Mayor Carty Finkbeiner to Marines: Leave Downtown Toledo
Mayor Finkbeiner To Marines, “Vacate The Premises”
Instapundit
Toledo Blade
By JC Reindl
Toledo police knew days in advance about their plans for a three-day 
exercise. Yet somehow the memo never made it to Mayor Finkbeiner, who ordered the Marines out yesterday afternoon just minutes before their buses were to arrive.
“The mayor asked them to leave because they frighten people,” said Brian Schwartz, the mayor’s spokesman.
“He did not want them practicing and drilling in a highly visible area.”
“I wish they would have told us this four hours ago,” Staff Sgt. Andre Davis said.
Sergeant Davis, who traveled ahead of the five-bus convoy, stepped from his vehicle into downtown about 3:20 p.m. and was told by a city employee that the mayor wanted him and his soldiers packed up and out by 6 p.m.
Members of the 1st Battalion, 24th Marines have trained periodically in downtown Toledo since at least 2004 and most recently in May, 2006.
