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Sign the Petition - STOP Brian Cummins from another park give-away - STORER Park to manufacturer FantaSubmitted by lmcshane on Sun, 10/25/2015 - 07:32.
10/25/2015 - 06:28 01/01/2016 - 06:28 Etc/GMT-4
REALNEO has chronicled the give-away of public parkland WC Reed Field to developer NRP Foster Pointe by then council rep Brian Cummins. He is engineering a similar give-away in the Stockyards neighborhood. Please SIGN and put a stop to this madness - residents need their parks. THANKS to Diane Morgan for bringing this story to light. See this moving news coverage by Joe Pagonakis : http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/oh-cuyahoga/cleveland-residents-concerned-storer-park-could-be-sold-to-industrial-development (NOTE: Diane plans to run for the Ward 14 seat - I expect Brian to be appointed to some bogus position to save his ass) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Denison Senior Housing project
Submitted by briancummins on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 14:29.
This information is being provided from the City's Community Development Department.
There will also be an update provided on the project at the next regularly scheduled Southwest Citizens Advisory Council meeting at 7:00 pm at Gino's Tavern (basement meeting room), 1314 Denison Avenue.
Regards,
Brian Cummins
Cleveland City Councilman Ward 15 216-459-8400 brianjcummins [at] earthlink [dot] net ------------------------------------------------------------------ Denison Elderly Update/Questions:
I wanted to advise you that the attached publication will be in the Cleveland Plain Dealer starting tomorrow; public comment at the city level is accepted for 15 days when all written comments will be forwarded to HUD who will then offer their own 15 day comment period.
As you will note, the funds involved are not CDBG but HOME funds; a 2008 allocation of $500k was made and there is a subsequent request for 2009 funds in the amount of $250k which is under review.
The Housing Trust Fund is a competitive proposal process offered annually and anyone can apply; the point person at the CD Department for this program is Bill Resseger, Executive Assistant to Director Rush (664-2351).
As with all projects, our Compliance Section working with the Project Manager and our Environmental Attorney review for environmental and historic preservation compliance. The review of site conditions at this location also included Parks, Recreation and Properties, Engineering and Construction and Water Pollution Control. There has also been discussion with the Ohio EPA as well.
The project was presented at our Infrastructure Committee wherein all utilities are advised collectively of the project and related details; each department still has its’ own review of the proposal and detailed plans as they are developed and as part of the building permit review. In addition, Cuyahoga County Soil and Water participated in the review, comments and recommendations.
This project was also presented to and approved by the Cleveland City Planning Commission in relation to the sale of a city parcel, rezoning and the expenditure of city funds; all are public hearing processes open to the public (as you are already aware).
The proposers did initially express interest in both the Memphis School site and the Denison site; however, different funding sources came with different requirements and each neighborhood has had its’ own vision for the two sites which led to Denison being selected.
The Market Study which is required for each HTF proposal supports the need for elderly apartments and with the different funding sources there are restrictive agreements which ensure the ongoing provision of affordable elderly housing units. It is often the case that as people age they wish to have an option to stay within their community but either no longer have the physical ability nor the financial means to maintain their home; this type of housing presents that option.
Regarding Citizen Participation/Administration of both HOME and CDBG Funds;
A Public Hearing was held on March 10, 2009 at 10 a.m. at the Cleveland Convention Center; the meeting was publicized in the Plain Dealer on February 20, 2009.
A Public Hearing was held on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 10 a.m. at the Cleveland Convention Center; the meeting was advertised in the Plain Dealer on January 31, 2008.
Citizen Participation Surveys (CDBG) were also distributed to citizens attending various community/neighborhood meetings and events throughout the two year period. (Joe Skrabec, Public Information Officer 664-4597)
Legislation required for application and expenditure of funds is undertaken through an open process with Cleveland City Council through a several committee review process; these meetings are open to the public.
Review of proposal application is possible as described in the public notice; copies of any materials may be requested through a formal letter of request to Robert Triozzi, Director of Law, under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Department of Community Development and Councilman Cummins will continue to communicate both with the overall community and individual residents particularly, those along Fern Court with specific details.
Regarding Utility Concerns;
The site will be serviced by 2 sanitary connections (6” each) and 1 storm connection (15”).
These connections will tie to the main sewer on Denison Avenue. There will be no sewer connections to the sewer on Fern Court.
There is an existing large combined sewer on Denison Avenue which is egg shaped and equivalent to 60”. It is 20 feet deep and can handle the flow generated by the proposed development.
A large underground storm detention is proposed inside the property. This means that during a storm event the storm water will be flowing slowly in the City sewer on Denison Avenue.
