Mayor Tony K’s Adding to His List

In April, I discussed an article that detailed local cities getting money from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, set up by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The City of Lorain received over $3 million from the Program, and the last line of that post asked “So, Mr. Mayor, what is the plan for this money?”

Today, I find the Mayor’s knock-down list has grown by another 18 houses. As I scanned the addresses, some of them looked familiar. And there was a reason, too. Because they’ve been featured in past FISI’s.

311 W. 14th Street,

and 217 W. 15th Street, were featured in the same FISI here.

 

520 W. 18th Street was the lead photo for this FISI, and the MJ lead with this property on their front page.

Finally, FINALLY, this one at 216 Lake Place is being taken care of. I’ve written about this, and Loraine wrote about it, too.

The City’s Building, Health and Engineering Dept’s will need to do inspections of the homes to determine if they meet the established criteria of a public nuisance. This could take anywhere from 2 to 6 months. The Prosecutor’s office will then need the Court to declare the houses nuisances, and the Board of Health will need to determine who will foot the bill.

This is a looooooong time coming, but it’s getting done. Much more is getting done than under the previous administration. I’m not too thrilled about the timeframe for this happening. There has to be a way to speed up the process. How about a dedicated Housing Court?

Light Up Lorain – The Videos

“Thanks to the City Workers…” (missed the beginnning…)

Get the Word Out!

Saturday’s Rally in Council’s chambers was a request for volunteers to help get the word out about the license plate fee vote that’s coming up in November. It was also a chance to get some key points straight on this increase:

1. By State law, monies can only be used for road rehab/replacement and materials. They CANNOT be used for salaries, raises or equipment. Money goes strictly to roads.

2. Road Improvement Plan:

     $5 million in immediate projects to make an impact

     $125K a year in additional crack sealing (to protect and add life to the investment in the roads)

     $140K a year to leverage for additional grant money

Cost per month – $1.25  WOW!!!

compared to the alternative:

$119 for a new tire

$199 for a new rim

$60 for an alignment

Folks talk about attracting new businesses to Lorain first, and THEN having the money to improve the roads? There are issues now where the City is getting phone calls from businesses because they are suffering breakage in transporting goods to customers. Businesses we have NOW are upset with the roads, do you really think we’ll attract NEW ONES??

    Vote YES on Issue 20 – The Road For A Better Lorain

 

 

Kick-Off Rally on Saturday

VOTE YES ON ISSUE 20
CITY OF LORAIN NEEDS YOUR HELP

RALLY TO KICK OFF THE CAMPAIGN FOR ISSUE 20 – LICENSE FEE
SATURDAY SEPT. 20TH
10AM (1/2 hr)
CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS

COME KICK OFF THIS CAMPAIGN TO VICTORY AND LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP PUT
LORAIN ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.

Tony Krasienko
Mayor of Lorain

FISI Makes It Happen?

Back when I was a WoMbat, through the course of the day, the group of us would trade info back and forth via email, and bounce ideas off of each other. If it didn’t get shot up too badly, we’d give it a try. 

Through email conversations with Scott and Michele and Loraine, “Fame It – Shame It” was born in August of ’07. There were lots of properties in Lorain that were literally falling down. And Brian Hazelett had a list longer than my arm stored up in his noggin. So, cooperating with Bill Desvari (he’s not the bad guy folks think) of the Building Dept. at one point, we started featuring the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. And we got results.

With a new administration, the results continue.

In the local paper, Tony K announced his intention of razing decrepit houses and buildings. Three more from FISI fame are on his list. In this FISI at WoM, the first property listed is 2313 Elyria Ave. One that didn’t make it into a FISI but did get submitted to the Building Dept was 332/334 W. 17th St. (Actually, I did mention it!! In a letter to Tony K!)

On April 16th, as a favor to my friends Scott and Michele, I did a piece about 1401 W. 19th St. This beast has been gnawing on the neighborhood, and causing consternation for a few years. It’s also on Tony’s list.

