The Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH), a coalition including SPAN-Ohio, Black Lives Matter of Cuyahoga County, the Cuyahoga County ProgressiveCaucus, Organize! Ohio, and Cleveland Democratic Socialists of America, today announced plans for a ballot initiative to address lingering and dangerous lead problems in Cleveland.
Staring down what they perceive as inexcusable inaction by the city of Cleveland and city council, the initiative, the language of which was not released, will follow closely a proposal initiated by former City Councilmember Jeff Johnson. That would be ordinance 990-17, legislation that was crafted with the help of community activists and Legal Aid in 2017 that would have held landlords accountable for certifying their properties were lead-safe. It never received a hearing. Johnson was running for Mayor at the time, and the likely explanation for the stalled momentum was political: Johnson’s opponents didn’t want him to get credit for an important piece of legislation.
Councilman Blaine Griffith last week told Scene that he understood the community’s frustration but that legislation was a “work in progress” and numerous efforts outside of legislation are needed to address the complex problem.
“I know people are impatient,” he said. “And I know they might think there’s not a sense of urgency. I won’t duck that. But I will tell you that I do have a sense of urgency and [the Health and Human Services Committee] spent most of 2018 on this issue. We’re working on it.”
CLASH has had enough waiting.
“The public has waited for years through mismanagement, inaction, and inadequate measures from our city leaders. All the while, more Cleveland children have been lead poisoned,” Rebecca Maurer, a local attorney involved in the effort said in the press release . “If City Council won’t seriously consider proposed legislation to address the lead crisis, the time is right to take the
issue to the public.”
Lead poisoning is a pervasive problem in Cleveland, and one that disproportionately affects minorities and the poor.
Rachel Dissel and Brie Zeltner of the Plain Dealer have thrown a spotlight on the problem in recent years, but little action has been taken.
If they gather enough signatures — 5,000 according to the PD — the legislation would be introduced at council, which would then vote on it. If it was rejected, the coalition would then decide whether to get the issue before voters.
This article appears in Jan 9-15, 2019.
While youre at it, how about getting signatures to recall Taxin Jackson from office for his constant ineptness and blatant waste of taxpayer money!!!
Then, when hes been finally shown the door, lets recall and rescind the 50% income tax hike from two years ago that we have not seen any results from whatsoever, except even less money in our already low take-home pay!!!
Meanwhile, the thieves at City Hall and county, majority of whom have six-figure salaries, and giant pensions that we can only dream about, continue to tax and spend their way on every pet project.
It is time to send all of these crooks to jail now!!!!!
The ballot initiative is a good idea. Let the fickle voters of Cleveland decide if they want a ballot issue. Keep in mind these are the same voters that elected the do nothing folks in city hall that are doing nothing to address the lead issue. Why not reach out to the Ohio Attorney General, the US Attorney and the County Prosecutor and encourage them to file charges against the do nothings similar to what occurred in Flint, MI.
The Cleveland elected officials, especially mush mouth Frank, the health director, the Commissioner of Health and some silly council members have failed in a criminal manner to execute their constitutional duties while conspiring with each other to the demise of several residents.
Think about it.