Stop Cuyahoga County Council from approving new CCLB structure

Submitted by lmcshane on Sun, 01/13/2019 - 09:38.

@Yost4Ohio

http://realneo.us/…/stop-cuyahoga-county-council-approving-… … pls shut down this criminal enterprise - thanks in advance for your attention @SteveDettelbach will try and make you drop this investigation http://s.cleveland.com/I4mNpSI -don't #opengov SHUT Down Land Bank @CuyahogaCounty

 

From Eric J Brewer - former Mayor of East Cleveland:

Are you fucking stupid? You're going to give $30 million to two crooks whose organization is under a federal investigation; so they can now rehabilitate the homes they've been rigging laws to give away to their employees and other government workers instead of demolishing them. So you've finally figured out the "D" in HUD stands for "Development" and not "Demolition." All you're creating is another pool of money for James Rokakis and Gus Frangos to steal.

Sell the landbank homes to low-income people who want to live in them. Allocate the money directly to the property and manage the gotdamned renovation through the county's building department. Rokakis, Frangos and the thieves they manage in the landbank don't need any more "cuts" off our fucking money. They need to go to jail. The landbank needs to be shut down. It's part of an organized crime ring.

You also need to stop creating blight in our neighborhoods with your stupid azzed 3rd party tax lien sales that (guess who?) Rokakis and Frangos got the general assembly to pass.

A better idea is to give the properties back to the homeowners you fuckers took them from for back taxes to pay your incompetent-azzed county workers who've created more than $1 billion in debt and trashed our bond rating.

The best thing this county can do is stop buying into any more of the bullshit coming from marauders like Rokakis and Frangos who've created "legislative schemes" to enrich themselves at the expense of poor folk. The FBI has already proved the landbank is a criminal organization and you want to give them more money.

 

Cuyahoga County Council and the County Executive plan to approve a new structure for the Cuyahoga County Land Bank. 

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2019/01/cuyahoga-county-considers-sweeping-housing-program-to-stabilize-neighborhoods.html

Taxpayers have to stop this from happening.   The CCLB is under investigation by the Justice Department.  It is a corrupt entity and has been - from inception.

 

 
pg. 18 CLB Services CLB Services is a legally separate entity, statutorily created under Chapter 17 of the Ohio Revised Code, served by three managing members appointed by the President of the Corporation. They are Gus Frangos, CCLRC President, Bill Whitney, CCLRC COO, and Dennis Roberts, CCLRC Director of Programs and Property Management. Charged with the responsibility of conducting asbestos surveys for the Corporation, CLB Services is empowered with the ability to carry out the actions they consider necessary to achieve these responsibilities. CLB Services is fiscally dependent on the Corporation and is therefore presented as a component unit of the Corporation. On July 21, 2014, CLB Services received a loan in the amount of $111,900 from the Corporation to finance its initial operations. The loan has an interest rate of 2.5 percent payable annually. The loan is repayable by July 21, 2019. Financial statements can be obtained from Ronald Pavlovich, Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation, 812 Huron Road E, Suite 800, Cleveland, Ohio, 44115


 
   
 

Indictment says Cuyahoga Land Bank employee helped company get contracts...

A Cuyahoga Land Bank employee was indicted in federal court on charges that accuse him of helping a demolition c...

 
 

 

Kenneth Tyson, 48, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services fraud, three counts of honest services wire fraud and one count of bribery, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday in a news release.

“This defendant used his position to enrich himself with free home repairs when he was supposed to be helping rid our community of blight,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said in the news release. “We remain committed to stamping out public corruption in all its forms.”

Tyson is currently the executive director of CLB Services, LLC, an affiliate of the land bank.

 

It should also be noted that the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation has not filed their 990s for public review:
 
The CCLB or Cuyahoga County Land Bank needs to submit a revised Articles of Incorporation to the State outlining the "proposed" partnership w/Cuyahoga County Community Development Dept.
I  have made a public request to review the CCLB's 990s.  Other "Land Banks" listed as non-profit (charitable organizations) have posted their 990s on line.
 
