News

Downtown Cleveland Alliance proudly supports Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge’s historic nomination for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Today, in partnership with Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, and Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, we urge swift confirmation and pledge to be a resource for the incoming Secretary.

This multi-faceted group of local organizations reflects the depth and breadth of support for this nomination, and represents Cleveland businesses, residents, neighborhoods, and property owners. The historic nature of the Congresswoman’s nomination coupled with the opportunities that her leadership brings to cities like Cleveland are also important to note. Representative Fudge will be the first woman to lead HUD in more than 40 years and only the second Black woman in history to lead the department. We are proud to see one of Cleveland’s own nominated for such a prominent and pivotal position.

From subsidizing and furthering fair housing, to administering community development block grants (CDBG) and loan guarantees, HUD’s importance and impact are clear. These programs deliver much needed federal investment to cities like Cleveland, helping to address the effects of discriminatory housing practices, while also attracting additional private investment, and building more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant neighborhoods.

Many of the social and economic inequities that our city faces today are firmly rooted in the injustices of the past. People of color have long been subjected to the structural racism that pervades our systems and tears at the fabric of our communities. History has shown that it takes much more than words to address the harm done by decades of discrimination, and Cleveland has a storied legacy of prominent African American leaders at the forefront of the fight for change. Representative Fudge is no exception.

We are grateful and look forward to having a local champion in place to lead this Department—and our community—on a path to a more equitable and just future.

This historic nomination presents a myriad of possibilities for the City of Cleveland, the State of Ohio, and the nation. Given the immense challenges that we face as a nation, we look forward to a swift confirmation and future collaboration with the next HUD Secretary and the new Administration.