Mayor Jackson Puts Cleveland Back on Map in Latest Homeless Grapevine

Press Release

For Immediate Release: August 11, 2006
For more information, Call (216) 432-0540, or email kevincleary@neoch.org

A brand new issue of The Homeless Grapevine has just made its debut on Cleveland streets! Issue 77 features an exciting first for our paper: an interview with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. After years of hostility from previous administrations, including Mayor White’s efforts to shut the paper down, Jackson shared his vision for “putting Cleveland back on the map” and his plans to help homeless people transition into stable housing and employment. Our readers will also find coverage of the recently held Truth Commission in Tremont, which “put poverty on trial.” Inside, Domestic Violence Center Director Cathleen Alexander responds to the Grapevine’s call for more DV shelter beds in issue 76.

Cleveland’s Voice for Social Justice has much more, including:

* Funding shortages have forced Lutheran Metro Ministries to close Community Legal Services, and how other legal programs are responding.
* Coverage of the first-ever Homeless Congress.
* Our Editorial about Akron’s latest draconian panhandling law. The Grapevine featured the most extensive coverage of Cleveland’s panhandling ordinance last year in its series, “Can Cleveland Handle Panhandling?” The series recently earned The Homeless Grapevine honorable mention in the 2006 Knight-Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism.
* Jackson, Miss. Mayor Frank Melton however, won’t be winning any awards from homeless advocates any time soon. A special guest-commentary from the National Coalition for the Homeless’s Acting Executive Director Michael Stoops castigates Melton for his “homeless curfew” and other actions by comparing Melton’s policies to forced internment of Japanese citizens during WWII.

As always, Northeast Ohio’s street newspaper has original commentaries, photographs, poetry, state and local updates, and more. The Homeless Grapevine is always available at the West Side Market, The Whispering Willow Coffee Bar near Lakewood on Madison and W. 117th, at the NEOCH offices, or from any licensed vendor.

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