 

 

Painesville, OH | EIN: 90-0889645 |  Number: 0101224962
Lake County Land Reutilization Corporation Holds And Manages Vacant, Abandoned Or Tax-Foreclosed Real Property Pending Its Reclamation ... Reclamation, Rehabilitation And Reutilization. The Company Also Assists Governmental Entities And Other Non-Profit Or For-Profit ...
GROSS RECEIPTS 

$3,440,600
ASSETS

$7,308,930
Ravenna, OH | EIN: 45-5596833 |  Number: 7257751069
The Portage County Land Reutilization Corporation (Pclrc) Is A Non-Profit Organization Created For The Purpose Of Reclaiming ... The Portage County Land Reutilization Corporation (Pclrc) Is A Non-Profit Organization Created For The ...
GROSS RECEIPTS 

$1,001,481
ASSETS

$1,228,145
RICHLAND COUNTY LAND BANK
Mansfield, OH | EIN: 46-5339994 |  Number: 5918223293
The Mission Of The Richland County Land Reutilization Corporation (Rclrc) Is To Strategically Acquire Properties, Return Them ...
GROSS RECEIPTS 

$1,204,398
ASSETS

$203,854
Schenectady, NY | EIN: 46-0775590 |  Number: 3423951753
GROSS RECEIPTS 

$1,681,481
ASSETS

$820,858
Ashland, OH | EIN: 82-5101083 |  Number: 6906401575
GROSS RECEIPTS 

$0
ASSETS

$0
Ironton, OH | EIN: 81-3647888 |  Number: 5766269610
GROSS RECEIPTS 

$0
ASSETS

$0
Bucyrus, OH | EIN: 81-1591108 |  Number: 7811740906
GROSS RECEIPTS 

$74,419
ASSETS

$64,461
Napoleon, OH | EIN: 82-2568461 |  Number: 2092701545
GROSS RECEIPTS 

$19,160

ASSETS

 

 Did you lose your home to a third party tax lien?  Contact the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. There needs to be a class action law suit against the Cuyahoga County Land Bank.

 

 

 

( categories: )

Parcels held by CCLB 1-13-2019

Submitted by lmcshane on Sun, 01/13/2019 - 13:23.

I have saved a list of the current properties held by the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation to share with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.  The NAACP found Cuyahoga County's practice of selling tax liens to be discriminatory (thanks to investigative work by REALNEO Civic Journalist Lily Miller).  I encourage anyone who lost their family's home to check the current listings of properties owned by the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp for their home address.  Contact the NAACP Legal Defense Fund - https://www.naacpldf.org/contact-us/legal-assistance/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cached NAACP Legal Defense Fund page on tax lien sales:

Date Filed: 02/16/2018

Imagine losing the home you’ve lived in for half your life, where you’ve raised your family and watched your neighbors do the same, and for which you have always paid the mortgage on time.  Impossible?  Not for far too many homeowners.  For decades, jurisdictions across the country have sold tax liens on properties with delinquent property taxes as a means to collect the debt owed – even when that debt is only a couple hundred dollars.  Each jurisdiction applies this system differently, but, generally, where there are delinquent property taxes, a local government may sell a tax lien on that property to a third party purchaser, who then has the right to collect the tax debt from the property owner, in addition to interest and fees. 

In Fall 2013, The Washington Post published an explosive investigative series  uncovering numerous flaws with the tax lien sales process in many jurisdictions. The investigation revealed that this system is being used to charge thousands of homeowners across the country outrageous fees to redeem their properties, with the result that many find themselves in foreclosure over what was originally a very small tax debt.  Furthermore, this practice has a disproportionate impact on African-Americans and the elderly – groups that were already hit hard by the foreclosure crisis.

LDF is concerned about abuses in tax lien systems, and is working to ensure that homeowners, and particularly homeowners of color, are not unfairly deprived of their homes.  In December 2013, LDF wrote a letter  to Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray and the D.C. Council, condemning the flaws in D.C.’s tax lien system and calling for specific reforms to protect vulnerable homeowners.  LDF wrote a similar letter to Cuyahoga County Executive Edward FitzGerald and the Cuyahoga County Council in March 2014, encouraging the council to impose a temporary moratorium on tax lien sales and to establish a task force to investigate the system and ensure that is used fairly.

LDF is closely examining these and other tax lien sales systems across the country and urging jurisdictions that use tax lien sales to collect delinquent taxes to do so in a manner that is fair, equitable, and transparent, and to advocate for reform in those jurisdictions where the system has a disproportionate impact on communities of color.

Cuyahoga County Land Bank -the perfect crime

Submitted by lmcshane on Tue, 01/15/2019 - 09:28.

 

If this is a governmental entity - then, I can make a public records request for the expense accounts for years 2010-2018. 
 
I am specifically interested in the contractors hired by the CCLB. 



