Crain's Cleveland Business, November 11, 2024 by Crain's Cleveland Business

What businesses can expect from Moreno’s win

Silicon Valley-backed Republican promises to reduce regulations, slash government spending

By Kim Palmer

Republican challenger Bernie Moreno was declared the winner late on election night in a tight race against incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown.

Besides being the most expensive U.S. Senate race in history, it was also a key race that helped decide party control of the U.S. Senate.

By beating Brown, Moreno also marks a change in direction for the state, including for business.

The Republican businessman has never held elected office before. He ran for former Sen. Rob Portman’s seat in 2022 but lost in the primary to JD Vance. He defeated Ohio Sen. Matt Dolan and current Secretary of State Frank LaRose in the primary to face Brown in the general election.

The race might have been close, but the policy priorities of the two candidates were not. Beyond big differences in social issues — Moreno supports a

Government spending

Of the 16 priorities Moreno posted on his campaign website, reducing regulations and cutting government spending was listed fourth from the top. He railed against the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 during his campaign.

Moreno could join Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who last week told reporters that he will “probably” try to repeal or roll back spending provided by the CHIPS and Science Act. The

Editorial: Six lessons from an extraordinary election. PAGE 6

Crypto companies who backed Moreno celebrate win. PAGE 16 Six possible replacements for JD Vance’s Senate seat. PAGE 16

Everyone is lonely. Here’s how we’re coping with it.

By Joe Scalzo

Let’s start with the car. Linda Musarra always drove a Mercedes S550 — black, just like her out ts — that she nicknamed “Vegas.”

As in, “Whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, honey.”

“It would give you the condence to say, ‘OK, what she means is in this car, we can discuss anything from your nancials to your family to whatever you need me to know,’” said Koby Altman, the Cavaliers’ president of basketball operations. “You knew it was going to stay in that car and she was going to make sure she helped you in her life.”

Over her nearly 40-year career

at Chestnut Hill Realty, Musarra dealt in luxury and loyalty in equal measure, an approach that earned the trust of Cleveland’s royalty, from professional athletes to coaches to doctors to executives to lawyers to inventors.

She did it con dentially. She did it enthusiastically. And she did it tirelessly, right up until she died in her sleep of a suspected heart attack on Saturday, Oct. 19, with her phone 2 inches away from her hand.

“She touched so many important people in the community and she never wanted full credit,” Altman said. “And now that she’s gone, we’re going to give it to her.”

Longtime Chestnut Hill agent Linda Musarra died Oct. 19. | CONTRIBUTED

Bernie Moreno speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 16. | BLOOMBERG

A top regulator sees Ohio’s data centers as a big opportunity

By Naureen S. Malik, Bloomberg

Supporting the development of data centers — including providing the enormous amounts of electricity they require — is a matter of national security, a top federal energy regulator said.

Willie Phillips, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, said artificial intelligence and related technologies hold “generational significance” and belong in the U.S.

“We have that opportunity today with regard to data centers, and we should not surrender it,” Phillips said Friday, Nov. 1, at a highly anticipated FERC technical conference about building data centers next to power plants.

“Data centers moving overseas due to a lack of power supply and infrastructure or regulatory barriers could cause lost opportunities for economic growth and raise national security concerns

for our nation.”

That meeting launched the first big discussion at FERC about how to serve data centers, which are poised to drive unprecedented growth in electricity demand. AI is evolving quickly, and the data centers being planned to support it use as much power as entire towns. But building new power plants and transmission lines takes years, and US grids are already under increasing stress from aging infrastructure, the rise of renewable resources and extreme storms.

The conference focused on the merits and pitfalls of building data centers next to power plants, often described as “co-location.” In March, Amazon Web Services paid Talen Energy Corp. $650 million for a data center campus adjacent to the Susquehanna nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. FERC is currently reviewing a complaint from utilities that the deal could

lead to higher rates for their customers.

Critics fear co-location will strain electricity supplies on the power grid and allow deep-pocketed tech giants to avoid paying for infrastructure upgrades, shunting those costs onto consumers. FERC

Commissioner Mark Christie pointed to the threat of shortages by 2030 on the largest U.S. grid — operated by PJM Interconnection — which covers such data center hot spots as Ohio and Virginia.

“We want to serve data centers,

absolutely, but we want to be fair to all the other consumers,” Christie said.

But co-location would allow companies such as Amazon, Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft Corp. to open data centers at a faster pace. Executives from power generators

Talen, Vistra Corp. and Constellation Energy Corp. told the conference that data centers can support existing plants and bring on new electricity supplies, noting Microsoft’s recent deal to revive the shuttered Three Mile Island nucle-

ar plant in Pennsylvania. Dominion Energy Inc. said its Millstone nuclear plant in Connecticut could conceivably be an option for co-location in the future, according to a statement filed to FERC.

“We don’t have until 2030 to figure this out,” Cole Muller, executive vice president of strategic ventures at Talen, said during the meeting. The rise in electricity demand is coming, and longterm contracts “ensure the longevity of our power plants,” he said.

Cuyahoga Land Bank generates $3B in economic impact

By Kim Palmer

The Cuyahoga Land Bank’s 15 years of demolition, renovation and construction work had a $3.6 billion economic impact on property values, taxes and the local economy, according to a study from the organization.

It reflects a big impact over the last few years.

“In 2019, we released a 10-year economic impact analysis, and that analysis found that there was about $1.4 billion in economic impact that was created by the land bank,” said Ricardo León, president and CEO of the land bank, which was created in 2009 to respond to the county’s growing housing crisis.

“Now the land bank is doing a lot of different things that we weren't doing in our first decade," he added. "The world around us has changed significantly. The economy has changed significantly."

The “15 Years of Impact” study, presented by León at the Cleveland Foundation on Thursday, Oct. 31, highlighted the real effects of efforts by the land bank to stabilize and revitalize neighborhoods besieged with vacant and blighted properties.

Over the 15 years, the land bank spent about $330 million removing blighted properties, renovating homes and building new housing, which generated a total economic output of nearly $633 million in the local economy and sparked more than $395 million in private investment.

In the last decade and a half, the $330 million of direct spending by the land bank resulted in home value increases of $1.47 billion in

neighborhoods where vacant properties were removed, $950 million from renovation work and $143 million from new construction, the report found.

It used a method called “spatial econometrics,” a type of data analysis that allows researchers to determine the economic ripple effect of the work the land bank did from 2009 through June 2024.

The report also quantified how the land bank’s work affected property values, taxes and private investment.

Demo, rehab and new construction

Removing blighted properties has been a priority for the land bank, León said, because vacant buildings significantly drive down property values, attract crime and deter investment.

The 15-year analysis proved that theory out, showing that for every $1 the land bank spent on demolition, it created about $9.74 in economic impact to the local property values for the

properties surrounding it.

“We intuitively know that abandoned houses are bad, and that demolition has been the main vehicle for us to deal with those properties," he said. "But now we can show that it makes financial sense to bring these properties down and that it impacts the communities around them.”

The 2,646 renovated homes returned to the market helped revitalize entire neighborhoods, León said, and increased proper-

ty values by nearly $950 million — more than $13 for every $1 spent by the land bank.

New construction work by the land bank contributed approximately $143 million in total property value.

The land bank constructed and put 243 properties on the market, increasing local property values anywhere from $250,000 to $1.3 million depending on initial strength of the market (for an average of $588,000).

The land bank's work has restored millions in property tax revenue to Cuyahoga County.

Based on data from 2009 to 2023, the most recently available tax year, on average $3,777 in tax revenue was generated for each property returned to the market. And the tax value increased from $1 million in 2013 to $7.5 million over the last decade.

“In total, we had about a $48 million impact on property tax restored back into the county,” León said. "And we are seeing that the annual impact is increasing year over year.”

The land bank event was marked with a tribute to Gus Frangos, founder of the land bank and its president until his death in August.

León pointed out that Frangos created Ohio’s first county land bank 15 years ago, and there now are 70 across the state.

"His passion for helping communities reclaim blighted properties and reinvest in the places people call home was more than just a job; it was a mission he pursued with unwavering commitment," León said.

Cuyahoga Land Bank built nearly 250 homes in an effort to reverse the housing crisis and stabilize local neighborhoods. | CUYAHoGA LAND BANK

Cleveland taps former Jacksonville, Florida, treasurer to serve as CFO

By Kim Palmer

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb announced Paul Barrett, former treasurer of Jacksonville, Florida, will become the city of Cleveland's next CFO.

