Plain Press

  • Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley considers running for mayor

    Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley considers running for mayor by Bruce Checefsky        (Plain Press, April 2021)      Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley is near the end of his two-month Neighborhood Listening Tour across the City of Cleveland. The tour, which began in February as a way to learn firsthand from community members about their immediate…

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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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  • What can Cleveland do to be a more welcoming city to low-income families with children?

    What can Cleveland do to be a more welcoming city to low-income families with children? by Chuck Hoven (Plain Press, April 2021)         Cleveland has an opportunity to create a more just society within our borders. A unique time has come when we, with proper planning, can take advantage of federal dollars and address the needs of…

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  • Forum examines protections for tenants

    Forum examines protections for tenants by Jack Barnes On March 17th Organize! Ohio hosted a zoom forum event called “Expanding Tenant Protections: Pay to Stay and Source of Income” as part of the Ohio Fair Lending & Vital Communities Brown Bag Forum series. Moderated by Cuyahoga Affordable Housing Alliance (CAHA) Chair Phil Star, meeting attendees heard from…

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  • Precinct Committee members select Martin Sweeney to represent District Three in Cuyahoga County Council

    (Plain Press, February 2021) At a January 14th virtual Candidate Forum, three candidates –Brendan Heil, Ryan Ross, and Martin Sweeney — vied to be the representative for Cuyahoga Council District 3 for the remainder of the term of retiring County Council member Dan Brady. The term expires in 2022. The candidates were not seeking a vote of…

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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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  • Unofficial Public Comments site seeks to bring public comment period to Cleveland City Council meetings

    (Plain Press, February 2021)  A new online page called “Unofficial Public Comments at Cleveland City Council” started by Cleveland residents with the help of a group called “Our Revolution” hopes to convince Cleveland City Council to create a public comment period at their future City Council Meetings. The page can be found on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/unofficialpubliccomments.  The page…

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  • Board of Zoning Appeals again postpones vote on Lincoln Park Flats

    by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, January 2021)    When Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) committee member Tim Donovan suggested postponing a vote on the Lincoln Park Flats project in Tremont to allow developers 60 days to conduct a parking study in the middle of the winter, in the middle of the worst pandemic in 100 years,…

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  • Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority announces bus system redesign, opportunities for community feedback

    Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority announces bus system redesign, opportunities for community feedback by Paige Bennett (Plain Press, November 2020) The Greater Cleveland RTA presented plans for redesigning its bus system before Cleveland City Council’s transportation committee Sept. 30, and now it’s giving riders the opportunity to give feedback in October and November. Joel Freilich, director of service management with…

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  • In Memory — Ted Thelander

    In Memory Ted Thelander (Plain Press, November 2020)                 Ohio City resident Ted Thelander died at age 85 on June 11th of this year. Ted Thelander was instrumental in offering advice, sharing his expertise, and mentoring Near West Side residents in many battles with political corruption and troubling nightclubs. Thelander also became involved in addressing a number of…

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