Plain Press

  • Local and state politicians show more empathy to developers than to Cleveland’s children

    Local and state politicians show more empathy to developers than to Cleveland’s children by Chuck Hoven Plain Press, July 20220                             Cleveland’s new tax abatement policy set to start on January 1, 2024, while better than the current policy, does little to address the glaring need to substantially increase the flow of property taxes to the Cleveland…

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  • Students say farewell to Clark School with a return date in August of 2025

    Students say farewell to Clark School with a return date in August of 2025 Plain Press, July 20220                             On May 27th Students from Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Clark School were outside enjoying a plastic climbing wall and other activities in the play area in front of the school at 5550 Clark Avenue. The celebration was somewhat of…

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  • Cleveland City Council weighs proposals to change Cleveland’s tax abatement policy

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Monday, May 16, 2022; Cleveland City Council Meeting, Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue: During the Public Comment period at the Cleveland City Council Meeting, Ward 4 resident David Beach addresses Cleveland City Council on the issue of the reauthorization of the City’s residential tax abatement program.  Speaking of the Justin Bibb…

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  • Max Hayes High School’s Construction Shop

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Thursday, May 19, 2022; Max Hayes High School’s Construction Shop, 2211 W. 65th Street: (L-R) Tenth grade students Lekicha Hicks and Mareona Clemons hold up the artwork they are creating. The students built the frames of the canvases they painted, stretched the canvas, stapled the canvas onto the frames, and built stands…

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  • John Marshall High School’s Girls’ Rugby Team

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Sunday, May 8, 2022; Girls Rugby Game between John Marshall High School and Medina High School, John Marshall High School field, 3952 W. 140th Street: John Marshall’s Girls’ Rugby team, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s first girls’ rugby team, gains experience in this competitive match. PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Sunday, May 8,…

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  • Reader urges MetroHealth to restore community faith in the Transformation Plan and the EcoVillage District process

    To the editor: (Plain Press, June 2022)                            Thank you to the Plain Press for publishing Lynette Filips’ excellent letter in favor of saving the Farnsworth house and St. Nicholas Church.      I am a long-time resident and volunteer on a MetroHealth Patient Family Advisory committee. I echo the despair of my fellow Old Brooklyn neighbors regarding the proposed demolition of St.…

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  • Cleveland’s approach to community development should put people before developers’ profits

    Cleveland’s approach to community development should put people before developers’ profits by Chuck Hoven Plain Press, May 2022             The City of Cleveland’s tax abatement program is coming up for renewal at the end of May. For many years, the City has used tax abatement as a means of attracting new residents and improving its housing stock…

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  • Equity is on the (Transit) line: Two transit riders nominated to RTA board

    Equity is on the (Transit) line: Two transit riders nominated to RTA board by Aja Hannah Plain Press, May 2022             Leaning into the street, a resident flags down her bus. She wears thick gloves as she holds onto the bus stop sign. A light rain falls, washing old salt and snow down a nearby drain.       There…

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  • Four area schools slated for renovation or new construction

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Thursday, March 17, 2022; Marion Champlin Seltzer Elementary School Building, 1468 W. 98th Street: The Cleveland Metropolitan School District plans to build a new school next to the current building on land that sits behind Cudell Recreation Center. Once the new school is completed, plans call for the current building to be…

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  • Mayor Bibb announces two key appointments: Chief Education Officer and Chief of Youth and Family Success

    (Plain Press, March 2022)      On February 15th, Mayor Justin M. Bibb announced two key roles he plans to add to his new administration. Holly Trifiro will serve as the Chief Education Officer and Sonya Pryor-Jones will serve as Chief of Youth & Family Success. Both positions will report to the Mayor.      “Education is the foundation for…

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