2021 Election Forums
Cleveland Heights City Council Candidate Forum - 4 year term
The Noble Neighbors' Cleveland Heights City Council Candidate Forum is going virtual due to the Covid infection rates in Cuyahoga County. The questions that participants submitted to us before September 30, 2021 were combined into the following broad categories and were submitted to the candidates on October 1, 2021 for written response. Responses are due by October 12, but will be posted on this site as they are received. Please read the candidates' responses, look up their campaign websites, and link to other forums and questionnaires. We are better voters when we are better educated.
Email submitted to Cleveland Heights City Council Candidates on October 1, 2021:
Email submitted to Cleveland Heights City Council Candidates on October 1, 2021:
Hello Candidates for Cleveland Heights City Council,
Noble Neighbors' leaders have decided to cancel our in-person City Council Candidate Election Forums for October 5 and 12 due to the rising Covid-19 delta variant infections. Instead, we'd like to give you the opportunity to answer the questions we would have presented to you in writing. We will post your answers to our webpage as soon as we receive them and ask you to observe our October 12 deadline. We will also post links to other CH City Council candidate forums and questionnaires and use our social media platforms to encourage our neighbors to educate themselves before voting.
Please provide a link to the social media pertaining to your candidacy. We will include that link on our website.
Please respond in 250 words or less to these questions:
1. Describe how you have engaged with city government and with the neighborhoods along Noble Road to date.
2. Governance: What will your role and goals be as a council member in shaping our new form of government? How will you ensure that Noble and all other parts of the city are represented equitably?
3. Economic Development: What are your plans for economic development along Noble Road? How will you engage the residents, business owners and institutions in that planning?
4. Quality of Life: Residents are expressing concerns about trash pick-up, building and housing code violations, noise, traffic control and safety issues. How will you address these concerns including funding of solutions?
5. Additional Comments: This is your opportunity to provide additional information to the Noble area voters.
Thank you for your participation. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Noble Neighbors' leaders have decided to cancel our in-person City Council Candidate Election Forums for October 5 and 12 due to the rising Covid-19 delta variant infections. Instead, we'd like to give you the opportunity to answer the questions we would have presented to you in writing. We will post your answers to our webpage as soon as we receive them and ask you to observe our October 12 deadline. We will also post links to other CH City Council candidate forums and questionnaires and use our social media platforms to encourage our neighbors to educate themselves before voting.
Please provide a link to the social media pertaining to your candidacy. We will include that link on our website.
Please respond in 250 words or less to these questions:
1. Describe how you have engaged with city government and with the neighborhoods along Noble Road to date.
2. Governance: What will your role and goals be as a council member in shaping our new form of government? How will you ensure that Noble and all other parts of the city are represented equitably?
3. Economic Development: What are your plans for economic development along Noble Road? How will you engage the residents, business owners and institutions in that planning?
4. Quality of Life: Residents are expressing concerns about trash pick-up, building and housing code violations, noise, traffic control and safety issues. How will you address these concerns including funding of solutions?
5. Additional Comments: This is your opportunity to provide additional information to the Noble area voters.
Thank you for your participation. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Voters will choose four of these candidates
Candidate Responses:
Lee Barbee II
Craig Cobb https://www.councilmancraigcobb.com
Received Oct. 12, 2021
1. Describe how you have engaged with city government and with the neighborhoods along Noble Road to date.
Dating from my first appointment to Council in April 2019, I have attempted to attend all Noble Neighbor meetings and events. Recognizing that I serve as a Council member at large, I have a published land line phone number and cell phone number listed on the City’s website to take constituent phone calls including from the Noble neighborhood. I do not screen phone calls and respond to all emails addressed personally to me. I have supported legislation that directly benefits the Noble neighborhood. For example, allocating Federal Covid relief dollars specifically for the neighborhood; housing rehabilitation and infill new construction by community development corporations; and, business loan programs and grants for the area businesses.
