I think it's disgusting how our government can give billions of dollars away to other countries but can't spend a dime on tearing down condemned houses and building new homes for the people.

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

*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.*

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

You can see some people are really trying to keep their homes in nice condition. 😢

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.

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

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!

My daughter graduated from Case Western. East Cleveland’s poverty and lack of resources is very real.

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.

This was like a look into the past and how nice this part of Cleveland use to be. It’s a real shame that the city itself is in such a bad financial situation that even they can’t do anything about it. Especially to help out the kids .

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.

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

I used to live in East Cleveland. City is so corrupt no developer wants to touch it. Bought a cheap house three blocks away in City of Cleveland (proper) and it's not so bad. Fresh pavement, decent schools, and reliable services. I've explored many of those brownstone apartments and phone books would indicate they were abandoned in the late 90's. Great vid as usual!

Thanks for stopping nearby, just watched the Gary video and heard you mention my area next so I stuck around. I'm in Cleveland Heights. That building at the beginning I wouldnt say is a "crime hive", and the "road " you went down in front of it has been closed for a while, there has been a large water problem there which keeps tearing it up. There is a really nice park, Forest Hills Park, that is up behind that broken down apartment. There hass been some interesting stuff about it in the news lately because the Cleveland Metroparks were going to take over maintenance and its split between Cle Heights and East Cle, the East Cle side is in limbo at the moment due to some shenanigans. I go on walks and runs through that park on my lunch hour almost every day. The Cle Heights side has the location of the Rockefeller family home. The whole park was donated to the city by the Rockerfellers as long as it remained a public park area. The nicer area you went through towards the end is the Forest Hills District, they've done a good job of keeping their area nice. The Lakeview Cemetery would have been a nice cruise through as well, its a huge cemetery right nearby with lots of well known people buried there like Rockefeller, President Garfield, Elliot Ness and tons more, great place to go running as well. Many fantastic grave stones to view, and part of one of the Avengers films was filmed at the dam in the center of the cemetery.

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.💚

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!

East Cleveland...you have a lot of courage going there.

Imagine back in the 40s moving into a brand new house with the new house (pain) smell still fresh -- it would be beyond belief if you were told that 75 years later the whole neighborhood would be a crumbling slum. shocking

This is only the first video I've seen on this channel, but had to comment and give mad props for cruising through EC like this. I know locals that will straight up turn around if they reach that train bridge near Superior (Cle Heights/EC border) and double back on another route rather than risk losing their wallet, car or life at a red light... Massively sad state of affairs.

My best friends wife graduated from Case Western. The blight in East Cleveland is scary..Keep up the good work...Please stay safe Joe, and Nicole..!!

Been watching your videos for about 6 months. You bring notice to the plight of small town USA. Some of the towns you drive through would scare the hell out of me. This town was once very nice. Love your videos, keep them coming!

The City of East Cleveland's proposed budget for fiscal year 2023 is $36 million. The largest portion of the budget, about $17 million, is for the general fund, which supports the city's core services such as police, fire, and public works. Other major spending areas include the community development fund ($5 million), the parks and recreation fund ($4 million), and the library fund ($2 million). High debt: The city has a debt of over $20 million, which is a major financial burden.

WOW!!! Not sure what to say about all this. I was raised in upper Ohio and have not been back since I was about 6. This is nuts to see what this looks like now. I can't believe the city officials think it is okay to take that much pay while their city is falling down around them. That is not okay, they need to get a grip on reality. Thanks for sharing and you watch out for the "presents" at the bottom of the pot holes, no flat tires. Safe travels

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.

Those were some of the most incredible abandoned houses ever. Sad they will probably never be restored.

I lived in Cleveland from 1958 to 1974 was such a good place to live them days. Went back to visit old friend 3 years ago. Will never go back. Poor Cleveland

Used to live in Euclid, Ohio which is just east of East Cleveland. That was 20 years ago and we didn't venture into East Cleveland if we didn't have to. Never at night. If you go there, go armed. Just a warning.

