Community projects, accomplishments, and actions
Lakewood
Congressman Kucinich reversed a decision by the General Services Administration (GSA) to move the Social Security Administration (SSA) office from Lakewood to the far outer-ring suburbs. The reversal was based on GSA's failure to comply with Executive Order 12072 which requires active attempts to retain government offices within an urban core. Currently, GSA is seeking sites in Lakewood for the new SSA office. We are paying close attention to the process and are in constant consultation with the City of Lakewood.
To ensure that the Rocky River is safe for commercial and recreational use, Congressman Kucinich and/or his staff met with stakeholders every year since taking office to ensure that the river is dredged whenever needed. He continually works with the cities of Rocky River and Lakewood, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and with the U.S. Coast Guard on all river-related matters.
Congressman Kucinich is in close consultation with the mayors and law directors of Lakewood, Rocky River, and Bay Village to ensure continual compliance with the 1998 railroad agreement which we brokered on behalf of these 3 cities. A grassroots effort to get passenger rail between Cleveland and Lorain along these 3 cities on the Nickel Plate line could result in a nullification of the agreement if the addition of passenger trains results in an annualized average daily number of trains exceeding 14.
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Rocky River
After Congressman Kucinich's intervention, the Rocky River Post Office finally repaved a deteriorated parking lot and cleaned up its property. Mayor Bobst presented Congressman Kucinich documents dating back to 1977 showing Rocky River's attempt to get the USPS to clean up the property. Intervention by Congressman Kucinich resulted in a prompt response from the Post Office.
To ensure that the Rocky River is safe for commercial and recreational use, Congressman Kucinich and/or his staff met with stakeholders every year since taking office to ensure that the river is dredged whenever needed. He continually works with the cities of Rocky River and Lakewood, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and with the U.S. Coast Guard on all river-related matters.
Congressman Kucinich is in close consultation with the mayors and law directors of Rocky River, Lakewood, and Bay Village to ensure continual compliance with the 1998 railroad agreement which we brokered on behalf of these 3 cities. A grassroots effort to get passenger rail between Cleveland and Lorain along these 3 cities on the Nickel Plate line could result in a nullification of the agreement if the addition of passenger trains results in an annualized average daily number of trains exceeding 14.
In response to a constituent request, Congressman Kucinich is working with the Law Director of Rocky River to protect landowners' interest in private property targeted for an erosion control project by the Environmental Protection Agency. Congressman Kucinich is working to ensure that federal and state agencies that need to acquire property for a public purpose do not engage in an illegal regulatory "taking" that leaves title with the constituents, but with unreasonable restrictions on the use of the property.
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Bay Village
Congressman Kucinich is in close consultation with the mayors and law directors of Bay Village, Rocky River, and Lakewood to ensure continual compliance with the 1998 railroad agreement which we brokered on behalf of these 3 cities. A grassroots effort to get passenger rail between Cleveland and Lorain along these 3 cities on the Nickel Plate line could result in a nullification of the agreement if the addition of passenger trains results in an annualized average daily number of trains exceeding 14.
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Westlake
Congressman Kucinich acquired funding for the Crocker-Stearns connection to build a connector road between Stearns Road in North Olmsted and Crocker Road in Westlake on property between Lorain and Center Ridge Roads. He continues to monitor this project.
He also helped secure $3,400,000 for Energizer Battery Manufacturing, Inc. , Westlake, to increase the capability of the zinc air and thin lithium-iron disulfide battery systems: Public Law 110-116
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North Olmsted
Congressman Kucinich secured funding to put an overpass at Stearns Road in Olmsted Township over the Norfolk Southern main line track. This will ease traffic for residents of both North Olmsted and Olmsted Township when the Crocker-Stearns connection is complete and more traffic will be expected from the north between I-90 and I-480. He continues to monitor this project.
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Olmsted Township
Work is progressing on the Fitch Road overpass, which is being constructed with federal and state money, as well as with money from the railroads as part of the Conrail merger settlement agreement that included an $87 million mitigation package. Congressman Kucinich negotiated that agreement with the railroads on behalf of the cities of the 10th District. Congressman Kucinich's office is appointed to the Cuyahoga County Engineer's Technical Advisory Committee for the project.
