Figured I'd start a new thread on this article since it doesn't quite fit in the other areas....not to mention it some more positive news about Cleveland for everyone! 

 

Cleveland's sustainability ranking improves dramatically in national survey

Posted by Michael Scott/Plain Dealer Reporter

September 22, 2008 23:45PM

 

Cleveland moved up 12 spots to 16th in a national poll ranking environmentally sustainable cities. Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer

 

We're all still chasing Portland as America's most environmentally sustainable city -- but Cleveland is apparently greening, a national study says.

 

Cleveland -- cited by researchers for doing "a heck of a job" in taking its ecological health seriously -- jumped 12 places from a year ago to finish 16th among the 50 largest U.S. cities, according to online environmental advocate, SustainLane.

 

"We were very happy to see what areas we were recognized for -- like an overall green economy and for using local foods," said Andrew Watterson, Cleveland's sustainability program manager.

 

On the other hand, Watterson said, the city's poor showing in planning and land use -- 43rd out of 50 cities -- was a nagging reminder that it has been hard to change our sprawling ways.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/09/clevelands_sustainability_rank.html

Whats up with all this positive Ohio press lately? Im getting scared lol

Wow, we're getting up there! When I saw last years ranking, I was surprised that we were only 28. Columbus also moved up in the rankings and went from last (50th) to 30th.

Awsome Cleveland! I'm glad to see Cleveland getting on the positive road for a change!

State of Sustainability 2009

Submitted by David Beach  |  Last edited February 21, 2009 - 5:11pm

 

The state of the sustainability community in Greater Cleveland is strong. It’s getting stronger, more mainstream, and more influential every day. And it is leading our region to a better future.

 

The staff members of the GreenCityBlueLake Institute — with input from many others — have compiled the <a href="http://www.gcbl.org/sos2009">following summary </a>of some of the most significant sustainability accomplishments in 2008 and goals for 2009. <a href="http://www.gcbl.org/sos2009">The report </a>includes items from the many issue areas of sustainability, including arts and culture, building, economy, education, energy, food, health, land, transportation, and water. It also includes suggestions for longer term goals to be accomplished by the year 2019, the 50th anniversary of the Cuyahoga River fire. In addition, it includes the first calculation of a Genuine Progress Indicator for the region.

 

The report was released at the Institute’s annual “Emerge” celebration on Feb. 21, 2009, at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The Institute plans to update the report annually with community input, so it will become a living document.

More improvements to Cleveland's Sustainability:

 

 

Cleveland adopts local food incentives

Submitted by Marc Lefkowitz

 

Today’s Cleveland-Cuyahoga Food Policy Coalition meeting shed light on Cleveland’s new policy to attract and create local, sustainable business. New legislation allows the city to offer a 5% discount to local food businesses bidding for city contracts.

 

Since most bids are decided by 5% or less, a discount for being a certified Local Sustainable Business—a process that will be determined by the Cleveland Office of Sustainability—will offer a ‘huge’ advantage, said one staffer at the city.

 

 

“We see the West Side Market as a perfectly centralized distribution point,” he said. “It could be where local farmers and purchasers like us have a marketplace a few times a week.”

 

http://www.gcbl.org/blog/marc-lefkowitz/cleveland-adopts-local-food-incentives

^Thanks for posting that- interesting stuff.

 

I thought this was encouraging:

 

Local food is not available at the West Side Market. That’s an opportunity, said Ben Bebenroth, chef and co-owner of Spice of Life Catering, which provides a local and seasonal menu for big events. Bebenroth is working with urban farmers and restaurateurs like Flying Fig chef/owner Karen Small to change the model of the market back to what it once was: A place for local food.

 

Local food is not available at the West Side Market. 

 

That is just completely not true.  Local PRODUCE is not typically offered/available, but the rest of the food there is vastly, overwhelmingly local.  Is beef, pork or chicken not a food?  Pasta? Bread?  Come on.

^Is the meat offered at most of the stalls from local producers?  I thought most of it came through conventional supply chains, but that would be awesome if I were mistaken!  I guess it's more complicated when you're talking about locally made sausages that are composed by non-local meat.

 

 

It depends on which stands you shop but all the stands I shop at, the meat comes from local Ohio farms, or no further away than eastern pennsylvania.  My thanksgiving turkey comes from a farm in PA.  My pork comes from a farmer in Sandusky.  Etc.  re: locally made sausages with non-local meat, that's kind of where you go ok, at least I am supporting a local business - CityRoast coffee is a great example.  Obviously they're not growing the coffee here, but they're a local roaster, so by buying from them, I support local in and how I can since there's nobody growing any coffee here.  same thing with products from the Mediterranean grocery.  The vast majority of the WSM inside vendors fall into 2 of those categories.  I have yet to come across anyone just re-selling factory farmed meat such like Tyson chicken or Smithfield pork as you'd get in the grocery store.  If I ask and they can't tell me where the meat is raised and processed, I don't buy from them.

