Tremont West CDC has been the target of much controversy. Councilmen joined forces for years to allocate our CDBG fund dollars to this agency in order to invest in the community formerly known at large as "THE SOUTHSIDE" of Cleveland. In 2011, the results of years of investment reveals quite a bit of dissention amongst the residents while putting lipstick on the pig...and sweeping endless corruption under the carpets...and intimidating anyone who works towards transparency in such an organization.
Look, the bottom line is this....ANYONE who is NOT willing to live amidst a gentrified, yuppy, party crowd needs to move out of Tremont. Dog owners, artists, and childless families are the crowd that keeps this community alive...
Soon, they will be closing Tremont Elementary (Predictable observation) and working to turn it into LOFT apartments for more of these typical prospective residents to have a place to live. (But of course first....first they must use tons of CMSD/Cleveland money to get a new roof, new windows, and much more...you know, like they did with Orchard Elementary in Ohio City (Before they tore it down last year...)??WTF!? (What the flower?) But, do know in your heart that there is a "master plan"...that does not include several typical genres....and it doesn't include true public participation that is required by law...
This organization is NOT AN ORGANIZATION THAT TRULY REPRESENTS THE DEMOGRAPHICALLY DISADVANTAGED. After 30+ years in business as a not for profit, there truly is NO EXCUSE that they are still codependent on the "public dole" for anything... They should be experts at buying, rehabbing, and reselling property, investing in businesses, and conducting fundraisers in order to sustain their organization. Their typical members at this point should be able to afford annual memberships that assist them in paying salaries. Their advertising for their newsletter should also be a great source of income. Sellling space for the "Taste of Tremont" should be a great source of revenue for this organization...
Can anyone under the sun tell me why they are still being allocated CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) Funds from HUD? Are they incompetent at conducting a "Sustainable Business Cycle" without being codependent on these dedicated funds? TWDC has an amazing "PORTFOLIO", "SUBSIDIARIES", and "POWERFUL CONNECTIONS"....which has led to endless questionable practices.... (Look, any "FOR PROFIT" long term REAL ESTATE INVESTOR IN THE WORLD CAN TEACH TWDC how to do business for the long haul without needing these PUBLIC funds.
Enumerable scenarios have been revealed and yet the City Council continues to "FUND" this organization....That is unacceptable. Yet, it's all a matter of opinion. I believe that it's time for all those City Council members that have gotten Ward 14 dibs for federal CDBG funds for years (To be used at OHIO CITY, DETROIT SHOREWAY, TREMONT WEST instead of our neighborhoods...)...I believe that it's time for them to send allocations back to Ward 14....Enough steering our funds to your neighborhoods. YOU ALL OWE WARD 14 more than words can say...since you raped our Ward for YEARS!!!!
For years, the rules of basic ethics were thrown out the window by this organization. Accountability was laughed at by the players. Unethical practices were a way of life..."don't worry about breaking the law; we are connected...just do whatever it takes...I got your back!" Well, those days and ways can continue for this organization without question inevitably....and our City Council can further their objectives by participating in such ugliness to accomplish it's "marketing mission" of making Tremont a "DESTINATION" spot... Who cares about right & wrong, who cares about the people who filled the quotas that got them their funding, and well; who cares what anyone says...? TWDC is apparently "UNTOUCHABLE"....
Now...they have their great little riverside community....right in Tremont.... but apparently, this organization is still NOT INDEPENDENTLY SUSTAINABLE...after over 30 years????comedy....