Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Cancels Festival -- Is That Anyway to Get the Ceremony Moved to Cleveland?

I've avoided blogging about this but remain aggravated. And now there is an editorial in Crain's Cleveland that pretty much says it the way I feel it. Read what Jeff Stacklin has to say.

I realize rock stars have no vested interest in where the ceremony is held...but couldn't the RRHofF&M get some funding from them for the Festival? Peace Out - 3C

Need a Job In Cuyahoga County? These Jobs May Be Waiting For You

According to today's Plain Dealer, in an article written by Allison Grant, there are unfilled jobs - chronically hard to fill because the nature of the jobs. Here is the list:

1. Sales representatives
2. Teacher
3. Mechanic
4. Technician
5. Management Executive
6. Truck Driver
7. Driver/Delivery
8. Accountant
9. Laborer
10. Machine Operator

This list is from Manpower, Inc. They interviewed upward of 2,400 employers across the U.S.
According to the Manpower study, engineers and nurses came off the list and teachers and mechanics moved up to second and third place. If you browse our local, available job listings, there are usually teaching jobs 'going begging' and they are almost always in Early Childhood areas, Special Education or Math and Sciences.

I know from interviewing Rebecca Kusner of WIRE-NET a few months ago that local manufacturers are working with them on training programs so they can fill their unfilled job positions.

I was wondering what employers are doing to help meet their goals and the Manpower Study has some answers, at least from those they interviewed. Flexible work schedules and improved benefits were mentioned as changes offered to entice prospective employees.

To view the entire Manpower White paper survey follow this link to the pdf files on line.
Peace Out - 3C

4/10/07 (During the news tonight I saw a commercial. I swear it was called 'Dream It, Do It', and it talked about being a machinist and what it means in today's world. Paid for by a bunch of people, including NEO manufacturing companies. I wasn't dreaming myself, was I?)

Curiosity just got the better of me so I headed to Craigslist. They have a substantial employment section and under manufacturing? Steady job listings. For example:

1. A Mentor company looking for a Precision Grinder (well it actually said precision grider and since I'm not in manufacturing, that may or may NOT be a typo!) Familiarity with blue prints needed. Pay is hourly, they said $14 and up.

2. Two positions as a welder in a Cleveland company; all in all, over 14 jobs listed in the manufacturing field since April 1st.

Lends credence to the original article/survey done by Manpower Inc, yes?

Will There Be a New Convention Center in Cleveland? Who Should Decide: Clevelanders or Sam Miller?

I wrote a post on my excitement at finding terrific interactive information on the three final proposals for a new Convention Center in Cleveland. It was (and still is) on the City Planning Commission website. That was at the beginning of March. (rendering of one proposed plan from City Planning Commission Site) (I have a rendering of one of the other proposals on the first post)

Since then, Sam Miller of Forest City Enterprises has come out with a strong challenge to the City and us, the residents, to take charge of the City and get things done and stop thinking badly about ourselves as Clevelanders. I can get with that. What are his motives? I almost don't care, because he is right. However, I said 'almost.' lol. I've had a week to mull over his interview regarding this challenge to all of us, conducted by Tom Beres of WKYC. You can go to Brewed Fresh Daily to see a longer interview with Miller conducted by Cool Cleveland.

So what is this post about that has taken two paragraphs to get to the point? I respect Sam Miller, but I don't personally think his plan for the Convention Center is the best. Secondly, no matter what plan is chosen, I think resident and business input from a 'majority' is the best way to decide this. Apparently the Planning Commission truly wants your input. I am imploring all of you to go to the section of their website on The Convention Center. To me, as long as the decision is made by more than one person (i.e. Sam Miller or any other developer who has a vested interest,) I am satisfied. Please check it out! After you have reviewed the plans, you can email the Planning Commmision right from that site and I promise you they get your comments and you will get a response back.

