On 7/19/2019 at 12:09 PM, surfohio said:

I take it you're not talking about the homeless encampment, or the skate ramps lol. 

 

More of a chemical than a biological nature.   :0

In the way of non-news, I find it interesting that GE has NOT sold GE Lighting and Nela Park.  They announced it was on the disposal list - what? - three years ago?   They couldn't sell it?  DoD objected to the rumored Chinese buyers? It just isn't big enough to matter? Or is it a diamond in the rough? Whatever the reason, two CEOs later, it's still in the corporate fold.

 

The new CEO is said to be of the small-headquarters school of management.  So unless there are undisclosed problems, it's not unreasonable that he sends the "sexy" part (GE Current) back to Nela Park. It would make organizational sense.  

 

If only there were a positive East Cleveland story to tell him.

1 hour ago, Dougal said:

In the way of non-news, I find it interesting that GE has NOT sold GE Lighting and Nela Park.  They announced it was on the disposal list - what? - three years ago?   They couldn't sell it?  DoD objected to the rumored Chinese buyers? It just isn't big enough to matter? Or is it a diamond in the rough? Whatever the reason, two CEOs later, it's still in the corporate fold.

 

The new CEO is said to be of the small-headquarters school of management.  So unless there are undisclosed problems, it's not unreasonable that he sends the "sexy" part (GE Current) back to Nela Park. It would make organizational sense.  

 

If only there were a positive East Cleveland story to tell him.

 

I'd love to tell him that area stakeholders (GCRTA, cities, CleClinic, UH, ODOT, county) were kicking in the $500M-$600M necessary to leverage a $400M-$500M federal grant to extend the Red Line to Euclid and give GE a direct link to the airport and to be an anchor for a clean-start transit-oriented light-manufacturing/innovation district along Noble at the tracks. Sadly, I can't.

19 hours ago, Dougal said:

In the way of non-news, I find it interesting that GE has NOT sold GE Lighting and Nela Park.  They announced it was on the disposal list - what? - three years ago?   They couldn't sell it?  DoD objected to the rumored Chinese buyers? It just isn't big enough to matter? Or is it a diamond in the rough? Whatever the reason, two CEOs later, it's still in the corporate fold.

 

The new CEO is said to be of the small-headquarters school of management.  So unless there are undisclosed problems, it's not unreasonable that he sends the "sexy" part (GE Current) back to Nela Park. It would make organizational sense.  

 

If only there were a positive East Cleveland story to tell him.

 

Current is no longer owned by GE. A private equity firm acquired it a few months ago. At some point, it will drop the GE name. For now at least, it still has offices at Nela Park and is still hiring.

 

GE Lighting is sill for sale and they are actively looking for buyers. The European lighting operations were jettisoned last year. 

I heard that Current has closed/is lclosing R&D centers in Europe and in Mexico to consolidate operations at Nela Park. 

3 hours ago, Mwd711 said:

 

Current is no longer owned by GE. A private equity firm acquired it a few months ago. At some point, it will drop the GE name. For now at least, it still has offices at Nela Park and is still hiring.

 

GE Lighting is sill for sale and they are actively looking for buyers. The European lighting operations were jettisoned last year. 

 

Thanks for the update.

 

I’m not trying to be a jerk, but what is there to bribe someone over in East Cleveland?

8 minutes ago, JB said:

I’m not trying to be a jerk, but what is there to bribe someone over in East Cleveland?

 

A friend of mine had to give a presentation to East Cleveland City Cleveland about a proposed development a few years ago. While one would expect them to ask a lot of dumb questions (because some City Council members invariable do, especially in incompetently run cities). But then they started putting my friend through the ringer, as if developing in East Cleveland was some sort of privilege for them. They started making all sorts of demands about paying extra for this and adding extra that, with crazy add-ons for signs (like a scroll for local news and notices) and so on. My friend said he never had to go through such crap in better-run cities, including Cleveland. After he walked out of the meeting, he never contacted them again. And what's worse, no city officials ever followed up with him to see if he was coming back.

@JB - Full details about the investigation weren't released by the FBI, but "city officials said the scope of the investigation involved demolition contracts."

 

For those who do not wish to go through Twitter to access the article, it is linked here.

