Keeping you informed about our neighborhood! The Ward 8 Citizen Michael D. Polensek • Councilman, Ward 8 | Fall 2020 | www.ClevelandCityCouncil.org

Since the last printing of the Ward 8 Citizen I could never have imagined “The deadline for responding to the census is what we have been through these last seven months. As I write this article we September 30, 2020! After that date, the City are approaching 200,000 deaths due to Covid-19. Numerous businesses throughout of Cleveland… could be in for some serious hurt the city have been shuttered permanently if our numbers come in low.” and more will fall before Christmas. I would to thank all, as well, who have gone out of does not drop significantly. like to forget the year 2020; it’s like a bad their way to support local neighborhood I know, firsthand, how this has affected dream come true. The greatest nation in the businesses who are struggling daily to many residents and families. Graduates world has been brought to its economic survive. could not have parties or other events to knees by an invisible disease brought to None of us know how long the Civil celebrate their achievements, large birthday our shores. I would like to report that the Emergency orders in the City of Cleveland parties and wedding receptions are also zip codes of 44110 and 44119 are still in will be in effect. Recently, it was announced discouraged. I am personally aware of many the middle of the pack as it pertains to by Mayor Jackson that these orders had families, including my own, who could not the number of confirmed cases per the been extended to the end of September. This hold proper “Going Home” services for their Cuyahoga County Health Department. has affected all of our neighborhood groups loved ones. That in itself is something we I wish to thank all of our residents who and organizations who met on a regular as a community have never experienced. have complied with all the requirements basis. The city continues to frown upon mass It goes without saying that we are under placed on us; i.e. the social distancing and gatherings, which includes large gatherings extraordinary guidelines and restrictions. especially wearing of masks. I don’t like in your own home/yard. Don’t be surprised If we follow these now though, we may be wearing a mask, but I do so because I if these orders aren’t extended to the end around to celebrate later. believe it is my patriotic duty to do so of the year if the number of Covid-19 cases as to protect others around me. I want Continued on page 2

REGISTER NOW TO 2020 Census VOTE or update your completion deadline is now Sept. 30th Voter Registration by Greater Collinwood Development Corporation Staff information U.S. Census Bureau recently announced that the deadline for 2020 Census completion is now September 30th, 2020. The Voters must be registered by change moves the Census completion deadline UP from October Monday, October 5 to vote in the 31st, a full thirty-one days sooner. It is now more urgent than November 3 General Election. ever to talk with your friends, neighbors and families about the importance of taking the Census. Voters must be registered in The Census counts every person living in the United Cuyahoga County in order to vote States and five U.S. territories.The Census occurs once in any election. In order to vote in every 10 years and determines how billions of federal dollars are allocated to communities that US citizens directly and indirectly Cuyahoga County, you must meet the Visit www.443vote.com to: • Register to vote or update your address benefit from, such as funding for schools, roads and infrastructure. following requirements: Response rates for the City of Cleveland currently stand at • View a sample ballot 49%; the greater Collinwood community response rates • You must be a United States Citizen. to the 2020 Census lie between 38% - 46%. GCDC would like • View the Early In-Person Voting hours to encourage our entire community to talk with your neighbors, • You must be at least 18 years old on the friends and family members about the many ways you can day of the General Election. • Request a Vote-by-Mail ballot respond to the Census and even assist those who need help doing so. • You must be a resident of Ohio for at • Track your Vote-by-Mail ballot You can take the Census online by visiting https://2020census. least 30 days. • Verify your Election Day polling location gov/en.html from your smartphone or desktop. The site does not save your data, so it is safe and private to assist others in taking the • You must register to vote at least 30 Census this way. You can also call the Cuyahoga County Board days before an election to be