Ok…thanks for showing East Cleveland. I grew up there, went to school there and lived there until I married in 1995. I am white and the street I lived on in EC there were only myself and another white family living there. The city was redlined about in 1970. It went from maybe 80% white to 80% black in 1-2 years. It was nobody’s fault except maybe the real estate people. To be honest the housing stock was pretty old and the baby boom generation was moving on after finishing school down there. It was a great place to grow up. Everything was within walking distance and the schools were excellent into the 70s. Like I said the housing stock was old. The house I lived in was built in 1890. You really need deep pockets to maintain those houses. But what really hurt the city was the politicians that came into office. Apathy allowed pure, out and out crooks to hold office. Mayor after mayor allowed the city to rot deeper and deeper. You opened with the site of the high rise. It’s on Terrace Rd. Opposite the building on the other side of Terrace was a Cleveland Clinic Hospital. It was a rather large hospital once called Huron Rd Hospital. CCF (Cleveland Clinic Foundation) decided to close it about 10 years ago. The city protested but the city and CCF came to a deal. CCF threw money at the city and who knows who got what but it’s gone now. As recently as this summer Cleveland Metro Parks was going to lease the EC portion of Forest Hill Park because the EC side is like the rest of EC. EC Council members blew the deal up and CMP backed out. And for the record…Forest Hill Park sits in EC and Cleveland Heights and this was a donation to both cities by John D. Rockefeller Jr. And within this park at a top of a hill in the park on the EC side is where John D. Rockefeller Sr. Had a giant mansion that burned down in 1917. In JDR’s day the park consisted of his mansion, his golf course, his boat house and lake, his horse stables and trails within the park. And for the record, Millionaires’ Row was closer to downtown Cleveland between East 55th and downtown. You were right though, it was on Euclid Ave. I hope that clears it up a little. While here and just on the western border of EC you would have Lake View Cemetery. You could make a great video there. It’s a beautiful cemetery and former arboretum of Cleveland. There you would have found the aforementioned J.D. Rockefeller and family graves. You would also find the mausoleum of President James Garfield. Also buried there is Alan Freed, Elliot Ness, Harvey Pekar, and many other notables too numerous to mention with ties to Cleveland and history. Again thanks and good luck! -NLP

What an amazing video❣️ I’ve watched many as my 96 year old grandmother owned a home on the Hill in East Cleveland. The beautiful area you went to at the end, it’s so nice to see it stands among the incredible poverty here.

Been waiting and crossing my fingers that you would tour EC. Thank you for taking the time.

Some years ago, we spent quite a bit of time in Cleveland, as my son had to get a series of operations at Cleveland Clinic hospital, which isn't very far from the area you visited. We used to like to eat at Tommy's restaurant in Cleveland Heights, and visit nearby Little Italy. One time I was driving around and came across some of the blight you showed here. It's real, and very sad. There are areas close to Interstate 90 that are pretty bad as well

no reason for east cleveland to continue to be its own city, it should just be absorbed by cleveland.

The winter heating costs for those old mansions must be astounding.

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.

All public officials that created this mess. Heartbreaking. I grew up and had relatives all over the Cleveland area. It’s shocking to me.

Cleveland Clinic main campus starts at Euclid and about East 80th. It is massive in itself, and has been rumored that they will slowly buy up the decayed neighborhoods for next to nothing. The crime is rampant in that area as well.

I grew up on the East Cleveland/Cleveland Heights border back in the ‘70s & ‘80s and E. Cleve. was already gone.

I live near Aurora, driving through East Cleveland is like entering another universe. It's such a shithole and it's a dangerous sore on Cleveland's reputation. It really is sad that the state/city can't repair this place. I don't even like going downtown anymore it's like the East side is leaking onto the streets and it's usually an uncomfortable experience until you get to wherever you're walking to downtown.

I live an hour and a half south of this. It's so sad what is happening in Cleveland. Very horrific kidnapping and crimes. And even Akron is getting bad. Breaks my heart.

Fatherless homes are an epidemic

So sad what has become of our once great nation

I got lost there a few years ago driving a truck turned down the wrong road ended up in an area know for violence against outsiders I truly believe the only reason I made it out was because one of the dudes saw the flag on my truck that stayed veteran and asked me if I am a veteran and I am so he helped me get turned around told the shipper about it and he told me that 2 days before this a truck driver had the same problem and he got stabbed and almost died in almost the exact same spot

Sad what EC has become. It was a thriving suburb when I grew up there. Heartbreaking to see this! Corrupt gov't is also responsible for this.