 

For those who are like me and try to avoid giving views to Advance Publication...the FBI and HUD's Office of Inspector General were looking into allegations of bribery and fraud in East Cleveland and in 2017 federal prosecutors opened a grand jury investigation. As a part of that investigation, federal authorities interviewed former East Cleveland mayor, Gary Norton. Through that interview they informed him of the investigation and instructed Norton to only discuss their conversation and the investigation with his lawyer. The Feds allege that Norton ignored those instructions and discussed the investigation with his former assistant, Vanessa Veals. When asked by the feds if he discussed this case with anyone other than his lawyers, Norton denied he had.

 

However, court documents show that Norton did meet with Veals shortly after being interviewed and informed her of the investigation and his talk with the feds. The documents further allege that in July 2018 Norton emailed Veals several letters and asked that she place them on city letterhead then print and have them sent from an unidentified city employee. It is then alleged that Veals forged the signature of the unidentified employee and deleted the emails/attachments from Norton. It is also alleged that two months later Veals told another city offical about the investigation and the Norton interview.

 

The above is the basis of the obstruction charges as the alleged actions of Norton and Veals prevented the feds from collecting additional evidence in their investigation.

Edited December 15, 20204 yr by andrew0816

Those city officials are something else from the look of things. That city needs help and competent leadership. 

Blue-sky musing:  Am I correct in thinking there could be advantages to the residents of East Cleveland in dissolving their municipality and becoming a township?  It would simplify government, reducing cost and taxes, while transferring some functions to the county, which could, broadly speaking, afford to do a better job.

2 hours ago, Dougal said:

Blue-sky musing:  Am I correct in thinking there could be advantages to the residents of East Cleveland in dissolving their municipality and becoming a township?  It would simplify government, reducing cost and taxes, while transferring some functions to the county, which could, broadly speaking, afford to do a better job.

 

https://codes.ohio.gov/orc/118.31v1

 

Amelia, Ohio dissolved in response to a 1% tax increase

https://www.clermontsun.com/2020/12/21/amelia-council-repeals-income-tax-following-year-long-dissolution-transition

Edited January 6, 20214 yr by Foraker
added link

On 12/15/2020 at 11:42 AM, KJP said:

 

A friend of mine had to give a presentation to East Cleveland City Cleveland about a proposed development a few years ago. While one would expect them to ask a lot of dumb questions (because some City Council members invariable do, especially in incompetently run cities). But then they started putting my friend through the ringer, as if developing in East Cleveland was some sort of privilege for them. They started making all sorts of demands about paying extra for this and adding extra that, with crazy add-ons for signs (like a scroll for local news and notices) and so on. My friend said he never had to go through such crap in better-run cities, including Cleveland. After he walked out of the meeting, he never contacted them again. And what's worse, no city officials ever followed up with him to see if he was coming back.

East Cleveland needs to merge. It is too incompetent independently and it’s residents are suffering because of it

5 hours ago, inlovewithCLE said:

East Cleveland needs to merge. It is too incompetent independently and it’s residents are suffering because of it

 

East Cleveland is too incompetent, corrupt and delusional to know that it needs to merge. The city leaders there deluded themselves into thinking that they are masters over something. That they have some sort of power. They're masters over nothing, just a manor of exploited serfs.

24 minutes ago, KJP said:

 

East Cleveland is too incompetent, corrupt and delusional to know that it needs to merge. The city leaders there deluded themselves into thinking that they are masters over something. That they have some sort of power. They're masters over nothing, just a manor of exploited serfs.

Can the state step in?

17 minutes ago, inlovewithCLE said:

Can the state step in?

 

They have, at least with the schools. Sounds like the city needs to be taken over too.

I was at a meeting with EC leaders, including Brandon King, a few years ago. These people are completely delusional and cannot even accept a small amount of criticism or objective observation. They are convinced that outside forces are ruining the city. Now, a history of racism and redlining has contributed to their woes but they seem to not understand what their problems are and how to fix them.

The charter adopted by Cuyahoga County several years ago gives the county all the powers of a home-rule municipality. It cannot provide the services of a municipality in a municipality that doesn't want it to, but if, say, the residents of a municipality voted to dissolve, the county could assume the day-to-day running of the place in the same way that a city government would. It would make more sense for the county to develop this capability than it would for East Cleveland to be annexed to Cleveland. 

