CLEVELAND, Ohio-This week, Mayor Justin Bibb and the City of Cleveland Department of Public Works team kicked off the inaugural summer speed table program with a commitment to install 100 asphalt speed tables to slow traffic and increase pedestrian safety.

The speed table program is made possible through the Back to Basics Capital Fund, the city's $30 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investment in city street upgrades, traffic calming initiatives, and playground and park improvements.

ARPA is part of President Joe Biden's investment in American cities initiative. Cleveland is a largely Black major American city.

Data show that the population motor-vehicle death rate in the country reached its peak in 1937 with 30.8 deaths per 100,000. The current rate is 13.8 per 100,000, representing a 55% improvement.

"This project is critical because we know that lower speeds save lives," said Bibb in a statement. "There are studies that show a one mile-per-hour reduction in vehicle speeds on urban streets results in a six percent decrease in traffic fatalities. Physical traffic calming works and is an important component of our all-of-government approach to summer safety."

The first three speed tables were installed Tuesday afternoon on E. 140th Street south of Kinsman to start this summer's construction. Next week, City crews plan to begin installation in Ward 15 and Ward 11 and will continue to rotate to locations across the city, as weather permits.

"I consistently hear from residents in my ward concerned about speeding and the safety concerns that reckless driving creates," said Ward 2 Councilman Kevin L.Bishop, chair of council's Municipal Services and Properties Committee. "Council is pleased to support the speed table program and we want to hear from residents about how it's working."

Throughout the summer the asphalt speed tables will be installed by members of Cleveland's Public Works team in targeted locations citywide.

The speed table program is primarily focused on local streets with medium traffic volumes (1,000 to 4,000 vehicles per day) and documented speeding issues (average speeds near 25+ miles per hour, and 85th percentile speeds near 31plus miles per hour). The program also prioritizes locations with crash history or the presence of schools, parks, and other areas with high pedestrian volumes.

"As we kick off these first 100 speed tables, we will be continually taking in requests from residents and collecting traffic data around the city," said Cleveland's Senior Strategist for Transit and Mobility Calley Mersmann "This represents just the start, and we will add locations to the list on an ongoing basis. Speed tables on local residential streets make it more comfortable to play in the yard, walk and bike on the street, and even back out of driveways—improving safety and quality of life in our neighborhoods."

Pictured is United States President Joe Biden

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com

By Kathy Wray Coleman, associate publisher, editor -in-chief, and a political and investigative reporter who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio

WASHINGTON, D,C.– Today, President Joe Biden announced his support for the Right to Contraception Act (Sen. Markey, D-MA, and 49 cosponsors) via a press release to Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader.

"The administration [The Biden administration] strongly supports Senate passage of S. 4381, the Right to Contraception Act, which would protect the fundamental right to access contraception and help ensure that women can make decisions about their health, lives, and families," the president said. "The administration remains steadfast in its commitment to defending reproductive freedom and strengthening access to affordable, high-quality contraception and family planning services. Contraception is an essential part of reproductive health care that has become more important than ever following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the ensuing crisis for women’s health."

Biden has also said that if a bill from Congress to restore Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal nationwide, hits his desk, he will sign it immediately and restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land.

Biden's remarks  come as the June 24, 2024 second anniversary of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision that overturned the longstanding Roe v Wade nears. A national day of action promoted by the National Women's March will occur on June 24 with women's groups across America striking and rallying, and taking to the streets in some cities.

A rally on Cleveland City Hall steps in downtown Cleveland, Oh is scheduled for 5:30 pm June 24 where select elected officials and activists will rally against a national ban on abortion access and for women's reproductive rights. It is being organized by Women's March Cleveland and the Cuyahoga Democratic Women's Caucus. Other participating groups, practically all of them majority Black, include Black on Black Crime, Black Man's Army, Black Woman's Army, Imperial Women Coalition, Brick House Wellness Center, Laura Cowan Foundation, and Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network.

Activists and elected officials who ave advocated for reproductive rights for women will speak, including state Sen Nickie Antonio, Minority Leader for the Ohio Senate, and Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Meredith Turner.

Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Chairman David Brock, state Rep. Juanita Brent of Cleveland, Cleveland Councilman Kevin Conwell, and Dr. Lauren Beene of Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights will also be among the speakers

Dangerous and extreme abortion bans are putting women’s health and lives at risk and disrupting access to critical health care services, including contraception, as health care providers are forced to close in states across the country. Contraception is also under attack," Biden said."Women must have the freedom to make deeply personal health care decisions, including the right to decide if and when to start or grow their family. Now is the time to safeguard the right to contraception once and for all."

The president added that "the administration looks forward to working with Congress as S. 4381 proceeds through the legislative process in order to protect and expand access to contraception, as well as to protect other rights and liberties."

The Senate is expected to vote on the measure this week as the Dems, who narrowly control the Senate, worry that passage of the bill is an uphill battle.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and Black 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.

Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin

By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland City Council has selected Triad Research Group as the external group to lead and determine recommendations for its upcoming redistricting process, Council President Blaine Griffin announced via a press release Thursday to

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader.

City council will lose two council seats, dropping it from 17 members to 15, Griffin said.

The redistricting process has proved to be controversial in the past as council members at issue were forced to run against council colleagues.

"Two of our primary goals are to have natural boundaries and to keep neighborhoods together," said Griffin, councilman for Ward 6, which includes Fairfax, Larchmere, Little Italy, Woodland Hills, and parts of Buckeye-Shaker, University Circle, North Broadway, Slavic Village and Union-Miles."Community involvement will also play a key role in redistricting. We are eager to begin the work now to allow us time to get this right – and deliver maps that accurately reflect the needs of Cleveland's diverse neighborhoods."