There is no CSO issue caused by this development; the Cuyahoga County Soil and Water Conservation District reviewed the plans and found them consistent with Ohio Rainwater and Land Development standard guidelines.
I hope this information is of assistance to you and addresses your questions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me at the Department of Community Development should you require additional assistance.
Nora McNamara
Community Development Department
City of Cleveland
(216) 664-4032
Nmcnamara [at] city [dot] cleveland [dot] oh [dot] us
------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNICIFICANT IMPACT AND
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
To All Interested Persons, Agencies, and Groups:
These notices shall satisfy procedural requirements for federally assisted activities to be undertaken by The NRP Group and CHR Partners Inc.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS On or about June 15, 2009 the City of Cleveland, Department of Community Development will submit a request to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and/or Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds under the Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act as amended, to undertake a project known as:
Denison Elderly
The Denison Elderly project is located at land bounded by Denison Avenue on the south, Fern Court on the north, and extension of W. 19th Street on the east and an extension of W. 22nd on the west in the City of Cleveland, 1914-2020 Denison Avenue. The project will involve the construction of 61 newly constructed units. The elderly housing units will be comprised of 12 one bedroom units and 49 two bedroom units with 67 parking spaces.The total project cost is approximately $10,556,380 million which includes Housing Trust Fund dollars from the City of Cleveland in the amount of $500,000 in 2008 and up to $250,000 in 2009; and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency in the amount of $544,000.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
The Denison Elderly project consist of more then a twenty percent change of use in addition to the site having some soil conditions that are contaminated. An environmental Phase I and II Assessments have been completed. There will be a deed restriction and Operations & Management plan that must be followed regarding the concerned environment conditions on the site. The city will require that the Voluntary Action Plan (VAP) Program will be followed regarding remediation of the site or equivalent. Based on these commitments to remediate the contamination to known standards, the issuance of this FONSI is being made.
The legal staff representing the City of Cleveland will incorporate language regarding the necessary commitments that will be incorporated in the legal documents for all projects. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) which is on file for this project at:
Department of Community Development
ClevelandCity Hall, Room 320
601 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, OH
Attn: Kellie Glenn, Project Director
(216) 664-4070
The ERR for this project may be examined upon request during regular business hours at the City from Monday through Friday from 8: 00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on the project may submit written comments to the Department of Community Development All comments received by June 15, 2009 will be considered by the City of Cleveland prior to authorizing a submission for a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.
RELEASE OF FUNDS
The City of Cleveland certifies to HUD that the certifying officer, Daryl P. Rush in his official capacity as Director of the Department of Community Development consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities, and allows the City of Cleveland the use of Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds pursuant to the following stipulations.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Cleveland’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submittal date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer or the City of Cleveland; (b) the City of Cleveland has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipient has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58) and shall be addressed to:
Department of Housing and Urban Development
OhioState Office
200 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio43215-2499
Attn: Ms. Jorgelle Lawson, CPD Director
Potential objectors should contact Ms. Lawson at the noted HUD office to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Frank G. Jackson, Mayor
Daryl P. Rush, Director
Dept. of Community Development
( categories: ) Michael Sangiacomo
Plain Dealer Reporter
Are we too far gone?
Submitted by noner on Mon, 08/24/2009 - 07:25.
there is an important missing element to your analysis, Ward14:
it used to be that families could afford to live with only one adult working (usually the male). Corporate America today no longer permits that - their CEOs are making way too much money to be able to afford to do that.
Having one parent, or one adult child at home enabled families to care for their children and elderly. So - maybe it isn't ALWAYS an issue of not caring, rather an issue of not being able to afford to care. As a working mother, with children in daycare, I'll try not to take offense.
Perhaps if our general society could stop red-baiting and spewing socialist phobic rhetoric, we could see the reality - our "working class" can no longer afford to live, while the riche have hit obscene levels in this corporate run country.
Its time to kick corporations out of our government.
Submitted by briancummins on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 13:12.
Jerleen1 and any other interested parties,
If you'd like, please call our office and we can provide you the name and contact number for the President of the South West Citizens Advisory Council (SWCAC).
This is an active civic group of concerned residents that holds regular meeting the first Thursday of the month - the meeting tomorrow is a regularly scheduled meeting.
This organization was started over 60-years ago and have fought hard over the years to represent themselves on a host of issues. They flyer the community and provide notices in the Old Brooklyn News for their meetings, they conduct saftey walks, sponsor social events and collaborate with another local civic association called the Brooklyn Centre Community Association.