Did the Cuyahoga County Land Bank pay Hatha Communications during any time that Anthony Brancatelli has served as the chair of the organization, and if so, what are the contract award amounts?

 
Also, since the CCLB is a charitable organization - what demolition companies have contributed to the CCLB.
 
Thank you,
Laura McShane
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am cc.ing the Cuyahoga County Land Bank records contact for the 990s of the Cuyahoga Land Reutilization Corp from 2010- present.
 
Cuyahoga County Council should have this information before going forward with a proposed merger of the Cuyahoga County Department of Development with an entity that is essentially a CDC on steroids. 


The county land bank would oversee the renovation of homes and development of affordable and mid-level housing markets.

The Department of Development would provide loans, grants or technical assistance to homeowners for home repair, as well as assistance in obtaining mortgages.

 

I have contacted the Ohio Attorney General's office about this proposed change to the articles of incorporation for the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation. There is no need for the "County to augment existing efforts."  Famicos and Cleveland Housing Network are organizations funded in Cuyahoga County for this type of rehab. Famicos just transferred a property at 11116 Ashbury in Glenville for $215K.
 
Additionally - ORC 1724 states "A county land reutilization corporation shall not acquire an interest in real property if such acquisition causes the number of occupied real properties held by the corporation to exceed the greater of either fifty properties or twenty-five per cent of all real property held by the corporation for reutilization, reclamation, or rehabilitation. For the purposes of this division, "occupied real properties" includes all real properties that are not unoccupied as that term is defined in section 323.65 of the Revised Code."
 
 

Lawriter - ORC - 323.65 Expedited foreclosure on unoccupie...

 
 
 


The number of properties "stockpiled" in East Cleveland should be of special concern.  There is also the on-going investigation of the Noble Rd dump site and the USDOJ indictment of Kenneth Tyson:


pg. 18 CLB Services CLB Services is a legally separate entity, statutorily created under Chapter 17 of the Ohio Revised Code, served by three managing members appointed by the President of the Corporation. They are Gus Frangos, CCLRC President, Bill Whitney, CCLRC COO, and Dennis Roberts, CCLRC Director of Programs and Property Management. Charged with the responsibility of conducting asbestos surveys for the Corporation, CLB Services is empowered with the ability to carry out the actions they consider necessary to achieve these responsibilities. CLB Services is fiscally dependent on the Corporation and is therefore presented as a component unit of the Corporation. On July 21, 2014, CLB Services received a loan in the amount of $111,900 from the Corporation to finance its initial operations. The loan has an interest rate of 2.5 percent payable annually. The loan is repayable by July 21, 2019. Financial statements can be obtained from Ronald Pavlovich, Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation, 812 Huron Road E, Suite 800, Cleveland, Ohio, 44115


 

Indictment says Cuyahoga Land Bank employee helped company get contracts in exchange for home improvements

Tyson's FBI bust exposes Cuyahoga officials stealing black homes

 
Sincerely,
Laura McShane
216-739-1809
On Monday, January 14, 2019, 8:38:10 AM EST, Jeanne Schmotzer <jschmotzer [at] cuyahogacounty [dot] us> wrote:
 
 

Ms. McShane

 

Please be advised that the Cuyahoga County Council does not retain any of the records you are requesting; please contact the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation directly to obtain said records.

 

Regards,

 

Jeanne

 

 

Jeanne M. Schmotzer, MA, CMC

Clerk of Council

Council of Cuyahoga County, Ohio

2079 East 9th Street – 8th Floor

Cleveland, Ohio 44115

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This quasi-governmental status is certainly a convenient way to avoid reporting "charitable" contributions to the CCLB and consequent contracts with the CCLB.
 
Why do other CCLBs in Northeast Ohio report?  Is the Cuyahoga County Land Bank the only entity in Ohio with this unique set-up.  Are CCLB employees getting PERS, too?  By all of these criteria - the CCLB should be under the oversight of the Inspector General.
 
On Monday, January 14, 2019, 1:26:19 PM EST, Douglas Sawyer <dsawyer [at] cuyahogalandbank [dot] org> wrote:
 
 

Ms. McShane,

This email is in response to your public records request sent to the CCLRC via email on January 14, 2019 in which you requested “990s of the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp. from 2010- present”.  

 

Because the CCLRC is a governmental entity under Section 115(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, it is not required to file IRS Form 990.  Therefore, the CCLRC has no records that are responsive to your request. 

