Latest news with #ClevelandCityCouncil
Axios
22-05-2025
- Axios
Cleveland's 2025 summer safety plan looks to build on past success
The City of Cleveland is again prioritizing summer safety as we head into Memorial Day weekend. Why it matters: The emphasis on safety is welcomed following a crime-ridden summer in 2023 that included a high-profile mass shooting in the Warehouse District. Last year's inaugural Summer Safety Plan resulted in a 13% reduction in overall crime and a 37% drop in murders, compared to summer 2023. State of play: Mayor Justin Bibb unveiled this year's plan Tuesday alongside police chief Dorothy Todd. The program builds on last year's success and includes combined efforts across city agencies to crack down on housing and building code violations, create engagement programs for seniors and youth, increase street speed table installation and more. The big picture: The city will also continue its Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone initiative (RISE), which includes partnering with other law enforcement groups to patrol downtown and conduct warrant sweeps. RISE also helped the Division of Police add 134 recruits in 2024, its most since 2019. Earlier this week, the Cleveland City Council approved a new contract providing officers a 3% pay raise each year for the next three years. Zoom in: All aspects of the safety plan prioritize neighborhoods with higher crime rates, with more police and regular neighborhood walks to engage residents. "There's a small portion of our city that's responsible for a majority of violent crime," quoted Bibb as saying. "And so, we've identified those hot spots, and we're going to be doing neighborhood walks and have targeted law enforcement in those hot spots."
Axios
06-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
Cleveland erases medical debt for 160,000 residents
More than 160,000 Clevelanders have had their medical debt wiped away after Cleveland City Council allocated $1.9 million in pandemic stimulus money for the effort. The big picture: More than 100 million people nationwide are burdened with unpaid medical bills, per the Kaiser Family Foundation, affecting their credit score, financial outlook and quality of life. How it worked: In 2023, the city partnered with the organization Undue Medical Debt (formerly known as RIP Medical Debt), which bought portfolios of delinquent debt in bulk from hospitals and collection agencies for pennies on the dollar. The acquired debt was then forgiven. State of play: Cleveland's modest investment has had a huge impact. City Council initially estimated when it authorized the spending that 50,000 Clevelanders would have their debt erased. By the numbers: A total of 161,481 individuals have had $165,234,311 in medical debt erased. Between the lines: There was no application process. Residents were eligible if their household made up to 400% of the federal poverty level or held medical debt equal to 5% or more of their annual household income. Nearly $3 million in suburban residents' debts were included in the purchased portfolios, but the funds city council allocated were used only for Clevelanders. What's next: Nearly $1 million of the $1.9 million funding remains unspent, and city council is now considering ways to reinvest it.
Axios
16-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
Cleveland achieves housing milestone with 150-plus people off the streets
More than 150 unsheltered Clevelanders have been placed in safe and stable housing through the city's A Home for Every Neighbor initiative. Why it matters: As cities across the country criminalize homelessness, Cleveland is forging a new model that leads with compassion. Driving the news: City officials and nonprofit partners celebrated the milestone — housing 150 people was the project's initial goal — at a press conference Monday. What they're saying: "This initiative is remarkable, truly remarkable," said Liam Haggerty, the city's housing and outreach project manager. "But the concept at the heart of this program is honestly not remarkable, or at least it shouldn't be." "It's the idea that I think we all would agree with: that everyone deserves a place to call home." Catch up quick: The program seeks to end unsheltered homelessness by rapidly rehousing people and paying housing costs to partner landlords while providing support services that suit participants' needs. Homelessness is a "state of active crisis" that makes tackling life's other challenges nearly impossible, Haggerty said. The 154 people the program has housed are now able to pursue work, mend relationships and obtain mental and physical health care without worrying about securing a roof over their heads. Partner organizations like I'm in Ministry, which hosted Monday's event, provide additional services — I'm in Ministry has coordinated the donation of more than 2,000 pieces of furniture for program participants. Between the lines: Early stages of the initiative targeted large outdoor encampments. In the most recent stage, the program team housed 42 unsheltered people from 32 sites across 12 wards in the city. The latest: Cleveland City Council on Monday night introduced legislation to provide $1.9 million in additional funding for the program. Cleveland health director Dave Margolius told Axios this money would preserve the current contractors, including case managers, and provide ongoing rental subsidies for program participants. Landlords interested in providing housing should contact Haggerty at [email protected] or 216-857-1104.
Axios
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Maurer running for another city council term in new ward
Rebecca Maurer is running for another Cleveland City Council term representing the new Ward 5, she announced Tuesday. Why it matters: Maurer openly clashed with Council President Blaine Griffin during last year's redistricting process, leaving uncertainty about her potential pursuit of a second term. State of play: She currently represents Ward 12 but was split into six wards under the new map. Ward 5 includes downtown and the nearby neighborhoods of Central, Slavic Village and Kinsman. Other candidates include incumbent Richard Starr and challengers Johnnie Brown, Myras Holmes and Beverly Owens-Jackson. What they're saying: In a news release, Maurer says she wants improvements in the 311 service, more affordable housing downtown and passage of a law "to provide a non-police response to people in acute mental health crisis." "My work is focused on making the lives of everyday Clevelanders better — from basic city services that actually work to good government reforms," Maurer said in the statement. "Simply put, that work isn't done yet."
Axios
15-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Habitat for Humanity unveils 5 new modular homes in Bellaire-Puritas
Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity has dedicated five new modular homes on Matherson Avenue in the Bellaire-Puritas neighborhood. Why it matters: Modular homes, which can be built quickly and affordably, are being constructed in higher numbers to combat Cleveland's housing shortage. The big picture: The new properties unveiled last Saturday are part of Habitat's local 400 Home Initiative, a new-build and renovation effort through 2027, and represent the first multi-home construction project in Cleveland's Ward 11 since 2005. What they're saying: "The dedication of these five modular homes helped five families achieve homeownership and take a big step toward financial security, and I'm proud to have been a part of it," said area Councilman Danny Kelly in a statement. By the numbers: The Cleveland City Council awarded Greater Cleveland Habitat $5 million in pandemic stimulus funds. Each Ward 11 home received $90,000 of that allocation.
