Note to readers:
The following item is a written record of the Ward 3 meeting from June 18, compiled by Akron Documenter Mike Klein. It is not a reported story.
Documenters are residents who are trained to observe and document local government meetings. Their notes are edited before publication for clarity and accuracy — unless quotation marks are used, all text is paraphrased.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalakron.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.
Summary
- There are a variety of activities and programs available for all ages at the Ed Davis Community Center in Akron’s Sherbondy Hill neighborhood. Programs range from daily “Connect at the Rec” summer programs for teens to a summer camp for senior citizens to a summer concert series on Thursdays.
- Gunshots were fired near Lane Field on June 4, and two youths have been taken into custody on various firearm charges. There were no gun injuries, but a young girl was struck by a car in the chaos that ensued.
- There are many types of families, each with their own unique problems. Each of these family types is viewed differently by different demographic sectors in our society, which can produce biases that work either in favor of those families or against them. There are legal and community resources available to help these families through difficult times, officials said.
Documenter’s follow-up questions
- When will the abandoned house at the corner of Vernon Odom Boulevard and Raymond Street be torn down?
- Will the Summer Concert series at the Davis Community Center continue into August and the fall?
- How many people in Ward 3 take part in activities at the Ed Davis Community Center?
- Ward 3 Council Member Margo Sommerville opened the meeting with a welcome to the 15 people in attendance. She then introduced a spokesperson for the Ed Davis Community Center, who gave a brief update on the current programs.
Ed Davis Community Center offer summer programs
- The spokesperson said there would be music at the park this July with a three-event concert series beginning July 2. He encouraged everyone to come out with their lawn chairs, blankets and snacks and enjoy the live music. The concerts are part of city-wide effort to bring free music to various neighborhoods. Coming up at Ed Davis Community Center, 730 Perkins Park Drive, (all events are free and run from 7 to 9 p.m.):
- July 2 — Realiztic Soul
- July 9 — The Silk Band
- July 16 — The CVR GRLZ
- Go here to learn about more concerts
- He said there will also be two, three-day Summer Camps for Seniors with activities focusing on health and nutrition, exercise and arts and crafts.
Suggested Reading
Public safety updates mention gunshots at Lane Field
Akron Police Department Officer Aaron Brown shared the following information:
- A sheet showing city-wide crime stats over a three-year period was handed out.
It showed:- There have been four more murders this year than last year.
- Overdose deaths are down 30% (27 to 19).
- No change in the number of reported crimes (256).
- On June 4, near Lane Field, two juveniles fired guns, but no gun injuries occurred. A young girl was hit by a car in the chaos. Two males, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, have been arrested and held on various gun charges.
- Patrols in the area of Lane Field have been increased, with officers being ordered to make a walking patrol around the field a mandatory duty for the moment.
- Mayor Shammas Malik announced the PIVOT program on June 12. This is a coordinated violence prevention program that seeks to work in an intervention environment. It strives to give youth an alternative life path after experiencing traumatic violence. Brown said, “…it’s never too late to get your life on the right path,” and this program offers healing and opportunities to do that.
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Understanding family legal protections, resources
- Sommerville introduced Lisa Carey Dean, an attorney who specializes in family law. Dean is currently traveling around the state, presenting educational information about families and community resources for the legal protection of children and families. (Editor’s note: Dean is the Democractic nominee for Summit County Domestic Relations Court judge. She faces Republican Lisa Cook in the November election. Learn more about both here.
Families come in all shapes — 10 of them
Dean shared the following about her work in family law:
- There are 10 different types of families. They are defined by the sexual orientation of the parents, whether they are married or not, or remarried, combining families. Other types are single parents, adoptive parents, families without children and extended families including multi-generational households.
- Even though the divorce rate has dropped, the U.S. has the highest rate of children living in single-parent households.
- “As of 2021-2024 data, over 2.4 million children are being raised by grandparents or other relatives in the U.S.” These grandfamilies are often the result of substance abuse, incarceration or death, Dean said.
- “LGBTQ parents have similar rates of divorce, separation, or widowing as straight cisgender women, with both groups having a higher rate than straight cisgender men.”
Multiple factors considered to make custody decisions
- “Majorities of Americans find a variety of family arrangements acceptable, but the degree of acceptance varies.” A husband and wife raising children together is the most accepted family structure, while a gay or lesbian couple raising children together without being married is the least accepted.
- It is important to ask who the child considers family. The courts take into consideration financial support, emotional support, health and welfare, moral guidance and spiritual guidance when deciding custody.
- “According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 18.3 million children, or 1 in 4, live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in the home.” This creates a situation where the children have a higher chance of being incarcerated, committing a crime, dropping out of high school and being obese. They are also more likely to be living in poverty, becoming pregnant as a teen, have behavioral problems, face abuse and neglect and turn to drugs to cope with these issues.
- Grandparents can obtain “grandparent guardianship,” which grants them temporary authority to care for their grandchild. All rights are built around a family being intact in grandparent guardianship.
Sherbondy Park completes $100,000 renovation
Sommerville asked the audience if anyone had been to Sherbondy Park lately. She said the park had recently completed a much-needed $100,000 renovation and that it was beautiful. She urged everyone to go and see it.
An audience member asked how the demo schedule for the house near the corner of Vernon Odom Boulevard and Raymond Street was proceeding. Sommerville and others said they were frustrated that it hadn’t been demolished yet, even though the Hi-Dee-Ho building next door had been demolished recently. Sommerville pledged that she will stay on top of the city to get the job completed.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
