Pugu

^Looks like Ross DiBello found 195 people (besides himself) to support him!

I know---but the polls are still open for 5 more hours--and wasn't the expectation of a 10% turnout? So this is good.

That photo was indeed the bar area. Look how small the tables are. I loved that restaurant and really hope a new restaurant opens up in that space as planned. There's no other venue in CLE like it. Even the bar at the top of the Hilton is just that--a bar, though with some things to nibble on.

Polls open til 730 tonight! Huge turnout so far in West Park--18%. High in Mt. Pleasant too at 13%. https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/en-US/livevoter.aspx

Its about time we got a "W" Hotel Downtown! "The looming redevelopment of the 40-story Tower at Erieview will bring a W hotel — a luxury brand — to downtown Cleveland. Members of the Kassouf family have inked a deal with Marriott International Inc. to add a 210-room W to the project. The Kassoufs are planning a $90 million-plus revamp of the 1960s office tower, where apartments, lodging and a 38th-floor restaurant will fill ample vacancies. Operated by Marriott, the W would be downtown's second luxury hotel. The only other property of that caliber in the central business district is the Ritz-Carlton Cleveland, which opened in 1991 and was renovated a few years ago....." https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/tower-erieview-makeover-will-include-w-luxury-hotel "...The W will fill the tower's lower eight or nine floors, transforming the lobby into a sort of lounge, with soft furniture, mood lighting and a bar. The hotel plans call for a 15,000-square-foot ballroom and event center, along with a full-service spa and gym....."

That's the Cleveland skyline in 2030, looking north. The twin towers there on the right are at E 22 and Prospect.

I believe that number is for the full county. For the city it is 13,506. Ballots will still roll in after election day and if postmarked by the deadline, will still be counted.

It starts at the top. Birdsong came with much fanfare, but she hasn't proven to be even a decent leader for RTA. How many years left on her contract?

10-7.

That's great there's a new garden. How big is the Colombian community in Cleveland?

I too like ranked-choice voting and would like to see us do that in coming elections. @Boomerang_Brian -- thanks for list and rationale. We still have two days, and i'm leaning towards your #2--Sandra Williams. She's made some mistakes in the past (including pocketing profits from some football tickets paid for with campaign funds and your note about HB 6), but all of the candidates have their issues. Regarding the other 2 on your top 3: Bibb lied (or blatantly decided to play dumb) on financial disclosures and is woefully out-of-touch with reality; Kelley is the "safe" choice but not very dynamic and we may get more the same. FWIW, my #2 is either Kelley or your #372,624--Kucinich--as he's the only one who really understands how things are--and I attribute this to his age and experience--and he's not gonna be pushed around or compromised by things. Anyway, I'm not voting til Tuesday so may still change my mind between now and then, but that's where my thinking is at the moment.

Shipping company Spliethoff will provide monthly container-only service through the St. Lawrence Seaway between CLE and Antwerp. Their existing service was not container-only, but a mix of stuff including loose bulk. Service started Sept 7 or so. https://www.crainscleveland.com/government/port-cleveland-adds-first-great-lakes-container-only-shipping-route-europe

The account administrator is required to take out a minimum of 30% for the IRS at the point of distribution (10% fee + 20% tax). You may elect to have a greater amount taken (if you know you're in a higher bracket). Generally state taxes are not withheld.

Perhaps the obvious---what the $3500 if left in the market could be in 30 yrs vs the savings in interest on $3500 less 30% on student loan debt.

In lieu of the justice center or another court house? And why? Better ventilation system?

A jury on Friday found former Cuyahoga County Jail director Ken Mills guilty of negligently mismanaging the jail and lying to Cuyahoga County Council in the run-up to a historic series of inmate deaths in 2018. The man who once ran the jail now faces a potential sentence of nine months behind bars.....The trial featured 28 witnesses over nine days of testimony that spanned three weeks in the Global Center for Health Innovation." https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/2021/09/jury-convicts-ex-cuyahoga-county-jail-director-for-mismanaging-jail-lying-to-county-council.html Why was the trial held at the Global Center (Medical Mart) instead of a court house?

