"I know with speaking with Jim Rokakis, it's a cleaner way to do it," Welo said. "We're constantly evolving. Any time we thought something could work better in a new disaster, that's what we did." Jim Rokakis has a cleaner way to do it??????? You must be joking! Jimmy "the creep" Rokakis does not know a clean way to do anything. That is why they are in this mess in the first place. The Land Bank is destroying the neighborhoods of Cleveland. And the Creep and his cronies are laughing all the way to the Bank.

Countyinsider, you don't have a clue to the value of the County land bank. The CCLRC has taken foreclosed and abandoned properties throughout the County and either demolishing, selling or rehabbing the properties. Tell me in your infinite wisdom how that is destroying the neighborhoods of Cleveland? I want cold hard facts not just your 'theories' and babble.

"We [land bank] don’t share our bank account or employees with the county."
-Georgine Welo, The Queen Of Transparency
Cleveland Plain Dealer Aug 4, 2011

Yeah, just give her whatever she wants and shut up. Two of everything. Just don't ask to see the books.

Right, Georgie Girl ?

Just another Dem slush fund . Hold the banks or Fannie/Freddie accountable for the properties they own and neglect. Why are we taking money FROM schools to pay for this garbage ?

What exactly is the county and taxpayers getting for all this funding being diverted from schools, libraries, and municipalities? I mean, another article indicated they have only demolished about 300 properties county-wide in 2 years. That's not exactly earthshattering.

I smell a boon doggle in the making. Lots of money, speculation, sweetheart deals with realtors, and a whole lot of letture patches and little else.

Unless they have a game plan for how $7 million is going to be spent, where, and why I don't think they should be guaranteed any sum certain each year. No other agency is guaranteed the same funding every year, are they?

If they are paying "land bank spokeswoman Mary Anne Sharkey" one thin dime, I want my money back.

The ability of these goofball retreads to keep resurfacing is amazing.

They had a land bank years ago (in the '80s/'90s?) that revitalized neighborhoods for a while- only without a 7 mil budget so there may be potential to do some real good on a larger scale. However, there has been too much abuse to take it at face value. If the acency refuses to provide accountability/transparency, it shouldn't see a single dime. If Georgine Welo, or any of the hacks mentioned in this article (sadly, all mentioned are hacks,) can't comprehend the need to clearly outline their intentions with the funds - and open the books - then they need to find jobs in the private sector.