To: Plain Press Managing Editor Charles E. Hoven; Editor Deborah Rose Sadlon; Reporter Bruce Checefsky; and Board of Trustees members; Keith Brown, Peggy Davenport, David Gamble, Dr. Leo Jeffres, Joe Narkin and Helen K. Smith.

(Plain Press July 2026) We the undersignedare: residents of the Near West Side/Ohio City area; or people involved with the Democratic Party in Cleveland Ward 7; or people who are or have been involved with political campaigns and voter engagement in the Near West Side/Ohio City area under the leadership of Democratic Ward Leader Paula Kampf.

LETTER

   Many of us routinely pick up copies of The Plain Press at locations in the area. 

   The Plain Press, in the May 2026 issue, linked here: https://plainpress.blog/2026/05/06/may-2026-full-issue-pdf/ , published an attack on Paula Kampf.

   We know Paula Kampf and have experience of her leadership of the Cleveland Ward 7 Democratic Club. Under her leadership, we have seen Kampf collaboratively leading our diverse community to increasing success through community engagement and effective organizing. We know Kampf to be of notable integrity and authenticity in her leadership and her life. 

   We are appalled that the Plain Press chose to run this headline article devoid of factchecking, baselessly slandering Paula Kampf’s name and reputation. 

   Did the Plain Press editorial staff and reporter know that their main source used a pen name to publish a piece of nearly identical content last autumn in a blog post? And that this publication in your paper indicates not only a lack of Plain Press journalistic integrity but also reveals the editorial staff and reporter to be concerningly gullible when approached by untrustworthy sources. 

   Surely the editorial staff and writer for the Plain Press are aware that ethical journalism should be accurate and fair. 

   According to the Code of Ethics for the Society of Professional Journalists, “journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. Journalists should take responsibility for the accuracy of their work; verify information before releasing it; and use original sources whenever possible.” 

   NONE of these ethical standards are evident in the hit piece in which the Plain Press platformed local malcontents who manipulated your presumed good will in order to baselessly attack the reputation of Paula Kampf, a respected and valued leader in our community. 

   WE CALL UPON THE PLAIN PRESS TO RETRACT THIS PIECE OF BLATANT YELLOW JOURNALISM and PUBLISH AN APOLOGY IMMEDIATELY. 

   Bridget Kelley, Ward 7 Resident, CCDP Executive Committee Member and Democratic Club Member; Brooke Willis, Ward 7/Tremont resident, longtime community activist, elected Central Committee rep; “I was very disturbed by the unfair portrayal of community leader Paula Kampf, splashed across the front page like a hot scandal.” Mitsi Wagner, Ward 7 resident, voter, and previous Central Committee representative; Carole Hedderson, Ward 7 resident, voter; “Paula’s leadership is impeccable.” Gary Claxton,1439 W 38^th, 58-year resident. “I attended the first organizing meeting of the PP decades ago. Have published three articles in the paper. Have donated thousands of $ to the paper. I am disgusted that you published a biased hit piece with NO letting of the source or possibility of rejoinder.” Fran DiDonato, Ward 7 voter, resident; Andrew DeFratis, Democratic Ward Club Member; Phyllis Bambeck, Political ally; Rachel Napolitano: “I live on the near west side and have known Paula Kampf for 25 years. She organized the counter protest movement locally to the attacks on drag performances at Near West Theatre, which I have been a part of. I also joined her at a protest she organized in front of the City Club in the freezing cold when they hosted an anti-LGBTQ speaker from a hate group. She organizes caroling around the neighborhood, which I have been a part of. I volunteered with her to be local supports for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. She volunteers for local organizations and organizes the community to volunteer and donate to worthwhile local causes. She steps in when leadership is needed to protect and affirm our youth, members of persecuted groups, and protect democracy from fascism. She hosts at her home, the Harvest Moon Festival, every year and has made sure that everyone is safe at that party. She and I have sung in the same church choral group. Why would you slander such an upstanding citizen by publishing slandering statements without any context? Without reaching out to her for a response? Did you even try to find out what lies she was accused of spreading. Paula is the most neighborly person and puts her sweat equity behind all of her convictions. She does everything for nonprofits, the Democratic Party, and grassroots causes UNPAID. The man you quoted obviously has an axe to grind and you just let him swing and swing without any accountability for swinging an axe! At all of the volunteer and grassroots causes I have participated in, I have not seen any leadership from her accuser. You can’t throw a stone on the near west side without meeting someone impacted by her leadership, so it wouldn’t have been hard to do some factchecking on her integrity.” Kate Durban, previous Ward Club leader/prior to redistricting; “Paula Kampf deserved the opportunity to respond before the article was published.” Nicole McGee, past collaborator, friend, and neighbor to Paula, “Paula’s integrity as a Clevelander is something I admire. Her civic engagement is something I constantly learn from, and her character is something I am inspired by. I have such regard for the Plain Press and always have. Please do the right thing and address this matter with the attention it deserves. Thank you.” Colleen Traud, Resident of Ward 7; Megan Gergen, Near West Side/Ward 7 resident; Mark McDermott, resident of Ward 7; Casey Olyer, neighbor in Ward 7; Randi Allard, Near West Side resident for 42 years, Ward 7 voter; “Paula Kampf is the most dedicated citizen I have ever known or worked with. Her integrity is about reproach.” Carol Vang, Ohio City resident and voter; Frederick J. Calatrello, member of the Ward 7 Democratic Club, member of Central Committee for Ward 7 Democratic Party; “We should be measured by the people who dislike us and the people who authored this attack don’t begin to measure up to Paula Kampf.” Cam Hughes, neighbor in Ward 7; Joseph Giuliano, Ward 7 resident and voter, previous Central Committee Democratic Party Executive Committee member; Christopher Toddy, AIA. Ward 7 voter and resident; Stephen Kachmyers, Lifelong Near West Side resident. Richard Clark, Duck Island West 18th Street resident, Central Committee member; Elizabeth Ackerman, Ward 7 resident and voter; “I grew up on the Near West Side and have known Paula Kampf to be an advocate for and asset to the community for over 25 years.” Al Wasco, Longtime resident of Near West Side; “Paula Kampf’s tireless activism on behalf of this neighborhood deserves praise not criticism.” Michele Sommerfelt, local election work and voter; Angela K. Lowder, resident and voter; Karen Desotell, Ward 7 Voter, neighbor and friend; Liz Grady, Ward 7 volunteer and voter; Bobbi Reichtell, resident and voter in Ward 7; Julie Myers, work and volunteer in Ward 7; Diane Fedak, Ohio City Resident; “I’m a big fan of Paula Kampf and everything she does for our Community.” Lauren R. Welch, resident and former Councilmember; Jane Doherty, 28-year friend of Paula and former resident of the near west side neighborhood; Mike Harrison, Farkas Pastry; Kerry McCormack, neighborhood resident, active Democrat and lover of Cleveland; “Not only has Paula spent her life serving and helping other people and her community, she has done more than anyone to organize residents and get them involved in their community and the democratic process. Our neighborhoods remain strong because of people like Paula. Any attack on her character and intentions is inaccurate at best and at worst malevolent.” Mary Zaller, Ward 7 Resident for 25 Years.