facts THEN write something. Doing it the other way around is a very dangerous game. It is work of a hack, to be honest.
DD wants Gary to run with the ball – WHAT BALL? The ball that notes Rhin McLin’s sister own a building the post office rents…….. ohhhh no. Not that.
Gary, if you want votes, you will stay away from this until all the facts are out.
Gene, you complain about accuracy then misquote me in the same paragraph. I never said I wanted Gary to “run with the ball”, but rather, questioned if he would run with the ball.
Why is this so hard seeing that it is easy for you to read what I wrote?
You are right – but I was putting that question with your other posts bc it seems A) you think something is there and B) you are sort of drooling over it, wanting McLin to get in trouble.
I was sort of putting two and two together. I must have gotten 5 rather than 4. Either way, Gary should stay out it. If he questions it publicly like DE then he is making a mistake. If he wants to do a thorough investigation without posing question to the public then by all means he should knock himself out. But don’t accuse someone of something or make an inference of wrong doing until all of the facts are out there.
We still are talking about McLin’s sister at this point, right?
To spell things out:
CJ McLin was a “powerful politician” who did deals that personally benefited him. Like this post office deal. When he died, he not only left his seat to his daughter Rhine, he also left his businesses- real estate and the funeral homes.
Rhine and her sister ran the funeral homes together- until at some point they split.
Is it OK for an elected official, or his family- that seems to have been able to inherit his political powerbase, to benefit from their position of political power?
Is it OK to get a sweetheart contract with the Post Office?
Or- for a Congressman’s wife to have a GSA schedule, or do work for a Political Action Committee.
If some of you like “Get a Grip” would get your heads out of the sand, you’d see that this is an abuse of power- and a misuse of your tax dollars.
Gene- have you done the FOIA request to find out the rent yet?
I agree it COULD be abuse of power (with this post office thing) and somethings certainly have been abused by others, but at this point, in regards to the post office, it is Rhin Mclin’s sisters, no? Is she a politician?
Some stuff is too old/irrelevant at this point, other stuff may very well be relevant. My point is that bringing up the post office subject without all the facts (remember, you questioned Rhin’s sister, then CJ, then Rhin herself) is irresponsible. If you link it all together and prove wrong doing then GREAT. But just questioning something and putting it out there is bs, only because you are running for city office, in the same city of the story you are trying to uncover. If you were not running for office, well then do what you want. But this reeks of slimy politics on your part. Yes, I know you are not running for mayor, but it still reeks.
If there is a story there, fine. But get all the facts first.
BTW, WHO GOT THE SWEETHEART DEAL FROM THE POST OFFICE? CJ? Rhin’s sister? Rhin herself? BE CLEAR.
Or let me put it another way……..
CJ gave/sold Rhin’s sister the post office building……… what does that have to do with our Mayor Rhin McLin?
Of course CJ is/was an accussed crook.
I think it would be safe to say that the Mayor won’t be attending any more of David’s parties. Pity- It would have been interesting.
Still waiting to see how CJ’s estate selling the post office building to Rhine’s sister is a sweetheart deal for Rhine, as proposed with you Tweet on Twitter.
Gene- Why are you focused so much on Rhine? All I did was identify that Scherrie is Rhine’s sister- and that the bills used to go to the address that Rhine used to call home.
This isn’t a post about Rhine. You’ve made it into one.
THIS IS AT THE TOP OF YOUR WEB PAGE. THIS IS YOU ON TWITTER.
Esrati on Twitter:
what are you talking about? I am focused on this bc you have been unclear, inaccurate, and not truthful regarding this matter. You only have some fact, which point to her sister, then you tweet the above shit. WTF are you talking about? are you crazy? “Did Mayor McLin have a sweetheart deal on a post office on N. Williams Street? http://is.gd/1Hxvc” – 2 days ago
I guess that is CHECK and MATE.
Thank you.