The SWCAC has received multiple presentation for the NRP Denison Senior Housing project. Members have also taken the opportunity to learn about the project by visiting a similar project on Franklyn Blvd, where they met with residents of the facility as well as residents of a block watch group that is active in that neighborhood. SWCAC members have participated in many discussions and have provided insight and suggestions regarding the project. Overall, the vast majority of SWCAC support the project.
The organization welcomes everyone from the Brooklyn Centre community to help them in their activities and projects.
Brian Cummins
Councilman, Ward 15
Cleveland City Council 216-459-8400 brianjcummins [at] earthlink [dot] net Submitted by lmcshane on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 15:33.
Thanks Jerleen--I look forward to meeting you in person. You are REALNEO.
Submitted by jerleen1 on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 17:05.
Have been planning on visiting you for some time but things have been kind of crazy so am looking forward to meeting you as well. See you tomorrow night.
Submitted by lmcshane on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 16:05.
Gloria Ferris compiled a list of questions for tonight's meeting--the questions are posted here:
Because of a prior commitment, she will not be available tonight, but I plan to submit the questions to the City of Cleveland.
Submitted by lmcshane on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 06:34.
I gave it my best shot last night. Will we allow the City of Cleveland and NRP to make the same mistake, others have made before--by building where no one should build anything?
I was not alone last night. A special thanks to Jerleen and her sister and Mr. Santos. There are more residents, who are not happy about this project, and they can't all make meetings to prove to someone that they care.
There was some attempt to discredit me (I expected worse), but overall, the Southwest Citizens Area Council, a strong neighborhood coalition were respectful and friendly. They care. I care. Yes--the existing dilapidated structures are unsightly (dare I say the word "blight?"), but replacing these structures just to BUILD is wrong.
Another long-standing resident complained--why are we building something NEW, when we haven't fixed anything OLD? I agree.
Submitted by jerleen1 on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 10:09.
Laure,
I am so happy that we finally met in person.
Having had the unfortunate experience in dealing with the "promise of good things to come" and then having to live through the years of our quality of life being disrupted and totally taken for granted along with the big dollar "good for the community" crap shoved down our throats, I can only say that I feel sorry for what the people on Denison are in for.
Most of those people at that meeting want to believe in hope and, to sit and look at the pretty pictures and listen to the confident well spoken individuals that are trained, paid and whose careers are often boosted by selling these projects to the residents, cannot help but see what has been designed for them to see.
With all due respect, Mr. Cummins is impressive and a darn lot better than most but he's a politician and all politicians I truly believe get a special training in how to spit spew. They talk faster than a run away train, puts me in mind of an auctioneer, going, going gone. Trying to sell all the development projects to the residents puts me in mind of a little kid that doesn't want to take his medicine, no matter how many times they say they don't want it, they're going to get it any way because somebody is going to hold they're nose and down the hatch it goes.
It's not you that they're mad at, they don't want to believe that a multi-million dollar dream can go wrong. That somebody will stand up there and say "I'm no push over." Once the money is released and once this project is started, there is no turning back and the hell that is to follow no amount of big promises and pretty words can fix. The surrounding residents are in for a long and miserable, life altering ordeal and I can say that with without a shadow of a doubt. We have lived in that mess for years from the development and rehab of the Old Gospel Press Building and we still have years to go - with absolutly no recourse.
City Planning was right in the middle of the mix and none of us were told a lot of details that were omitted and that we should have been told about - no we were out right lied to.
Submitted by lmcshane on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 21:10.
You are a great and articulate voice for the unseen and unrepresented in the world. I really credit you for what you have been able to express here. You heard Mr. Santos yesterday. He worked so hard his whole life to just have a home. He has paid the price in terms that have left him physically scarred. He is worried that his "castle," viewed by the rest of the world as an obstacle, will be taken away from him. It's all so wrong. The folks last night get it. And, why should anyone hassle the guy who has lived in a trailer on W. 23rd., when we have vacant and deteriorating housing that should be attended to first? Why don't we concentrate on fixing the broken things? Let's leave these good folks alone. These people are not hurting anyone. They are our neighbors.
Submitted by jerleen1 on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 22:58.
Laura,
Why don't they help the guy in the trailer put some nice under penning around the botton of his trailer, plant some shrubs, flowers, and if it looks nice why worry about it? In today's world, they don't get NO MONEY MEANS NO MONEY. And among the less fortunate, any roof is better than no roof.
Today's mentality in the midst of our economic decline confuses the daylights out of me. They would rather take a family out of their beat up old home and toss 'em in a homeless shelter or throw 'em under a bridge rather than back off and leave them alone because they can't afford to or are unable to meet the standards that somebody else thinks they should step up to.