James Hartley will continue to serve as the department’s interim director until Tuesday, Nov. 12. Hartley took over the role from Ahmed Abonamah, who left the city in July to become the CFO of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In the announcement from City Hall, Bibb welcomed Barrett and thanked Hartley for handling the department during the transition and during the beginning of budgeting season. Hartley will remain with the city in his former position of assistant director of finance, which he has held since 2007.

“We are thrilled to welcome (Barrett) to the team and look forward to working with him to continue to innovate, put our assets to work, and invest in a more modern and responsive municipal government that improves the quality of life for Clevelanders,” Bibb’s statement said.

The new CFO comes to Cleveland from the finance department for the city of Jacksonville, where he most recently served as treasurer. Before working for Jacksonville, he was employed by a variety of firms and agencies including Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

As Jacksonville's treasurer, Barrett managed the municipal bonds debt refinancing of more than $1.5 billion, resulting in a net paydown of $560 million and the elimination of $294 million in debt service.

As Cleveland’s CFO, he will join just as Cleveland City Council concludes a series of operational review hearings that began in late October to early November to prepare for early 2025 budget hearings.

Council members grilled Hartley, as interim CFO, about complaints around slowdowns at the city’s building and housing department and delayed payments on contracts to local community development corporations and other nonprofits.

Mixed-use building near CSU sells for $2M

By Stan Bullard

The Collegetown Office Building stands just two stories tall near Cleveland State University, but it can be likened to a ray of sunshine in a realty market clouded by troubled skyscrapers and a changing commercial market.

The property just sold for $2 million, which shows it has gained value since its original 2009 purchase.

Online realty data portal CoStar estimates the 12,686-squarefoot, fully occupied building trades for about $158 a squarefoot. That figure is well above the $40-per-foot price traditional office buildings are fetching in a market distressed by the changing office demands of business and lender woes faced by several of the city's skyscrapers.

Unlike distressed deals that mark most recent transactions, the Blue Waters Capital Partners investor group wanted to sell a longheld property to invest in large multifamily development projects, according to Russell Lamb, managing partner of the group that owned the building through Blueprint Capital LLC.

Lamb and fellow investor Michael Cantor are partners in the building, which also houses the headquarters of Allegro Real Estate Brokers & Advisors, a provider of real estate services for corporations nationwide.

The group bought the building in 2009 for just $398,000 and invested heavily in updating it, including installing a side entrance and pocket park on its west side.

The county assigns the property a market value of $825,000 for property tax purposes.

The new owner is Pro Land Holdings LLC, which is based in downtown Cleveland. Three messages left at the phone number the buyer disclosed on the Cuyahoga County conveyance fee form were not returned Friday, Nov. 1.

Allegro will remain in the building under a new, five-year lease, Lamb said.

"We enjoy being downtown and working here every day," Lamb said, so it wouldn't consider moving to the suburbs.

Alec Pacella, managing partner of NAI Pleasant Valley and an investment sales expert, said that is the kind of price such a property might command in a "normal real-

ty market, if there is such a thing. It's a good price. It's a sign of a buyer who believes in downtown's value."

Moreover, the full building with three first-floor retail tenants had what's most prized in real estate valuation: a rent roll.

Alex Jelepis, an executive vice president and leasing expert at NAI Pleasant Valley, agreed.

"That's a great price," Jelepis said in a phone interview. "It's hugely positive in this environment."

At the same time, Jelepis characterized the structure as a "niche building" that reflects low-rise commercial and doesn't speak to the challenge of downtown's tall office buildings, where a growing number have gone into special servicing or foreclosure.

THE PURFECT LOAN

Cleveland Monsters build on last year’s success, crowds

By Joe Scalzo

Cleveland Monsters’ yearly attendance

Since July 2023, the Cleveland Monsters’ o cial team colors have been black, blue and gold. “Black and blue” refers to their style of hockey.

Gold describes their business model.

After shattering their single-season attendance record last season, Cleveland has continued its momentum this fall thanks to strong o season sales and, well, a monster opening night.

is year’s home opener at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Oct. 26 drew 14,425 fans — the second-largest opening crowd in franchise history behind the inaugural Monsters game in 2007.

at game also saw Cleveland post its highest retail sales for a regular-season American Hockey League game outside of last year’s Solar Eclipse game, with retail business up 55% year over year compared to last year’s home opener.

“We’re really seeing some great increases across the entire business,” Monsters president Mike Ostrowski said. “From our membership base to our single-game ticket sales to our group sales to our retail business — it’s thriving.”

e Monsters have grown their season ticket membership base by 35% year over year, while single-game ticket sales are up 30% and group sales are up 18%. ose numbers are even more impressive considering the Monsters led the AHL with 10,347 fans per game last season — 908 per game more than the second-place Hershey Bears — and that last year was their rst after a major rebrand that sent retail sales soaring.

“We’re just continuing to see

growth,” Ostrowski said. “People want our merchandise. Our retail team has done a great job of bringing in a new product assortment for the Monsters. We had a ton of momentum going into last season and it's just carried through this year. We’re really excited about the future and where it goes.”

e Monsters are also coming o a successful 2023-24 season, falling to the Bears in overtime of Game 7 of the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Finals.

Cleveland has always had a hard-core group of hockey fans, but they’ve continued to attract new and di erent fans each year, Ostrowski said. at in-game attendance is especially important for a sport like hockey, which has built its fan base around the live game experience.

“People see and hear that if you come down to a game, even if you don't know anything about the

sport of hockey, you’re going to be entertained,” he said. “When we survey rst-time game attendees, a lot of them say it’s just a fun atmosphere. We’re continuing to grow that with a lot of fun theme nights and promotions that make it accessible to everyday fans.” e club’s promotional schedule includes six specialty jersey nights, including two that celebrate the former Cleveland Lumberjacks and the 30th anniversary of the FieldHouse. e team will also host more than 50 youth and high school hockey games at the arena this year ahead of Monsters games.

“We play in a building that’s certainly the best in the AHL, but it’s also one of the best in the country and the world,” Ostrowski said. “When you couple that with great hockey on the ice, family-a ordable fun and unique promotions, we believe we can keep growing our fan base.”

The Cleveland Monsters drew 14,425 fans for this year’s season opener — the second-largest opening crowd in franchise history behind the inaugural Monsters game in 2007. | CONTRIBUTED

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Six lessons from the election

Clarity.

This is a contentious, tumultuous era of politics, and no matter how you feel about the national, state and local election results — and particularly the presidential election — be relieved that those results are clear.

No conspiracy theories. No nurturing suspicions or resentments about a stolen election. Donald Trump won, convincingly, and Republicans took over the Senate handily. (Control of the House is still unknown.) The country can move into 2025 knowing that wherever it goes, this is the path voters have chosen.

Here are six takeaways from an extraordinary election night:

Big change in economic policy from Washington

The presidential campaign wasn't exactly focused on policy, but there are some things Trump emphasized during the campaign that we should expect to see next year.

One of the near-certainties: an extension of the 2017 tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy. Those cuts are set to expire next year, and keeping them in place will be a high priority for the new Trump administration and the Republicancontrolled Senate. If Democrats take the House, the shape of the extension might change, but they're highly unlikely to be able to block it — even if they wanted to do so. Trump wants to go further on tax measures. During the campaign, he endorsed the idea of not taxing tipped wages and even eliminating the income tax entirely, but it's not clear if there's enough support to push through such changes.

Businesses also are likely to get some additional breaks on regulatory matters, particularly in the areas of energy and finance, including crypto. The populist ascent in this conservative victory probably means the big acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel is dead, and big-tech companies are likely to face more scrutiny.

Trump couldn't have been clearer during the campaign for his love of tariffs, one part of his agenda that business generally doesn't favor. He has called for more and higher tariffs on a wide variety of goods from all over the world, against China, sure, but also against allies. If implemented, those tariffs could spark trade wars and potential disruptions in the supply chain. Get ready, CEOs.

There's a clear appetite in the country for change. NBC News exit polls — and yes, we're aware that exit polls aren't always the most reliable gauge of public opinion — showed that 67% of American voters described the economy as "not so good, or poor" compared to 32% describing it as "excellent or good," even though by traditional standards, GDP growth re-

mains strong and unemployment is low.

The Democratic Party is lost on the state level in Ohio

It wasn't strong heading into election night, and with Sen. Sherrod Brown's loss to Republican entrepreneur Bernie Moreno, it's even weaker. Add in Ohio Supreme Court election results that give the GOP a 6-1 margin on the court, and there's virtually no presence for Democrats in statewide office.

Brown's defeat is particularly tough for Democrats. He was their best politician, by far, of the past 20 years. As a senator, he was a liberal, without question, but was a huge advocate for the state who worked with Republicans when it benefited Ohio, and he was responsive to constituent concerns.

