Council Meeting Highlights (4/24/23)

Apr 24, 2023

(Cleveland – April 24, 2023) - City Council held its regular Monday meeting tonight, both in person in Council Chambers and through live streaming.  The next regular meeting is May 1st. Here are tonight’s highlights:

Erasing Medical Debt: Council unanimously approved giving $1.9 million to RIP Medical Debt to erase medical debt held by local hospitals, doctors groups and clinics. Medical debt creates mental and emotional stress and may be preventing Cleveland residents from seeking further healthcare. This legislation is expected to help about 50,000 Clevelanders and erase $190 million in debt. RIP Medical Debt is currently negotiating with the local hospitals to participate in this program.

Residents qualify if they live in a household with income up to 400% of federal poverty guidelines or medical debt that is at least 5% of annual household income. The 400% of federal poverty guidelines means about 80% of Cleveland residents are eligible. A one-person household making up to $54,360 is eligible, as is a six-person household making up to $148,760.  

Residents don’t apply. Instead residents will be notified via a branded RIP Medical Debt letter in the mail that their debt is eliminated and is off their credit report. Councilmen Kris Harsh and Charles Slife initially brought the idea to council. Ord. No. 336-2023

Introductions:

Council tonight introduced American Rescue Plan Act and revenue recovery funding legislation for community projects. Council has been intent to use the ARPA money and revenue recovery funds for tangible projects that improve or help Cleveland residents and neighborhoods:

Birthing Beautiful Communities – Council will consider providing the non-profit organization $1 million to be used towards the construction of a Birthing Center at East 66th Street and Chester Avenue. Birthing Beautiful Communities works with expectant moms at every stage of their pregnancy and through the postpartum transition. BBC was formed in 2014 by African American trained Perinatal Support Persons (PSP) with the pilot program established first in the Hough neighborhood. Since its inception, the organization has served as an agency for training, certifying, and employing PSPs who provide services for the women at highest risk for infant death. Sponsored by Council President Blaine A. Griffin, and Councilwoman Stephanie Howse. Ord. No. 507-2023

CentroVilla25 – Council will consider providing a $1.5 million grant through revenue recovery funds to the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center to partially finance the CentroVilla25 project at 3140 West 25th Street. CentroVilla25 entails an adaptive reuse of a vacant 32,500 square foot warehouse and office building with an additional 12,500 square foot expansion. The market will feature 20 kiosk-style micro-retail spaces, commercial kitchen, business innovation center and co-working space, office space for Latino and neighborhood-serving organizations, outdoor plaza with a restaurant, and a community gathering space for arts & culture programming. This funding will close the financing gap to start construction and renovation. Sponsored by Councilwoman Jasmin Santana (Ward 14) where the project is located, as well as Council President Blaine A. Griffin and Councilman Anthony Hairston. Ord. No. 508-2023