STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

BY MAYOR THOMAS J. LONGO

GIVEN AT THE GARFIELD HEIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCHEON – JANUARY 16, 2008

LET’S START WITH AN EXCERPT . . .

'Well, in OUR country,' said Alice…, 'you'd generally get to somewhere else -- if you ran very fast for a long time, as we've been doing.'

'A slow sort of country!' said the Queen. 'Now, HERE, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!'

--- An excerpt from “Through The Looking Glass,” By Lewis Carroll

FROM MY EXPERIENCE, THIS OBSERVATION SEEMS MORE LIKE A PREDICTION OF 21^ST CENTURY GARFIELD HEIGHTS THAN A REFLECTION ON ENGLAND IN THE 19^TH CENTURY, WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN.

INDEED, IT HAS TAKEN MANY YEARS --- AND LOTS OF RUNNING TWICE AS FAST --- TO FORGE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE FINANCIAL WELL BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. BUT ALL THAT EXTRA EFFORT IS PAYING OFF… OUR PLAN IS WORKING AND EVOLVING.

CITY VIEW CENTER

THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN OF TRANSPORTATION BLVD. THRU TO ROCKSIDE ROAD IS AT A POINT WHERE WE WILL BE OUT FOR BID IN MAY. THIS EXTENSION WILL ENABLE EXPANSION OF CITY VIEW CENTER AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE THAN ONE MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE PARK TO THE EAST OF TRANSPORTATION BLVD.

BRIDGEVIEW CROSSING

AFTER MANY, MANY YEARS OF PLANNING, THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY HAS BEEN COMPLETED FOR BRIDGEVIEW CROSSING. APPROVALS ARE IN PLACE TO ACCESS THE PROPERTY VIA TANSPORTATION BLVD. AND GRANGER ROAD. CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND WITHIN A YEAR, TARGET, LOWE’S, J.C. PENNEY, THIRD FEDERAL AND OTHERS ARE SCHEDULED TO MOVE INTO THIS DEVELOPMENT.

BROADWAY CORRIDOR

FUNDING IS IN PLACE TO WIDEN BROADWAY FROM I-480 EAST TO MC CRACKEN ROAD, TO FACILITATE THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC IN THIS CORRIDOR.

THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT, COUPLED WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE MILL CREEK INTERCEPTOR BY THE NORTHEAST OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT, HAVE GIVEN THE EAST 131^ST STREET, BROADWAY AND I-480 CORRIDOR OPTIONS NEVER BEFORE IMAGINED.

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ON THE RECREATION SIDE . . .

HATHAWAY PARK

AFTER A LONG, TEDIOUS PROCESS (MORE THAN 18 MONTHS), TO OBTAIN APPROVALS FROM THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE OHIO E.P.A., WE ARE NOW PREPARED TO PROCEED WITH THE INSTALLATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF A MUCH-NEEDED RECREATIONAL FACILITY – HATHAWAY PARK. WHEN ONE VIEWS THE TURNEY AND ROCKSIDE ROAD CORRIDOR, THE RECREATIONAL OPTIONS ARE LIMITED AND THIS FACILITY WILL ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, BY PROVIDING A VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

EXPANSION OF METROPARKS

NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING TO CONVERT THE GENERAL CHEMICAL PROPERTY ON WARNER ROAD (ACROSS FROM PESANO’S) TO AN EXPANSION AREA FOR THE CLEVELAND METROPARKS.

THIS ADDITION, ALONG WITH THE EXTENSION OF THE ALL-PURPOSE TRAIL THAT WILL CONNECT THE TOWPATH TO GARFIELD BOULEVARD, CREATES ADDITIONAL NEW RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND OPTIONS FOR THE WARNER ROAD/GARFIELD BLVD. CORRIDOR.

DAN KOSTEL RECREATION CENTER

THE DAN KOSTEL RECREATION CENTER CONTINUES RENOVATIONS TO KEEP IT FUNCTIONING AS A TOP-RATED RECREATIONAL FACILITY. CHANGES WITH THE POOL DECK AND COMPLETION OF A HANDICAP-ACCESSIBLE ELEVATOR TO ACCOMMODATE ALL RESIDENTS IS WELL UNDERWAY.