For the most part, Brown's the sort of economic populist who Democrats believe can still win in the middle of the country. His loss by about 4 percentage points to a political newcomer suggests there's little the Democratic Party can do in the short term to win statewide.

According to Politico, the Brown/ Moreno race was the most expensive Senate contest in the country, with total spending of $335 million — Republicans' $187 million to Democrats’ $147 million. Outside groups were huge spenders, as is the new norm in highprofile races.

In Ohio, as nationally, Democrats have to look at why their message isn't finding favor with voters. It's not healthy to have one party dominate a political system; it leads to corruption and extremism. Ohio would be better off with a competitive Democratic Party. Right now, it doesn't have that.

New in town

Ohio soon will have two new U.S. senators.

On top of Moreno entering the Senate in place of Brown, Gov. Mike DeWine will have to pick someone to fill the seat that JD Vance will vacate when he becomes vice president.

There's no shortage of contenders. Names floated after Trump chose Vance as his running mate included U.S. Rep. Mike Carey of the Columbus area, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, state Sen. Matt Dolan (endorsed by DeWine in the Republican primary) and RNC Committeewoman for Ohio Jane Timken. Attorney General Dave Yost and Secretary of State Frank LaRose likely will be in the mix, too.

Ohio law says that in the event of a vacancy, the state's sitting governor “may appoint some suitable person having the necessary qualifications for senator.” That's ... pretty wide open. DeWine's appointee will serve as interim senator until Dec. 15, 2026, and then the winner of that year’s special election will fill the remainder of Vance’s term until 2028.

DeWine, a former U.S. senator himself, understands how the chamber works. With Moreno, a political novice, filling one seat, DeWine would be wise to pick someone who knows their way around the political system. Vance in the White House will help, but Ohio needs another strong and capable advocate in the Senate.

Taking issue with Issue 1

Lots of people seem unhappy with how Ohio draws statehouse and U.S. congressional district maps.

No one seems able to agree on how it should be done.

Voters defeated Issue 1, which proposed to replace politicians with a citizens redistricting commission, by a margin of about 54% to 46%. The pro-Issue 1 forces had money on their side, but they were swamped by Republicans portraying the measure as a power grab by Democrats. Complicated/misleading ballot language approved by LaRose didn't help, either.

In the wake of the measure's defeat on election night, Steve Stivers, CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said the organization was "pleased to see Ohio voters recognize the consequences that Issue 1 could have caused, had it passed.

We agree that the current redistricting system is flawed; however, this constitutional amendment would have only created larger problems, like raising the cost of doing business in our state and making us less economically competitive. We look forward to working with state legislators and elected officials going forward to find the right solution for all.”

He's right, at least on the issue of the current redistricting system being flawed. We're skeptical the Republicandominated state Legislature has any interest in finding "the right solution," since the system in place is working quite well for the party.

Get what you pay for

Big school levies in Akron and Cleveland passed, as did a Cuyahoga County measure to increase the cigarette tax to fund nonprofit arts organizations.

These were important victories for education and the arts in the region. They're a reminder, too, that whatever direction the national winds blow, people who are interested in making change should focus on what's happening in their local communities.

The Akron and Cleveland districts still face financial challenges. And, long term, advocates for arts funding in Cuyahoga County need to find something other than cigarettes to tax. But a day after the election, they can be proud of well-run, successful campaigns.

Keep politics in perspective

Elections are hard. Of late, they're a source of real strain for friends, family members and co-workers.

If you're committed to particular causes or candidates, losing is painful. But it's worse to compound a loss with selfdestructive actions or hostile comments, either on social media or face-to-face. (This goes if your side won, too. America of late is not a gracious place.)

We recognize that Donald Trump makes this ... complicated. He is not himself a gracious person. He did damage to the country in 2020 when he wouldn't accept the results of a fair election, and then did not act to quell the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection by his most ardent supporters. He continued to fuel distrust in our electoral system until, of course, he won, and now everything is fine.

Trump will say what he wants. But you don't have to emulate that. Accept that democracy means sometimes your side wins and sometimes it loses. If your side didn't win, focus energy not on looking back in bitterness, but on working to preserve the rule of law, making our institutions stronger and more responsive to citizens, and crafting a more appealing message in future races.

Voters mark their ballots at a polling location for the 2024 election in Bay Village on Nov. 5. BLoomBERG

Cleveland Clinic, UA extend partnership to fast-track EMS careers

By Paige Bennett

As the country continues to face a shortage of paramedics and emergency services personnel, Cleveland Clinic Akron General and the University of Akron have extended a program designed to fast-track careers in emergency medical services.

The institutions have renewed a longtime affiliation that sets students up to earn 30 academic credits as they complete certification programs in emergency medical technician and paramedic training. Students can complete these certifications through a streamlined curriculum and earn credits they can apply toward their degree at the University of Akron’s College of Health and Human Sciences.

The program aims to “address the growing demand for qualified EMS professionals in Ohio and beyond,” according to a news release issued by the University of Akron, providing students an opportunity “to receive hands-on training and academic credits, preparing them to enter the workforce as skilled professionals.”

John Wiencek, executive vice president and provost at the University of Akron, described it as a “truly unique” program that gives students a chance to earn important EMS certifications as they further their education.

“This program is a perfect example of how innovative collaborations between education and health care institutions can build a stronger workforce and positively impact the community,” he said in a statement.

Dr. Titus Sheers, chair of medical education and research at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, said the initiative leaves an impact on students and the health care needs of the community. This year, Cleveland Clinic Akron General expects to graduate 60 EMT students and 60 paramedic students, Sheers said in a statement.

The renewal of the program comes as the U.S. grapples with an EMS provider shortage. A 2022 survey by the American Ambulance Association found that 55% of part-time paramedic roles and 39% of part-time EMT roles went unfilled due to a lack of qualified

candidates.

About 4.5 million Americans live in an “ambulance desert,” or a geographic area more than 25 minutes away from an ambulance station, according to 2023 research by the Maine Rural Health Research Center. These areas are more likely to be found in rural communities.

American Medical Response, a medical transportation service provider, shuttered an Akron facility in 2023. The Clinic added a day-

time paramedic course in Akron last year to help accommodate more students’ schedules, as Crain's has reported.

A couple of years back, the hospital created a paramedic program at the University of Akron Wayne College campus in Orrville to deliver training opportunities closer to home for residents of Wayne, Ashland, Holmes and Tuscarawas counties.

Stacy Willett, director of the Uni-

versity of Akron’s School of Disaster Science and Emergency Services, said in a statement that the program helps address a critical need in the health care system.

“These emergency medical professionals are encouraged to continue their education in one of the school’s many associate and bachelor’s degree offerings,” she said. “This is a major step forward in strengthening emergency medical services in Ohio and beyond."

Cleveland Museum of Art to return 13th-century work to Italy

By Paige Bennett

e Cleveland Museum of Art is sending an item from its collection back to the Republic of Italy.

e museum announced ursday, Oct. 31, it had reached an agreement to transfer a 13th-century manuscript leaf depicting the letter “A” to the Republic of Italy. Information provided by the ministry, combined with CMA research, helped determine that the piece should be returned to its country of origin.

CMA acquired the work, which was once part of a choral book at a church near Siena, Italy, in 1952.

A museum spokesperson told Crain's the institution acquired the item in good faith from Vladimir G. Simkhovitch, a private collector.

e leaf was excised from a responsorial, “Christ in Majesty with Saints,” and is estimated to have been created between 1280 and 1300, according to the museum. e medium is ink, tempera and gold on parchment.

In 2023, the Italian Ministry of Culture contacted the museum to request acknowledgment that the object was part of a manuscript that had been stolen from the cathedral of Colle Val d'Elsa in 1932, the spokesperson said. Between information provided

by the ministry and CMA's research, the museum determined it should be transferred to the Republic of Italy.

“We appreciate the care that the Cleveland Museum of Art has taken to preserve this manuscript over many years and their willingness to work with the ministry to determine the best outcome for all concerned,” said Dr. Paolo D’Angeli, head of the department for general administration of the min-

Renner Otto expands again with addition of Kusner & Ja e attorneys and sta

e move brings increased te nological expertise and expands IP litigation services to clients

e intellectual property (IP) law rm Renner Otto is set to integrate the attorneys and legal professionals of the May eld Heights-based boutique IP rm Kusner & Ja e. is expansion will enhance Renner Otto’s capacity to o er a comprehensive range of IP law services across diverse te nologies while maintaining the exceptional service provided to both Renner Otto’s and Kusner & Ja e’s clients.

