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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP), Diocese of Cleveland Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Gary Sole has been named Chief Executive Officer effective August 10, 2021. 

After a 30-year career as a financial services executive — which included two decades at National City Bank — Sole most recently served as SVDP’s Chief Operating Officer. He was selected for the CEO position after a subcommittee of the Board conducted an extensive search. Sole will lead the Society’s central office in supporting the organization’s 2,300+ members and volunteers who provide emergency assistance to nearly 200,000 low-income individuals annually across the Diocese of Cleveland’s eight-county service area. 

Sole joined SVDP’s staff in 2019 as a liaison to its 59 member parish groups.  In his new role, he will continue to focus upon supporting, retaining and expanding these groups, in addition to strengthening relationships with current community stakeholders and cultivating new partnerships, according to Ed Leszynski, Board president. 

“In addition to his financial acumen, Gary has a deep personal commitment to the Society’s mission, which was especially evident during the pandemic,” Leszynski explained. “Since the onset of the health crisis, Gary’s leadership was critical at our hunger centers as he worked closely alongside volunteers and staff to make certain that we continued to safely feed neighbors in need. He exemplifies Pope Francis’ call to ‘bring the healing power of God’s grace to everyone in need, to stay close to the marginalized and to be shepherds living with the smell of the sheep.’” 

As CEO, Sole said that he will work closely with the Society’s parish group members to foster more collaboration and the exchange of ideas, especially in regard to systemic change. “I look forward to partnering with our Board of Directors and our volunteers to expand upon programs that empower people in need so they have the tools necessary to improve their quality of life.” 

Sole has served in executive roles at several other institutions that include Lakeshore Community Credit Union, Inc., Steel Valley Credit Union, and CIT Group Inc.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Baldwin Wallace University. He is a volunteer with the St. Vincent de Paul Society group at St. Ladislas Church and resides in Westlake with his wife, Kristine, and daughter, Alexis.

 

About the Society of St. Vincent de Paul 

Established in 1865, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Diocese of Cleveland, is a local human services organization of neighborhood volunteer groups primarily residing in participating parishes (“Conferences”) throughout the Diocese of Cleveland’s eight-county service area. Volunteers (“Vincentians”) provide face-to-face emergency assistance to people in need, regardless of race, ethnicity or religious affiliation. Last year, more than 185,000 low-income individuals in Northeast Ohio received nearly $4 million in direct assistance and in-kind services, which included eviction prevention via rent assistance, financial help with utilities, hunger relief, blankets and beds, and school supplies and toiletries. SVDP’s Central Office is located at 1404 East 9^th Street, Cleveland. For more information:  216-696-6525 x. 3150 or svdpcle.org. 

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Beginning August 11, the Cleveland Museum of Art will offer FREE admission for all on Wednesdays to its limited-time exhibition, Private Lives: Home and Family in the Art of the Nabis, Paris, 1889–1900. The exhibition is on view through Sunday, September 19, 2021, and the museum is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Reserve FREE Community Wednesdays tickets online at cma.org, at the box office or by calling 216-421-7350.

About Private Lives
The exhibition explores beautiful and enigmatic artworks by four Post-Impressionists active in Paris in the 1890s: Pierre Bonnard, Édouard Vuillard, Maurice Denis and Félix Vallotton. In their work—focusing on images of home interiors, family life, music in the home and private gardens—emotion and subjective experience were more important than truth.

Private Lives is organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Portland Art Museum.

COURTESY Latoya Hunter Hayes, Straight from City Hall

In March 2021, The City of Cleveland (City) and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) issued a joint Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to select real estate development project teams for the redevelopment of 12 vacant school buildings and seven sites of vacant land that were formerly the location of school buildings. Through that process, project teams were recommended to move forward to commence due diligence activities of 13 sites. This phase will include community engagement and further site investigation as project teams move forward to seeking conceptual approval for each site. 

