EAST CLEVELAND: I Toured The USA's Poorest Suburb

I visited East Cleveland, Ohio, the poorest suburb in the United States.

Travel Vlog 252

[wanderlore]

Joe, my husband had open heart surgery in June 2023. At Cleveland Clinic main campus. ICU 35 days, total time there 55 days. We live over in Hillsdale county MI. I slept in my jeep in the parking garage. There is no housing unless your there for a transplant or cancer care. Everywhere is a money trap.
I went around a decent bit. Doing laundry, shopping and car repairs. I have to say the Black Community was the nicest friendliest folks to this old 60 yr old white grandma. I regularly went down to poorer sections to do laundry and shop at dollar store. Never had a problem at all.
Did treat my hubby to take out a few times when he was better.."Juicy Seafood"..best food, best price.
Many like me sleeping in hospital parking due to high prices of hotels.
Son and his wife came to visit twice there. We drove downtown. It was beautiful and so quiet during the day.

[reallifehomerevealed]

*I remember visiting my grandma here as a kid and It was actually our getaway. The area was always nice and clean and everyone knew each other. She grew fruits and vegetables in her back yard. It started going down real bad real fast I would say mid 80s. I lived in EC in the early 90s and the amount of crime was outrageous. We drove by there years ago and I couldn't believe it was the same place. There was a feeling of despair and hopelessness. I damn near cried. I'm grateful I made it through. Thx for showing this.*

[RJC-_]

With each video I watch, I'm continually shocked and amazed at the astronomical decay of cities across the USA, its just unbelievable !

[NobleBo-ig]

I was raised in East Cleveland from the 60's to Mid 80's. I was a booming beautiful city. Most people own their homes back then, but the crack epidemic in the 90's started the downfall. Not to mention crooked politicians stealing money from the citizens. Then people like myself left for college, military service and other reasons. The original population got older and most of their children never returned. Then transit people started moving into the area. Its sad to see my old hometown decay in such a way. I pray they one day will become a great city again.

[akaJackLugar]

Those crime stats are WAY off because so many who are victims in E Cleveland simply don't report them for they know nothing will be done about it.

[RJ-iupw]

This was probably your best video ever. I could feel the emotion in your voice. I could feel you sensing what it was like for these poor people, with no hope.

[hizwayne]

The workmanship in those old homes is something that can’t be replicated. I wish more of them could be saved and renovated.

[elmoelbow]

My first apartment ever, was an East Cleveland back in 1971. I even remember visiting friends in the high-rise you featured. I also remember how the windows slid open without any covering for safety and a small child fell from a high floor back in 1990. I am in absolute shock and saddened that a community, once so vibrant, has fallen to that level of decay and abandonment.

[worninshoes]

I haven't seen Euclid Ave. in sixty years. What a travesty! Only three miles away are a couple of the finest museums in the country. Today's tour is just a half-hour bus ride away from where I spent boyhood. It might as well be a planet beyond Pluto. How fortunate are the officials that can pull down six-figure compensation to manage such a failure. Thanks for taking us along for the ride, Joe.

[SaritaLovesLiving]

You were brave and bold to drive through there. I'm from Greater Cleveland so I know how bad it is in East Cleveland.

[CharissePeoples]

My family moved to EC in 1967 and I grew up there and graduated from Shaw High School in 1985. We had football games at night, girls walked around at night after those games, our HS band was 2nd in the state in 1982, our Lady Birds competed in the state basketball championship in 1982, Darryl Talley went on to play for the Buffalo Bills, and there were plenty of family-owned businesses even after white flight. We had 5 Elementary Schools, one huge junior high school and one high school I mentioned. My elementary school was rebuilt twice and my son attended the same elementary as I did. We had gifted education and other career programs, Police Athletic League summer baseball, and The Chiefs summer football league The drug era ruined our city and, as was stated the corruption of city officials. The “beautiful” homes near the end are located near Forest Hill Park where we STILL celebrate our annual All Class Reunion picnics EVERY Labor Day weekend. I love and miss EC. The former citizenry needs to reinvest in the place that made us who we turned out to be, and that includes me!

[midway]

The local Politicians with the help of many in the local community have worked very very hard to ruin this once great city. What's incredible is this is being played out in countless cities in the US.

[katslat]

I'm in Cleveland and MANY years ago YOU WANTED East Cleveland and that would be about over 45 years ago. Across the street from the Huron Apartments at the very beginning of the video was Huron Road Hospital and it's gone now. 3 minutes into the video you pulled up into a corner store and that street that is blocked off with the apartment building, well those building were BEAUTIFUL back int he day. I mean GORGEOUS!! It's very sad to see it now.

[MailDude]

Those Gorgeous Brick Tudor Style Homes are referred to as "Rockefeller Homes." They all on the National List of Historic Registry ! Stunning !

[JustMeNoOther]

More and more cities start to look like a movie set for Escape From New York

[marcomcdowell]

It looked that way when I was a little kid in the 80s. There were beautiful homes on one block, then the next was wretched. My grandparent's family home was massive, well kept and a hub of activity. The house immediately to rear was decrepit and full of weeds. It truly did depend on whether your family was employed or not.

[catlover]

A very interesting and enlightening video. You can really see how lovely these neighbourhoods would have been in the past, some beautiful and unique architecture there. Thanks so much for showing us around, Joe, it's very much appreciated.💚

[StabStabStabStabby]

The abandoned houses are incredible. You can really see the previous wealth that was there. A lot of those houses would be a million pound in the UK.

[deeneedler]

I love watching your Chanel. I have learned things I didn't know. Never would have believed things in the US were so bad. I'm 75 . Just am amazed at the trash, poverty & homeless. I'm so blessed to live where I do. Keep up the good work & please stay safe!

[robertdesautels]

Great job, thanks for the tour. Big differences from one street to another. So sad to see what was and what they have become.