Go figure.
Submitted by None on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 06:59.
“Another long-standing resident complained--why are we building something NEW, when we haven't fixed anything OLD?”
It ’s true, and ten million could easily restore the whole block. But his is about the ‘needy’ there are seniors that need this. They need clean an new, with no stairs.
At $170,000.00 a unit, then what or how is it paid for? What will a senior pay? Restricted incomes…under a certain incomes? Because that really is silly isn’t it, sends the message, make less and get brand new assisted living homes. For those that did not plan ahead is the same as saying no need to plan ahead.
Did you get any financials, what is the cash flow on these? What is affordable, never mind. For the individual or the whole society?
What is collected monthly over time; it has to cover the costs of operation; it should also recover the costs of building as well. It is publicly funded, free market and unfunded is not my business but if it is subsidized it is.
It’s a fallacy, the affordable label….
Submitted by Susan Miller on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 07:27.
Modern environmentally friendly, energy efficient, portable homes. Would NEO housing codes allow these? Imagine the footprint of this on a city lot. Plenty of room for green surrounding one of them. Room for a garden, a shade tree... And when Grandma doesn't need it anymore, it can go wherever the kids are. This is another way to look at prefab.
Submitted by jerleen1 on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 08:33.
SUSAN,
Not only that it would be easy on the up-keep, cheaper to heat, no stairs for those with handicaps, but there's just one problem - it makes too much darn sense!
The big time developers couldn't make out and they couldn't railroad poor folks out of their homes - they could just take 'em when they go - wouldn't that be a barrel of laughs? Convoy of environmentally friendly, energy efficient, portable homes going down the freeway - outflanking the carpetbeggars. Shucks, that's a cartoon in the making.
Submitted by None on Wed, 06/10/2009 - 22:14.
I know you get it Susan, if I am on social security, then what is that today? I do not want something funded I want something affordable in reality. It is patronizing, the way our society approaches it.
I really would like to see a school of architecture here in town, one focused on affordable designs. I read about a study done on seniors within architectural engineering programs. A survey; and less than 1% said they had any interest in affordable designs.
I try so hard…
I sent an email out asking for a college of architecture at CSU, to build over the interstate with decking. To link the ODOT project with the University.
The college set to focus on affordable designs and linked into TriC and an actual factory for production, then linked into the colleges programs in production management and mechanical engineering.
Each of us has a qualifying measure; as our income less our financial obligations. That’s is a definable mathematical function and one component of that function is housing. If we had one data set with every households functions within it; then we would have the demand part of the supply and demand curve. The intersection of that curve is the breakeven point.
Then meeting demand would be based on meeting real price affordability in propensity. Subsidization should not happen as it is inflationary. It artificially pushes the costs up and the prices as well.
Lets not fool ourselves, getting only what you can afford scares the hell out of many people. The problem is or maybe that of perceptions of value? Bigger and garish?
Submitted by noner on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 16:48.
than some of the "new build" as well...
My daughter just bought an old trailer and has it on her friend's property. She is completing an apprentice program with the electricians union out in Oregon (she has BFA in Fine Art - not necessarily marketable). She goes through occasional lay-offs and the low overhead allows her to not sweat a perior of unemployment. Plus, when she decides to buy land it can come with her while she builds (or not).
Its nice to see our children grow smarter than us.
Submitted by None on Wed, 06/10/2009 - 22:24.
Look at the prices though $139,000.00? Look at what guy posted it has the prices of mobile homes...I am sure these could be replicated in NEO for much much less.
Submitted by lmcshane on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 14:25.
It's rather fitting that today's PD chronicles the vulture fest going on in Midtown. Especially after our own vulture fest in Brooklyn Centre. From the Findings of No Significant Impact italicized, bolded and (corrected):
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
The Denison Elderly project consist(s) of more then (than) a twenty percent change of use in addition to the site having some soil conditions that are contaminated. An environmental Phase I and II Assessments have been completed. There will be a deed restriction and Operations & Management plan that must be followed regarding the concerned environment conditions on the site. The city will require that the Voluntary Action Plan (VAP) Program will be followed regarding remediation of the site or equivalent. Based on these commitments to remediate the contamination to known standards, the issuance of this FONSI is being made.