2. Governance: What will your role and goals be as a council member in shaping our new form of government? How will you ensure that Noble and all other parts of the city are represented equitably?
Council will lose its authority over the City’s Chief Executive (Now City Manager) and the ability to directly set policy. Its role will be limited to legislative and serving as a check and balance on executive authority. My first goal will be to see that the first hires by the new Mayor that have to be approved by
Council (City Administrator, Law Dir., Finance Dir. and Planning Dir.) are qualified for these jobs as opposed to partisan political hires. My next goal will be to establish a collaborative relationship with the Mayor his/her new hires along with who will be at least 3 new Council members. As before, I will strive to be accessible to constituents throughout the City and make sure that any legislation results in Noble getting its “fair share.”
3. Economic Development: What are your plans for economic development along Noble Road?
How will you engage the residents, business owners and institutions in that planning? Prudently spending the $2 million in Federal Covid relief money allocated to Noble Mayfield with a focus on housing rehabilitation, new residential construction, and additional funding for the loan and grant programs for small businesses. Some of that money should be used to start up and fund a Merchants’ Association. The City properties at the gateway to Noble need to be cleaned up, landscaped and adequately screened from the street. I support moving the salt dome if another suitable location can be found.
4. Quality of Life: Residents are expressing concerns about trash pick-up, building and housing code violations, noise, traffic control and safety issues. How will you address these concerns including funding of solutions?
Trash pick-up has been hampered by failing equipment and a lack of manpower. It is anticipated that with the automation rollout and the expected efficiencies from that, trash collections will improve including bulk pickup. The City has to do a better job of issuing citations to landlords and/or property
owners who set bulk items out on the lawn without regard to when the home is scheduled for a bulk pickup.
I will support funding and any required legislation that will:
Complete implementation of the Novak Report recommendations for the housing department, end the privatization of point-of-sale and general inspections, and allow for the hiring of sufficient employees to fully staff the Housing Department.
Provide ARPA funds to increase funding for low interest home repair loans subject to income requirements to help to bring homes into compliance with any housing violations.
Provide our safety forces the manpower and equipment to deter crime and respond to matters requiring police intervention (I am in favor of firm and unbiased policing including enforcement of moving violation traffic laws that I believe is necessary to deter drivers that excessively speed, disregard traffic signals and stop signs, and fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in the crosswalk).
Provide our safety forces training in de-escalation, bias free policing, and recognizing a mental
health behavior situation v. a criminal act requiring arrest.
Consider changing the City’s noise ordinance (509.03) to address vehicle noise before 9 p.m.
5. Additional Comments: This is your opportunity to provide additional information to the Noble area voters.
With the loss of Jason Stein, Mary Dunbar and Michael Ungar (and potentially Kahlil Serin), Council will have lost its most experienced and longest serving members at crucial time in the history of this City with changing our form of city government to a strong mayor. It is fair to say that it is important to have experienced, knowledgeable, and thoughtful persons serving on City Council. Out of all of the candidates, I have the longest and broadest history of public service, and a demonstrated track record of making good decisions on every board or commission that I have served on going back more than 35 years. I have experience in virtually every aspect of municipal government and if retained on Council, will be the only attorney.
I am not beholden to any politician, political party, developer or special-interest group. You can rest assured that any decision that I make will be made based only upon what is in the best interests of this City.
You can go to my website to learn more: https://www.councilmancraigcobb.com. Please feel free to call (216-630-8934) or email ([email protected]) with any questions you would like answered. I particularly need yard sign locations to help raise my name recognition if you can help.
I respectfully ask for your vote on Nov. 2 to retain my seat on City Council.
