Luke_S

That may be the effect of majority minority districts but that's not the point of the VRA. If we were to get rid of districts entirely to distribute representatives proportionally it would not obviously violate the VRA because minority political power wouldn't be intentionally diluted through gerrymandering efforts of the state legislature. Arguably minority voices would be more represented because it would be a live possibility that a third party wins representation in a proportional system.

Okay, so that funding is out there. Seems like RTA has an ally in the Bibb administration. It's still early so hard to say exactly what ways he will support the agency, but seems like nominating people to the board who are actual riders seems a good place to start. Hopefully a new administration at the county level will be an ally. How far do those two things get us? If not very far who is needed where to be able to bring this money in so our transit can be appropriately funded?

Anyone have a good map of bike trails/lanes for Cleveland?

Glad that rumor isn't true. Still concerned about Jimmy's meddling though.

This originally made me feel better about the process, then I saw the following article on Twitter -https://www.profootballnetwork.com/if-baker-mayfield-is-traded-what-nfl-team-is-his-preferred-landing-spot/ "The Browns are currently courting Deshaun Watson and finished their meeting with Watson in Houston on Tuesday afternoon, according to sources who spoke to PFN Insider Aaron Wilson. Pauline reported that he was told Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has been the driving force in the Browns’ attempt to bring Watson to Cleveland, as he believes the soon-to-be-former Houston Texan is the missing piece of the Super Bowl puzzle." I believe Berry wouldn't follow through with this for the reasons you outlined above. I do not believe Jimmy has those same restraints... I thought he learned his lesson and was done interfering.

Hopefully there are some new riders in the mix and its not all returning riders, and RTA is able to hold on to them... Could be some positive momentum for them. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/gcrta-sees-ridership-increase-as-fuel-prices-soar

NPR with an update on the Lorain Naval Shipyards. "Industrial revenue bonds in Ohio will pay for the project, and the U.S. Navy will lease purchase the buildings over 30 years. Contractors have not yet been selected, but Bartlett says it will be 100 percent union labor. Groundbreaking is scheduled for this fall with operations in Lordstown starting in two years and in three to four years in Lorain." This makes it sound like the project is going forward, but there's no mention of buy-in from the US Navy? https://www.ideastream.org/news/maritime-company-proposes-major-naval-facilities-in-lorain-and-lordstown

A bit surprised there wasn't already a topic for Akron music already (if there is any I just missed it, apologies, please redirect this post there). Anyway, a good way to kick this off might be with a podcast on Akron's music legacy. WKSU has a right up about the podcast below. https://www-wksu-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.wksu.org/arts-culture/2022-02-10/akrons-history-comes-alive-through-music-in-podcast-performance-series?_amp=true And here is a link to the actual podcasts site https://www.rootsofamericanmusic.org/rootsrearview In more contemporary news, the Akron Symphony is collaborating with Earthquaker Devices for an electric orchestra concert. For those that don't know, Earthquaker is a boutique effect pedal manufacturer, making pedals for electric guitars and synths by hand in Akron. Check out the article below, there is a video of a solo violinist playing through the effect pedals, I was pleasantly surprised. https://www.wksu.org/shuffle/2022-03-03/earthquaker-symphony-creates-a-confluence-of-classical-and-electronic-music

How does this square with your reporting on Bedrock moving on this property? Is Crain's behind or did something change since your initial reporting?

Not totally surprising that the initial proposed budget exceeds revenues given the situation Bibb inherited--from understaffing of police, fire, and EMT, to the maintenance backlog of old and outdated systems/hardware. But this is something to keep an eye on... From Nick's reporting it sounds like a productive session with City Council. And given Bibb's background I would assume he's planning the city's finances for more than a year in advance. ideastream: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb presents budget proposal to city council. https://www.ideastream.org/news/cleveland-mayor-justin-bibb-presents-budget-proposal-to-city-council

And on the freight side of things. https://www.cleveland19.com/2022/02/22/port-cleveland-is-multi-million-dollar-infrastructure-project-works/ "With container volumes up now more than ever, the port will undertake a $20 million project focused on repairing the port’s decades-old docks where the vessels come in. ... These improvements are expected to last the next 30 to 40 years. They will be complete by early April 2023. Port officials said they are also working to add bulk liquid cargo to their operations."

How far will this go towards addressing our maintenance backlog? Cleveland transit gets $22 million from bipartisan infrastructure bill https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/02/cleveland-transit-gets-22-million-from-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill.html

Could you pass along that link?

Yup, the frames are up.

Key quotes from the cleveland.com article I posted earlier. So Bartlett is driving it, but because he identified a need for additional maintenance capacity for the navy.

This could be a big investment in some under invested areas and would hopefully bring some tourism dollars along with it. Rep. Tim Ryan seeks national designation for Buckeye Trail in Ohio https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/02/rep-tim-ryan-seeks-national-designation-for-buckeye-trail-in-ohio.html

Thanks for that detail. You can get the Total Short Tons from 2015 through 2019 from the Department of Transportation statistics site here. 2015 - 13,697,162 2016 - 12,422,548 2017 - 13,314,224 2018 - 11,778,910 2019 - 11,880,935

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZhYab9pXJ9/?utm_medium=share_sheet Their Instagram post is a nice summary, says 2021 was the second highest general cargo terminal volume in the past 10 years. It would seem it was a good year regardless of the base comparison year.

Between this and the potential submarine maintenance facility in Lordstown Youngstown could have a budding defense industry sector. ACME General creates defense technology development center in Youngstown https://www.crainscleveland.com/manufacturing/acme-general-creates-defense-technology-development-center-youngstown

Some positive news on the efforts to bring the submarine dry dock to Lorain - backing by Ohio Congressional leaders. https://www.cleveland.com/business/2022/02/following-proposal-from-lorain-ohio-congressional-leaders-ask-navy-to-consider-great-lakes-for-submarine-shipyard.html

I would assume all amusement park operators are similarly struggling. The Crain's article also mentions that Sea World is bullish on post-COVID performance of amusement parks, I would think Cedar Fair has a similar outlook. So I hope you're right, and they turn down this offer. That park was struggling, I don't believe Cedar Point is (COVID not withstanding), I don't think Sea World closing the park is the greatest concern. Cedar Fair has been a good partner to Sandusky recently, partnering with the city to make capital improvements and investing in BG nearby to create a hospitality management program. I would think that those initiatives and programs go away overnight if this deal goes through. Along with the corporate salaries (though the corporate offices weren't that large). @cadmen, mentioned that there were hints that the HQ might be on the way out of Sandusky anyway. Their HQ was a small building on site and very outdate, I believe they planned on moving it recently. Given the commitments they had made in Sandusky and that the company views Cedar Point as their flagship park I'm not sure I buy that they're slowly moving out if the sale doesn't go through.

Keep reading and context is provided as to why he supported Kelly over Bibb... "In a text message Weingart wrote that his company contributed to the PAC in order to oppose Issue 24, the police oversight charter amendment. Bibb supported the amendment, while Kelley made opposition to the amendment a central piece of his general election campaign message."

Looks like the US Coast Guard's 9th District vessels are mostly repaired/serviced in Maryland? I understand the Navy and Coast Guard are separate entities, but would make quite a bit of sense to move repairs of the Great Lakes fleet to the Lorain facility if it goes through. Would be a huge time (and probably money) saver. https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Programs/Surface-Programs/In-Service-Vessel-Sustainment-Program/

Anyone know where the Great Lakes Coast Guard fleet is repaired and maintained? Could that work be picked up by this shipyard in the future?