Ward 6 Councilman Blaine A. Griffin WINTER 2020-21 | www.clevelandcitycouncil.org

Serving the Buckeye, East 93rd, Fairfax, Larchmere, Little Italy, Slavic Village & Woodland Hills Neighborhoods

A Message from Councilman Griffin Season greetings everyone. This year has been a challenging year “I urge everyone to as we continue to face a deadly pandemic, job loss, public protests and a struggling take pride, ownership economy. But despite these social challenges, the and responsibility in citizens of Cleveland and of Ward 6 have your community.” shown that we are tough and resilient in the face of adversity. However, moving ahead requires all of us – We are better together. And that is the from Ward 6 to all corners of the city and the focus of my message throughout this nation – working together. newsletter. I was somewhat disappointed to see low Never, in my life time, have we had to rely voter turnouts in Ward 6 on Election Day and so much on each other like we are doing low responses to the U.S. Census tallies this now. “Social distancing” is a new household year. phrase and wearing medical masks in public I hope subsequent elections will see busier is now in vogue. voting polls. I urge everyone to exercise We are warned not to hold or attend large your most basic civil duty as an American, gatherings, as they and even small gatherings as a Cleveland citizen and as a Ward 6 Engage with Councilman with people outside your household resident to vote. BLAINE A. GRIFFIN: circle, easily spread the highly contagious Finally, I urge everyone to take pride, coronavirus. I know these tasks are difficult, ownership and responsibility in your PHONE especially this time of year, but they are community. 216-664-4234 necessary for our survival. Volunteer for community clean-ups, check EMAIL Most of us are complying with these life- on an elderly neighbor, mentor a young [email protected] saving remedies, though some of us are in person, attend neighborhood meetings. WEB denial. Again, everyone working together and www.clevelandcitycouncil.org/ward-6 Unfortunately, many people have lost looking out for each other can dramatically trust in our institutions of government, change our community. #ILoveWard6 but I believe the incoming administration Let us begin. will help renew our faith. Best, I am proud to say that I still have faith in our democratic system; faith in the American people; and faith in the public and private |Directsectors working togetherMailer to move our to Lead Safe Workers country ahead. Councilman Blaine Griffin, Ward 6

Cleveland Lead Safe Housing Initiative to Begin Beginning March 31, 2021, the City of Cleveland is requiring Direct Mailer|Direct Mailer to Lead to Lead Safe Safe Workers Workers residential rental units to receive a Lead Safe Certification. The Lead Safe | Certification will be rolled out in phases. There is a quarterly schedule for property owners to get their Lead Safe Certification between March 2021 and March 2023. The quarterly schedule is according to the zip code of your rental unit. After all eight groups are certified, the cycle repeats. Beginning March 2021, rental units in 44120 and 44135 zip codes must have their certification. Those zip codes are in Ward 6 and Wards 1, 2, 4, 11, 16, and 17. By June 2021, rental units in 44111 and 44106 zip codes must have their certification. Those zip codes are in Ward 6, 7, 9, 11, 16 and 17. To find out the entire zip code roll out and to find out what to do, including landlord resources and workshops, please go to the Lead Save Cleveland Coalition at leadsafecle.org. GRIFFIN’S Legislative Notes Councilman Griffin Appointed the Head Safety Committee Councilman Griffin was recently named chairperson 3 Recruiting culturally and racially diverse safety of City Council’s Safety Committee which oversees the forces. budgets and policies of police, fire, EMS and the city dog kennel. Together, they represent more than two 3 Making sure our safety forces are well equipped thirds of the city’s general fund budget. and trained. “Safety is the cornerstone of any thriving neighborhood,” said Councilman Griffin. “If people 3 Overseeing the construction of a new police don’t feel safe in their homes or walking through station on the city’s East Side. their neighborhoods, then any initiative our local government takes will fail.’’ 3 And most importantly, listening to the Councilman Griffin has put together an community. ambitious agenda to address safety issues, including: “As the Covid19 pandemic continues to spike, so too does crime in our city,” said Councilman Griffin. 3 Restoring trust between residents and the police. “Now, more than ever, we must stand together against criminal activity. We can’t allow the hands of criminals 3 Reducing violence and nuisance activities. to take over our neighborhoods.” Councilman Griffin Pushes Legislation Creating Division of Health Equity and Social Justice Councilman Blaine A. Griffin recently effective and relevant. proactively free ourselves from this insidious sponsored legislation authorizing the mayor’s That task includes addressing major public hatred – a hatred that deeply hurts all of us, office to create a Division of Health Equity and health issues, including systemic racism which is regardless of race.” said Councilman Griffin. Social Justice within the city’s Department of a root cause of inequity in health care. “Quality health care is a right for all, not just a Health. The commissioner will be charged with few.” The legislation, aimed at overhauling identifying strategies and goals to promote The city is now interviewing applicants for the the health department, includes hiring a health equity and social justice. commissioner position and plans to hire the new commissioner whose job will include developing “This is a necessary move to shine a light commissioner by the first quarter of 2021. a strategic plan to make the department more on systemic racism in our community and to

