Plain Press

  • TRUTH IS: WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD PRO SPORTS

    Truth is: We can no longer afford pro sports by Roldo Bartimole    If the Browns domed stadium in Brook Park tiff tells anything it says loudly that Cleveland and Cuyahoga County taxpayers can no longer afford the rapacious desires of billionaire sports owners.    We simply cannot pay their tab any longer.    It…

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  • GATEWAY PROMISED 28,000 JOBS;

    THREE YEARS LATER – 35,000 JOBS LOST GATEWAY PROMISED 28,000 JOBS; THREE YEARS LATER – 35,000 JOBS LOST by Roldo Bartimole   In 1990 when Cleveland politicians and top business & legal leaders were preparing to sell the first sales “sin” tax for our sports team owners, they promised 28,000 “good paying jobs for the…

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  • Do we repeat the mistakes?

    Do we repeat the mistakes? by Roldo Bartimole   How generous are both local politicians and the Cleveland news media going to be on luxury spending for the new domed stadium?   Lessons can be learned from the outrageous spending for Dick Jacobs, then of the Cleveland Indians, and the Gund family, owners of the…

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  • Media should reveal what public funds are subsidizing at Brook Park dome

    Media should reveal what public funds are subsidizing at Brook Park dome by Roldo Bartimole (Plain Press, July 2025) Now that the Republican state legislators and Gov. Mike DeWine have shoved $600 million FREE dollars into the hands of the Haslam group to build the property tax free domed stadium it’s time the public be told…

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  • History says Browns stay put

      by Roldo Bartimole (Plain Press June 2025) Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne is trying to save Cleveland.    He has put his foot down on rejecting a get-out-of-town demand from Browns owners – the Haslam family.    They’re asking for a $600 million input from County residents. Borrowed, the cost will likely double for Cuyahoga County…

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  • Cleveland leaders ignore their people

    by Roldo Bartimole      (Plain Press November 2024) Where are the political activists? Where are the Citizens?      Cleveland needs them badly.      The city has sunk into a silent obedience of acquiescence. Voters are in hiding. Leaders hide from them.      This is a serious problem.      A prognosis for a dead city.     …

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  • CLEVELAND LEADERS IGNORE THEIR PEOPLE

    CLEVELAND LEADERS IGNORE THEIR PEOPLE By Roldo Bartimole Where are the political activists? Where are the Citizens? Cleveland needs them badly. The city has sunk into a silent obedience of acquiescence. Voters are in hiding. Leaders hide from them. This is a serious problem. A prognosis for a dead city. The past is always with…

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  • BIBB, ROYNANE GIFT-PACKAGING RICHES TO HASLAMS

    by Roldo Bartimole      Who sez we need a massive land bridge from the Mall to the lakefront? Steve Litt?      There is one of the biggest corrupt schemes in the works to provide an easy access to lakefront land. This rivals the Chagrin Highlands dealing in dirty politics.      Mayor Justin Bibb has legislation…

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  • Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus opposes public funding for Browns Stadium 

    Journalist Roldo Bartimole Ward 12 Cleveland City Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer by Bruce Checefsky      (April 2023, Plain Press) The Cleveland Browns lease at FirstEnergy Stadium will expire in 2028. The Haslam family and Haslam Sports Group, owners of the Browns, launched a feasibility study regarding the future of FirstEnergy Stadium conducted by HKS Architects, which…

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  • Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com act as stooges for Haslams and their lakefront scheme

    Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com act as stooges for Haslams and their lakefront scheme by Roldo Bartimole (Plain Press, September 2021)        Aren’t you just thrilled that the Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com, as they like to say, will look at St. Louis and Cincinnati to see what WE might do with the lakefront dream offered by Jimmy Haslam, a guy noted for running…

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