On 1/26/2021 at 10:09 AM, Vincent_G said:

The charter adopted by Cuyahoga County several years ago gives the county all the powers of a home-rule municipality. It cannot provide the services of a municipality in a municipality that doesn't want it to, but if, say, the residents of a municipality voted to dissolve, the county could assume the day-to-day running of the place in the same way that a city government would. It would make more sense for the county to develop this capability than it would for East Cleveland to be annexed to Cleveland. 

Completely disagree. It would be better for East Cleveland, Cleveland and the county for EC to merge. First of all, we already have too many cities in this county to begin with and we all know it. But also, East Cleveland is in a unique position of being a place of potential massive growth while also being uniquely unqualified and incompetent to capitalize on it. (What business would invest in an independent EC? You’d be a fool to do it now). With all of the massive investment going on in University Circle, eventually they WILL run out of room. And an EC controlled by the city of Cleveland is far more likely to benefit from that continued growth and expansion. Also, having a defunct EC right on the border of the south side of Collinwood hurts that neighborhood too. EC being part of Cleveland allows a continued and consistent development pattern. ALSO, because over half of EC is vacant, you could literally build whatever you choose and not have to worry about gentrification because many of the streets that you’re building on doesn’t have people on it anyway. AND Cleveland gets to get the population numbers of the people who ARE still there. Letting the county take it over does nothing for the city. East Cleveland needs to merge

55 minutes ago, inlovewithCLE said:

Completely disagree. It would be better for East Cleveland, Cleveland and the county for EC to merge. First of all, we already have too many cities in this county to begin with and we all know it. But also, East Cleveland is in a unique position of being a place of potential massive growth while also being uniquely unqualified and incompetent to capitalize on it. (What business would invest in an independent EC? You’d be a fool to do it now). With all of the massive investment going on in University Circle, eventually they WILL run out of room. And an EC controlled by the city of Cleveland is far more likely to benefit from that continued growth and expansion. Also, having a defunct EC right on the border of the south side of Collinwood hurts that neighborhood too. EC being part of Cleveland allows a continued and consistent development pattern. ALSO, because over half of EC is vacant, you could literally build whatever you choose and not have to worry about gentrification because many of the streets that you’re building on doesn’t have people on it anyway. AND Cleveland gets to get the population numbers of the people who ARE still there. Letting the county take it over does nothing for the city. East Cleveland needs to merge

I agree, they should merge. I don’t think the process for dissolution is any easier anyway.

 

I don’t think the state can force, or takeover a city like in other States. I remember back in the Kasich days they were offering $10 million to try and sweeten the pot for a merger. The stories from back then just seem nuts...

 

https://observer.case.edu/east-cleveland-merger-delay/

Perhaps when Cleveland get a younger, more aggressive mayor, the merger talks will be put back on the table.

49 minutes ago, skiwest said:

Perhaps when Cleveland get a younger, more aggressive mayor, the merger talks will be put back on the table.

Its really not an issue with Cleveland or its Mayor as much as it is with East Cleveland and its leadership's skewed view of the city they run and the condition its in. 

 

I wouldn't want a Cleveland Mayor to go after East Cleveland when there are still large swaths of Cleveland proper that need the same immediate attention that 85% of East Cleveland needs.

1 hour ago, skiwest said:

Perhaps when Cleveland get a younger, more aggressive mayor, the merger talks will be put back on the table.

I think neither Mayor Jackson nor Gov Kasich (who could have put an end to the follies) wanted to seem over-eager to extinguish EC's existence; the potential for bad press exceeded any short-term gain. The impetus will have to come from EC by way of government action or, unfortunately, some catastrophic failure of municipal services.

8 minutes ago, Dougal said:

I think neither Mayor Jackson nor Gov Kasich (who could have put an end to the follies) wanted to seem over-eager to extinguish EC's existence; the potential for bad press exceeded any short-term gain. The impetus will have to come from EC by way of government action or, unfortunately, some catastrophic failure of municipal services.

 

Yep. This is the boiling frog metaphor. If the city continues to fade slowly, no one notices. Get a sudden, catastrophic hit and then East Clevelanders may be motivated to act. Perhaps General Electric's closure of Nela Park or a large apartment building catching on fire with loss of life due to slow emergency response or a widespread case of corruption of city leaders/employees might motivate the city's merger.