Councilman Griffin Challenges Community to Step NEWS YOU CAN USE Up Against Crime PARKER’S With the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic comes activity, consider calling the Fugitive Safe Surrender the spread of crime in our community as people are program (see article below) which encourages people PLACE losing their jobs and feeling hopeless about their wanted for non-violent felonies or misdemeanor futures. crimes to voluntarily surrender to the law in a faith- In this time of uncertainty one You and I don’t have the power to rid the world of based or other neutral setting. The program is run by thing remains the same: our team’s the spreading virus, but we do have the power to stop the U.S. Marshals Service. Call the Cleveland chapter at unwavering resolve to serve the the increase of neighborhood crime, street-by-street, 216-522-2150. block-by-block if we come together and meet the Also, if you are an ex-criminal who served prison residents of Ward 6. Please take criminals head on. time, we need your help too. If you hold a troubled comfort in knowing that Councilman Therefore, I am asking the community to step up, background because of dumb mistakes you made in Blaine A. Griffin and his team cares not step back. the past, it’s time for you to turn the page and give about Ward 6 residents and we are And that first step is getting to know your back to your community. You can help senior citizens here to work collaboratively with neighbors so you can create a network of or mentor school kids or help organize programs you. communication through phone trees, email chains aimed at keeping our community safe, peaceful and As the Executive Assistant to or any other method to stay in touch. Organize vibrant. Councilman Griffin, one of my duties regular block-watch meetings and if you see As the saying goes, “It takes a village.” is to pass along helpful tips to the something suspicious in your neighborhood There’s plenty of work to be done in the Ward 6 immediately call the police. The non-emergency Village, so let’s get started. residents of Ward 6: number is 216-621-1234. If the police don’t show, Please feel free to call me with any questions or call the Fourth District Commander Brandon Kutz concerns. My phone number is 216-664-4234. • For CHORE Program Members at 216-623-5400 or Third District Commander Enjoy the holidays, request snow removal, by calling Dorothy Todd at 216-623-5300. 216-664-3998. If you are a person publicly wanted for criminal – Councilman Blaine A. Griffin

• For snow removal on street, call City of Cleveland Department of Fugitive Safe Surrender Hotline Streets 216-664-2224. Created 1-877-FSS-USMS • Requests for street light repairs, From the U.S. Marshals Service Hotline has been created to supplement this call Cleveland Public Power very successful program. For those fugitives 216-664-3922. Peter J. Elliott, United States Marshal for who are wanted, the FSS Hotline will Northern Ohio, Bishop Joey Johnson of the give them the opportunity to peacefully Contact the office of House of the Lord Church in Akron, and the surrender and take their first step Councilman Blaine A. Griffin Reverend C.J. Mathews of Mount Sinai Baptist toward a second chance. For those who advantage of this opportunity to clear up their Church in Cleveland announce the creation of qualify, job placement and community warrants and move on with their lives without at 216-664-4234 or email me the Fugitive Safe Surrender Hotline. re-entry services have been built into this having to worry about their past catching up [email protected] In 2005, Pete Elliott, along with Reverend program. with them.” with complaints, Mathews, created the Fugitive Safe Surrender United States Marshal Pete Elliott said, Bishop Joey Johnson added, “This is a questions and Program in Cleveland. During the 4-day “This program offers a great opportunity proven program, a successful partnership concerns. period at Mount Sinai Church, 850 fugitives to deal with past issues and move forward, between the faith community and law peacefully and voluntarily surrendered. Due as well as provide services that will help enforcement. The past success speaks for In your service, to the success in Cleveland, the program was participants be successful in the long run. I itself; this is a unique opportunity to deal with Laveta L. Parker implemented nationally where over 75,000 am grateful for the community partnerships any outstanding warrants and take advantage Executive Assistant fugitives have peacefully and voluntarily that have made this program possible.” of assistance to move forward”. to Councilman Griffin surrendered. According to Reverend C.J. Mathews, “This Persons with outstanding warrants are With the current Covid-19 concerns and program is the first step at a second chance. encouraged to call the hotline 24/7 for more the inability for large gatherings, the FSS Literally thousands of fugitives have taken information. COMMUNITY Highlights Councilman Griffin conducts a tour of the Fairfax neighborhood with Cleveland Clinic President/CEO Tomislav Mihaljavic and Rick Keyes, President/CEO of Meijer Supermarkets. The City of Cleveland, the Cleveland Clinic and Meijer are working together to bring housing, retail and a small supermarket to Fairfax.