I find it odd that our City of Cleveland employees--in the NRP on Denison project--Planner Nora McNamara and Councilman Cummins are actively pitching these projects for the NRP developer in Brooklyn Centre. Pitching projects for developers is not part of their job description--they are supposed to provide impartial review and evaluation to protect the public health, safety and welfare. Building on the hydric (and contaminated soils) of headwaters of a buried creek also goes against the lofty ideals spewed in the recently released feel-good tripe Re-Imagining a More Sustainable Cleveland.
Interesting that in Midtown, one unelected public official/CDC administrator has loyalty to NRP and not to the other vultures in town. This is really not what the residents of Cleveland need in their neighborhoods. I am preparing my objection to the release of Housing Trust Funds for NRP project in Denison and I will post the entirety here.
Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 06/13/2009 - 14:02.
The City of Cleveland Department of Community Development and Law Department should be working to protect the best interests of residents. Instead, they are working on behalf of developers like NRP.
(BTW-for the most part, everyone AT the City of Cleveland has been most cooperative and sincere in their efforts to provide information--including Ms. Glenn and Ms. Roberson. These folks don't come up with these ideas. They are just forced to go along with them)
The public process is a joke and I have NO doubt my letter of objection and any others will be denied on some technicality. The burden is on the resident and not the developer. In any case--Here is the text of my letter:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Attn: Kellie Glenn, Project Director RE: Objection to Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for Denison Senior Housing Project proposed on Denison Ave.
I am a resident of the impacted watershed, who formally objects to the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and/or Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds under the Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act as amended, to undertake a project known as the NRP Group/CHR Partners Inc. Denison Elderly Project, located at land bounded by Denison Avenue on the south, Fern Court on the north, and extension of W. 19th Street on the east and an extension of W. 22nd on the west in the City of Cleveland, 1914-2020 Denison Avenue
I formally object based on several criteria and because I can not ascertain that the following basis was followed:
(a) The certification was not in fact executed by the responsible entity's Certifying Officer. (b) The responsible entity has failed to make one of the two findings pursuant to Sec. 58.40 or to make the written determination required by Secs. 58.35, 58.47 or 58.53 for the project, as applicable. (c) The responsible entity has omitted one or more of the steps set forth at subpart E of this part for the preparation, publication and completion of an EA. (d) The responsible entity has omitted one or more of the steps set forth at subparts F and G of this part for the conduct, preparation, publication and completion of an EIS. (e) The recipient has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by this part before release of funds and approval of the environmental certification by HUD or the State. (f) Another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.
I am concerned that the City of Cleveland reached a Finding of No Significant Impact, yet acknowledges contaminated soils and a more than 20 percent change of use.
There are major environmental and environmental justice concerns about this project. The project has been sited on the headwater, hydric soils of a buried creek, and is slated to tie into an antiquated combined sewer system. The residents of the area, many who speak English as a second language, have not all been notified and were not given an opportunity to weigh in on the project until the project was well under way. Overall, residents were not informed about the project until rezoning, transfer of properties and donation of City of Cleveland lands had already transpired.
Also of significant concern, the City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing demolished 2000 Denison sometime in 2007, before the property transferred to NRP. The prior owner in default, did not pay off the lien, and, if NRP paid off this lien, as alleged by the Councilman Brian Cummins, then federal monies were released before the approval of environmental certification by HUD and the State.
I strongly oppose the Denison Senior Elderly Project and request that the City of Cleveland and HUD denies release of funds for this project.
[dated with address/phone/etc]
Submitted by lmcshane on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 17:58.
I will commend Brian Cummins for using drupal to launch his campaign site, but he will have to unload the baggage of the Denison NRP project.
Content is everything... And, Rick Nagin did get off the ground first--
Submitted by bj on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 08:45.
well of the links lmcshane provided i can get to nagin's site - cummins was "ACCESS DENIED." an opening page for his site and denial.
do not think that i like cintron using this site for such promotion - when i logged in there was CINTRON CINTRON.
would seem (imho) accessibility is necessary, but using other people's sites to do more than offer a link saying "find me here" is somewhat foul.
no this is not MY site, but i simply offer that I come here for the ideas, not to have some candidate that may or may not involve me shove his agenda in my face.
Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 13:25.
Hi bj--I asked Nelson to log on here. He has every right to use this site for the forum it provides. If the content is not of interest, just ignore it. But, I happen to think residents are looking for information and they need a way to find it fast.
REALNEO provides the option for ANYONE (barring spammers/porn folks) to put up content fast. Brian is trying to set up a website using Drupal, which will have the same flexibility, but it shouldn't be such a big hassle.
