Sneaky Politics Behind Name Change?

Remember the old saying, "what's in a name?"

Some Cleveland business owners say dirty politics, that could cost them thousands of dollars, is behind a controversial street name change.

Two business owners say when they pointed out what they call lies and violations of the City of Cleveland's ethics code surrounding the name change, their cries fell on deaf ears.

"I'm 49 years old and for the first time in my life I have absolutely no trust for my city government," David Medford said.

And that's the bottom line for Medford, a financial planner, who built an office building on Commerce Drive in Cleveland.

About a month ago it was re-named Ralph Buckner Sr. Boulevard, in honor of the man who founded Buckner Funeral Home which is at the end of Commerce Drive.

"I have no objection to the name change, I was just requesting six months minimum, up to a year so that we could change supplies," Medford added.

Medford said it will cost thousands of dollars for him and other business owners to change stationery, cards and advertising.

The name change was pushed through by Cleveland City Councilwoman Bambi Hines, who said in her resolution all the business owners were consulted and approved of the change.

But Medford, his neighbor attorney Jack Tapper, Pathway Credit Union and the Tennessee Department of Children's Services all said otherwise.

Children's Services administrator Sandra Holder wrote in a letter to Cleveland's City Manager "we were never contacted, we object to any such change."

Pathway's Helen Smith wrote "that is not the truth, we were never contacted."

Attorney Jack Tapper, who has an office in the building Medford built, said "my thoughts are that this was a done deal right from the beginning."

Jim Logan, attorney for the Buckner family, told us a month ago they wanted to rescind the name change. So the matter went back before the Cleveland City Council to decide on rescinding the change. But instead of taking action, council members said nothing and moved on to handle the next item on that day's agenda, effectively keeping the name change.

Tapper and Medford said they also pointed to the City Council out how the process and dynamics to get the name change violated several parts of the city's ethics code.

"My dismay is in the fact that the city attorney made absolutely no comment when Mr. Medford raised those allegations of violating the ethics code," Tapper said.

Tapper said during the City Council meeting he offered a compromise - to rename the road around the funeral home Ralph Buckner Circle and leave the road for other businesses named Commerce Drive with signs for both roads along the intersection with 20th Street.

Tapper showed us a picture of an intersection on 15th Avenue where the city already did something similar to what he's requestiing. It shows signs where a section of that road was renamed Billy Graham Avenue, with two signs presenting the two different names.

But that compromise fell on deaf ears, Tapper said.

Council members were also presented with two letters from businesses that said they now approve of changing Commerce Drive. But the mailing addresses for Cross Consultants and Botner Marketing are the same as the mailing address for Buckner Funeral Home, and when we called their numbers our calls were answered by people at the funeral home.

Medford said "looking back, I have no doubt this was a done deal."

Ralph Buckner Jr. said by phone "I had a great father, he left me a great name." He said the family is honored by the street name change and he doesn't understand what all the fuss is about considering how he said some businesses have dropped their opposition.

We have not heard back from city attorney John Kimball after calling his office. We also called Councilwoman Bambi Hines, who returned our call while we were away from the phone but she has not returned our second call as of 6:00 p.m. Wednesday.