KJP, see the post by@LifeLongClevelander right above yours. Its right on target. So as a "GCRTA board member" who contributed to the decline of RTA and public transit in Cleveland, he learned those things? He should have learned how to fill out a financial ethics form that he apparently didn't learn about at Case Law. We should not be attacking each other here. We are seeking what's best for the city and need to elect the best possible person from the list of seven that we have or at least not electing the worst possible person.

I've said nothing false. I've listed to both debates, all of Nick Castelle's "After Jackson"'s and other speeches/discussions, plus my own analysis of what each person has said, has NOT said, or is implying and shared this analysis with others, just as many others do all the time. And I openly provide links and sources. You disagree with them--that's your prerogative. But if the wrong person lands in City Hall, it will hurt all of us. I share my thoughts because i don't want us to suffer more as a city by electing the "Dennis the Menace" of the 2020s---a young, inexperienced 20 or 30-year old who doesn't know what's what but can spout current conditions like transit is important cause people need it to get to work or to get to doctor's appointments.....Yeah, that's useful.

My point was using tax dollars for stadiums is not a fresh idea. A "fresh idea" would be a different funding source. And if Bibb is "being honest" here, so is Zack Reed and Kucinich and everyone else except DiBellow. Here's the full list of responses: Should tax dollars be used to upgrade Progressive Field? Justin Bibb Yes Ross DiBello No Basheer Jones Yes Kevin Kelley Yes Dennis Kucinich Yes Zack Reed Yes Sandra Williams Yes Source: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/2021-cleveland-mayoral-race/mayoral-candidates-weigh-in-on-future-of-lakefront-ballpark-west-side-market-utilities

Thanks Ethan! I did listen again and did now hear the part about state funding. Ethan's right is all cut up in a weird way. I did not hear it before. But the parking meter stuff is there and is baffling. I'm certainly not a liar---if I was a liar I certainly would not add a link and a timestamp! Anyways, hopefully only six more days of this---then its down to the top two!

wow....people hear what they want to hear. I recommend you listen again and keep an open mind. He said what he said.

I get it. It sounds so crazy that asking for the source is fully understandable. To me its mind boggling how everyone just gives Bibb a pass on the sh!t he says that makes no sense. He said it on Nick Castelle's series "After Jackson": "Mayoral Candidate Interviews With Dennis Kucinich And Justin Bibb On "After Jackson" Podcast" Its at about timestamp 40:56 at https://www.ideastream.org/programs/sound-of-ideas/mayoral-candidate-interviews-with-dennis-kucinich-and-justin-bibb-on-after-jackson-podcast

A five year old would sound like a fresh air cause he/she is saying things different than 60-year olds. That doesn't mean the five year old should be mayor. LISTEN to what he is saying that is "fresh air"---does it really make sense? I'll give you a transit example since you're a transit guy: In one interview asked about getting more money to RTA, he said he would fund RTA not by going to the state to get more money---but instead--"installing new tech in parking meters that will bring in millions". I doubt parking revenues will increase by millions net of what "tech" upgrades will cost. But ultimately the city of cleveland has its own money issues--if it does get net positive parking revenue, it will be used by the city, not handed over to RTA. Bibb says this because he is CLUELESS about how things really work---and mind you, he was on the RTA Board--which means he's REALLY REALLY CLUELESS. The stuff he says is nonsensical. If given the job, he will be an utter disaster.

Fresh ideas are not always good ideas. Bibb is too clueless to run the city in the right direction. He's the young Kucinich of the 2020's except less of a hot head. I realize its too late for your ballot, and those already cast for him, but I hope he finishes #3 or lower.... Also--how's this for "fresh ideas"? Should tax dollars be used to upgrade Progressive Field? Bibb: Yes DiBello: No (source: WEWS)

East CLE only got $26.6 million in covid funds. CLE got $511.7 million. CLE has needs of its own that far exceed $512M. EC will probably use their $27M to pay themselves bonuses and salaries. Maybe buy one ambulance or two. I don't think we can trust EC to use that money for the public good. In any event, it will take far more than EC's $27M to fix what's needed to make the merger practical for the City of Cleveland. I'd say a grant of $200M-$250M from the state to the city of Cleveland would be required. Is the State of Ohio paying ANYTHING right now to keep EC afloat as a separate entity? If it is, even the state may see it cheaper for them (the state) in the long run to just give the cash to Cleveland to absorb EC.