Happy New Year – Welcome 2017

Welcome to 2017. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa Celebrations. I wish all in our community a healthy, prosperous and safe New Year.

A lot transpired in 2016 on the development front and I am looking forward to an even more prosperous 2017. The long-awaited resurfacing and rebuilding of East 152 Street will begin within the first quarter of the year and will take us through 2018. This project is critical to the Collinwood Village community. I ask for all of your patience as this major project proceeds throughout the year.  

Work has begun on the historic LaSalle Theatre.  I believe in this project so strongly that I committed partial funding from our Ward allocation dollars for this lynchpin project. Thank you to Northeast Shores Development Corporation (NSDC) for spearheading this restoration and we look forward to visiting this venue once again. Anyone wishing to donate to this non-profit endeavor should call NSDC at (216) 481-7660.

The new multi-million dollar Salvation Army Temple Corps at 17625 Grovewood is tentatively set to officially open Sunday, 19 March. As I have said before, the Salvation Army has made a major commitment to our community and I cannot say enough good things about them.  Please remember them when you think about financially supporting non-profit neighborhood groups who work on behalf of our children and the neediest amongst us.

A project near and dear to me – even though not within Collinwood – but which effects the western portion of Ward 8 – is the new East side Market at East 105th Street.  The contractor for the project is The Albert M. Higley Company. Work is underwayfor this new anchor for the St Clair Avenue corridor.

At Euclid Beach Park the Cleveland MetroParks has begun demolition for the much anticipated improved bluff area and new pier. This is a project I have advocated for a long time and it is critical, in my opinion, to turning Euclid Beach Park into a true destination experience for our residents and those who still remember the sights and sounds of the historic Euclid Beach Amusement Park while at the same time improving our lakefront. We look forward to working with MetroParks throughout 2017 and beyond.

We should learn sometime before March as to what the Mayor will be proposing in the way of services, improvements and enhancements for the City as a result of the passage of Issue 32.  Obviously, we on the northeast side of the city want to see enhanced police service, better street and road repair, maintenance of our parks & playgrounds, a Building & Housing Department which is responsive to the needs of the community, and a budget that addresses the ”quality of life” issues which we in the greater Collinwood Ward 8 community believe are critical. I can assure you one thing that during the upcoming budget hearings – that I will be lending my voice to the concerns of our citizens and all tax payers. 

For the new year, we have a new Commander in the 5th District, recently sworn in my Mayor Jackson.  We welcome Commander Sammy Morris, a Ward 8 resident, to the District.  We have had a long standing positive relationship with all of our previous commanders and I hope you will give Commander Morris the same welcome and support which we are known for. We look forward to working with him in the Ward 8 community. We wish former Commander Dennis Hill all the best as he takes up his new position within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) Police Department.

2017 will be an interesting year to say the least. There will be elections for both Mayor and members of Cleveland City Council. I will make an official announcement sometime in the first quarter of the new year as to whether I will be running. Right now, when I am asked, “Mike, are you running?” All I can say is – right now – YES! I have been honored to represent the residents of the 8th Ward; for this I am very grateful. This is my home.  The Greater Collinwood community and East Glenville are very near and dear to me, as most people know, just as these communities were to my grandparents and parents.  

I look forward to working with all of our residents, businesses and organizations throughout this year.  As always I may be reached at my office at (216) 664-4236 or via email at mpolensek@clevelandcitycouncil.org.