I’m going to find out from Tony what else is on his list (try, anyway). And I will cover the progress of the above listed properties. And I will bring it here to you.

What I need you to do is bring me MORE. Buster’s Momma has been wonderful to me in providing photographic fodder for FISI, here and here and HERE!

You want to see Lorain cleaned up? Let’s do it!! Get me more addresses and I’ll get YOU more FISI. And, with time and money, Tony K will get the City to clean up more messes.

Did FISI make all this happen? Good chance. Three of the first six listed by Tony K were ones that I made an issue about. That’s pretty good. And it’s a start. Help me get more houses. And hopefully, Tony will find a way to bring’em down.  

WE can make this happen. But, WE have to work. Together.

(In response to Kendra’s comment, it would be easier for me to get the pics and upload them rather than anyone else. All I need you folks to do is get me addresses. You can post them here, or email me at heneryhawk1@yahoo.com)

Lucas Is In The Championship!!!

Lucas played an exciting game against #2-seeded Angelo’s Pizza tonight, a nail-biter to the end (and made me hoarse in the process!).

Jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st, they turned around and gave up 3 runs in the bottom of the inning. The next 2 innings were scoreless as good pitching and excellent defense prevented either team from scoring. In the top of the 4th, Lucas eked out 2 more runs to take the lead, 4-3. They then held Angelo’s scoreless in the inning and put one more across in the top of the 5th, in what appeared to be icing on the cake.

Such was not the case, as Angelo’s wasn’t giving up that easy. Taking advantage of some small miscues and some well-placed hitting, Angelo’s scored twice to tie the game at 5 going into the top of the 6th and final inning.

With one out, Kristen Teleha drove a double to left field and scored the tie-breaking run on a hard hit single by Ricardo Marrero. Angelo’s retired the next 2 hitters, and then had their turn at the plate.

Mark Krasienko took the mound for the second consecutive inning, the team’s ‘closer’. An error allowed the first batter to reach first. Mark then beared down and struck out the next two hitters. With 2 outs, Angelo’s’ 4th hitter drove the ball to shallow left, and the fielders were after it. With the runner rounding second and having been given the green light to 3rd, Luke Krasienko came up with the ball, and the footrace was on. Luke got ahead of the runner and put the tag on as he slid into 3rd base. The umpire punched the air, signaling the third out, and a championship berth for Lucas Plumbing.

Getting 2 hits or more in the game were Mark Krasienko with 3; Kristen Teleha and Ricardo Marrero with 2 apiece. Mark, Kristen and Ricardo each had a double as one of their hits as well. The winning pitcher was Mark Krasienko and the Game Winning RBI was credited to Ricardo Marrero.

Celebrating the victory, Coach Tony Krasienko treated the players and their families to pizza at where else? Angelo’s Pizza!!

 

Lucas will play a best-of-3 series this weekend against the winner of a playoff game between Personal Stitch and Angelo’s Pizza.

 

The Captain Docks at Portside For International

Lorain welcomed its first official guest of the International Festival yesterday as the Captain docked at the Black River Landing yesterday afternoon. Guided down by carver Bud Emerson, he of the 2nd Street Carvings fame, the Captain will remain at BRL until after the Festival next weekend.

Bud, only using trees that have been taken down for a reason and never cutting just to carve, inverted this trunk for the Captain. With three branches splitting off from the main trunk, Bud turned two of them into waves on the sides of the ship and the foremost branch became the bow of the ship and the water it was cutting through.

Using a small torch, Bud burned parts of the sculpture to add definition and contrast.

Grateful for the reception he’s received and the appreciation shown for his work, Bud donated a carving of an eagle to the City of Lorain.  On hand to thank him for his work was Lorain Mayor Tony Krasienko,

and Service Director Robert Gilchrist.

Be sure to stop by the Depot sometime next weekend to see the Captain.

