Ward 1 Candidate, Lisa Havemann covers the City’s consideration of rezoning in her most recent newsletter, Building Bridges. Sign up on her website, https://lisahavemann.com/
Join the CDWC as they “Roe” down to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (map) at 9:00 am to vote!
CDWC have been working hard to restore reproductive rights since Roe was reversed in June 2022.
Now we can vote to ensure those rights in the Ohio constitution!
We will be at the BOE with cider and donuts.
Doctors from the Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights will be there too, from 9:30-10:30 am!
Lisa Havemann is running for Rocky River City Council in Ward 1. To learn more about her, please visit LisaHavemann.com or sign up for her newsletter. All are welcome regardless of whether they live in Ward 1.
Letters to the Club
Hello Rocky River Democrats,
Early voting begins next week. (delay in publishing, starts tomorrow!) Besides voting on several statewide and county issues, we will have the opportunity to elect a democratic majority to city council. We have a candidate on the ballot for every ward. Joining Ward 3 City Councilwoman Jeanne Gallagher again are Lisa Pfaff Haverman candidate for Ward 1 and Ward 2 candidate Michael O’Boyle. Ward 4 will have a candidate in Paul Shipp. For the at-large seats we have Councilwoman Christina Morris. It is important that for the At-large seats you only vote for Christina. Mike O’Shea will once again be our law director as he is running unopposed. One of the Rocky River Municipal Judges will have an open election and there are two seats on the Board of Education.
The County Democratic Party has a Podcast! Every Monday our Former US Representative candidate Matt Diemer can be found interviewing activists doing the work to improve our communities and inform us about the issues affecting us all. Look for CuyahogaToday wherever you listen to podcasts.
We will be working to re-elect Sherrod Brown to the Senate next year. Besides being the Chairman of the banking committee Senator Brown has been a strong advocate for veterans. He has been going to every county advocating and educating veterans on the recently passed PACT Act. While the focus of the act has been on those impacted by burn pits, it has also impacted those suffering from contact with Agent Orange and families suffering from the effects of drinking toxic water at some military installations like Camp Lejune. If you would like to participate in the County Democratic Party Veteran Caucus to re-elect Senator Brown let me know.
Thank you to everyone who has worked to get the petitions signed and educating voters on the two statewide Issues. Issue 1 is the reproductive freedom amendment. Issue 2 is the marijuana legalization amendment. I know the county party will be working pass to out signs and hold post card parties focusing on Issue 1. Some actions you can take are talking to your neighbors, friends, and family reminding them to vote. Ask them if they have a plan and if they need help. A new law was passed that limits the documentation a voter can use to verify registration to vote. Make sure you have the proper documents. It may take several weeks to access some documents. Begin that process now. Letters to the editor talking about why and who you are voting for can help the issues and candidates. A quick paragraph sent to the Westlife, Plain Dealer, or Akron Beacon Journal can help educate our community.
Thank you all for taking the time to vote in the past. Voting is the right that grants you all your other rights. If you don’t use it, you could lose it and other rights along with it. If you have any questions or issues that I can help with, please reach out.
October 10: Voter Registration Closes–update your voter info HERE
October 31, 8:30 pm: Deadline for applications by mail for an Vote-by-Mail/Absentee ballot to be mailed
November 5: Voting in-person at the Board of Elections ends at 5:00 pm
November 6: All Vote-by-Mail/Absentee ballots mailed anywhere in the U.S. must be postmarked on or before this date and received at the Board of Elections on or before Nov 11 in order to be counted
November 7, 6:30 am – 7:30 pm : Election Day – Provisional voting at the Board of Elections. All Vote-by-Mail/Absentee ballots returned in person must be received the Board of Elections by 7:30 to be counted.
Please refer to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website HERE for more information and FAQs
Please refer to and share the Ohio Voter Guide HERE for all the info on issues and candidates for November’s election!!
Rocky River School Board Candidate Forum
Monday the 23rd at 7pm at the Umerly Center next door to the Rec Center.
Go and listen to our candidates as they express their vision for RRCS!!
