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Rodney Harrell, AARP: That was really inspiring to see.
So I really loved those videos with an equity focus.
And before we do that, I have one more question for you.
So on your screen in a second, you’ll see another Slido question.
This next panel conversation will focus on the investments that local leaders are making to improve their housing stock.
This could be my toughest question of the whole workshop, so Mike, I’m curious.
What are people saying out there?
Mike Watson, AARP:Well, Rodney, your question’s so tough.
We’re getting a pretty, a pretty wide range of responses here.
About 4 in 10 folks are saying 6 percent of the ARPA funding is going to support housing.
So somewhere in that 6 to 10 percent range seems to be the sweet spot.
What is the actual answer there, Rodney?
The correct answer is about 9 percent.
So I got you.
So it’s a great deal of money, but more could really be done.
So now we’re going to turn to our closing panel for this workshop.
So, without further ado, let me introduce our moderator and guests.
Nancy has responsibility for driving AARP’s social mission on behalf of Americans 50+ and their families.
Nancy LeaMond:Hey, Mike.
Mike Watson:Thanks for being here.
And we also have Mayor Justin Bibb, the 58th Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio.
On January 3rd, 2022, he took the oath of office as the city’s first millennial mayor.
Welcome, Mayor Bibb.
Mayor Bibb:Thank you so much for having me.
Mike Watson:Thank you so much for being here.
Now, Nancy, I’d like to turn it over to you to kick off the panel conversation.
Nancy LeaMond:Well, thanks, Mike, and thanks to Mayor Bibb for joining us today.
So welcome, Mayor Bibb, and let’s begin.
Mayor Bibb:Thanks.
This has resulted in your city building more than ever, and changing rapidly.
So we’ve done a couple things.
In many cases, our seniors don’t make enough money to get access to bank financing.
But they make too much money to get access to some government programs.
Nancy LeaMond:Well, thank you for that, Mayor.
You referenced the American Rescue Plan, and we want to turn the focus of this conversation to that.
I should note that it’s also known as ARPA.
Everyone should see the instructions on their screen now.
Let’s turn to Mike.
Mike, why don’t you let us know what you think coming out.
About 70 percent of folks are saying that affordable housing development and preservation is their top priority.
And that 70 percent hasn’t seemed to budge too much, so pretty resounding top priority here.
Affordable housing development and preservation.
Nancy LeaMond:Wow, pretty decisive.
Mayor Bibb:It sounds about right.
Nancy LeaMond:Well thank you again for that.
To really close that missing middle so we can build a strong pathway to wealth creation via homeownership.
And this is personal for me, Nancy.
Now before we open things up to the audience, I have one final question.
What advice can you give us of the most important thing for us to do?
I can’t do it alone as mayor.
We need more incentives like the Litech Grant to incentivize more affordable housing in cities like Cleveland.
Mike Watson:Thank you, Nancy, and thank you, Mayor Bibb.
We do have quite a lot of great questions coming in.
Mayor Bibb:Secretary Fudge, a Cleveland native by the way.
Mike Watson:Northeast Ohio’s getting some great fanfare here.
Mayor Bibb:Absolutely.
You know, the word that gets overused in almost every city in the country right now is gentrification.
You talk to five people they’ll come up with five different definitions of what gentrification means.
So we must do a better job of building with intention in every city across this country.
Mayor Bibb:Well, this is personal for me.
I just last month, I lost my grandmother who was 93 years old.
She went away to heaven on her birthday.
And she wanted to stay in her house until her last breath.
And it wasn’t really a 15-minute city neighborhood.
That’s what good urban planning looks like and that’s our mandate right here in Cleveland.
Mike Watson:Great, great response to that question, Mayor Bibb.
Mike Watson:Wonderful, we love Doug and really appreciate that, appreciate that shoutout.
And what are the things that you, as a local leader, are seeing?
And we wanted to see if we could get that done here in Ohio.
Mike Watson:Thank you for that, Mayor Bibb.
It’s a very important, very important point you just made.
And this can address housing, but also more broadly.
How do we build a city where people are safe to walk the streets freely?
Mayor Bibb:Well, as you said, it’s all interconnected.
That’s one thing we must do a better job of as local elected leaders.
The other thing we’re trying to address in our city is lead paint.
It impacts their ability to build relationships and feel like they have a shot at life.
Do you want to share a little bit about that, Mayor Bibb?
Mayor Bibb:Yeah, so a couple programs to highlight.
Mike Watson:Thank you, Mayor Bibb.
Yet again, very well said.
So we want to thank you so much for being with us today.
We have time for one final question which is focused on the kind of topic of outreach and engagement.
How did you approach engagement with older adults?
Mayor Bibb:Well, every year in Cleveland, we have an event called Senior Day.
And there’s tons of resources and programming during that senior fair.
Mike Watson:Thank you, Mayor Bibb.
That was a fantastic way for us to close out this conversation.
A real inspiring sendoff for everybody.
Mayor Bibb:Thank you.
Mike Watson:I want to thank you, Nancy, for joining us today and moderating this conversation.
And thank you, Mayor Bibb, again so much for taking the time to be here.
We hope to see you both again soon.
Mayor Bibb:Take care.
Nancy LeaMond:Thanks, Mike.
Mike Watson:Thank you.
With that, its now time for us to wrap up this workshop.
Ive been so impressed with what weve seen in the Q&A and the Chat.
Were seeing some really great ideas popping up on the screen, so keep those coming.
The second thing is the importance of seizing the moment and the opportunity.
Third, there is greater power in saying yes.
And fourth, local is where its at.
Rodney, what stood out to you?
Rodney Harrell:Yeah, all those same things really stood out to me, Mike.
I think thats a great list, but theres a few other things as well.
I saw on that Slido that zoning was there in a big, bold way.
And so tackling changes to zoning and other policies.
We can find the solutions that really bring those things together.
We really need to think about all those pieces together.
And finally, to a point that Mike raised, we do need all hands on deck.
So theres lots that really could be done here, Mike.
Mike Watson:Thank you, Rodney, I really agree with everything you just said.
We saw a lot of questions in the Chat asking for links.
Visit that website and youll see some.
Rodney, I also want to thank you for your partnership on all things, but especially today.
Now, although were done with this part of the program, were not quite done yet.
Thank you so much.
Mike Watson:Yes, thank you, and we look forward to seeing you again, soon.
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