• City of Cleveland releases Ten-Year Housing and Investment Plan

    by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, November 2021)                 The City of Cleveland Department of Community Development recently released a draft of the Ten-Year Cleveland Housing and Investment Plan. Working with an advisory committee made up of city officials, for- and non-profit developers, housing service providers, funders, and residents, the goal of the Ten-Year Housing and Investment Plan…


  • Ward 12 City Council Candidate Survey

    Ward 12 City Council Candidate Survey (Plain Press, November 2021) The three community newspapers that serve areas of Ward 12 – Neighborhood News, Tremonster and the Plain Press — collaborated in creating this survey. The survey questions were asked of Rebecca Maurer and Anthony Brancatelli, the top two finishers in the City Council Primary Election.…


  • Facing Eviction? Legal Aid Can Help!

    Facing Eviction? Legal Aid Can Help! by Tonya Sams      On August 26, the Supreme Court’s decision not to extend the federal eviction moratorium has left many tenants who lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic fearful of losing their housing. Northeast Ohioans at risk of eviction can get help through the new Free Eviction Help…


  • Advocates for free eviction help urge increased commitment by the City of Cleveland to fully funding the program

    Advocates for free eviction help urge increased commitment by the City of Cleveland to fully funding the program by Chuck Hoven      United Way of Greater Cleveland, the Cleveland Legal Aid Society and CHN Housing Partners have teamed up in a public private partnership with the City of Cleveland to offer free help to qualified Clevelanders…


  • West Side Market area anticipates population changes

    West Side Market area anticipates population changes by Sheila Kiss   Home to the historic West Side Market, United Bank Building, and Market Square Park, the intersection of West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue is the central hub for Ohio City and its retail district, and it’s seeing a lot of activity today.   Don Whitaker, president…


  • Activists sleep out at City Hall to draw attention to the urgent need to address lead poisoning

    Activists sleep out at City Hall to draw attention to the urgent need to address lead poisoning by Bruce Checefsky      Childhood lead poisoning has increased dramatically since COVID-19. Day care closures and stay-at-home orders have confined young children to their homes, increasing the likelihood of exposure to the toxic metal. Many medical centers where testing…


  • Guarantee citizens the right to food, clothing, shelter, and medical care

    Guarantee citizens the right to food, clothing, shelter, and medical care To the editor: (Plain Press, September 2021)      With all the debate recently for amending the United States Constitution in favor of certain issues and/or those constituencies, perhaps a more appropriate amendment should guarantee each citizen of the United States the right to food, clothing, shelter,…


  • Participatory Budgeting Cleveland (PB CLE) to launch budget recommendations

    Participatory Budgeting Cleveland (PB CLE) to launch budget recommendations by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, August 2021)     Town meetings were first established in the earliest New England settlements as a form of direct democracy in which most or all members of a community come together to discuss policies, laws, and budgets for their community. The first town meeting was…


  • Formerly homeless youth leads charge in Cleveland for affordable housing

    Formerly homeless youth leads charge in Cleveland for affordable housing by Dan Polletta (Plain Press, August 2021)     When Kai Cotton offers advice to youth struggling with homelessness, they listen, because she was once in their shoes.       She’s no typical charity worker. She’s one who’s been homeless, who knows exactly what it is to have the rights and…


  • Ohio City developer to rehab historic funeral home on Lorain Avenue into retail, apartments

    Ohio City developer to rehab historic funeral home on Lorain Avenue into retail, apartments by Lee Chilcote (Plain Press, August 2021)     The Nunn Family Funeral Home at 4434 Lorain Avenue in Ohio City dates back to 1865, and the site operated as a funeral home until about 20 years ago, when it was converted into a daycare. Now, a…