SOUTH BOULEVARD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PEACE IN THE HOOD
V.O.I.C.E.S.
SURVIVORS/VICTIMS OF TRAGEDY
BLACK ON BLACK 2000
SOUTH BOULEVARD STREET CLUB

To Assignment Desks
 

When: Monday, November 1,1999 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Board of Elections, Euclid at East 30th Street
Re:  The Re-election of Judge Larry Jones

During the Town Hall Meeting at Our Lady of Fatima Parish on June 18,1998, Mr. Sanford Lee, President of the South Boulevard Street Club, expressed his concerns about the illegal confiscation of his mother's property at 9805 South Boulevard. This property was seized by the City of Cleveland, placed in receivership, then subsequently awarded to the Cleveland Restoration Society, although the Municipal Court system lacked jurisdiction to do so.

When Mr. Lee expressed his concern and asked Judge Jones for advice on how to file a legal complaint on behalf of his mother, Judge Jones promised to set up an appointment for Mr. Lee with the Clerk of Courts, who would assist him in preparing and filing a complaint challenging the legality of the receivership in which the property in question was placed.

After many attempts to reach Judge Jones regarding the appointment he had promised him, Mr. Lee said the judge finally left this message on his voice mail, "This is Judge Larry Jones," then hung up. Mr. Lee tried to reach Judge Jones by phone, left messages requesting the judge return his calls, but the calls were never returned. Perhaps this was a trivial matter to Judge Jones, but it was of great concern to Mr. Lee, who holds power of attorney for his elderly mother's properties.

As Presiding Judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court system, Judge Jones certainly should be more responsive to the concerns of private citizens who complain about the conduct of his subordinates. This is no trivial matter in the Glenville area as the majority of homeowners in the area are senior citizens being victimized by various unscrupulous organizations such as the Cleveland Restoration Society.

The above listed organizations are urging all responsible citizens of Cleveland to vote against the re-election of Judge Larry Jones to the Cleveland Municipal court this Tuesday, November 2, 1999. We need someone in this powerful position who will be honest and sensitive to the concerns of those who elect him.

SANFORD ROSS LEE
10128 SOUTH BOULEVARD - CLEVELAND, OHIO 44108
(216) 791-4614

August 23, 1996

Dominic W. Sacco, Housing Court Specialist
Cleveland Municipal Court
Justice Center- Level 13
1200 Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Dear Mr. Sacco:

This letter addresses concerns I have regarding the treatment accorded Mary V. Rayford, owner of a property at 9805 South Boulevard. Mrs. Rayford is my mother. We are contending that the above mentioned property was illegally acquired by the Cleveland Restoration Society. Since that time, no compensation has been offered or paid to Mrs. Rayford.

During a meeting with the Cleveland Landmarks Commission in 1993, Commission Chairman Richard Schanfarber told Mrs. Rayford to stop repairs on the exterior of the building and begin work on the plumbing, heating or electrical wiring instead. He advised her to bring either a plumber, an electrician or a heating contractor to the next meeting. When I questioned why the Commission was concerning itself with the building interior instead of the exterior, as only exteriors fall within its purview, I was completely ignored.

When Mrs. Rayford decided, upon the Chairman's insistence, that she would bring an electrician, he told her that someone would notify her within forty-five (45) to sixty (60) days when she could expect someone to inspect the progress of the electrical work inside the house. No one ever phoned or wrote to gain access to the inside of the house for this inspection.

Mrs. Rayford subsequently contacted Tanya Almond of Glenville Development Corporation regarding her rights and obligations concerning the property. Ms. Almond informed us that repairs should be proceeding on the exterior, as that is the only part of the property that concerns the Cleveland Landmarks Commission or the Cleveland Restoration Society. Here I would like to add that Heather Rudge, a Neighborhood Project Manager of the Cleveland Restoration Society, sat in on our initial meeting with the Commission. Chairman Schanfarber twice denied us permission to continue exterior repairs on the property even though we had not violated any regulations concerning the restoration of historic properties.

Housing Court Specialist Mary Elliot, who was initially assigned to assist us in bringing the property into compliance with housing code regulations, gave us no real guidance in achieving this end. I subsequently learned that Elliot and her spouse are in the business of rehabilitating houses. There is a great possibility, I believe, that my mentor may have a vested interest in acquiring the South Boulevard property either for herself or for one of her clients.

During our meeting with the Cleveland Landmarks Commission, no reference was made regarding the proposed interior changes to designated Landmark buildings or to any other buildings in the designated Historic Districts surrounding 9805 South Boulevard. However, Don Rice of the Division of Redevelopment told me that interior work on the house was expected to be in an advanced stage and that drywall should be up and in place when the inspector arrived.

I also believe that attempts were made to intimidate both Mrs. Rayford and myself. 1) I was advised by a prosecutor (???) to "Give it up!" (the house, I guess). 2) Municipal Court employee Mike Foley suggested, after a court hearing, that I donate 9805 South Boulevard to the City of Cleveland. 3) After I had denied entry to a representative of the Restoration Society before their formal involvement with the property, the Landmarks Commission chairman intimidated my mother into leaving her business and unlocking the property to admit a group of more than a dozen people.

I trust I have made our position clear in regards to this injustice that has been visited upon us. Any assistance you may render us in our pursuit of justice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely yours,

Sanford R. Lee

Mary V. Rayford

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