It kills me seeing those beautiful, magnificent homes abandoned and decaying. Wouldn’t you love to live in a house like that, wow.

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

I would like for you to verify that towards the end of that video I think some of that area was actually Cleveland Heights. It’s pretty hard to believe that there are any homes of any significant value left in East Cleveland.

My family moved out of East Cleveland to Cleveland Heights in 1980 when I was 2 years old. Black flight from EC has been going on for a long time. It's sad, because even as recent as the 90's EC was nothing like this.

Good Lord! The community leaders and politicians should be ashamed of themselves. I can't even believe that these types of conditions exist in this country. Absolutely pathetic.

Man thank you for this! I've been trying to explain Cleveland to my friends in Vegas but now I can just send this video!

Joe & Nic once again do a very good job of showcasing a city without kicking down. Well done.

Yea, I've been repairing roofs in this town on occasion for about a decade. History rotting before our eyes and citizens being neglected. What a shame.

Just came across your channel recently and working my way through your videos - so interesting and love your gentle narrative.

Nice to see the brothers again making a fine hell of it

Excellent and enlightening. Thank you.

One thing I did notice amidst all that poverty was when you drove throughout that blighted community that there were modern or newer cars parked in the driveways or in front of the houses.

Nearly $33T in debt, this is just a taste of what is to come.

Ironic how the city has no money but the politicians that destroyed it always get paid.

I grew up in East Cleveland…just drove through there and got teary eyed!! Used to be a nice proud city 😢

Hey. I really enjoy your videos. So much history - good and bad I suppose. Sad to see the decay of towns and cities. Many of these places were once thriving wonderful places to live I suppose. Thanks for what you do. I responded earlier to your video on South Carolina, not realizing it was six months old. I really liked that one too. Enjoy your journey, but stay safe.

East Cleveland was something at one time. May West lived there. I lived in East Cleveland for 9 years, and it was horrible! I was forced to live there due to some bad financial decisions I made. When I could get out, I ran and didn't look back. The working class are taxed to death to make up for those that don't work. In addition every elected official has lined their pockets are ran. Many went to jail. Nonetheless, the residents suffered. He's right. At one time you couldn't tell the difference between East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. I have a strong feeling Cleveland Hts. is next on the depression list. I hope I'm wrong!

I thought at first you weren’t going to talk about this city’s history but I was so pleased when you did! I’ve driven thru this area recently and it’s just such a shame. The houses are beautiful (or once were). Ty!

I love watching your videos, they give such a good view of the towns you visit. The contrasts in this were staggering. I wonder who lives in those super nice homes you showed towards the end, maybe those council folks making 6 figures. I look forward to upstate NY, I lived in Rochester and know the area quite well. I hope you visit Rochester.

I’m with you Joe, it’s not going to get any better.

I was not aware there was an East Cleveland. The wealthy pockets have some gorgeous homes. The blight, roads, graffiti and dilapidated homes are indeed depressing. Years ago Cabrini Green in Chicago was blocks away from wealthy Chicagoans. Jane Byrne, former Chicago Mayor, famously moved into Cabrini Green. Thank you for another great video!

HI guys, i just want to say how fascinating your videos are, I love every one.Thank you so much for sharing your road trips with us all, Stay safe!

This is only 20 minutes from me and I often forget how sad that area is.

Good description of what’s going on in the area

You should try Akron, Ohio. That's historic and also mostly poverty stricken. It's my birthplace, and I've watched it struggle for years.

Superb video as usual! Thank you!

Very sad to see this. In spite of these conditions, this needs to be seen, maybe there will be a wake up call. We can only hope. Thank you for the video. Have a safe trip!

The number one reason for this is profit at any cost. All the factories and companies went to Mexico and Asia for cheap labor.

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

Looking forward to your upstate NY video. Hope you visit Albany and down the Hudson Valley. Love all of your videos. I don’t travel much and watching I can see sites I’ll never experience. ❤️

When I grew up on the border of E.Cleveland we weren't even allowed in E.C. as it was a very prominent suburb.John D.Rockefeller had a whole street of homes his executive's lived in up near Forest Hills park .A very Affluent community was East Cleveland.

