The Greater Cleveland Congregations' lead organizer, James Pearlstein, will be returning to Washington D.C. this summer after nearly three years in Cleveland. Pearlstein was a prominent behind-the-scenes figure during the #NotAllIn campaign against the Q Deal.
Pearlstein told Scene Thursday that he will remain in the employ of the D.C.-based Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), the network of community and faith-based organizations of which GCC is a member.
Pearlstein said he enjoyed working in Cleveland, despite past comments in which he expressed frustration with the region's corporate and political classes. It's no secret that organizing in opposition to the Q Deal was a persistent challenge, with ultimately devastating results.
After the Ohio Supreme Court sided with GCC and the thousands of activists and their supporters who'd hoped to vote on the massive public contributions to the Quicken Loans Arena renovation, GCC withdrew their petitions seeking a voter referendum. Pearlstein and others denied that they did so under pressure, though the organization has yet to issue an explanation to the contrary.
Pearlstein said details about GCC's future would be forthcoming at a later date, but he expressed confidence in the direction and leadership of the organization moving forward.
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