1. Describe how you have engaged with city government and with the neighborhoods along Noble Road to date.
Dating from my first appointment to Council in April 2019, I have attempted to attend all Noble Neighbor meetings and events. Recognizing that I serve as a Council member at large, I have a published land line phone number and cell phone number listed on the City’s website to take constituent phone calls including from the Noble neighborhood. I do not screen phone calls and respond to all emails addressed personally to me. I have supported legislation that directly benefits the Noble neighborhood. For example, allocating Federal Covid relief dollars specifically for the neighborhood; housing rehabilitation and infill new construction by community development corporations; and, business loan programs and grants for the area businesses.
2. Governance: What will your role and goals be as a council member in shaping our new form of government? How will you ensure that Noble and all other parts of the city are represented equitably?
Council will lose its authority over the City’s Chief Executive (Now City Manager) and the ability to directly set policy. Its role will be limited to legislative and serving as a check and balance on executive authority. My first goal will be to see that the first hires by the new Mayor that have to be approved by
Council (City Administrator, Law Dir., Finance Dir. and Planning Dir.) are qualified for these jobs as opposed to partisan political hires. My next goal will be to establish a collaborative relationship with the Mayor his/her new hires along with who will be at least 3 new Council members. As before, I will strive to be accessible to constituents throughout the City and make sure that any legislation results in Noble getting its “fair share.”
3. Economic Development: What are your plans for economic development along Noble Road?
How will you engage the residents, business owners and institutions in that planning? Prudently spending the $2 million in Federal Covid relief money allocated to Noble Mayfield with a focus on housing rehabilitation, new residential construction, and additional funding for the loan and grant programs for small businesses. Some of that money should be used to start up and fund a Merchants’ Association. The City properties at the gateway to Noble need to be cleaned up, landscaped and adequately screened from the street. I support moving the salt dome if another suitable location can be found.
4. Quality of Life: Residents are expressing concerns about trash pick-up, building and housing code violations, noise, traffic control and safety issues. How will you address these concerns including funding of solutions?
Trash pick-up has been hampered by failing equipment and a lack of manpower. It is anticipated that with the automation rollout and the expected efficiencies from that, trash collections will improve including bulk pickup. The City has to do a better job of issuing citations to landlords and/or property
owners who set bulk items out on the lawn without regard to when the home is scheduled for a bulk pickup.
I will support funding and any required legislation that will:
Complete implementation of the Novak Report recommendations for the housing department, end the privatization of point-of-sale and general inspections, and allow for the hiring of sufficient employees to fully staff the Housing Department.
Provide ARPA funds to increase funding for low interest home repair loans subject to income requirements to help to bring homes into compliance with any housing violations.
Provide our safety forces the manpower and equipment to deter crime and respond to matters requiring police intervention (I am in favor of firm and unbiased policing including enforcement of moving violation traffic laws that I believe is necessary to deter drivers that excessively speed, disregard traffic signals and stop signs, and fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in the crosswalk).
Provide our safety forces training in de-escalation, bias free policing, and recognizing a mental
health behavior situation v. a criminal act requiring arrest.
Consider changing the City’s noise ordinance (509.03) to address vehicle noise before 9 p.m.
5. Additional Comments: This is your opportunity to provide additional information to the Noble area voters.
With the loss of Jason Stein, Mary Dunbar and Michael Ungar (and potentially Kahlil Serin), Council will have lost its most experienced and longest serving members at crucial time in the history of this City with changing our form of city government to a strong mayor. It is fair to say that it is important to have experienced, knowledgeable, and thoughtful persons serving on City Council. Out of all of the candidates, I have the longest and broadest history of public service, and a demonstrated track record of making good decisions on every board or commission that I have served on going back more than 35 years. I have experience in virtually every aspect of municipal government and if retained on Council, will be the only attorney.
I am not beholden to any politician, political party, developer or special-interest group. You can rest assured that any decision that I make will be made based only upon what is in the best interests of this City.
You can go to my website to learn more: https://www.councilmancraigcobb.com. Please feel free to call (216-630-8934) or email ([email protected]) with any questions you would like answered. I particularly need yard sign locations to help raise my name recognition if you can help.