Both rms have a long history of expertise in securing patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets for their clients. Renner Otto is also adept at assessing IP portfolios during mergers and acquisitions, along with restructurings, and resolving business disputes over infringement or misappropriation, creating a more robust level of IP representation for businesses.

In addition to the continuation of existing Kusner & Ja e IP-related services, clients will have access to an additional layer of protection through Renner Otto’s IP enforcement services. Renner Otto has a deeply experienced litigation services team that combines the expertise and support of a large law rm with the personalized service and value of a small rm.

As the oldest IP law rm in Cleveland, Renner Otto traces its roots ba to the turn of the 20th century and has continued to

evolve, along with the clients and the te nology it protects. Originally serving businesses in Northeast Ohio, the rm expanded its footprint and now represents clients throughout the U.S. and internationally, with a strong presence in Asia and Europe. e scope of Renner Otto’s clients ranges from large multinational companies to sole proprietors.

“ is will bring about many positive opportunities,” says Mi ael Ja e. “We will be able to serve our clients with greater resources and more diverse expertise, all while maintaining the same level of personalized attention and commitment to excellence that our clients have come to expect from Kusner & Ja e.”

Luis Carrion, Renner Otto’s Managing Partner, sees the addition of Kusner & Ja e’s attorneys and sta as part of a greater evolution as the rm continues to grow and adapt to the ever-evolving needs of clients. He believes the addition of Mi ael Ja e, Ken Fafrak and Chris Monday will further deepen the ben of an already experienced and te nologically focused team of attorneys guiding clients through the ever-evolving complexities of te nical, commercial and legal environments.

Luis also assures Kusner & Ja e’s client base that they can “expect seamless, continued service that is ba ed by the attorneys and sta they already know as well as the experienced Renner Otto attorneys, support sta and other resources.”

Both rms are dedicating time and meticulous attention to detail to ensure a smooth, seamless transition for clients. e process is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with all operations fully integrated under the Renner Otto banner by January 2, 2025.

To learn more about Renner Otto’s IP legal services, visit them online at rennerotto.com.

(From le ) Kusner & Ja e attorneys Ken Fafrak, Chris Monday and Mi ael Ja e, along with Renner Otto Managing Partner Luis Carrion.

The Cleveland Museum of Art will return a manuscript leaf depicting the letter “A” (left) to Italy. CMA acquired the work from a private collector in 1952. CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART

LONELINESS

Everyone’s lonely. Here’s how we’re coping.

By Ally Marotti

For too many people, loneliness has become a familiar foe in recent years.

Once a concern reserved mainly for the elderly, the feeling of being disconnected and isolated has in ltrated all age groups.

Preschoolers and kindergarteners are struggling to socialize as they enter school. Twentysomethings are having identity crises after entering college from childhood bedrooms instead of dorm rooms. e spike in reported workplace loneliness is highest among Gen Zers and millennials, who should be entering the prime of

their busy, bustling careers. Older adults, who often nd themselves socially isolated as they retire or peers die, are growing in number.

Roughly 10,000 people in the U.S. turn 65 daily.

It’s a cruel irony that so many people collectively feel alone. And it has o cials from various levels of government and medical elds concerned. Last year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory calling loneliness and isolation an epidemic. One in two adults reported experiencing loneliness before the forced isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to his advisory.

There is no quick-healing salve to rub on this wound. Some think going back to pre-cellphone or pre-pandemic ways of life could help — experts say that’s nostalgia, not a solution. Those who have struggled with loneliness say that there is no lifelong cure, as different phases of life bring different types of loneliness. One person might feel lonely as a new stay-at-home mom, when her children go to college, and again when she is freshly retired.

The key lies in learning ways to cope.

See COPING on Page 12

Support groups help turn storytelling into therapy

In an era where screens and immediate connection are abundant, isolation remains one of the greatest challenges facing mental health today.

At the end of my day, I love a good scroll through TikTok as much as the next person, but these digital connections can often feel inadequate, and even damaging. How do we address the tension that exists knowing we are more connected than ever, yet collectively we are struggling with loneliness?

One resource that remains consistent across time and cultures is storytelling. Storytelling has served as a cornerstone of connection, tradition and understanding. Long before the written word, people gathered to share myths and personal tales that conveyed values, lessons and collective experiences across generations. From the poems of ancient civilizations to the oral histories preserved by Indigenous cultures, stories have been vital in sharing group wisdom and preserving identity.

Feelings of isolation can take many forms. We can, of course, experience loneliness due to a lack of relationships, but how often have we experienced those same feelings while surrounded by other people? Feelings of isolation can wreak havoc on our health and well-being, contributing to poor sleep, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and low self-esteem.

While it is difficult to name a singular cause of loneliness, it’s important to recognize the need and frequency for connection will look different for everyone. This means there is no quick fix or one-size-fits-all solution. It may require some trial and error as you consider which avenues of support will be most beneficial for your own needs.

Today, storytelling remains a vital resource, helping people make sense of complex experiences and providing necessary strategies and resources.

Peer support programs are a modern-day example of humans gathering to share stories. This model involves sharing lived experiences which allows others to see themselves reflected and represented, creating felt safety in the community. Programs, particularly when led by individuals who have experienced similar challenges, offer hope and practical insights into overcoming adversity.

Peer support programs establish a collaborative process where individuals share vulnerability and forge meaningful bonds

reminding us that we are not alone, reducing the sense of isolation. These programs validate feelings and offer hope that healing is not only possible but a shared endeavor.

If you’re curious to learn more about peer support programs or looking for opportunities to share your own story, check out NAMI Greater Cleveland. NAMI GC provides completely free, peer-led programs throughout Cuyahoga County. These programs are dedicated to empowering those living with mental illness and their loved ones to achieve a better quality of life through education, support, information, and advocacy.

Reach out to the NAMI GC Helpline at

216-875-7776 or visit the NAMI Greater Cleveland website to get connected. As the mental health crisis continues to be a pressing public health concern, we need to invest in accessible, communitycentered programs. These nurturing environments go far beyond the superficiality of screen-based interactions, providing people with opportunities for quality connection.

While screens have benefits, they can’t replicate the richness of human connection arising from shared expression and vulnerability. Through peer support programs, we can reconnect with our shared humanity, finding not only personal healing but solidarity in the stories of others.

Even small moments of connection can help ease loneliness

Loneliness is a quiet and often misunderstood construct that presented itself to all of us during the pandemic. For some, this may have been their first real encounter with prolonged isolation — the kind that shifts from being a temporary, novel concept to a source of ongoing pain.

For me, though, loneliness has been a familiar concept, alongside chronic depression and anxiety. It’s a presence I’d grown accustomed to. Although the outside world may perceive my disposition as extroverted and outgoing, internally I often struggle with feeling as if I am the only one experiencing this pain.

Although familiar in many ways, the impact of universal isolation made me realize how powerful — and dangerous — loneliness truly is.

The pandemic’s effects extended beyond mental health, negatively impacting physical health and leading to an overall unhealthy community. Studies have shown a surge in anxiety, depression and even substance abuse due to the lack of human connection that we all experienced.

Although I knew what it was like to live with a mind that often casts doubts and distorts reality, even I felt the effects of isolation in ways I hadn’t before. Suddenly, everyone was in a situation similar to my own, feeling disconnected from the concept of “normal” everyday life. For those struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, like many of my friends in recovery, the effects were even more pronounced.

One saying that is often shared in recovery communities is, “The opposite of ad-

diction is connection.” This phrase struck me more profoundly than ever over the past few years. Those in any form of recovery know how crucial it is to have people to connect to, lean on, relate to and confide in. When people are deprived of that, they’re left vulnerable, turning back to maladaptive coping mechanisms simply to try to manage their feelings. Connection isn’t just a positive feeling; for most, it’s a lifeline — a fundamental human need that keeps us grounded, hopeful and strong.

Living with chronic depression and anxiety has shown me that loneliness exacerbates my symptoms in ways that can make my daily life feel insurmountable. Without the comfort of a warm embrace, a supportive push or even a brief interaction with a stranger at the grocery store, I begin to lose confidence that things will get better or feel “normal” again. The isolation of COVID made me realize how easy it is to slip further into despair without those vital moments of connection.

While I’ve often resisted reaching out in the past, the pandemic reminded me that we all need to make a conscious effort to connect — if not for ourselves, then for the people around us who might be suffering in silence.

Now, as we emerge from the loneliest days of the pandemic, I see an opportunity to revisit the way we think about mental health and connection. It’s not enough to acknowledge the toll of loneliness; we need to act.