  

Sincerely,

 

clrc_vert_one_three_quarter_600

Douglas Sawyer

Assistant General Counsel

Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp.

812 Huron Rd E, Suite 800

Cleveland, Ohio  44115

(216) 698-3543  (ph)

(216) 698-8972 (fax)

dsawyer [at] cuyahogalandbank [dot] org">dsawyer [at] cuyahogalandbank [dot] org

Cuy County Prosecutor - Investigate Tony Brancatelli

Submitted by lmcshane on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 07:27.

What is Tony Brancatelli's role in the approval of expenses by the CCLB?

Anthony Brancatelli (Chair), Council Member, City of Cleveland
Brad Sellers (Vice Chair), Mayor, Warrensville Heights
Dan Brady, Council President, Cuyahoga County
Armond Budish, County Executive, Cuyahoga County
W. Christopher Murray II, Treasurer, Cuyahoga County
Nate Kelly, Managing Director, Cushman and Wakefield | Cresco Real Estate
Ed Rybka, Chief of Regional Development, City of Cleveland
Michael Summers, Mayor, Lakewood
April Urban, Research Associate, Case Western Reserve University

Evidently, the "Board" of the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation can do whatever they want and pay off whoever they want and it's all okay.  The CCLB signed contracts with Hatha in 2011, 2013 and 2015.  Gail Glamm- Tony's wife- started work w/Hatha in 2013. 

The consultant group was set up by former Cleveland City Council Communication Director Katherine Bulava.  When I pressed Douglas Sawyer at CCLB for the board minutes approving these contracts - Sawyer replied that the board does not vote on these contracts. 

So what does the CCLB board decide and approve?  Was it not UNETHICAL for Board Chair Anthony Brancatelli  to NOT REVEAL that his wife was employed by Hatha Communications? 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2019, 3:43:23 PM EST
Subject: RE: Public Records Request -
 

Ms. McShane,

The contracts with Hatha Communications did not require board approval. Therefore, the CCLRC possesses no records that are responsive to you request.

 

Sincerely,  

 

clrc_vert_one_three_quarter_600

Douglas Sawyer

Assistant General Counsel

Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp.

812 Huron Rd E, Suite 800

Cleveland, Ohio  44115

(216) 698-3543  (ph)

(216) 698-8972 (fax)

dsawyer [at] cuyahogalandbank [dot] org">dsawyer [at] cuyahogalandbank [dot] org

614 out of 1000 properties held by CCLB in East CLE

Submitted by lmcshane on Fri, 01/18/2019 - 08:41.

Every property involves a "wite out" - back taxes "forgiven" -here's just one notable example-remember the CCLB can also just quit claim the property to whoever they want to - NO Questions asked!!! (See: 3025 W 25 quit claimed to George Group) (See also: 3873-3881 quit claimed to CHN Housing Partners)

673-03-050   - Rosedale Ave - no street address/corner of Euclid Ave - unpaid taxes stretching from 1998 amounted to $113,955 wited out by the Land Bank.

 

Transfer Date: 1/1/1999 12:00:00 AM
AF Number: V99000000000
Receipt:
Parcel Deed Type Vol / Page Sales Amt Convey Fee Convey No Multiple Sale / No of Parcels
673-03-050 Not Entered 00000 / 0000 $.00 $.00   0 / 0
Grantee(s) Grantor(s)
Pruitt Greg

 

Transfer Date: 10/28/2003 12:00:00 AM
AF Number: 200310280428
Receipt:
Parcel Deed Type Vol / Page Sales Amt Convey Fee Convey No Multiple Sale / No of Parcels
673-03-050 Quit Claim Deed Ex / $.00 $.00   0 / 1
Grantee(s) Grantor(s)
JOHNSON, JOSEPH Pruitt Greg
 
 
Transfer Date: 8/15/2012 9:44:00 AM
AF Number:
Receipt:
Parcel Deed Type Vol / Page Sales Amt Convey Fee Convey No Multiple Sale / No of Parcels
673-03-050 Forfeiture Ex / $.00 $.00   0 / 1
Grantee(s) Grantor(s)
STATE OF OHIO (FORF) CASE # CV 728435 JOHNSON, JOSEPH
Transfer Date: 8/11/2017 9:40:00 AM
AF Number:
Receipt:
Parcel Deed Type Vol / Page Sales Amt Convey Fee Convey No Multiple Sale / No of Parcels
673-03-050 Fiscal Officer Ex / $.00 $.00   0 / 1
Grantee(s) Grantor(s)
CUYAHOGA COUNTY LAND REUTILIZATION STATE OF OHIO (FORF) CASE # CV 728435

TY Mark Griffin

Submitted by lmcshane on Tue, 04/23/2019 - 09:53.