I respectfully ask for your vote on Nov. 2 to retain my seat on City Council.
Tony Cuda www.tonycudaforcitycouncil.com [email protected]
Received Oct. 3, 2021
Noble Neighbors Questionnaire / Tony Cuda / City Council Candidate
1. I have engaged with our city government by attending most of the City Council meetings over the past 4 years and often speaking up during the public comment section. I have made it my business to get to know all of the councilpersons and I frequently interact with them on the phone and in person. I ran the highly successful elected mayor campaign in 2019. Then, at council’s request, served on the Citizen Transition Committee to help guide our city government in preparing for the transition to an elected mayor form of government. I have engaged with the Noble neighborhoods, first by living in our neighborhood. I currently live on Fenley Rd (Oxford/Noble), but have previously lived on Woodview and Greyton. I am the founder/co- chair of our block party committee. I attend Noble Neighbors meetings and frequent our business districts with some regularity. I have planted trees on Delmore and bought vegetables at the Noble outdoor market.
2. My role on council will be to help lead the transition to an elected mayor form of government and to create a productive working relationship with my fellow councilmembers, the mayor and the community. My goals include vigorous public engagement, a laser focus on housing issues, a complete review of our city charter and setting a strategic agenda with both short and long-term goals with a timeline to show measurable results. Equity will be achieved by focusing on the neglected areas of the city; Noble/Taylor/Severance. We have $38.8 million from the federal government. This will be the best opportunity to use these newly gifted resources to lift up the Noble neighborhood. And the good news is, everywhere I go on my campaign, the people of our great city are rooting the Noble/Taylor/Severance neighborhoods. Now that’s not to say that the entire city does not have needs of one kind or another. And our city
government can and will attend to those needs. But focusing on the parts of the city that need it most is the best way to achieve equity.
3. I look at economic development along Noble Road from several angles. Of course we need a market study that engages the Noble neighborhood. This data can be used to attract the type of businesses that can both serve our existing residents and hopefully attract new ones. But we also need to strengthen our residential neighborhoods along Noble in order to attract businesses. No business entrepreneur wants to invest in a neighborhood they perceive as going downhill. So that means our City needs to:
Use our housing code enforcement to fix up and sell vacant and abandoned homes owned by out-of-state investors and banks
Use ARPA funds to help struggling homeowners bring their properties up to code
Move ahead with infill housing to give prospective homeowners more choices in the Noble neighborhood
The engagement of our Noble community needs to both utilize existing resources and good old fashioned door to door shoe leather. We can have town hall style meetings in places that people already go (Noble Neighbors meetings, Noble Library, Noble/Oxford Elementary Schools etc.). Certainly we
should have them at times when both neighbors and business owners can attend. Councilpersons also need to be willing to go door to door in our neighborhoods and talk with people who do not traditionally go to meetings, but have needs they are willing to express one on one.
