Clevelander17

It's not a matter of Cleveland Heights taking the "nice" parts and giving Cleveland the "crap." It's a matter of dividing the city in a logical, straight-forward manner. The parts of EC that are "up the hill" would make much more sense geographically being part of Cleveland Heights (regardless of what would happen to the other parts). Take a drive around the area and see for yourself (I did this last week). This part of EC already feels like it's part of northern Cleveland Heights. And I think it would be much more efficiently serviced and kept safe by Cleveland Heights than it ever would by Cleveland. As a matter of fact, I think the isolation of that part of town would become more problematic were it to be swallowed into a larger, more distant entity like Cleveland (and the city leaders of CH should fight this possibility because of its potential impact on CH). Though in fairness, there aren't many good arguments as to why Cleveland should take the other part of EC. I guess it would be good for the sake of continuity of planning up Euclid Avenue, increased city population, etc. And if nothing else, not to sound like a jerk, but Cleveland already has so much blight that a little more probably doesn't make that much of a difference right now.

Looking forward to tomorrow night's game with the Gators. The Bucks still have a lot of revenge to get on UF for 2007.

I can't remember the exact wording, but I do recall actually hearing an ad last week on the radio for CSU basketball that made reference to the fact that there was no NBA basketball as of now. So that's how CSU is trying to sell the program. Not a bad idea, especially if these guys keep playing well.

Great way to start the season. Looks like the senior leadership of the squad will help make up for the loss of Norris Cole.

I would also hope that if the NCAA drops the hammer on Penn State football that every current and future player has the chance to transfer out and play right away at their new school of choice.

Terrible, disappointing loss. So much for sneaking into the Big Ten title game. For some odd reason the Bucks always struggle in West Lafayette.

Agreed. That's probably just the most ignored part of the city and the part of the city that the government is most willing to throw under the bus. I was talking about the term "West Five." The title of most beleaguered probably goes to the northern part of the city around Greenvale. And look how fast Tyson's Corners is growing. They can probably support it. Can we? Look at how empty some of the centers in this area are and ask yourself that question honestly. Also, if the argument is that it would go to Acacia if it didn't go to Oakwood, then that contradicts the argument I heard that this shopping center was all about filling a supposed need for retail in the Cedar-Warrensville area.. I never believed that and never will. It's all about getting South Euclid and First Interstate a piece of the limited action.

Cars.com has also pulled sponsorship from tomorrow's PSU/NU game. It's amazing to me how the disgusting actions of one man could start such a domino effect like this. Just wow...

I get the impression that the culture of State College, PA is so insular and so intertwined with the University and isolated from the rest of the world that it's very easy to keep things hidden and "in house." Not to mention the god-like status that Paterno had. While the story itself is incredibly sad on a number of levels, the sociological aspects of how this could happen like this and for so long (and how the community could react like they did) is fascinating and would make for a heck of a study.

In fairness, that's the first time I've ever used that term as I really only began hearing it used in the past few months. But I like the term--it makes sense and it's an easy way to refer to the part of South Euclid located in the CH-UH school district.

What a gigantic mess and somehow I get the feeling that this is only the tip of the iceberg. There are other crazy rumors also floating around about disappearing prosecutors and child sex rings that if even half-true make this situation even more unbelievable. If Penn State weren't keeping Sandusky around for the heck of it, I wonder if he may have had some kind of leverage on the school? I'm sad for the kids and sad for the way a legendary coach like Paterno is ending his career, but I feel no empathy for him on a personal level because what he did (or actually, didn't do) was a monumental mistake that probably cost other children their innocence.

Duh! For some reason I always associate that park more with Euclid/Richmond Heights (though I don't think any of it is technically located in RH). Then perhaps residents of CH (and UH, who would also benefit from a park there) should become "not interested" in paying taxes to support parks in other cities? As for the tax abatement question, as I've explained above, I think First Interstate built on in for themselves with the park. You're right and quite frankly from all of the decisions being made in South Euclid in the past half-decade, sometimes it seems as though their master plan was scribbled out on a Purple Shamrock cocktail napkin. If the development is simply transferring jobs and money from other parts of the region, is the "demand" really there?

Warrensville Center Road is probably one of the least pedestrian-friendly roads in this area. I don't see how this project can successfully become a walker's paradise without major changes to the main road it's located off of.

