Shaker Heights Taxpayers Union Axes Logo

There's nothing new about the Shaker Heights Taxpayers Union's opposition to the upcoming tax ballot issue, but the group's way of promoting ideas has changed.

Its logo is gone.

The group, led by Mark Zetzer, once that made a parody of the city's four leaves, replacing two with dollar signs. The group is operating without a logo for now, as a result of a request from Shaker officials that the Taxpayers Union cease and desist use of the logo and the threat of a SLAPP — Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.

"We're going to lay off," Zetzer said. "We just have move on and do the best we can."

That includes detailing what the group would like the city do instead of from 1.75 percent to 2.25 percent. The group's suggestions include "eliminate other nonessential departments and services" and "implement all cost reductions listed in the Mayor's Financial Task Force Report."

Zetzer says message-focused material serves his group better than a parody with five weeks until voters hit the polls to decide where they stand on the issue. Taxpayers Union members will pass out new, logo-free fliers to residents over the next month. It is working on developing a website. However, the page that announces the upcoming full site includes the old logo.

"The threat of a SLAPP lawsuit against me from the City of Shaker Heights has done it's job in lessening the visual impact these materials may have had in representing our citizen group's case to the public," Zetzer said.

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