Article

County Executive delivers State of the County address amidst recovery

Will Tarter
Additional Contributors
No items found.
May 24, 2021
Read time:
Download Fact Sheets
Register now
Share this resource
Subscribe to our Newsletter
By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Download this as a PDF

The 2021 Cuyahoga County State of the County speech was sure to be memorable due to the pandemic and its effect on county residents and the economy. That was indeed the case, as Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish presented the first-ever virtual State of the County address.

…the county devoted $20 million towards eviction protection and is looking to spend an additional $10 million, which should protect approximately 8,000 renters

Budish highlighted several important issues related to the county’s response to the pandemic. He mentioned how the county focused quickly on purchasing Personal Protective Equipment, and also undertook several other important actions to mitigate the spread of the virus, including housing homeless individuals at local hotels. Budish specifically mentioned successes in the county jail, as the jail population was reduced in half. While the county jail has faced pointed criticism for the treatment of inmates in the facility pre-pandemic, the county executive highlighted that there wasn’t one death in the facility due to COVID-19.

Budish also mentioned that the county devoted $20 million towards eviction protection and is looking to spend an additional $10 million, which should protect approximately 8,000 renters. Many of these dollars care from Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars. For additional information on how the county spent its CARES Act dollars, check out Community Solutions’ coverage here.

The county executive also mentioned the new diversion center which just opened up. The diversion center, operated by Oriana House, can provide treatment support for individuals suffering from drug abuse or mental illness for up to nine days. The county anticipates the diversion center will keep 500 individuals out of the jail system in the first year.

Broadband accessibility was another major part of the speech, with Budish stating that 18 percent of county families do not have access to internet. The county executive specifically mentioned a new program in East Cleveland, which will provide low-cost internet to 1,000 homes.

Racial equity was also a component of his speech. Budish cited the disproportionate impact that the COVID-19 virus has had on black and brown residents. He mentioned the county’s increased outreach to underserved communities to offer better access to the vaccine, as well the county’s special emphasis on minority representation in the disbursement of small business loans.

During the question-and-answer portion of the program, questions were asked about a variety of subjects including community engagement, union labor, climate change, and future spending.

…18 percent of county families do not have access to internet

This was the sixth State of the County for Budish, and certainly one of the most policy-focused in terms of how the county responded to the unprecedented disruption to the local, state and national economies. Certainly, Budish is able to cite several positive examples of how the county has responded.

In many cases, the pandemic highlighted areas that were known problems, and brought major health and human services issues to the forefront. For example, the reality is older adults were disproportionately impacted by it. Many senior center officials are rightly concerned about the impact of social isolation on county residents. Mental health support services will be as important as ever moving forward to make sure that people have the support that they need to recover from an enormous national trauma. While the Cuyahoga County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) board saw an increase in local Health and Human Services levy dollars due to the passage of Issue 33, it will be important for the public to hear how the county will approach mental and physical health protections for children and older adults alike.

Additionally, the pandemic highlighted the importance of essential workers, and the need for a strong health and human services safety net. Many services such as home health care and other home services continued, even through the duration of the pandemic. The Biden administration’s $2 trillion national infrastructure bill calls for increased spending on home health aides, many of whom are women, African-American and immigrants. The economic result of the pandemic has also created a labor shortage and has brought a sharp focus on livable wages that can support families.

The pandemic also highlighted how streamlining access to safety-net programs at the national and state levels can help ensure that people have access to food. One need not look far to see efforts at the Statehouse from some legislators trying to make it more difficult for people to access food through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and unemployment insurance. Both of these programs are crucial to the health and human services safety net.

Several important capital decisions remain, including how the county will approach funding for major capital improvement projects at locations like such as the Justice Center, the Global Center and the Hilton Hotel.

One question during the Q and A, was about and plans for community engagement on how American Rescue Plan funds will be spent. This topic will be very important as the county receives $240 million over the next two years. The Center for Community Solutions will pay close attention to the issue and how the county uses data to track results, as was urged by the U.S. Treasury Department in the guidance.

While most events and presentations have been virtual during the pandemic, the electronic presentation format can be very helpful in terms of accessibility and community education. When the county budget process begins this fall, Community Solutions will keep a close eye on the process, as well as what metrics the county will use to measure success in the pursuit of a more equitable future.

Download Fact Sheets

District 10

Download

All Council Districts 2024

Download

District 4

Download

District 2

Download

District 11

Download

District 9

Download

District 8

Download

District 5

Download

District 7

Download

District 1

Download

District 3

Download

District 6

Download

West Boulevard

Download

University

Download

Union-Miles

Download

Tremont

Download

Stockyards

Download

St.Clair-Superior

Download

Old Brooklyn

Download

Ohio City

Download

North Shore Collinwood

Download

Mount Pleasant

Download

Lee-Seville

Download

Lee-Harvard

Download

Kinsman

Download

Kamm's Corners

Download

Jefferson

Download

Goodrich-Kirtland Park

Download

Glenville

Download

Fairfax

Download

Euclid-Green

Download

Edgewater

Download

Downtown

Download

Detroit Shoreway

Download

Cudell

Download

Collinwood-Nottingham

Download

Clark-Fulton

Download

Central

Download

Buckeye-Woodhill

Download

Buckeye-Shaker Square

Download

Brooklyn Centre

Download

Broadway-Slavic Village

Download

Bellaire-Puritas

Download

All Neighborhoods 2024

Download

West Boulevard Factsheet

Download

University Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Union-Miles Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Tremont Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Stockyards Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

St. Clair-Superior Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Old Brooklyn Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Ohio City Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

North Shore Collinwood Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Lee-Seville Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Lee-Harvard Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Kinsman Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Kamm's Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Jefferson Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Hough Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Hopkins Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Goodrich-Kirtland Park Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Glenville Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Fairfax Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Euclid-Green Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Edgewater Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Downtown Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Cuyahoga Valley Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Cudell Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Collinwood-Nottingham Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Clark-Fulton Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Central Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Buckeye-Shaker Square Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Brooklyn Centre Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Broadway-Slavic Village Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Bellaire-Puritas Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

All Neighborhoods 2016

Download

District 2

Download

District 1

Download

Ohio Women Statewide

Download

All Women Fact Sheets

Download

Wyandot Women

Download

Wood Women

Download

Williams Women

Download

Wayne Women

Download

Washington Women

Download

Warren Women

Download

Vinton Women

Download

Van Wert Women

Download

Union Women

Download

Tuscarawas Women

Download

Trumbell Women

Download

Summit Women

Download

Stark Women

Download

Shelby Women

Download

Seneca Women

Download

Scioto Women

Download

Sandusky Women

Download
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Download report

Subscribe to our newsletter

5 Things you need to know arrives on Mondays with the latest articles, events, and advocacy developments in Ohio

Explore the fact sheets

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique.

No Related Fact Sheets

Explore Topics

Browse articles, research, and testimony.

Poverty & Safety Net
Article

The Jedi public health approach and four more ways to address weathering

Natasha Takyi-Micah
October 7, 2024
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Community Solutions supports annual Glenn Leadership Forum, October 18

Tara Britton
October 7, 2024
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Current state of Ohio’s state budget

Tara Britton
September 30, 2024
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Populations growing and shrinking in Cleveland, by age

Emily Muttillo
September 30, 2024
Maternal & Infant Health
Article

Five year anniversary screening of Toxic: A Black Woman’s Story

Emily Muttillo
September 23, 2024