Stephanie Czekalinski, Author at The Land

Stephanie Czekalinski

Czekalinski had a decades-long career in journalism writing about immigration, violence, demographic change, and policy. Her award-winning work appeared in The Atlantic, The National Journal, and The Columbus Dispatch. She recently returned to journalism after taking a break from the work she deeply loved to care for her family. The experience was difficult and clarifying. She realized that the most intoxicating - and deeply missed - aspect of being a journalist was possessing the platform for truth-telling. What she learned in the purifying crucible of motherhood is that The Truth is best expressed by many people, that the world thirsts for expressions of experience that ring true, and that very few people feel empowered to speak Truth and share it with others. Now she’s embarking on a new adventure at NPR.

Who pays property taxes to support services when the economy is dominated by nonprofits?

By Stephanie Czekalinski ● Government ● June 23, 2022 June 24, 2022

Fifty years ago, when Clevelanders needed to fund schools, pay for parks or expand libraries they relied on booming tax revenue from large companies. General Motors, Republic Steel Corp. and Ford Motor Co. employed thousands of people and provided a tax base to fund services for the community. But Cuyahoga County’s economy has changed.

Color-coded map of Cleveland showing redlining

The debate over tax breaks for nonprofit Cleveland-area hospitals is also about racism and redlining

By Stephanie Czekalinski & Michael Indriolo ● Social Equity ● June 22, 2022 June 24, 2022

For years, hospitals and public policy wonks have been engaged in an ongoing debate over whether nonprofit hospitals provide adequate benefits to the community to make the tax breaks they receive a good deal for taxpayers. That debate is further complicated by the history of racist policies like redlining that still affect Clevelanders today.

Cleveland nonprofit hospitals get millions in property tax breaks. Many are asking, ‘Is it worth it?’

By Stephanie Czekalinski & Michael Indriolo ● Economy ● June 21, 2022 June 24, 2022

An Ideastream analysis of Cuyahoga County fiscal records shows that the clinic owned at least $2.4 billion in tax-exempt property countywide as of 2018 assessments. If that property was taxable, it would contribute about $84 million to government coffers annually.

Cuyahoga County is trying to address decades of disinvestment in communities of color. Is it working?

By Michael Indriolo & Stephanie Czekalinski ● Development ● April 15, 2022 May 27, 2022

Cuyahoga County officials say they’re committed to reducing health disparities through through economic development, but some local racial equity experts and community stakeholders question whether the county’s initiatives are having a real impact.

Stephanie Czekalinski

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