Plain Press

  • City paint program could use a fresh coat; residents cite costly labor and slow process as issues

    by Doug Breehl-Pitorak (Plain Press, March 2022)      Tuesday Gibson lives with her mom, Barbara, in a 107-year-old home in Cleveland’s Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood. Gibson had hoped Cleveland’s Exterior Paint Program, which offers free paint and supplies to help residents repaint their homes and safely remove any hazardous lead-based paint, would provide enough support to give the home…

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  • City paint program didn’t work for most small suppliers, leaving Sherwin-Williams as main provider

    by Rachel Dissell (Plain Press, March 2022)      Cleveland’s effort to provide free paint for tenants and homeowners fell short of its goals over the past two years, with fewer than 400 of the expected 1,000 homes completed.       Administration officials also had hoped to use neighborhood paint and hardware stores as vendors for the program, and early…

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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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  • American Rescue Plan Act survey responses provide window into what Cleveland needs now

    American Rescue Plan Act survey responses provide window into what Cleveland needs now by Zachary & Lee Chilcote (Plain Press, December 2021)                 This past summer, the city of Cleveland mailed surveys to more than 120,000 homes and businesses asking residents, “How would you spend $511 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to make Cleveland healthier and…

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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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  • Cleveland Documenters examine opportunities for members of the public to speak at Cleveland City Council meetings

    Cleveland Documenters examine opportunities for members of the public to speak at Cleveland City Council meetings by Doug Breehl-Pitorak (Plain Press, April 2021)         The lack of a public comment period – a space for residents to speak – at Cleveland City Council meetings is once again on the civic radar. A group called Clevelanders for City…

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  • Transformation Alliance’s Communications and Engagement Committee discusses how best to reach out to families with information about school choices in the city of Cleveland

    Transformation Alliance’s Communications and Engagement Committee discusses how best to reach out to families with information about school choices in the city of Cleveland (Plain Press, December 2020)           At its November 17th meeting, the Communications and Engagement Committee of the Cleveland Transformation Alliance, which is charged with marketing responsibilities for the Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools, discussed…

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  • Cleveland Metropolitan School District shares information on COVID-19 planning and budget projections at Board of Education meeting

    Cleveland Metropolitan School District shares information on COVID-19 planning and budget projections at Board of Education meeting (Plain Press, December 2020)           Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) Chief Executive Officer Eric Gordon shared information with the Board of Education at its November 17th meeting on the administration’s planning to manage COVID-19. Gordon said CMSD plans to announce their…

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