ALL THIS INVESTMENT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORY OF GARFIELD HEIGHTS AND CONTINUES TO LAY A SOUND FOUNDATION FOR THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH GUARANTEES OUR ABILITY TO FACILITATE THE EXPANSION OF OUR COMMUNITY’S TAX BASE.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

RECENTLY, THE OLD GARFIELD HEIGHTS SHOW WAS CONDEMNED AND THE PROPERTY IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING CLAIMED BY OUR CITY. COUPLED WITH THE MOVE OF THIRD FEDERAL TO BRIDGEVIEW, OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO US TO RE-DEVELOP OR TRANSFORM THE GARFIELD BLVD. AND TURNEY ROAD AREA. THIS UPGRADE COULD INCLUDE COOPERATION WITH THE GARFIELD HEIGHTS SCHOOL SYSTEM AND POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION OF TOWN HOUSES ON THE SITE OF THE OLD GARFIELD SHOW.

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WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING A GRANT TO UPGRADE THE APPEARANCE IN THIS AREA OF TURNEY ROAD, WITH A STREETSCAPE PLAN THAT WOULD INCLUDE TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION THROUGH THE YEARS CONCERNING THIS AREA AND WITH THESE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS, THE TIME SEEMS RIGHT TO DESIGN A PLAN THAT WILL MAXIMIZE THE BENEFIT FOR EVERYONE.

TWIN LAKES

MANY DECADES AGO, THE AREA THAT IS NOW CALLED THE TWIN LAKES ALONG BROADWAY AVENUE, CAME INTO EXISTENCE BECAUSE OF A SAND QUARRY OPERATION. THE RESULTING EXCAVATION EVOLVED INTO THE TWIN LAKES, WHICH ARE OWNED BY CATHOLIC CEMETERIES AND GARFIELD ALLOYS.

RECENTLY, A PARTNERSHIP WAS FORMED TO FILL THE LAKES WITH CLEAN FILL AND ESTABILISHING ASSOCIATED WETLANDS, WHICH COULD BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS. EVERY 77 DAYS, THE WATER IN THE LAKES IS REPLENISHED. WE PLAN TO BRING THE POLLUTANTS THAT CURRENTLY IMPACT THE LAKES UNDER CONTROL, WHILE CREATING A NEW, VIABLE WETLAND. THESE PROPERTIES COULD BE TRANSFERRED, AT NO COST, TO OUR CITY.

THIS PROPOSED WETLANDS AREA INTRODUCES A POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE ALL-PURPOSE TRAIL FROM GARFIELD PARK THROUGH AN AREA THAT IS KNOWN AS THE ALVIN WOODS (EAST OF EAST 131^ST), ALL THE WAY TO OSBORN ROAD.

THIS WOULD ENHANCE THE RECREATIONAL OPTIONS FOR OUR RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE NORTHEAST SECTION AND OTHER NEARBY AREAS OF GARFIELD HEIGHTS.

MILL CREEK WATERSHED

THE FEDERAL E.P.A., IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OHIO E.P.A., IS FORCING COMMUNITIES TO MANAGE WATERSHEDS THAT IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE MILL CREEK WATERSHED IN GARFIELD HEIGHTS INCLUDES 71% OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS ENCOMPASSES THE TRIBUTARIES OF WOLF CREEK, WHICH DRAINS THROUGH GARFIELD PARK, AND OTHER SMALLER STREAMS NORTH OF BROADWAY.

WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE SEWER DISTRICT’S MILL CREEK INTERCEPTOR, THE RESTORATION OF THE TWIN LAKES ALONG BROADWAY, THE PLANNED EXPANSION OF THE ALL-PURPOSE TRAIL FROM GARFIELD PARK TO CANAL ROAD, ALONG WITH THE RESTORATION OF THE 45-FOOT MILL CREEK WATERFALL (AT TURNEY, WARNER AND BROADWAY), THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVING WATER QUALITY, AND THE MITIGATION OF BASEMENT FLOODING, ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES AND

RESIDENTS TO OUR COMMUNTY. ALSO, A POSITIVE IMPACT ON PROPERTY VALUES IS AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, ALL THESE PROJECTS BRING MANY OPTIONS NEVER BEFORE IMAGINED.

POTENTIAL

IN THE COMING YEAR, THE JUSTICE CENTER AT 5555 TURNEY ROAD WILL REQUIRE RENOVATION TO UPGRADE PLUMBING, RESTROOM FACILITIES AND PARKING EXPANSION.

