[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6151288,"mediaKeyId","5504344-02bde99fae6921d9543ec5f585b283a4","parentId",5504344,"title","Council approves HUD- and CDBG-funded lead abatement and minor-home-repair programs","audioSeconds",335,"startMs",1412000,"endMs",1747000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5504344-02bde99fae6921d9543ec5f585b283a4&start=1412&end=1747","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5504344-02bde99fae6921d9543ec5f585b283a4/thumbnail_1412000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6151288/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Council-approves-HUD-and-CDBG-funded-lead-abatement-and-minor-home-repair-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6151288-80dd4ba02c6197b4e2bb173574ca9197/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618096&Signature=lECZmfSB1OpbQIs4ZhFvfweyvZnpW5SJmVzmGdaNsBabJ5tEaEX6TUTQd3MCXdAYfkC8yzvxIvVRN~DVEmkuN2ZN2QEjCj5IxI2Cl7Sx1zSU-I2W7q71G1vziRiGToevLmLExkjA~W29fZPDJWx5mfzhwQcxivkxoDZ50qVY9BF2R72T3bHF52qGpWMbCrVtp9FJZCk18Na0NkUglEFKozpiim6iFFgfQW1gncJUuKMWcAxfiaiA1~fkHuxdvzOkAGmwHotWCPByrv0fvERAAKYjOgc59-F~BSLsMD5d3RTBJFO3nHzahUkKY1sb694yFW2VsUv4MnxKSoi021qO5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Akron, OH ","date","2025-07-29T11:15:27Z","article","Akron City Council approved two ordinances to fund housing-related programs using HUD and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

Council approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor or his designee to contract with Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio to continue the Lehi Safe Akron lead-abatement program. Councilman Fusco said the program is funded through HUD and CDBG for $560,000 “in pursuit of reducing the amount of lead in our homes here in the city of Akron.” The ordinance passed 13–0.

Council also approved a contract with Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio to operate a minor-home-repair program for fiscal years 2025–2026. Councilman Fusco described the program’s scope: to assist senior citizens and disabled homeowners with minor repairs not to exceed $10,000 per property. He estimated the program would serve “about 50 to 70 homes” citywide, subject to application and qualification. That ordinance also passed 13–0.

Why it matters: The lead-abatement and minor-repair programs use federal CDBG/HUD funding to address housing health hazards and to help low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners make safety-related repairs.

What the council decided: Both ordinances were approved by suspended rules and passed unanimously; the contracts will be executed with Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio and staff will proceed with applicant qualification and project selection.

Ending: The city expects to proceed with contracting and to start intake and repairs under the two programs; applications and qualification processes were described as required but no intake timeline was specified in the meeting transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Akron Council Meeting - 07.28.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Akron City Council approved continuation of a lead-abatement program funded by HUD/CDBG at $560,000 and a minor-home-repair program (CDBG) with up to $10,000 per property, estimated to assist 50–70 homes.","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},6151293,"Council committee issues adverse report on proposal to convert smoke shop into vape shop",349,1171000,1520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5504344-02bde99fae6921d9543ec5f585b283a4&start=1171&end=1520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5504344-02bde99fae6921d9543ec5f585b283a4/thumbnail_1171000.jpg","/articles/6151293/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Council-committee-issues-adverse-report-on-proposal-to-convert-smoke-shop-into-vape-shop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6151293-b26a08a92e5a06bcfc44f9f4045702a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618096&Signature=DxMjOHvDjWxbLJsAEieMQGugSnKoVrWlhJ99VdIB5XDM5MGJN02l8UPiOV0zME8wQ8jlG5NbIyxY1-k26skC-Y3n8BDqurULM2ft7aoQ9CsjXSLwjoE4BReyKKaOpqGZBF~ppfvo5x5jU26F~Db4voexmnaO-TGALXgBptaEAqHhWbqoMyPrKkwPDIVHR9kxq6CxprWEdnnqMiefhkQjZyVUEa4AhudkwwvirEbYuDdXqjOv~MZbfnkiwYYtscZnegOtsftbli2dXWaAJoih9svS1YuKmLqQH7VuwxjSAhWlKFud~Wq4Fcr1tPuqJ-luqM0OiVCCT~YWb9OYST6Xhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Akron City Council’s planning committee issued an adverse report on a conditional-use request to convert an existing smoke shop into a vape shop; the council approved the adverse report in a roll-call vote, 11–2.

Councilman DeShazier (spelled in transcript as DeShazier) explained that the business is already operating as a smoke shop and that Ohio law permits a ‘‘grandfathered’’ smoke shop to sell up to 25% vape products. He said the applicant sought permission to exceed that 25% threshold, which would make it a vape shop and change the nature of the use in the neighborhood. DeShazier said neighbors raised residential and commercial concerns during the June 9 conditional-use public hearing, and the committee recommended disapproval.

During the roll call, the adverse report passed 11–2; the council then filed the ordinance. The transcript does not show a subsequent local permit issuance or other council action to overturn the committee’s recommendation.

