I have called for a Hunger Strike to expose corruption in the Public Square Project.

This will be my second Hunger Strike fighting corruption in the Administration of Mayor Frank G. Jackson of Cleveland, Ohio.

I am a 73-year old Sikh-American.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

The proposed $32 million radical makeover of Public Square will require the permanent closing of Ontario Street – a major artery and the narrowing of Superior Avenue – another major artery -- from the existing 77 ft. to 48 ft. and limiting the avenue to bus traffic only. However, when there are major events, the narrowed Superior Avenue will also be closed to bus traffic. 

 

However, during construction (March 9, 2015 to June 2016), both Ontario Street and Superior Avenue will be closed to traffic.

 

The renovated square is scheduled for opening in time for the Republican National Convention in July 2016.

 

 

 

So far our Foundations have contributed a total of $18 million (Cleveland - $8 million, Gund -- $5 million, Keybank - $4 million, and. Kent Hale Smith -- $1 million) and also have secured naming rights to parts of the renovated park. The Sewer District has contributed $3 million for green infrastructure to be paid over a number of years. 

 

While, we don’t know where the balance of the money will be coming from, Cuyahoga County is considering using bonds backed by TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) to provide $7.5 million.

 

I have been actively opposing the proposed $32 million radical makeover for the past eight months. So far there have been over 230 hours of demonstrations. Our LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE signs have been seen by thousands. One has to stand at the main intersection of Ontario Street and Superior Avenue – and quickly conclude that the traffic has nowhere to go except create gridlocks and delays in travel time.

 

According to the 2012 Traffic Study, this project will have traffic gridlocks. In my opinion, City Hall and the RTA have no idea what monster they have unleashed.

 

During Construction: When construction starts, both Ontario Street (6 lanes) and Superior Avenue (4 lanes) – two major arteries will be closed and the traffic from 10 lanes will be routed around the 3-lane perimeter roads – creating a ring of steel -- where the inner lane is already dedicated to the 63-foot long articulated buses of the HealthLine. According to the 2012 Traffic Study, this condition will create traffic gridlocks resulting in delays in travel time and up to $3.5 million in additional operating cost to the RTA.

 

So two lanes of the perimeter roadway will have to accommodate cars and buses from ten lanes.

 

In addition, the traffic will be further constricted in the southwest quadrant (opposite the casino and Renaissance Hotel) where the outer roadway has two RTA stops – one for four trolleys and two bus routes, and the other for six bus routes. 

 

In addition to causing gridlocks and delays in travel time, this constriction poses a safety hazard.

 

How will ambulances or firetrucks reach a vehicle that needs attention and is stuck in the middle?

 

RTA cannot explain how other 60-foot long articulated buses (Cleveland State Line, #22, and #26) will make turns at almost right-angled corners without encroaching in to the adjoining lanes and cause accidents?

 

After Completion: When the renovated Public Square opens, Ontario Street will still remain closed while Superior Avenue will open to four lanes of bus traffic only. The remaining traffic will flow on the perimeter roads. The traffic gridlocks will continue and RTA will be spending $1 million every year in additional operating costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corrupt Process: A corrupt process was used in the development of the radical makeover of 218-year old Public Square. The proposed renovation dubbed a masterpiece in urban park design – - based on Mayor Jackson’s vision of one big square -- was actually a defective design which his honor knew would cause delays in travel time to thousands of Clevelanders and cost the RTA $3.5 million in operating costs during construction and $1 million annually after completion.

 

Mass Deception: Once the project is completed, Ontario Street will be completely closed while Superior Avenue will be narrowed from 77 ft. to 48 ft. -- with four lanes of bus traffic and eight bus stops within Public Square – between the East and West Roadways.

 

However, the rendering by world-famous Landscape Architect, James Corner Field Operations of New York City, shows only one bus – as far as the eye can see.