Dear Tony K,

There’s been a ton of feedback in the paper and on the streets concerning your investment plan. Folks have already come to the conclusion that you’re a one-term Mayor. I will remind you that this is pretty much what did Koziura in. He wanted the plate tax for the sewer system and etc. He proposed his increase in an election year though, and had Foltin tell the world that the plate tax was unnecessary, and the majority, like fools, believed him. Which would explain why we are where we are today, not to mention that Foltin was a landlord and seemed to be unusually sympathetic to the LELA, and there wasn’t much done to the deteriorating housing stock in this City.

Krasienko’s plan would add $591,000 annually in staff costs to the building, engineering and parks departments, plus make a $3.2 million outlay for equipment, updated zoning and property codes and facilities to enable the city to achieve the improvements he envisions.
His proposed income tax credit reduction would put an estimated $3 million a year more in Lorain’s coffers to pay for his program and to bring Lorain’s budget into the black by 2010 for the first time in years.

There’s no doubt that the codes need updated and rewritten. I said as much at a meeting back in November. People are getting around codes when they are cited by bringing a lawyer to the hearing to get them off. (Personally, I would think that taking care of the problem would be easier and cheaper, but…)

Councilpersons Given, Szabo and Flores are all on board, acknowledging that though it will be unpopular, and that there’s the threat of people “storming City Hall with pitchforks,” it is definitely necessary.

You’re going to stomp me a few times with this proposal, Tony, I want you to know.  Both my Mrs. and I work outside the City, so we’ll both be nailed by the income tax reduction. Ouch.  And with two vehicles, and the cost for plates being what it is,….. Double-Ouch.

But doing a recall vote to have you removed is waaaay out of the question. The City is in definite need of a good repair job, especially considering the roads and the housing stock.  And you being less than 5 months into your first term (Please God, don’t let me regret this), I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt, and say, “Let’s do this.”

If you can make scenes like this

and this

disappear, with a good repair and not an extra helping of soft patch, I’m in.

And if you can do something so that houses that look like this

this,

and this

disappear, or are repaired the correct way, you can have my extra $30 worth of plate tax right now.

I have just one teeny tiny favor to ask.

Could you do something about this one first?

Please???

Tell Me What You Think…

It’s been a while since I put out anything that took some real thought. The last post that had any purpose was the ‘3-fer-3’ post, which was more or less a plea with pictures. That was on the 16th, and then all the way back to the 11th for another installment on ‘Saving Downtown.’ With today being the 28th, I feel like I’ve slacked a little, even though I spent some time at the Old Stone Church.

But there’s been something that’s buggin’ me, and I guess I need some input. We’re at the end of April, and Tony Krasienko’s been in office since the beginning of January. A lot of folks are bent and pissed and complainin’ about the roads and the crime and the police and the State of the City, and the list goes on. It’s just shy of 4 full months. How much do you think he’s supposed to have accomplished by now?

He’s laid out a plan to deter crime by installing surveillance cameras at local businesses. He’s in the process of finalizing a plan for the use of city vehicles, limiting the take-home privilege and implementing a sign-out procedure, and installing GPS devices in them to make sure these things don’t go where they’re not supposed to go, as well as coordinate quick response times to problems throughout the City.  All of that adds up to savings on car insurance, which we’ll need since the price of gas is through the roof. He’s pared the budget back to a point where Council approved it. Ok, he does lose points for backing Hillary, but he’s a Democrat, he had to pick her or Obama….

People are screaming in the paper that the potholes are atrocious. Folks, they’ve BEEN atrocious, even when Foltin was in office, and he was in for 8 years. Go back through some of my stuff at WoM, I’ve got pictures there.  And the roads were bad (or getting bad) back when Koziura was Mayor, because he wanted to piggyback a tax on license plate fees, and the majority shot it down.

Tony’s splitting of the Safety/Service Director’s job has met with some flak, but considering the state of things, that may pan out to be a wise idea.

