Cleveland mayoral candidate Zack ReedBy Kathy Wray Coleman, associate publisher, editor-in-chef
CLEVELAND, Ohio- Cleveland mayoral candidate Zack Reed held a news conference on Wed, June 30 at Burke Lakefront Airport to announce his wide-ranging plan for redevelopment of the land that encompasses the historic airport, a public airport on the shore of Lake Erie in the northeast part of downtown Cleveland, Ohio.
The former Ward 2 councilman who is Black and lost a non-partisan runoff against Mayor Frank Jackson in 2017 is among seven all Democratic mayoral candidates seeking the open seat this year as Jackson, 74 and also Black, has opted not to seek a historic fifth term.
The Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport should not be confused with the city's largest airport, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in the state.
Burke -Lakefront Airport, as it is also called, is one of three airports in Cleveland first opening in 1947 and, according to Reed, has "long been the center of contentious, if not ambivalent conversations surrounding its future." One of the more ambitious of this year's mayoral candidates, Reed discussed the need for bold and immediate action regarding the Cleveland landmark.
“For years and years, there have been panels, commissions, discussions, and hand-wringing about how best to utilize this valuable lakefront asset," Reed said. "I believe this new discussion needs to be centered around what’s best for our residents and the region at large. It’s been almost 20 years since anyone proposed a real plan to rethink how we use this property.”
Reed continued, “I didn’t enter this race to shy away from the large issues this city faces. I often talk about revitalizing Cleveland, neighborhood by neighborhood. That’s still very much my focus, but when you look at what we’re losing by not inviting our residents to enjoy this gem, it becomes obvious that we cannot continue to kick this can down the road.”
Reed said that both the business and residential communities must be at the table at the planing stages around efforts to revitalize the lakefront that houses the airport where former president Barack Obama spoke before a crowd of supporters and a wealth of mainstream and other media when campaigning for reelection in 2012.
All of this, of course, is what Reed proposes to do if elected mayor. But it is clearly his vision.
“I, in consultation with my team of advisors, have developed a pathway forward that not only includes the input of the business community, but also puts the enjoyment of this space by our residents in the forefront," Reed said, "I’m confident in our ability to usher in a new chapter with regards to the lakefront. This city deserves a chief executive with the experience, drive, and insight to enact bold initiatives such as the one I’m unveiling this Wednesday. I’m confident in my ability to tackle this, and every other issue of importance to the folks that call this city home.”
In addition to Reed the other mayoral candidates are Council President Kevin Kelley, former mayor and prior congressman Dennis Kucinich, state Sen Sandra Williams (D-21), attorney Ross DeBillo, Ward 7 Councilman Basheer Jones, and Justin Bibb.
Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper in Ohio and in the Midwest, and the most read independent digital news in Ohio. 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.
