From a friend: "Leticia, a dear friend has lived for years on W42nd. Unexpected Knez supporters arrive at her modest well loved home to present to her family with the plans for a four story three apartment building with garages on the first floor. This afternoon we sat together at the counter placed there many years ago, A counter placed so that she could view life on Lorain as she had her morning coffee. How she loves natural light. How she loves the views of peach trees she planted on the border of her property. She is sure they will cut down her trees and bushes. She cried as she explained in Spanish "I don't want a monster next door." Disgusting! Another beautiful family being chased away. Why? MONEY, money wins again"

There is a Board of Zoning Appeal hearing January 3, 2017 at 9:30 am, at City Hall to get a variance for the developer. This family needs us all there to support them as they contest the variance. Please, especially our Hispanic neighbors, come out and support this 



UPDATE: The developer has postponed the appeal hearing under the premise to give them more time to work with the neighbor. This is great news giving us more time to organize.

"Rosales/Knez issue. Knez postponed the appeal it is rescheduled for jan 3, "to work with the neighbor"

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/12/a_greenway_corridor_to_tie_cle.html

This article is penned by the brother of Frank Russo -http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/09/judge_anthony_russo_benefitted.html

Northeast Ohio residents must have a very short memory to forget that Russo's family ties include Marous Construction (Frank Russo's son -in-law) - the primary developer of the west side mega CDC -Detroit Shoreway Development Corporation.

Detroit Shoreway residents Bobbi Reichtell and her husband Mark McDermott respectively run Campus District CDC (proponents of the "iconic" bridge construction) and Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (low income and homeless tax credits).  One of Mark's relatives is the Chief Planner at the Cleveland Metroparks. 

These are a few reminders of how nepotism in Northeast Ohio can easily morph into criminal activity - there are contracts for all of the projects outlined in this editorial.

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Connect this to the shady transfer of YMCA property on CLE's west side to Cleveland Housing Network (Tony Brancatelli is Land Bank Chair -Bobbi Reichtell is on the Land Bank board - Mark McDermott influences award of low income tax credits through Enterprise Community Partners).

The benefit of CHN-OHSA-YMCA deal to west side dominance of CLE Council?? - >> funding mega CDC Detroit Shoreway (Developer Fees ~ $1M) and kickbacks to contractors like Marous (Frank Russo's son-in-law)

The Detroit Shoreway CDC set up by now Housing Court judge Ray Pianka also created a non-representative spin-off SCFBC now Metro West CDC - The CDC is a pass through for Land Bank properties. One of the primary beneficiaries of these sweetheart land deals - transfer of properties to Cleveland Bricks LLC and now Bo Knez.

Detroit Shoreway is also the representative CDC for all properties along West 25th that are within the Metrohealth campuses in Brooklyn Centre and Old Brooklyn.