Partner with new Ward 12 Councilperson Rebecca Maurer to consolidate economic development services through the Old Brooklyn CDC.  MetroWest has been a complete failure and it should be forced to apply for funding from sources other than the CDBG monies allocated to Ward 14. 

Here is an example of how there needs to be better accounting. Casino funds and their allocation:

While much attention has been paid to the convictions of former Councilman Kenneth Johnson and his aide, Garnell Jamison; little attention has been paid to John Hopkins’ theft indictment and conviction as the former director of Buckeye Shaker Square Development Corporation.  The Hopkins conviction should be eye opening to the “CDC” boards and directors; and they should consider “who’s next?”  With their involvement in the $37 million Shaker Square drama both Menesse and Johnson may have drawn the federal investigation short straws.  So will Bibb if he doesn’t stop tweeting about matters beyond his level of knowledge.

-Eric J. Brewer  

https://ejbnews.com/30724/

The CITY OF CLEVELAND  land Bank properties* are brokered to DEVELOPERS via CDCs through Rokakis/now MATT Zone who is GETTING paid to do it by Cleveland City Council through the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.  Cleveland City Council members control the spending of HUD Community Development funds directed to "Community Development Corporations."  Cleveland City Council members also control general funds specific to projects and casino monies. 

Cuyahoga COUNTY Land Bank properties* (East Cleveland, Maple Heights) are brokered to DEVELOPERS through Frangos/Brancatelli through the Cuyahoga County Land Bank, which is funded through Cuyahoga County Council to be a doped up "Community Development Corporation" and to do demolitions throughout Cuyahoga County with MONIES they suck up through delinquent tax fees. 

Properties end up in the land bank because of tax FORECLOSURE (oh- and CONDEMNATION through Housing Court). 

*Frangos and Rokakis "legislated" both operations...

(Reposted from Linkedin) - By Laura McShane  Photo shows Baumann construction demolishing former YMCA at 3881 Pearl.  Before the County Land Bank - Frangos legislated the City of Cleveland Land Bank.  Demolition contract kickbacks have been the primary driver of the real estate racket that Frangos - and Jim Rokakis put in high gear through community development corporations like Tremont West and Detroit Shoreway in the 1990s.

Attracting new business and talent to our region is not going to happen if our municipal and county government is seen as corrupt and intractable. Ranked in top 10 of cities with corruption.

This Tuesday 2/25//19- Cuyahoga County Council intends to give unchecked powers to the Cuyahoga County Land Bank. The Inspector General of Cuyahoga County has no jurisdiction over the Cuyahoga County Land Bank, yet the agency is funded through fines collected by the county. The proposal on Tuesday will expand their budget from seven to $30 million and their governmental reach and mission--now, primarily from demolitions--to a new "supercharged" Community Development Corporation for housing rehab and flipping- with the added ability to "wite out" back taxes.

The move is being orchestrated in collaboration with Cleveland City Council members, Kevin Kelley and Tony Brancatelli, who are requesting that the city budget also fund code enforcement through the neighborhood community development corporations.

It is an illegal move. CDC employees ARE not to do "code enforcement" of any kind. Rokakis, Frangos, and Pianka began the misuse of HUD Community Development Corporation funds to conduct these illegal inspections through CDCs. Pianka went from Detroit Shoreway CDC to Cleveland City Council to  Housing Court position (which Rokakis credits as his creation). He was being investigated by federal agents before he died suddenly. This racket has been allowed to tentacle and conceal their primary money maker - demolitions at the city and county level.

Tony Brancatelli also serves as the Cuyahoga County Land Bank Board Chair. Cleveland City Council introduced legislation to fund former council person Matt Zone's position at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy through taxpayer dollars awarded at Cleveland City Council.

I sent this letter to Council President Kevin Kelley and I have yet to receive a response:

Honorable Council President Kelley,

Please enter my letter in the record regarding any committee hearings towards funding CDC's to do "code enforcement."

You are well aware of the nightmare unfolding with the finances and real estate managed by the Buckeye Shaker Square Development CDC. I am cc.ing the Head of Community Development Tania Menesse, who has inherited this mess. There is, no doubt, a federal investigation underway involving these "CDCs" - and including non-profit housing groups like Famicos, Cleveland Housing Network and Neighborhood Housing Services.

If - as the media has reported, "Johnson and BSSDC are also subjects of an investigation by the FBI’s public corruption squad, cleveland.com reported in November," then, your council body must be especially cognizant of the unlicensed powers you are enabling by funding these CDCs with federal and general fund revenue. Jasmin Santana, my city council representative, is also cc.d. 

It is your job as Cleveland City Council President to steward and protect public funds.

Sincerely,

Laura McShane

Ward 14