Honestly, like most residents, I just want answers and results. Brian Cummins has been forthright, answering here at REALNEO and at BFD, Cleveland.com, and Urbanohio.com, but physical results are sometimes hard to come by. I confess it's hard to follow all the threads and questions out there on the Internet, so most folks will tend to avoid this media. I do give Brian Cummins credit where credit is due. For instance, I just came back from the Coates House on Archwood, which Brian and his aide Johanna valiantly rescued from foreclosure and vandalism. This is where Brian shines. Cummins also has had to undo the mess left by his predecessors and he deserves credit for resolving issues. But, in my opinion, he made a MAJOR misstep with the NRP investment scheme on Denison and this will haunt his campaign and his reputation.
Every candidate should not have to necessarily set up a website. They can probably get by on line with a blog and interaction via Facebook and Twitter. Regardless, we need civic dialogue here. Our lives and futures in the City of Cleveland depend on REAL reform.
Submitted by mikeincleveland on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 10:35.
that somehow Nelson Cintron has all of a sudden had a brain and some real leadership skill put into his head since the last time he destroyed the ward...then you need to check which flavor of crack you've been smoking lately
his "10 point plan" is the most basic bullet-point piece of laughter that only a real dumb politician would ever throw in front of possible voters.
why didn't he just throw on there "restore Cleveland to the #1 city in the country" while he was at it?
just about realistic and just about pathetic as his "plan" per se.
Cintron, you didn't care about any of those items before, you obviously only care about getting your butt into a paid city position again now.
and you'll say anything to get it.
Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 13:18.
Mike, if you live in Cleveland, as your moniker implies, then you know we have had our share of promises. Nelson Cintron Jr. does have an uphill battle, because he held the seat and then lost it. Having met Nelson Cintron Jr. personally (he has visited my street twice, so far), I think I will give him the benefit of letting him try again, especially, unlike Jeff Johnson--he did not disgrace himself in office (only in terms of public opinion regarding his personal life).
The three main candidates here--Cummins, Cintron and Nagin--all have their strengths and weaknesses. This campaign definitely bears watching.
Submitted by mikeincleveland on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 15:27.
lmcshane- i do live in cleveland and lived through mr. cintron's last attempt at being a councilman- when he could care less what the voters thought and was too concerned in striking favors for his friends and family through city deals. oh, and don't get me started on the bar problems he brought upon the ward. that was the reason why we voted for Santiago- he was going to clean up the problem bars. only, he ended up being just as in bed with them as Cintron was when he was in office. throw on top of it the continual jealous high school battle between he and Santiago and it just made the majority of us in the ward throw our hands up in the air. Cintron, as does Santiago, talks a great game but in the end both are quite incompetent of being able to govern, have a vision and not allow their own greed to get in the way of the voters of the ward and of the city. i would suggest you go back and read all of the press in town during Cintron's time in office before you pull that lever for him in the primary. i talk from experience and, unfortunately, even though Mr. Cintron will claim over and over about his experience (and this lame "I'll cut my pay in half" gimmick to get people to vote for him), the ward's "experience" with him in the past was nothing to be gloating about on a campaign brochure, believe me (and us).
Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 13:38.
Last night's storm filled my fifty gallon rain barrel in less than five minutes. Consider the surface run-off from the proposed parking lot and roofs for the 61-unit Denison Senior Housing Project.
I would like to see the calculations on maximum storm water run-off for this project and to know the total capacity of the underground storage tank. Note Nora McNamara's exact wording:
A large underground storm detention is proposed inside the property. This means that during a storm event the storm water will be flowing slowly in the City sewer on Denison Avenue.
Submitted by Nelson Cintron Jr on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 13:52.
To Everyone in Ward 14,
First and foremost, I want to thank REALNEO for allowing me this opportunity to engage the residents of Ward 14 through this technology. I applaud their civic efforts to provide this forum.
I respect your opinions. I am readily available to meet with you and work towards a common goal. I look forward to working with everyone and to make sure that Ward 14 gets great representation. Thank you for your concerns.
Yet, please do not use the concept of a "job" as a scapegoat to addressing my life long dedication to our community. I am willing to take half the pay to do the same work if all the other candidates who are running would do the same. This election, the needs of our people, and the work that needs addressed are not about a paycheck to me.
I could take this one step further and tell you that I believe that there should be term limits to this job. If you are really so concerned about the issues, then unite forces with me.
I can help to change the city charter to allow term limits and to reduce council member pay in half. When you are ready to take action give me a call. I am willing to assist our community in making this happen. I cannot do this alone. It takes a community to collectively make changes. If this is a consensus of our community, than we will take the appropriate steps to collaborate, effectuate, and implement the changes the residents want. I am the leader who will fight to support our community's wishes even when it means going against the grain of City Hall. However, we all need to work together to make these changes possible.