eligible You can also take the Census over the phone by calling of Elections at 216-443-VOTE(8683). to vote. 1-844-330-2020. Share this phone number with those who do not have internet access or who are uncomfortable with taking • 17 year old residents can register and the Census online. vote in a Primary Election if they will be Finally, the Census can be completed by mail. The U.S. Census 18 on or before the General Election. Bureau mailed paper questionnaires to homes mid-April. If you 17-year-olds can vote for candidates have lost or misplaced your questionnaire, please respond to the only. Census online or by phone with the number above. Message Continued affected basic city services. It seems as though UPCOMING every department and division is backed up and You all have seen and read about the or working with a reduced workforce. Finally, Community importance of the 2020 CENSUS. As of this Housing Court is back open but is severely writing compliance in Ward 8 is hovering backed up in dealing with outstanding Building Meetings around 46% and that is one of the higher & Housing violations. Waste Collection has been percentages on the east side of the City. I cannot another area of great concern. Please follow Collinwood Homeowners begin to tell you how critical the response to the the guidelines for the placement of bulk items, and Tenants Association Census is, not only for our community but for including mattresses and furniture on the tree Meets first FWednesday O R Tof the H month E at the entire City of Cleveland. lawn. Not following these guidelines can result Federal programs, too, are connected to the 7:00 pm St. Mary’s School, 15519 Holmes Ave. in fines.Due to Covid-19 restrictions waste WELL-BEING U.S. Census. The funds go for schools, hospitals, collectors are limited in what they will pick E.O 185th F T Street H E Neighborhood P U B L I C , roads, public works projects and environmental up or touch, so please, if you have questions Association protection. More than $675 billion is distributed please call Waste Collection at 216-664-3117. to the states based on the census figures. By not I am sure you are all keenly aware of the Second cTuesday o m of the m month u n at i6:00 t y pm complying with the Census, it is taking money increase of crime and violence, not only in our Lithuanianmeetings Village Hall, 1st Floor rearfor entrance, right out of your pocket or that of your family city, but nationally. All of us need to be more 877 East 185th St. and friends; it is estimated that the community cautious than ever before and to report any September are loses around $18,000 per person over the and all illegal activity to 9-1-1. For the record, Ward 8/Bratenahl Village decade. The Census also affects federal, state my office was bombarded, after the riot Democraticc a n c Club e l l e d a n d and local representation. We run the risk of Downtown on May 30, with hundreds of losing that representation and the funds that emails calling for the defunding, and even Second Wednesday of the month, Sept. through p o s s i b l y f o r come with it. the disbanding, of the Cleveland Police June, 6:30 pm Collinwood Slovenian Home, I really don’t know what people are afraid Department. What I found most tell-tale and 15810O Holmes c t oAve. b e r u n t i l of when it comes to answering the census troubling was that the overwhelming majority questions. When I filled out my own form, of the calls and emails came from suburbanites Fifthfurther District Community notice. I was surprised at people’s reluctance for and even out-of-state individuals. What was Relations Meeting the questions for they were very simple even more intriguing was those who wrote ForResidents day and time contact: our Rickstrongly Reynolds, and straightforward. I found them not to me who live in some of the most affluent Community Relations Board, 216-664-3291 be intrusive at all. PLEASE fill out a Census communities in the County, and that out of encouraged to: Form and return it as soon as possible. all those emails, only four (4) were from the E. 156th Street Neighborhood Assoc. The DEADLINE FOR RESPONDING TO THE northeast side. So, let me restate my position, CENSUS IS SEPTEMBER 30, 2020! After what I hear from our residents every day Third Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm ` Stay at home when that date, the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga is that they want more police response on Collinwood Rec Center, 16300 Lakeshore Blvd. possible. But when you go County and the State of Ohio could be in for their streets and a police department that is some serious hurt if our numbers come in low. professionally