“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr. WARD SEVEN OBSERVER SERVING THE COMMUNITIES IN WARD 7: MIDTOWN, ST. CLAIR-SUPERIOR, ASIATOWN, AND HOUGH Volume 2 - Issue 1 ward7observer.com January 2020 WOVU The Radio Station of The People Kansas City to Make its Bus System Morris H Erwin, Jr. Fare-Free. Will Cleveland Do the Same? classes must be taken that give Blair Alexis basic radio instructions and a thir- are using the public transit ty-five-page manual must be system. “The Greater Cleveland memorized and applied to the on- Regional Transit Authority (RTA) air daily routine while working provides transportation services with high tech equipment. for 150,000-200,000 customers WOVU offers sixty-five programs on a typical weekday” (riderta.com on their station weekly that repre- /overview). sent different voices. Shows that With approximately 280 million uncover a variety of social issues in Operating expenditures and such as: domestic violence, hu- nearly 50% being salaries and man trafficking/sexual violence, Kansas City is taking a fresh overtime, eliminating fares could medical and educational gaps approach to its public transit decrease the need for security. and disparities, racism, unem- system. This reduction in salaries could ployment, voting rights, and many Beginning in 2020, all fares will cover the fare revenue. other issues that directly impact be eliminated for its riders. This “Passenger fares cover will make Kansas City the first approximately 18-20 percent of Jae Williams is the champion for major city to offer free public the operating cost of RTA’s 95.9 WOVU birthing something transportation. service.” new. Jae is the dynamic, This approach will not only (www.riderta.com/ charismatic and committed break financial barriers for financialmanagementinitiatives). General Manager of WOVU residents of Kansas City, but will Could this be a possibility for community radio station. WOVU also eliminate fare evaders. An residents in our own city? And is about to celebrate its two-year increase of passengers is how would this change the anniversary on January 8, 2020. expected for the pioneering city passenger experience? It’ll take Jae has been entrusted with the which would create environmental time before we can truly vision of executive director Tim benefits as well. By moving more measure the success of Kansas Tramble to provide solution people with fewer vehicles, public City’s bus initiative. oriented programming that gives Burton, Bell and Carr Director, Tim Tramble transportation can reduce “I believe that people have a people a voice, valuable greenhouse gas emissions. right to move about this city,” information, resources, and a the quality of life on the residents According to its 2018 budget, the Kansas City district councilman, platform that helps them achieve living in the community and in the Kansas City bus system services Eric Bunch, who co-sponsored the social and economic progress City of Cleveland. For example, about 44,000 passengers on an measure along with Mayor through on-air broadcasting and shows such as the Truth Be Told, average weekday, and 1.2% of Quinton Lucas, told a local radio associated social media Out of The Conservative Closet, Kansas City residents commute to station. “I don’t want to do it for platforms. WOVU 95.9 FM-LP is a and Let’s Talk About It, explore work via public transit. any sort of national recognition; I community radio station that is issues of sexism, education, So, what about a city like want to do it because it’s the represented by Burten, Bell, Carr politics, family and culture. Cleveland, where more residents right thing to do.” Development INC. BBC, a non- There is also a wide variety of profit community development music played on WOVU such as that I love very much. This is my corporation serving Cleveland’s inspirational music, hip-hop, next opportunity to help change C e n t r a l a n d K i n s m a n rhythm and blues, Jazz, and lives and I’m thankful to Tim neighborhoods. Throughout this reggae provide the hook that Tramble and the Board of interview, Jae constantly brings the listeners to take a Directors for believing in me." reinforced the ultimate goal of deeper dive into more pressing Jae’s advice for the young WOVU, which is to unite many social and political problems. generation, “Wake up with a voices that help the community Great community radio keeps purpose, and every time life thrive not just strive. listeners abreast on important knocks you on your back, look up, news and happenings at the local get up and push up. Each time level. WOVU 95.9 operates under you get back up, you have one the motto that people support more second to get it right. Don’t what they help create, and WOVU let anyone tell you that you can’t