We need to make a deliberate effort to rebuild our sense of community and to reach out to others, even if it feels awkward

or unnecessary. This doesn’t mean we need to change the world, but it does mean we need to approach things in a different way. It can start with small steps — sending a quick text, meeting a friend for coffee or even just saying hello when we pass someone in public. These little connections matter.

As a provider in this field, we don’t always see the profound impact of our work. Yet, the impact isn’t the sole reason we do the work, nor is it the reason we perform small acts of kindness. We do it because, on the off chance it helps change the trajectory of that person’s day, it’s all worth it. We all have the ability, through these small gestures, to change someone’s day or even their life.

Moving forward, I want to advocate for the idea that we all have a role to play in combating loneliness. You don’t have to struggle with depression, anxiety or addiction to feel the impact of isolation; it’s something that touches all of us. But if you’re someone who has felt the darkness of loneliness, as I have, then you understand that a simple conversation or a shared moment can be a glimmer of hope. The pandemic has reminded us that we are all connected, whether we realize it or not. In the end, perhaps the most important lesson to carry forward is that by reaching out, by connecting, we offer each other something invaluable: hope. For anyone struggling, let’s make sure that hope isn’t out of reach.

Brandon Bailys is clinical director at Thrive Peer Support.

Cassey Fye is a program director at NAMI Greater Cleveland.

We

all

experience loneliness. We can get

better at treating it.

The past four years has been a whirlwind of tragedies.

COVID highlighted the strengths as well as weaknesses within our communities.

One aspect of society that has gotten worse is loneliness. Loneliness is not new but it is reaching levels that even the U.S. Surgeon General called it a public health crisis. Loneliness is what occurs within us when we perceive a gap between our social desires and our actual experiences. It is me wanting to go to parties and have great social interactions, but not getting invited to anything. It is di erent from being alone or wanting to be by yourself at times.

Dr.

Beena Persaud is an outpatient psychologist at Cleveland Clinic Akron General.

In psychology, loneliness has been researched for decades, with studies looking at the impact it has on personality and physical health. Research tells us that loneliness is associated with higher mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and it is also a risk factor for medical issues such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis and even Alzheimer’s.

We see loneliness at various times in our life, and it expresses itself di erently at each of those stages.

Loneliness tends to follow a U shape across a person’s life. It is high for 18- to 25-year-olds, decreases for middle age

and then increases again around the age of 65. ere is a large correlation between social media and its negative mental health effects on the younger generation. e comparison and shaming that age group puts on themselves ends up isolating them more than they realize. ey believe they should be out traveling, partying, having amazing once-in-a lifetime experiences, but instead they are struggling in college, working multiple jobs, lacking money and too busy to do anything with their friends.

Again, their perception of what they should be experiencing and what they actually are experiencing is at odds.

Middle age brings many changes in our lives. We sometimes settle into jobs in our late 20s, get married and start having children. ese experiences lend themselves to meeting new people and having more opportunities to do things. Soon you are spending your weekends watching kids sports and activities with other parents. At this point, the perception is that you need to get your child to these activities, so they learn and grow, and your reality is that others are doing the same thing.

We then hit retirement, the time that all of us are working toward. However, retirement can severely diminish our daily social

There is a large correlation between social media and its negative mental health effects on the younger generation.

interactions. I’ve seen too many people plan meticulously for the nancial aspect of retirement, only to not know what to do with their time when it arrives.

The lack of hobbies, decreased physical health and function, loss of spouse through death or divorce, or increased cognitive and mental issues can easily lead to loneliness in this age group. People this age can also struggle with mortality — their own and that of their family and friends.

I have had many a client of advanced age come to see me regularly because I am their only social interaction. I also hear from medical colleagues about older patients using more resources, only to nd out that, again, this may be their only opportunity to interact with someone else.

What can we do about loneliness?

For one, we can admit that sometimes we feel it. We can feel it with our partner, we can feel it surrounded by people in a football stadium, and we can feel it when with our best friends. However, recognizing it can be the rst step in asking for help.

Secondly, the medical profession needs to become more versed in screening for loneliness, as well as having resources for help. ey have gotten better about asking about suicidal ideation and loneliness should be right there as a social variant question.

In psychology, we strive to help our clients feel mentally healthy and functional and that includes making sure that at the end of the day they do not return to their homes feeling lonely.

LONELINESS

As people work to combat their loneliness, society is shifting. Cleveland is redesigning its recreation centers to accommodate senior citizens, encouraging that age group to socialize more. Schools are contracting with therapists to teach young students social skills. Cleveland-area mental health groups report a move toward therapies such as equine or drama, as people seek connection through expression.

The changes, though still subtle, could be lifesaving for some, experts say. Loneliness is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression, anxiety and premature death. Murthy said in his advisory that the mortality impact is similar to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Loneliness also reduces productivity and keeps people out of the workforce. For those struggling with addiction or mental health issues, feeling lonely makes matters worse.

“It’s life or death for people,” said Mary McNamara, director of the Department of Aging for the City of Cleveland. “Loneliness hurts. I tell people all the time, it has physical impacts. … We all felt it during the pandemic.”

Loneliness is not a new feeling for humans. The New York Times recently reported that society has cyclically struggled with loneliness as major changes have taken root, such as the adaptation of new technologies. The article cites a study from the mid-2000s that found the feeling is a hangover from the early days of our species. To survive bigger threats, humans adapted to live in groups. Feeling isolated triggers those survival instincts, engaging our fight or flight mechanism.

As the article put it: “Early Homo sapiens, outgunned by all manner of long-toothed beasts and without natural armor, achieved safety through community. … Or the successful ones did, anyway. (The rest were eaten.) From an early age we seek community: on the playground, in the lunchroom and, later, around the office watercooler. Combating loneliness for certain groups has long been a priority. But recently, it feels like loneliness has reached a fever pitch.

Some attribute the crescendo to our increasing dependence on technology and remote routines that stuck after the pandemic. Socialization is a muscle, said Dr. Beena Persaud, a psychologist at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. That muscle atrophied during COVID lockdowns. Four years later, many are still struggling to rebuild that strength.

Being alone can be enjoyable. Loneliness is different. It is uncomfortable and the feeling can spiral, triggering issues like anxiety or depression, Persaud said. When it came time to re-emerge into society after COVID vaccines rolled out, people were nervous. They worried, “Will I be able to so-

cialize like I used to? What will I wear? Will people still like me?”

It’s a “paranoia that something is wrong with me and no one is going to want to hang out with me,” Persuad said. “It really affects people’s self-esteem.”

Typically, learning ways to cope with loneliness means finding meaningful connection with others. Persaud tells her patients to start by going to the grocery or picking up their own food. Even if they don’t have a conversation with anyone, being around others will help strengthen the socialization muscle.

Awareness is vital, too. Mental health experts say that many cannot identify loneliness as the source of their woes. People know they are depressed or anxious, but are rarely aware those issues can stem from the loneliness of

being disconnected.

Financial Times reporter Claire Bushey wrote in 2020 about the ever-present throb of loneliness.

“Lonely as a cloud? I am as lonely as an iceberg, an egg, a half carafe of wine. I am lonely as the body is hungry three times a day, hollowed again and again by an ache that does not ease except with the sustenance of connection,” she wrote. “Every day I forage for connection, and some days I go hungry.”

Crain’s talked to experts and people from different age groups about how they are foraging for connection, and how society is shifting as a result.

Loneliness in childhood

Hope Meadows, which provides

larly among children. More local schools have reached out to Hope Meadows to coordinate group sessions for students, who are more frequently struggling with social anxiety and having difficulties making friends. It’s to the point where “it is an absolutely brutal experience to have to sit with or participate with others,” Quella said.

Middle school-age groups seem to have the largest need, Quella said. Hope Meadows recently launched two groups for sixththrough eighth-graders in one week. The mini horses, though, were added to the herd to accommodate even younger children.

The now-kindergarteners who were babies during the pandemic are having a hard time interacting with their new peers.

“Having time out of school and being isolated for a really long time, I think for some, that really did take a toll,” Quella said. “We’re dealing with that now.”

Hope Meadows declined to connect Crain’s with any program participants for confidentiality reasons. However, Quella said the nonprofit tripled its monthly programming hours between July 2023 and July 2024. It has plans to build a larger stable over the next three years that could accommodate 10 more horses and larger groups of participants.

There has been a shift in the type of therapy people seek in recent years, said Cassey Fye, program director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Cleveland, or NAMI. People are turning toward expressive therapies — like art, music or equine.

“People are looking for meaningful connection, and that’s shifting even trends within therapy,” Fye said.

Loneliness at middle age

The need for connection is being felt in the workplace, too.