Sam Miller said one thing right: we all need to take charge of our City and do our part to put Cleveland on the right path. Peace Out - 3C

April 9th Update: Received a nice email from Robert Brown, Director of our City of Cleveland Planning Department. He said that while the Department's website receives visitors who comment every day, it has been a while since people have commented on the Convention Center ideas. Do you want one? Let them know, yes or no. Do you like one plan better than another? Let them know! Having a 'voice heard' has gotten so much easier with the internet!

Tired Of Snow? Give Global Warming a Few Years.....

I saved this article from The Plain Dealer. After two days of snow (good thing I took a photo of my miniature daffodils, I have a feeling they are not bright and sunny anymore) - it seemed like a good time to post it here. I'm going to provide the entire article instead of a link.

Scientists say global warming will bake Midwest
Posted by John Mangels April 03, 2007 17:58PM
Categories: Breaking News

If global warming continues unchecked, within 100 years its impacts will significantly alter the Midwest, with the Great Lakes climate resembling that of today's Sun Belt, a panel of scientists said Tuesday.

While shorter winters and longer growing seasons might sound like improvements, the climate-change consequences on balance will largely be negative, the researchers said.
In In Ohio and the other Midwest states, they likely will include worsening summertime droughts and heat waves, intensifying storms, declining water levels and purity, increasing air pollution, and a greater risk of insect- and rodent-borne diseases.

"We're talking about a climate for the state of Illinois that's maybe more like that of eastern Texas by the end of the century," said atmospheric scientist Don Wuebbles of the University of Illinois School of Earth, Society and Environment. Computer models of climate change project summer conditions in Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin by 2095 "more like that in Arkansas."
"People should be very concerned," Wuebbles said.

He and several other climate researchers briefed reporters in anticipation of Friday's release of a major report on the impact of global warming. The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is expected to issue a sobering assessment of the long-term region-by-region effects of human-caused warming.

The buildup of heat trapped by greenhouse gases coming from cars and factories already is causing substantial climate change, including melting Arctic ice sheets, rising sea levels and altered weather patterns.
The plight of polar bears on shrinking ice floes at the top of the world may seem like an abstraction to an Illinois farmer or an Ohio surburbanite, but that shouldn't be the case, Wuebbles said. "Because the Midwest's climate is basically the result of interacting Arctic and southern air masses, whatever happens in the Arctic will affect us." If current greenhouse gas levels persist, climate models indicate that, by the end of the 21st century, average winter temperatures in the Midwest will be as much as 12 degrees warmer than at present, and as much as 20 degrees warmer in summer. Nighttime temperatures likely will not fall off as much as they do now.

Snow cover will be erratic, with more wintertime thaws, said Knute Nadelhoffer, an ecology and evolutionary biology professor at the University of Michigan. Spring rainfall will more commonly come from heavy storms than from long, gentle "soaker" showers that allow the water to percolate into the soil. Midwest summers probably will be considerably drier.
Those climate changes will have profound health effects, said Dr. Jonathan Patz, an associate professor of environmental studies and population health sciences at the University of Wisconsin.

Peace Out - 3C

'Advance Northeast Ohio' Website Launched

Voices and Choices is an organization we will keep hearing about and it seems as if people are listening to them. The latest of their suggestions to be 'taken' is a website (I found it by lurking on the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Website) It's a new website called Advance Northeast Ohio. It's interactive, I just signed up to be able to leave messages when I want...they might be sorry lol. Anyway, there are four 'initiatives' from Voices and Choices - the website seems like a way to keep everyone honest about progress. I recall that was the goal of Mayor Jackson when he announced the City of Cleveland's Five Year (CIP) Plan and then put the outline and then increasing detail about it on the City website. (It's still in pdf form so let's get it interactive guys!)