Congressman Kucinich also intervened with the Cuyahoga County Engineer's Office to construct a back gate and entry from Fitch Road to the Columbia Park manufactured home development. The gate was proposed and authorized as part of a court order after reviewing that a back gate was on the books for many years and a court order was entered in a journal entry on the case. Shortly after, the Fitch Road back gate was opened to residents of Columbia Park.
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Olmsted Falls
Congressman Kucinich continues to work with Olmsted Falls to ensure that the city can have a railroad Quiet Zone. Working with both the State of Ohio and the Federal Railroad Administration, Congressman Kucinich ensured that there would be the legal framework for cities such as Olmsted Falls to bolster the safety of their grade separations and eliminate the need for train horns. Although federal funding is not currently slated for this project, Congressman Kucinich continues to be involved, as he was in 2007 when he intervened with CSX railroad on behalf of Olmsted Falls to request that it continue to work with the city to complete contractual obligations for the Quiet Zone.
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Berea
With the Bagley Road underpass complete as part of the $87 million railroad mitigation package Congressman Kucinich negotiated on behalf of the cities of the 10th District, Congressman Kucinich is continuing to work with the Ohio Department of Transportation and the City of Berea under the new administration of Mayor Cyril Kleem to complete the Front Street grade separations.
After being contacted by an employee of a company in Berea regarding unannounced employee health policy termination, Congressman Kucinich initiated an inquiry with the Department of Labor. The company's actions have left dozens of manufacturing workers without health insurance. In discussions with the company, Congressman Kucinich has learned that they intend to rectify the situation, but there is no guarantee employees will have retroactive, continuous coverage. In addition to having to pay out of pocket for health care costs without a guarantee of re-imbursement, if retroactive coverage is not obtained and conditions are diagnosed, they may not be able to obtain individualized health insurance in the future.
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Brooklyn
In January 2007, the citizens of Brooklyn won a decisive order in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court protecting the private property of homeowners from attempts by First Energy Corp. to "clear cut" trees in easement areas. The lawsuit that led to this legal victory was made possible by Congressman Kucinich's intervention a few years earlier when Brooklyn residents complained to him about First Energy's plans. After a meeting with citizens and a hearing of First Energy's plan, Congressman Kucinich contacted the Cuyahoga County Bar Association, through its lawyer referral service, to meet with the constituents, who were then able to file the lawsuit. The ruling, issued last year, empowers the people to act on their own behalf against utility companies who abuse their easement authority. The court ruled, in effect, that utilities need to work with their neighbors and act reasonably, not arbitrarily, to maintain their lines.
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Brook Park
In December 2005, at the request of UAW Local 1250 in Brook Park, Congressman Kucinich toured the Ford assembly plants and engine casting plant with union and company officials, providing needed recognition to the Brook Park facility and persuasive arguments to corporate officials in Detroit. This effort helped to keep the casting plant open through 2010 instead of closing in 2009 as originally planned, and to keep open Engine Plant No. 2 for the possible production of diesel engines. Congressman Kucinich has long been critical of Ford and other American automobile producers for failing to manufacture high-mileage vehicles that American drivers want, thereby making local auto plants vulnerable to industry failures.
Congressman Kucinich participated in a government resource program for Brook Park sponsored by the federal Economic Development Administration through the University of Michigan. Congressman Kucinich's staff worked with the organizers to ensure that all appropriate agencies would participate with city officials as the city plans for a reduction in Ford's operations in Brook Park. Also, Congressman Kucinich helped coordinate another workshop funded by the federal Economic Development Administration, to share information with social services agencies, care providers, and local administrators about all the resources and assistance available at the state and federal levels.
Congressman Kucinich has intervened on many occasions to ensure that the State of Ohio and the CSX railroad responded to inquiries and other correspondences regarding the proposed Quiet Zone in Brook Park. Since 2000, Congressman Kucinich has advocated Quiet Zones for cities like Brook Park and worked to get both a State of Ohio and a Federal rule on Quiet Zones. Most recently, Congressional office attorney Marty Gelfand contacted CSX regional Vice President Nick Zimmers to approve a construction agreement for the Brook Park Quiet Zone after learning that CSX had not responded to Brook Park's May 2007 request.