Why it matters: The vote preserves the current statutory/permits-based distinction between smoke shops and vape shops as applied by council policy and reflects neighborhood opposition to expanding a store’s permitted vape-sales activity.

What the council decided: The committee’s adverse report was approved on the floor (11–2) and the ordinance will be filed; no further action on permitting was recorded at this meeting.

Ending: The planning committee’s recommendation to disapprove a conditional use will be filed and the business’s request to exceed the 25% vape-sales threshold is effectively blocked unless reconsidered in a future proceeding.","The planning committee recommended an adverse report and council approved it 11-2, blocking a conditional-use request that would have allowed a local business to sell more than 25% vape products and operate as a vape shop.",{"_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},6151298,"Highland Square residents raise traffic, safety and property-value concerns over proposed dispensary at 730 West Market",299,851000,1150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5504344-02bde99fae6921d9543ec5f585b283a4&start=851&end=1150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5504344-02bde99fae6921d9543ec5f585b283a4/thumbnail_851000.jpg","/articles/6151298/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Highland-Square-residents-raise-traffic-safety-and-property-value-concerns-over-proposed-dispensary-at-730-West-Market","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6151298-261ea9aca0ff5cc5d7a6047c7bfb4450/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618096&Signature=nH-sy-9v3lAisvUrUSlMooJlKVLz1e8ESwtxuo5nAUBxmirqugBQwL2DrNyMzoWwqgkd6sPz4p~sENxBSgEwS3ltLsEvP4oGZbMvHY6HW53tvY0l3B-uwy6eaqQEEeOe-TIwthONwVqjdU3t7e-LbOaFloFZ3U8Gn~QsRPlDUrVAwManwKXTwzPBGinv0kGId1QLEg2spONkG9UIqsmV~vICzt1EqQPsy~MzAeQR89ubYtaaaDc6SOpgIV9~CgfvPRAUF7UCX6R9W5s2oNJJzn69Ts1MB4NnjX8nW2pzucbYVOW4X4X7fPb4GBNu08OAPVKFTrvFGZrS1WJYON-7Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kurt Reid, speaking during public comment on behalf of Dodge Avenue residents, urged the council to consider neighborhood impacts of a proposed dual-purpose cannabis dispensary at 730 West Market Street in Highland Square.

Reid said the business would access the site on Dodge Avenue despite its West Market Street address and warned that 29 parking spaces in the lot would be inadequate. He relayed what he said were industry averages—“50 to 150 clients per hour” with a peak final hour—and estimated that, under those patterns, the lot would be over capacity during peak times. Reid said the average service time for walk-in customers is about “3 to 5 minutes,” and that staffing could reach “up to 15 employees per day,” creating additional on-street parking demand.

He also raised safety concerns, asking how added congestion would affect emergency response times and noting that fire apparatus from a local station “regularly travel down our street to West Market.” Reid said the community worries about nuisance behavior related to on-street patron parking (including public consumption in nearby on-street spaces) and that local homeowners expect potential short-term declines in property values; Reid said a real-estate agent told him the first-year effect could be “a drop in home values between 3 to 5%.”

Why it matters: The comment highlights typical neighborhood concerns about the location and operations of retail cannabis outlets, including parking capacity, traffic spillover into residential streets, emergency-vehicle access and property values.

What the council did: These remarks occurred during the public comment period; the transcript shows no vote or committee action on the proposal during this meeting.

Ending: Residents asked the council to weigh neighborhood impacts as it evaluates any permits or conditional-use approvals related to the proposed dispensary.","Residents near 730 West Market Street urged council to consider parking, traffic, safety and home-value impacts of a proposed dual-purpose cannabis dispensary; commenters cited peak customer flow estimates and concerns about on-street parking and emergency response times.",{"_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},6151303,"Council unanimously objects to liquor-license renewal after shootings near Merriman Road business",262,2219000,2481000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5504344-02bde99fae6921d9543ec5f585b283a4&start=2219&end=2481","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5504344-02bde99fae6921d9543ec5f585b283a4/thumbnail_2219000.jpg","/articles/6151303/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Council-unanimously-objects-to-liquor-license-renewal-after-shootings-near-Merriman-Road-business","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6151303-1b2a725b9914cde1ff50feaae6caab26/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618096&Signature=h75XhOPZ3z3Zpuq07DG3zH0OuW4ldfq~LhQNpby9Cb1DNDflvn2yxAvfzj3mHjQVaa3Yg02FghK8snTGwuthK1oFVlFtL9vGwBQ87WgN87X2uI4m2Ews6KgJzkcbF6FbY6ZG6Fz6iHTkWp47rqEe5WqKSi9dVD9Jc9GLDdL8irBsjC4-K-kq9cbcQwTiG4iYvGwFVLAJdb3XGra5cRr2VgKjcKqUVQeVVU97rs-JdMPLnj6O2lIJSeQbhXMITtJVOBbuaTmRUEiETWhsvkj5gTfLBMHxcRqZSarAsd~86UgbeRTZoJBevfHcHXsGOzAW-963zGQZIGAueh1-EekiKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Akron City Council voted 13-0 to adopt a resolution opposing the renewal application of 8 18 LLC, the licensee for a business at 1800 Merriman Road, and asked the Division of Liquor Control to deny the Class D-5 and D-6 permit renewal.