More than 35% of workers feel loneliness more commonly now than before the pandemic, according to data from the Society for Human Resource Management, or SHRM. There is no significant difference between on-site and remote workers.

equine-assisted mental health services, has roughly doubled its herd in the past year. It’s up to 14 horses — 11 full-size and three minis.

“Peanut is 96 pounds, which is smaller than my German shepherd,” said Rebecca Quella, therapist and program coordinator of the Medina County nonprofit. “We can serve young children now.”

Horses, it turns out, are great at teaching people social and emotional skills. As prey animals, they are fully present, listening, smelling and watching their surroundings. They teach mindfulness, and do not judge. Quella said people learn a lot about how to socialize with humans just from interacting with them.

The need for such a service has increased in recent years, particu-

The issue is worst among Gen Z and millennial workers. While 19% of overall workers reported being disengaged weekly, 30% of Gen Z workers and 26% of millennial workers reported the feeling.

“People are just feeling disconnected more so than they would’ve been if the expectation or the practice would’ve been to be in five days a week,” said Wendi Safstrom, president of SHRM Foundation, the organization’s nonprofit arm. “People don’t have as much planned time to foster and develop those connections.”

Call it an adjustment period to a new post-pandemic norm. Despite the loneliness issue, many workers do still find benefits in a hybrid work schedule and do not want to see that change. It’s up to

Bailey is one of the horses at Hope Meadows, an organization that provides equine-assisted mental health services. | HoPE mEADoWS PHoToS

Hope Meadows added mini horses, like Pookie, to their herd in response to the increasing need to provide services to younger children.

employers to gure out how to combat the feelings of isolation while keeping workers happy with their remote schedule.

Managers, for their part, are paying attention. Ninety percent of executives said culture and connection are lacking for the remote team members, according to SHRM’s data. Many have sought ways to make it better. Safstrom said she’s seen workplaces launch gatherings for certain groups — such as veterans or working parents — to encourage connection. e key for employers is to create inclusivity. One-on-one sessions between a boss and employee also help.

Employees who are chronically lonely in the workplace miss an average of 15 more days per year than non-lonely coworkers, according to SHRM’s data. ey also receive poorer job performance ratings, and are less emotionally committed to their employer. As such, loneliness can a ect employee retention.

“Like any other challenges with mental health, stress, depression, isolation, it does have a link to productivity,” Safstrom said. “Which is exactly one of the reasons why organizations have paid attention.”

It is, of course, a vicious and interconnected circle. Loneliness exacerbates mental health challenges. But half of workers say they are not comfortable using or asking for their workplace’s mental health resources, according to SHRM.

Not being able to work can cause loneliness, too.

Katie Munetz has struggled with loneliness for the better part of two decades.

It started after she was sexually abused in college, and pushed into an alcohol addiction when she was not yet old enough to legally drink. She received treatment, but then developed chronic health issues that kept her out of the workforce. She moved back to Ohio for medical care, but could not make friends or establish any Alcoholics Anonymous connections because she was sick. en the pandemic hit.

She felt utterly alone.

“ e loneliness aspect can spiral and really a ect somebody’s entire life,” said Munetz, a 36year-old Shaker Heights resident. “ ere are real world consequences just for feeling really alone.”

Munetz, now 16 years sober, knew she had to do something. She started volunteering, and discovered it was a salve for her loneliness. Munetz works with NAMI Greater Cleveland, talking to other people who are struggling with mental health issues or loneliness. She’s able to relate to people and make them feel like they aren’t going through their challenges alone.

Loneliness among the elderly

ere is a lazy river at the Frederick Douglass Neighborhood Resource and Recreation

A national sample of U.S. adults age 50 to 80 shows a lack of companionship, feelings of isolation, and rates of social interactions were exacerbated during the pandemic and are improving in recent years, though not yet to pre-pandemic levels.

Center in southwest Cleveland. Older adults use it as a waterlled walking path.

Rec centers are often thought of as a place for kids. It’s where they shoot hoops, hang out after school or cannonball into the pool in the summer. Cleveland is trying to change that reputation.

As the city remodels its aging rec centers, it is redesigning them with all ages in mind, said McNamara, the city’s Department of Aging director.

Fueled by baby boomers and less procreation among the young, Cleveland, like the rest of the country, is in the middle of what McNamara called an “age wave.”

e newer rec centers are getting at entrances, more meeting room space and other features, and have seniors-only hours and activities geared toward older adults. e Frederick Douglass center, which is about three years old, has a meeting room with an attached kitchen for cooking demos, and hosts computer classes for seniors.

e city also solicited input from seniors when it was hatching its plan to develop the lakefront, McNamara said. ey asked for ample benches, accessible parking and more.

“Our places of gathering, are they age friendly? Do we have places where there are benches and access to bathrooms and someone feels the sidewalks are smooth?” she said. “We’re seeing this pendulum shift and communities are changing.”

Older adults are often at high risk for loneliness. Many have left the workforce, had peers and spouses die, given up car keys as they age and their daily interactions diminish.

Note: These results, obtained Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2024, are based on 6,289 U.S. adults surveyed online as a part of the Gallup Panel, a probability-based panel of about 100,000 adults across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. | Source: Gallup

In a 2022-23 survey of respondents around the world, 24% of the global population felt ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ lonely, and young people aged 19-29 reported higher loneliness than adults 65 and older.

McNamara’s department hosts walks around the city for older adults. ey started pre-pandemic with just one walk a year downtown. e city expanded the program, and now hosts walks throughout Cleveland’s neighborhoods. Almost 200 people show up for each walk. is year, the walks will move indoors for the winter, when the city will host three a week. McNamara said participants like knowing everyone will walk at a similar pace.

Annie Acree, 73, usually walks with her granddaughter, but needed a new walking buddy when the 11-year-old went back to school this fall. She and her husband started attending the senior walks then.

“I really enjoyed it,” said Acree, a resident of Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood. “We both did.” Acree’s husband ran into old high school friends, and both saw people they knew from church. ey met new folks, too, who they’ve seen at other walks since. Acree said she doesn’t normally feel lonely or isolated, but the walks have been a good way to get out of the house and socialize in a healthy way.

“We just walk and talk,” she said. “But it’s the idea we’re not sitting here watching TV.”

Katie Munetz works with NAMI Greater Cleveland, helping those who are struggling with mental health issues or loneliness. | KEN BLAZE

The percentage of people who said in response to a web-based poll that they experienced loneliness a lot of the day yesterday.

LIST

LARGEST PHILANTHROPIC GIFTS IN NORTHEAST OHIO

Six possible replacements for Vance’s Senate seat

By Marcus Gilmer

Come January 2025, Ohio will have two fresh faces representing the state in the U.S. Senate, including one appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Bernie Moreno’s win over Sherrod Brown will put him in the high chamber, but DeWine is now tasked with picking a replacement for JD Vance, who will vacate his seat to become vice president of the United States.

But there’s more to come with that seat in a relatively short amount of time.

Whomever DeWine picks to replace Vance — more on that in a moment — will hold the seat for roughly the next two years.

State law, though, requires that a special election be held to fill the seat at the next state election, which will be in November 2026. If DeWine’s appointee loses or chooses not to run in that special election, the winner will take over the seat in mid-December 2026 and fulfill the rest of Vance’s term, which runs through 2028.

As for who DeWine might pick, there’s a long list of potential names, all Republicans.

Matt Dolan: State Sen. Dolan, part of the family that owns the Cleveland Guardians, is probably high up on the list given that he was endorsed by DeWine during the 2024 GOP primary that he ultimately lost to Moreno.

Sec. of State Frank LaRose: Like Dolan, LaRose lost to Moreno in the 2024 GOP primary for

MORENO

bill, passed in 2022, offers more than $200 billion in investments to boost national semiconductor chip manufacturing.

Whether that will have a chilling effect on Intel’s $20 billion plan to build two chip factories in central Ohio is now a big question.

Energy Independence

Another stated priority of Moreno’s is “to unleash American energy” in the hopes of achieving energy independence.

coal, natural gas and nuclear.

Moreno’s win could deal a harsh blow to Northeast Ohio’s burgeoning solar and electric vehicle supply chain.

Dealing with ‘Big Tech’

Holding “Big Tech” accountable was a campaign promise for both Moreno and Brown.

The specifics of that policy from a businessman who invested in blockchain technology after selling his car dealerships are not entirely clear.

Moreno’s win could deal a harsh blow to Northeast Ohio’s burgeoning solar and electric vehicle supply chain.

That unleashing, however, does not include any government subsidies for wind and solar. (Donald Trump, who endorsed Moreno during the 2024 primary, has long taken a stance against windmills as an energy option.)