On August 5, 2021, the City and CMSD jointly issued a second Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to select real estate development project teams for the redevelopment of 6 remaining sites:  four vacant school buildings and two sites of vacant land. Sites are located across Cleveland’s East Side, in neighborhoods including Midtown, Slavic Village, Fairfax and Mt. Pleasant. Sites include one local landmark structure, two sites of vacant land, and sites that are located along highly-trafficked commercial corridors including Superior Avenue and East 55^th Street. More information on each site and location can be found on the RFQ webpage, here: https://www.clevelandohio.gov/node/166781 

The deadline for responses to the RFQ is 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, September 29, 2021.

Project teams may submit proposals for more than one site; however, a distinct proposal for each site must be submitted.  As part of the process, the City and CMSD will host a virtual information session on August 18, and building tours on August 23. Project teams interested in submitted responses to the RFQ are invited to RSVP to SchoolSitesRFQ@clevelandohio.gov. Additional information can be found on the RFQ webpage.

First tickets in the Ohio Lottery went on sale in August 1974. To celebrate the anniversary each August, the Lottery offers one or more scratch-off games with a higher payout than usual. This year, high-payout games now on sale are:

* A $5 ticket, Cash Multiplier, #664

* A $10 ticket, Moneybag Multiplier, #665

* A $20 ticket, $300 Million Diamond Dazzler, #671

by Will Petrik

All children and families, no matter where they live or what they look like, deserve stability, security, and basic human dignity. But for decades, certain state and federal lawmakers have prioritized tax giveaways for the wealthy while 46% of Cleveland children lived in poverty in 2019.

On July 15, tens of millions of families across the nation received their first child tax credit payment, which was part of the American Rescue Plan, the federal COVID-relief bill. The deposits of $300 per child under age six, and $250 per child ages 6 to 17, are the first of six monthly payments going to households with children this year. The expansion of the child tax credit will give children the opportunity for a brighter future, take some stress off struggling families, and put more money in peoples’ pockets to spend at local businesses and support the economy.

The overall payment is $3,600 a year per child under age 6 and $3,000 per child 6 to 17. The first half is going out to families in monthly payments and the other half will come in a lump sum after parents or heads of households file their 2021 taxes next year. This could be a game-changer for an estimated 389,000 adults in Ohio who reported recently (data collected between June 9 and July 5) that children in their household were not eating enough because they couldn’t afford enough food, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University estimate that the changes to the child tax credit will reduce child poverty in Ohio by nearly 49%. Families will have additional resources to help with food, diapers, safe housing, health care and other basic family expenses.

In addition to reducing childhood poverty, the child tax credit will improve the health and well-being of thousands of Ohio children. Research shows that living in deep poverty compromises children’s ability to grow and harms their income and health as adults. On the other hand, when families have resources they need to pay for the basics, children benefit in all sorts of ways. They are healthier, get better grades in school, have higher college enrollment rates, and earn more during their lifetime. They are less likely to engage in criminal activity, go to prison, or get involved with the child welfare system. When we, as a society, prioritize the health and well-being of kids and families, we all benefit.

The child tax credit expansion will also boost the local economy. Before the pandemic, six of the 10 most common jobs in the Cleveland metro area paid so little that a family of three needed food assistance to get by. The monthly direct cash payments created by the changes to the tax credit will give parents and caregivers with low-wage jobs more cash for car repairs, childcare, groceries, or other monthly bills. Ultimately, this spending will help stimulate the economy, because folks with low wages are likely to spend the funds they receive quickly in the local community. For comparison, research shows that four-fifths of federal food assistance dollars (SNAP) are spent in the local economy within two weeks and 97 percent of the resources flow into grocery stores and markets within a month. Families will have more security, be better able to pay for their basic needs, and their spending will help all of us recover.