Anyway - here are the four initiatives:

• Business Growth and Attraction (who can argue with that?)
• Workforce Preparation & Educational Excellence (WIRE-NET? Max Hayes? Design Ctr?)
• Growth Through Racial and Economic Inclusion
• Government Collaboration and Efficiency

Voices and Choices completed a study and had (I think) at least 3000 participants in this written study - and these initiatives came out of the research V & C did.

The new website hasn't gotten a ton of exposure yet. And of course it's late at night so no one was logged in when I was logged on. There is a web page where you can add topics for discussion or add to already existing topics...a forum page! I like that. What I don't like? No one has participated yet! I know what I will be doing this weekend: getting familiar with the website.

There is also a page that outlines in a little more detail what could? will? happen to advance the four initiatives. For example :

Regional High-Tech and Health Care Jobs Portal that will shine a spotlight on the large number of available jobs in the region’s health care, technology and biosciences industries.

and,

Minority Business Accelerator to assist mid-sized to large minority-owned enterprises to boost sales by more than 20% and more than double employment. Supported through $1 million grant by the Fund for Our Economic Future

There is also something there about a National marketing campaign to promote all that Cleveland has to offer; I try not to roll my eyes, but, can you say 'Believe In Cleveland?' Anyway, I like Voices and Choices so I will give them the benefit of the doubt but seems like money is better spent on 'doing' rather than promoting. Anyway, check out the website and get involved from the comfort of your own home: Advance Northeast Ohio Peace Out-3C

Bellaire Puritas Development Corporation is Sponsoring an 'Avoid Foreclosure' Seminar April 26th

I am posting a flyer from the Bellaire Puritas Development Corp (BPDC) about an upcoming event that many of us truly need to attend:

Having Trouble Making Ends Meet?
· Are You in Over Your Head in Bills?
· Have You Ever Had a ‘PayDay’ Loan?
· Not Sure if You Can Make Your Next House Payment?
· Afraid of Losing Your Home?
· Looking to Refinance Your Home?
· Thinking of Consolidating Your Debt?
· Not Sure if You Have A Predatory Loan?

Bellaire Puritas Development Corporation
is sponsoring a night of
FREE ANSWERS AND ASSISTANCE
on Thursday, April 26th
From 5:30pm to 7:30pm
at 14703 Puritas Avenue
(use side entrance behind US Bank)

Attorneys from Housing Advocates, Counselors from the County Foreclosure Prevention Program, East Side Organizing Project (ESOP), Cleveland Housing Network and Neighborhood Housing Services will be on hand to guide you in the right direction.

For more information please call
Toni Jones at the BPDC office at (216) 671-2710.
Please bring your mortgage documents

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Other posts regarding foreclosures and mortgage issues:
Professor Kathleen Engel Discusses Predatory Lending at 'Meet the Bloggers' Session
Predatory Lending: What to Look Out For as You Search For a Home

Peace Out - 3C

Amtrak Comes Out of the Dark In Cleveland

Amtrak started morning train service to New York City yesterday! This is good news for weary riders who had to be night owls to do this in the past. Apparently the train is leaving Cleveland at 7am and you will arrive in New York (Penn Station) at 6:45 pm. This of course could be much faster if we get into the Three C Corridor Plan and the Hub Initiative but for now, it's great progress, imho. And not just mine.

Here is a quote from yesterday's PD article, written by Grant Segall: "It's good news for Cleveland," said Ken Prendergast, spokesman for All Aboard Ohio, a nonprofit group promoting rail travel. "We like to wake up at reasonable hours and ride trains at reasonable hours." And travelers will get some brighter views along the way. The route runs through New York's Mohawk Valley and Hudson Valley en route to Manhattan. "It's a scenic ride," said Sheldon Lustig, a railroad consultant in Mayfield Heights. (you can read about it here on the blog Cleveland vs. The World, as well as other info regarding Amtrak funding on the All Aboard Ohio website)

Want to be one of the first to do this? Here is the Amtrak train schedule; go ahead, get your ticket :-) Peace Out - 3C