I'm sorry but the addition of the park comes off as a cynical tactic that's, despite maintenance costs, is still going to likely save First Interstate hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long run. Remember that 33% of the park will be part of the retention basin for the Oakwood Commons development. So that means that even though that acreage is being used daily by the retail portion of the development, no taxes will be paid because it's technically part of the park. Luckily for South Euclid (and Lyndhurst) the whole thing is part of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, so the losses come off of their tab. The only South Euclid residents who are being screwed by this are the ones who live in the West Five section (common theme here) which use the CH-UH district.

I will never understand why the people who drew the borders included that little sliver of land north of Cedar and west of Warrensville as part of South Euclid. Anyways, you bring up an interesting point about Cleveland Heights and First Interstate. I believe that FI also now owns the part of Oakwood that is in CH. I wonder what kind of cooperation they can expect from CH residents now after the bitter and divisive nature of the election in which CH residents were blamed for fueling the opposition to FI's plans.

This is exactly right, which is why I believe that the decision to build more big box retail on that land when we already have so much in the near eastern suburbs (heck concentrated in that very vicinity) was a hasty and poorly-thought out decision. That's the best they could come up with? Really? As for putting a park there, I think the funds and support to do so could have been raised given the appropriate amount of time. As residents of Cuyahoga County, do we not all pay taxes that goes towards the Metroparks System? As of now, there is no Metropark in Cleveland Heights or South Euclid, so I'm curious as to why they couldn't be persuaded to come in and run (and secure) the place?

Did that miscommunication occur before or after we voted on it?

I don't know where the money is, but I'm sure it's there and these services should absolutely be priority right behind road maintenance. But one thing I'm certain they should have done is waiting to repeal the estate tax (or, here's a novel idea, not repealed it at all). Now if you told me with certainty that in the long run repealing the estate tax would produce MORE in revenues for local governments (because more wealthy seniors would keep Ohio as their state of residence) then I'd be all for it. But in this economy and with Ohio's reputation, I simply do not believe it. As for your point about sick/vacation day cash-ins, you're right, that's not fair, but little things like that don't need sweeping, punitive legislation to correct.

I'm bashing South Euclid. ;) No, seriously, I think that South Euclid is making a huge long-term mistake for small short-term gain to keep itself afloat and it's really sad. Oakwood has/had so much greater potential. First Interstate may have done a nice job in bringing retail to the city in its Steelyard Commons development, but the eastern suburbs have never had a lack of retail problem. We really don't need more retail like that part of Cleveland may have needed it. This development makes no sense in the bigger picture, it's simply a money grab for South Euclid because every little fiefdom in Cuyahoga County has to get a piece of the action and justify its existence. If South Euclid was/is having revenue problems, it should either completely merge with Lyndhurst or Cleveland Heights, or be split between the two. The story of Oakwood Commons is a perfect example of why we need to consolidate governments and prevent such duplication in Northeast Ohio.

If SB5 were going to set a precedent/standard moving forward that police, firefighters, and teachers would be working for peanuts, then it was never worth it. Let the state and local governments make other cuts and move money around in other ways to appropriate the funds necessary to ensure that classrooms and police and fire stations are not only staffed as necessary but the employees are fairly compensated for the work being done.

Does that include Denny's?! ;) This is such a waste. Ay-oh, way to go South Euclid!

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Kasich and the Ohio GOP shut everyone who didn't agree with them out of the process. The "compromise" offered in August was a political ploy that most people saw right through.

I'm surprised that you would advocate for such a plan. I think districts like Solon would send more to the state than they receive back. But anyways, for the reasons you cited, I would love it if Ohio moved in that direction for education funding. These constant levies can be really divisive. On a related, but still off-topic note, I was surprisingly pleased to see that not only did the CH-UH levy pass, but it did so by a somewhat significant margin. I thought for sure that thing was going down in flames.

Parking wasn't too bad yesterday on North Campus during the middle of the day. ;)

Yeah that's what I saw, too. I think it passed in Warren County, which is exurban Cincinnati. But beyond that, this issue was a complete dud and you have to hand it to Kasich for coming up with something that was so spectacularly bad that it united people across the spectrum to defeat it with around 60% of the vote.