Plain Press

  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • 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,…

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  • 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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  • 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.

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  • Creation of care response model urged for responding to calls for mental health or behavioral health crises

    Creation of care response model urged for responding to calls for mental health or behavioral health crises (Plain Press, September 2022)                         Progressive think tanks and mental health advocates have joined in a collaborative effort to spur the City of Cleveland to speed its implementation of a care response model for responding to calls it…

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  • City of Cleveland takes measures to reduce speeding

    (Plain Press, September 2022)           On Monday, August 15, the City of Cleveland began installing 10 radar speed feedback signs at strategic locations across the city. These signs display the travel speeds of passing vehicles to increase drivers’ attention and awareness and reduce speeding.       The signs will be rotated to new locations monthly based on…

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  • Participatory Budgeting Cleveland wants public involved in decisions about spending of American Rescue Act funds

    PHOTO BY TAURUS KINGS PHOTOGRAPHY Members of the Participatory Budgeting Cleveland Team:  Gwen Garth, Trevor Pollack, Laylah Allen, Molly Martin, Austin Davis, Robin Brown, Loh, Daniel Ortiz, Angelique Salizan, Kayla Knight, Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez, and Jonathan Welle. Participatory Budgeting Cleveland wants public involved in decisions about spending of American Rescue Act funds by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press,…

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