Councilman's Corner

I wish to thank all the residents who attended East 185th Street Block Watch Meeting on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 with regard to the severe basement flooding we experienced in the community following the July 20th Storm event. We had a great turnout and my sincere thanks to the Department of Public Utilities and the Northeast Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) officials who came to the meeting and made presentations and took questions from concerned residents. 

We learned a lot and I appreciate the projects that have been completed to date and the new capital improvements in the works designed to help alleviate such problems in the future. However, we also learned that should we get another such storm, between 4”-6” of rain, there is no doubt that the local sewer system cannot take that massive flow and therefore, we will experience flooding once again. I urge all residents to check your homeowner’s insurance policy to make sure you are covered for storm-related sewer back-up damages into your basement. This is the only way to really safeguard your home and personal belongings in the future.

I want to thank everyone for their patience and support for the Waterloo Road Streetscape Project which is now underway. This $5.5 million project is designed to reinvent the Waterloo Arts & Entertainment District. This project has been in the works for a long time and will recreate that historic village concept that we have advocated for years. In addition, the rebuilding of Lakeshore Boulevard, from East 146th Street to East 171 Street, will begin again shortly since NEORSD has completed the necessary underground work in that area. 

Regarding the MetroParks, they continue to address maintenance and safety issues. My sincere thanks, on behalf of the community, for all the work they have done to date. The Cleveland Range/Manitowoc Headquarters of the Americas project on St Clair Avenue in the Nottingham Village neighborhood is going great. My sincere thanks for their investment in our ward.   

All registered voters should be receiving a card in the mail from the Board of Elections as to what their new Voting Precinct will be and if there is a change in your voting location. Voters in the new Ward 8, formerly Ward 11, will not have a Primary Election. Voters in the new Ward 10 (especially a reminder to Nottingham Village area) DO have a Primary Election on Tuesday, September 10th. If you have any questions regarding this please call the BOARD OF ELECTIONS at (216) 443-3200.

Finally, in the early morning hours of August 14th, Mr John Rager, a 47-year old mentally challenged resident of our ward, was viciously attacked on his way home from work and nearly left for dead in Ward 10 on East 152 Street near the East Cleveland line. Cleveland Police are actively investigating this attack. There has been a Reward Fund established for anyone with information leading to an arrest and conviction of the monsters who perpetrated this heinous crime. Anyone wishing to help John and his wife, DeeDee, can make a donation to the “John Rager Victim’s Fund” at any KeyBank branch. Our community’s prayers are with him and his family in this hour of need.

Remember that school has already begun for our local children. So, please be extra diligent when driving through school zones and keep a watchful eye on all of our children walking to and from school. Remember, attentive and nosy neighbors make for a better and safer neighborhood.

Enjoy the end of summer and the warm September weather.

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Volume 5, Issue 8, Posted 12:58 PM, 09.12.2013