From the CITY RECORD OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, OHIO April 07, 2010

While you weren't paying attention....or being publicly notified....things have been transpiring right in front of you... See the City Record for 4/14/2010 regarding the change of use redistricting of the areas near Seymour/W30th/West 25th/Erin and then around State/Pearl.

Land banking is an idea that originated in Ohio, and with the passing of enabling legislation for Ohio, has now become a practice that will help significantly in blighted neighborhoods. There are still many, many foreclosures and walk-aways. Neighborhoods are being decimated, especially inner-city neighborhoods. This policy is being looked at in other parts of the country, and Rokakis has recently made presentations to national groups on the idea.

Location

I was pleased to see posted on Secretary of State Brunner's campaign for U.S. Senator blog a video provided by the Cleveland Plain Dealer of her opening remarks at the City Club debate, this week. This was the highlight of the entire debate... watch to the end, as she differentiates herself from Fisher - nice to see the PD make this available, including allowing it to be embedded in other sites.

CLEVELAND, OH—The City Club of Cleveland will host the Democratic Debate for U.S. Senate tomorrow, Tuesday, April 13 at the Cleveland Marriott Hotel, 127 Public Square from noon to 1:30 p.m. All candidates on the ballot will participate: Jennifer Brunner and Lee Fisher. 

The broadcast schedule is as follows:

Live on WCPN: 12:30 PM-1:30 PM
WVIZ: 11:00 PM
WVIZ/Ohio Channel: 1:30 PM-2:30 PM

Location

Come to watch films, network, socialize and eat some great Chinese food (not mandatory)!

Location

Ohio Secretary of State and realNEO member Jennifer Brunner shows love for realNEO, so there is certainly much to support about her (besides thanking her for cleaning up the Secretary of State's office)... and she is running for US Senate, so now is your chance...

Location

European Trader in a Hammock, 1800s
Wood, pigment
Unknown artist
Bembe, Congo-Brazzaville

Living in Cleveland, when I think of businesspeople from Detroit I picture someone very much like the European trader depicted in the African carving above - big-game-trader, big-thinker Dan Gilbert, coming from the West to transform Cleveland through gambling... carried through our streets by our native leaders and their subjects. I expect about as great an outcome for Cleveland as such "Westerner" infestation brought to Africa, looking more like complete annihilation than salvation... except in the art, where change may be beautiful, despite being tragic.

I wouldn't go to Detroit or anywhere for a casino, but I am planning to visit the "Motor City" shortly for their museum, to celebrate "Through African Eyes," a major exhibition exploring the European presence in African art that opens April 18 (through August 8, 2010) at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) - the images featured here are from this exhibition. I won't hold Detroit's gambling interests against that city, when their leaders at the DIA have traditionally sought to elevate the community above the annihilation of their local culture.

I've been printing out many of the unique panorama photo collages of real NEO that I have created over the past six years, which I have displayed as headers on realNEO, as I plan to sell editions of some favorite images to raise money for realNEO. I'm currently producing a series from many shoots at Whiskey Island, in memory of my friend Ed Hauser.

They are stunning, printed in their full glory. Composed of often dozens of high resolution images, these panoramas are 100s of megapixels in size and, printed at 300x300 ppi resolution, they are around 8 feet long... and some may be printed up to 36 feet long, while still holding a strong image.

How low will Cleveland and Northeast Ohio sink in the global new economy, as a result of the embarrassment the leadership of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and their Newhouse parents have brought upon this community, as a result of their pathetic if not illegal misuse of information technology and the Internet here? It doesn't get much lower than this... "Cuyahoga County Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold files $50 million lawsuit against The Plain Dealer and others".

Linked above is the PD spin on this case. Read the actual lawsuit linked as a PDF here (1.13 MB)... and read all the way to the end, where it concludes "Plaintiffs demand a trial by jury by the maximum number of jurors permitted". Smart move for the citizens-Saffold to choose to be judged by their peers.

Parade at Tower City Center
Thursday, April 15
5:00 p.m.
Shaw High School Marching Band

Location

One Cleveland urban church that is still attracting a young, diverse, fun community is The Church of the Covenant, on Euclid Avenue, in University Circle... Claes has decided he likes going to church! I like going to University Circle on any beautiful Sunday, and watching children play.

On April 13th you can benefit IRTF, Cleveland Peace Action, and Women Speak Out for Peace and Justice simply by grocery shopping. The Food Coop will generously donate a portion of your total on the second Tuesday of every month.

Just mention one of the organizations to the cashier when you check out.

Location

Dining Out for Peace continues on Tuesday, April 6, at 56 West - 

16300 Detroit Ave., Lakewood - 4:30pm - 2:30am

By doing so, you will benefit IRTF, Cleveland Peace Action, and Women Speak Out for Peace and Justice.

Location

 Peace in the Hood, Inc. and The Discovery Center are pleased to announce that we will be collaborating on a International Walk and Run for Peace, Justice and Empowerment on April 24, 2010. The event will begin at E. 152nd Street and Kinsman Rd., Cleveland, Ohio (St. Cecilia Church lot) ending at Luke Easter Park with a release of balloons and doves for Peace.

    Cleveland Foodnotbombs (Clefnb) announces an upcoming visit to Cleveland by Keith McHenry, from Sunday April 11th to Wednesday April 14th. Keith is a longstanding peace activist who in 1980 started the first chapter of foodnotbombs and is regarded as the founder of foodnotbombs as a national movement. Clefnb and Keith McHenry will be be holding a series of community events over the 4 day stretch of his stay here in Cleveland.

A quick note about the census -- By now, we've all seen the cute advertising to encourage censis compliance...it's about accuracy, it's about getting our fair share of federal money, it's about maintaining appropriate representation in Congress.   Here's an online tool to see how we're doing.  With nation-wide and state-wide compliance in the 34-35% rate, Cleveland response rates average in the 10-20% category.  Well, to be fair, Cleveland, like many other areas, has a lot of factors that suggest low compliance r

Would any Realneo members like to participate in a seed and plant swap? I would be happy to host. Please post your thoughts on possible dates and times. We could also include garden tools and other gardeing related items if people are interested.

Since Evelyn featured as Art of the Day the Ronald Bladen "Light Year" sculpture, recently installed near Kelvin Smith Library, on the Campus of Case Western Reserve University, and I hadn't seen it yet, I thought I'd see how it looked in the dark.

Minimalist art should look good in the dark!

Please save the date for the 2010 Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory 5th Annual Symposium. 

What: 2010 Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council 5th Annual Symposium

            Healthy Kids, Homes, & Places – Ensuring a better future for our community

Location

My greatest cultural pleasure living in Cleveland has always been seeing the Cleveland Orchestra perform at Severance Hall - I grew-up experiencing the perfection of the George Szell era, and Franz Welser-Möst's current direction is my favorite since. So any time Evelyn is fortunate to be given tickets by her boss (thanks Professor), we are there.

My little pets in the backyard enjoy coming out at night! They run away if we go out there. But they roam freely and are so cute! I actually enjoy these animals! 

I just love these photos of one of the beautiful creatures in my neighborhood! 

Hello all, I an attaching a PDF document that was distributed on Wednesday March 10th at the Cleveland City Council Public Utilites Committee.

Please Read the Plain Dealer Story the next day. Thanks to CPP, Chairperson Kevin Kelley, Councilman Cimperman, and the other members of the committee.