He’s putting in some long hours and he knows he’s got one heckuva haul in front of him and he’s trying, which brings me to my need for your input:

What were you looking for from him by now?

Is there something that you feel he should have addressed by now? Is there some project that you believe he should have been all over from the git-go?

There’s been a lot of grumbling and talk about what he’s done or hasn’t done so far. From my seat, he’s got 4 years of this, with almost 4 months under his belt so far. Simple math says he’s got 44 months to go.

I was way too patient with Foltin, which is another story entirely. But seriously, should Anthony Krasienko have more accomplished and under his belt by now? Is there a direction that you think he should be going? Is there some area that you think needs his dire attention?

Let’s hear it.

Tell me what you think….

Added note:  There are a lot of folks reading this that are more than welcome…hell, I plead with you, tell me what you’re thinking. I’m not going to publicize any names or out any anonymous posters. If you want to enter ‘anonymous’ rather than put your name, then do it. Your email address will not be visible to anyone but me. And I’m not going to share it with anyone. Afraid to post it yourself? Email it to me at heneryhawk1@yahoo.com and I’ll put it up for you. Just get in on this and share your thoughts. 

 

Forecast for Lorain: Unlimited Potential, Pride and Progress

That was the theme throughout Mayor Anthony Krasienko’s State of the City address this afternoon at DeLuca’s Place in the Park. Though the weather outside was overcast and bitterly cold, the atmosphere inside was warm, optimistic, and above all, positive.

Mayor Krasienko started his address by saying that the City has a “potential greater than [he] imagined” when he was campaigning for the position. His primary focus right now is insuring safety and the creation and retention of jobs within the City. Working with CenturyTel, roughly 100-250 street lights have been identified as needing addressed, at no cost to the City. He is also asking the citizens to “Light Up Lorain”, by turning on their front lights in the evening, to help police and neighbors prevent crime.

He has asked the Police Dept to devise a plan for the digital surveillance of the small businesses throughout Lorain. He commended the work of the Dept. for the quick solutions of recent crimes, which included the murders of two local store owners, and robberies.

He commended Council, various community leaders, the Rotary Club, who, together with the Lorain County MetroParks, invested $2.7 million in Lakeview Park in 2007 alone. This was truly a “partnership made in heaven.”

He spoke of Charleston Village and Bud Emerson, who, together with the City, have turned what was almost a horrible disfiguring blow to the 2nd Street neighborhood, into a beautiful sight, and draw for the City.

Success also comes in the form of the Premier Soccer Academy. A one-of-a-kind establishment, located in Lorain, will host tournaments later this summer.

He spoke of assets within the City in the form of the waterfront, being marketed by the Staubach  Co.;

of The Pipeyard, home to the Cleveland State Vikings baseball team,  

of the Deerfield development and Lighthouse Village, which will bring more stores and business to the City,

of IRG’s purchase of the Ford site, whose businesses will bring more employees and job opportunities to the City,

of the Riverbend Industrial Park, and the work of the Lorain Growth Corporation.

Lorain will no longer follow the pack, but will lead the charge, he exclaimed.

He spoke of the people appointed to the various positions in his administration, and of their strengths, and how they will help the City move forward;

of how the City must be business-friendly in the future, and to change its mentality in attracting jobs, maintaining an open mind, and have meaningful discussions with interested businesses.

‘We must all be ambassadors of the City,’ and we can all help to change the images people have of the city.

His goals of the attraction and retention of businesses has been helped by a survey of the current business community, and he looks forward to taking on the challenge which, with council’s help, will help “to move Lorain forward.”

A 10pm phone call to his residence Wednesday night from Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton confirmed that she will be making a visit to the city in the near future; thus making Lorain a little bit more than just a blip on the map, and placing us right into the national spotlight.

With a thanks to everyone for coming, his address ended. Back out into the bitter cold of today, but with a warm, sunny positive outlook for the future.