Plain Press

  • The poor pay for Cleveland’s politics of privilege

    by Chuck Hoven    (Plain Press November 2025) Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Community Solutions Emily Campbell issued a report in September of 2022 that said “the United States Census Bureau’s 2021 one-year estimates show that nearly 105,000 people in the City of Cleveland lived in poverty in 2021. Of those, more than…

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  • Community efforts result in newly redesigned Storer Park

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Saturday, September 6, 2025; Storer Park, W. 67th and Storer Avenue: Betty Jo Palmer celebrates at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the redesigned and refurbished Storer Park. Palmer initiated a “Light up the Park” campaign five years ago and worked persistently to build a coalition of supporters to see a community…

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  • Back-To-School celebrations equip students with school supplies

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Saturday, August 9, 2025; All City Back to School Festival, Cleveland Public Auditorium, 500 Lakeside Ave. East: Cleveland Metropolitan School District Director of Financial Support and Services Melody Patterson hands out school supplies to parents and children. PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Saturday, August 9, 2025; Esperanza’s Back-To-School Celebration, Max Hayes High…

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  • Council Leadership Fund: Who are the big donors?

         (Plain Press September 2025) Those attending the Co-op Circles Cleveland City Council Candidates Forum on municipal economic policy on July 31st at Pilgrim Church were greeted outside by Mike Seals carrying a protest sign. On one side the sign said, “End Kleptocracy Now”, on the other side the sign said, “County Politics is a…

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  • TRUTH IS: WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD PRO SPORTS

    Truth is: We can no longer afford pro sports by Roldo Bartimole    If the Browns domed stadium in Brook Park tiff tells anything it says loudly that Cleveland and Cuyahoga County taxpayers can no longer afford the rapacious desires of billionaire sports owners.    We simply cannot pay their tab any longer.    It…

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  • GATEWAY PROMISED 28,000 JOBS;

    THREE YEARS LATER – 35,000 JOBS LOST GATEWAY PROMISED 28,000 JOBS; THREE YEARS LATER – 35,000 JOBS LOST by Roldo Bartimole   In 1990 when Cleveland politicians and top business & legal leaders were preparing to sell the first sales “sin” tax for our sports team owners, they promised 28,000 “good paying jobs for the…

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  • Ward 7 Candidates Community Media Panel Discussion

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  • History shows that nutrition education should play a greater role in efforts to prevent lead poisoning

    by Chuck Hoven    (Plain Press July 2025) In a June 11th Opinion piece in The Plain Dealer titled “No more delays or excuses. Clean up the toxic lead now – before more kids are poisoned”, The Plain Dealer editorial board reproduced a chart from the City of Cleveland that shows “Nearly one in five…

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  • History says Browns stay put

      by Roldo Bartimole (Plain Press June 2025) Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne is trying to save Cleveland.    He has put his foot down on rejecting a get-out-of-town demand from Browns owners – the Haslam family.    They’re asking for a $600 million input from County residents. Borrowed, the cost will likely double for Cuyahoga County…

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  • City of Cleveland will relocate west side clinic to Clark Fulton neighborhood

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Saturday, May 10, 2025; Northern Ohio Blanket Mills building, 3466 St. Rocco Drive: The City of Cleveland Department of Public Health plans to move its west side clinic to this recently rehabilitated building.      (Plain Press June 2025) In response to the growing demand for health care services in the Clark-Fulton…

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