COINCIDING WITH THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE AN EFFORT TO EXPLORE WITH A PRIVATE COLLECTION AGENCY HOW TO RECOVER FINES AND COURT COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED UNCOLLECTIBLE BY THE GARFIELD HEIGHTS MUNICIPAL COURT. THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT FALL WITHIN THIS CATEGORY HAVE TO BE CLEARLY DEFINED AND A FINANCIAL JUDGMENT MUST BE MADE TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL COLLECTIBLE REVENUE. (WE BELIEVE THIS POTENTIAL COULD EXCEED THREE MILLION DOLLARS.)

I HAVE NO REAL INTEREST IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE COURT; SAVE FOR THE NEGATIVE IMPACT IT HAS HAD ON THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN MY CUSTODY AS MAYOR.

THE $200,000-$300,000 THE CITY MUST PAY FOR THESE DEFICITS EVERY YEAR IS MONEY THAT SHOULD BE BETTER SPENT ON ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS, SERVICES, EQUIPMENT OR FACILITIES THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT OUR RESIDENTS.

DESPITE A TRANSITION TO A COMPUTERIZED OPERATION --- AND WITHOUT ANY REAL INCREASE IN THE CASELOAD THE COURT HANDLES --- PERSONNEL HAVE INCREASED BY MORE THAN 70% SINCE 1996.

ALTHOUGH THE COURT MANAGED TO TRIM ITS SPENDING BY ABOUT $100,000 IN 2007 --- BY FOLLOWING A MANAGEMENT STUDY’S RECOMMENDATION TO TRIM A COUPLE OF OVERPAID AND UNNECESSARY STAFF MEMBERS --- THE COURT IS STILL RUNNING A DEFICIT AND CONTINUING EFFORTS ARE NEEDED TO BRING THESE DEFICITS IN LINE.

AS I MADE CLEAR AT A RECENT MEETING WITH THE 2008 ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, DEBORAH NICASTRO, UNNECESSARY STAFFING IS CLEARLY THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I ALSO TOLD HER SHE AND JUDGE JENNIFER WEILER NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, PERHAPS WITH A PROFESSIONAL, IMPARTIAL THIRD PARTY, TO REACH A CONSENSUS AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

AS I HAVE SAID THROUGHOUT MY POLITICAL CAREER… “GOVERNMENT WORKS BEST WHEN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WORK TOGETHER.”

I BELIEVE THE VALIDITY OF THAT PHILOSOPHY HAS SHONE THROUGH IN WHAT WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS CITY DURING THE PAST TWO DECADES. AND I BELIEVE IT WOULD PROVE TRUE IN OUR MUNICIPAL COURT, AS WELL.

REGIONALISM

REGIONALISM HAS BECOME A FAVORITE BUZZWORD, PROMOTED BY MANY INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE STATE, UNDER THE GUISE OF SAVING TAXPAYERS MONEY AND IMPROVING SERVICES.

SOME GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS NATURALLY LEND THEMSELVES TO A “REGIONAL” APPROACH… SOME DO NOT.

SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS HAVE BEEN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NORTHEAST OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT; THE EFFORTS OF THE E.P.A. TO PROMOTE A MANAGED WATERSHED APPROACH FOR OUR STREAMS AND RIVERS; AND THE STEPS TAKEN BY THE CLEVELAND WATER DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH A “NO POACHING” AGREEMENT WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES (DO NOT STEAL BUSINESSES TO THE DETRIMENT OF ONE COMMUNITY OVER ANOTHER).

IN RETURN, THE WATER DEPARTMENT WOULD MANAGE ALL WATER LINES AND MAINS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

LESS SUCCESSFUL HAS BEEN OUR STRAINED RELATIONSHIP IN DEALING WITH THE CITY OF MAPLE HEIGHTS AND ITS FORMER MAYOR, MICHAEL CIARAVINO. IN THE SPIRIT OF REGIONAL COOPERATION, WE PARTNERED WITH THEM TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR SENIORS IN BOTH COMMUNITIES, SHARING VANS AND OTHER RESOURCES.

AS TIME WENT ON, WE LEARNED THEY WERE RECEIVING 71 CENTS A MILE FROM THE WESTERN RESERVE AREA ON AGING FOR DRIVING SENIORS – REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVED – VERSUS NOTHING FOR THE CITY OF GARFIELD HEIGHTS.

WHEN MAPLE HEIGHTS WAS CLOSING ITS SWIMMING POOL, THE FORMER MAYOR ASKED IF HIS RESIDENTS COULD BUY PASSES TO OUR POOL AND THAT HIS CITY WOULD MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL RATES. WE DECLINED, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE OVERWHELMED OUR FACILITY AND DIMINISHED ITS USEFULNESS TO OUR OWN RESIDENTS.

