05/22/2013
Cyber-attack assistance extended
The administration is extending the availability of city attorneys at six community centers through Friday, May 24, for citizens to inquire about the cyber-attack on the Akron's website. The attorneys have lists of those whose information was compromised and can talk to residents about protecting themselves if they are on the list. The administration also requested from all three Credit Bureaus - Experian, TransUnion and Equifax - that they waive the $5 fee charged for placing freezing credit for Akron victims. Experian agreed to waive the fee. TransUnion and Equifax have not yet responded. (click on the headline for more...)
05/21/2013
City assisting victims of cyber attack
Tuesday and Wednesday, May 21 and 22, City of Akron attorneys will be at six Akron community centers to talk to residents about what they can do if they are on the list of people whose information was compromised by the cyber-attack that occurred last week. The attorneys will be able to look up whether citizens are on the list of people whose information was stolen, and they will be able to explain what a person should do to secure their accounts and credit. The following community centers will have help available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Lawton Street Community Center, 1225 Lawton Street; Patterson Park Community Center, 800 Patterson Avenue; Firestone Park Community Center, 1480 Girard Street; Kenmore Community Center, 880 Kenmore Boulevard; Ellet Community Center, 2449 Wedgewood Drive; Reservoir Park Community Center, 1735 Hillside Terrace. (Click headline for more...)
May 20, 2013 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
05/14/2013
Mother of missing teen makes plea to Council
Carmilla Robinson, the mother of a missing Akron teen, made an emotional plea before Council Monday evening asking that police and citizens don't give up the search for her daughter. Robinson is hoping the discovery and rescue of three missing women in Cleveland inspires someone with information about her daughter's whereabouts to come forward. Nineteen-year old Taylor Robinson has been missing since May 3. Council also passed a resolution opposing an amendment to Ohio House Bill 59 that would discourage colleges and universities from helping non-resident students vote in Ohio. The resolution's sponsor, Linda Omobien, called the bill a suppressive tactic to make it more difficult for young voters. The amendment would prohibit schools from charging out-of-state tuition if they assist students with voter registration. Mike Williams said the intention is to reduce the number of voting students because young-voters heavily supported Barrack Obama in the presidential election.
May 13, 2013 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
05/07/2013
Resolutions oppose new judge, praise LeBron
Council took a stand Monday evening opposing an amendment to H.B. 59 that would mandate Summit County add a second judge to the Court of Common Please Juvenile Division without providing funds to pay for it. Juvenile Court Judge Linda Teodosio told Council a second judge would cost taxpayers $300,000 to $400,000 a year. She said that she and her staff have reduced a logjam of cases by 47 percent since 2007, and a second judge was unnecessary. Council also passed a resolution congratulating LeBron James on winning his fourth NBA Most Valuable Player Award and expressing appreciation of his continuing civic and charitable involvement in Akron. James recently donated $1 million to St. Vincent-St. Mary for a new gymnasium.
May 6, 2013 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
04/30/2013
UA students pack Council Chambers; ask for help from city leaders
UA students and their supporters opposed to closing a university office dedicated to helping minorities asked Council to intercede on their behalf during the public comment period of Monday’s Council meeting. UA plans to shutter the Office of Multicultural Development, which the students say is an indispensible asset in helping minority students navigate sometimes-confusing university requirements and procedures. At Large Council Representative Mike Williams said he would demand a meeting with UA President Luis Proenza to discuss the closing. “It would be a shame to have an urban university not serving its urban population,” he said. Council President Garry Moneypenny said Council would take up the students’ cause, but conceded that Council may have little influence with university officials.
April 29, 2013 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
04/23/2013
Mayflower redevelopment to proceed
Legislation authorizing the city to apply for a federal loan to redevelop Mayflower Manor was approved by Council Monday evening. Planning Committee Chair Jeff Fusco said the 82-year old former hotel is a historic downtown landmark that should be preserved, and its redevelopment will be a catalyst for improving the environment downtown. The former Mayflower Hotel currently provides low-income housing for about 250 residents. A few attended Monday's Council meeting to voice their concerns about being displaced. Fusco said the redevelopment plan includes assistance for relocating the residents.
April 22, 2013 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
04/16/2013
Investment in Cascade Plaza secures First Merit headquarters
Council gave the go ahead Monday evening for the city to finish rehabilitating Cascade Plaza's parking deck as the lynchpin of a deal that will retain 450 and add 150 jobs at First Merit Corporation in dowtown. The bank, which occupies parts of two Cascade Plaza buildings, recently purchased a bank in Michigan and was being courted by state and local officials to move its corporate headquarters there. However, First Merit committed to staying and expanding in Akron when the city agreed to complete the renovations. Akron has already invested nearly $20 million over the past decade to repair leaks and damage to the 3,000 space parking deck underneath the plaza. The final phase will be to replace the dated concrete court between the buildings, which also serves as the roof of the parking deck and the entrance to First Merit, with a park-like plaza.
April 15, 2013 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
04/09/2013
CNG fueling station wins Council approval
The biggest challenge to owning a car or truck fueled by compressed natural gas is the lack of fueling stations that offer the clean-burning fuel alternative. City Council passed legislation Monday evening that will allow for a public een gas CNG fueling station and truck terminal to be built at the corner of South Arlington and Palmetto Ave. Currently, the nearest CNG public fueling stations are in Canton and Orville. CNG costs about half the price of gasoline.
April 8, 2013 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
04/02/2013
New student housing put on hold for 120 days
At Large Council Representative Jeff Fusco and Council President Garry Moneypenny offered a resolution during Monday's council meeting to place a 120-day moratorium on City incentives for new student housing developments while research on off-campus student housing is conducted. The resolution, which passed unanimously, prevents the city from offering any incentives for development and/or construction of student housing. (Please click on the headline to read the full story.)
04/02/2013
Council takes time to consider Mayflower's future
Residents of Mayflower Manor voiced apprehension at a public hearing Monday evening as Council decides the fate of the historic downtown landmark. Legislation to apply for a $14 million HUD loan was proposed to redevelop the former Mayflower Hotel. Current residents would have to move if it is redeveloped. Council’s Planning Committee asked for time on the proposed legislation.
April 1, 2013 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