The energy Moreno talks about is what he referred to during an appearance at the City Club of Cleveland as “abundant” and “reliable”

The issue became even more complicated during the campaign as four Silicon Valley billionaires infused a total of $40 million into a pro-Moreno political action committee late this summer. A big driver of that is that Brown, who has served as chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, has been skeptical of cryptocurrency.

Moreno is also a big backer of digital currencies and has advocated for something he called a federal strategic Bitcoin reserve and for allowing Bitcoin investment in 401(k) retirement funds.

Look for less banking and privacy regulations as Moreno’s win means a Republican flip of the U.S. Senate.

that U.S. Senate seat. Besides finishing a distant third in that race, though, he faced heavy criticism for moving the SOS office to the same building as his 2024 campaign office and for the confusing language he’s placed on the ballot over the past two years for Ohio’s constitutional amendment on abortion protections and antigerrymandering.

U.S. Rep. Mike Carey: Though Carey just won re-election in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, multiple media reports have linked him to discussions as Vance’s potential replacement.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost: Two Republican leaders in Ohio who flirted with a run in 2022 are likely in the running, too. Both Husted and Yost are considered likely candidates for the 2026 Ohio governor’s race when DeWine will step down due to term limits. But with the prize of a U.S. Senate seat potentially in play, it’s possible one ditches the governor’s mansion race for the U.S. Capitol.

Vivek Ramaswamy: The Columbus-based entrepreneur made a bit of a splash with his short-lived presidential candidacy, quickly pivoting to a Trump surrogate. One wrinkle: He recently announced he’s moving his finance firm Strive Asset Management from Columbus to Texas. It’s unknown if he intends to also relocate or if he intends to work for the firm from Columbus or another location (like, say, Washington, D.C.).

Crypto celebrates Moreno’s win

Republican Bernie Moreno unseated the incumbent Democrat in Ohio’s Senate race, a major win for crypto companies that had funneled millions of dollars into his campaign.

Moreno, a car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur, defeated Sherrod Brown late on election night, helping the GOP gain the Senate majority. Brown, a crypto skeptic and the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, was one of the most high-profile Democrats vying for election.

Pro-crypto super PAC Fairshake spent some $40 million to defeat Brown in one of its priority races. Brown is an ally of Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who led the agency in a crackdown on the crypto sector over the past few years. Donors to Fairshake — one of the most powerful PACs in Washington — include Coinbase Global Inc., Ripple Labs Inc. and the founders of Andreessen Horowitz.

Moreno’s race was a crucial test of whether the more than $180 million donated by the

crypto industry to candidates on both sides of the aisle this election cycle had been well spent.

The sector poured unprecedented amounts of funding into the campaigns of candidates viewed as more likely to pass crypto-friendly laws. The SEC has been engaging in litigation with firms including Coinbase

and Ripple, where it’s argued that existing financial rules also apply to crypto.

Born in Bogota, Colombia, Moreno has been a longtime supporter of crypto and a regular attendee at industry conferences. In 2018 he co-founded blockchain firm ChampTitles, which aims to eliminate the need for states to issue paper titles for cars. He recently sold his stake in the company, according to his website.

Moreno has also clashed with Elizabeth Warren, one of the Senate’s most prominent crypto skeptics, who was reelected in Massachusetts.

“Forever politicians like Sherrod Brown and Joe Biden don’t understand the first thing about crypto and are totally unqualified to regulate it. They are obsessed with destroying crypto because they hate American innovation,” Moreno said in a post on X.

A large number of pro-crypto candidates have been elected to Congress, according to data from the Stand with Crypto Alliance advocacy group. More than 260 pro-crypto candidates won seats in the House of Representatives, while 18 were elected to the Senate.

By Emily Nicolle and Sidhartha Shukla, Bloomberg

Sen. JD Vance speaks at an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. | BLoomBERG

Dolan Carey Yost LaRose Husted Ramaswamy

Crypto companies funneled millions of dollars into Republican Bernie Moreno’s campaign for U.S. Senate. | BLoomBERG

MUSARRA

Over her long life, the length of which was discretely left out of her obituary, Musarra wore many hats, often literally. Musarra came across like a character from a great novel — you half expected her to introduce you to Jay Gatsby at the Shoreby Club — and she had the hats to match. (“Her hat game was incredible,” Altman said.)

She spent years modeling with David Lee in Cleveland and maintained both her fashion sense (she loved high heels) and her vanity. For years, everyone else at Chestnut Hill had a staff photo on the website, but Musarra’s photo was a clip-art picture of a woman in silhouette wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a veil.

To clients around town, she was an adviser and an advocate. But she could also be a surrogate mother (especially to young athletes who found themselves away from their own mothers for the first time), a superhero (several Browns players nicknamed her Batman, since calling her was like sending up the Bat Signal) and, most commonly, a friend.

“She used to deliver Christmas gifts every year to my daughters,” Cavaliers CEO Nic Barlage said. “She was one of those people who always put others before herself. She was such a caretaker and a guiding light around the city. She was always Cleveland first. She cared so much about the teams and she worked with so many players, but it wasn’t about the players being players. It was about the players being humans. It was about taking care of people.”

Musarra handled housing sales for a two-decade stretch of Cavs coaches — from Paul Silas to J.B. Bickerstaff to the current coach, Kenny Atkinson — as well as many of the current and former players.

She grew so close to former Indians catcher Carlos Santana that she once spent 24 hours at his wife’s bedside while she was giving birth to their daughter, Savian. When Matthew McConaughey was in town for a movie, she put him up in a rental house. When former Cavaliers executive Shelly Cayette-Weston arrived in Cleveland, she picked her up from the airport, then later attended her wedding (in New Orleans, no less)

“She was one of those people who always put others before herself. She was such a caretaker and a guiding light around the city. She was always Cleveland first. She cared so much about the teams and she worked with so many players, but it wasn’t about the players being players. It was about the players being humans. It was about taking care of people.”

Nic Barlage, Cavaliers CEO

and arranged her baby shower.

When Altman arrived in Cleveland as a “lowly scout” 13 years ago, she picked him up at Cleveland Hopkins, an airport that doesn’t always make a great first impression to visitors. After driving him through Brooklyn, Parma and a then-underdeveloped downtown, Altman blurted out, “Linda, are there any nice areas in Cleveland?”

There were. And she knew them all.

“The thing I loved most about her was her passion for the city and the value of its real estate and the beauty of Cleveland,” Altman said.

“She really puts you at ease. You think about the people that come to town — sports figures, doctors and attorneys that come to town to work for these organizations who have never been to Cleveland, or have only been here briefly — and you need someone who knows this real estate market, someone who is going to show you something beautiful and spectacular and make you feel really good about your purchase.”

Of course, Musarra would never tell you about those clients. (“I can’t talk about them, honey.”)

Chestnut Hill is known for being secretive, and Musarra took that to extremes. Case in point: Two years ago, when I was researching a story about the housing market for pro athletes in Cleveland, Musarra invited me to the Shoreby Club, bought me lunch, gave me a personal tour of the club and didn’t provide a single thing for the story, on or off the record.

It was the nicest “no comment” I’ve ever received. And the most exasperating.

“We were her clients and we knew she was going to protect our names, our image, our likeness and our pockets,” Altman said. “We’re never going to fill her shoes. I mean, right now, if we bring

someone to town, who do we give them to? Who are you going to trust to help find housing for you, your athletes, your staff, your coaches?”

Altman laughed, then added, “It’s almost like a head coaching search. We're gonna have to really go deep here and vet who else we wanna put in that position.”

Musarra’s ability to connect with people went beyond words, sometimes literally. Chestnut Hill owner Craig Cantrall recalled that Musarra once helped some Chinese clients buy a house in Cleveland, despite them not speaking English and her not knowing a word of Chinese. Afterward, both Third Federal and the title company called Musarra, asking for their “interpreter.”

She came. And when it came to doing business, Musarra was all business — someone who fought for her clients as if they were family.

“She was tough,” Chestnut Hill Vice President Brian Cantrall said. “If you were on the other side of the deal with her, she didn’t make things easy.”

Added Cleveland real estate agent Adam Kaufman, who was often on the other side of those deals, “She could drive me crazier than any person on the planet, but I couldn’t stay mad at her for more than two seconds. She was driven by her heart and she managed to find something good in everyone.”

Of course, Musarra wasn’t perfect, particularly when it came to showing up on time. Craig Cantrall admitted that it took Chestnut Hill a while to realize she had passed away because, when she didn’t arrive for a client meeting, he figured, “Well, she’s always late.”