Cleveland reached a population peak of 914,000 in 1950. But by the 1960s the economy had slowed, and residents fled to the suburbs. Crosstown bussing and the now defunct schools desegregation case of the 1980s and 1990s furthered White flight to suburbia.

The 2020 Census reveals a current city population of roughly 362,000, down by some 10,000 since 2010.

Currently the 17-member city council consists of eight Whites, one Hispanic and eight Blacks who represent wards on the majority Black city's largely Black east side with community activists concerned that Black leadership in the city dwindles each time redistricting takes place.

The Triad team is led by Bob Dykes, a long-time data analyst and statistician. He will be joined by Dr. Mark Salling, a  demographer and former Cleveland State University Professor of Urban Affairs as well as Kent Whitley, an urban planner, political consultant, and organizer.

Dykes has nearly 40 years of research and consulting experience and previously served as Council's redistricting consultant on three occasions, first in 1981 when the council was reduced  from 33 to 21 , and later dropped from 21 to 19, and in 2013 it dropped from 19 members to 17 after the election that year.

City Council must drop two seats  by 2025 as a result of population loss reported in the 2020 Census, from the current 17 seats, Griffin said.

Cleveland voters, in 2008, approved  a charter amendment that calls for the number of wards to be determined by population and mandates that wards be odd-numbered, comprising approximately 25,000 people, and not exceed a maximum of 25 wards or a minimum of 11 wards.

The City Charter mandates that City Council complete a redistricting process based on the results of the Decennial Census, but due to delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, data needed by states and local governments for redistricting from the 2020 Census was not available until August 2021, Griffin said. This delay, he said, prevented the city council from undertaking the redistricting process in 2020 – which would have impacted the 2021 municipal elections.

City Council leadership is now engaging in the process to ensure potential candidates and residents are aware of the boundaries well before the 2025 municipal elections.

Over the summer, Triad Research Group will meet with council members to discuss neighborhoods and natural boundaries. Triad will also conduct research, including but not limited to reviewing Census track reviews and compiling and analyzing GIS data to help draw boundaries.

Potential redistricting maps will then be shared with community members in advance of council  taking a vote on the  proposed map. Additional details about the community involvement process and opportunities for resident feedback will be shared in the near future, Griffin said, and a council vote on the issue is expected by the end of the 2024 calendar year.

The filing deadline for potential candidates for 2025 city council elections is June 11, 2025 and the primary election for wards with more than two candidates is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2025. The  general election for mayor and city council seats is scheduled for Nov 4, 2025.

Mayor Justin Bibb, the city's fourth Black mayor and its second youngest, has already announced that he will seek reelection to a second four-year term in 2025.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and Black 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.

Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown (11-OH)

Staff article: Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com

Washington, D.C. –  Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) and Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) have introduced the Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act (H.R.8469) in an effort to establish a program at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to promote the cybersecurity field to underrepresented and disadvantaged communities.

The proposed legislation requires CISA, a federal government agency, to expand existing education and outreach activities and promote cybersecurity careers to a diverse audience. It  was introduced with 32 other cosponsors.

Workforce diversity is essential to a strong, secure, shining nation that can protect us from a range of threats now and into the future," said Rep. Brown, a Black Warrensville Hts. Democrat whose 11th congressional district includes the largely Black city of Cleveland. "I am proud to introduce this legislation with Congresswoman Stevens and look forward to building further support in Congress."

Computer security, cybersecurity, digital security or information technology security (IT security) is the protection of computer systems and networks from attacks by malicious actors that may result in unauthorized information disclosure, theft of, or damage to hardware, software, or data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.

The field is significant due to the expanded reliance on computer systems, the Internet, and wireless network standards such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It is also significant due to the growth of smart devices, including smartphones, televisions, and the various devices that constitute the Internet of things (IoT).

According to one estimate, there are currently over 400,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions in the United States, with these jobs taking 21% longer to fill than other tech positions. The problem has been recognized by the Biden-Harris Administration, which last year announced a National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy. The Aspen Institute estimates that only 9% of cybersecurity workers are Black, only 4% are Hispanic, only 1% are Native American, and only 24% are women.

"In order to ensure the security of our cyber infrastructure we need to have the best workforce possible and that means employing Americans of all backgrounds," said Rep. Haley Stevens. "That's why I am proud to co-lead the Cybersecurity Workforce Act with Rep. Shontel Brown, which would empower CISA to increase recruitment of cybersecurity professionals from underrepresented communities. Connecting Americans with good jobs that also protect our security interests is a win for everyone."

Counted among the bill's original cosponsors are House Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-02), and former Assistant Leader Congressman James Clyburn (SC-06).

CISA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is the operational lead for federal cybersecurity and the national coordinator for critical infrastructure and resilience.

The Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act

• Establishes new diversity program at CISA: 180 days after enactment the Director of CISA shall establish a program to promote the cybersecurity field to diverse communities.
  
  Program shall be established within CISA's Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program.

  • CISA shall conduct outreach to promote awareness of cybersecurity employment to educators, unions, chambers of commerce, workforce development officers, schools, and other institutions.
  • Cybersecurity is necessary for the public and private sector and is also a well-paying field. According to the Department of Labor, The median annual wage for Information Security Analysts is $120,360.

  • Program Scope: The new program created by the Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act is tasked with promoting the cybersecurity field to disadvantaged communities, older individuals, racial and ethic minorities, women, people with disabilities, geographically diverse communities, socioeconomically diverse communities, individuals from nontraditional educational paths, veterans and individuals who were formerly incarcerated
• Authorization of Appropriations and Reporting
• The Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act authorizes $20 million annually to the Department of Homeland Security through 2030 to carry out the program. The legislation requires CISA to report to Congress annually on the efficacy of the program
  • Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and Black 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.