Ep. 75 - Beachwood’s Fields, the Fairmount Property & a Heated Cornell Debate

In this episode of Everything Is Local, Mike and Shana dig into several local issues before getting into a much bigger national conversation:• Why Beachwood teenagers were reportedly told they could not use the Fairmount fields when the fields were not being used, and what the school district's facility-use policy actually says about community access.• The frustration over changing explanations for why the kids were removed from the fields, and the larger questions about accountability and oversight within the school district.• How the fight over access to the fields connects directly to the proposed $30 million Beachwood library and the concern over losing even more athletic space in a community that already has limited fields.• The city's effort to declare the Fairmount Temple property “blighted,” why the hosts question the reasoning behind the designation, and what it could mean for a potential future property-tax incentive.• The $8 million purchase price for the Fairmount property, why developers may not be willing to pay anywhere near that amount and the debate over whether taxpayers should ultimately absorb the difference.• The broader tension between local tax incentives and Cuyahoga County's financial struggles, particularly when it comes to health and human services and other safety-net programs.• A lengthy and heated discussion about the Cornell University sexual-assault case, consent, changing perceptions of sexual behavior and the responsibilities of students who witness questionable situations.• What parents should be teaching their kids about consent, relationships, group-chat culture and recognizing when a situation crosses a line.• The conversation takes a few unexpected turns into college culture, Alabama football, dress codes, “side boob” and the changing social norms around dating and sex.• Plus, a surprisingly deep discussion about the death penalty, wrongful convictions and whether the state should have the power to execute someone.Subscribe for more episodes like this one!

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