Autumn is Here

What a great Fall, so far. With that has come the opening of the Waterloo Arts & Entertainment District.  My sincere thanks and appreciation for all the patience you have shown during these past two years of great inconvenience. However, we can all see the fruits of our labors.  With the new Waterloo Brew opening up in the historic Waterloo Slovenian Home along with other venues within the district. This has been a long time dream of mine to work with Northeast Shores Development Corporation and other stakeholders to create an eastside arts and entertainment district.  We are on our way!

Work continues on the Lakeshore Boulevard Relief Sewer.  Northeast Regional Sewer District is working hard with their contractors to finish what work they can before the weather turns bad. This is a massive project as we all can see, but one that definitely needed to be done. Stay tuned for future updates.

You have all heard the old saying that – if you don’t use it you lose it.  Please support our neighborhood businesses and venues in the neighborhood. As we reinvent our greater neighborhood, we who live here must set the tone. If you look city-wide at the neighborhoods which are coming back and repositioning themselves, it is because of believers.  I have never stopped believing in our community and our ward as a whole. Many neighborhoods in Cleveland have ceased to exist as they were because people and businesses lost hope.  Please join with me in becoming a cheerleader and a champion for the expanded new Ward 8 community. We can and will make a difference. We have proven that.

On that specific point, the number one complaint I receive into my office daily is about Building & Housing as well Health issues related to private homes and properties. In 2014, I am extremely troubled by what I see as a lack of passion and commitment coming out of the City of Cleveland’s Administration related to Building & Housing Code enforcement. There are numerous inspector positions unfulfilled and the City’s follow-up and prosecution is dismal at best.  Why.  We still cannot figure this one out.

We cannot talk about rebuilding and re-growing Cleveland from the Downtown outward. The trickle-down theory doesn’t work. It must be a true partnership and balancing act.  Neighborhoods, especially the outlying neighborhoods and wards, need special attention to combat the speculators, as well as slum and absentee landlords who have descended upon us as a result of the foreclosure crisis and subsequent unloading of bank-owned properties. I am calling upon all of our neighborhood associations and institutions to take a more proactive approach on code enforcement in their respective areas or on your block.

All housing complaints can be called into (216) 664-2007 and Health related complaints may be called into (216) 664-2300. Any group wishing to write the Mayor regarding any substandard property may do so.  Please contact my office for the proper outline and forms. Become a stakeholder.

So far, we have been lucky with the weather. However, we all know that’s going to change, real soon. Once again, continue to turn in any and all chuckholes into the Mayor’s Action Center at (216) 664-2900.  Please make sure that all streetlights are working.  Report Street lights out to (216) 621-5483. As always, you may also reach me at my office at (216) 664-4236 or via email at mpolensek@clevelandcitycouncil.org.

Wishing you all a great THANKSGIVING. We have a lot to be thankful for.