Mayor Jackson, Police Chief Williams and Director of Media Relations issue statements

Today in an OpEd on cleveland.com, Mayor Jackson speaks out about the DOJ report, negotiations and his Administration's perspective on the state of Policing in Cleveland.  Meanwhile Police Chief Calvin Williams, as reported by Plain Dealer last night is interviewed for a feature on 60-minutes to be aired this Sunday.

Then today, Daniel Williams, Director of Media Relations for Mayor Jackson issues responses to five questions that have apparently been asked of various news media agencies.  In addition to the responses the Director Williams also released some annual statistics about the Cleveland Division of Police's calls for service, arrests and less lethal force from 2006 through 2014.

Links to all three individual's comments and information are provided below.

Justice Department's Cleveland police findings should be expanded to examine criminal justice system as a whole: - Frank G. Jackson

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams, left, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, center, and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Dec. 4 as the Justice Department issued its findings that Cleveland police engaged in an unconstitutional use of excessive force. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer, File, 2014)

Cleveland has come a long way over the last decade. We have made great progress in terms of education, positioning for the future, economic development and opportunities, along with improving our image nationally and internationally. This progress has been overshadowed by recent events, particularly the release of the U.S. Department of Justice report.  [see full article at cleveland.com]

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams says he needs to rid force of bad cops on '60 Minutes' Sunday

By Mark Dawidziak, The Plain Dealer on January 22, 2015

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams says there are "bad cops" in the city and that it's his job to rid the force of them. He tells this to CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker in a report airing Sunday night on "60 Minutes."

The "60 Minutes" segment airs in the wake of the U.S. Justice Department's investigation of the Cleveland police. It is Williams' first national interview since a rookie police officer shot Tamir Rice in November. The 12-year-old boy died from the gunshot wound. [see full article at cleveland.com]

[video, portion of interview featured in the Plain Dealer article]

[Subject: City of Cleveland Responds to Questions of Local Media on DOJ Findings
     -  Daniel Williams, Director of Media Relations for Mayor Jackson]

In addition to the responses and statistics, the Administration also posted a summary table of contents and the video of the Mayor's100 minute press conference given on December 11, 2914.  See the link to the videos here.

Mayor Frank G. Jackson on the Department of Justice, Transcripts and Videos

1. Findings of the Department of Justice - Accountability
2. Full and Complete Confidence in Previous Chief McGrath and Director Flask
3. Can Old Leaders Direct New Change? Confidence and Trust from the Community
4. Poor CPD Record Keeping - Improvement in Categories
5. Balancing Support of the Police with Response to the Community
6. Are Changes in the Use of Force Policy Needed?
7. Do you Agree or Disagree with the DOJ Findings?
8. Extreme Factors Regarding Disparity
9. Do the Police Sometimes Exacerbate the Situation?
10. Is the DOJ Report More About Leadership or Officers on the Street?
11. Is the Relationship Between the Police and Citizens Better Than in the 1960s?
12. Overall Level of Trust
13. Do You Support an Independent Outside Investigation of Police Shootings?
14. How Much Responsibility Do You Bear?
15. Administration Walks Out in Council

Responses to DOJ Report Questions From PD and NEOMG 1-23-2015 by Brian Cummins

CLE Police Use of Force 2014 Stats by Brian Cummins

Tuesday Jan 20th Public Meetings/Hearings - Police Reform and PUCO/First Energy

Three public meetings/hearings happening this afternoon/evening:

1. Ohio Task Force on Community-Police Relations, public forum, 4:30  – 8:30 pm, Waetjen Auditorium Cleveland State University, 2001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland Ohio 44115;
    
2. PUCO Hearings on First Energy - Cleveland, Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakside Avenue, Cleveland Ohio 44114, press conference at 5:00 pm, hearing begins at 6:00 pm
3. Cleveland City Council's 4th and Final Listening Tour, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church, 1161 East 105th St., Cleveland Ohio 44108.

See details below - click on images for larger view.

  

REF:

• Ohio Task Force on Community-Police Relations (website)
• Kasich Announces Members of Ohio Task Force on Ohio Task. Force on Community-Police Relations, 1/14/2014.

REF:

• Dirty energy bailout is a bad deal, by Policy Matters Ohio, 1/16/2015
• FirstEnergy wants PUCO guarantees on nuclear and coal prices Public meeting in Cleveland will look at FirstEnergy rate plan.  A Public meeting in Cleveland will look at FirstEnergy rate plan, by WKSU's Kabir Bhatia, 1/18/2015
• Residents don’t deserve higher energy rates, Ohio Citizens Action, 1/20/2015
• PUCO hearing in Akron on FirstEnergy’s electric security plan draws about 100
  By Bob Downing, Beacon Journal staff write, 1/12/2015

REF:

WEWS NewsChannel5, 1/19/2014.

OneCommunity Announces Recipients of its Big Gig Challenge Grant

OneCommunity Announces Recipients of its Big Gig Challenge Grant by Brian Cummins

* FEATURE *

W. 25th Street Corridor BIG GIG Project

Based on its award-winning proposal, the West 25th Corridor will create a fiber network through Ohio City, Tremont, Clark-Fulton, Brooklyn Centre and Old Brooklyn.