accomplish your dreams. You build the skill, stay humble, and the doors will open. Just like the doors opened for Amanda Berry, the young lady that was The General Manager, Tieran (TC) Lewis, Production Director kidnapped for ten years and Jae “The Gospel Kid” Williams survived. The door was cracked a The OVU stands for “Our Voices provides exciting and creative little and she called for help and United” Jae brings a fresh, new ways to engage, involve, and up- the rest is history. Be the innovative approach to the lift the community. champion. We will continue to do programs. WOVU is dedicated to Jae and his team never everything we can to keep the making sure that the staff is dreamed of being able to impact residents engaged”. properly trained and equipped to so many lives using the power of meet the diverse needs of the media and broadcasting.”S”He community. Three rigorous WOVU Music Director says, ”I get paid at doing a job Christopher “DJ Kristyles” Westbrook www.ward7observer.com 1 January 2020 The Ward Seven Observer Volume 2 - Issue 1 City January 2020 Article Submission Policy Free Community Events (Registration Required: www.eventbrite.com ) The Ward7Observer will take article submissions electronically via email or Cleveland Live Music Showcase! Thurs, Jan 2nd through ward7observer.com. Time: 5:00PM – 11:00PM Stella's Music Club Registration required. Submitter must 2217 E. 9th Street provide name, email address, and Cleveland, OH 44115 phone number with submission. Bottoms Up! FREE Yoga at the Library [Yoga & Brew] Thurs, Jan 2nd Time: 6:30PM – 7:30PM WARD7OBSERVER Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library 13866 Cedar Road The Ward7 Observer is a community based news University Heights, OH 44118 monthly published by The Calhoun Corporation LLC, dedicated to providing information and re- MIX: Fortune sources that will uplift and enhance the Ward 7 Chinese artist Liu Wei community. Copyright 2019 Fri, Jan 3rd Time: 6:00PM – 10:00PM NO REPRODUCTION WITHOUT PERMISSION. The Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 East Blvd Cleveland, Ohio 44106 PUBLISHER Ronald A. Calhoun Job Fair [email protected] The International Exposition Center Sat, Jan 4th Time: 9:00AM – 1:00PM EDITORS 1 I-X Center Dr. Patricia Johnson Executive Cleveland, OH 44135 Daina Dortch ENews FREE WEEKEND w/Lo-Pan/Rebreather/ Devon Jones Social Media Hiram-Maxim/Sparrow Milk Sat, Jan 4th Time: 8:00PM WRITERS Shannon M. Gallagher U.S, Senate (Ohio) Grog Shop Margaret Adams, Blair Alexis, Angela Bennett, 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd Steve Gall (3 of 100 Members) Cleveland, OH 44106 Carla Calhoun, Rashay Davis, Mansfield Frazier Kia Grayson, Ray Hom, Desiree James, Daniel Gaul Sherrod Brown (D)-Senator Therapy Thursday Meryl Johnson, Melvin Mason, Kevin May, Michael E. Jackson Robert Portman (R)-Senator Singer-Songwriter Event by Braxton Taylor Erwin Morris, Albert Najieb, Mylonne Sullivan Thurs, Jan 9th Wanda Jones Bob Gibbs (R)-Senator Time: 8:00PM – 11:00PM David T. Matia U.S. House of Representatives 2247 Professor Avenue ADVERTISING Cleveland, OH 44113 Robert C. McClelland (16 of 435 Members) Carla A. Calhoun Timothy McCormick Jim Jordan Dist-4 (R) FREE DARKROOM ORIENTATION [email protected] Cleveland Print Room Nancy R. McDonnell Joyce Beatty Dist-3 (D) Sat, Jan 11th Sherrie Miday Bill Johnson Dist-6 (R) Time: 11:00AM – 12:00PM 2550 Superior Avenue John P. O'Donnell Marcy Kaptur Dist-9 (D) Cleveland, OH 44114 John J. Russo Warren Davidson Dist-8 (R) Jazz Jam Session @ BOP STOP Joseph D. Russo Marcia Fudge Dist-11 (D) BOP STOP at The Music Settlement Michael J. Russo David Joyce Dist-14 (R) Fri, January 17th Time: 11:00PM – 2:00AM Nancy Margaret Russo Bob Gibbs Dist-7 (R) 2920 Detroit Ave, Shirley Strickland Saffold Steve Stivers Dist-15 (R) Cleveland, Ohio 44113 Michael Shaughnessy Anthony Gonzalez Dist-16 (R) Cleveland Jazz Orchestra Brendan J. Sheehan Brad Wenstrup Dist-2 (R) Silver Hall Concert Series 2019-2020 Sat, Jan 18th John D. Sutula Michael Turner Dist-10 (R) Time: 7:30PM – 9:00PM Tim Ryan Dist-4 (R) Maltz Performing Arts Center Kathleen Ann Sutula 1855 Ansel Rd., Joan Synenberg Troy Balderson Dist-12 (R) Cleveland, Ohio 44106 Deborah M. Turner Steve Chabot Dist-1 (R) Parking $5.00 José A. Villanueva Bob Latta Dist-5 (R) Hear Our Voices: Free MLK Day Celebration Mon, Jan 20th Domestic Relations Division Ohio Senate Time: 11:30AM – 5:00PM Leslie Ann Celebrezze (1 of 33 Members) Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage 2929 Richmond Rd. Rosemary Grdina Gold Sandra Williams Dist-21 (D) The Supreme Court of Ohio Beachwood, OH 44122 Ohio House of Representatives Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor Francine Goldberg SERMON BY: Justice Sharon L.