lmcshane's blog

How to Lick a Cat

Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 11/12/2016 - 08:53.

I lost my mechanic - he died suddenly this past month.  Selfishly, I am very sad for myself.  I don't know how to fix a car - I need to learn- or give up my car.  My mechanic couldn't find anyone to work in his shop.  The last time I saw him - he was trying to train a young man from Ohio Technical College.  

 

Follow Mike Rowe on Facebook:

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Timeline of Rokakis, Cummins, Brancatelli deceit on near west side.

Submitted by lmcshane on Sun, 11/06/2016 - 09:25.

 Both Brian Cummins and Tony Brancatelli came to us as council representatives from the "Community Development" CDC world.   Cummins worked for Old Brooklyn Development Corporation and Brancatelli for Slavic Village Development Corporation.  Brancatelli was groomed to fill Ed Rybka's position - Cummins was not.  Emily Lipovan was groomed to fill the Rokakis council seat after he appointed Merle Gordon.

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I HEART Trails - Fall 2016

Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 11/05/2016 - 06:31.

 Great fall conference for http://ihearttrails.org/ - I learned that Ohio has a 110 mile trail that runs through four counties http://www.eastgatecog.org/GOLTRG.aspx (not the Ohio and Erie Canal towpath) - and met folks who have volunteered for years to make and keep trails, like the Rachel Carson Trail accessible to the public.

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Cleveland Bricks LLC > $$$ > CDCs> find the kickback

Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 10/29/2016 - 04:07.
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 Several people have recently contacted REALNEO for an update into the investigation on Cleveland Bricks LLC.  As you may recall - Lily Miller initiated this investigation : http://realneo.us/search/node/cleveland+bricks

http://realneo.us/content/cuyahoga-county-land-bank-report-fraud-waste-hud

A reminder:

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Transparency Camp in Cleveland 2016

Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 10/15/2016 - 21:10.

Casino Slush Fund in Ward 14 -- ask Brian Cummins : why does Faraj family make out ?

Submitted by lmcshane on Thu, 09/29/2016 - 08:31.
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 Attached image shows allocations from 2012-2013 - I have asked reporter Mark Naymik to provide an update.  Brian Cummins is giving $10,000 to Ali Faraj of the Aragon Ballroom development (for water line) and an undisclosed amount to Fred Faraj (relation?) -developer who is attempting to revive Brooklyn Centre plaza foreclosed by Peter Rubin Coral Group (Coral is landlord for Detroit Shoreway Development Corporation - where Jeff Ramsey plays fast and loose with CDBG funds and developer fees).

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Paying for Experience over Things-Labor Day 2016

Submitted by lmcshane on Tue, 09/06/2016 - 06:23.

 

I rode my bike down to the Air Show yesterday - Labor Day 2016.  It was a beautiful day to see the diversity that is CLE.  

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Comments to PD's weak editorial -Watchdog on leave

Submitted by lmcshane on Wed, 08/31/2016 - 17:37.

FTR - I posted this morning and there were no investigations recorded for 2015 and 2015...and suddenly - *Presto - there is some effort to show that the County IG actually does something....

http://www.cleveland.com/naymik/index.ssf/2016/08/cuyahoga_county_watchdog_on_le.html

 

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AMERICA Stop Cooking the Books

Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 08/27/2016 - 07:44.
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SIGTARP - here's your evidence - #FRAUD #Corruption with Hardest Hit Funds

Submitted by lmcshane on Sun, 08/14/2016 - 09:12.
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 Please see the Cuyahoga County Land Bank press release --SPOONFED to Cleveland.com on the transfer of the former YMCA to CHN-Eden - please read the comments before they are deleted:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/08/former_brooklyn_ymca_long_empt.html

 

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CLE Open for Business - but it is still Pay to Play

Submitted by lmcshane on Tue, 08/02/2016 - 19:07.

 Here's a big not-so-secret - Frank Jackson hired his former girlfriend - Merle Gordon - to head up the dysfunctional City of Cleveland Health Department.  The City of Cleveland has a cronyism problem with pretty much every dysfunctional department at City Hall (Building and Housing, Community Development).  But, the news media won't do any hard-hitting investigation, because the Greater Cleveland Partnership has to keep the status quo, until they can find another puppet to run the city.

