"The Future is Bright In Cleveland"

Hello! Apologies for not posting in like three months. I've missed this.
Over spring break I visited with a bunch of cool people in the workplace in Cleveland, and I've compiled my new campaign:

The Future is Bright in Cleveland


Basically, it refers to a collage of hidden ideas:
1. The Cleveland in future looks optimistic
2. There are many young people coming back to Cleveland, anxious for change and fresh with ideas.
3. This future is bright, as in educated/intelligent, and therefore promotes optimism.

Cleveland City Government faces many challenges, and besides the egregious water and sewer rate increases, have approached them with grace.

However,
much more needs to be done.

What I stand for as a citizen, potential future office holder:

--> FIX POTHOLES. Next to utilities, garbage collection, and snow plowing, this is the most necessary, tangible capital improvement which MUST be addressed. I would honestly double the paltry funds dedicated to this tax, perhaps removing the subsidies to the Cleveland Browns . . .

--> REFORM CITY GOVERNMENT. (Credit is due when I get the okay from the idea-makers). Instead of Cleveland's ward system being the basis for everything, there should be two camps of councilmen. The first camp should be 5-6 officials elected in a city-wide vote to represent the city's interests. The highest vote getter should become the Council President. Another 6 positions would represent "districts" of the city, similar to the current ward format.

--> DOWNTOWN INVESTMENT. 1. Create a no-fly zone for crimes committed in main business districts throughout the city. Offenders get maximum penalty/sentence & a fine automatically. 2. Find a way to hire a brigade of cops to walk the streets of downtown at all hours of the day. In pairs. 3. Encourage apartment investment through similar subsidies to the condo deals (15 year tax abatement, etc.). 4. Post signs near freeways/downtown entrances on Rt. 2 W, Rt. 2 E, Ontario, E. 9, Carnegie, Lorain, Detroit, Superior, St. Claire W., Euclid W., Chester W., etc. over the roads, with a cool creative design that says "Cleveland" or "Welcome to Cleveland" spanning the roads from above.

--> SCHOOL REFORM. (Credit due for some of this, again. . . ) 1. Consolidate/demo/repurpose schools with under 50% attendance. The numbers published in the PD this weekend were ridiculous. CMSD does not need this many buildings open. 2. Work a deal out at a state level allowing something like $4,500 (half of state's contribution) to follow students who reside in the city of Cleveland to private schools or suburban school districts. Reimburse for travel expenses. CMSD still gets to keep 2/3 of total funding per student and DOESN'T HAVE TO TEACH THEM. CMSD will complain, but at this point choice is the way to go for Cleveland's economy and students. 3. Reform the CMSD with parent, teacher, student participation. Use the "metropolitan" label as a gift to have specialized schools on each side of town. 4. Count attendance after 1st period, not at 10 AM. . . 5. Many other things

--> CONSOLIDATE services with neighboring suburbs. In say, Brooklyn's case, buy them a new engine or ladder truck PLUS an EMS truck PLUS pay for Brooklyn for the staff costs & maintenance costs, in order to improve coverage in Old Brooklyn, Linndale, and Denison Rd. area. Offer trash removal services to East Cleveland, Brooklyn, Cuyahoga Heights, etc.

--> LOWER TAXES incrementally through my revenue-stream-stabilization model. Work first on lowering the income tax, so people & businesses want to work in  Cleveland more. Secondly, impose $20 fines annually on house owners who don't keep houses & yards up to code (at enforcer's generous discretion), $100 on ungodly buildings & undeveloped lots, etc. NEW INCOME, YAY!

--> CUT RED TAPE. You shouldn't have to go through a councilman (who'd get credit for the project) to open a business. Cut the red tape, fill the zoning & permit boards with educated, well-meaning, people, and consolidate zoning. WE DON'T NEED 14+ zoning designations! I'm one of the few planners who is OKAY with less planning (in certain aspects).

--> NEW LAND USE POLICIES (1. is misplaced to *LOWER TAXES, above). 2. Allow owners of houses next to adjacent demolished housing lots to absorb that property as long as they maintain it;

--> PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING. Double the $ amount given to each Ward, allow citizens to decide where that investment goes, and which neighborhood gets a large development/streetscape grant every (Each ward guaranteed 1 every 10 years).

--> LAKEFRONT Move Port to land east of Airport; Develop current port site; Then remove airport and allow planned development as part of a new Lakefront Plan.

--> MAKE USE OF FIBER NETWORKS. Unleash the free Wi-Fi beneath Euclid Corridor. Help Euclid become the next I-271. Establish free Wi-Fi across the city.

--> CLEVELAND CARD. Work with the RTA to establish a renewable-rides card with city-business-only-accessible Debit capabilities. Each person to purchase one gets a ClevelandID

--> WEST SIDE MARKET. Establish Market District as Special Improvement District. Funnel more funds into it for renovations. Build parking garage, provide unique eating space for consumers. Develop residential in the area.

--> CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL LEARNING CENTER. Set up a block with classroom buildings, dormitories, labs, etc. for inviting Ivy-League and all other college students across the country for a "Semester in Cleveland." Provide unique internships, job-shadowing activities, networking events, real-world experience, skill-building programs, etc. for students. Promote HS programs, Undergraduate programs, graduate programs. Interact with CSU & numerous community stakeholders to provide a truly unique experience for students & increase the downtown student population by 1,000. Maybe on Euclid Corridor between E. 9th and E. 13th.

--> GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY --> Each police precinct should host a monthly meeting for citizens to ask questions/ answer questions/ educate about challenges, etc.

The future is bright in Cleveland whether we do these things or not; but I'm certain the future will be EVEN BRIGHTER with these platforms in place.