The child tax credit will also expand opportunity for Black and brown families in Ohio. For too long, certain state and federal lawmakers have rigged the tax rules and shift public resources away from Black and brown communities, from poor and working-class Ohioans, and toward the wealthy and well-connected. The pandemic has hit Black Ohioans the hardest due to years of these tax, budget, and policy choices that excluded them from building wealth and financial security and from education and housing opportunities. The expanded child tax credit is a meaningful step to provide more support Black and brown children and families. Columbia University estimates a 52% reduction in Black child poverty and 61.5% Native American child poverty.

The expanded child tax credit will help children and families thrive, but it’s only temporary. The American Rescue Plan expanded the child tax credit through the 2021 tax year only. 

Lessons from the 2008-2009 recession highlight the need to make the child tax credit reforms permanent. Back then, federal lawmakers ended needed support before families and communities recovered. As Ohio’s overall economy started to recover, state lawmakers cut taxes for the wealthy and large corporations instead of prioritizing regular Ohioans. As a result, many Ohioans experienced a slow, tough recovery. 

This is why we must make sure the expanded child tax credit becomes permanent, and it’s why we are calling on Senator Brown, Senator Portman, and Ohio’s congressional delegation to make the expansion of the child tax credit permanent.

It’s also critical that our neighbors know they could be eligible for the direct cash payments. While most people who are eligible for the credit will get an automatic deposit or a check mailed to their address, thousands of Ohioans who haven’t filed taxes in the last two years will need to fill out an online form with the IRS to get the child tax credit. Residents with very low or no income who may not have access to the internet or a computer may need assistance to sign-up to receive the payments. 

Check to see if you’re eligible for the child tax credit here: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-eligibility-assistant

This is a list of organizations that offer free support: https://www.refundohio.org/tax-sites 

  Learn more and apply for monthly payments here: https://www.findyourfunds.org/apply-for-funds Editor’s Note: Will Petrik is a Budget Researcher for Policy Matters Ohio. Policy Matters Ohio is a nonprofit policy research institute that works to create a more vibrant, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive Ohio.

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COLUMBUS — State Representative Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today introduced the Election Engagement Restoration Act, legislation repealing two hastily-passed obstacles to voting that were tacked onto the two-thousand page state operating budget at the last minute and became law without any public input. 

“Keeping a law on the books that could be used to prevent voter education, registration, and outreach – even at nonpartisan events – is dangerous. Our bipartisan Boards of Elections know best how to run our elections, and they already have checks in place to ensure impartiality,” said Rep. Sweeney. “Nothing should become law without public vetting; we have the legislative process for a reason, especially when it comes to our freedom to vote. I hope this legislation receives prompt consideration and passage before any damage is done.”

The Election Engagement Restoration Act simply repeals two new sections of the Revised Code. The first provision bans any public official from working with or accepting donations from any “nongovernmental person or entity for any costs or activities related to voter registration, voter education, voter identification, get-out-the-vote, absent voting, election official recruitment or training, or any other election-related purpose” (Ohio Revised Code § 3501.054). 

The second provision to be repealed is a ban on legal settlements between public officials and third parties, instead forcing endless and costly litigation (Ohio Revised Code § 9.58). In recent years, good government groups have secured important agreements to protect homeless voters, preserve voter access to the last three days of early voting, and prevent voters from being purged and having their votes rejected. This prohibition takes away a basic tool for resolving conflict and clearing obstacles to voting. 

House Bill 380 is currently pending referral to a House Committee for further consideration.

FROM THE STRAIGHT FROM CITY HALL NEWSLETTER

The City of Cleveland today announced residents can now opt in to the new bi-weekly curbside
recycling program. Residents interested in joining the program must sign up by October 22 via the
opt-in form or by calling 216-664-3030 and agree to the recycling program guidelines. The ongoing
recycling program changes are part of an effort to reduce contamination from curbside recycling,
reduce program costs, and improve efficiency of waste collection operations. View a link to an FAQ
sheet on the recycling program. The City intends for the new program to be in place by the end of
2021.