Councilman Boyle and others described a spate of incidents tied to the location since early 2024: Councilman Boyle said the site has had “11 fights, 1 shooting and a felonious assault and 4 noise ordinance violations” earlier in 2024 and that activity increased after a new operator, the Empire Lounge, took over in April 2025. Boyle told the council there had been “4 shootings, 1 shooting that resulted in death” and other disturbances since that change.

Council members cited public-safety and economic-development concerns for the Merriman Valley area and said they wanted to protect investment and new businesses in the corridor. After a motion was made and seconded, the council approved the resolution without recorded opposition.

Why it matters: The council used a formal resolution to register its opposition with the state Division of Liquor Control, a procedural step communities often take when alleging that a licensee’s operations negatively affect neighborhood safety and business development.

What happened next: The resolution passed 13-0. The transcript shows no further council action at the meeting to pursue other local regulatory or licensing steps; the ultimate decision on the liquor permit rests with the Ohio Division of Liquor Control.

Ending: Council members said they want to encourage growth in the Merriman Valley and called the resolution a step to prevent what they described as problematic operations from undermining that effort.","Akron City Council passed a resolution 13-0 opposing the liquor-permit renewal for a business at 1800 Merriman Road after council members cited multiple shootings, fights and noise complaints tied to the location.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6151308,"Public commenters demand answers on officer-involved death of Jasmine Tucker",384,448000,832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5504344-02bde99fae6921d9543ec5f585b283a4&start=448&end=832","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5504344-02bde99fae6921d9543ec5f585b283a4/thumbnail_448000.jpg","/articles/6151308/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Public-commenters-demand-answers-on-officer-involved-death-of-Jasmine-Tucker","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6151308-ab725245a9ee9fe4d5efd1977a0d1ee1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773618096&Signature=DlKJG-oL3e-3fKCa3VxjiLHWbyrGa4I~GspJjLEYSTSl5dVhEyCPkzeXY5fCDZTqyLUbcjDnekFFI0rKjVY5YUmIKYignmp3j5SXjNQBZnEwpxZlw957gxHzqzNqQYmY0U~Z8twNYFjE8HHq-LgQbUGnSFGpBORLf~22C0zrls~Pje-kMBzCLHvjiFZUcQg~HYVEoRNeH446Pthz~kr534VbZfWlRp0ZLAx3clrphO5ELP8hiOXxaZzwLAdB0vZf7apCpCckipViHhXTDCEJvKY3OA6IHn5h7~1D-lZv4P~H9poqjp5hp6Kni6tpOfy0~vE2wsRfKeLdXfvRhFf3Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Autumn Riddle, a public commenter, told Akron City Council that it has been eight months since the killing of Jasmine Tucker by Akron police officer Devon Fields and said there had been “no justice.” Riddle said Fields has been on paid leave since November and asked, “When this case was sent to Mahoning County, why wasn't Fields placed on unpaid leave?”

Acacia Reynolds, an independent candidate for Ward 1, echoed that criticism and framed it in comparative terms, saying the city “must condemn” violence against police but also hold police accountable when they are accused. “We cannot call ourselves a city of justice if we only raise our voices when the victim wears a uniform,” Reynolds said, adding that the council has offered “no answers, no transparency, no accountability” in Tucker’s case.

Kurt Reid spoke separately during public comment about neighborhood issues unrelated to the Tucker case; his remarks are covered in a different article. No council motion or formal action addressing the Tucker case occurred during the meeting.

Why it matters: Callers asked the council to push for transparency and administrative action in a high-profile officer-involved death. Speakers raised concerns about the city continuing to pay a named officer while criminal and administrative processes proceed and sought public acknowledgement and accountability from elected leaders.

What was discussed: Commenters asked whether the officer could have been placed on unpaid leave, lamented what they described as slow or insufficient investigation and communication, and urged the council to “call for answers.” Council members did not make a formal motion in response during the public comment period.

Context and limits: The remarks came during the meeting’s public comment period; the transcript shows repeated references to the victim as both “Jasmere” and “Jasmine Tucker.” The transcript records speakers’ accusations and requests but does not show any new investigatory or disciplinary action taken by the council at the meeting.

Ending: Public commenters left the council with explicit demands for transparency and accountability; the council did not announce follow-up steps on the record during this session.","Several speakers at Akron City Council’s public comment period urged the council to seek accountability and transparency after the police killing of Jasmine Tucker; speakers criticized the city for leaving the officer on paid leave and called for direct action from council.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves HUD- and CDBG-funded lead abatement and minor-home-repair programs

Council committee issues adverse report on proposal to convert smoke shop into vape shop

Highland Square residents raise traffic, safety and property-value concerns over proposed dispensary at 730 West Market

Council unanimously objects to liquor-license renewal after shootings near Merriman Road business

Public commenters demand answers on officer-involved death of Jasmine Tucker