This looks great.   I look forward to writing prolifically for the East Cleveland Observer - ironically enough this is the name of the school newspaper for my undergraduate and postgraduate (MBA) alma mater, just a mile west of the Inner Circle Star Complex - Case Western Reserve University.

I enjoyed discussing ideas and formats for the paper earlier and here are some thoughts for specific sections and areas I would like to contribute as a writer:

 
 Music Editorials - current Press pass access to Live Nation, Playhouse Square, House of Blues, Wilberts and any more allow for fantastic access to one of the best summer show lineups to hit Cleveland in eons.  We should maximize synergy with RealNEO and the online edition of the paper of course.  Interviews with artist would be anticipated as well.   Our very own Star will feature EC and non EC stars like Edwin and many more!

 
Special Events Coverage - what we often do, except carefully photodocument the process, an ongoing series dedicated to the many items that will add beauty, energy efficiency, and revenue generation to the project a separate showcased subproject Star each week.  

 
 East Cleveland Events (Super-Star)  and Venues associated with them showcased and highlighted - many have already been done on our own realneo.org .   Illustrating the connective potentials, facilitating  win -wins.

      Such v enues include EC Public Library, EC Theater, Forrest Hills Park, Coit Rd Market, Nela Park, EC Observatory (which our team once considered for a second incubator mecca or revitalized observatory) and more.

These offer a good start - i'd certainly delve into a bit of poetry and such as well if space and time allow.

 
Again, Come one and all to the Star to catch all our REALNEO stars - The Williams Family, Edwin David, Evelyn Kiefer,  Norm Roulet, Jon Cline , Derek Arnold, Joe Stanley to name just a few seriously stalwart soldiers.  I am honored to be part of this team and to have been made a full partner in this effort and its business entity, 7gen LLC.  Final thanks to Thompson Hine for processing much of the legal work for this fantastic and fabulous effort.

RE: East Cleveland Observer

This is good.  This is great.  And it is needed.  Truth be told, I personally would LOVE to see this happen.

BUT !!!

    Have you spoken with Eric Brewer, former NEWSPAPER reporter, trained and practiced journalist, publisher of previous East Cleveland newspaper, and apparently attempting to revive some kind of EC newspaper?  In a community this tiny, as a brand new resident trying to be a positive force in said same community, and in the spirit of cooperation, I would think it would be a positive and courteous first step to, at the very least, have a conversation with Eric Brewer.  He might be GLAD to have someone else do the work that he wishes he could get back up and going again.  He might be able to offer suggestions from his years of experience here in EC, as to what kinds of things are of interest to the community.  Brewer might be elated that someone is willing to do the work of informing the citizens of East Cleveland about matters of concern to them.  And clearly, he could point you in the right direction, suggest to you who are the gatekeepers, and provide the initial introductions to give you access to the MANY people and organizations that are active and engaged here in EC – that go largely, and some would say deliberately, ignored by all the other media outlets here in NorthEast Ohio.

and speaking of  ...

    Is this paper being produced for the interest and concerns of the citizens of East Cleveland, or is EC just the location of where it will be produced? 

    For example - When you speak of showcase / star projects, who, what, where are these projects?  Are they “any where, anything” projects, or will they be East Cleveland based, and/or East Cleveland related / relevant projects? 
Another example - Music reviews might need to include information about genre's of music and venues that East Cleveland residents are more prone to be interested in.  That does NOT mean it should be limited to the music, arts, and culture that this largely, but not exclusively, African American community is familiar with.  But neither should it be limited to music, art, cultural genres, locals, etc. that are presumed to be hip and of interest – but actually of interest to others outside of the typical East Cleveland demographics.  Sometimes we have to be mindful of our own lenses and our assumptions / presumptions.

But then again, that goes back to my question of: is this newspaper FOR the residents of East Cleveland, or is it just a name / location for yet another other print document?

    And again, to help this be more successful and have a better chance of being accepted and promoted in this community (if it is FOR this community): Have that conversation with Eric Brewer.  He is not only a academically trained, and career practiced, long in the tooth journalist and reporter, but as the Mayor of East Cleveland that vigorously uses electronic media for his bully pulpit, he could be a major asset to the launching and supporting of the EC Observer, encouraging people to allow you access for both information and readership.  Without the act of initial cooperation and dialogue, I SERIOUSLY doubt that you will get the support, the readership, the circulation, the access to information, the cooperation, that you will want or need to allow the East Cleveland Observer be a successful publication.  The CITIZENS of East Cleveland will be offended that you have not made that effort to make that kind of connection. 

With or without Brewer saying a word.  

It has far less to do with getting Brewer's permission and far, far much more to do with demonstrating a sensitivity, a respect, a sincere concern and grounded interest in the PEOPLE of East Cleveland.  Launching the EC Observer without getting to make key connections FIRST, will caste the EC Observer as an invasion instrument, a manifestation of a negative initial forays of yet another BAD gentrification take over.  Gentrification that is only interested in buildings, streets, and future real estate monetary gains, and is deliberately blind to the people who already live and work in those buildings and houses.

I hope you have already talked to Brewer, and this posting just hasn’t made that clear.  If you haven’t, …