Congressman Kucinich has ensured that funding is available for back-fitting homes near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport with insulation, air conditioning, and other noise mitigation as part of aviation appropriations and authorizations. He has also made funding available to the next FAR Part 150 noise study due to be conducted in 2008.
In 2006, Congressman Kucinich was contacted by Brook Park with the concern that the U.S. Postal Service would close down its Brook Park office at Snow Road. After discussions with the USPS, the Congressman won assurances that the current facility would remain open. Discussions are ongoing about the possibility of a new post office to replace the Snow Road facility.
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Fairview Park
Congressman Kucinich helped secure NASA Glenn's future by advocating for continued work in aeronautics and for Glenn's new role in space exploration. At the same time, he ensured that NASA's plans for the Glenn Research Center will include development at the parcel in Fairview Park where two obsolete office buildings are being razed. At the insistence of Congressman Kucinich, NASA now plans to work with the Cuyahoga County and the Port Authority to develop an office park for NASA contractors so that the City of Fairview Park will continue to receive income tax revenue from NASA-related work.
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Parma
Congressman Dennis Kucinich hosted a summit on the "Future of Medicare" at the Parma Senior Center on October 19, 2007, with more than 400 attendees. This event came after 13 town halls the Congressman had previously hosted on the "Future of Social Security" beginning in 2005. Congressman Kucinich fought for a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries under traditional Medicare, which would have saved millions for Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers when compared with the overpayments to Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. He and his staff have spoken on dozens of occasions to groups of seniors and disabled individuals in the district on this topic since passage of the Medicare Modernization Act in 2003 and have provided ongoing information on how to make the best out of a bad program.
On October 19, 2007, as part of his Auto Summit series, Congressman Kucinich met with leaders of United Auto Workers Local 1005, which represents employees at the Chevrolet Boulevard GM plant in Parma. Following the 2007 strike by the UAW to secure a fair contract from General Motors, the summit addressed the future of the automotive industry in the Cleveland area, statewide, and nationally, and the protection of workers from cuts in health care and benefits. Representatives of Ford employees and other unions, as well as local, county, state, and federal officials, also joined Congressman Kucinich in a wide-ranging discussion of health care, international trade, environmental and labor concerns in the automotive industry, and the need for a national manufacturing policy. "The automotive industry, along with steel, aerospace, and shipping, are fundamental to American security," said Kucinich in support of a national manufacturing policy. "But to be competitive, America needs a single-payer health care system so workers can focus on what they do well, just as auto workers in other western countries are able to do when their health care needs are met. We also need a trade policy that doesn't reward countries without worker rights or environmental protection. "
Congressman Kucinich's office distributed over 2,000 surveys to residents and personally interviewed hundreds of residents via door-to-door canvassing last summer and fall to assess the local impact of issues such as gas prices, health care and insurance costs, and energy efficiency proposals such as the hydrocarbon law.
"Artistic Discovery" is the 10th Congressional District's art competition for high school students. All artworks are on display for two weeks at Parmatown Mall, and a reception and awards ceremony is held with students, teachers, parents and the community in attendance. Congressman Kucinich also helped start a new program, "Art Works," which is an enrichment program for adults with disabilities. A Celebration of the Arts reception and exhibit were held for the students, teachers, families and friends at the Parmatown Mall Conference Center.
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Parma Heights
Congressman Kucinich's office distributed more than 500 surveys to residents and personally interviewed dozens of other residents via door-to-door canvassing in the 2007 Community Survey Project to assess the local impact of issues such as gas prices, health care and insurance costs, and energy efficiency proposals such as the hydrocarbon law.
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Independence
Following the 2006 floods, Congressman Kucinich met with local businesses, residents, and mayors of the affected area. He requested that FEMA, the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also be at these meetings. After initial help by FEMA and SBA, Congressman Kucinich secured funding for the Army Corps to initiate a Section 205 flood control study for Independence. Based on the initial findings, Independence may participate in a continued flood control study on a federal-local cost share basis.
