Commonly known as the Land Bank, the mission of this quasi-governmental organization is to eliminate vacant and blighted properties. It does so by having tax-burdened properties transferred into its name. The transfer wipes out the outstanding tax obligations. Properties are then transferred and sometimes sold to new owners who obtain the properties free of the tax liens and back taxes. The Land Bank is mandated to put property into the hands of owners who will make it economically productive, produce tax revenues, create jobs and rejuvenate neighborhoods.

That is why it is so important for the Land Bank to thoroughly investigate prospective applicants before transferring properties. That is why questions have now arisen as to the decision last August to transfer property located at 12735 Kirby Avenue in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood to Level 5 Global Corporation. Level 5 Global, its Ohio subsidiary North Coast Natural Solutions and its front man, Tierney R. Williams, have in recent weeks come under fire regarding the propriety of their business dealings. The question is, did the Land Bank unwittingly become the first of many Clevelanders scammed in what is likely to become known as the Hempgate Scandal? 

($109,440.13 wited out by Land bank)

https://coolcleveland.com/2019/05/commentary-hempcrete-to-hempgate-land-... [1]

No, Ellen Connally - the LAND BANK was not scammed. The LAND BANK is the scam.

As a result of my posting to the Cool Cleveland article - I was contacted and informed about another property in East Cleveland transferred by the Land Bank to one Steven Pontikos -

Igor Ternovsky‎ to Slavic Village Action League

The Land Bank wited out $759K on this property and transferred to Steven Pontikos' Coventry Parks Apartments LLC for $0 - it is now listed for $3M.  AND It is not paying taxes again !!  $48,925.91 now due as of 4/10/2020.

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/13955-Superior-Rd-East-Cleveland-OH/15607734/?fbclid=IwAR39vFVymaqGAAa0W6ocK398Axw1o5vPOtQyr4f9l8rb0Z0lxG85fFS07fs [7]

Steven Pontikos is delinquent on 14060 SUPERIOR AVE,  in East Cleveland, which was also transferred to him by the Cuyahoga County Land Bank. 

How long does this continue??

Cuyahoga County Council has it within their powers to SHUT DOWN the Land Bank.  End this now.  The Land Bank is a racketeering operation:

https://www.justice.gov/jm/criminal-resource-manual-109-rico-charges [8]

Lily Miller noted the use of CDCs in this process -especially Slavic Village CDC, once led by Tony Brancatelli, who now chairs the Land Bank.  Connect the dots:

http://realneo.us/content/slavic-village-community-development-selling-property-those-owe-delinquent-property-taxes-cu#comment-34096

Simple solution to stop me from investigating all of the CDCs [9]

There is a simple solution to stop me from investigating ALL of the CDC's, land bank flippers and connections, Cuyahoga County Land Bank, Jim Rokakis, Jason Brooks, Randall Shorr, Robert Curry, Michael Hilliard, Michael DeCesare, etc......

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Firm denies business relationship in maligned hemp project [11]

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Thank you for confirming that Mr. Steven Pontikos as Coventry Parks Apts LLC paid $25K for 13955 Superior Rd - currently listed for sale with Greenbridge Real Estate. 

--Laura McShane