4. Trash pickup is about to change in December. We will be getting new trash bins, and inevitably, there will be some transitional problems we need to address. Being immediately responsive to those needs by returning phone calls and emails, and referring complaints to the refuse and recycling department will be essential to the success of our new system. The new administration must follow through with every complaint/concern, and council must use its oversight powers to periodically check the effectiveness of this new initiative. In order to adequately address building and housing code violations, city council must
Update our outdated housing code (no overhaul in over 35 years)
Fund the staffing and training of our housing department (currently down 5 employees)
Form a strategic plan for vacant and abandoned properties (there are hundreds) and fund the plan to address this problem
Execute the 18 tasks in the Novak report along with some of our own ideas
Separate housing from the Public Safety and Health committee to provide proper oversight of our city’s housing policies (we have only had a couple of council committee meetings on housing in the past 3 years) As far as traffic, noise and public safety, I speak with our chief of police, several officers and many residents about these issues on a monthly basis. Speeding, noise and crime are ongoing problems. Assessing and prioritizing the needs of our safety forces, and then funding those needs is our job. I plan on doing that with a combination of 250
5. I grew up in Cleveland Heights. I graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. I have always lived in the Noble/Taylor neighborhoods (4 different houses). If elected, I will focus like a laser on housing issues. Please go to my website for more information: www.tonycudaforcitycouncil.com or email me at [email protected]
Noble Neighbors Questionnaire / Tony Cuda / City Council Candidate
1. I have engaged with our city government by attending most of the City Council meetings over the past 4 years and often speaking up during the public comment section. I have made it my business to get to know all of the councilpersons and I frequently interact with them on the phone and in person. I ran the highly successful elected mayor campaign in 2019. Then, at council’s request, served on the Citizen Transition Committee to help guide our city government in preparing for the transition to an elected mayor form of government. I have engaged with the Noble neighborhoods, first by living in our neighborhood. I currently live on Fenley Rd (Oxford/Noble), but have previously lived on Woodview and Greyton. I am the founder/co- chair of our block party committee. I attend Noble Neighbors meetings and frequent our business districts with some regularity. I have planted trees on Delmore and bought vegetables at the Noble outdoor market.
2. My role on council will be to help lead the transition to an elected mayor form of government and to create a productive working relationship with my fellow councilmembers, the mayor and the community. My goals include vigorous public engagement, a laser focus on housing issues, a complete review of our city charter and setting a strategic agenda with both short and long-term goals with a timeline to show measurable results. Equity will be achieved by focusing on the neglected areas of the city; Noble/Taylor/Severance. We have $38.8 million from the federal government. This will be the best opportunity to use these newly gifted resources to lift up the Noble neighborhood. And the good news is, everywhere I go on my campaign, the people of our great city are rooting the Noble/Taylor/Severance neighborhoods. Now that’s not to say that the entire city does not have needs of one kind or another. And our city
government can and will attend to those needs. But focusing on the parts of the city that need it most is the best way to achieve equity.
3. I look at economic development along Noble Road from several angles. Of course we need a market study that engages the Noble neighborhood. This data can be used to attract the type of businesses that can both serve our existing residents and hopefully attract new ones. But we also need to strengthen our residential neighborhoods along Noble in order to attract businesses. No business entrepreneur wants to invest in a neighborhood they perceive as going downhill. So that means our City needs to:
Use our housing code enforcement to fix up and sell vacant and abandoned homes owned by out-of-state investors and banks
Use ARPA funds to help struggling homeowners bring their properties up to code
Move ahead with infill housing to give prospective homeowners more choices in the Noble neighborhood
The engagement of our Noble community needs to both utilize existing resources and good old fashioned door to door shoe leather. We can have town hall style meetings in places that people already go (Noble Neighbors meetings, Noble Library, Noble/Oxford Elementary Schools etc.). Certainly we
should have them at times when both neighbors and business owners can attend. Councilpersons also need to be willing to go door to door in our neighborhoods and talk with people who do not traditionally go to meetings, but have needs they are willing to express one on one.
4. Trash pickup is about to change in December. We will be getting new trash bins, and inevitably, there will be some transitional problems we need to address. Being immediately responsive to those needs by returning phone calls and emails, and referring complaints to the refuse and recycling department will be essential to the success of our new system. The new administration must follow through with every complaint/concern, and council must use its oversight powers to periodically check the effectiveness of this new initiative. In order to adequately address building and housing code violations, city council must
Update our outdated housing code (no overhaul in over 35 years)
Fund the staffing and training of our housing department (currently down 5 employees)
Form a strategic plan for vacant and abandoned properties (there are hundreds) and fund the plan to address this problem
Execute the 18 tasks in the Novak report along with some of our own ideas
Separate housing from the Public Safety and Health committee to provide proper oversight of our city’s housing policies (we have only had a couple of council committee meetings on housing in the past 3 years) As far as traffic, noise and public safety, I speak with our chief of police, several officers and many residents about these issues on a monthly basis. Speeding, noise and crime are ongoing problems. Assessing and prioritizing the needs of our safety forces, and then funding those needs is our job. I plan on doing that with a combination of 250
5. I grew up in Cleveland Heights. I graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. I have always lived in the Noble/Taylor neighborhoods (4 different houses). If elected, I will focus like a laser on housing issues. Please go to my website for more information: www.tonycudaforcitycouncil.com or email me at [email protected]
Anthony Mattox Jr. [email protected]