 

 

 

 

As someone who is actively involved in opposing the project for the past 8-months -- with my LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE signs -- during rush hours I can easily count 12 to 24 buses. After all the RTA has 4,000 bus trips in to Public Square every day. With buses nowhere to turn, Superior Avenue, in my opinion, will be transformed into a virtual parking lot for buses.

 

No one has asked why the Group Plan Commission, the official promoter for the project, was engaging in mass deception by showing only one bus – as far as the eye can see.

 

 

 

I believe the full closure of Ontario Street and Superior Avenue during construction, and after construction - the full closure of Ontario Street and narrowing of Superior Avenue – and the rerouting of traffic around the perimeter roadway -- will cause traffic gridlocks, delays in travel time, and add to the operating costs for the RTA. I am not alone in this assessment. The 2012 Traffic Study (the only study made partially public so far) as reported in The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com came to the same conclusions:

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDUQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.cleveland.com%2Farchitecture%2F2012%2F06%2Fpublic_square_traffic_study_by.html&ei=lk31VNfIMITjsATvtYDoDQ&usg=AFQjCNGNk02NK1Y3zUyOyQlqZiUXc_yY-Q

 

Traffic Test & Public Meetings: Mayor Jackson never responded to the e-mail of December 29, 2014 and the certified mail of December 30, 2014 requesting a One-Week Long Traffic Test to verify the latest Traffic Plan and City-Wide Public Meetings to discuss the Traffic Test and the Traffic Plan.

 

The absence of the Traffic Test and the Public Meetings will be seen as a denial of due process and the imposition of the will of City Hall on 40,000 bus riders who use RTA buses in Public Square; other bus riders who use Laketran and other buses; and thousands of vehicle drivers.

 

No Response: For the record, Mayor Jackson never responded to any of the multiple e-mails sent since August 24, 2014.

 

Public Safety: Mayor Jackson never responded to issues dealing with public safety – requested via e-mail on February 16, 2015 and via certified mail on March 2, 2015.

 

Where will fire trucks & ambulances go when Public Square is closed during construction for 16 months & afterwards when Ontario Street will be closed and Superior Avenue narrowed from 77 ft. to 48 ft. And limited to buses only?

 

EIS (Environmental Impact Statement): Mayor Jackson never responded to the request for an EIS– requested via e-mail on February 25, 2015 and via certified mail on March 2, 2015.

 

“Please provide an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) to demonstrate that the noise, vibrations, dust, etc. from the construction of the proposed renovation of Public Square and the relocation of underground public and private utilities which may contain hazardous materials (asbestos, lead, mercury, etc.) will not adversely impact the safety, health, and well being of thousands of Clevelanders who visit Public Square every day and also live and work in the neighborhood.

 

Please allow sufficient time for the public review and comment process on the EIS before start of construction.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Rev. Dr. R. Mark Giuliano, Senior Pastor of the historic Old Stone Church, located on the north side of Public Square, never responded to two e-mails requesting his help to obtain an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) to check presence of hazardous materials (asbestos, lead, mercury, etc) in old utilities below 218-year old Public Square. Rev. Giuliano lives in an apartment (Park Building) overlooking Public Square (located on South Roadway) and has called the design, whose promotion was based on mass deception, as AWESOME!

 

 

*Joseph Marinucci, President & CEO, DCA (Downtown Cleveland Alliance) also never responded to two e-mails requesting his help to obtain an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) to check presence of hazardous materials (asbestos, lead, mercury, etc) in old utilities below 218-year Public Square.

 

*County Executive Armond Budish, Cuyahoga County council members, and Cleveland City council members also never responded to an e-mail requesting his help to obtain an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) to check presence of hazardous materials (asbestos, lead, mercury, etc) in old utilities below 218-year Public Square.

 

 

 

Construction on the Public Square Project is scheduled to start on the morning of Monday, March 9, 2015. As Mayor Jackson has not responded to any of the demands – a Hunger Strike will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on March 9, 2015. The objective of the Hunger Strike is to expose corruption in the Public Square Project. This will be my second Hunger Strike. 