Not sure if this would be considered catastrophic, but it could be potentially.

 

 https://fox8.com/news/i-team/local-fire-department-using-pickup-truck-for-ems/

5 hours ago, skiwest said:

Not sure if this would be considered catastrophic, but it could be potentially.

 

 https://fox8.com/news/i-team/local-fire-department-using-pickup-truck-for-ems/

 

I remember in the 1980s as the steel industry was dying and taking the Rust Belt with it, a Beaver Falls, Pa. fire truck broke down on the way to a fire at an abandoned house. The house burned to the ground. It was probably one of many mob insurance arsons since many homeowners couldn't find anyone to buy their homes. 

Is this more of a statement about East Cleveland in general or just the ECPD in particular? If it's about either, what to do next??

 

East Cleveland police officers accused of stealing from citizen identified

https://www.cleveland.com/crime/2021/07/east-cleveland-police-officers-accused-of-stealing-from-citizen-identified.html

Part of the long planned departure from East Cleveland since GE Current was spun off from General Electric.

 

GE Current’s move from Nela Park to Commerce Park seen as jolt to Beachwood’s economy

 

 

BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- City Council, on Monday (Aug. 30), passed three pieces of legislation that will welcome to the city the company GE Current, a move city leaders believe will transform the stale Commerce Park industrial park. The coming of GE Current fills 42,000 square feet in the vacant, northern portion of the mammoth, 116,000-square-foot former Jo-Ann Fabrics building at 23550 Commerce Park.

 

The large southern portion of the building, which faces Mercantile Road, houses Beachwood’s public service department. The Solon firm Industrial Commercial Property (ICP) bought the northern portion of the building from the city earlier this year for $2.7 million with the intention of filling the huge space. GE Current will use about 32,000 square feet of the space it will lease from ICP as its corporate headquarter offices, and the remaining 10,000 square feet as laboratory space.

Edited August 31, 20213 yr by seicer

6 hours ago, seicer said:

Part of the long planned departure from East Cleveland since GE Current was spun off from General Electric.

 

GE Current’s move from Nela Park to Commerce Park seen as jolt to Beachwood’s economy

 

 

BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- City Council, on Monday (Aug. 30), passed three pieces of legislation that will welcome to the city the company GE Current, a move city leaders believe will transform the stale Commerce Park industrial park. The coming of GE Current fills 42,000 square feet in the vacant, northern portion of the mammoth, 116,000-square-foot former Jo-Ann Fabrics building at 23550 Commerce Park.

 

The large southern portion of the building, which faces Mercantile Road, houses Beachwood’s public service department. The Solon firm Industrial Commercial Property (ICP) bought the northern portion of the building from the city earlier this year for $2.7 million with the intention of filling the huge space. GE Current will use about 32,000 square feet of the space it will lease from ICP as its corporate headquarter offices, and the remaining 10,000 square feet as laboratory space.

 

Where was the county’s department of regional collaboration on this? 

"Death by 1000 Cuts:  Beachwood's Incentives for GE Current's Move from Nela Park Stabs East Cleveland Again"

I would think that it is more related to GE Current not being part of General Electric. I never recognized it as such, but East Cleveland was heavily dependent on General Electric - almost like it was a company town. Besides Nela Park, GE had significant factories all around the city (and Cleveland) that are all gone. GE was as much responsible for East Cleveland's decline as any entity, but a lot in recent decades has been self-inflicted. I'm not sure any company would want to be associated with the city considering its serious mishaps.

poaching is sad.

 

rta should have had a shovel ready plan to expand the red line to take advantage of uncle joe's infrastructure $$$.

 

it wouldn't have hurt.

East Cleveland shouldn’t exist as an independent city anymore. They need to merge with Cleveland. Period. I don’t have any sympathy for them on this. Another GE division will still be at Nela but we know it’s only a matter of time, especially with the city in the states that it’s in. They need to merge. EC is a disaster

On 9/1/2021 at 7:06 PM, mrnyc said:

poaching is sad.

 

rta should have had a shovel ready plan to expand the red line to take advantage of uncle joe's infrastructure $$$.

 

it wouldn't have hurt.