Congrats Gene-
The taxpayers still get screwed- but, you “got me”
I was not trying to get you. You just needed to get more facts before posting and slightly accusing (questioning) our mayor. There may be something here – it just needs more facts. If you were not running for office then no big deal. But you are running for office and therefore anyone at anytime can link you to something without all the facts.
This is about being accurate and truthful and clear on a story.
My gut tells me something is wrong here, but until further evidence is presented all I know is that CJ (now dead) once owned this building that he sold or willed (if you will :) ) to his daughter who is not in politics. The building is rented by the United States Post Office.
That is all I know (or all I was told.)
LOL @ “This isn’t a post about Rhine.” Seriously. LOL.
She’s a public figure and it’s reasonable to raise the issue of whether she or her family got special treatment, but own the fact that you’re raising that issue. If 10 N. Williams Street were deeded to someone unrelated to Rhine McLin, would you have blogged about it, David E?
I’m not saying that you’re wrong to have blogged about it, but come on, this was a post about Rhine before Gene ever commented on it.
@david L
I would have blogged about how the McTreas has data integrity issues. I’ve pointed out before about it’s many architectural failures. The fact that 10 N. Williams doesn’t exist in it’s database is a problem.
Second- the ownership and placement of this post-office has always confused me- except that I was told long ago about who owned the building- and the sweetheart above market lease.
Whose name it is in now is really irrelevant- the fact is, people who’ve come to depend on the post office location there- are now going to be without a post office.
Post offices provide essential services in low income neighborhoods- like secure PO Boxes and access to postal money orders (much cheaper than commercial money orders).
The reality is- had the rent been more inline with real costs- maybe the post office wouldn’t be closing.
The reality is- when people get elected- there seems to be a different set of standards set.
The reality is- what has Rhine McLin done for Dayton for the last 8 years?
I’d really like some answers.
There seems to be a different set of standards for poor people. They get cash from the government and the school days starts at 915 am bc parents can’t get their kids to school.
I guess there will always be a different standards for certain groups.
The reality is politicians are more often than not crooks. And this is what you get when you allow everyone to vote. Lets face it, it may be a right, but only 20% of the population (and I am being verrrrrrrrrrrry generous) has any idea what is going on (in terms of politics) locally, state wide, in this nation or around the world. But we allow incompetent people to vote. We get what we pay for, if you will. Hell, white guilt got Obama elected. And somehow we think it is going to get better. Please.
Post offices provide essential services in low income neighborhoods- like secure PO Boxes and access to postal money orders (much cheaper than commercial money orders).
The reality is- had the rent been more inline with real costs- maybe the post office wouldn’t be closing. (David Esrati)
Wow David, bet when you authored this post you weren’t expecting the tsunami of hostility the post provoked. And darn it, David, you’ve put me in the unenviable position of having to defend the Clan McLin. If CJ originally bought the property, leased it to Uncle Sam for whatever price, went to the great Democratic Majority in the sky and bequeathed said property to his kids, where is the smoking gun? Sounds all above board and legit to the Old Bandito. As far as closing said Post Office, there is a brand new one at Salem and North (not even a mile away, according to Google Maps); another in the old Beerman Store on W. Second (one mile, same source) and, of course, the Main branch at 1111 E. Fifth St., (1.8 miles). Won’t even mention the po at Westtown (2.6 miles). Sounds like the “poor people” you express your concern for are sitting in the post office acessibility capital of the universe. Furthermore, with E-Mail, fax machines, tele-conferencing and other innovations, who sends letters anymore with the exception of the junk mailers? The old Bandito has been paying his bills online for years (not needing to send those problem epistles) and doens’t even know how much a stamp costs these days. Al Capone sometimes took in a Cubs game, John Dillinger like the movies and John Gotti liked to sit and drink with his gumbas. What’s the point? No matter how crooked and rotten you suspect someone is, not every activity they engage in is criminal………………
This is typical of a liberal. DE is not saying “if there is smoke there must be fire”, oh no, he is saying “if there are matches there must be a fire.”