operated and engaged with E. 140thout, Streetmake Neighborhood sure to support Assoc. Please read the additional CENSUS info in this the community. Any effort to defund the Fourthlocal Wednesday businesses of the month and at 6:00 pm newsletter. THANK YOU to those who have police or disband their activities would only Fiverestaurants Pointe Community andCenter, respect813 E. 152nd St. already returned their 2020 CENSUS. cause more chaos in our society. Do I think VOTING! What can I say about this the Cleveland Police Department needs reform, Pleasesocial become distancing. a stakeholder: Constitutional right and, in my opinion, a God- better training and possibly new leadership? GET INVOLVED! given responsibility for all Americans? When My response would be “yes.” CPD could always ` I go to the polls or vote by Absentee, I try to do better and that should be our collective goal; Clean your hands often remember all the Americans who fought for us that is, to have the most responsive, best trained Communitywith soap and Resources water to be able to cast our ballot whether it be the department, and one that is reflective of the or hand sanitizer. men and women of our Armed Services “who community. Collinwood Nottingham gave all;” the sacrifices of the brave women who I will continue to update the community fought for the right to vote 100 years ago; or, monthly in the Collinwood Observer about ` AvoidHistorical touching Society your face the organized workers who, in many cases, were community issues, projects and initiatives. withEmail: unwashed [email protected] hands. beaten for their right to unionize. Who could Please, pick a copy in the neighborhood or Ph: 216-738–0626 ever forget the men and women of the Civil go online at www.CollinwoodObserver.com. On-going efforts to discover and explore Rights Movement who were beaten, denied I can always be reached at my office by ` Coverour neighborhood your mouth heritage. and basic rights or were murdered because they leaving a message at 216-664-4236 or emailing nose with a mask when wanted to be treated as equals. We owe it to all me at [email protected] or Greater Cleveland Food Bank of those who came before us, to remember their [email protected]. 15500around South Waterloo others! Rd. | OnPh: 216-738-2067 July 3, suffering and sacrifices. I call upon all Ward 8 STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY. GOD BLESS. ConnectsMayor you to Jackson food assistance signed including an local residents to GET OUT THE VOTE! If you don’t food amendedpantries and hot order meals. Freemandating fresh produce vote you have no right to complain about anything. distribution every third Thursday of the month, the use of masks in public I don’t have to tell anyone how COVID-19 has 4-6 inpm. the Call andCity apply of for Cleveland SNAP/Food Stamps over the phone or walk in to apply without an toappointment, slow the weekdays spread 9 am of - 5 pm. the highly contagious NEON Collinwood Health Center coronavirus. This includes 15322 St. Clair Ave. | Ph: 216-851-1500 Openmandatory Monday-Friday, use 8:30 in am bars, to 5:30 pm. Servicesrestaurants, include family shared and adult officemedicine, pediatrics,settings, OB/GYN, rideshares behavioral health and and dentalother care. Ancillaryshared and spaces. pharmacy services are also available. CallJ. Glen Councilman Smith Health Polensek’s Center 11100Office St. Clairat Ave.664-4236 | Ph: 216-249-4100 for any Open Mon.,Wed., Thurs. and Fri., 8:30 am upcomingto 4:30 pm; Tuesday,announcements. 12-8:00 pm. Services include reproductive health clinics, free immunizations (children up to age 18), TB testing, counseling and pregnancy testing. Get Get CountedCounted Now! Now! Get Counted Get CENSUS 101: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWCounted Top 6 Ways Top 6 Ways Census Data is Now! The 2020 Census is closer than you think! Census Data Used in the City of Cleveland Now! Here’s a quick refresher of what it is and why it’s essential that everyone is counted. Get is Used in Top 6 Ways Census Data is www.my2020census.govTop 6 Ways Census Data is Used in the City of Cleveland Everyone Counted ClevelandUsed in the City of Cleveland counts. www.my2020census.gov The census Now! counts every person living in It’s aboutwww.my2020census.gov fair the U.S. once, only once, and in representation. the right place. Decision making Determining areas eligible Every 10 years, at all levels of for housing assistance the results of the government.Decision makingand rehabilitation loans. Determining areas eligible Topcensus 6 are usedWays to Censusat Data all levels of is for housing assistance reapportion the Reapportioning House of