Plain Press

  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • Cleveland needs leaders with a moral compass

    Cleveland needs leaders with a moral compass by Chuck Hoven (Plain Press, August 2021)       As Clevelanders prepare to select a new mayor and consider their choices for city council representatives for the next four years, we may be asking ourselves how do we best judge who will make a good mayor or city council representative? What qualities…

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  • If elected mayor, State Senator Sandra Williams promises to rebuild Cleveland

    If elected mayor, State Senator Sandra Williams promises to rebuild Cleveland  by Bruce Checefsky    State Senator Sandra Williams was greeted by supporters as she entered the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on June 8 where she filed petitions to run for Mayor of Cleveland. She pledged a campaign focused on a new, better Cleveland. Williams, who has held positions in…

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  • City Club hosts Clevelanders for Public Comment in a forum and a mock public comments session

    City Club hosts Clevelanders for Public Comment in a forum and a mock public comments session by Chuck Hoven (Plain Press, May 2021)      The resident led movement, Clevelanders for Public Comment, now has a majority of Cleveland City Council — nine members — committed to passing legislation written by Near West Side activist Jessica Trivisonno that…

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  • Call to action: Cleveland needs to address lack of low-income housing options

    Call to action: Cleveland needs to address lack of low-income housing options To the Editor: (Plain Press, May 2021)      My name is Paul Sherlock and last Friday (April 9th) my friend Jim Schlecht and I staged a protest of four apartment development sites currently underway on the Near West Side of Cleveland. We were protesting the lack…

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  • Cleveland Mayoral candidates crowd the field

    Cleveland Mayoral candidates crowd the field by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, May 2021)      More than a dozen candidates have registered with Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to raise money towards the Cleveland mayoral election scheduled to take place on November 2, 2021, with others expected to announce their candidacy in the coming weeks.      Blaine Griffin announced…

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  • Basheer Jones eyeing up mayor’s race

    Basheer Jones eyeing up mayor’s race by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, May 2021)    Ward 7 Councilman Basheer Jones was elected in November 2017, representing an area which includes the historic Hough district, as well as the St. Clair-Superior, Midtown and Asia Town neighborhoods. His first order of business once in office was to open a food distribution…

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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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