“For more than a decade, my administration has worked to build and solidify Cleveland’s reputation
as a ‘green City on a blue lake’” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “This opt in recycling program will
help us to work alongside residents to establish a more efficient and sustainable waste and recycling
collection process.”

The number of people who opt in during the 90-day period will help serve as an indication of the new
program’s potential interest level and help the city create routing plans. Residents who opt in can
expect to receive additional communications on participation once the program is fully operational.
Residents who choose not to opt in will have their blue recycling carts removed.

Bulk collection will also transition to bi-weekly – on alternate weeks from recycling collection – and
will eventually shift to an appointment-based program once the bi-weekly collection routes are
established. The Department of Public Works, Division of Waste Collection will also
resume issuing citations for violations of City of Cleveland waste collection and recycling
regulations beginning Monday, August 9, 2021. View the waste collection calendar and rules
for proper set-out.

As a condition of participation in the new recycling program, residents will be asked to sign a pledge
agreeing to follow all curbside recycling guidelines, such as only placing the acceptable materials in
their bins on their scheduled weeks and understanding that their bins may be removed if they are
found to not be properly participating in the program.

In spring of 2020, the City of Cleveland suspended its recycling program due to high contamination
rates and inability to solicit a favorable contract for recycling processing services. As a result, the City commissioned GT Environmental to develop a report evaluating the City’s Division of Waste Collection and Disposal operations, including the solid waste, recycling, and bulk collection programs.

“Since suspending our program last year, we have worked hard to evaluate Cleveland’s waste and
recycling programs and are developing new approaches to improve waste collection in our city,” said
Chief of Operations Darnell Brown. “As we begin to enroll residents into the recycling program, their
participation and commitment will be key to keeping contamination down, meeting our waste
diversion goals and ensuring the program’s success.”

Recommendations provided by the consultant focused on improving efficiency and supporting waste
reduction goals, while still maintaining high levels of service for our residents. As a result of the
evaluation, the City of Cleveland is also hiring a recycling coordinator to help implement the
recommendations and operational strategies in the report.

The City will begin meeting with potential recycling processing companies while the opt-in process
is open. The number of current participants will be used to help define a new partnership with the
vendor. The City intends to secure a recycling contract as soon as possible.

Changes to the waste collection and recycling program align with the launch of Circular Cleveland, a
two-year initiative to develop and implement circular economy strategies and programs in
Cleveland. The circular economy is a comprehensive approach to provide community-wide benefits
by designing waste and pollution out of our economic system, keeping products and materials in use
as long as possible, protecting and regenerating natural systems, and creating new jobs. For more
information about the Circular Cleveland initiative, click here.

For more information on the City of Cleveland’s waste collection and recycling programs, please visit
the Division of Waste Collection and Disposal’s website: www.clevelandohio.gov/waste.

The City of Cleveland kennel is FULL! In an effort of getting more CITY DOGS adopted into their forever homes, the City of Cleveland‘s Division of Animal Care & Control has reduced its adoption fees to $21 for this weekend, Saturday July 10 and Sunday, July 11. Come visit our shelter and find your fur-ever friend.

Check out some CITY DOGS available for adoption below.

• Diesel
• Hannah
• Jewell
• Ollie
• Mindy & Mork 
• Rayana
• Griffon

The City of Cleveland Kennel is located at 9203 Detroit Avenue. All adoptable dogs are vaccinated, microchipped, spayed/neutered and come with a Cuyahoga County license. 

To set up a meet with your new furever friend visit: www.tinyurl.com/meetacitydog

View all adoptable dogs at www.petango.com/cacc.

PHOTOS BY DAWN TARKA

Kudos to the Kiwanis for putting together a great parade on a short notice. They saved the best for last — Uncle Sam brought up the end of the parade. West Park Times photographers Dawn Tarka and Jerry Masek captured the whole thing.

PHOTOS BY JERRY MASEK