[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6190175,"mediaKeyId","5052759-7c54caf32117d64591a6c1a2dc8fc695","parentId",5052759,"title","Committee approves three-year pilot to expand access to legal counsel for Akron tenants facing eviction","audioSeconds",957,"startMs",1370000,"endMs",2327000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5052759-7c54caf32117d64591a6c1a2dc8fc695&start=1370&end=2327","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5052759-7c54caf32117d64591a6c1a2dc8fc695/thumbnail_1370000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6190175/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Committee-approves-three-year-pilot-to-expand-access-to-legal-counsel-for-Akron-tenants-facing-eviction","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190175-1a5d0769b6f8109f33f0e9edc015c935/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875835&Signature=Ad4Dva3j~I6N97qQD1ckJhsZGvPItQUEMfcLRRSjGHxbBnL~bK4ORNpKBg8FfJPkBd5HUBOZMPle5IzAlajlo-ze7GpXEKbUbFPMEHI80BVyS8RoKMmHkKJDSpsNimO49A5qRodq9jUyDeesJQWSCy-uG4UlcoHkVXODhKuOhFQOgIT3xSqR0Oi7jgFSszzsqJcLe7Ty0tSAk-o7g9c4ByZWz4FpqV0tj9KqS2m01TrfO~F~J-n~anOxJi4rJX4h8DpiqwyF8dSPR7Vdd-oXiiOkaWnt3TUQfSxlw6zPcEA1OJNBWQ78J385D4IiVbUC6e7Cpp6c~fOFkyur8GH5vA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Akron, OH ","date","2025-06-23T18:25:11Z","article","The City of Akron Budget and Finance Committee voted to authorize the mayor or the mayor’s designee to enter into contracts for services to develop and facilitate a three-year pilot program to expand eligible residents’ access to legal counsel in eviction cases.

Esther Thomas, the city’s director of equity and inclusion, introduced the legislation as a collaborative effort with Community Legal Aid and the United Way of Summit and Medina Counties to reduce harms associated with eviction. \"We are here today to introduce the legislation regarding right to counsel for people who are facing, eviction,\" Thomas said.

Ken Merkin, director of client services at Community Legal Aid, presented court data and program goals. \"Last year in 2024, there were 3,055 evictions filed in, Akron Municipal Court. 88% of those cases, the plaintiff so the landlord had an attorney. Only 3.21% of cases where the the defendant had a attorney,\" Merkin said. He said the pilot’s staffing—described as a managing attorney, a full-time staff attorney and a half-time paralegal plus pull-in housing attorneys—could raise defendant representation from about 2% to nearly 10% at full capacity and allow assistance in roughly 300 cases per year.

United Way interim president and CEO Annie McFadden and Joe Scalise, United Way director of housing services, said the pilot would be targeted, leverage existing rental-assistance and mediation resources, and coordinate outreach with the courts and 2-1-1 to reach households after they are served with eviction filings. \"We have an eviction problem here in Akron,\" Scalise told the committee, describing the program as one piece of a broader strategy to triage cases and reduce harm.

Committee members asked about scope, caseload and program mechanics. Council members were told eligible households would be those served within a defined notice window (typically seven days after being served) and that courts generally set hearing dates two to three weeks after filing; Community Legal Aid said it needs about seven days' notice to prepare a defense. Merkin said case work averages about 12 staff hours per case but varies considerably.

Merkin also cited local comparisons: Cleveland and Cuyahoga County have implemented right-to-counsel work at a larger scale; Merkin said Cuyahoga County realized a combined economic benefit between $11,800,000 and $14,000,000 on a total right-to-counsel investment of $4,500,000 over roughly a year-and-a-half period (figures provided by the presenter). Committee members moved to suspend the rules and give the ordinance a favorable report; the motion passed by voice vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Akron Council Committee Meetings - 06.23.2025","oneSentenceSummary","City of Akron committee advanced an ordinance authorizing contract(s) to develop and facilitate a three-year pilot to provide eligible tenants facing eviction with access to legal representation. The program is a collaboration among the City, United Way of Summit and Medina Counties and Community Legal Aid.","taxTitle","Akron, Summit County, Ohio","taxId",2666,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6190180,"Committee accepts $50,000 Cities for Financial Empowerment grant for United Way programs",47,1289000,1336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5052759-7c54caf32117d64591a6c1a2dc8fc695&start=1289&end=1336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5052759-7c54caf32117d64591a6c1a2dc8fc695/thumbnail_1289000.jpg","/articles/6190180/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Committee-accepts-50000-Cities-for-Financial-Empowerment-grant-for-United-Way-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190180-d5ce2b101d27d417d5c54145b8aba674/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875835&Signature=A9sDdi2avBTRv5m~J5W27AB8FcOVFG8dvsIILPGCy2BS~X5BkFw0LfEh9fdPhyjOHdNF9FcKqPO2fFDbH6uhduNWNh3gCdQ1UinKWygknUhG-9vjZczNrKyJ~CM4QhCZWMbgFbLuajfmxnM1smeOHLPeEMqATPVA2feukcw~Oc69~zeDfL7FL4Yp2cnKt701kH~MhBYKQAJiF4BlgNNWDCf~lse3SVEZK-bTWGziaikjfzCHh8Rh1neJzRTYtJ~FzfzrXy4KjXX3uaJ4YjydCVbZk5DT6c2Gryd3L6J-HOp8WXi6-E78U3YABgi1XNzyJ-rh5g599eR7fwO5-SUdTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept and expend a $50,000 grant from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and to pass those funds to the United Way of Summit and Medina Counties to support operations, staffing and training for local financial empowerment work.

