Plain Press

  • Cleveland City Council’s three women share their reflections on politics and public policy

    by Jack Barnes Plain Press, March 2021      On January 26th the Cuyahoga Democratic Women’s Caucus organized a “Conversation with Cleveland City Councilwomen” via Zoom hosted by its Chair, Cynthia Demsey. The hour-long event featured all three of the women on the 17-person Cleveland City Council reflecting on their paths to public service; on being women in…

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  • CareSource invests $5 million in fund to make Cleveland homes lead safe

    (Plain Press, February 2021) CareSource, the state’s largest Medicaid managed care organization, will invest $5 million to help Cleveland families and property owners protect children from lead hazards in their homes.  The commitment, which the Dayton-based nonprofit called “unprecedented,” recognizes the profound effect that housing has on health, CareSource officials said. Exposure to the brain-damaging environmental…

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  • Lead Safe Resource Center and Home Fund launches

    by Rachel Dissell (Plain Press, January 2021)    Cleveland residents will have access to a new resource center and hotline dedicated to helping parents and property owners reduce the chances of lead poisoning by making homes in the city lead safe.      The Lead Safe Resource Center and Home Fund fulfill, in part, a public pledge that the…

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  • Black Lives Matter in Cuyahoga County speaks out about lead-poisoning of children in Cleveland

    To the editor:  (Plain Press, January 2021)    In March of 2021, a law will go into effect requiring landlords who own rental properties in the city of Cleveland to certify that those properties are lead safe. The law is necessary because some landlords and realtor associations are willing to allow families to rent lead toxic properties…

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  • Lead tests for children plummet in Cleveland; advocates worry about long-term fallout

    Lead tests for children plummet in Cleveland; advocates worry about long-term fallout  This story is provided by Ideastream as part of special community coverage of COVID-19 and funded by Third Federal Foundation and University Settlement. by Rachel Dissell (Plain Press, August 2020)                  CLEVELAND, Ohio — State shutdown orders meant to prevent the spread of…

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  • Ohioans facing eviction urge Gov. DeWine to issue a statewide eviction moratorium for residential tenants

    Ohioans facing eviction urge Gov. DeWine to issue a statewide eviction moratorium for residential tenants Plain Press, May 2020      In March, the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) and a group of 80 organizations delivered a letter to Governor DeWine calling for a statewide residential eviction moratorium. Since then, over 700 people have signed the letter,…

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  • Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless launches COVID-19 Emergency Homeless Response campaign

    Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless launches COVID-19 Emergency Homeless Response campaign (Plain Press, April 2020)    The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) has launched a COVID-19 Emergency Homeless Response campaign to swiftly act on the threat coronavirus poses to Cleveland’s homeless population. People experiencing homelessness are one of the most at-risk populations during the pandemic.…

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  • End Poverty Now Coalition raises concerns about Cleveland Public Power’s business practices and shutoffs

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Friday, January 17, 2020; End Poverty Now Press Conference to present demands to Cleveland Public Power, 3500 Lorain Avenue: Adam Jefferson, who lives in an all-electric subsidized apartment, had his electricity shut off by Cleveland Public Power because he was unable to pay the full bill. Jefferson says on cold nights…

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  • What impact will Opportunity Zone investments have in the Tremont neighborhood?

    What impact will Opportunity Zone investments have in the Tremont neighborhood? by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, November 2019)        The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, with the goal of creating long-term investments in regions of low-income rural and urban communities nationwide, established Opportunity Zones. The Opportunity Zone tax break allows investors to defer…

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  • Residents express concern over impact of development on their neighborhoods and the city

    Residents express concern over impact of development on their neighborhoods and the city by Chuck Hoven (Plain Press, November 2019)        At two recent community meetings, discussion addressed the lack of affordable housing and the prospects of current residents being able to afford to remain in their neighborhoods as property values and rents continue to…

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