Despite our differences, I will still represent everyone equally and fairly. I am not about holding grudges, but about gettings results. If there are any specific issues that you want to discuss- then I am available to answer your questions. Let's unite towards achieving common goals. If you want to know something, then call me and ask me.
I have eight years of solid track records of development . I will be posting them soon. There were milliions of dollars in development that were implemented and are still being implemented in our area due to my work. Good examples are the Green Space with the Roberto Clemente Project that just opened this year, the NEW CMSD public school projects such as Thomas Jefferson Middle School which broke ground this year and Buhrer Elementary School, one of our proud multicultural schools where children can speak two languages. These are only a few examples, but I am willing to share the records and newsletters that prove my record.
These projects took years of planning, collaboration, and execution. Some positive changes and development take years to finally become reality. Some can happen rather quickly. My track record will be posted for your review.
The NEW sections of Ward 14 (the old Ward 15) are a solid neighborhood. I will continue to build that section, leaving no one behind. We will all work on common goals to stabilize these areas.
The residents of Ward 14 who know me and have worked with me know that I will roll up my sleeves at City Hall and get the job done, regardless of politics. Let's set our differences aside and get past the negative blogging and let's all work together for the NEW WARD 14's best interests.
SINCERELY,
NELSON CINTRON JR.
CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL WARD 14
3032 VEGA AVENUE
CLEVELAND, OHIO 44113 CALL:
(216) 939-8101
EMAIL:FRIENDSOFNELSON [at] YAHOO [dot] COM
WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER CLEVELAND
VOLUNTEER TO HELP ELECT NELSON CINTRON JR Call today!
Submitted by mikeincleveland on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 15:07.
1) I find it laughable that Nelson Cintron, Jr. is hiding being someone else writing his blog postings here to make him "sound" like he really has his act together this time.
2) Just like what Santiago tried to do when he hired the ex-Scene Magazine staffer to write his community update brochures.
3) i would really like to know how Mr. Cintron, Jr. has grown and changed (so much, btw) since the last time he was councilman for Ward 14 and screwed up everything that he's so sure of himself (this time) that he's going to do everything the right way.
4) Putting Mr. Cintron, Jr. back in charge of Ward 14 after his previous track record is like going back to the Bush administration and having them come back in to run the economy again.
5) All the well-written PR isn't going to hide the fact that it's still the same old Nelson Cintron, Jr. with his same old bitter on-going-forever fight with Joe Santiago.
6) Cintron & Santiago= More of the Same.
Submitted by noner on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 16:37.
they said it wasn't but I don't know why else they would have made the changes they made.
I'm sO guilty to say I will no longer live in ward 14... we were swung over to Cimperman (Marons bought our corner).
Aren't you in my hood, Mike? did you know they switched us? I'm lost as to who I'd go for, were I still there. And I like reading the dialogue here. Ward 14 has suffered from neglect, including publicity towards its issues.
Its bad of me, because I should still care - I just have so many other things on my plate... maybe thats the way things are everywhere in cleveburg now...
Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 16:50.
Please let us know who you would like to endorse and why. Thanks!
Submitted by mikeincleveland on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 20:43.
hey lmcshane--- as of right now, i know who i would be against more than for- mainly because outside of Cintron, Santiago and Cummins, the rest are rather void of content online at this point as to pinpoint their specific positions on anything besides being against Santiago. I've met two of the others (D'Amico & Nagin) and though nice enough gentleman don't have much besides the standard "clean up the neighborhood, return it to the ward i remember growing up in.." etc etc stuff.
ultimately, the ward has been stuck in this horrible battle between Cintron and Santiago for way too long for anyone to seriously consider re-voting for either of those two again. I don't care how much they try and improve their image and claim they're more "regular guy" sticking up for the "regular guy" than their "other guy" opponent.
It just reeks way too much of a Bush then Clinton then Bush then Clinton political merry-go-round of office-holding more than anything else.
Interestingly enough to see Santiago skip the Plain Dealer's Ward 14 candidate forum altogether, though, huh?
Quote from the piece:" Cintron returned to a tactic he used during the recall drive. He played up his image as a regular guy who chews the fat with neighbors at McDonald's (the implication being that Santiago is too good to be bothered over a Quarter Pounder with Cheese).
"It makes me cry when I see my hard work of eight years ruined," Cintron said."
Hard work???
It was during Cintron's tenure that the ward went into the toilet and he was just as much of a jerk to his constituents towards the end as Santiago has been from day one. Just amazing the revisionist history that guy has going on in his head (much less his fervent supporters.)
