Grow Cleveland Heights’ population and workforce
So that Cleveland Heights remains the city that we all love, it’s important that we grow our city’s population and workforce. With the local earned income tax being our city’s largest source of revenue, growing our population and workforce will enable the city to provide high-quality services and reduce the need for future tax increases.
improve existing housing and build new housing
With over 70% of Cleveland Heights’ houses built before 1940, it’s important that we maintain our existing housing. We must hold out-of-town landlords accountable, and we should explore ways that we could use American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding to help address housing violations. In addition to maintaining existing housing, it’s important that we build new housing. We must accelerate the pace of new infill housing and explore more opportunities for projects like those at Top of the Hill and Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook. It is important that new housing includes options for seniors and low-income people.
Rejuvenate Our Business Districts
In order to attract new residents, it’s important that we rejuvenate our business districts. In each district, the city should bring together stakeholders, such as business owners, property owners, and nearby residents, to identify the root causes of issues facing the district and to create a plan for a path forward. In 2021, City Council voted to put $5 million of American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding towards our business districts. We should explore additional ways that ARPA funding could be used to support our business districts.
Increase Diversity and representation
If we want to realize our city’s tagline that “All are Welcome”, we must be intentional about increasing diversity and representation in our city government. According to the most recent census, 43% of Cleveland Heights’ residents are renters, but there are no renters on City Council. Also, there are no LGBTQ+ people or people under the age of 40 on City Council.
I was one of just 40 people inside the United States Supreme Court on the day that marriage equality became the law of the land. While our country has made tremendous progress, much work remains to combat institutionalized and systemic discrimination against marginalized groups.
