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The Life & Times of Ralph J. Perk

Major Achievements as Mayor of Cleveland

• 1971-72
  • Mayor Perk’s initial budget is under $90m, a $27m debt, a $13.6m operating deficit, and a $35m federal debt.
  • Mayor Perk and city employee unions avoid wage cuts and service layoffs by reducing the city debt.
  • Mayor Perk balances the city budget.
  • Mayor Perk borrows $9.6m from the state for operating expenses.
  • Mayor Perk recoups some of the $27m in lost federal funds through the Model Cities Program.
  • Mayor Perk secures $20m through the Impact Cities Program to reduce assaults, burglaries, and robberies.
  • Mayor Perk works with NOACA to obtain federal funds for new mass transit and freeway construction.
  • Mayor Perk secures land east of Burke Lakefront Airport to build a new dike and to dredge the river.
• 1972-73
  • Mayor Perk secures $288.5m in federal funds to create a new regional sewer district.
  • Mayor Perk completes the nation’s third largest housing rehabilitation program in the University-Euclid area.
  • Mayor Perk convinces council to finance the rebuilding of two MUNY-Light turbines at a cost of $260,000.
  • Mayor Perk reports an $80,000,000 surplus in the city’s interest bearing accounts.
  • Mayor Perk restores earlier instated employee pay cuts.
  • Mayor Perk begins a new treatment program for convicted drug addicts.
• 1974-75
  • Mayor Perk signs a 25-year Municipal Stadium lease with the Cleveland Stadium Corporation.
  • Mayor Perk tries unsuccessful to host the upcoming Republican National Convention.
  • Mayor Perk approves City Council’s new Gun Control ordinance.
  • Mayor Perk fails to get City Council to approve needed improvement funding for MUNY-Light.
  • Mayor Perk transfers the Cleveland Zoo to Metroparks.
  • Mayor Perk supports new emergency medical service.
  • Mayor Perk calls for strengthening city’s pollution laws.
  • Mayor Perk unable to get a new 5 mill MUNY-light tax.
  • Mayor Perk begins to modernize Cleveland Airport.
• 1975-76
  • Mayor Perk’s forms the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA).
  • Mayor Perk introduces House Bill 1327 establishing a land bank for foreclosed properties and vacant sites.
  • Major Perk congratulates the Playhouse Foundation on receiving a Cleveland Foundation grant of $20,000.
  • Mayor Perk wins lawsuit, CEI is found guilty of rigging MUNY-Light’s grid connections causing power failures.
  • Mayor Perk’s victory enables MUNY-Light to buy cheap power from other carriers over existing wires.
• 1976-77
  • Mayor Perk forms an International Relations and World Trade office.
  • Mayor Perk dedicates the new airport terminal.
  • Mayor Perk gets City Council to approve a 20-year tax abatement program.
  • Mayor Perk reports Cleveland’s unemployment rate is 7.6% a reduction from 1975 and 1976.
  • Mayor Perk reduces the city’s short-term debt from $148m in 1971 to $38m by 1977.
  • Mayor Perk spearheads efforts to control air pollution.
  • Mayor Perk’s primary loss prevents MUNY-Light sale and leads to the city’s default in 1978.
  • Mayor Perk starts CASH program where major lenders offer 3% rehabilitation loans to qualified homeowners.
  • Mayor Perk and Governor James Rhodes sign a lease turning over the lakefront parks to Ohio for 99-years.
  • Mayor Perk crusades against pornography by creating a six man Porno (Smut) Squad.