Mr. Wheeler presented the item, describing it as a $50,000 contribution from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and noting the city’s ongoing participation in that network. \"This is a $50,000 donation that we will be passing on to the United Way to continue the operations, staffing, and training,\" Wheeler told the committee.

Committee members offered no substantive objections and moved the item to the consent agenda; the motion passed by voice vote. The ordinance authorizes acceptance and expenditure of the grant and directs that the funds support the United Way’s local financial empowerment activities.","The Budget and Finance Committee approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept and expend a $50,000 award from the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund to support operations, staffing and training through the United Way of Summit and Medina Counties.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6190183,"Committee advances Power Engineers contract to complete special assessment system phase",117,1150000,1267000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5052759-7c54caf32117d64591a6c1a2dc8fc695&start=1150&end=1267","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5052759-7c54caf32117d64591a6c1a2dc8fc695/thumbnail_1150000.jpg","/articles/6190183/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Committee-advances-Power-Engineers-contract-to-complete-special-assessment-system-phase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190183-875488c6d20c9dffbfe04563df59ab07/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875835&Signature=DzfWWq7Rb3X8kXVMsf1FZsrhKxNTr6ByMB62J~VoT0oDf3j8U6q4CMon-5XUXhRLOPcClssK9APSZ1CAceSXTqr9OhJRRaggZ5-12HWOSUPLb1~WyVtj2IsKQwEoXxnYw7gfdpidaPGhJIbpFQU59rQaQQB1-2xNhyySxFMYOOmi46yraJpggyOC21jiik0V9Lcnc4Imtg6Pd7tWNH9Px~F~DEHLi9Npde7CEWBG2Qd47OwtwPorOQ5FM-IvvXy9P7hyQ54Y7a6u1aDNAAeBiClOvWHFqRuzIPZVQA0Sw~kzvD4WClUmo-5DbckngvV4J1O0ozE1PxzeuUw~dCQiQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Akron Budget and Finance Committee voted to authorize the mayor or the mayor’s designee to enter into a contract or contracts with Power Engineers Incorporated for completion of a new phase of the city’s special assessment system.

Councilor Fricker described the proposal as the final implementation cost for added functionality to the city’s existing GIS system to process special assessments. \"So this is, kind of the final piece of our...we added some functionality to our existing GIS system in order to process the assessment. So this is the implementation cost for that,\" Fricker told the committee.

Council members asked whether the expense was included in the budget. Committee members were told the project is funded from the assessment fund, which also covers street lighting, cleaning and assessment debt service. A motion to suspend the rules and give the ordinance a favorable report passed by voice vote; the committee recorded no opposition on the audio.","The Budget and Finance Committee approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to contract with Power Engineers Inc. to complete a final phase of the city’s special assessment system, funded from the assessment fund.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6190188,"Committee approves $50,000 contribution to Akron International Soapbox Derby",320,826000,1146000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5052759-7c54caf32117d64591a6c1a2dc8fc695&start=826&end=1146","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5052759-7c54caf32117d64591a6c1a2dc8fc695/thumbnail_826000.jpg","/articles/6190188/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Committee-approves-50000-contribution-to-Akron-International-Soapbox-Derby","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190188-55c90a576cb67fb4538e74cdacd42307/orig.mp4?Expires=1770875835&Signature=XHTof38WWBgBFcVlsbHlQozWDe55EYLh2M2Pmvej65YSHwdKij65QZ9MGINxSISAYdnVO3U1IJeLpsykKDPRHzG~Am~nV5SAm226X5ohirw9WZwCjWXKjtG8vd6SHn~Hfb2QTcFy6XQG1YIcvE5Ne68fPr14w839SMASsxLCDcpVS-siGpiHHUhJkDBMkAOQ6p7MTPZbKsgoVHx0JeCPtR-~qarCgvMQRnbCna6wfKXRAAn4eFGsAPIxINrJtD~RTsDkaHdeYaN~oLkklADI6rDSEA-j5oEy5Xe133tr3XSRQx2xeX3lclyYPJHFwmp3KOS1Y7DDIBSZUdknR02nwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Akron Budget and Finance Committee voted to authorize the mayor to enter into contracts with the Akron International Soapbox Derby for a $50,000 contribution to support operational planning and implementation for the 2025 Derby.

The funding was presented as the same annual contribution as the prior year. Jill Coloser, chair of the International Soapbox Derby board, introduced Dennis Van Fossen as the organization’s interim executive director and described community outreach and youth participation. \"The derby experience not only teaches STEM education, but values that really transfer to kind of all aspects of life,\" Van Fossen told the committee, adding that the event supports STEM outreach, special-needs programming and other community events.

Committee members moved to suspend the rules and give the ordinance a favorable report; the motion passed on a voice vote. Committee discussion was brief and centered on the Derby’s community and economic impacts. Van Fossen told the committee the Derby reaches tens of thousands of youth through programs and estimated roughly $5,000,000 in economic impact and about 6,000,000 in annual media impressions tied to Derby activities.

The ordinance authorizes the mayor or the mayor’s designee to enter into contract(s) with the Derby to provide the stated support. No changes to the proposed contribution amount were suggested during the committee session. The committee placed the item on the consent agenda for the council meeting later in the day.","The City of Akron Budget and Finance Committee approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to contract with the Akron International Soapbox Derby for a $50,000 contribution to support operations, planning and the organization’s July event.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves three-year pilot to expand access to legal counsel for Akron tenants facing eviction

Committee accepts $50,000 Cities for Financial Empowerment grant for United Way programs

Committee advances Power Engineers contract to complete special assessment system phase

Committee approves $50,000 contribution to Akron International Soapbox Derby