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City of Cleveland releases Ten-Year Housing and Investment Plan
by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, November 2021) The City of Cleveland Department of Community Development recently released a draft of the Ten-Year Cleveland Housing and Investment Plan. Working with an advisory committee made up of city officials, for- and non-profit developers, housing service providers, funders, and residents, the goal of the Ten-Year Housing and Investment Plan…
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Ward 12 City Council Candidate Survey
Ward 12 City Council Candidate Survey (Plain Press, November 2021) The three community newspapers that serve areas of Ward 12 – Neighborhood News, Tremonster and the Plain Press — collaborated in creating this survey. The survey questions were asked of Rebecca Maurer and Anthony Brancatelli, the top two finishers in the City Council Primary Election.…
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Justin Bibb vows to modernize City Hall
Justin Bibb vows to modernize City Hall by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, October 2021) For Cleveland mayoral candidate Justin Bibb, leadership is all about relationships. The 34-year-old son of a social worker and first responder advanced from the primary to the general election November 2 along with City Council president Kevin Kelley in the first mayoral…
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Residents want more notice, better access to information on local government meetings
Residents want more notice, better access to information on local government meetings by Doug Breehl-Pitorak and Rachel Dissell In June, Cleveland City Council passed a law that allowed it — and other city boards and committees — to meet virtually or in person with 12 hours’ notice for members of the public who might want…
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The Pace of Passage: How Quickly City Council Makes Laws and What That Means for Clevelanders
The Pace of Passage: How Quickly City Council Makes Laws and What That Means for Clevelanders by Doug Breehl-Pitorak, Cleveland Documenters (Plain Press, October 2021) During a July forum for mayoral candidates, Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley answered what seemed like a simple question: “What are your thoughts on what constitutes adequate public notice and…
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Council members balk at $20M ‘blank check’ for citywide broadband pilot
Council members balk at $20M ‘blank check’ for citywide broadband pilot by Lee Chilcote (Plain Press, October 2021) A proposal to allocate $20 million to help bridge the digital divide in Cleveland by creating citywide broadband met with some opposition at Monday’s city council meeting, with some members asking why there wasn’t more community involvement or a concrete plan…
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Utilities for All holds vigil at City Hall to remember those who died due to utility shutoffs
Utilities for All holds vigil at City Hall to remember those who died due to utility shutoffs by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, October 2021) Seven deaths from hypothermia were reported during a single month earlier this year after utility companies shut heat off in the middle of the winter to customers unable to pay their bills.…
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Facing Eviction? Legal Aid Can Help!
Facing Eviction? Legal Aid Can Help! by Tonya Sams On August 26, the Supreme Court’s decision not to extend the federal eviction moratorium has left many tenants who lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic fearful of losing their housing. Northeast Ohioans at risk of eviction can get help through the new Free Eviction Help…
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Low voter turnout allows small pockets of voters to determine results in Cleveland’s Primary Election
Low voter turnout allows small pockets of voters to determine results in Cleveland’s Primary Election by Chuck Hoven Only 15% of Cleveland’s 247,742 eligible voters voted in the Primary Election. A total of 38,360 Clevelanders cast votes in the primary according to the unofficial preliminary results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. 13,506 of…