 Thank you County IG Mark Griffin for explaining why my email was rejected as blocked.  Evidently, web links or attached Google files will get your emails to County officials - blocked. I resubmitted and so far - my message to County Council Representative Pernel Jones will be READ by him:)

 

Sorry, we were unable to deliver your message to the following address.
 
<pjones [at] cuyahogacounty [dot] us>:

550: permanent failure for one or more recipients (pjones [at] cuyahogacounty [dot] us:blocked)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Councilman Jones,
 
I am off today and writing this appeal to stop funding the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp -cc.ing former East Cleveland Mayor Eric Brewer. I have publicly expressed my concerns about the proposal to change the duties of the Cuyahoga County Land Bank and, especially, to fund this "quasi-governmental" CDC/NGO with $30M of public funds. 
 
As you know - there is a USDOJ investigation against former CCLB employee Ken Tyson. Indictment says Cuyahoga Land Bank employee helped company get contracts in exchange for home improvements
 
   
 

Indictment says Cuyahoga Land Bank employee helped company get contracts...

A Cuyahoga Land Bank employee was indicted in federal court on charges that accuse him of helping a demolition c...

 
 
The CCLB has 416 of 1000 properties held in East Cleveland. I have downloaded the list of properties and I am in the process of compiling the amounts of back taxes "wited out" by the CCLB. I am working with a friend to also map these properties.  There is a master plan for East Cleveland and there are major real estate transactions in play, especially in the vicinity of University Circle and Forest Hills Park-abutting Cleveland Heights.
 
   
 

A renewed vision for East Cleveland is taking shape

Sean Ward's East Cleveland Growth Association is poised to inject economic lifeblood into East Cleveland.

 
 
 
 
I am asking you to review some of the transfers that have taken place so far.  It is of great concern that properties w/outstanding tax liens are transferred multiple times W/UNPAID property taxes and then those liens are "WITED OUT" by the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp. This type of transaction also recently occurred with commercial properties at 3873-3881 W. 25th St. w/the wite out of over $118K in property taxes and demolition costs - quit claimed to the CHN Partnership, which in partnership w/EDEN Emerald Alliance will fraudulently not be paying taxes on the proposed LITC project to construct PSH Housing.  The CCLB also wited out $20K in property taxes on 3025 W. 25th St, quit claimed it to the George Group, which then sold the property for $115K.

I think you can see the potential for flipping that will occur if you and Cuyahoga County Council proceed with approval to make the CCLB an unregulated/unchecked CDC on steroids. 
 
The CCLB is costing taxpayers millions of dollars each year.  It is undermining the tax base in Northeast Ohio.  Please petition your fellow county council representatives to dissolve the CCLB.
 
East Cleveland Land Bank properties
 
   

East Cleveland Land Bank properties

Sheet1 673-03-050,CUYAHOGA COUNTY LAND REUTILIZATION,ROSEDALE AVE,EAST CLEVELAND, OH,44112, $ 113,954.81 672-1...

 
 
Sincerely,
 
Laura McShane

216-739-1809

First Source property 672-03-128 wited out by CCLB

Submitted by lmcshane on Sun, 06/23/2019 - 10:32.
 

When does this transfer to the CCLB and how many other properties were already transferred besides 672-03-128 ??  First Source National Homes Inc - not registered with the State of Ohio as a business filing.

Primary Owner
FIRST SOURCE NATIONAL HOMES INC
Property Address
14500 Ardenall AVE East Cleveland,OH 44112
Tax Mailing Address
FIRST SOURCE NATIONAL 11 09A 128TH ST 2ND FLOOR COLLEGE POINT, NY 11356
Legal Description
3 WINDERMERE#3 0532 ALL
Property Class
TWO FAMILY DWELLING
Parcel Number
671-11-099
Taxset  
East Cleveland

 

 

$20,581.09

DATA | Millions in uncollected housing fines

Millions in housing fines go uncollected. View the complete list.
 
