Cleveland, OH
Want Free Ice Cream? Start Nabbing 'We Buy Houses' Signs Off the Streets of Cleveland
Ward 13 Councilman Kris Harsh has a proposition for you: Take down as many “We Buy Houses” signs off of Cleveland’s streets as possible in the next two weeks.
Those who take the most? He’ll buy you ice cream.
“Here’s the deal,” Harsh said in a video on Twitter/X from his driveway on Tuesday. “I’m gonna start a bounty for these signs. Whoever can get the most of these signs off the streets by the end of April gets Honey Hut on me.”
“You take one of these signs down,” he reiterated, holding a sign he presumably nabbed himself. “Show it to me. Winner gets Honey Hut.”
Harsh, among other ideological strongholds, has long been a stickler for bad housing policy, especially any exchange of property dealt mostly in cash. And those attractive to the out-of-state investor type taking advantage of Northeast Ohio’s famously affordable market.
“We Buy Houses” is a universal ad slogan you’ve seen plastered on signs dotting utility poles for brokers and buyers in hot pursuit of homes bought on the cheap, hunting for a nice commission. (An actual business, too.) And typically from homeowners itching to sell as quickly as possible.
“Oh, it’s almost like always a scam,” Harsh told Scene in a phone call. “They’re trying to lowball people who are, you know, in a pickle who don’t think they can take their time to get rid of something. So they offer them below market value and then flip it to an investor. That’s pretty much it.”
Though the councilman said his “April Challenge” had no relation to the Residents First overhaul of Cleveland’s housing code that he was a main backer of, it’s clear that Harsh’s bounty matches the overall ire of City Hall’s Department of Building & Housing.
Approved in February, the legal makeover aims to deter bad actor investor, and created a Local Agent in Charge clause that requires any out-of-state owner—in California or Switzerland—to hire a local manager that Building & Housing could take to court, if need be. (It’s yet to be determined if that agent will show up in court or not.)
So far, Harsh said a few likeminded folks at City Hall sent him photos of signs they’d gathered. He still hopes his bounty on the “We Buy Houses” signs reach anyone in the city who’s up for an ice cream sundae. Or two.
“I could switch it up to, like, Old Brooklyn cheese if, like, they don’t like ice cream,” Harsh said. “Or if they’re lactose intolerant, we could go down to Metropolitan or Six Shooter Coffee or something.
“I don’t care,” he added. “As long as they take these signs down.”
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Cleveland, OH
Yankees Tabbed Best Fit in Trade for Guardians Outfielder
The Cleveland Guardians have already traded away one of their starters from this past season, sending second baseman Andres Gimenez to the Toronto Blue Jays.
And there appears to be a chance that they make some more moves.
The Guardians are apparently fielding trade offers on first baseman Josh Naylor and outfielder Lane Thomas, and while Naylor is certainly the bigger of the two names, Thomas is also a very interesting piece.
But where could Thomas land?
Well, Caleb Moody of Just Baseball has compiled a short list of the best possible fits for Thomas, and the New York Yankees were among those ballclubs.
“If Thomas can find some of his 2023 form next season, he could provide that middle-of-the-order support for Aaron Judge, with his 20+ homer, .250 AVG and .750 OPS potential to place alongside Jazz Chisholm Jr., Giancarlo Stanton and Austin Wells,” Moody wrote.
The Yankees just lost Juan Soto to the New York Mets, so they could certainly use a fourth outfielder alongside of Judge, Jasson Dominguez and the newly-acquired Cody Bellinger.
While Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Santander are definitely sexier names, New York would have to shell out wads of cash for either player, and the Yankees may not want to do that after signing Max Fried and swinging a trade for Bellinger.
Plus, New York may want to add another big piece at one of its corner infield spots.
Thomas is set to hit free agency after next season, so the Yanks would have no financial obligation to him beyond 2025. Plus, he is slated to earn just $7.9 million next year.
The 29-year-old slashed .237/.309/.400 with 15 home runs and 63 RBI over 528 plate appearances between the Washington Nationals and the Guardians in 2024, but he came on particularly strong late in the season and in the playoffs.
Landing Thomas would also allow the Yankees the flexibility to play Bellinger at first base on occasion.
Cleveland, OH
Ohio troopers identify driver in deadly semi truck hit-skip as Cleveland man
Editor’s Note: This story contains previous video from 19 News.
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – The Ohio State Highway Patrol says troopers have identified the driver of a semi-truck suspected in a deadly hit-skip in Tuscarawas County.
The driver is a 59-year-old Cleveland man whose name was not released. The highway patrol said the case is now with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the highway patrol, on Oct. 24 a semi-truck was driving north on IR-77 when he tried to make a U-turn through the median crossover near Strasburg.
Troopers said a second vehicle, driven by 78-year-old Dennis Alsept, was also driving north in the left lane of IR-77.
RELATED STORY: Troopers looking for semi driver suspect in fatal hit-skip of Tuscarawas County 78-year-old
Alsept then hit the semi, according to the highway patrol.
“He was a great man, he loved his family,” Alsept’s son-in-law, Andy Donaldson, said. “His family was his everything.”
Troopers said that the semi pulled onto the beam in the median and then continued going south on IR-77.
According to the highway patrol, Alsept was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
On Oct. 31, he died from those injuries.
“Accidents happen, however, he made a tragic mistake that day,” Donaldson said.
The crash remains under investigation, and the highway patrol said charges against the driver are forthcoming.
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Man shot on Cleveland’s west side, police say
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland Police is investigating a shooting that occurred on the city’s west side Thursday morning.
Cleveland Police told 19 News that a man was shot near West 110th Street and Bernard Avenue.
The man, police said he approximately 38-years-old, was transported to the hospital.
Cleveland Police are investigating this incident and will deliver updates as they become available.
This is a developing story. Be sure to check back with 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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