Councilman’s Corner

What a great Summer! The RNC went off without any major problems and Cleveland was seen nationally as a peace-loving and supportive city. My sincere congratulations to everyone involved in making Cleveland shine during the convention, especially to our Cleveland Police Department and other law enforcement officers from around the country. However, now that the convention is over I hope that the City’s Administration will take a more aggressive and proactive look at neighborhood concerns and issues.

On that note, the Mayor, as you know, has proposed a .5% increase in the city’s income tax. What the residents from Collinwood to Glenville want to know – is how neighborhood services will be improved, specifically in regards to police protection, housing code enforcement and the delivery of basic city services. It cannot be business as usual.  There has to be greater attention to the quality of life in our neighborhoods if this proposal is to be supported by our residents and this Councilman.

My sincere appreciation and thanks to the MetroParks, who we have worked very closely with, to get  Villa Angela Beach open and staffed with lifeguards. The neighborhood turn out has been overwhelming and the beach is cleaned daily. As I have always maintained, we have the best beach along the lakefront. The Friday Night summer concert series have been packed with everyone enjoying themselves; picnicking, singing and dancing. When you add this to the Thursday Night concert series at the Beach Clubs, what other neighborhood in the city can boast of such summertime amenities?

The historic LaSalle Theatre project is scheduled to start very shortly and should help to spark further development and investment along the East 185th Street commercial corridor. The Salvation Army’s new multi-million dollar house of worship and community center on Grovewood is on schedule.  It looks great already. Wow!! What an addition to our ward.  Engineering work is proceeding for the reconstruction of East 152 Street, south of I-90 to the East Cleveland line and City Planning is putting together the final concepts for the St Clair Avenue redevelopment plan.  Stay tuned for future updates.

Finally, as we head into this November’s Presidential election, I know you, as am I, are sick and tired, and sometimes disgusted at what we are seeing and hearing. However, democracy is not pretty at times, nor is it free. Be informed and vote your conscience. We as voters, regardless of our political affiliation, must ask loud and clear and repeatedly as to the gameplan to keep our country safe and strong.  The candidates must address the major issues facing us, even in our own neighborhood, such as the loss of good paying manufacturing jobs, housing abandonment, the lack of quality technical and vocational training programs for our youth and for middle-aged workers displaced by outsourcing.  Then what about affordable health care, prescription coverage, and keeping Social Security safe and viable? I could go on, but I hope you get the point. We need a president and an administration who is going to look out for America first. That is my personal hope and my prayer.

As always I may be reached at my office at (216) 664-4236 or through email at mpolensek@clevelandcitycouncil.org.