“She couldn’t be on time to save her life,” Kaufman said. “I’d be sitting there waiting for her, kicking the wall and saying, ‘I’m gonna kill her’ and she’d show up 45 minutes

later and say, ‘I’m sorry, honey, I tried.’ And I would just burst out laughing.

“If she had to go to her own funeral, we’d all be sitting there for an hour waiting.”

There’s an old belief that people who die in their sleep are blessed by God, and Kaufman believes the way Musarra died was a blessing.

“She would not have done well being sick,” he said. “That wouldn’t have

worked for her. She was so full of piss and vinegar. She went out the way she would have wanted to go.”

And her death leaves both a void and a legacy in Cleveland, CayetteWeston said.

“She was one of those people who said, ‘If you need a cup of soup in the middle of the night, I’ll be there. If you don’t have family here, I’ll be your family,’” Cayette-Weston said. “She was so much more than a realtor. She felt like family. The impact she had on people, and the care she showed, will live on forever, for sure.”

Of course, there’s just one more thing: her age. As I said, it’s not listed in her obit. When Craig Cantrall was asked, he said, “I would say just leave it out." But it’s easy enough to figure out based on her birthday (March 12) and a Google search.

But as I tried to type it, I could almost hear Musarra’s voice in my ear:

“Oh, you can’t tell them that, honey.”

Linda Musarra poses in front of the Shoreby Club in Bratenahl. | CHeSTNUT HILL reALTY

New college hopes to solve Ohio’s dentist shortage

By Paige Bennett

The first three outside visitors to stop by Dr. John Langell’s office after he became president of Northeast Ohio Medical University had the same request for him: start a public dental school.

It wasn’t something that had been at the top of mind for Langell, who became the Rootstown medical school’s seventh president in 2019, but two of those visitors happened to be Dr. Cliff Deveny, president and CEO of Summa Health, and Donna Skoda, health commissioner at Summit County Public Health.

“Given the fact that these were some important and influential people in health care in the region, I decided I needed to take a significant look at this,” Langell said. “We began to roll our sleeves up and look at what the need really was.” What they found was that oral health care was the No. 1 unmet health need of Ohioans and that dental visits were a common cause of emergency department visits throughout the state. Plus, a staggering 37 of Ohio’s 88 counties are considered dental health professional shortage areas — a federal distinction for a geographic area, population or facility with a shortage of primary dental health care providers — according to data from the Ohio Department of Health.

With demand high, NEOMED officials decided in 2022 to move forward with a dental college. The Bitonte College of Dentistry, the Buckeye State’s third dental college, will welcome its first cohort in fall 2025. Officials hope the program will help address Ohio’s dental access and workforce crisis.

“It was very, very mission aligned,” Langell said. “We are a public institution, which means our job is to serve the taxpayers of Ohio. And we are a 100% health and science focused graduate-level institution, so doing dentistry

made complete sense to us.”

A mix of federal and state funding and philanthropy has helped pave the way for the endeavor, including a $10 million commitment from the Dr. Dominic A. and Helen M. Bitonte Family Foundation. NEOMED recently broke ground on a 55-chair simulation training lab and 30-chair community dental clinic. Students will also receive clinical training at health centers throughout the state as part of a partnership with Ohio’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).

ally opens in the spring. Still, response has been significant, Beck said. NEOMED already has received 1,500 applications for the program’s 50 open slots.

Langell said the institution is largely recruiting an in-state student body.

Bitonte College received accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation on July 1, said Dr. M. Frank Beck, the inaugural dean of the Bitonte College of Dentistry.

Receiving accreditation over the summer put the college on a delayed recruitment timeline, Beck said. The American Dental Education Association’s application usu-

“(We want to) try and get them exposed to rural and urban areas, especially those areas where dental shortages are high,” he said. “Because we know if we train them there and they become familiar with taking care of those populations, then they are far more likely to stay here and to serve those communities.”

Ohio’s oral health care crisis has been well-documented. Getting access to dental care was the most common unmet health care need among children, according to the results of the 2021 Ohio Medicaid Assessment Survey.

The lack of accessible dental care means a lot of patients wind

Woodside Health and Heitman set second medical office joint venture

By Stan Bullard

Woodside Health, the Independence medical office building investment and management firm, has formed a second joint venture with Heitman LLC, the Chicago-based global real estate investment management firm, this one for $350 million.

Woodside’s prior joint venture last year was $140 million. Four properties in Woodside’s medical outpatient facility portfolio in Arizona, Nevada and Texas were recapitalized as part of the new, second joint venture. A specific value for that deal was not disclosed, but it is part of the $350 million joint venture.

Ben Barr, a Woodside Health principal, told Crain's that the additional joint venture allows Woodside to significantly expand

its potential acquisitions and supplements investments from a group of high-net-worth individuals who provide equity for its other investments.

“The joint venture allows us to buy larger portfolios than we could syndicate on a one-off basis,” Barr said. Woodside also has additional investments with Heitman in the works and expects to close a few more deals before the end of the year.

Heitman has $49 billion in assets under management as of Sept. 30, and it makes property investments through private equity, debt and publicly funded securities.

Brian Pieracci, head of private equity, North America at Heitman, said in a news release announcing the joint venture, “We are excited to expand our rela-

tionship with Woodside Health and to aggregate a medical office portfolio in markets poised for growth. The joint venture focuses on markets with strong healthcare fundamentals, which we believe, should benefit from secular demand drivers, including an aging US population base and movement of medical services into outpatient settings.”

The four Woodside properties recapitalized in the second joint venture have a combined size of 315,000 square feet and are 92% occupied by a diverse group of medical tenants. The properties are Arrowhead Creekside and Deer Valley Medical Tower, both in Phoenix, Arizona; Pecos Plaza in Las Vegas, Nevada; and Park Lakes Landing in Houston, Texas. The initial joint venture incorporated 10 properties.

munities, said Julie DiRossi-King, president and CEO at the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers.

The association has a program with the Ohio Department of Health in which the state distributes funds to provide medical, dental, behavioral health and other health care students with clinical rotations in FQHCs.

DiRossi-King said partnerships like these are a “true blessing” for FQHCs, which often struggle with recruiting workers.

Under NEOMED’s education model, third- and fourth-year students will train at FQHCs in pairs, Lawson said. Many of the health centers have places for students to stay during their training in case they live further away, she said.

up in emergency departments that are not equipped to handle serious dental issues, Beck said. Oftentimes, these patients are told to find a dentist and prescribed an opioid or antibiotic, which helps fuel the opioid crisis, Beck said.

The mouth is “the gateway to the body,” said Susan Lawson, director of oral health services at the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers. Problems such as heart disease can be detected by bacteria in the mouth. Poor oral hygiene also can lead to infections and tooth decay.

The dental crisis is particularly concerning in Ohio’s rural counties and at FQHCs — nonprofit clinics that provide health care services in underserved areas — where dentists are in short supply.

“If I had 10 dentists, I could probably find 10 dentists right now a job in Ohio,” Lawson said.

Along with workforce shortages, there’s also a maldistribution of health care providers (including dentists) in under-resourced com-

“It's really great because then one of them is gonna be the (dental) assistant while the other one is going to do the dentist part,” Lawson said. “Then they'll switch so that they'll get that experience, too.”

DiRossi-King said the program may introduce students to the community health center model.

“A lot of our health centers don't have marketing budgets,” she said. “You're working on a shoestring budget. So it's a great exposure to the students to our model of care and working with our patient populations.”

Beck, who has spent more than 40 years in postdoctoral education, said the program will provide a robust clinical training experience that prepares students in many areas, including high-end procedures like implants or root canals.

Bitonte College will be Ohio’s first new dental school in more than 100 years. The state’s other two dental colleges are at Ohio State and Case Western Reserve universities.

NEOMED estimates the fouryear program will cost $57,000 in annual tuition.

Both joint venture partners were in the medical office building space before it became a darling of investors this past decade because the niche was expanding while office space for general use was consolidating. Woodside was launched in 2008 and Heitman, which dates from 1966, has been investing in medical office buildings for 20 years.

Over its 16-year history, Wood-

side has acquired more than 3 million square feet of properties valued at more than $800 million spanning eight states. In addition to Ben Barr, Woodside’s other principals are Joe Greulich, Ben Sheridan and Ted Barr, who lead Woodside along with four key vice presidents.

Some partners in Woodside are also the operators of Crescendo Commercial Realty brokerage and property investment concern.

Deer Valley Medical Tower in Phoenix is one of four Woodside Health properties recapitalized in the Independence firm’s latest joint venture with Heitman. | CoNTRIBUTED

Langell

Crain's Cleveland Business, November 11, 2024

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