Toledo Friday News
Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
My administration announced this week that we will implement a 10-year action plan to improve access to safe, affordable housing in Toledo. This is something we started working on about 12 months ago, when we contracted Enterprise Community Partners to gather community feedback and put together a comprehensive housing strategy.
We are creating a blueprint for how to improve housing outcomes for all Toledoans, and our strategy for uplifting neighborhoods continues to include encouraging redevelopment, advocating for tenants’ rights, investing in low-income areas, the historic roads repaving program, beautification, and public safety. You can read more about the housing plan at this link.
LMH Collingwood Green Project
I was also thrilled last week to celebrate the acceptance of $5.8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to complete the fifth and final phase of Lucas Metropolitan Housing’s Collingwood Green project – something that has been 15 years in the making, and will include 75 senior apartments. The federal funding will also provide rental assistance to tenants and capital advances to private and nonprivate sponsors to finance the development of housing for very low-income residents.
As I said last week, there are federal resources coming into our community that never flowed into Toledo, or at least not since the New Deal. This is one type of federal assistance, and it is going to transform that neighborhood.
Vote Yes For TARTA
I want to urge everyone to support the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority’s sales tax request on the November 2 ballot, Issue 12.
Public transportation is important for Toledo, and especially important for our economy. Successful cities invest in public transit because they know it keeps their economies strong and their workforces moving.
Restoring Sunday service would be one of the first results of passing the new sales tax, and expanding the Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service eligibility throughout Lucas County is another benefit.
This is about essential services for many Toledoans, but it is also about attracting economic development to our region. Toledo was ranked as the number one midsized city in America for new business investment last year. Help us keep that momentum and help us keep building!
Rain This Week
I know some residents were deluged this week from the heavy rain. Our sewer and drainage employees were on a 24-hour rotation, with extra shifts to respond as quickly as possible. One of the biggest things we saw was flooded streets. Now that we are into autumn, it is a good time to remind residents to please refrain from blowing or raking leaves and grass clippings into the street. It clogs sewers and causes heartburn for you and your neighbors. As always, call us at 419-936-2020 to report flooding or any concern.
Wayman D. Palmer YMCA
Finally this week, I want to invite everyone to a public meeting to discuss plans for the new Wayman D. Palmer YMCA building and a new Inez Nash Park.
It will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 27, at the Wayman D. Palmer YMCA. The address is 2053 North 14th St., but please enter from Franklin Avenue.