On December 2nd, the Cleveland City Council's Committee of the Whole met to discuss various important matters. One of the key focuses was the African American Cultural Garden, which is still short of approximately $2 million in construction funds despite years of fundraising efforts. Obie Shelton, the executive director of the Association of African American Cultural Gardens (AAACG), updated the council on the project's status.

Uniting Cleveland through Cultural Gardens

Money Needed for the African American Cultural Garden

The idea for the African American Cultural Garden was first conceived in 1961 and dedicated in 1977. The first phase of construction included a "Door of No Return" installation, which was completed in 2016 and overlooks Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Phase two construction, which is the current focus of fundraising efforts, includes a terrace with seating for up to 300 people and a water element symbolizing freedom. Altogether, the work will cost $4 million, and half of the financial goal has been met. Council President Blaine Griffin, Ward 3 Council Member Kerry McCormack, and Ward 16 Council Member Brian Kazy urged officials to find more money to finish this long-planned project. Kazy called on Mayor Justin Bibb's administration to cover the funding gap in full, emphasizing that "We have money for everything else, and this is a project that is well needed, well deserved."

The Greek Garden Association's Plans

The stewards of the Greek Cultural Garden are also looking to make good on a decades-old plan. The Greek Garden Association of Cleveland is set to install a large stone artwork called a frieze. Cleveland City Council passed legislation tied to the art at its last regular meeting on Dec. 2, allowing the association to accept $250,000 from the State of Ohio and move forward with the installation. In the earlier committee meeting, Cleveland Commissioner of Real Estate Susanne DeGennaro mentioned that the artwork was planned in 1939 along with the garden's creation but was postponed due to wartime shortages. The frieze is set to depict dozens of Greek historical figures.

The Euclid Beach Park Archway

The iconic archway of Euclid Beach Park is set to have a new home. McDonald's is donating land at 15891 E. 159th St., which is directly west of the archway's current spot. Planned changes to East 159th Street require relocating the arch, which greeted visitors to an amusement park that closed in 1969. Cleveland intends to develop the vacant land into a park including the archway, and Council later passed legislation allowing the city to accept the donation.In addition to these projects, the council reviewed over 30 pieces of legislation during this marathon meeting. You can read the full notes from Documenter Dan McLaughlin and watch parts one and two of the meeting on Cleveland City Council's YouTube.Signal Cleveland has been providing essential local government news and information to Clevelanders without a paywall. From covering local government, schools, and the Browns stadium saga to housing vouchers, they have been there for Clevelanders. In the wake of August storms and the heat of election seasons, they have continued to offer free, independent, and accurate news. Their reporting on housing issues has led to positive changes in the city, making complaint forms more accessible. With the support of readers like you, Signal Cleveland's work is possible. Make a tax-deductible donation today to help them continue serving Clevelanders.With gratitude,Lila MillsEditor-in-ChiefSignal Cleveland

The Agriculture Department is set to launch a significant testing program next week. This program aims to detect the bird flu virus in fresh milk from farms, providing a clearer understanding of the prevalence of the H5N1 virus among U.S. dairy herds. The efforts are part of an ongoing battle to identify infected herds and halt the spread of the virus.

Enhancing Safety and Confidence

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized that this testing will give farmers and farmworkers greater confidence in the safety of their animals and their ability to protect themselves. It puts the nation on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus's spread nationwide. As of now, around 58 people have contracted bird flu this year, with nearly all cases among dairy and poultry workers on infected farms. Public health officials have stated that there have been no cases of person-to-person spread, and the virus has not evolved to become more communicable.

State-by-State Impact

Since late March, bird flu has been confirmed in 720 dairy herds across 15 states. California, the leading dairy state, has 502 infected herds. On Friday, state agriculture officials reported that 20 farms have fully recovered and been released from quarantine. These farms will be placed on a surveillance list and undergo weekly testing through creameries to maintain continuous monitoring of the virus in California. Additionally, tests will begin in the week of Dec. 16, with California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania as the initial participants. Samples will be taken from farms or businesses transporting milk for pasteurization. Results will be reported each Friday. In addition to California, bird flu has been confirmed in 64 herds in Colorado and 29 herds in Michigan. The other three states have remained free of the virus.

Contact Tracing and Surveillance

Dairy farmers with infected herds are required to provide epidemiological information to assist in contact tracing and disease surveillance. Private laboratories and state veterinarians are also obligated to report when the H5N1 virus is found in milk samples as part of the new National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS). The first step in the NMTS is testing milk at processing plants, followed by testing from bulk storage tanks. Then, individual infected herds are identified for response measures such as enhanced biosecurity, contact tracing, and controls on cattle movement. Once all dairy herds in a state are considered unaffected, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will continue regular sampling of farms' bulk tanks to ensure the disease does not re-emerge. When all states are free of bird flu in dairy cattle, APHIS will work with states to start periodic testing to demonstrate the long-term absence from the national herd.

Raw Milk and Public Health

In late November, bird flu virus was found in whole raw milk for sale in Santa Clara County in California's Silicon Valley. While most milk is pasteurized, which kills the virus, more than 30 states allow the sale of raw milk. About 1% of U.S. adults consume raw milk weekly. President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy Jr., has expressed a desire to end the FDA's "aggressive suppression" of raw milk. Since 1987, the FDA has prohibited the distribution of unpasteurized milk across state lines due to concerns about bacteria that can cause illness.