UAW Clambake! Saturday Oct 14, reserve your spot now!
The LWV Ohio is partnering with School Board School on a webinar on school board roles. This is a great opportunity for folks who are considering a run for their local school board, running forums for school board candidates, or advocacy that is affected by school board decisions.
School Board School is a Cincinnati-based organization that provides training in how school boards work to educate advocates and potential candidates. To learn more about them, go here.
Kellie Copeland, Exec Director of Pro-Choice Ohio to speak on Issue 1 and messaging and we are stoked to welcome her back! The general election will be uber important and we all need great and diverse ways to parle our message for freedom and the greater good!
Kellie Copeland, Exec Director of Pro-Choice Ohio to speak on Issue 1 and messaging and we are stoked to welcome her back! The general election will be uber important and we all need great and diverse ways to parle our message for freedom and the greater good!
Join ODWC members throughout Ohio for Telephone Tuesdays every week from 5:30-7:30PM as we put in the hard work to ensure the Reproductive Freedom constitutional amendment passes this November!
Never made calls to voters before? No worries, you’re in good hands! At the outset of a phonebank, we’ll receive training on how to make phone calls using a dialer. Then, we’ll pivot right into making calls to voters!
Kellie Copeland, Exec Director of Pro-Choice Ohio to speak on Issue 1 and messaging and we are stoked to welcome her back! The general election will be uber important and we all need great and diverse ways to parle our message for freedom and the greater good!
Important Dates!
November 7, 2023 General Election
October 10: Voter Registration Closes
October 11: Opening of In-Person and Vote-by-Mail (Absentee voting)
October 31, 8:30 pm: Deadline for applications by mail for an Vote-by-Mail/Absentee ballot to be mailed
November 5: Voting in-person at the Board of Elections ends at 5:00 pm
November 6: All Vote-by-Mail/Absentee ballots mailed anywhere in the U.S. must be postmarked on or before this date and received at the Board of Elections on or before Nov 11 in order to be counted
November 7, 6:30 am – 7:30 pm : Election Day – Provisional voting at the Board of Elections. All Vote-by-Mail / Absentee ballots returned in person must be received the Board of Elections by 7:30 to be counted.
Events
Learn More about HB 197: The Ohio Community Solar Pilot Program
Join Solar United Neighbors, the Coalition for Community Solar Access and Green Energy Ohio for a webinar on House Bill 197.
On August 14, Citizens Not Politicians launched a citizen initiative to thwart gerrymandering by putting voters in charge. This past Wednesday, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost identified nine issues in the petition summary that his office believes are confusing and vague, misleading, or inaccurate—and so he declined to certify the summary and sent the campaign back to the drawing board. It is common for initial petition language to be rejected at least once.
We will discuss the Citizens Not Politicians Amendment and ways to get involved in the effort to take mapmaking out of the hands of elected officials and place it in the hands of an independent citizens redistricting commission.
The next Fair Districts All Volunteer Huddle is on September 13 at 6:00 pm
This will be a great time to learn more about the policy and process, and the different ways you will be able to help with this important effort.
September 2, 2023 What would it be like if you had to be uprooted from your community? Euclid Beach Mobile Park Community Musings by Patrick J. O’Connor poc44121@yahoo.com
What would it be like if you had to say good bye to your neighbors because your neighborhood is going to be torn down?
What would it be like if you had to leave your friends behind? Friends you’ve known and loved for years, for decades.
This is exactly what our neighbors are facing who call Euclid Beach Mobile Park Community their home.
They do not own the land where their homes are located. But does that disqualify their voices from the conversation?
Presently, the deed is held by the Western Reserve Land Conservancy (WRLC). As reported by Plain Dealer and cleveland.com writer Stephen Litt, “The conservancy bought the property for $5.8 million in 2021 from a subsidiary of Dallas-based Moore Enterprises, which previously announced it would sell to the highest bidder. The triangle-shaped property, located north of Lakeshore Boulevard, was once part of the popular Euclid Beach Amusement Park, which operated on the site and on adjacent parcels, from 1895 to 1969. (Plain Dealer July 11, 2023)
It’s an open secret that the Western Reserve Land Conservancy bought the property with the intention of turning it over to the Metroparks, like they did several years ago with Acacia Country Club in Lyndhurst.