Received Oct 13, 2021
1. Describe how you have engaged with city government and with the neighborhoods along Noble Road to date.
I am currently a member of the City Planning Commission overseeing development in areas across our city. I sit on the Board of Future Heights which continues to work towards building the Noble area. In addition, I Pastor The Empowerment Church in East Cleveland at Noble and Euclid. I spend my days working on outreach and activism in both cities. I grew up on Rushleigh Rd and attended Oxford Elementary and Monticello Middle Schools in the Noble area. My parents and siblings live in the Noble area and I have strong roots here. I am fully invested in this area.
2. Governance: What will your role and goals be as a council member in shaping our new form of government? How will you ensure that Noble and all other parts of the city are represented equitably?
I will partner with the Mayor and members of Council to ensure we are engaged with our community. I will ensure we pursue development and pathways to homeownership for many renters who would like it. I will collaborate with existing organizations working to build the Noble area and ensure the city is a strong partner. I will work to build our housing stock, bring resources to noble businesses, assist homeowners with repair solutions and communicate with residents.
3. Economic Development: What are your plans for economic development along Noble Road? How will you engage the residents, business owners and institutions in that planning?
We need to create a cohesive body of business owners on Noble. They need to be united like the other business districts. I want to provide resources to help with expansion of existing businesses as well as attracting new businesses. I also want to see city facilities for families on the North side that bring children and families together. This includes discussing the future of Denison Park and how we can create new life there.
4. Quality of Life: Residents are expressing concerns about trash pick-up, building and housing code violations, noise, traffic control and safety issues. How will you address these concerns including funding of solutions?
We need to rebuild our housing department and provide adequate resources for city workers. New trash trucks and cans are a great start. We need to be responsive to resident complaints and ensure they are addressed quickly.
5. Additional Comments: This is your opportunity to provide additional information to the Noble area voters.
If elected, you can expect both accountability and transparency. I will host monthly meetings to keep you updated and address issues. I will work to ensure that the Noble Area is a central focus of the city. I will partner with the City of East Cleveland to transform our neighborhoods and parks. I will use my relationships there to bring change to the noble area. I am a product of this area and I am ready to serve.
1. Describe how you have engaged with city government and with the neighborhoods along Noble Road to date.
I am currently a member of the City Planning Commission overseeing development in areas across our city. I sit on the Board of Future Heights which continues to work towards building the Noble area. In addition, I Pastor The Empowerment Church in East Cleveland at Noble and Euclid. I spend my days working on outreach and activism in both cities. I grew up on Rushleigh Rd and attended Oxford Elementary and Monticello Middle Schools in the Noble area. My parents and siblings live in the Noble area and I have strong roots here. I am fully invested in this area.
2. Governance: What will your role and goals be as a council member in shaping our new form of government? How will you ensure that Noble and all other parts of the city are represented equitably?
I will partner with the Mayor and members of Council to ensure we are engaged with our community. I will ensure we pursue development and pathways to homeownership for many renters who would like it. I will collaborate with existing organizations working to build the Noble area and ensure the city is a strong partner. I will work to build our housing stock, bring resources to noble businesses, assist homeowners with repair solutions and communicate with residents.
3. Economic Development: What are your plans for economic development along Noble Road? How will you engage the residents, business owners and institutions in that planning?
