Author Archives: Olivera Perkins

Economics Reporter (she/her)
Economics is often thought of as a lofty topic, but it shouldn’t be. My goal is to offer a street-level view of economics. My focus is on how the economy affects the lives of Greater Clevelanders. My areas of coverage include jobs, housing, entrepreneurship, unions, wealth inequality and pocketbook issues such as inflation.

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A color photograph of a brick apartment style building.

Business, Explainers, Government, Health, News

Where to find rental assistance, eviction and other housing-related help in Greater Cleveland

by Olivera Perkins April 23, 2024October 19, 2024

Cleveland City Council is pushing for more affordable housing in the neighborhoods, saying that new construction needs to go beyond luxury units.Council recently approved $49 million to help with building affordable housing. The illustration shows several rows of houses. Only one is green with a yellow door.

Business, Government, News

Greater Cleveland rent increases rank high nationally

by Olivera Perkins April 23, 2024October 18, 2024

The EDWINS Too patio. The Shaker Square restaurant hosted a solar eclipse lunch on April 8, 2024.

News

EDWINS Too guests view total solar eclipse from Shaker Square patio

by Olivera Perkins April 8, 2024October 18, 2024

Some Cleveland Rape Crisis Center employees outside the organization's West 25th office after they voted April 4 in favor of joining the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199. The union will represent about 45 employees. After voting in the union, SEIU 1199 gave them T-shirts. The front reads: "I am the missing piece to fixing a broken system." The back reads: "You can't fix a broken system without the workers' voice."

Business, News, Public Safety

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center workers unionize

by Olivera Perkins April 5, 2024October 18, 2024

Make It Home Cleveland is a new program that aims to give renters in tax forfeited homes the opportunity to buy and repair a home. Participants will be able to take advantage of such things as counseling, grants and free legal help. Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise), Rocket Community Fund, the City of Cleveland and the Cuyahoga Land Bank are among the program’s partners. This photo shows a home in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood that received a new roof and windows with funding from a land bank program.

Business, Government, News, Public Safety

New program aims to help Cleveland renters living in homes in tax foreclosure

by Olivera Perkins April 3, 2024October 18, 2024

Valley Ford Truck employees, who had been on strike since mid-December, have ended their strike. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 1363 have reached an agreement with the dealership.This photo shows picketing workers in December.

Valley Ford Truck workers end 3-month strike

by Olivera Perkins April 1, 2024October 18, 2024

Attendees at the One Cleveland Forum held April 23 at MAGNET in MidTown Cleveland. SEIU Local 1 and the Northeast Worker Center put on the event. SEIU Local 1's One Cleveland campaign is tied to union janitors negotiating a contract. It draws parallels between the plight of janitors and working-class Cleveland.

County Executive Chris Ronayne influenced decision not to renew security contract at administration building

by Olivera Perkins April 1, 2024April 1, 2024

The Biden administration's Made in America Director Livia Shmovonian will meet with members of the North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor this week. She said the visit, which is part of Made in America Week, is not tied to the presidential race , who said the visit is not tied to the presidential race, will convene a roundtable with members of the North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor as part of Made in America Week.The Cleveland skyline with the Industrial Valley in the foreground.

Ohio has had slow economic growth, Cleveland Fed report says

by Olivera Perkins March 29, 2024March 28, 2024

In this photo, local labor leaders stand with Cleveland Rape Crisis Center workers, who will vote April 4 on whether to join SEIU District 1199. In the center, holding the purple folder, is Samara Knight, executive vice president for SEIU District 1199.

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center employees to vote on union next week

by Olivera Perkins March 28, 2024October 18, 2024

SEIU Local 1 is one of the sponsors of Saturday's One Cleveland Forum at which wage and housing are among the issues that will be discussed. In this photo, janitors represented by the union rally in front of the offices of the nonprofit Downtown Cleveland, Inc. on Thursday, Feb. 29. The union is asking the nonprofit, whose members include the owners of downtown buildings, to support higher wages for janitors working downtown.

Business, Government

Wages, housing and other ‘pressing issues’ focus of One Cleveland Forum

by Olivera Perkins March 21, 2024October 18, 2024