 

There was a great plan put forward (https://www.centerforcleveland.org/red-line), but RTA being RTA has no vision or interest do anything with the rail system, even with uncle joe's free infrastructure $$$.

 

35 minutes ago, Pugu said:

 

There was a great plan put forward (https://www.centerforcleveland.org/red-line), but RTA being RTA has no vision or interest do anything with the rail system, even with uncle joe's free infrastructure $$$.

RTA being RTA, it has no vision or interest in doing anything, rail or bus system.  The last truly innovative project was the Health Line and that has turned into a disappointment.  The CSU and MetroHealth lines are basically sponsored bus routes.  Other than that, it has been cutbacks, route eliminations and ad campaigns dressing up their same old basic services.  I wonder if they really have an active long range planning department.  I have seen stuff proposed, but nothing comes of it.  I don't think they have enough in the way of in-depth documentation and information to put together presentations to go out and pursue funding sources or seek Federal funding.  By the time they were to get their act together, the funding opportunities will have closed.

 

Eighteen and a half years of "leadership" by Calabrese and his underlings that still remain in influential positions within RTA has sucked the life out of that organization. 

6 hours ago, inlovewithCLE said:

East Cleveland shouldn’t exist as an independent city anymore. They need to merge with Cleveland. Period. I don’t have any sympathy for them on this. Another GE division will still be at Nela but we know it’s only a matter of time, especially with the city in the states that it’s in. They need to merge. EC is a disaster

and what benefit would Cleveland get by taking up East Cleveland? The population addition aint gonna bring up Cleveland's to 400,000. It's just going to add more to the poverty numbers on Cleveland's budge while stretching more services. 

East Cleveland's enormous challenges do not simply stop at its borders. The sh*ttier it gets, the more Glenville, Collinwood, Euclid, Richmond Heights and Cleveland Heights are infected by blight, crime, disinvestments, tax base flight, etc. 

 

A restructuring, aka dissolution, of its government and increased funding for fire, police, utilities, some road repair, etc, can only help the region. 

Long term, East Cleveland is well positioned to be a thriving neighborhood with its excellent proximity and access to University Circle.  Bringing it under Cleveland's umbrella will help move it in that direction.  Of course, East Cleveland will be a project, and Cleveland already has no shortage of project neighborhoods.

45 minutes ago, X said:

Long term, East Cleveland is well positioned to be a thriving neighborhood with its excellent proximity and access to University Circle.  Bringing it under Cleveland's umbrella will help move it in that direction.  Of course, East Cleveland will be a project, and Cleveland already has no shortage of project neighborhoods.

 

I agree. And I know this is the E CLE thread not the mayoral election thread, but which of the seven candidates would be best positioned to convince E Cleveland to give it up and be best at really turning things around? Could this be something that only Kucinich actually get done as he won't tolerate or be pushed around by nonsense? I see all the other six not going near this out fear it will be an utter failure for both CLE and East CLE.

 

2 hours ago, AsDustinFoxWouldSay said:

and what benefit would Cleveland get by taking up East Cleveland? The population addition aint gonna bring up Cleveland's to 400,000. It's just going to add more to the poverty numbers on Cleveland's budge while stretching more services. 

Stretching of services for other cities due to East Cleveland's problems is already happening.  How many mutual aid calls originate from that city as they don't have enough operational equipment to handle calls?  I believe that the Cuyahoga County Sheriff already (or has) done regular patrols.  It seems like many within East Cleveland that are resisting a merger are doing so as it wouldn't "serve" there own personal interests.  That resistance is not making living any better for that city's residents.

 

Cuyahoga County has too many municipalities.  Between the cities, villages and townships, there are 59 in total.  There are municipalities that should not exist.  They duplicate overhead and the costs to support that overhead would be much better spent on providing actual services.  Right of the top, there are five that due to a combination of area, population and revenue that should be merged with others:  Linndale, East Cleveland, Woodmere, Newburgh Heights and North Randall.

 

When that city eventually loses its last major revenue producing company in what remains of GE, how much more financial support will East Cleveland require to exist?  Even with state or county revenue/assistance, all it will do is to continue to exist but it really won't be functioning.

 

On 8/31/2021 at 3:57 PM, Foraker said:

Where was the county’s department of regional collaboration on this? 