Oh - the bison I buy is from out of state, I believe it's from Montana.  i have tried 2 other local suppliers for bison (not at the WSM, at other markets) and I didn't like the product so I do buy the out of state bison.

^Thanks for the info- that's all great to hear.  Sounds like the article was referring to just the produce selection, but they should have specified instead of dingin' half the market!

I understand wanting to eat local foods.  But I don't like the idea of trying to force the market to be something that it isn't.  I really think the charm of the market is its ability to draw a diverse crowd (vendors and shoppers).  Cheap produce is the fuel that drives that engine.

^I think the goal would be to add local produce as a choice to make the market offerings more diverse.  R&R can correct me, but I believe the knock on the market from foodies is that the produce is kind of a let down compared to the interior stalls.  So so quality and not a whole lot of differentiation among the vendors.  I know the market failed my Poblano pepper test last fall.

Produce is NOT what draws people to the WSM.  Anyone who has been any kind of regular shopper there for years knows that you either don't buy produce there, or if you do, you have to use it that day.  They buy from the same place the grocery stores buy produce from, only the big stores get first pick.  Seriously, I don't know anyone who is a regular, knowledgeable WSM shopper who depends on getting their produce from there. The only reason local isn't offered there is because the stands doing the selling would have to go out and find local people to buy from instead of just going to the central point warehouse where everyone else goes.  That's what farmer's markets are for.  Honestly, the produce at the WSM could dry up and blow away and I really don't think it would affect sales at the market that much.

I believe that knock is probably well-deserved.  I just wouldn't want the market to change into a place that caters too much to foodies at the expense of providing ridiculously cheap produce to a wide variety of people.  Also, poblanos now available at the western-most produce stand on the north side!

^Thanks for the tip about the poblanos!  I hear ya, I certainly don't want the WSM to become Pike Place market, but I think there's room for everyone.  I've never been, but there does seem to be one organic produce vendor already: http://www.thebasketeria.com/

 

Any reviews from UOers?

Actually, it's kind of funny after all I said because that's the stand I buy most of my stuff from.  They have a wide selection of herbs for a dollar.  They also sometimes have tubs of arugula for a dollar.  The lady who runs it is always very friendly and they carry a broad variety of produce at really low prices.

Basketeria is the only one I buy produce from :)

Produce is NOT what draws people to the WSM. Anyone who has been any kind of regular shopper there for years knows that you either don't buy produce there, or if you do, you have to use it that day. They buy from the same place the grocery stores buy produce from, only the big stores get first pick. Seriously, I don't know anyone who is a regular, knowledgeable WSM shopper who depends on getting their produce from there. The only reason local isn't offered there is because the stands doing the selling would have to go out and find local people to buy from instead of just going to the central point warehouse where everyone else goes. That's what farmer's markets are for. Honestly, the produce at the WSM could dry up and blow away and I really don't think it would affect sales at the market that much.

I guess I couldn't tell you what every single person is thinking when they are at the market, but I'm pretty sure the produce sells pretty well.  I buy all of mine there because it's cheap, especially when it comes to things like fruit and herbs.

Interesting. Most people I know who shop there know not to shop there for produce because what they buy goes bad so fast, or they get a bag full of whatevers and the items at the bottom are rotten.  It's cheap because it's on its last legs.

When I lived on W. 44th, I always bought all my produce at the market, actually 99% of my food.

This was 2003, but I never had a problem with spoilage or bad produce

If you google "bad produce at the west side market" you'll find plenty of reports similar to what I'm describing on the internets.  I'm glad you've had good experiences, but I stand by my opinion that most people know not to buy produce there unless there's really no way to get to another store.

Fair enough, but lets all get back on topic

Interesting. Most people I know who shop there know not to shop there for produce because what they buy goes bad so fast, or they get a bag full of whatevers and the items at the bottom are rotten. It's cheap because it's on its last legs.

 

If you know what you're doing, it is easy to get good produce there. I know what you're saying though--there's a few stands where the ladies just throw stuff in the bag before you can check it out.

 

Regarding the WSM, there is very cool stuff brewing regarding produce from local urban farms.

Don't know if anyone saw this or if it was posted anywhere else, but this ordinance is on City Council's agenda tonight and up for passage.....

 

 

Ord. No. 89-11

 

By Council Members Kelley, Cleveland, and Sweeney (by departmental request)

 

Authorizing the Director of Public Utilities to license and/or lease certain space located in Tower City Center from Forest City Commercial Management, Inc., acting as authorized agent for Tower City Avenue, LLC, for a term of two years, with one option to renew for an additional one year period exercisable by the Director of Public Utilities, for the public purpose of relocating the Office of Sustainability to Tower City Center to be in place with other sustainability related organizations.

 

Remarks by Director of Public Utilities Department:  See Legislation.

 

Things that make you go Hmmm

Cleveland Commits To 100% Clean Energy By 2050

https://nawindpower.com/cleveland-commits-to-100-clean-energy-by-2050