Forecasting futuregovernment. and rehabilitation loans. Top 6 Waystransportation Census needs for all seatsData in the House ofis Representatives, segments of the population. Representatives. Useddetermining in how the City of Cleveland many seats each Used in the City of Cleveland state gets. Planning health and Directing funds for educational Forecastingservices for futureservices for people Reapportioning people with disabilities. in poverty. It’s in the transportation needs for all seats in the House of www.my2020census.govconstitution. segments of the population.Decision makingRepresentatives. Determining areas eligible at all levels of www.my2020census.govThe U.S. Constitution mandates for housing assistance that everyone in the country be government. and rehabilitation loans. counted every 10 years. The first Planning health and census was in 1790. Directing funds for educational services for services for people people with disabilities. in poverty. It’s about Forecasting future Reapportioning $675 billion. It’s about transportation needs for all seats in the House of Decision making Determining areas eligible Representatives. redistricting.at all levels of for housing assistancesegments of the population. After each decade’sgovernment. census, state and rehabilitation loans. o‡cials redraw the boundaries of the congressional and state legislative districts in their states to account for population shifts. Decision making Forecasting futureDetermining areasReapportioning eligible Planning health and Directing funds for The distribution of at all levels of transportation needs for all seats in the House of educational services for services for people more than $675 billion for housing assistanceRepresentatives. in federal funds, segments of the population. people with disabilities. grants and support to government. and rehabilitation loans. in poverty. states, counties and Taking part is communities are your civic duty. based on census data. Planning health and Directing funds for That money is spent on Completing the census educational services for services for people schools, hospitals, is mandatory: it’s a way people with disabilities. in poverty. roads, public works and Forecastingto participate future in our Reapportioning otherNORTHEAST vital programs. OHIOdemocracy COVID-19 and say RENT HELP transportation“I COUNT!” needs for all seats in the House of This lifeline, funded by the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, is for residents TAKE THE CENSUS RIGHT NOW! segments of the population. Representatives. who are facing financial hardships due to COVID-19 and need help paying rent. Simply take a picture of this QR code with your Income restrictions apply. mobile device to fill out your census today.

How Does it Work?Planning health andWho Qualifies? Directing funds for CHN is the entry point to access educationalrental R eservicessidents of th efor City of Cleveland and services for people assistance, a broad array of housing, Cuyahoga County who are having OHIO peopleThe response with rate disabilities. in Cleveland for the 2020 Census is still in poverty. finaSelf-Responsencial counsel in69.6%g and referral difficulty making rental payments due to resources. Depending on the nature laggingof behind thethe state econ andom nationic imp aconsiderably.ct of the pan Wede havemic to your CLEVELANDfinancial hardship, you may be and who meet income eligibility Visit online: Self-Response make sure that everyone in our community is counted! referred to EDEN fo49.5%r longer- requirements. my2020census.gov term assistance, at which time you may Responses as of 9/8/2020; https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates/self-response.html Please respondIf you qtoua Censuslify for re n2020tal as sbyist aSept.nce, yo 30!u be asked for additional information and may be required to attend more in- documentation. depth financial counseling, provided by CHN, as a condition for payment of the If you qualify, your landlord may receive rental assistance. NORTHEASTup to three months back re nOHIOt. COVID-19 RENT HELP Watch Council Priority is given based on criteria such as CHN will screen all applicants for This lifeline, funded by the City of Cleveland anedv Cictuioyna hstoagtuas ,C aoccuunrtayte, iisn forrm reatsiiodne anntds utility assistance programs that may help complete documentation. Meetings Online whmoa akree y foaucr ienlgec ftirnica, ngacsi aaln hda wradtsehr/ispesw deur e to COVID-19 and need help paying rent. Income restrictions apply. bills more affordable. In spite of these trying times, the work of Cleveland City Council continues. Council has been meeting electronically with virtual