Code,400017 Subject,"Matt Zone, Ward 17 councilman" Date,11/30/2005 Interviewer,Becky Solecki Abstract,"In this 2005 interview, Matt Zone, Councilman for Ward 17 of the City of Cleveland, discusses his family's history on the west side of Cleveland and his political career. Zone is a third generation Italian-American. His grandparents came to the Detroit-Shoreway area of Cleveland shortly after WWI ended. His father and mother grew up on West 65th Street and were both Councilpersons for the Ward--from 1960-1982. Matt has been Councilperson for the Ward since 2001. Zone talks about neighborhood projects in which he has been involved that have sought to improve the environment and the sense of community. Examples of these projects are: Eco-Village, Ward 17 Community Dialogue Forum, Weed and Seed Initiative; Block Clubs. Zone also discussed the history of the Gordon Square Arcade." Special Notes,"local politics, immigration, ethnic neighborhoods, city council, Gordon Square Arcade" minutes:,track one: jeff ramsey (see 400025) 0,a brief history of the arcade and Detroit Shoreway 1, 2, 3, 4,possible interview subjects , ,track two: matt zone 0,introduction and background 1,grew up in w. 65th st. neighborhood 2, 3,growing up in a progressive and integrated cleveland neighborhood 4, 5,immigrant Italian grandparents came to cleveland to find work 6, 7,Ellis Island and ethnic surnames 8,coming to cleveland 9,"Mr. Zone's father (experience in World War II as a POW, Catholicism, public service)" 10, 11,"father's bussiness (delicatessan, tax service, travel agency) and feeling of ""public calling.""" 12,"immigrant clientele ""percieved him as a leader in the community""" 13,father served on Council 1960 to death in 1974; mom then succeeded father until 1982. 14,"cleveland's west side ethnic geography (church-centered neighborhoods - Irish, German, Italian, Romanian)" 15, 16,modern migration/immigration patterns 17,growth of Appalachian immigration in 1960s; and Latino in the 1970s. 18,"Now, Asian immigration to west side of Cleveland." 19,building mixed-income neighborhoods 20, 21,"[20:50] Our Lady of Mount Carmel, changing demographics - more Hispanics than Italians today." 22, 23,"[22:40] catholic primary and secondary education (our lady of mount carmel and st. ed's), cleveland state university (CSU) alumni" 24,commuting to CSU to stay near family 25,worked as a bailiff and mediator (judge cheryl karner)-- influenced later work as a city councilman 26,campaigning for ward 17 seat - first elected in Nov. 2001; unopposed in 2005. 27,Detroit Shoreway's Eco-Village project - first in an urban area in the US. - pedestrian friendly community that respects the environment. 28, 29,Eco-village centered around RTA facilities. 30,national recognition and national scope of mr. zone's political career - active in NLC. 31, 32,improving city administration 33,"neighborhood Block Clubs as a tool for ""empowering communities""" 34, 35,Ward 17 Community Dialogue Forum - works with CSU Professors Jeffries and Pellican. 36,Training to help people in a community to respect the conversations of each other. 37,"Weed and Seed Initiative--- ""holistic approach"" -- positive approach to solving neighborhood problems." 38, 39, 40,Dialogue training in community. 41, 42,"""17"" in Ward 17--places to shop; people; etc." 43, 44,Block Clubs 45, 46,story about local convenience store owner's request for a liquor liscence 47, 48, 49,community leaders 50, 51,"Gordon Square Arcade: the ""shopping mall"" of it's time" 52,historic buildings on W65th and Detroit 53,family-owned grocery store and market 54,end , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,