It's just time for new blood in the ward. Someone that isn't tied up into the petty fights that Santiago and Cintron have been embroiled in since Santiago won election in the first place (and then made worse when Cintron, bitter, forced us thru the recall.)
At this point, I'd go with Cummins just because when I met him he was informed, knew what he was talking about and got work done.
Plus, the fact that he rubbed Sweeney and the rest of the been-there-too-long crowd at City Hall the wrong way by holding their feet to the fire when they messed up, showed me he was doing the right thing and has the right attitude about how to turn the city and, hopefully, ward 14 around.
Dbra: Yeah, i know we're going to be in Cimperman's ward now (thank god) but I still have many friends south of 90 that...well...I feel their pain (that they're about to go through.)
lmcshane- as i find out more info about all of the candidates (the minor ones specifically) i'll pop back on with further thoughts about them as well. :-)
Submitted by lmcshane on Sun, 07/19/2009 - 01:27.
Mike, thank you for the background and for "feeling our pain."
I would have arrived at the same conclusion, were it not for the NRP investment scheme Brian Cummins allowed the city to drop on an environmentally unsuitable site in my neighborhood. Brian will claim that it was not "dropped," and he denies that Kevin Kelley's Ward rejected the project for the Memphis School site (a more environmentally sound location), but this doesn't jive with a statement made by Nora McNamara, the city planner assigned to the project:
The proposers did initially express interest in both the Memphis School site and the Denison site; however, different funding sources came with different requirements and each neighborhood has had its’ own vision for the two sites which led to Denison being selected.
In your part of the city, Santiago has played the demo for developers game, too, with his International Village scheme. It will be interesting to see how the FBI Cuyahoga County administration, HUD and B&H investigation plays out.
I can only still hope that it takes down the whole machine, including the entire Sweeney crew. BTW, the NRP subsidized senior project?...it now falls in Cimperman's ward...with the highway interchange and all...which, I am fairly sure, was the design all along...Take care.
Submitted by ANGELnWard14 on Sun, 07/19/2009 - 02:46.
Laura...I totally agree with you. These type of long term plans are in the works for years before we the public have the opportunity to see what's happening-unless we live at City Hall...
Reminding me of the gerrymandering that cut out the most impressive investments Ward 14 had years ago...OHIO CITY getting cut out... Once a few years of good investment go into one ward, they cut it up.
Overall-what they all fail to share with the public is that those CDBG funds are for the Low-moderate income neighborhoods...not the high income areas... cannot wait to see the 2010 Census.
Submitted by lmcshane on Thu, 12/24/2009 - 10:14.
Submitted by lmcshane on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 18:10.
Brian/Johanna--you also know that one of the adjoining owners has paid off his house, but is in arrears on his taxes and you know that NRP wants his property for this whole ill-concieved investment scheme.
The adjoining owner is a disabled senior and speaks English as a second language. What are you going to do to help his family keep their house? Has anyone helped him to apply for the Homestead Exemption. Or is his family expendable in the scheme of things?
Do you care? Or, is that the PLAN? Are you going to walk away from the situation and defer it to Cimperman? This is the legacy we live with in Brooklyn Centre...conveniently walk away...Rokakis, Gordon, Lipovan....
Cummins...Cimperman...
BTW, everyone, the whole east of West 25th/Pearl section of Brooklyn Centre...now Joe Cimperman's ward, with "GREEN" vacant land bank lots...
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216-459-8400 office
brianjcummins [at] earthlink [dot] net
brianjcummins [at] earthlink [dot] net
216-459-8400 office
Also, the 60” sewer on Denison to my understanding is functioning and will not be placed in higher danger because of this project.
Ward 15 Councilman
Cleveland City Council
216-459-8400
brianjcummins [at] earthlink [dot] net
Sec. 58.75 Permissible bases for objections. HUD (or the State), will consider objections claiming a responsible entity's noncompliance with this part based only on any of the following grounds: [[Page 383]] (a) The certification was not in fact executed by the responsible entity's Certifying Officer. (b) The responsible entity has failed to make one of the two findings pursuant to Sec. 58.40 or to make the written determination required by Secs. 58.35, 58.47 or 58.53 for the project, as applicable. (c) The responsible entity has omitted one or more of the steps set forth at subpart E of this part for the preparation, publication and completion of an EA. (d) The responsible entity has omitted one or more of the steps set forth at subparts F and G of this part for the conduct, preparation, publication and completion of an EIS. (e) The recipient has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by this part before release of funds and approval of the environmental certification by HUD or the State. (f) Another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.