East Cleveland, Ohio

East Cleveland is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, and is the first suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. The population was 17,843 at the 2010 census.

East Cleveland is bounded by the city of Cleveland to its north, west, and a small section of its southwestern edge, and by Cleveland Heights to the east and the majority of its southern limits.

History
East Cleveland incorporated as a village in 1895 and became a city in 1911. This charter included provisions for women's suffrage, which at the time was unheard of east of the Mississippi River. Before the charter passed, the city of Cleveland unsuccessfully attempted to annex the emerging municipality in 1910 and again in 1916.

East Cleveland is home to General Electric's historic Nela Park, the world's first industrial park. Nela Park, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, continues to operate today as the functional headquarters for GE Lighting and is the city's second largest employer. Huron Hospital, a satellite hospital of the Cleveland Clinic, was the city's largest employer. Huron Hospital was a notable health care facility, being the only Level-II trauma center between Cleveland's MetroHealth Medical Center, located on West 25th Street, and Hillcrest Hospital, located in Mayfield Heights. Huron Hospital closed in early spring of 2011.

East Cleveland includes a portion of Euclid Avenue, which from the 1860s through the 1920s was known as "Millionaire's Row". The many estates along this stretch of road in East Cleveland included the 248 acre home of the late John D. Rockefeller, Standard Oil founder and "the world’s first billionaire".

By the Great Depression a great number of homes along "Millionaire's Row" were demolished or abandoned. Although commercial properties and fast-food chains replaced many Euclid Avenue homes during the second half of the 20th century, East Cleveland is still home to 18 of the original "Millionaire's Row" homes, while only six are left in the city of Cleveland.

After World War II, development of other suburbs within the region brought a number of changes to East Cleveland. By the 1960s, African Americans constituted an increasingly large portion of the city's population. By 1984, East Cleveland was one of the largest primarily black communities in Ohio, with a population of 36,957.

Government and politics
East Cleveland is a Charter city that is granted its authority under the home rule provisions of the Ohio constitution.

Prior to 1985 East Cleveland had been under the leadership of a Commission and City Manager. In 1985 voters grew frustrated with that form of government after two commissioners were charged with theft in office, and after a revolving door of city managers resulted in little stability and a reduction in services. Citizens for Sound Government, a group of residents, led a petition drive to elect a strong mayor and to create a five-member city council. Attorney Darryl E. Pittman became the first mayor to lead the city since 1908. He was sworn in on January 1, 1986.

After two years on the job, in Pittman's second two-year term, Ohio's State Auditor declared on September 9, 1988 that East Cleveland was in fiscal emergency. The fiscal emergency designation came when the water and sewer fund were found to have deficits in excess of $2 million. Pittman was defeated in 1989 by Wallace D. Davis, the council president and a funeral home owner. Prior to his defeat, Pittman convinced former U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes to support a congressional amendment that made East Cleveland a "direct entitlement city" under HUD. That designation gave the city the authority to receive more than $1 million a year in block grant funding directly from HUD.

Davis also borrowed $2.5 million that had to be paid back in eight years to get the city out of fiscal emergency. His administration made the last payment in 1997, but the city remained in fiscal emergency throughout Onunwor's eight-year term in office, and after he was indicted and convicted on federal charges of racketeering and corruption in 2004. Onunwor was sentenced to nine years in federal prison in September 2004. He was temporarily replaced by then Council President Samantha Goggins.

Eric J. Brewer became the city's fourth elected mayor on January 1, 2006 and served one term. Brewer had been an investigative journalist. He negotiated an agreement with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson to take over East Cleveland's water department in 2008, resulting in significant savings to help the city as it struggled through fiscal emergency. The deal resulted in the transfer of city employees to Cleveland as part of the 25-year agreement.

During his primary re-election campaign in 2009, which he lost to city council president, Gary Norton, Brewer accused the police union of releasing photographs depicting of him wearing women's lingerie.

Gary Norton, a Democrat, took office in January 2010. He was elected after defeating Brewer by a nearly 2-1 margin in the Democratic primary election. He did not face a challenger in the general election. Norton was elected to city council in 2006.

Demographics
As of the 2000 Census, there were 27,217 people, 11,210 households, and 6,423 families residing in the city. The population density was 8,761.8 people per square mile (3,379.0/km²). There were 13,491 housing units at an average density of 4,343.1 per square mile (1,674.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.39% African American, 4.56% White, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.

There were 11,210 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 21.2% were married couples living together, 30.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,542, and the median income for a family was $26,053. Males had a median income of $26,123 versus $21,960 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,602. About 28.0% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.5% of those under age 18 and 22.5% of those age 65 or over.

Crime
On January 1, 2006, the police department had 28 employees. Street drug dealers had taken control of several city blocks, and police officers were responding to high priority calls only. Within six months, Mayor Brewer requested assistance from Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul who responded with eight deputies who patrolled six days a week. He later replaced Chief of Police Patricia Lane with Lieutenant Ralph Spots.

