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Today is the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. Community activists, homeless service providers, and unhoused people will gather to remember those who died in the homeless community in 2021. The candlelight vigil will be held outside Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at 2031 W 30 St. in Ohio City.

“Winter is a dangerous and difficult time for people who are unhoused in our community,” says Chris Knestrick, Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. “When we add the Omicron variant to the equation, this winter has the potential to become a nightmare. We need to re-focus on getting people into de-congregate shelters to keep them alive and safe this winter.” 

In 2009, Ohio legislators designated December 21 as Ohio Homeless Memorial Day. For 34 years, the Northeast Ohio Coalition For The Homeless has convened the Cleveland community to remember people experiencing homelessness who have passed away. We will remember our family and friends with candles, live music, prayers, and the reading of their names. NEOCH encourages attending guests to wear a mask and to please be vaccinated. 

NEOCH exists to eliminate the root causes of homelessness while loving our diverse community through organizing, advocacy, education, and street outreach.

By Tonya Sams, Development and Communications Assistant at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

Many people think the label “domestic violence” applies only to violent acts against a lover, but it is much more than that. 

Domestic violence describes regular, consistent acts of physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse. It not only occurs in spousal and intimate partner relationships, but also in relationships with other family members, including those with children, live-in partners, or people who have children together and are no longer involved in an intimate relationship.

Perpetrators of domestic violence control the target or targets of their abuse through fear. If targets don’t comply with their initial tactics – which can be threats of harm, the withdraw of financial support, and/ or verbal and emotional abuse – then the abuser resorts to physical and/or sexual abuse. 

Domestic violence does not discriminate. People of all races, religions, sexual orientations, abilities, and financial status can inflict or suffer from domestic violence.  

Targets of domestic violence do not cause the abuse that is inflicted upon them. But, abusers often try to convince them they have done something to cause the abusive response.

Abusers often isolate their targets by having them cut off communication from those that could help them, such as family and friends. Abusers also try to control every aspect of their target’s life. For targets, every decision becomes influenced by how it would make their abuser feel. 

Targets of abuse may feel guilt, shame, and failure. They may find it difficult to break away from the relationship for several reasons, especially if they are financially dependent on the abuser 

(another tactic commonly used to maintain control). 

There are resources available for those who are targets of domestic violence. 

OhioLegalHelp.org has a new, web-based domestic violence reporting tool. The tool (which was created through a partnership with The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Ohio Domestic Violence Network and Ohio Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence) allows users to fill out and save their forms if they cannot complete them all at once. The site can be accessed on any mobile device. 

Help is also available through Legal Aid’s Family Law Group. A Legal Aid attorney can help you file civil protection and temporary protection orders and connect you to other community resources available to people escaping abusive relationships, such as Journey Center for Safety and Healing and the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. Apply for Legal Aid help online 24/7 (lasclev.org/contact) or call 216-687-1900 during normal business hours.

PRESS RELEASE

Mayor-Elect Bibb has identified Deputy Chief of Police Dornat A. “Wayne” Drummond as Interim Chief of Police to temporarily replace retiring Chief of Police Calvin Williams whose last day will be Jan. 3rd. 

“We must maintain top-level expertise in this role while we search for a new Police Chief. Deputy Chief Drummond is highly regarded for his service, and I look forward to working with him,” Mayor-Elect Justin Bibb said.

Deputy Chief Drummond, a deputy chief since 2014, is a 32-year veteran of the Cleveland Division of Police. He has climbed the ranks from walking the beat as a patrol officer to serving as commander of the 6th District in 2005.

Other positions he held include Strike Force Detective, Case Preparation Officer and Equal Employment Officer. He also served as Public Information Officer and taught Law Enforcement Ethics at Cuyahoga Community College. 

Currently, he oversees field operations, the Bureau of Traffic, which includes the mounted division, and the Bureau of Community Relations.

Drummond graduated from the University of Toledo and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy’s 230th Session.

“I am honored to be selected to lead the force during this period of transition. Keeping Cleveland safe has always been my number one priority,” Drummond said.

Once Mayor-Elect Bibb takes office on Jan. 3rd, the administration will work with an executive search firm with experience recruiting for police departments in major cities across the country. The firm will search far and wide and seek talent nationally and locally. Community engagement will be an important part of the process to determine community expectations for the role.

By Jerry Masek

2022 will be a full year for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. There will be a lot for West Park voters to monitor, so they can cast informed votes.    Are you registered to vote? 

Dates to remember   

Feb. 2: Filing deadlines for all candidates.    

May 3: Primary election.    Nov. 8: General Election. 

Federal positions

Senate: U.S. Senator Robert Portman is not seeking re-election, and other candidates are vying for the open seat.    

House: A new map of Congressional districts has not yet been approved. 

State positions   

Executive: Elections will be held for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Auditor and Secretary of State.    

