Category Archives: Mayor’s Office

Mayor Frank G. Jackson Addresses Constituents Directly About Budget Enhancements in Facebook Videos

Mayor Frank G. Jackson presented to Cleveland City Council Tuesday morning an update on budget enhancements – which will improve city services and create new positions in critical areas like Building and Housing, Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, Health, and more – from the funds generated by the voter-approved Issue 32.

Following the Mayor’s presentation to Council, he spoke directly to Clevelanders via Facebook and answered questions on topics ranging from youth violence to lead poisoning to safety. He also thanked voters for passing Issue 32, which allowed for a .5 percent income tax increase. About $80 million annually will be added to the budget as a result of the tax increase.

“I want to thank the public, the people who voted for Issue 32, for giving us the opportunity to have an enhanced budget that will allow us to deliver more and better services,” Mayor Jackson said in the Facebook video. “If you had not passed Issue 32, we would have been talking about laying off $40 million worth of people.”

Have more questions for the Mayor? Tweet at us @CityofCleveland or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/CityofCleveland.

Mayor Jackson 2017 Budget Briefing

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The 2017 Mayor’s Estimate was delivered to City Council on February 1, 2017. Mayor Frank G. Jackson then presented an overview of the budget to City managers. He started by thanking City employees for supporting issue 32, the half of a percent income tax increase that is providing for this enhanced budget.

“This budget is built on providing enhanced City services to the residents of Cleveland,” said Mayor Jackson.

The City approaches every budget with three goals in mind to balancing the budget – it’s the law; delivering services – ensure Clevelanders have the services they deserve; and, maintaining employment – keeping City workers employed to care for their families.

Details on enhanced services are included in the 2017 Letter of Transmittal.

The City of Cleveland budget book is also available here.

Mayor Frank G. Jackson on the Passage of Issue 32 and Issue 108

Mayor Frank G. Jackson Statement on the Passage of Issue 32 

“I would like to thank everyone who voted for Issue 32 and all of those who supported the effort. By passing Issue 32, residents of Cleveland have made a commitment to the future success of our city. I look forward to working with my administrative team, Council, and the community to address and improve city services and safety.”

Mayor Frank G. Jackson Statement on the Passage of Issue 108

“I would like to thank the people of Cleveland for their continued support of the education of our children. With the renewal of this school levy, we can continue to make gains in our schools and focus attention on the areas that still need improvement. Together, we will make quality education available to every student in every neighborhood.”

 

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Cleveland’s Public Square Renovated and Reopened to the Public

Cleveland’s Public Square is once again open to the public. It has been closed since the reconstruction began in March 2015. The new design by internationally renowned landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations, has transformed The Square from four separate quadrants into a unified public space in the heart of Downtown Cleveland.

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The Square is a welcoming space that invites people in, encourages them to stay and will be used throughout the year for a wide range of programs and events.

The Square includes pedestrian pathways, green spaces for concerts and events, areas to sit and lounge, a café, a new public restroom and a water feature, which was ceremonially activated during today’s rededication.

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument remains as an integral feature of the park and will become more accessible to the public.

“The new Public Square moves us closer to a pedestrian, cycling, and public transportation friendly downtown,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “It would not have happened without the support of the public, private, and philanthropic communities, or the vision of Tony Coyne and the Group Plan Commission.”

On April 30, 2010, Mayor Jackson met with Cleveland City Planning Commission Chairman, Anthony “Tony” Coyne, who proposed a renewed Group Plan Commission based on the original 1903 Group Plan for Cleveland’s malls and adjoining buildings. Mayor Jackson agreed and appointed the Group Plan Commission members in June of  2010. He charged the Commission with improving public spaces and connecting nearby projects such as Flats East Bank, the new casino, the new convention center, and the Global Center for Health Innovation. By May of  2011, The Commission presented a bold vision for Public Square, the Malls, and the lakefront.

Since tasked, the non-profit Group Plan Commission has been working in partnership with the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, along with other stakeholders, to finance and deliver this project.

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After viewing public spaces during trade missions to European cities—Paris and Rouen, France, Vicenza, Italy, and Lubijana, Slovenia—Mayor Jackson urged Commission Chair Coyne to think boldly about a unified Public Square achieved by closure of Ontario Street and a less intensive Superior Avenue crossing.

By April, 2013, the Commission and its landscape architect James Corner had proposed the design for Public Square that you see today.

While the on-time completion of the $50-million reconstruction of Public Square is a milestone for the GPC, and its civic partners, LAND Studio, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, and the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the GPC is looking forward to how The Square will be used by Clevelanders and visitors.

“As excited as we are to have people come and experience the world-class design and craftsmanship that went into the transformation of Public Square, we are equally focused on how The Square will be maintained and programmed for years to come,” said Anthony Coyne, GPC Chairman. “GPC’s focus on ensuring that The Square will be used by the whole community was an important driver of Public Square’s transformation.”

The Group Plan Commission has formed a partnership with the City of Cleveland to help take care of and activate The Square with a variety of year-round programming, and has brought on Sanaa Julien as a loaned executive from the Cleveland Metroparks to serve as CEO for Programming and Operations.

Interact with Public Square on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/clepublicsquare/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/CLEPublicSquare

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/clepublicsquare/

YouTube –https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQC9Fl1rWWt3hYF0DjHlpdw

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City Revises Process on Licenses, Permits, Insurance Claims, and Invoices

On February 11, Mayor Jackson promised to change the city’s process concerning any licenses, permits, insurance claims and/or invoices that may be subject to court activity including all filings and proceedings.

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Mayor Jackson and Police Chief Williams

Read: Process change to licenses, permits, insurance claims, and invoices

Effective immediately, any license, permits, insurance claims, and or invoices of any type, along with all pertinent documentation, whether opened or closed, that may be subject to potential court activity must be submitted to a Commissioner and/or Assistant Commissioner within two business days.

At 8:30 this morning, all employees within the departments of License and Assessments and Law were briefed on this policy change and signed a copy acknowledging that they have read and understand this policy change.

Mayor Jackson Addresses Creditor’s Claim to Tamir Rice Estate

Today, Mayor Frank G. Jackson addressed the creditor’s claim filed on behalf of the City of Cleveland against the Tamir Rice estate. To begin with, no bill was sent nor was any bill ever intended to be sent to the Tamir Rice family.

In January of 2015, the City of Cleveland submitted and received a partial reimbursement from Medicaid in the amount of $172.90 for ambulance services provided to Tamir Rice on November 22, 2014. The remaining $327.10 was then absorbed by the city and the matter was closed.

Earlier this week, the executor for the Tamir Rice estate requested that the City provide a billing statement for services provided to Tamir Rice on November 22, 2014.

When the City received this request, the bill was opened again and in its entirety, sent to the executor as required.

Following a standard procedure, a city attorney filed a claim with the probate court in the amount of $500.00 against the Rice estate.  Today the City has withdrawn that claim.

The City of Cleveland apologizes for any additional pain or suffering that this matter has caused the Tamir Rice family.

Again, there was no bill sent to the Rice family, rather a statement of expenses was sent to the executor of the Rice estate at the request of the executor.