This ‘straw’ purchase of Euclid Beach Mobile Park Community by WRLC is intended to save the Metroparks from doing the dirty work of evicting the residents. More to the point, it avoids accountability under the Uniform Relocation Act (URA) that requires adherence to standards to resettle people by entities that have received federal funding, like the Metroparks.
With these considerations in mind, it’s worth noting that an important develop has taken place.
The Mandel Foundation has awarded the Western Reserve Land Conservancy a $10M grant, $6.2 million is earmarked to assist residents living in the 124 occupied mobile homes that remain in the community. The money will not be evenly divided, but will be distributed on a case-by-case basis.
That’s the crux of the matter. Why? Instead of working with the Euclid Beach Mobile Park Community, the Mandel Foundation is telling the Western Reserve Land Conservancy to deploy a divide and conquer strategy. This is not a path to a fair and equitable resolution, especially if the Western Reserve Land Conservancy wants to abide by the Unified Relocation Act (URA).
The Euclid Beach Mobile Park Community is united. They are organized and their voices are united. With the help of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), they have formed the United Residents of Euclid Beach (UREB).
The Euclid Beach Mobile Park Community wants to preserve their neighborhood, their friendships, their community. For this reason they deserve an opportunity to present themselves as a community who wants to remain together.
Christopher Knestrick, executive director of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), said “the Mandel grants show that there’s enough money in Cleveland to make it possible for the residents to remain in the mobile homes, to rebuild the failing utilities in the community, and to pay off the land conservancy for its investment. The community has been clear that they don’t want to leave and they’ve come up with options [to stay] that haven’t been heard adequately,’’ Knestrick said. While he said the Mandel grant could provide tens of thousands of dollars to mobile home residents for relocation expenses, displacement is “a question of justice, not of payment.”
“What is the value of our homes, our livelihoods, the trauma, the pain of being torn from your home? What value does the community put on that?” Knestrick said. “There is no monetary value that can replace what a home means to a person. Or, I might offer, a community.” (Plain Dealer July 11, 2023)
The Metroparks Board of Commissioners and Administration have been exemplary stewards of our parks. It would be a shame if this history of noble and civic leadership should be sullied if the Metroparks did not exert their influence with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy in facilitating a just and equitable solution with our neighbors who call Euclid Beach Mobile Park Community their home.
The Commissioners are amenable to hearing from the community. Please share your concerns with them, either in writing or by phone or in person at the next Commissioners’ meeting on Thursday, September 21st at 8:00am.
Mr. Bruce G. Rinker President, Cleveland Metroparks Board of Commissioners Mr. Dan T. Moore Vice President, Cleveland Metroparks Board of Commissioners 4101 Fulton Parkway Cleveland, OH 44144 216-635-3200
We could not have done this without planning, organizing and getting the word out from Gretchen and Todd from Westlake, Misty from Bay Village and Troy from Fairview Park. We have some fantastic leadership in our community and we really appreciate it!
I think all the clubs agreed this was a great way to field candidates, get to know each other and continue the momentum of engagement that has been fostered in the West side of Cuyahoga county!
Please RSVP if you haven’t already! We are so excited to see you!
Join all the Westshore Clubs, Bay Village, Fairview Park, Westlake AND Rocky River for an unforgettable evening filled with delectable food, a lively political trivia game, a 50/50 raffle, and the opportunity to hear from esteemed Democratic leaders including Chris Ronayne, Dave Brock, Dave Kuntz from Tri-C, a rep from the UAW, and a bevy of local candidates.
Date: Tuesday, August 29, 2023 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Location: Memorial Hall, Don Umerley Civic Center 21016 Hilliard Blvd Rocky River, OH 44116
Highlights: Culinary Delights Lively Political Trivia Game 50/50 Raffle Insights from Democratic Leaders