Congressman Kucinich obtained funding for the Hemlock Trail connector between the Towpath Trail and Route 21 (Brecksville Road) which will enable bicycle and pedestrian commuters to use both routes interchangeably. Congressman Kucinich has also participated in the federal environmental study to enable to project to move forward.
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Valley View
Following the 2006 floods, Congressman Kucinich met with local businesses, residents, and mayors of the affected area. He requested that FEMA, the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also be at these meetings. After initial help by FEMA and SBA, Congressman Kucinich secured funding for the Army Corps to initiate a Section 205 flood control study for Valley View. Based on the initial findings, Valley View may participate in a continued flood control study on a federal-local cost share basis.
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Brooklyn Heights
Following the 2006 floods, Congressman Kucinich met with local businesses, residents, and mayors of the affected area. He requested that FEMA, the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also be at these meetings. After initial help by FEMA and SBA, Congressman Kucinich secured funding for the Army Corps to initiate a Section 205 flood control study for Brooklyn Heights. Based on the initial findings, Brooklyn Heights may be eligible for a further erosion control study.
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Walton Hills
On October 19, 2007, as part of his Auto Summit series, Congressman Kucinich met with leaders of United Auto Workers Local 420, which represents employees at the Ford Motor plant in Walton Hills. Following the 2007 strike by the UAW to secure a fair contract from General Motors, the summit addressed the future of the automotive industry in the Cleveland area, statewide, and nationally, and the protection of workers from cuts in health care and benefits. Representatives of Ford employees and other unions, as well as local, county, state, and federal officials, also joined Congressman Kucinich in a wide-ranging discussion of health care, international trade, environmental and labor concerns in the automotive industry, and the need for a national manufacturing policy. "The automotive industry, along with steel, aerospace, and shipping, are fundamental to American security," said Kucinich in support of a national manufacturing policy. "But to be competitive, America needs a single-payer health care system so workers can focus on what they do well, just as auto workers in other western countries are able to do when their health care needs are met. We also need a trade policy that doesn't reward countries without worker rights or environmental protection. "
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Cleveland
In late May of 2007, Congressman Kucinich learned that the Cleveland Municipal School District intended to convert the Louis Agassiz Elementary School from a neighborhood school to a single-sex magnet school. Neighborhood residents and Ward 19 Councilwoman Dona Brady asked for the Congressman's help in saving Agassiz, one of the top ten schools in the District, as a neighborhood school. Congressman Kucinich contacted Cleveland Schools CEO Eugene Sanders as both a Ward 19 resident and a member of the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee to voice his opposition to the plans to convert Agassiz. After the Congressman's intervention, Louis Agassiz remains both a neighborhood school and one of the highest ranking schools in the District.
Congressman Kucinich helped to preserve the "Post Office on Wheels" program for seniors and disabled individuals in residential, high-rise buildings. The program was slated for elimination by the Cleveland District USPS. Close to 100 individuals contacted the office concerned about the program's future. The Congressman and his office contacted the Cleveland District Manager expressing the crucial need to keep the program and won assurances that it would be continued.
After being contacted by the owners of West End Lumber regarding their wish to sell the Lorain Ave facility in a "community responsible" way, Congressman Kucinich held a meeting with them and representatives from various community development corporations, the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and others. Eventually, West End Lumber and a commercial developer responded to a GSA bid to locate a Social Security Office there. In support of Councilman Zone and the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, the Congressman contacted the Regional Administrator of GSA. Congressman Kucinich was contacted by the owners a few months later stating that they had received "preliminary approval" from the GSA for their proposal. Final approval is still pending.
At the request of taxi drivers of Somali nationality, Congressman Kucinich twice objected to a plan by Cleveland airports director Ricky Smith to consolidate all airport taxi service to the exclusion of the Somalis. Congressman Kucinich supported the right of the Somalis, many of whom came here as refugees, to fully participate in the economy and make an honest living as taxi drivers at the airport. While supporting Director Smith's efforts to improve taxi service at the airport, Congressman Kucinich recommended that the airport both enact and enforce high standards for all taxi drivers, not exclude the Somalis. Had the airport heeded the Congressman's suggestions, it would have saved the City of Cleveland excessive legal fees in light of a federal judge's ruling that the city violated the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection.