MONTHS LATER, WE WERE SUED BY MAPLE HEIGHTS FOR OVERPAYMENTS ON THEIR SHARE OF EXPENSES FOR THE GARFIELD HEIGHTS MUNICIPAL COURT. WE OFFERED TO WORK THESE DIFFERENCES OUT, BUT INSTEAD WERE SUED, ALONG WITH AN ASSOCIATED P.R. BLITZ. THE LAWSUIT WAS THROWN OUT OF COURT.

FOR REGIONALISM TO TRULY WORK, A COOPERATIVE EFFORT –

WITHOUT HIDDEN AGENDAS – IS NEEDED FROM ALL AGENCIES. AND IT MUST PROVIDE A BENEFIT TO ALL PARTICIPANTS… NOT JUST ONE OR ANOTHER. PRESENTLY, THAT SPIRIT OF COOPERATION RARELY EXISTS.

WHAT’S REALLY NEEDED IS FOR ALL GOVERNMENTAL BODIES TO DO A BETTER JOB OF IMPROVING SERVICES AND REDUCING COSTS FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

FORECLOSURES

FORECLOSURES ARE THE MAJOR PROBLEM FACED BY ALL COMMUNITIES. WHEN I FIRST BECAME MAYOR, THERE WERE 14 VACANT HOMES IN GARFIELD HEIGHTS. WITH THE PRESENT SITUATION OF SUBPRIME LOANS AND NOTHING-DOWN FINANCING, WE HAVE BEEN PLAGUED BY HUNDREDS OF VACANT HOMES, WITH HUNDREDS MORE BEING FORECLOSED.

THIS PHENOMENON HAS RESULTED IN A $500,000 LOSS IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR OUR CITY IN 2007.

AS WE WERE BEGINNING TO TAKE LEGISLATIVE STEPS TO LIMIT PREDATORY LENDING AND SUBPRIME PRACTICES IN OUR CITY, THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE PREEMPTED ALL CITIES IN OUR STATE.

SO WE MUST PRESENTLY REACT TO THIS SITUATION CREATED BY FORECLOSURES, WITH STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF HOUSING AND POINT OF SALE CODES.

IN THE “OLD DAYS,” THE PRICE OF HOME OWNERSHIP IN THIS CITY WAS: ONE, YOU HAD TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PURCHASE A HOME; AND TWO, YOU HAD TO MAINTAIN IT. THOSE TWO BASIC PRECEPTS ARE STILL APPLICABLE TODAY.

THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL CAN HELP BY LOBBYING AND PETITIONING STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COME TO OUR ASSISTANCE, TO RESTORE THE HEALTH AND VITALITY THAT IS UNDERMINING THE VERY FOUNDATION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

(CLEVELAND’S LAWSUIT)

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AS WE GO FORWARD IN 2008, THE CITY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GARFIELD HEIGHTS SCHOOL SYSTEM, WILL HOST A SERIES OF PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS SURROUNDING THE QUESTION OF “RACE” IN OUR COMMUNITY. DISCUSSIONS ARE SET TO TAKE PLACE APRIL 10^TH AND MAY 8^TH, 2008 AT GARFIELD HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL’S PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

IF WE CAN COORDINATE THIS EFFORT IN A PROPER FRAMEWORK, WHERE PEOPLE FEEL FREE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS, WE CAN ESTABLISH A HEALTHY DIALOGUE THAT CAN LEAD TO POSITIVE RESULTS FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, PLANNING FOR A STRONG FINANCIAL FUTURE AND EXPANDING THE TAX BASE IS NOT ENOUGH IN TODAY’S ENVIRONMENT.

WE MUST ALSO DEAL WITH MANY LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY IN THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS, ALONG WITH SPECIAL INTERESTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. AND IT SEEMS THAT EVERYWHERE WE TURN, A NEW CHALLENGE APPEARS. IT JUST MAKES ME GRATEFUL THAT BACK IN 1988 AND 1989, WE HAD A CITY COUNCIL THAT HAD THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN DEVELOPING A MASTER PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN INVALUABLE.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DEMAND THAT THE CITY CONTINUES WITH THE SAME, SENSIBLE AND DOABLE PLANNING PROCESS IN THE YEARS TO COME.

WE’VE COME A LONG WAY IN THE PAST TWO DECADES… BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. MY GUESS, WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING… IS THAT WE’LL HAVE TO RUN THREE TIMES AS FAST TO GET THERE!

THANK YOU.