• Police report on surge of recent car break-ins

    PHOTO BY BRUCE CHECEFSKY Tuesday, October 14, 2024; Second District Policing Committee Meeting, OneHope NEO, 3202 Fulton Road: Second District Commander Timothy Maffo-Judd. by Bruce Checefsky    (Plain Press November 2025) Timothy Maffo-Judd, 2nd District Commander, gave an update report to about 40 residents of the Near West Side at the policing committee meeting in…


  • Cleveland City Council Ward 7 race heats up

    PHOTOS COURTESY OF RONALDO RODRIGUEZ, JR., LA VILLA On July 14th, Ward 7 City Council candidates participated in a Neighborhood & Community Media Association of Greater Cleveland Community Media Panel discussion with reporters from Tremonster, Plain Press, and La Villa. by Bruce Checefsky    (Plain Press August 2025) Cleveland City Council Ward 7 candidates Austin…


  • Ward 12 Meet the Candidates Forum offers look at candidates’ backgrounds and legislative priorities

    Danny Kelly Andrew DeFratis Tanmay Shah by Chuck Hoven    (Plain Press August 2025) On July 10th at Story Church at 99th and Madison, the Clifton-Baltic Neighbors Block Club hosted a Meet the Candidates Forum for City Council candidates seeking to be the City Council representative for the new Ward 12.  Three candidates participated in…


  • Michael McDonald retires from his position as Community Relations Second District Representative

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Wednesday, February 5, 2025; Retirement party for Community Relations Second District Representative Michael McDonald, Sachsenheim Hall, 7001 Denison Avenue: (L-R) Ward 13 Council Member Kris Harsh, Lynn Scheerhorn, Michael McDonald, Ward 12 Council Member Rebecca Maurer, and Ward 16 Council Member Brian Kazy.      (Plain Press March 2025) Friends, family, and…


  • Local governments violate Constitutional rights of protesters

    by Chuck Hoven      (Plain Press January 2025) Powerful interests seem to be at work to suppress the First Amendment rights of protesters engaged in bringing attention to Cuyahoga County’s $16 million investment in Israel Bonds that support a government in Israel which Amnesty International says is engaged in a genocide in Gaza. Protest March…


  • New Second District Commander focuses on community relations

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Tuesday, December 10, 2024; Second District Police Station, 3481 Fulton Road: New Second District Commander Timothy Maffo-Judd at his desk in the Commander’s Office. by Chuck Hoven      (Plain Press January 2025) The new Second District Commander, Timothy Maffo-Judd, says of his new position, “I am humbled to be here, and…


  • Residents seek info on local crimes at Second District Police meeting

    PHOTO BY BRUCE CHECEFSKY Tuesday, March 12, 2024; The Second District Policing Committee Meeting, Bridge CLE, 3389 Fulton Road: Johnny Hamm, Captain of Patrol, Second District Department of Safety, City of Cleveland, shares policing data with residents in attendance at the meeting.  by Bruce Checefsky                   (Plain Press April 2024) Johnny Hamm, Captain of Patrol,…


  • 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…


  • 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…


  • Police Promotion Ceremony

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Tuesday, October 4, 2022; Police Promotion Ceremony, Cleveland City Hall Rotunda, E. 6th and Lakeside Avenue: Cleveland Police Officers celebrate their promotions. Mayor Justin Bibb and City Council President Blaine Griffin were among the City officials at the ceremony pledging their support to Cleveland Police Officers.