public How Does it Work? Who Qualifies? hearings and legislative sessions. CHN is the entry point to access rental Residents of the City of Cleveland and Go to www.clevelandcitycouncil.org/calendar to assistance, a broad array of housing, Cuyahoga County who are having find listings of upcoming committee meetings. financial counseling and referral difficulty making rental payments due to resources. Depending on the nature of the economic impact of the pandemic your financial hardship, you may be and who meet income eligibility WATCH (LIVE & RECORDED) referred to EDEN for longer- requirements. www.youtube.com/user/ term assistance, at which time you may ClevelandCityCouncil If you qualify for rental assistance, you be asked for additional information and may be required to attend more in- documentation. WATCH (LIVE) depth financial counseling, provided by www.tv20cleveland.com/ CHN, as a condition for payment of the LIEf AyoRuN q uMaOlifRy,E y oAuNr Dla nAdPloPrLdY m AayT receive watch-now/ FUNDEreDn tBaYl a:ssistance. NupE toO thRreeE mNonTthsH baEckL rePnt.. ORG Councilman Polensek serves on the following Priority is given based on criteria such as CHN will screen all applicants for council committees: OR CALL 833-377-RENT eviction status, accurate information and utility assistance programs that may help Safety (Vice Chair), Utilities and Rules complete documentation. make your electric, gas and water/sewer bills more affordable.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY AT FUNDED BY: NEORENTHELP.ORG OR CALL 833-377-RENT PRESORT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID CLEVELAND, OH PERMIT NO. 2893

The Ward 8 Citizen Chills COUNCILMAN Repeated shaking with chills

MICHAEL D. POLENSEK Sore throat City Council Office: 601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 220 Headache New loss of smell or taste Cleveland, OH 44114 Phone: 216-664-4236 If you develop symtoms, call your doctor or local Fax: 216-664-3837 clinic for advice. Email: [email protected] Visit www.ClevelandCityCouncil.org

DIAL-A-NUMBER The time is For Cleveland Seniors Emergency (Police, Fire, EMS) ………………………… 911 60 Years of Age & Older Police (non-emergency) ………………………… 621-1234 5th District Police (881 E. 152nd St.) ……………… 623-5500 or Adults 18-59 with Fire (non-emergency) …………………………… 621-1212 a Disability EMS (non-emergency) …………………………… 623-4545 NOW! City Hall (all departments) ………………………… 664-2000 Census 2020 Cleveland Care Calls is an automated telephone Mayor’s Action Center …………………………… 664-2900 reassurance system being offered to Cleveland Animal Control (dogs, etc) ………………………… 664-3069 MUST be completed by Seniors 60 and over or adults 18-59 with a disability Building/Housing Complaints …………………… 664-2007 by the Department of Aging and Public Safety. Cleveland Public Power …………………………… 664-3156 SEPTEMBER 30 Through this computerized system, the individual Collinwood Recreation Center …………………… 420-8323 Responding only receives a call, on the days they request, Monday Department of Aging …………………………… 664-2833 takes a few minutes: You can shape the future for yourself, through Friday, to check on their well-being. • If no response within the thirty minute period, Dominion East Ohio Gas ………………………… 361-2345 your family, and our community for They can select a time to receive the call the Department of Aging will then contact any between 7 AM - 11 AM. If the individual does not Health Department Complaints ………………… 664-2300 the next 10 years by doing the census. person that the senior has designated as an Illuminating Company …………………… 1-800-589-3101 ONLINE respond to his/her call: emergency contact. Potholes/Snow Removal ………………………… 664-2510 my2020census.gov When you’re counted, the information • System will make several additional attempts in Sewers/Catch Basins (clogged) …………………… 664-2513 you provide determines how many a thirty (30) minute period. • If the individual or any of his/her contacts Street Light Outages (CPP) ……………………… 621-5483 BY PHONE cannot be reached, the Department of Public Traffic Signs Down & Missing …………………… 420-8282 federal dollars Cleveland receives. Safety may be asked to make a home check on Tree Trimming/Removal ………………………… 664-3104 Call 844-330-2020 the individual in question. Waste Collection Issues ………………………… 664-2397 If you miss the Census, Water Department (leaks, hydrants) ……………… 664-3060 BY MAIL To sign up and for more information, please FOR COMPLAINTS OR PUBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENTS Return the form you Ward 8 misses out! contact the Cleveland Care Calls Project Director CALL 3-1-1 received in April. (MORE CENSUS INFO INSIDE) 216-664-6316 or 216-664-2833.