E.185 Alive, Jail on Hold, Speed Cameras Tabled & Farmers Market

Lots of little news to spread this week. For starters, Sat May 19 is E.185 Alive put on by Cleveland’s Northeast Shores Development Corp. Parade starts at Neff at 11am and ends up at VA/SJ. There will be sidewalk sales and activities throughout the day till 5pm. Abby Ave by Old World Meats and BG’s Old World Tavern is holding a one day street-garage sale from 9am-5pm with about 10 households participating. Should be a great time.

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Last month in a surprise move, Mayor Cervenik announced at the Safety Committee meeting that the County recommended he put his $3MM new jail on hold. They wouldn’t/couldn’t commit to giving the City county prisoners – a revenue source the Mayor was counting on to justify the new building. In light of the news, the Mayor & Council should cut our losses by closing the jail except for a few holding cells. Such a move could save the City anywhere from $500k to $1MM. Then take the $3.2MM the Mayor was planning on borrowing and put it into a breakwall. Such a move would send a strong message to K&D that Euclid really is committed to lakefront development. Maybe strong enough to finally get a marina going.
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Kudos to the south side advocates who came to the April 25 Safety Committee to speak out against speed cameras in school zones. At the April 4 meeting, the Mayor had admitted to the Committee he would use the money to shore up the depleted Workman’s Comp and Self Insurance Funds, and that he’d like to set up a fund for Retiree payouts. In other words, the cameras were to be a revenue source. Thanks in large part to the residents, the plan died in committee.
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Ward 1 Councilman David Gilliham announced his resignation effective July 1. Council will have to pick a replacement. Any Ward 1 resident interested in representing the southwest corner of the City until the Nov '13 elections should contact City Council at 289-8123 for info.
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Starting Fri May 25th from 4-7pm, the Farmers Market returns to Shore each Friday. The Farmers Market is a great use of public space that benefits everybody (see my Sustainable Culture page to find out why)