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Blue Happy

Submitted by lmcshane on Mon, 07/25/2016 - 16:22.
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 I just got back from my summer, happy place - the Frostburg Pool.  I sometimes wonder why I have to travel to find this paradise.  Afterall, Cleveland has Lake Erie.

But, I can't seem to relax in Cleveland.  I always feel some dread.  I hate seeing trash on the streets and abandoned houses.  I go to Frostburg, Maryland, and it is clean - there is pride in place.  The Frostburg Pool is crystal clear and COLD.  Kids are laughing and families are civil towards each other.  There is a diving board.

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Land Banks vs. Land Trust

Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 07/23/2016 - 19:38.
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 My sister and I have been discussing land banks versus land trusts.  It's an interesting distinction - before Rokakis and Frangos engineered their own private party known as the Cuyahoga Land Reutilization Corp (or "Land Bank")--the region had a "land trust" that was intended to keep housing affordable.  It was known as the Cuyahoga Community Land Trust.  Here is the history of Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland - this information was taken from a cached record of the site:

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RTA facing catastrophic loss of revenue - but we have a PRETTY Public Square - carry on

Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 07/09/2016 - 09:58.

 RTA is facing  a massive loss of revenue - but, who cares, right?!  We have our priorities straight - fixing up Public Square - to impress some republicans... and leaving taxpayers with the costs. 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/07/rta_facing_catastrophic_revenu.html

 

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Appalling abuse of power by City of Cleveland, Community Development and CDCs

Submitted by lmcshane on Thu, 07/07/2016 - 19:10.

 
The Department of Community Development would like to transfer $619,000 from the SHAP program to the Housing Trust Fund. The posting was made in the June 10th 2016 Friday edition of the Plain Dealer in the “Market Place” location.
Along the way, the Department of Community Development had asked for $619,000

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OHFA, Land Bank, SIGTARP, and CHN

Submitted by lmcshane on Wed, 07/06/2016 - 08:02.
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 Notified today:

 

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What does sexism feel like for a woman?

Submitted by lmcshane on Mon, 07/04/2016 - 10:58.

 

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Cuyahoga County -Cleveland ...and the hits keep on coming

Submitted by lmcshane on Wed, 06/15/2016 - 18:00.

 I just received notice that my water bill will skyrocket even more with the additional stormwater fee attached.  In addition, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District announced today they will also be putting their levy on the November ballot (with expectation of heavier turn out)

http://www.wkyc.com/news/education/cleveland-school-board-takes-steps-to-put-renewal-levy-on-november-ballot-/244965563

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Cleveland Memory

Submitted by lmcshane on Thu, 06/02/2016 - 09:37.
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 In a few short weeks - visitors will be pouring into Cleveland.  Are we ready to tell our story?  What do people "read" about us in the sights and sounds of  our city?

http://www.thisiscleveland.com/local/cle-travelbackers/

If you can help tell the story - contact Destination Cleveland.  Try to be an ambassador.  We're certainly not perfect, but it is time for all of us to step up and show some pride.

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Big WIN-WIN for the Rokakis-Frangos Land Bank!

Submitted by lmcshane on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 07:32.
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Recipe for success??  Dump an East Cleveland Land Bank property on an unsuspecting 501c3 director with promise of economic return!! Dupe the poor guy, who doesn't have the wherewithal to do anything with the property!!  
 
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Catholic Diocese wants in on $- Cummins only too happy to oblige

Submitted by lmcshane on Tue, 05/10/2016 - 07:52.
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 Like Cleveland Housing Network - the Catholic Diocese now wants in on the money game!  The altar boys Brian Cummins and Tony Brancatelli are only too happy to accommodate - more money in the coffers for them!

Crucifixion Time

Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 03/26/2016 - 08:23.

 

Over in Ohio City, Mary Rose Oakar throws stones at Marques Manus to prevent him for being on the board of Ohio City.  Marques is a community activist trying to make up for his past.  Does Ohio City Inc. really think that Marques stands in the way of Dan Budish?

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#WhichBrianCummins

Submitted by lmcshane on Tue, 03/22/2016 - 08:45.

This week our current councilman changed party affiliation, again.

In 2010, he switched from Democrat to Green Party:

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