Cleveland Foundation organizes online donations for hurricane relief

The Cleveland Foundation has set up an online fundraiser to benefit relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the U.S. territory in September, according to Cleveland.com.

The foundation jump started the campaign with a $50,000 donation in the hope that it would encourage local Cleveland residents to also donate. The money will go directly to the Puerto Rican Community Foundation. Other large donations have followed suit, with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland donating another $25,000.

Individuals who donate toward the foundation’s efforts are able to donate anonymously as well as in tribute to others on the Cleveland Foundation’s website.

Cleveland Clinic orders “cease and desist” of Issue 2 campaign

The Cleveland Clinic has filed a cease and desist order on a campaign calling Cleveland residents to “vote yes” on Issue 2, also known as the Drug Price Relief Act. The Clinic claims that in a flier sent to two million people, the campaign used the photo and comments of Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove without permission.

The campaign for Issue 2 has contested the order on the grounds that the remarks used in the flier were made in a public forum and that public figures are frequently used to demonstrate how issues apply to voters. The flier did not directly say that Cosgrove endorses the campaign.

“He is the single most prominent public figure in the healthcare discussion in Ohio, so his opinion is critical to shaping the public opinion, and we believe voters need to know and will benefit from what Dr. Cosgrove thinks,” a spokesman for the campaign said, according to Cleveland.com.

Issue 2 aims to lower pharmaceutical prices and is backed the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and opposed by Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association, one of the largest lobbying groups in the country.

East Side Market set to reopen in January

The East Side Market, closed in 2007, is set to reopen in January after 10 years, according to Cleveland.com. Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services, a network of community health centers leasing the property, raised $6 million dollars to renovate the building, which is located at East 105th Street and St. Clair Avenue.

According to the Cleveland City Council, the project is being subsidized in part by the the state of Ohio, which will contribute $750,000 through capital grant. The city of Cleveland is also contributing $166,000.

The market was once home to nearly 25 merchants, but closed due to economic decline in the area and a decline in population. The project hopes to revitalize housing in the neighborhood and there are plans to offer other services, such a food delivery to senior citizens and a demonstration kitchen for use by Cuyahoga Community College students.