"Death by 1000 Cuts:  Beachwood's Incentives for GE Current's Move from Nela Park Stabs East Cleveland Again"

 

By reading that article, it appears that GE Current management had already made the decision to leave East Cleveland and Nela Park.  They were shopping for the best incentive package that would suit them and the company.  GE Current's management already knew that East Cleveland is in no position to offer any incentives to stay.  Even without factoring in any incentive package, the state of East Cleveland could have been big factor in causing them to leave Nela Park in the first place.  

 

At least GE Current is staying in the area and not moving out of state.

3 hours ago, Pugu said:

 

I agree. And I know this is the E CLE thread not the mayoral election thread, but which of the seven candidates would be best positioned to convince E Cleveland to give it up and be best at really turning things around? Could this be something that only Kucinich actually get done as he won't tolerate or be pushed around by nonsense? I see all the other six not going near this out fear it will be an utter failure for both CLE and East CLE.

 

 

If you know this isn't the mayoral election thread, then why don't you ask this question there?

21 minutes ago, X said:

 

If you know this isn't the mayoral election thread, then why don't you ask this question there?

 

Because it is more about East Cleveland than it is about the future mayor. I added the qualifier there so it wasn't immediately redirected to that thread. Its a non-issue in the mayoral campaign. But for those of us interested in talking about East Cleveland and its future and its impact on all of Cleveland, it is relevant to think about who sits in city hall.

I disagree, and think you're just pulling this thread off topic.

6 hours ago, AsDustinFoxWouldSay said:

and what benefit would Cleveland get by taking up East Cleveland? The population addition aint gonna bring up Cleveland's to 400,000. It's just going to add more to the poverty numbers on Cleveland's budge while stretching more services. 

 

What do you suggest should happen to East Cleveland?

6 hours ago, AsDustinFoxWouldSay said:

and what benefit would Cleveland get by taking up East Cleveland? The population addition aint gonna bring up Cleveland's to 400,000. It's just going to add more to the poverty numbers on Cleveland's budge while stretching more services. 

There are so many people here who have smartly responded that there’s no need for me to address this 

6 hours ago, X said:

Long term, East Cleveland is well positioned to be a thriving neighborhood with its excellent proximity and access to University Circle.  Bringing it under Cleveland's umbrella will help move it in that direction.  Of course, East Cleveland will be a project, and Cleveland already has no shortage of project neighborhoods.

I actually don’t think it would take that long to fix EC if it was part of Cleveland. We already know the explosive demand that UC has. And it could stretch to EC with no problem because you don’t have to deal with as much of the sensitive issues of displacement/gentrification that you have in other neighborhoods close to UC. EC is a city built for 50,000 people that has 14,000 people in it. There’s whole streets that are either vacant or with one or two households with actual people in it. It’s the closest thing to a blank canvas that you could get in a fully developed county. But it’ll never happen with EC as an independent city. No one with money and a fully functioning brain would heavily invest in an independent EC

Edited September 7, 20213 yr by inlovewithCLE

Over the years I've known and worked with several people from East Cleveland, and they all drink the same coolade. They are convinced East Cleveland is great and everything *gestures vaguely* is some conspiracy to shut down the town and sell it to rich developers. 

 

There was literally a rallying cry Saturday on FB to stop the city from blocking off streets thay nobody lives on anymore.

13 hours ago, Pugu said:

 

I agree. And I know this is the E CLE thread not the mayoral election thread, but which of the seven candidates would be best positioned to convince E Cleveland to give it up and be best at really turning things around? Could this be something that only Kucinich actually get done as he won't tolerate or be pushed around by nonsense? I see all the other six not going near this out fear it will be an utter failure for both CLE and East CLE.

 

 

To be really blunt (kind of my role around here at times), the current political "leadership" of EC would undoubtedly play the race card with Kucinich or Kelley.   

 

Pressure from the state makes it more likely to happen.  Zack has the closest ties to the state GOP, and they run things for the foreseeable future.

Edited September 7, 20213 yr by E Rocc

8 hours ago, KJP said:

 

What do you suggest should happen to East Cleveland?

Let Cleveland Heights, Euclid or other bordering suburbs take it on. Cleveland has enough blight on the east side already, it doesn't need another.