Ep. 51 - Local Leadership, Real Life, and Running for Change with Ebony Spano

In Episode 77 of Everything Is Local, Matt and Shana dive into the latest controversy surrounding Beachwood’s proposed library, the future of local youth sports and a wide-ranging discussion about politics, elections and the issues shaping the country. • Why the proposed $30 million Beachwood library continues to face criticism over its cost, the loss of recreational fields and unanswered questions about who will pay for the necessary engineering work. • The backlash to a letter sent to residents about the library project, why its tone has frustrated community members and whether officials are listening to the people they represent. • What the proposed library plans could mean for book collections, public events, youth sports and the families who rely on Beachwood’s existing facilities. • Why residents are demanding more transparency, independent impact studies and a public meeting before the library project moves forward. • The latest political developments heading into the midterm elections, including competitive Senate races, the state of the House and whether Democrats could make major gains in traditionally Republican territory. • A discussion about political endorsements, campaign fundraising and why some candidates are struggling to connect with voters. • The debate over congressional decorum, the growing influence of online political commentators and the First Amendment questions surrounding a controversial Ohio case. • Why the Cleveland Guardians need to make the most of their playoff run, the frustration of small-market baseball and the looming possibility of a major MLB labor dispute. • Plus, a look back at the 2016 World Series, the Browns’ unexpected win and the sports-related superstitions Cleveland fans just can’t shake. Subscribe for more episodes like this one! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Episode 76 of Everything Is Local, Mike and Shana break down the latest developments surrounding Beachwood’s proposed library project, local spending and the community’s future, along with a heated conversation about consent and college culture. • Why the proposed $30 million Beachwood library could mean fewer recreational fields, expensive engineering work and major safety concerns near Fairmount Boulevard. • The unanswered questions about who will pay to rebuild the fields, when they’ll reopen and whether the city and school district are passing responsibility back and forth. • Why the hosts are questioning the school district’s changing explanations about the library plans, public access to athletic fields and a new policy restricting informal field use. • How the loss of recreational space could affect youth baseball, softball and soccer, particularly kids who rely on local leagues rather than travel sports. • The financial concerns surrounding Beachwood’s infrastructure projects, including millions already committed to engineering work and whether the city can afford the projects it is planning. • A candid discussion about the Cornell sexual-assault case, consent, fraternity culture, bystander responsibility and the way public figures discuss the people involved. • What the conversation reveals about college social life, changing attitudes toward sex and the importance of holding people accountable without losing sight of empathy. • Plus, Cleveland Guardians playoff nerves, Browns frustrations, baseball memories and a few reminders about upcoming Beachwood community fundraisers. Subscribe for more episodes like this one! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Everything Is Local, Mike and Shana dig into several local issues before getting into a much bigger national conversation: • Why Beachwood teenagers were reportedly told they could not use the Fairmount fields when the fields were not being used, and what the school district's facility-use policy actually says about community access. • The frustration over changing explanations for why the kids were removed from the fields, and the larger questions about accountability and oversight within the school district. • How the fight over access to the fields connects directly to the proposed $30 million Beachwood library and the concern over losing even more athletic space in a community that already has limited fields. • The city's effort to declare the Fairmount Temple property “blighted,” why the hosts question the reasoning behind the designation, and what it could mean for a potential future property-tax incentive. • The $8 million purchase price for the Fairmount property, why developers may not be willing to pay anywhere near that amount and the debate over whether taxpayers should ultimately absorb the difference. • The broader tension between local tax incentives and Cuyahoga County's financial struggles, particularly when it comes to health and human services and other safety-net programs. • A lengthy and heated discussion about the Cornell University sexual-assault case, consent, changing perceptions of sexual behavior and the responsibilities of students who witness questionable situations. • What parents should be teaching their kids about consent, relationships, group-chat culture and recognizing when a situation crosses a line. • The conversation takes a few unexpected turns into college culture, Alabama football, dress codes, “side boob” and the changing social norms around dating and sex. • Plus, a surprisingly deep discussion about the death penalty, wrongful convictions and whether the state should have the power to execute someone. Subscribe for more episodes like this one! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Everything Is Local, Shana, Mike and Matt break down the latest developments surrounding Beachwood’s proposed new library and the controversial Fairmount Temple property: • The latest library plans, including the proposed auditorium, private study spaces, maker room and the impact the project could have on Beachwood’s remaining youth sports fields. • Why the school district’s plan to move engineering classes into the current library raises major questions about transportation, classroom time, operating costs and whether the idea has actually been studied. • The growing frustration over the library’s planning process, including the claim that more than $1 million was spent planning a library at the current site before it was determined the property was too small. • The City Council meeting, public comments and the criticism surrounding how community members were given an opportunity to ask questions about the new library design. • The proposed $30 million-scale library project and the debate over whether a large auditorium is actually necessary when other nearby facilities already offer large event spaces. • The Fairmount Temple property, the city’s $8 million purchase and the revelation that developers may be willing to pay substantially less than what Beachwood paid for the land. • What declaring the Fairmount Temple property “blighted” could mean, including the potential use of property-tax incentives and the impact that could have on county-funded health and human services, developmental disability programs and other safety-net services. • Questions surrounding who is responsible for paying for the library-related infrastructure, parking and sports-field improvements, and why the city and school district appear to be giving different answers. • Whether Beachwood City Council will ultimately approve the proposed “blighted” designation and how residents can make their opinions known before the next steps are taken. • Plus, a few detours into Mike’s championship softball tournament, The Dukes of Hazzard and some classic TV nostalgia. Subscribe for more episodes like this one! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Mike, Shana, Matt take a deep dive into the proposed new Beachwood library and the questions surrounding the project: • The latest presentation for the proposed library and why the new plans for the surrounding sports fields are raising even more questions. • The massive amount of dirt and engineering that could be required to level the property, and the unanswered question of who will actually pay for that work. • Why moving the library could significantly reduce the space available for Little League, softball, soccer, and other youth sports, especially after the loss of Hilltop. • The idea of moving high school engineering classes into the current library building and the practical questions about how students would actually get there every day. • Why the existing Beachwood library is still heavily used, particularly by middle school students who rely on it as an after-school gathering, study, and activity space. • Whether the community has actually been given a meaningful opportunity to weigh in on moving the library, and why the hosts believe the public needs more information before major decisions are made. • The broader question of spending priorities, including the proposed $30 million library and Cuyahoga County's need for additional funding for health and human services and other community safety-net programs. • The upcoming City Council meeting and why the hosts believe residents should attend, ask questions, and make their opinions known before the library project moves any further. Subscribe for more episodes like this one! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.