Legislative: West Park is represented by seats in the General Assembly. Both Sweeney and Antonio will seek re-election this year.

Judicial: Some seats face elections in 2022. 

Cuyahoga County   

Executive: At least 3 persons are running for the County Executive post.    

Legislative: Because of staggered terms, only half of the County Council members face elections. The term of Dale Miller, whose District includes West Park, does not expire in 2022.    

Judicial: A new of seats will be on the ballot.     For more info, go to https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov

House Bill 68 protects Ohio jobs and promotes a healthier construction industry across the state

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State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) testified Wednesday on House Bill (HB) 68, her bipartisan legislation with State Rep. Jon Cross (R-Kenton) to ensure that prime contractors are paid promptly and construction projects can move forward across the State of Ohio. The bill passed the House with a strong, bipartisan vote of 86 to 11.

“Contractors rely on timely payments to finance bidding on future work, which creates more good-paying jobs for Ohioans. Late payments jeopardize a contractor’s ability to secure their next job and to ensure reliable paychecks for workers,” said Rep. Sweeney. “House Bill 68 is a reasonable, pro-business, pro-worker bill that fosters a healthy and good-paying construction industry in Ohio.”

The bill closes a gap in state law by amending Ohio’s current Prompt Pay Act. It requires timely payments for prime contractors 30 days after they submit an invoice for undisputed, properly performed work. It creates an even playing field with legal leverage that incentivizes bills to be paid in a timely manner, regardless of if a project falls under the public or private sector. 

Ohio law already requires the following timetable for payments, and HB 68 would close the highlighted loophole:

Public Construction Projects

Owner to Prime – 30 days after invoice unless otherwise agreed (R.C. 126.30 and 153.14)

Prime to Sub – 10 days after prime contractor receives payment from owners (R.C. 4113.61)

Sub to Lower Tiers – 10 days after subcontractor receives payment from prime contractor (R.C. 4113.61)

Private Construction Projects

Owner to Prime – No Provision

Prime to Sub – 10 days after prime contractor receives payment from owner (R.C. 4113.61)

Sub to Lower Tiers – 10 days after subcontractor receives payment from prime contractor (R.C. 4113.61)

HB 68 now awaits additional consideration.

There is much work for NOACA to do in 2002.   

Develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to facilitate access to $3 billion available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).   

Execute the eNEO2050 long-range plan that identifies comprehensive planning strategies and $14 billion in future transportation and environmental planning projects.   

Connect residents to job hubs through our Workforce Accessibility and Mobility Tool and Van Pool Program.   

Along with our partners, NOACA will begin construction of the $45 million Irishtown Bend Stabilization Project, and  produce a Climate Action Plan.   

These projects and others will transform our region to sustain economic growth and quality of life for all.

Majority of funds are part of President Biden and Democrats’ American Rescue Plan

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Today, Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) voted in favor of Substitute House Bill (HB) 169 to appropriate $4.18 billion to support education, expand access to childcare and improve public health, among other investments in Ohio’s working people, families and communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill is funded through several federal COVID-19 relief packages, the majority of which comes from the American Rescue Plan Act backed by Democrats and signed into law by President Biden earlier this year.

Hundreds of millions of dollars allocated to Ohio under the American Rescue Plan were at risk of expiring had the General Assembly not taken legislative action on the funds this month.

“This is timely, bipartisan legislation that will ensure we are bringing the full power and resources of the United States to bear against the public health crisis that has upended every aspect of our society,” said Rep. Sweeney. “Learning loss from the pandemic has been devastating, and we cannot allow our children, who are the future of Ohio, to continue to fall behind. That’s why almost 60% of this bill, nearly 2.5 billion dollars, will go towards education. We are only able to make such a sweeping appropriation because of the leadership of President Biden as well as Senator Sherrod Brown and Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Marcia Fudge, Joyce Beatty and Tim Ryan, who are the only members of Ohio’s Congressional Delegation that voted for the American Rescue Plan.”

Sub. HB 169 includes:

• $2.48 billion for K-12 schools;
• $1.05 billion to help health care providers hire and retain employees;
• $639 million in supplemental child care grants to enhance the hiring and retention of staff and improve access to child care;
• $250 million in grants for law enforcement agencies;
• $91.1 million for the Department of Health to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and address other public health priorities;
• $7.3 million to prevent youth homelessness.

The American Rescue Plan is landmark legislation for the Biden administration and advances many long-held Democratic priorities, including investments in working people, families and communities as Ohio and the nation continue to build back amid the COVID-19 pandemic after decades of failing to invest in families and communities.

The Plan will lower health insurance premiums, extend tax credits to families with children and invest in jobs. The American Rescue Plan is widely regarded as one of the most progressive pieces of legislation in history, with targeted aid to families making less than $90,000 annually. No Republican members of Congress voted in favor of the American Rescue Plan.

