Participatory budgeting pilot program moves forward in Slavic Village

PB Cle Pilot Program The concept of participatory budgeting made headlines in Cleveland back in 2023 when a citizen-led ballot initiative was voted on by residents. The initiative would have allowed Cleveland residents to decide how to spend a small amount of the city's budget. That initiative failed during that November 2023 election, but People's Budget Cleveland, the backers of the ballot measure, went back to the drawing board and decided to implement participatory budgeting on a smaller scale. Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll learn more about how PB CLE has been working in the city's Slavic Village neighborhood on a pilot program, allowing resident voices to decide to how to spend $100,000 in grant funding. Guests: - Cassie Park, Program Manager, Participatory Budgeting Cleveland - Chuck Gliha, Slavic Village Resident The Menu: Fruit Harvest Then we turn our attention to Northeast Ohio fruit farmers and the tough growing season they've been experiencing. On this installment of "The Menu," Christina Rufo from Cleveland Magazine shares some of her reporting on how unusual spring and summer weather has decimated cherry, peach and apple crops. We'll also hear directly from a farmer who says they've lost nearly 70% of their peaches and 40% of their apples this year. Guests: - Christina Rufo, Reporter, Cleveland Magazine - Ben Gammie, Co-Owner, Quarry Hill Orchards