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For those that are not in the know, we here at Mecca Media Entertainment have decided to take on the responsibility to bring to the community a weekly broadcast for The Reporter Newspaper. The program will be featured weekly here on this page and the home page of this site.

The Reporter Newspaper is an all black operated and black-owned weekly newspaper/publication that's been telling our stories for 50 years. In 2016 The Reporter Newspaper announced that they were available online @thereporternewspaperonline.com which is the online equivalent (website) of the tangible form.

Now in-conjunction with Mecca Media Inc. you can hear/ see the news being read directly from the website via a weekly broadcast. The show is hosted by -Hiram Akeem

City Of Akron Extends Income Tax Filing Deadline To July 15

 

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Akron, Ohio, March 27, 2020 – The City of Akron is extending its deadline for filing individual and business income tax returns to July 15, 2020.  In light of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, the federal government moved the federal income tax filing deadline to July 15, 2020.  The State of Ohio has also extended its deadline to July 15, 2020 by action of the Tax Commissioner of the State of Ohio and Ohio House Bill 197, which was signed by Governor Mike DeWine today.  

The City of Akron income tax filing deadline is directly tied to the State deadline by City ordinance.  (See Section 104.084(E) of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Akron).  Therefore, the City of Akron’s deadline has been automatically extended to July 15, 2020. No penalties or interest will be charged as a result of any individual or business filing their 2019 return on or before July 15, 2020. 

To protect public health and prevent spread of COVID19, the City of Akron Income Tax offices are temporarily closed to the public. However, City income tax filings will continue to be accepted by mail or online at any time. For detailed information about how to file, please visit www.akronohio.gov/incometax or contact the staff at incometax@akronohio.gov.  (Please note that the website will be updated with information about the extended deadline as soon as possible.)

 

For further information, contact:
Ellen Lander Nischt
Press Secretary
Phone: 330-375-2325
E-mail: ELander@akronohio.gov

 

City Of Akron Temporarily Suspending Public Access To In-Person Customer Service Windows

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Akron, Ohio, March 16, 2020 – After careful consideration and to ensure the safety of the City of Akron citizens and employees, the City of Akron will be closing customer service departments to in-person visits effective immediately, until further notice. Please see the information provided below in regards to the various divisions and how they will be accommodating correspondence and payments during this time. 

Taxation Office - Customers may file their returns and make payments through the following:

Tax Auditors can answer questions and assist customers by phone at (330) 375-2290.

Utilities Business Office – Customers may make payments through the following:

  • Over the phone at (330) 375-2554.

  • Online at http://www.akronohio.gov/billpay

  • By mail to: Utilities Business Office, PO Box 3674, Akron, OH, 44309. 

  • Drop off at the exterior depository slot located at 146 S. High Street.

The office will remain in operation to answer calls and process remote and drop-off payments.

Zoning – Submissions for Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, or Zoning Certifications can be handled by:

  • Email sent to the City of Akron Zoning Division at zoning@akronohio.gov

  • Mail sent to: 166 S. High Street, Room 405, Akron, OH  44308-1654

General questions can also be answered by phone at (330)-375-2350. 

Licenses and Assessments - Customers can submit and pay licenses, assessments and traffic camera tickets in the following alternative manners:

  • License applications can be retrieved online at www.akronohio.gov/licenses

  • Licenses applications and payments can be mailed to: 166 S. High Street, Suite 505, Akron, OH 44308.

  • Traffic speed enforcement tickets can be paid online at www.violationinfo.com  or by mail to: City of Akron Automated Mobile Speed Enforcement Program, Payment Processing Center, PO box 35131, Seattle, WA  98124-5131

General questions can also be answered by telephone at (330)-375-2484. 

Department of Human Resources - The office will remain in operation to answer calls, speak to customers and process applications.

Employment Division

Employee Benefits

  • Employees and retirees may contact Employee Benefits by phone at 330-375-2700.

  • Forms and documents may be faxed to 330-375-2239 or by email to benefits@akronohio.gov.

Please understand that these are temporary measures only in effect during the current outbreak. They are intended to enhance the City’s safety protocols in effort to protect the health of employees and the public. As further information develops, the City will react accordingly.

 

For further information, contact:
Annie McFadden
Chief of Staff
E-mail: AMcFadden@akronohio.gov

 

 

 Coronavirus Statement – Mayor Dan Horrigan

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“As the threat of COVID-19 continues to develop in Ohio, and in our region, the City of Akron has been proactively taking steps to mobilize our safety forces and other resources to prepare and protect our employees and community, and to assure that all essential City services are continuously provided.

As Mayor, the safety and well-being of our residents remains my top priority. At my direction, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Charles Brown—a thirty year public safety professional with training from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency related to large scale emergency events—has been leading preparedness efforts with our first responders from Fire/EMS, Police and the Safety Communications Center. His team has been receiving continuous guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Summit County Public Health and from lessons learned by other affected communities.

Our first responders will continue to be on the front lines, providing health care and emergency assistance during this event, and will therefore respond to potential COVID-19-related calls for service wearing Personal Protective Equipment to better safeguard our citizens and themselves. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure that we will have the staffing levels needed to address possible increased demands on our emergency medical services.

Yesterday, Governor DeWine announced his decision to close all schools for three weeks. In alignment with that statewide directive, all City of Akron community centers will be closed beginning Monday, March 16. We will plan to reopen centers Monday, April 6, unless otherwise advised by state and local public health officials. All programming at community centers will cease, with the exception of Election Day, Tuesday, March 17, for those centers that serve as polling locations. Voters can look up their polling location here.

For City of Akron employees, we have cancelled business travel through June 30th and postponed non-essential meetings. We continue to review other City employment policies in light of the evolving guidance from public health officials. We have authorized new purchases of necessary cleaning and sanitizing supplies and have increased frequency and coverage of cleaning services within City buildings.

While this situation continues to change rapidly, I have full confidence in the City of Akron’s skilled workforce, especially our first responder community. We are well-trained and well-prepared for events such as this and we will continue to adapt as necessary to safeguard our community during this difficult time. I commend our public health officials at the local state levels for their diligent work so far and encourage everyone to follow their guidance when making decisions about events, travel, and good hygiene practices. I will stand alongside them to do what is best for our community in the days, weeks and months to come. To learn more about City updates and closures, visit akronohio.gov. For the latest on COVID-19 updates, please visit coronavirus.ohio.gov.”

For more information on City updates in regards to COVID-19 please visit akronohio.gov/COVID19

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