We need to create a cohesive body of business owners on Noble. They need to be united like the other business districts. I want to provide resources to help with expansion of existing businesses as well as attracting new businesses. I also want to see city facilities for families on the North side that bring children and families together. This includes discussing the future of Denison Park and how we can create new life there.
4. Quality of Life: Residents are expressing concerns about trash pick-up, building and housing code violations, noise, traffic control and safety issues. How will you address these concerns including funding of solutions?
We need to rebuild our housing department and provide adequate resources for city workers. New trash trucks and cans are a great start. We need to be responsive to resident complaints and ensure they are addressed quickly.
5. Additional Comments: This is your opportunity to provide additional information to the Noble area voters.
If elected, you can expect both accountability and transparency. I will host monthly meetings to keep you updated and address issues. I will work to ensure that the Noble Area is a central focus of the city. I will partner with the City of East Cleveland to transform our neighborhoods and parks. I will use my relationships there to bring change to the noble area. I am a product of this area and I am ready to serve.
Davida Russell
Allosious K. Snodgrass https://www.alsnodgrass.com
Received Oct. 12, 2021
1. Describe how you have engaged with city government and with the neighborhoods along Noble Road to date.
a. I currently serve on the Citizens Advisory Committee, which is a citizen's led committee in Cleveland Heights that focus on the allocation of the nearly $1.6 million Community Development Block Grant Funds. I am an advocate on this committee to prioritize projects in the Noble business district.
b. Prior to this I served as the Vice-Chair of the Cleveland Heights Charter Review Commission (CRC), where I was only one of two outspoken members in favor of changing the form of government into a Strong Mayor-Council form (what we will have in 2022). I was just one of two votes in favor of a strong mayor-council form of government. I spoke out for two reasons–(1) the need to ensure areas such as Noble and South Taylor are invested in and advocated for on council, and (2) because I believe that my neighbors in every neighborhood deserve representation on city council and in the administration.
2. Governance: What will your role and goals be as a council member in shaping our new form of government? How will you ensure that Noble and all other parts of the city are represented equitably?
a. I believe in a government that is for and from the people. One of the reasons I was a strong advocate of CRC, and remain a strong advocate for a strong mayor-council form of government is because it provides two branches of government that are responsible for two separate objectives, yet serve as a check and balance for one another. As a council member, my role will be to create legislation that enables our city to recover from COVID-19, drives Economic Development, invests into our housing (and housing department), engages the community through strong Community Development, invests into our Infrastructure, and improve council operations to best serve the people of Cleveland Heights.
b. To ensure Noble and all of our residents are represented equitably, I am committed to seeing that our city council operations include assigning each member of council to one of the five wards (Wards which have been drawn by the board of elections), and then the last two members assigned to specific duties to help improve council relations with Cleveland Heights residents.
c. I am also in full support of moving to a ward system, which I believe will help
3. Economic Development: What are your plans for economic development along Noble Road? How will you engage the residents, business owners and institutions in that planning?
a. My personal vision for the Noble Road business district is to work hard to transform the district into a thriving, vibrant district that includes strong black-owned businesses, heavy foot traffic, and walkability that includes spaces for public convenning.
b. The first step to making this happen is to convene current business owners and residents of the Noble neighborhood, consultants, and city staff; to craft a three year “Vision for Noble” and implement the plan accordingly.
4. Quality of Life: Residents are expressing concerns about trash pick-up, building and housing code violations, noise, traffic control and safety issues. How will you address these concerns including funding of solutions?
a. As a legislator I will ensure we fully fund our city services and find the funds necessary to fully fund our housing department. I will work to ensure the administration picks up trash, enforces the housing code, provides cost effective and citizen acceptable noise solutions, and adequately addresses traffic control and safety issues–including ensuring our safety forces have the resources they need to protect our community.
