Councilmans Corner
Greetings! I hope all of you had a wonderful Holiday season and a joyous New Year. In 2015 we had many challenges and many successes and I wish to thank all the neighborhood groups and organizations, above all our neighborhood activists, for their continued engagement on behalf of the Greater Collinwood area. As you have heard me say so often, people can and will make a difference if they take the time to become stake holders in their neighborhood. We have proven that on numerous occasions.
In 2015, the Waterloo Arts and Entertainment District improvements were completed and we have moved onto the re-design and planned improvements for East 185th Street commercial corridor, working in partnership with Northeast Shores Development Corporation and the City of Euclid. In the Collinwood & Nottingham Villages and Glenville communities we embarked upon the St Clair Avenue project which is targeting the redevelopment of the corridor from East 55th Street to Nottingham Road. Discussions continued with the Cleveland MetroParks with regard to capital improvements and the issues pertaining to the beaches and swimming. We have made significant progress and our goal is to see swimming at our beaches THIS SUMMER and to have a plan put forth for the reconstruction of the historic Euclid Beach pier. Stay tuned.
Policing and public safety continue to be a major emphasis in our community. This past year Ward 8 had the lowest crime rate in the Fifth District and on Cleveland’s east side. My thanks to all for being proactive and concerned about the neighborhood and supporting our 5th District Police while at the same time demanding accountability and professional conduct from our men and women in blue.
My deepest and sincere thanks, once again, to the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland for their $10 million commitment to our neighborhood for the new Salvation Army Temple Corps on Grovewood Avenue. Construction has begun and I am looking forward, like all the rest, for the dedication ceremony.
This year of 2016, I am calling upon all concerned neighborhood residents, businesses, organizations and institutions to become more engaged than ever before. We have well over 200 streets in the new Ward 8. If we had just one person from each street or organization engaged, we would have a small army of neighborhood activists to address and support those issues we believe are critical for the growth, development and stability of our community. Let us all pledge to “step it up” this new year so that we can truly have a neighborhood we can all point to with great pride.
I have lived on the northeast side of the city all of my life. I am a proud graduate of Collinwood High School and have raised five children here. I have been honored to have represented this community in City Council for 11 terms. I have never stopped believing in our citizens and our community. Please join with me in 2016 and become “a believer” in what our community can truly become if we work together and join hands as true brothers and sisters. We can move mountains. We have proven that before, the Collinwood Recreation Center is testament to that, and we can do it again.
May you have a safe and prosperous new year. God bless you and God bless the people of the Greater Collinwood and Glenville communities. I may be reached at my office at (216) 664-4236 or via email at mpolensek@clevelandcitycouncil.org.