With a new police chief in place, Brewer authorized the hiring of 28 full and part-time police, jail, dispatch and administrative personnel. Eight new police cars, 40 caliber handguns and vests were purchased.

Under Spotts, crime in the city has been reduced by as much as 50 - 90%. East Cleveland Fire Department statistics show that EMS calls involving gunshot wounds, for example, dropped from an average of 55 in 2006 and 2007 to just 14 in 2008. The number of shots being fired has dropped by 90%. Statistics show that the number one crime in East Cleveland today is domestic violence. The second highest crime category involves professional scrappers who have been vandalizing vacant properties and removing copper.

Geography
East Cleveland is located at 41.53167°N, -81.58194°W (41.531701, -81.581948). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 sqmi.3.1 square miles (8.1 km²) of it is land with a small pond and waterfall located in Forest Hill Park.

The hill
Most of the city is located in a relatively flat and relatively lower area contiguous with the city of Cleveland. A small portion of the city lies atop a steep hill, and is contiguous with the neighboring city of Cleveland Heights; it also lies in a relatively flat area at a higher elevation. Superior Road, Forest Hills Boulevard, Lee Road, Noble and North Taylor roads are the major through-streets ascending the hill.

The MacGregor Home and the Forest Hill Historic District are located on "the hill."

Parks
The 248 acre Forest Hill Park boasts three baseball diamonds, tennis courts and walking trails that have retained the natural green space as intended by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. when he deeded the park to East Cleveland and the City of Cleveland Heights. Forest Hill Park is the largest single body of green space between two large metroparks on the far east and west sides of Cleveland, Ohio. The city also features Pattison Park and Hawley Park.

Government and politics
Ohio law establishes that Council's duties shall be legislative only and prohibits council members from performing any administrative duties. Council approves an annual appropriations ordinance based upon a Mayor's Estimate, and employs a Deputy Clerk. Council speaks by ordinance or resolution only. East Cleveland has a single judge Municipal Court. Wiliam Dawson currently serves as Municipal Court Judge. Judges serve for six year terms.

Eric J. Brewer was sworn in on January 1, 2006. Brewer earned 55% of the vote in a four-person October 2005 primary, defeating the acting mayor, city council president and one additional candidate. The acting mayor at the time had previously served as council president. She replaced a former incumbent mayor who had been convicted for theft and corruption. Brewer defeated his Republican opponent in the November 2005 general election with an 85 percent margin.

Regular meetings of Council are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. Agenda Reviews are held the Thursday prior to the regular council meetings. The five council members each chair one of five standing committees; Finance, Health & Safety, General Services & Administration, Personnel, Contracts & Property. The committees are required to meet at least monthly. East Cleveland's charter, Ohio law and council's rules require members to attend every meeting. Absences are allowed due to sickness or death, only. The council president has the authority to send a police officer to retrieve an absent council member. The charter and Ohio law allows absent members to be expelled from office for non-attendance. It is the council president's duty to enforce the rules and laws as they pertain to council meetings.

The Mayor is elected every four years in a partisan election that requires a primary in October and a November general election. The Mayor's salary is set at $40,000 by East Cleveland's charter, although there is a question as to whether or not the salary is currently in the charter.

Three members of Council are elected to serve the residents of wards 2, 3 and 4. Two council members are elected at-large. Council receives a $4500 annual salary with the council president receiving an extra $1500 for performing the duties of that office.

Education
The East Cleveland City School District provides public education to more than 3000 students in seven new or renovated buildings that were updated as part of a $94 million state-sponsored school construction project. Voters in 1997 agreed to add another $10 million to the $94 million for operating costs.

East Cleveland schools consist of Shaw High School, Heritage Middle School (formerly Kirk Middle School), Prospect Elementary School, Chambers Elementary School, Superior Elementary School, Mayfair Elementary School and Caledonia Elementary School. Rozelle Elementary School was closed due to lower student enrollment and is scheduled for demolition.

East Cleveland Public Library operates the Main Branch at 14101 Euclid Avenue. In December 2009 the Caledonia Branch at 960 Caledonia Avenue, and the North Branch at 1425 Hayden Avenue were closed due to budget cuts and the decline in population.

Transportation
East Cleveland is a major public transportation hub for northeast Ohio with a total of 80 (approximately one-third) of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority bus routes beginning or ending inside the city.

The GCRTA's Red Line's eastern terminus is located at the Windermere Rapid Station, located on Euclid Avenue in East Cleveland. Destinations along the Red Line include University Circle, Cleveland State University, Tower City Center/Public Square, the West Side Market, Edgewater Park and Hopkins International Airport. Passengers boarding GCRTA buses with stops in East Cleveland have access to an even wider range of employment, educational, recreational and cultural destinations throughout the Cleveland area.