“The Big Gig project will build off of the successes and projects we're implementing on the W. 25th Street corridor.  It will ensure the corridor is globally competitive and bring 21st Century internet connectivity to our community,” according to Councilman Brian Cummins.

The proposed route encompasses 900+ properties including 14 available development sites.   The corridor is four miles long and represents a collaborative effort among four Cleveland City Council Wards:  Ward 3 (Councilman Joe Cimperman); Ward 12 (Councilman Tony Brancatelli); Ward 13 (Councilman Kevin Kelley) and Ward 14 (Councilman Brian Cummins).

Some of Cleveland’s small businesses and nonprofits in addition to its most prominent west side institutions would be impacted including The West Side Market, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, MetroHealth Systems’ Main and Old Brooklyn campuses, Nestle’s LJ Minor Facility, Voss Industries, Great Lakes Brewing Company and Lutheran Hospital (Cleveland Clinic).

The project will mirror development goals of the West 25th Street Corridor Initiative, supplementing development commitments from a proposed $400 million Metro Health System redevelopment and expansion project.  It would ultimately connect 50 commercial properties in an effort to increase commercial viability and competitiveness while providing access to fiber along the four-mile route.

“The impact of introducing fiber to this burgeoning district cannot be understated,” according to OneCommunity CEO Lev Gonick.  “Hospitals, industry and businesses of all sizes, regardless of their scope will benefit from the network.  We are proud to be part of this major leap into the future as outlined by the West 25th Street Corridor Initiative.”

In addition to Big Gig Grant funding, creative funding for the project will be comprised of monies from Cleveland City Council, Casino Tax Revenue Funds, Steelyard TIF Funds and City of Cleveland Economic Development Funds.


About OneCommunity
OneCommunity is a nonprofit organization based in Cleveland that works to expand high-speed broadband access and adoption to strengthen Northeast Ohio. OneCommunity’s vision is that advanced digital capabilities and effective use of technology will help transform the region and establish it as a national hub for innovation and economic growth. For more information on OneCommunity, please visit www.onecommunity.org.

Cleveland City Council Health Committee Holds Urban Health Forum

Cleveland (January 15, 2015) Cleveland City Council’s Health and Human Services Committee is holding an all-day retreat on Friday to focus on urban health issues and how they compare from city to city.

The retreat, held at Cuyahoga Community College’s Hospitality Management Center at Public Square, will be attended by more than 80 local health-care experts who will focus on issues such as infant mortality, lead poisoning, AIDS and obesity.

“Eighty percent of premature deaths in Cleveland are due to tobacco, lack of exercise, diet and mental health disorders,” said Councilman Joe Cimperman, chairman of the committee. “The goal of this forum is to determine what City Council can do to improve the lives of every man, woman and child in Cleveland through public health.”

The forum will also be attended by officials of the National League of Cities. League officials will announce that Cleveland has been selected by NLC’s Institute for Youth, Education and Families to participate in a nation-wide study of health disparities.

Cleveland is one of seven cities chosen for what is called a “learning collaborative.” The other cities are Baton Rouge, Kansas City, Lincoln Neb., Oklahoma City, Savanna, and Virginia Beach.

The NLC provides research, backing and on-the-ground work for projects in tens of thousands of cities and towns across the country.

Cleveland Councilman Matt Zone is Second Vice President of the organization. He too will speak at the forum.

“As a member of the National League of Cities, the City of Cleveland has the opportunity to learn about emerging city-level models to better serve our community, interact with leaders from other cities, and share and learn best practices,” said Zone.

For more information call Councilman Cimperman at 216-215-6765.

Who: Cleveland City Council’s Health and Human Services Committee

What: Forum on urban health issues

When: 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Friday, January 16

Where: Cuyahoga Community College Hospitality Management Center at Public Square, 180 Euclid Ave.

                                                ##

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

The Health & Human Services Committee handles all matters relating to public health, public charities, work relief, city correctional institutions and city charitable organizations, including sanitation, unemployment, air pollution control, lake and river pollution and nuisances. The city's departments of Health and Welfare, Human Resources and Aging report to the Health & Human Services Committee.

Chair: Joe Cimperman; Vice Chair: Mamie Mitchell

Members: Dona Brady, Phyllis Cleveland, Kevin Conwell, Brian Cummins, Jeffrey Johnson

Back to school feature - Walton Elementary School, November's International Studies Week

Our CMSD children are back to school today.  FEATURE - We live in a very internationally diverse neighborhood and city and the following CMSD video features Walton Elementary School as the first k-8 school in the State of Ohio that's involved in global studies as part of the International Studies School Network (ISSN).

The video also features our very own Juliana Cole, Dean of Student Engagement, Walton School.  Juliana explains activities from November's International Studies Week at Walton and how it feeds into the programs at Lincoln West High School: Center for International Studies.  See the CMSD article here.