Author: Tom Meyer , WKYC
Published: 6:08 PM EDT August 6, 2014
Updated: 6:08 PM EDT August 6, 2014

MAIN STORY: Investigator: Millions in housing fines go uncollected

Total Per Diem Sanctions Converted to Civil Judgment for Collection

$ Amount Converted | Defendant Name

$48,806,000.00 EZ ACCESS FUNDING, LLC
$16,350,000.00 INTERSTATE INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC
$12,124,000.00 BRYCE PETERS FINANCIAL CORP
$5,940,000.00 PARAMOUNT LAND HOLDINGS, INC
$5,481,000.00 ALLOTTA FANNIE, LLC
$3,143,000.00 DIAMOND HOUSING GROUP, LLC
$2,422,000.00 UNITED MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT, LLC
$2,184,000.00 CARRIAGE HOUSE PROPERTIES INC
$2,058,000.00 CRN MANAGEMENT, LLC
$1,890,000.00 LWBR, LLC
$1,750,000.00 SFS GROUP LTD PARTNERSHIP
$1,638,000.00 BR 104 LLC
$1,351,000.00 FIRST SOURCE NATIONAL HOMES
$1,344,000.00 NATIONAL ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP
$1,183,000.00 REO NATIONWIDE, LLC
$1,182,000.00 M2K PROPERTIES, LLC
$1,092,000.00 BENWORLD CONSTRUCTION, LLC
$1,092,000.00 PACKARD PROPERTIES, LLC
$1,092,000.00 FOX & MYSIN INVESTMENTS LLC
$1,092,000.00 DONSHIRS DEVELOPMENT CORP
$1,092,000.00 REO SOLUTIONS USA
$1,089,000.00 K D OHIO INVESTMENTS, LLC
$1,000,000.00 SILVER LEAF ENTERPRISES
$924,000.00 KRAFT BUILDERS, LLC
$840,000.00 OHIO HOUSING NETWORK, LLC
$838,000.00 THE L.A.W.C. HOUSE BALTIMORE
$805,000.00 HEM 2007, LLC
$784,000.00 ALL ABOUT GOLF, LLC
$782,000.00 SAFE HOMES LTD
$768,000.00 PARAGON INVESTORS, LLC
$748,000.00 CLEVELAND RENOVATION GROUP LLC
$742,000.00 COMMUNITY COMING HOME FOUNDATION
$742,000.00 FORCUETO LTD
$728,000.00 CORE FUNDING INC
$728,000.00 HEM 2007 LLC
$728,000.00 WHG FIFTH 33
$728,000.00 2758 EAST 79 CAFÉ INC
$728,000.00 C & S CORP
$728,000.00 3845 E 55TH STREET LLC
$728,000.00 973 PARKWAY LLC

Crains Cleveland endorses Justin Bibb

Submitted by lmcshane on Sun, 10/03/2021 - 09:34.

 Thank you Crains for endorsing Justin Bibb. It is crucial that Northeast Ohio move beyond reliance on federal dollars to run the City of Cleveland. The tax base has been decimated for decades by the practices of the political machine that includes current council persons, Kevin Kelley and Anthony Brancatelli, Before these two, Frangos, Rokakis and Pianka worked in lock step to keep money going to their allies - other former councilmen like John Zayac and Michael Bustamante. Rokakis and Frangos used CDCs like Tremont West and Detroit Shoreway to test drive the land bank concept and put it into full action mode with demolitions contracts steered through the City of Cleveland and then through Cuyahoga County - creating the bloated NGO, known as the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp. This entity has no accountability by design and unlike other land banks - is not even required to file 990s. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund found the practice of selling tax liens discriminatory against African Americans under Rokakis and Frangos. Those tax liens were predominantly sold on the east side of Cleveland and especially in East Cleveland - to further development schemes that these two have brokered for years. I have asked Crain's reporter Michelle Yarboe to investigate a large East Cleveladn property transferred to Steven Pontikos (Frangos' sister is Mary Pontikos). Kelley has worked in lock step with Brancatelli sponsoring legislatation that continues to support the land bank and working with their former council members who now sit on the County Council to further funding of this unchecked organization. Brancatelli chairs the land bank. Rokakis also worked land deals through the Western Reserve Land Conservancy and handed that mantle over to Michael Zone as he funded the Detroit Shoreway CDO that had become so unchecked in their handling of HUD community development grants. Zone on council recused himself as legislation was introduced to basically fund his $150K salary at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. Can Bibb sort out this mess? I am praying that he will make the necessary changes to especially address the misuse of federal monies in the Department of Community Development and the Building and Housing department. Residents want services like recycling that works. Godspeed Justin Bibb.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/editorials/crains-editorial-justin-bibb-mayor