(left to right): Councilman Griffin (center) tours the Fairfax neighborhood with Rick Keyes, President & CEO of Meijer (left) and Dr. Tomislav “Tom” Mihaljevic, President & CEO of the Cleveland ABOVE (left to right): Councilman Griffin, Renee Davis (Fairfax resident), Rick Keyes (President & CEO of Meijer), Clinic (center left) and community Vern Daniels (Fairfax resident) and Dr. Tomislav “Tom” Mihaljevic (President & CEO) of Cleveland Clinic. stakeholders.

LEFT: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority members Cook Paving Turkey Giveaway distributed turkeys in Fairfax. on East 93rd BELOW: The men of Kappa Alpa Psi and Alpha Phi Alpha join the ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho to passed out turkeys in Fairfax.

ABOVE (left to righ)t: Myra Simmons, Ward 6 Precinct F Committee Person, Councilman Griffin and Keith Rogers, President/CEO Cook Paving and Construction. ABOVE: Metrohealth Hospitals and Ward 6 give away turkeys.

The City of Cleveland Planning Department was awarded a Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative A Greater Buckeye Road Refresh (TLCI) grant from Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) to conduct a transportation study for Buckeye Road extending from Woodhill Rapid Station on the west to South Moreland Blvd. on the east. BUCKEYE ROAD • PROJECT AREA: SHAKER • Budget for streetscape BLVD. TO NORTH MORELAND improvements in this phase REHABILITATION BLVD. (1.4 Miles) is $560,000

• Project to begin first quarter • Completion of engineering - 2021 September 2021

• Project includes repair and/ • Construction 2022 or rehabilitation of existing roadway pavement, curb, sidewalks and curb ramps 21ST CENTURY • Green / sustainable details STREET • Complete Street details Universal accessibility details A 21st Century Street should • incorporate the following • Vision Zero details COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT considerations: • Neighborhood priorities • Smart street details • Equitable design details PROJECT GOALS address the need for multiple along the western portion of Bicycle Planning: modes of transportation in a the corridor and review existing Explore the potential for bike safe and equitable way with a recommendations for the lanes along Buckeye Road and particular focus on the congestion eastern portion of the corridor. recommendations for connections at the East 116th and Buckeye Review setbacks to encourage a to existing and proposed bike intersection pedestrian friendly environment. paths and other regional assets Parking Analysis: Study preservation and reuse of Pedestrian Planning: Identify parking demands in existing mixed-use buildings, Identify areas with a high volume various locations and analyze in-fill development, and transit- of pedestrian traffic and consider redistribution of parking resources oriented development Take part in the Buckeye Road Refresh study. interventions and enhanced based on those demands; look Other goals/objectives: Visit: www.surveymonkey.com/r/BuckeyeRoad crosswalks to improve pedestrian for new opportunities for district Help to inform future street safety parking resurfacing and the Mayor’s Traffic Analysis: Land Use Planning: Neighborhood Transformation Provide a guide for how to Explore appropriate land use Initiative PRESORT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID CLEVELAND, OH

PERMIT NO. 2893 Maximize

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WARD 6 COUNCILMAN Blaine A. Griffin Visit www.ClevelandCityCouncil.org/ward-6 City Hall Office: Executive Assistant: Laveta Parker 601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 220 Phone: 216-664-4234 Fax: 216-664-3837 Cleveland, OH 44114 Email: [email protected]

Ward Office:12200 Fairhill Road, Ste. C145, Cleveland, OH 44120 Phone: 216-791-8683

Welcome SEIU Local 1199 to the Buckeye/Shaker community!

Congratulations to President-Elect Joseph R. Biden and Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris

I have had the pleasure of meeting both of them and I believe their leadership, compassion and commitment to equality and social justice will yield significant results for Cleveland and for Ward 6.