Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson today endorsed Armond Budish for Cuyahoga County executive.

Budish, a Beachwood Democrat and state representative, looks to win a Democratic Party primary next May.

Other Democratic candidates mentioned for the position have included former Cuyahoga County Sheriff Bob Reid and state Sen. Shirley Smith. 

“I am endorsing Armond Budish today, and I’m looking forward to working cooperatively with him on our shared vision for Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the region,” Jackson said in a news release. “Armond Budish has an established record of bringing people together to accomplish common goals, and I believe he is the right person to lead our county,” Mayor Jackson said.

Budish in a news release thanked Mayor Jackson for the endorsement.

“If we are to successfully move our county forward, to create new jobs, train folks for the thousands of good jobs that already exist but are unfilled, and keep our kids here at home, the county and the city of Cleveland must form a strong and constructive partnership," Budish said. “I look forward to working hand-in-hand with Mayor Jackson on our shared vision for our community’s future.”

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce announced legislation aimed to protect responsible homeowners by allocating funds to demolish vacant, abandoned, or foreclosed properties.

Joyce, R-Russell Township, was joined at a press conference Wednesday by Reps. Marcia Fudge, D-Warrensville Heights; Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo; Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson; and Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed.

The legislation is named the Restore Our Neighborhoods Act, H.R. 656, said Joyce.

“This common-sense bill will increase home values, decrease crime, and protect responsible homeowners from the enormous economic drag of vacant or abandoned homes in their neighborhoods," Joyce said. "For too long, responsible Ohioans paying their mortgage every month and meticulously taking care of their homes have been punished. This legislation will protect Ohio homeowners who are doing exactly what they should be doing and I look forward to bipartisan support.”

According to the Government Accountability Office, a foreclosed, vacant, and tax-delinquent property reduces neighboring property prices by almost 10 percent and can reduce values of nearby homes by as much as $8,600 to $17,000 per property, Joyce said.

The Restore Our Neighborhoods Act creates a national qualified urban demolition bond limitation that the Secretary of the Treasury shall allocate among the states to empower states to undertake significant residential and commercial structure demolition projects.

The bonds will be issued by land banks, and in cases where a state does not have a land bank, by the state itself.


John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah