Plain Press

  • New community police commissioners sworn in

    On December 21st, 2022, the City of Cleveland announced that all 13 members of Cleveland’s new Community Police Commission have now been officially sworn in. This action dissolves the Commission established by the Consent Decree in 2015 and replaces it with the reformed Commission passed by voters last November through Issue 24.    Law Director Mark Griffin administered the new commissioners’ oath of office in several ceremonies in December 2022, following their approval and appointment by Cleveland City Council early in…

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  • Second District Police Community Relations Committee changes name

    by Chuck Hoven      (Plain Press, December 2022) At the November 8th meeting of the Second District Police Community Relations Committee, Second District Commander Thomas Stacho announced that the committee would be changing its name to the Second District Policing Committee. Several people present at the meeting objected to the name change. Commander Stacho said…

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  • Issue 24: What’s next?

    Issue 24: What’s next? by Cleveland Documenters (Plain Press, January 2022)                 As the new year approaches, Cleveland Documenters are wondering what’s next regarding Issue 24, the amendments to the City’s charter that aim to strengthen civilian oversight of police discipline in cases of alleged misconduct.      Here’s what we know.      The charter amendments officially took effect on Nov. 22.…

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  • November 2, 2021: election results

    November 2, 2021: election results Mayoral contest (Plain Press, December 2021) Justin Bibb won the November 2nd mayoral election receiving 36,168 votes or 62.86% of the votes cast. Kevin Kelley received 21,352 votes or 37.14% of the votes cast. The total of 57,520 votes cast in the mayoral contest represents 23.2% of the 247,264 registered voters in…

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  • Muddy waters: Issue 24 raises heated debate about police accountability

    Muddy waters: Issue 24 raises heated debate about police accountability by Michael Indriolo (Plain Press, November 2021)   LaTonya Goldsby was a teenager when the story of Rodney King’s brutal beating at the hands of LAPD broke. Again, she watched her TV with burning eyes when George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin in 2012. Then, Mike Brown was…

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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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  • Family members who lost loved ones to police action speak at community meeting on Consent Decree

    Family members who lost loved ones to police action speak at community meeting on Consent Decree  by Rich Weiss (Plain Press, August 2021)     Four local community members who lost loved ones to Cleveland Police Department (CPD) use-of-force were the Zoom panelists for the June public input meeting on the Cleveland Consent Decree.  United Way of Greater Cleveland and…

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  • Next Cleveland Consent Decree Community Conversation: 6:00 pm, April 14

    Next Cleveland Consent Decree Community Conversation: 6:00 pm, April 14 By Rich Weiss, Neighborhood & Community Media Association of Greater Cleveland (Plain Press, April 2021) Have you ever wondered: “How is the dedication to community engagement reflected in the Cleveland Police Department’s current budget?” Do you have a handle on: “What is the CPRB (Civilian Police…

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  • “Defund the Police” Is A Misleading, Irresponsible Slogan

    To the Editor: (Plain Press, February 2021) As Cleveland, Ohio embarks on a new election season, I’m concerned about the growing narrative pitting communities of color against police officers.  I support the principles embodied in most versions of Defund the Police legislation.  But citizens rarely hear these principles. Instead, we repeatedly hear the misleading and irresponsible Defund the…

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  • Cleveland Community Police Commission works to reform Cleveland Division of Police

    by Chuck Hoven (Plain Press, October 2020)           Of late, much public discussion centers around the need for police reform. Here in Cleveland that effort is already underway. The Cleveland Community Police Commission has been working on reforming the Cleveland Police Department since 2015.    At its quarterly meeting held virtually on September 24th, the Cleveland Community Police…

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