5. Additional Comments: This is your opportunity to provide additional information to the Noble area voters.
a. Cleveland Heights is home. I plan to be here for the next three or four decades. I am excited to get started on January 1, 2022, and work closely with residents, businesses, and the administration to make sure we are committed to Economic Development, Housing, and Infrastructure that propels our city into the future and make it a national destination. A vote for me is a vote for a commitment to Economic Development, Housing, Infrastructure, COVID-19 Recovery, Community Development, and Streamlined Council Operations that better serve the people of Cleveland Heights.
To learn more about my priorities and my background:
Website: https://www.alsnodgrass.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ch4snodgrass
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ch4snodgrass/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ch4snodgrass
Feel free to text/call: 216-346-1558
1. Describe how you have engaged with city government and with the neighborhoods along Noble Road to date.
a. I currently serve on the Citizens Advisory Committee, which is a citizen's led committee in Cleveland Heights that focus on the allocation of the nearly $1.6 million Community Development Block Grant Funds. I am an advocate on this committee to prioritize projects in the Noble business district.
b. Prior to this I served as the Vice-Chair of the Cleveland Heights Charter Review Commission (CRC), where I was only one of two outspoken members in favor of changing the form of government into a Strong Mayor-Council form (what we will have in 2022). I was just one of two votes in favor of a strong mayor-council form of government. I spoke out for two reasons–(1) the need to ensure areas such as Noble and South Taylor are invested in and advocated for on council, and (2) because I believe that my neighbors in every neighborhood deserve representation on city council and in the administration.
2. Governance: What will your role and goals be as a council member in shaping our new form of government? How will you ensure that Noble and all other parts of the city are represented equitably?
a. I believe in a government that is for and from the people. One of the reasons I was a strong advocate of CRC, and remain a strong advocate for a strong mayor-council form of government is because it provides two branches of government that are responsible for two separate objectives, yet serve as a check and balance for one another. As a council member, my role will be to create legislation that enables our city to recover from COVID-19, drives Economic Development, invests into our housing (and housing department), engages the community through strong Community Development, invests into our Infrastructure, and improve council operations to best serve the people of Cleveland Heights.
b. To ensure Noble and all of our residents are represented equitably, I am committed to seeing that our city council operations include assigning each member of council to one of the five wards (Wards which have been drawn by the board of elections), and then the last two members assigned to specific duties to help improve council relations with Cleveland Heights residents.
c. I am also in full support of moving to a ward system, which I believe will help
3. Economic Development: What are your plans for economic development along Noble Road? How will you engage the residents, business owners and institutions in that planning?
a. My personal vision for the Noble Road business district is to work hard to transform the district into a thriving, vibrant district that includes strong black-owned businesses, heavy foot traffic, and walkability that includes spaces for public convenning.
b. The first step to making this happen is to convene current business owners and residents of the Noble neighborhood, consultants, and city staff; to craft a three year “Vision for Noble” and implement the plan accordingly.
4. Quality of Life: Residents are expressing concerns about trash pick-up, building and housing code violations, noise, traffic control and safety issues. How will you address these concerns including funding of solutions?
a. As a legislator I will ensure we fully fund our city services and find the funds necessary to fully fund our housing department. I will work to ensure the administration picks up trash, enforces the housing code, provides cost effective and citizen acceptable noise solutions, and adequately addresses traffic control and safety issues–including ensuring our safety forces have the resources they need to protect our community.
5. Additional Comments: This is your opportunity to provide additional information to the Noble area voters.
a. Cleveland Heights is home. I plan to be here for the next three or four decades. I am excited to get started on January 1, 2022, and work closely with residents, businesses, and the administration to make sure we are committed to Economic Development, Housing, and Infrastructure that propels our city into the future and make it a national destination. A vote for me is a vote for a commitment to Economic Development, Housing, Infrastructure, COVID-19 Recovery, Community Development, and Streamlined Council Operations that better serve the people of Cleveland Heights.
To learn more about my priorities and my background:
Website: https://www.alsnodgrass.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ch4snodgrass
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ch4snodgrass/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ch4snodgrass
Feel free to text/call: 216-346-1558