Ohio's Black state lawmakers from Cleveland hold community forum in Hough on American Rescue Plan money, congressional redistricting, evictions, education, a pending state House bill to legalize recreational marijuana, the $450 million proposal for revitalizing Progressive Field for the Indians, and more...By editor Kathy Wray Coleman of Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader.

Ohio State Senator Sandra Williams (D-21), and State Representatives Stephanie Howse ( D-11), Terrence Upchurch (D-10), and Juanita Brent (D-12)

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read Black and alternative digital newspaper

By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief, associate publisher

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio's Black state lawmakers from Cleveland, namely state Reps. Stephanie Howse (D-11,) Terrence Upchurch (D-10) and Juanita Brent (D-12), and state Sen Sandra Williams (D-21), the only woman in the seven-way race for mayor this year, met with residents in Ward 7 Monday evening in the historic Hough neighborhood at Wade Park Elementary School for a community forum.

All four of them are Democrats and Democrats are in the super minority in the Republican-dominated state House and the state Senate in Ohio.

The event was hosted by Howse, who lives in Hough and is running in a crowded race for city council in Ward 7, and Upchuch. It was part of an "Opportunity Agenda Tour" designed to engage the community on public policy issues and to listen to residents' concerns. Williams was invited as a special guest since Hough is part of her state senate district and Brent said she attended to support her three colleagues who were part of a panel discussion that ended in a question and answer session.

Rep. Howse thanked people for attending and said that she and the other lawmakers there were presenting reviews and updates on the state budget and a host of other legislative matters facing Cleveland residents.

"I know it's hot outside and people are probably drained for today but we want to thank everybody for coming out," said Howse.

The state legislators took on a broad range of issues on topics such as education, congressional redistricting maps by the state legislature, heightened violence and rape of Black women, and a soon-to-expire CDC eviction moratorium.

The focus though was the American Rescue Plan for which Cleveland will get to divide up $511 million dollars in coronavirus funding from the federal government. Data show that Blacks are dying from the coronavirus at a rate three to five times higher than their White counterparts as the delta variant, a more contagious strain of the virus, continues to spread.

Sen. Williams raised eyebrows when she said that some $20 million dollars set aside for Cleveland's largely Black public schools are reallocated for school vouchers when the school district fails to make proper application for the state monies.

Upchurch's pending bill in the state legislature that would make recreational marijuana legal was talked about by residents, and questions were asked about the multi-million proposal to revamp the Cleveland Indians baseball stadium at a $450 million price tag, a third of it at the expense of taxpayers.

During the question and answer session of the forum community participants asked a range of questions, including on foreclosures, abandoned homes, and what problems to expect as the Republican-dominated state legislature begins the process of crafting Ohio's congressional districts map following the 2020 U.S. census report. That redistricting map changes voting patterns and will have an impact on the majority Black 11th congressional district, which includes Cleveland.

Williams said that Democrats will likely reject proposed maps that will be offered by Republicans in Ohio's state legislature beginning next month, and that the Republicans who are in the majority in Ohio's General Assembly are at an advantage in drawing the controversial maps that Democrats say have been unfair to Democrats in the past.

While Democrats can object, said Williams, Republicans determine the congressional maps because they are in the majority.

"My Republican colleagues have the latest and greatest technology and equipment and they have probably the best and the brightest to draw their maps," Williams said.

Howse said the redistricting process is political, and sometimes tricky.

"We expect to get a glimpse of the map Sept. 1," Rep. Howse said.

Due to population decline in the last 10 years per the 2020 U.S. Census Report Ohio will lose one of its 16 congressional seats after the map is drawn, and as Democrats continue to argue that the GOP written maps help Republicans get votes and win elections.

In response to a question from Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com on whether the state lawmakers at Monday's forum will fight with Clevelanders to keep Blacks and poor people in their homes during a still raging pandemic over the allocation of taxpayer monies to revitalize Progressive Field for the Indians, Upchurch responded and said yes.

"The Guardians are in my district, I represent downtown Cleveland, " Rep. Upchurch said, referencing the new name for the Cleveland Indians that will take effect at the beginning of the 2022 season. "But anytime we talk about giving public funds to private entities, and I think some of us in the legislature have learned the hard way, I want to see equity come back. What are we getting in return for our public dollars? I want to see minority contractors as part of this work. I want to make sure that they have a minimum wage. I want to make sure that they have healthcare."

By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief, associate publisher. Coleman is a Black political. legal and investigative reporter who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post in Cleveland, Ohio, and under several different editors

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's most read Black and alternative digital newspaper and Black blog.Tel: (216) 659-0473 and Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview, CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.