How much grant money does Findlay receive before we don’t own the city? When they take away your property rights? 
Looks like they are starting on that part of the “Build Back Better” plan by restricting animals on your property in the city. How fast do we have to build the city? Do the residents really know what they are doing at City Council? I’m guessing NO.
How much is too much?
How far is too far?
How much longer before we step up to say we NEED to know what’s going on? Why is our local government not listening to the voice of the people?
In my previous posts, I voiced my concerns over the direction of this city. I am on the Strategic Planning Committee for Findlay Forward and can tell you that the concerns of the people are NOT what they are basing their plans on.
On January 6, 2023, I was asked by the Mayor to answer some questions for The Courier regarding the Strategic Planning Committee, an article that would run mid-February. Apparently, it was me and two others being interviewed. I responded by their deadline, January 15, 2023. I’m not sure about the responses of the others, but I wrote my honest opinion. A couple of weeks after submission I called The Courier about when the article would run and they said it wouldn’t, someone had pulled the story.
One of the MANY reasons I’m running this race is because I was on the frontlines of those surveys and pop-up shops. I was the SCRIBE for most of our meetings (the person writing down our roundtable answers). I know firsthand what the true concerns were of the citizens. Not just by those I wrote down and surveyed, but in the hundreds of conversations in telling people about Findlay Forward, The Strategic Plan, and inviting them to get involved. The voices of the people sound nothing like what they are planning.
I will post my response, which was never run in the paper, below. I was asked to submit a headshot, name, age & occupation. Here are the questions I was to respond to:
1. What interested you about serving on the outreach team?
2. How did you conduct your outreach? Were people receptive to it? Were there any common themes among the people you spoke to about the future direction of city government?
3. What’s your “takeaway” from this process?
4. What is your vision for “Findlay Future” and how do you believe the city’s government can help?
I’m wondering if they didn’t run the story because my answers weren’t favorable.
I’m listening Findlay. . . they are not. That’s why I am running this race! Because I love and care for this community
What matters to you, matters to me!
Don’t forget to mark your calendars May 2nd and VOTE! Haydee Sadler for Mayor
My response to The Courier interview: Haydee Sadler, 47, Financial Administrator. I filled out the application for the Strategic Planning Committee because I am a resident of Findlay, a mother of two boys involved in sports and in need of recreation, I work in Findlay and I live in the heart of Findlay which allows me to see how they are shaping up the city. I felt compelled to make a difference by adding my voice to those already involved in making decisions about where we are heading. I’ve sat around many tables of discussion with family and friends about the condition of our small city, how its changed and what it might look like for our children as they grow up here. The city calling for citizens to share their thoughts and ideas in creating a roadmap for the future was the perfect opportunity for everyone to jump on board and I wanted to be on the forefront of sharing the news that we can make a difference.
After being accepted as a Findlay Forward team member, I volunteered for as many pop-up shops as my schedule would allow and I also scheduled my own. I scheduled a couple at our church, one pop-up style just asking people certain questions about our community as they walked by, and one round table style which would allow for deeper discussion and thought out answers. I shared the information and survey on my social media pages encouraging people to let their voices be heard and I reached out personally to people by text with the link to the survey soliciting responses. Unfortunately, however, we didn’t get the responses we desired. Not from the community and surprisingly, not from my friends and family. For as much as people complain about Findlay, I was rather shocked to see this lack of response. In all honesty, I was disappointed myself to see the answers of those who DID respond during the surveys conducted weren’t at all what was summed up in following meetings. While creating an attractive place to live and adding to our streetscape sounds like a beautiful plan, the responses from the majority of those I surveyed were focused more on addressing the issues that plague our city. “Handle opioid crises”, “affordable housing”, “recreation” “more retail stores/shopping mall”, “police response” and “how do we handle the immigrants crowding the edge of the city” were some of the issues. This is the true voice of the people and these are the issues they want to address in laying a roadmap for our future. The lack of response is due to the people being disheartened. What difference does their voice make if our city government already has a plan in place? It’s not the vision of the Findlay residents, it’s the vision of private investors spending their dollars where they investments will benefit THEM the most. The voice of a thousand does not represent the voice of 40,000 residents. Especially not when the words of those who responded have been watered down and altered.
Moving Findlay Forward I would start looking for retailers to fill our shopping mall or strategically add space for outdoor shopping rather than adding more housing to downtown, keeping our dollars in our city. Working with what we have would be a great start. I would make room for a recreation center where small groups could hold bible studies for the community rather than just their own church family. A place where an artist could hold a class and invite the least of these type people to enjoy time alongside others. I would work on a plan to bridge the great divide between people groups, the divide between the upper class and the lower class that no one talks about. I would focus on unifying the people first prior to spending more dollars on building what many can’t afford. I would find the funds to address the opioid crisis because the reality is that we are only as strong as our weakest link and beautifying our city will not make us stronger. I would strongly urge the people to start committing to be the change they want to see. I am committed to our community and am looking for ways to make that difference. That’s how I’m starting the roadmap. If not now, then when?