Mark Oprea, Author at Cleveland Scene

Slavic Village to Vote on Project Finalists in $100,000 Participatory Budgeting Pilot Program

Ten proposals, including a pet food fund and a plan to remediate lead-infested gardens, will be narrowed down to three when People’s Budget CLE’s pilot experiment ends in August.

by Mark Oprea July 23, 2026July 23, 2026

News & Views

Citizens Bank Ends Financing for Private Prison Companies, Local Campaign Credits Public Pressure

“These inhumane private prisons are places of overcrowding, neglect, malnutrition, isolation, suffering and preventable death,” said organizers of the campaign.

by Mark Oprea July 22, 2026July 22, 2026

News & Views

Cuyahoga County Council Advances Proposal to Return Sheriff to Elected Position

A 7-4 vote on Tuesday moved forward the possibility of returning the position to the ballot instead of being appointed by the executive amid debates about turnover and accountability.

by Mark Oprea July 22, 2026July 22, 2026

Cleveland News

NEON Workers Win Wage Theft Lawsuit Against Their Employer

Cleveland courts decided this week that about a dozen current and former employees of the low-cost healthcare organization were owed thousands of dollars in unpaid checks.

by Mark Oprea July 17, 2026July 17, 2026

News & Views

State Shouldn’t Renew TownHall’s Liquor License, Council Says

Councilman Austin Davis has led a campaign to strip Bobby George’s TownHall in Ohio City of its liquor license in the wake of his recent felony conviction.

by Mark Oprea July 17, 2026July 18, 2026

News & Views

Cleveland City Council Warily Approves Flock Safety Renewal

The temporary extension keeps Cleveland’s 100 license plate readers operating while officials seek bids for a replacement before the contract expires in December.

by Mark Oprea July 16, 2026July 16, 2026

News & Views

Hermione Malone Steps Down as Cleveland International Film Festival Director

Malone helmed CIFF for two years. Her tenure included accusations of a ‘toxic’ work environment, financial uncertainty, and a successful 50th anniversary.

by Mark Oprea July 15, 2026July 15, 2026

Cleveland News

Cleveland Public Library Employees Vote to Approve Strike

Union members have been without a new contract since January and are seeking raises, staffing improvements and safety measures from CPL leadership.

by Mark Oprea July 14, 2026July 14, 2026

News & Views

City Club of Cleveland Hosts Fervid Flock Safety Debate Days Before Final Council Vote

Flock’s Joshua Thomas and cybersecurity expert Jen Golbeck debated the public value of Flock’s license plate readers in a particularly heated conversation on Friday.

by Mark Oprea July 13, 2026July 13, 2026