 

 

http://66.228.45.157/content/day-22-hunger-strike-save-historic-80-year-old-john-marshall-high-school-cleveland-ohio-ends

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleveland.com%2Fnaymik%2Findex.ssf%2F2012%2F12%2Fa_cleveland_mans_hunger_strike.html&ei=SJ76VJrCEYK7ggS7iYSYBA&usg=AFQjCNHeBy5IE6VpQlWk3pHm1MWhuXC1og&bvm=bv.87611401,d.eXY

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleveland.com%2Fmetro%2Findex.ssf%2F2013%2F06%2Fsatinder_ps_puri_who_went_on_a.html&ei=SJ76VJrCEYK7ggS7iYSYBA&usg=AFQjCNGx4vEnzcAEtUDnuCYmv9UBSNt94A

 

 

The RTA yielded to pressure from City Hall and the rich & powerful in Cleveland, Ohio to go along with a defective design which will cost the RTA additional operating expenses ($3.5 million in during construction and $1 million annually after completion) and its 40,000 bus riders delays in travel time.

 

The Call for a Hunger Strike was made at the RTA Board Meeting of February 20, 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moses Cleaveland (1754-1806) founded Public Square, located in Cleveland, Ohio in 1796. He is honored with a bronze statue located in the southwest quadrant of the square.

 

Tim L. Johnson (1854-1911) was Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from 1901-1909. He is also honored with a bronze statue located in the northwest quadrant of the square.

 

The 42-story Terminal Tower, located in the southwest quadrant of the square, opened in 1930.

 

The Higbee Building, a department store, and part of the Terminal Tower complex is now occupied by the Horseshoe Casino.

 

LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE, No shortage of stupidity in Cleveland, Ohio.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

02-20-15: GREATER CLEVELAND RTA THROWS 40,000 CUSTOMERS UNDER THE BUS ON THE PUBLIC SQUARE PROJECT! 

 

02-14-15: IS CITY HALL COMPROMISING WITH SAFETY BY CHOKING PUBLIC SQUARE’S MAJOR ARTERIES?

 

12-27-14: A 3-HOUR DEMONSTRATION IN PUBLIC SQUARE ON A PLEASANT FRIDAY, 12-26-14, AFTERNOON!

 

12-21-14: CAVS vs. GRIZZLIES! FANS SUPPORT THE LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE CAMPAIGN IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

 

12-14-14: BROWNS vs. BENGALS! FANS AGAIN SUPPORT THE LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE CAMPAIGN IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

 

12-07-14: BROWNS’ FANS SUPPORT THE LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE CAMPAIGN IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

 

12-04-14: PUBLIC SQUARE ROCKS WITH TWO DEMONSTRATIONS ON A COLD THURSDAY, 12-04-14, AFTERNOON!

 

11-27-14: CONFLUENCE OF TWO DEMONSTRATIONS IN PUBLIC SQUARE IN CLEVELAND, OHIO!

 

10-31-14: BEATING THE RAIN IN PUBLIC SQUARE ON A DRIZZLY HALLOWEEN AFTERNOON!

 

10-30-14: PUBLIC SQUARE IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND ROCKS WITH CAVS’ FANS DURING A COOL BUT PLEASANT THURSDAY 10-30-14 AFTERNOON/EVENING!

 

10-26-14: TALK OF THE TOWN – I: The LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE Campaign Rocks Cleveland, Ohio!

 

09-06-14: TRANSIT POLICE QUESTION ACTIVIST WAVING “LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE” SIGN IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND, OHIO 

 

08-17-14: LEAVE PUBLIC SQUARE ALONE: DON’T CLOSE ONTARIO STREET, DON’T NARROW SUPERIOR AVENUE, & DON’T MESS UP THE TRAFFIC