RHINO Rants...
How the system works in the 2nd poorest city in the US
Cleveland MetroParks buys the Euclid Beach Mobile Home Park from the Western Reserve Land Conservancy (a non-profit). MetroParks (a quasi public entity) receives a grant from the Mandel Foundation to acquire the manufactured home park from Western Reserve Land Conservancy after park residents are kicked out.
Western Reserve Land Conservancy receives a grant from the Mandel Foundation to relocate the tenants from the property and clean the title before selling to MetroParks.
MetroParks seeks a lease to maintain the City of Cleveland's Gordon Park, also along the Lake Erie shoreline. The source of the funding for MetroParks lease of city property is withheld from City Council. References
Mandel Foundation pumping $24 million into east side lakefront parks
Mandel Foundation awards $10M to Western Reserve Land Conservancy
Cleveland Metroparks to lease part of Gordon Park from Cleveland
Meanwhile low income Clevelanders are just washed up on welfare island umbrella optional.
Euclid Beach Mobile Home park was supposed to be Carol McClain’s forever home. "She is among more than 120 families who must move to make way for Cleveland Metroparks’ expansion of Euclid Beach Park."
Food banks struggle to meet demand, as pandemic relief ends for thousands of Ohioans
Cleveland is most stressed city in U.S., report says.
Two postscripts
July 16, 2023. NYT via dnyuz. Detroit Takes On Problems That Were Once Beyond Reach. The parallels with the current Cleveland re-visioning are striking, but will commercial code enforcement and green space solve the problems of disinvestment and out migration? From the article: "The simultaneous realities of Detroit add urgency to this moment, when the national economy is healthy and the city’s coffers are flush with federal pandemic relief funds. For the first time in a long time, there is money to go beyond the basics, offering a chance to think about aesthetics."
Jul 18, 2023 WCPO. City of Cincinnati proposes new programs to reduce economic inequalities "The City of Cincinnati is putting forward a new blueprint to address economic inequalities among residents. Proposals include piloting a guaranteed basic income for qualified residents, starting savings accounts for children and erasing medical debt. City leaders said many of the programs will be based on income, but will be open to all residents. 'It's our goal to drive at equity, to drive at opportunity,' said Assistant City Manager Virginia Tallent. The blueprint is filled with proposals for programs to make it easier for residents to find financial freedom. City leaders said one of their primary goals is to reduce the racial wealth gap." More here.