Congressman Kucinich has urged to the City of Cleveland to take more time and not rush through a decision to participate in the American Municipal Power-Ohio 1,000 Megawatt power plant in Miegs County. At the request of local and state environmental groups, he has convened a weekly meeting to discuss alternatives. Kucinich has provided testimony for two public hearings on Cleveland's energy problems, and is providing rationale for the city's withdrawal from a pact which will lock the City of Cleveland into a 50-year contract for participating in a coal plant which may not be compliant with carbon standards Congress is now weighing.
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District-wide initiatives
Time Warner Cable, serving Cleveland and other areas in the district, has recently eliminated C-SPAN2 in their “extended basic” cable package. Customers must purchase a digital cable package and rent the box at additional fees per month. Congressman Kucinich is in the process of researching FCC regulations for inquiry.
Congressman Kucinich sent a letter to Governor Strickland urging him to include a single payer health care option in the options to be studied through a Robert Woods-Johnson Foundation grant, as it is the most efficient, comprehensive, and quality option available. Governor Strickland had convened a Healthcare Initiative Advisory Committee to recommend options, and a single payer option was not one of the five options the committee voted to be considered.
The Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council recently intensified its efforts by lowering the allowable level of lead from 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood to 5 micrograms. The Ohio Health Department and the City of Cincinnati have also taken similar steps as more and more research links lead levels in the blood with decreased IQ, bone/muscle density loss, and other physical/mental/behavioral symptoms, including possible increases in crime rates. Congressman Kucinich is working on possible federal legislation that would either require the Centers For Disease Control to adopt similar standards or would establish additional environmental standards to protect children from lead poisoning.
The Medicaid Assisted Living Waiver Program was amended in the recent state budget to include seniors and the disabled currently living in assisted living facilities (in addition to nursing home residents who wished to relocate), but the changes have not been formally approved. Congressman Kucinich initiated an inquiry with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) because of concerns by constituents who have applied for the waiver and who fall into the expanded eligibility group. Approval is pending.
In their franchise agreement with the City of Parma, Cox Communications offered a discount to low-income consumers based on homestead exemption eligibility. In other words, homeowners get a discount and renters do not, even though their incomes may be the same. Congressman Kucinich is researching an alternative means of determining household income to determine eligibility for discounts for all cable television customers.
In 2006, Congressman Kucinich held two Early Childhood Summits at the Lakewood District Office, specifically to discuss the Universal Pre-kindergarten Act. Proposed revisions were made by some members of the group at the first meeting, and the revisions were announced at the second meeting. The legislation has been reintroduced in the 110th Congress to reflect these changes.
The Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging is the fund distributor for a multi-county territory in Ohio (including Cuyahoga County) of federal Older Americans Act funds. The WRAAA funding formulas currently do not give enough emphasis to those groups who were identified in the Act, specifically low-income persons. They are modeled after state formulas which were established decades ago. Congressman Kucinich is awaiting the best opportunity to propose specific revisions to these formulas related to Older Americans Act funding.
Congressman Kucinich is working on possible legislation to include additional Medicare-eligible vaccines that have received FDA approval. Medicare covers only three vaccines (and Hepatitis in some cases) under Part B and excludes all others, including the Zostavax vaccine for shingles that was approved by the FDA in May 2006. On 10/25/06, the Centers for Disease Control Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend that Zostavax be given to all adults aged 60 and over, but Zostavax is not available to holders of Medicare Part B. It is available under Part D, but not all individuals have the optional Part D plan, and not all physicians will administer a drug which did not come from their office. Changing how all Medicare-approved vaccines are paid would expand availability to all Medicare recipients regardless of plan, would decrease liability for physicians, and would benefit public health by enabling more seniors to be vaccinated.
The Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) allows the billing of a patient for inflated amounts over the Medicare allowance. One constituent has had $10,000 in overcharges paid in full recently by Anthem BC/BS. This takes the stress off the patient, but it does not answer the real question of why the accounting is done this way in catastrophic cases. CRS, Ohio Department of Insurance, Anthem and Medicare are all trying to come up with an answer. Congressman Kucinich has researched this issue and is developing further recommendations and inquiries to address the problem with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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