Sub. HB 169 now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

By Jerry Masek    

District 2 County Councilman Dale Miller — a veteran of 40+ years in public service — has many goals as 2022 begins.   

Miller represents Ward 16 and 17 in West Park, plus Lakewood and Rocky River. His term expires in 2024. 

Focus On Goals   

COVID-19: Getting the pandemic under control is a top priority. “We have to make the vaccine easier to obtain for everyone. Only 56 percent of the County workforce is vaccinated. We need to do better.”    

OPOIDS: “700 persons died of overdoses in 2021. That’s just horrible. We need to do more.”    

JUSTICE: “The County Jail, the Mental Health Diversion Center and bail reform are all key this year. We need to help keep more people from entering the system.”    

CLIMATE CHANGE: “The County needs to use more clean energy, and help reduce the impacts of climate change.”   

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Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors returns to the Cleveland Opera Theater stage this holiday season after Covid-19 forced the production into the digital realm last year. Performances will take place December 17-19, 2021 across Cuyahoga County in an effort to make the production geographically accessible to Northeast Ohio residents. In the spirit of the holiday season, this production is presented free of charge thanks support from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and the Kulas Foundation with 100% of donations received supporting The City Mission’s Laura’s Home Women’s Crisis Center. 

For 10 years, Cleveland Opera Theater and The City Mission have come together to produce this holiday favorite. Michael Parry, Donor Relations Officer at The City Mission, says Amahl is not only an inspiring story and beautiful musical gift to the greater Cleveland community, but “it generates awareness of and support for The City Mission’s work. We are happy to partner with Cleveland Opera Theater on this production.” 

The mission of Cleveland Opera Theater is to advance opera through innovative, accessible, and inclusive experiences. While this generally means for our audience members, the company also makes a concerted effort to collaborate with Cleveland’s myriad training programs to feature and promote local professional artists including younger singers starting their professional careers. As in 2019, this year’s production of Amahl and the Night Visitors will feature members of Cleveland Institute of Music’s youth choirs supplemented by select adult singers, under the direction of Conductor Jennifer Call. She says, “this beautiful story of hope and kindness is a perfect close for our Fall semester and for our return to ensemble singing after the year apart. Performing in this production is always a wonderful collaboration to introduce our young singers to opera and the art of storytelling as part of a professional production.” 

About Amahl and the Night Visitors: 

Based on Italian folk tales of the Nativity and Epiphany, Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors is a retelling of the story of the Magi from the point of view of a young shepherd named Amahl, who needs a crutch to walk and lives in poverty with his widowed mother near Bethlehem. They receive visitors, three kings, who seek shelter on their journey to bring gifts to a newborn child. A vivid and accessible tale originally created for television, Amahl and the Night Visitors is truly an opera for all! 

About Our Production: 

Performances are free and un-ticketed. Cleveland Opera Theater is enforcing strict preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 including socially-distanced seating for attendees. Visit Clevelandoperatheater.org/amahl. 

Friday, December 17, 2021 @ 7:00p – Church of the Saviour, 2537 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 Saturday, December 18, 2021 @ 7:00p – Old Stone Church, 91 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113 Sunday, December 19, 2021 @ 3:00p – Rocky River United Methodist Church, 19414 Detroit Rd. Rocky River 44116.

View more information here. https://www.clevelandoperatheater.org/amahl

CONTENT COURTESY STRAIGHT FROM CITY HALL NEWSLETTER

(By Courtney Cook)

The Cleveland Department of Public Health has launched a new COVID-19 Dashboard in collaboration with Case Western Reserve University. View the dashboard here. The dashboard provides concise data summaries and a map of current infection risk for government officials and the general public. All displayed data on the Cleveland COVID-19 Dashboard are updated before 6:00 a.m. EST daily.

About the City of Cleveland

The City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life for its residents by strengthening neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing diversity and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, play, and do business. For more information on the City of Cleveland, visit online at www.city.cleveland.oh.us, Twitter at @cityofcleveland or Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofcleveland.

COURTESY Straight from City Hall Newsletter

The City of Cleveland’s Rockefeller Park Greenhouse will hold its annual Friends of the Greenhouse Park Greenhouse Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature many varieties of poinsettias. Rockefeller Park Greenhouse is located at 750 East 88^th St. (On the northeastern edge of the Rockefeller Park between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and East 88^th Street.)

Poinsettia plants will be sold for $5 by cash or checks made payable to Friends of the Greenhouse. To view and share more information about the greenhouse plant sale, download the flyer here.

The Rockefeller Park Greenhouse is a City-owned botanical garden and greenhouse housing four acres of specialty plant collections, seasonal floral displays and indoor and outdoor themed garden displays. The public greenhouse is wheelchair accessible and offers free admission year-round.

COVID-19 protocols will be in place and masks are required.

For more information about the Poinsettia Plant Sale or the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, visitrockefellerparkgreenhouse.org or call 216-664-3103.