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Wednesday, January 31, 2007

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Tax Abatement for New Homeowners
Cleveland leadership is ready to begin grappling with the issue of whether tax abatement for new homeowners is an idea still worthy of keeping in play. New residents have used it by the thousands, and new home building in the city is inarguably substantially higher than it would have been without the program. Developers, many City Council members, and others are championing its value, but there are also detractors. Is giving up the real estate tax on a home for 15 years the best way to re-build population? What other benefits might there be? And what's the downside? We talk with Developer Ken Lurie of Rysar Properties, and Cleveland City Council members Joe Cimperman, and Sabra Pierce Scott, who chairs the sub committee looking at Tax Abatement.

City of Cleveland's Residential Tax Abatement Program (PDF)

Contract Talks
Contract talks between the Cleveland Municipal Schools and the Teacher's Union are under way. Education reporter Lisa Ann Pinkerton talked with School CEO Eugene Sanders and Union Chief Joanne DeMarco about the talks and what is at stake for Cleveland school children.

Connie Schultz
After nearly a year off, the Pulitzer prize-winning columnist returned to The Plain Dealer last week. Sound of Ideas host Dan Moulthrop talks to her for this edition of Ideas about how her life and approach to journalism changed after campaigning full time for her husband, the newly-elected junior senator from Ohio, Sherrod Brown.

Connie Schultz

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