Pictured is Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb

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By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor

CLEVELAND, Ohio-As Christmas Day approaches in the largely Black major American city of Cleveland in the midst of an upcoming snow blizzard, freezing cold temperatures and extremely hazardous weather for Northeast Ohio and the region, city officials and the Department of Public Works say they are prepared, including helping the city's homeless and plowing the city's neighborhood streets.

Mayor Justin Bibb, the city's fourth Black mayor behind Frank  Jackson, who retired last year after four terms as mayor, and new Department of Works Director Frank Williams promise an improvement from last year's first major snow storm where a plethora of residents and business owners were snowed in and the streets a literal mess, a debacle that drew heightened media attention and a wealth of complaints from residents and members of city council.

The city has extended recreation and warming center hours from Dec 23-26, though only 1-3 inches of snow is expected over the weekend with high wind gusts at more than 50-60 mps. It is the blizzard, ice and cold weather that have meteorologists worried. Temperatures in Cleveland and surrounding areas are expected to dip as low as seven degrees the Friday before Christmas Eve. when thre are two or more inches of snow the city's automatic parking ban on streets that have red and white posted snow sign bans takes effect.

Department of Works Director Williams, Commissioner of Streets Randy Scott, Cleveland Hopkins Airport Media and Communications Specialist John Goersmeyer, and Cleveland Fire Public Information Officer Lt. Mike Norman held a virtual press conference Wednesday  to discuss the service plan for city streets, what to expect for air travel, and recommendations for safety from the Cleveland Division of Fire. Some air flights at Hopkins will be cancelled, sources say.

Cleveland's new mayor, its second youngest at 35-years-old, says that safety for Cleveland residents and others is his first priority and the city is in the process of hiring upwards of 120 seasonal plow drivers, up from 94 when Jackson was mayor.

While schools are closed for the Christmas break, the mayor says that city officials have been communicating with  RTA, major hospitals and school officials on special weather conditions and safety and other measures, a new communications strategy to improve services during debilitating weather conditions, he say

The extended hours for city recreation and warming sites where people can come in from the cold are on Dec 23-28, including Christmas Day, and are as follows:

On Friday, Dec. 23, these sites are open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Zelma George Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 3155 Martin L. King Blvd.

Collinwood Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 16300 Lakeshore Blvd.

Michael Zone Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 6301 Lorain Ave.

Sterling Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 1380 E. 32nd St.

On Saturday, Dec. 24, these sites are open from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Zelma George Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 3155 Martin L. King Blvd.

Collinwood Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 16300 Lakeshore Blvd.

Michael Zone Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 6301 Lorain Ave.

Sterling Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 1380 E. 32nd St.

On Sunday, Dec. 25, these sites are open from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Zelma George Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 3155 Martin L. King Blvd.

Michael Zone Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 6301 Lorain Ave.

On Monday, Dec. 26, these sites are open from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Zelma George Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 3155 Martin L. King Blvd.

Michael Zone Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 6301 Lorain Ave.

Questions? Call (216) 664-2325.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com the most read Black digital newspaper and blog in Ohio and in the Midwest Tel: (216) 659-0473. 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.