Frank Jackson is trying to let people know he’s Cleveland’s mayor. After all, he does have to run for that office, though at least at this time there isn’t much talent around that appears able to challenge him.

However, the Medical Mart & Convention Center issue has shown how little weight he exhibits as the Cleveland mayor on big issues of the day.

They may soon begin selling reporter’s desks at the Plain Dealer.

A message today went to employees announcing the PD will be looking to rent parking and office space in its Superior Ave. and E. 18th building.

Management said that it was working with Grubb & Ellis “to explore the possibility of leasing a portion of the parking garage.”

In addition, the paper will attempt to lease space in its relatively new building working with Cresco, Ltd.

In these changing economic times, the last person we needed as commerce secretary was Bill Richardson. So glad to see him removing himself as Obama Commerce Secretary - a poor, politically-motivated choice in the first place... I'll be glad to see Richardson diasappear from public "service" entirely. One more old leader gone. Who will now be promoted to position of Commerce Secretary... another old economy leader or a new social innovator?

When Doug Clifton became editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, I was in frequent communication with Columnist Tom Brazaitis. I shared with Tom information technology advice to improve the newspaper - like adding email addresses to the articles in the paper (which they didn't do at the time), and completely transforming how they used the Internet. Tom suggested I contact Clifton directly, which I did, and Doug was very receptive to feedback and we ended up corresponding regularly.

What page are we on? What year is this? And where did Fred Nance go?

The latest muddle on the med mart suggests that the big boys can’t get the ducks in a row again.

Backroom dealing and pressure are being exerted. By someone upon someone. Messages are being sent.

MMPI (Merchandise Merchandise Properties Inc.) maybe wants a smaller convention center and apparently a different site than the Downtown Gang (Greater (or Lesser) Cleveland Partnership & Forest City Enterprise) desires.

That would benefit MMPI.

Just as a reminder that there is plenty of room for meetings without a new convention center. Why doesn’t Cleveland Positively sell out of these venues? Quoting from a Cleveland Crain’s Business listings here are convention and meeting spaces available in Cleveland and its near suburbs. Lest we forget in order to build another structure for the Forest City Gang: - Cleveland Convention Center – 124,067 square feet of meeting space. - I-X Center – 101,045 square feet. - Playhouse Square Center – 90,000 square feet.

What have you done lately for Randy Lerner, Sam Miller, Albert Ratner, Tim Hagan, the Cleveland Orchestra or the Playhouse Square Foundation?

Plenty.

You may not know it but as a resident of Cuyahoga County you have been extremely generous to these richest of our rich.
The figures are in through December for a number of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County taxes.

Jeff Buster's poll on REALNEO asking "If Peter Lawson Jones immediately withdrew his support for the Medical Mart Convention Center would his public career benefit?" motivated me to spend the time to explore the probability the MedCon is already dead, and our leaders will let us know that when they return from their vacations... and get the nerve. What do you think?

While on the subject of cities, some analysts look to the nation's economic woes, it's impact on tax receipts for cities and foresee municipal bankruptcies growing at alarming rates.  Cities may need to look to municipal bankruptcy, chapter 9 of the bankruptcy code, to protect themselves and taxpayers. We haven't seen this since the Orange County bankruptcy in 1994, which lost over $1.5 billion.

I never thought Councilman Mike Polensek was a bad guy, maybe a frustrated, burned out, partially-jaded reformer facing difficult tasks in Cleveland, but not a bad guy. However, in my mind, you can't justify the latest problem involving his asking a local development nonprofit organization to buy a house for him while he secured financing.  He can say he gave the nonprofit a modest profit for helping he can say it was only a short-term thing and he can say he only did it for his mom, but....

What better way to see Cleveland--10 a.m. -12:00 p.m. for all upcoming dates listed here. 

January 3rd The West Side Market 1979 W. 25th Street Bring in the new year by sketching the Saturday activity at the market. With the enclosed produce section and the impressive indoor market space...it is the perfect winter locale!

- Opening Keynote Speaker: Chris Ronayne, President, University Circle Inc.
- Lunch Keynote Speaker: John W. Ryan, State Director, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
- Closing Panel Discussion: "Regional Economic Development: Why Now, What's the Promise?. Moderated by: Bill Currin, Mayor, City of Hudson.

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· Learn about the opportunities and benefits of a career in engineering

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I've been submitting events for my organization but am having some trouble entering the event location -- I can't type text in the blanks. Please advise. Thanks!

Speaker: Baiju R. Shah, President & CEO, BioEnterprise

Earn 1 Continuing Professional Development hour.

Program sponsorships and tables of 4 and 8 available. Please contact CES at (216) 361-3100.

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Sponsored by Blue Technologies and Boundless Flight

Join us the first Friday of every month for networking at Bier-Markt. FREE appetizers and nonalcoholic beverages.

Parking available in City of Cleveland lot on West 26th Street for $5.00. Parking may also be available in the West Side Market lot on Lorain Avenue. Please do not park on West 25th Street before 6:00 p.m.

Hosted by Young Professionals Division.

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Join CES for the kick-off of this exciting new committee!

Parking at the Hilton Garden Inn is $2.00. CES members get a coupon for free parking.

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Speaker: Mary Kaye Denning, Founder and Chief Nudger, GarageInventorLive.org

Parking at the Hilton Garden Inn is $2.00. CES members get a coupon for free parking.

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Attached are minutes from an October 2007 meeting of City of Cleveland Planning, Cleveland Cuyahoga County Port Authority, URS and US Army Corps of Engineers. Ed had these issues in mind (among numerous others) when he left us. Let's catch up a bit. Can anoyone give an update as to how these questions have been addressed more than a year later?

Highlights include:

In the same week that Ohio Governor Strickland vetoes a bill to create a tax credit for those creating film and video production jobs in Ohio, the Illinois Governor (yeah, that guy, the one who's been in the news lately), signed a bill to expand their 20% tax credit to 30%. Do you think he knows something that Governor Strickland does not?

So, while I'm fighting to save my home (reference Tremont Social Capital Thread) my personal and professional life have been severely suffering (duh).

Yes, Solar Erica aka Erika Weliczko of REpower Solutions will discuss renewable energy applications for homes and common questions. Learn some in's and out's about ways that you can make your house less dependent on outside energy sources at a nature center that has its own natural gas well! Ironic no?

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It's been quite interesting attending events like the recent Local Foods conversation held at AJ Roccos and coordinated by Josh Klein of CityFresh, among others. Reading through the main tenets of the recent co-proposal of the Land Lab of Kent State's CUDC and Neighborhood Progress, Inc provided a good overall game plan with a systems-oriented lens - certainly an understanding of all of these various systems as part of a greater system comprising our region was heartening to see.

The Probate Judge who appointed Tana Carney to the Cleveland Foundation is John J Donnelly, who also appointed the Cleveland Metroparks Commissioners. The longest serving is Fred Rzepka, a developer (who was reportedly on the site committee for the Browns stadium).