Im from Cleveland, Shaker Height and lived in University Heights and this makes me so sad, because this was a very nice area when I was a kid in the 80's and 90's l used to dance at there community theater!😢😢😢

I used to work about 10 minutes away from that United market ive never been over that way and didn’t realize it was that bad. I would mostly stick to main streets. A coworker of mine would take the bus to work every day and she lived in an apartment complex somewhere nearby. She said that one day management stopped collecting rent, garbage wasn’t picked up anymore, it was like the complex was abandoned by whoever was in charge. She said random people started moving into empty units. Someone in the apartment complex organized to get the garbage cleaned up but I just couldn’t imagine the situation.

You've answered my two questions just as soon as I could formulate them in my mind. That first 'apartment building" (I was hoping you wouldn't go in, no you're too smart for that!) is what we used to call 'the projects' in Providence, where I grew up. The city blew them up in the '90s (implosions, televised and all) and I wondered why they wouldn't do that in EC. $$$$, of course. My second question is why Cleveland wouldn't annex the city. (Cleveland itself was no prize in the '70s when my family rode through there. I had never seen so many smokestacks belching noxious things). But that story about those corrupt politicians was wild! So much corruption, right out in the open. The city is decaying right before their eyes and all they're worried about is their $100k+ salaries. And they took that stance with a straight face. Outrageous.

Good stuff again!!! Good Work Joe !!!

This is what you get when a certain political party is in charge. Everything they touch turns to garbage.

Did you decide to omit the Warner And Swasey Observatory or did you not know it’s there? Arguably the most iconic structure in East Cleveland.

Love watching your videos ❤

What a gorgeous sight! Like looking at beautiful cities like Paris or London or Vienna. All here in the good ole’ United States of America.

What's really sad to me is that you will never see that kind of architectural design in new construction; and it's all just fading away....

Its such a shock on the mind to see these blighted areas and in the same window of my mind I see some of the gorgeous areas that you have also visited and shown to your viewers. A lot of the disparities we are seeing across the country are so complex and I cannot think of respectful words to explain them. And by the way, I am not blaming any one group. It's complex, but someway somehow someone will need to step up and reverse the decay. Or nature will do it for us.

Grew up in East Cleveland on Strathmore in the 70’s It was nice neighborhood then!

Thanks for the video.

I suggest visiting Canton Ohio, it has changed significantly as well

Most of the houses for sale in EC, as you've probably guessed, are "Investment Opportunities!" "Handyman Special!" and the like for the 40-60k range. There are a couple multi-families for around 100k. The pictures obviously look nice but you go on Street View and not so much. There's one for 75k that looks to have at least been recently painted. 5 BDR and 1(ONE) bath. Doesn't look too bad in pictures but I've toured houses like that and no thanks. There was another for about 80-85k (3bd-1bath) but I didn't look at it. Like you, I was getting too depressed and had to get out of there.

Interesting video, man! Thank you so much for sharing! I´m from Germany & I grew up with Americans for over 25 years. All of my neighbors here are US. I have good good and trusted friend in Columbus, OH. Great guy. My ex neighbor here, she´s a USAFE crew chief, and she´s originally from Toledo, OH. All the best to you guys

I love all your videos. I always feel like Im in the back seat of the Bronco just along for the ride. You guys are the best!!

I am white and from Stark County (Canton - I-77) and don't recall why I was up there that Saturday morning, but, I was amazed at the beautiful architecture devastated and vacated. I took some pictures then got hungry. There is a McDonald's - there were thirty customers - mostly men - and I was the only white person there. I sat in the restaurant and ate my meal - and noone bothered me, noone bothered my vehicle. I guess the Mickey D's is where the residents gather for their coffee. Now right across the street - NOT in East Cleveland - is a beautiful old home - law offices.

Minnesota just raised the tax again in my area starting Oct 1st. Watching this video about East Cleveland makes me less disappointed about it. LoL

East Cleveland was thriving back in the 80s and early 90s. Sad to see how it looks today! Go Shaw High!!

I had friends who lived on Lawnview Avenue which is not far from Euclid Avenue..So sad to see these old homes crumbling..!