Liberals are jealous of other people’s success and financial gain, even if they are fellow liberals. He made it sound bad that he was not informed of the sale in 1992, as if he is important enough to be contacted on such transactions. It’s a liberals mindset that someone is screwing someone or something over all of the time.
Prof. Gates must of been arrested bc he was black………… oh, btw, the caller never mentioned race and the cop had NO IDEA he was black until Prof. Gates mention himself that he was black…… but according to a liberal he was arrested bc he was black. Ahh, no, he was arrested bc he acted like a child, and he was being an asshole who was getting out of control.
There will be no apology, no post to say “hey, I made this shit up, and me just questioning it makes Rhine McLin seem guilty…..” Well, there will be none of that. Liberals are never sorry, they just think they are always right. When all the facts come out, IF THEY COME OUT, then maybe someone should write a post about it. Until then this has turned into what people like least about the Internet, the lies, the half truths, the inaccuracy.
It’s the rich people’s fault that there are poor people – the logic of the left. Yet you rarely see the rich left ever give up their cash to charities or the poor, oh no, that should be the job of our state and federal government.
Half truths and some facts, the backbone of the liberal agenda.
The cop sure knew Gates was black by the time he was arresting him.
Oh, then he should not have arrested the foul mouthed, hot under the collar, uncooperative and rude Professor.
We do have different sets of standards and expectations from certain people. I guess distinguished professors think they can act like a$$holes (editors choice-because Gene can’t keep it clean)- like me.
Certainly selective David. I guess you feel you got owned. Funny, you edit the bad word (fine) and then add the “like me” part (a bit more than a simple edit there.) Maybe you are not mature enough to get elected. Maybe I should make it my goal to see that you don’t get elected. But that would be a waste of time, seeing how you are so good at not getting yourself elected.
Typical crybaby liberal.
@gene-
you are entitled to your opinions. However, I don’t need to be at the top of search for foul language- and you have been warned- repeatedly.
For the most part- people find you an entertaining foil. You don’t add much to most conversations other than name calling. I’ve always believed substance trumps style- but, you are obviously a fan of say nothing style- and very little substance. It takes all kinds.
Enjoy yourself.
I am not the one who makes up stuff regarding our mayor.
You add little. You b*tch and moan regarding every little last thing and are the world’s biggest hypocrite. You use the word a$$hole, fine, but when I do you have to edit it. Go figure.
Have fun finishing third.
I call you out all the time. I am always right when I do so. “Gottcha again” – a set of standards for you and a set for the rest of us – typical politician.
Oh, then he should not have arrested the foul mouthed, hot under the collar, uncooperative and rude Professor.
Nope, he sure shouldn’t have, whether or not the professor was black or white. And Gates was not uncooperative — he produced identification. It was the police officer who then didn’t want to give his name to Gates. There’s no law that says you can’t get angry at police officers, just that you can’t physically assault them. I’m not aware of anyone alleging that Gates physically assaulted the police officer, are you? The police officer just didn’t like Gates’ tone of voice and didn’t want to cooperate with Gates’ reasonable request that the police officer provide his name.
Sure, perhaps Gates could have been more polite, but so could the police officer have been, and it’s the police officer who is the public servant and should be polite to his customers, the taxpayers of his city, so long as they aren’t breaking any laws.
Disorderly conduct – ever heard of it?
Gates was being an ass, overreacted, and was rude. His tone was of a violent manner, and his content of speech was of an inflammatory nature.
Any adult realizes that giving an attitude to a cop will get you nowhere quick, except maybe jail. A little honey goes a long way. Maybe liberals should practice what they preach when it comes to cops. Liberal too often want “everyone to treat everyone else so nice” yet they think you can act like an ass to a cop. Sorry, you can’t.
I have had three “incidents” with police, and got out of all three bc I was nice. Being nice goes a long way.