Cleveland City Council holds public meetings most Monday nights, where laws are passed, condolences and congratulations are handed out, and residents speak directly to elected and city officials through public comment.
Up to 10 residents can speak at every regular City Council meeting, for up to three minutes each. Some residents come to speak about issues that directly affect them and their communities. Others come as part of an organization they represent or work for.
We’re looking back at some highlights of the more than 200 public comments residents have made at Cleveland City Council this year.
On Jan. 23, Ward 2 resident Xavier Page-Tabb urged council members to support apprenticeship programs like the one he’s in that brought him closer to realizing his dream of being an electrician. Page-Tabb worked at the new Sherwin-Williams site as a member of Cleveland Builds, an apprenticeship readiness program for young people wanting to work in the construction trades.
[It] would help a community really get built…by younger people like me, and they will have an opportunity to really get to see what they want to do in life. For me, I see that as this is my purpose in life because I get to see my mother, she is really proud of me.”
Xavier Page-Tabb, Ward 2
Watch Page-Tabb’s full comment here.
On May 8, Craig Guy, also a resident of Ward 2, told council about his experience being rejected for a home he tried to buy in Slavic Village. The home was sold instead to a cash buyer – who Guy said had no intention of living there – for only $1,000 more than what Guy had offered.
We invest in our homes. We invest in the homes that we want to live in. We invest in Cleveland. If we have to continue to compete with outside organizations before consideration is given to homeowners who want to improve the community, come to the community, and that’s personally, socially, and not just financially, we’re going to lose the battle to regain our streets, regain our communities.”
-Craig Guy, Ward 2
See Guy’s full comment.
On June 5, resident Michelle Bell of Ward 10 spoke about the long-term effects of gun violence on victims and the community. Bell’s son, Andre Brown, was shot and killed while sitting in a car with a friend on Feb. 10, 2019. His murder remains unsolved.
The difficulties and challenges associated with unsolved murder is insurmountable. The healing process is never ending, and sometimes it seems like February 10, 2019, was just minutes ago. The pain of murder loss makes my heart heavy, and my son’s absence makes my heart empty. I pray daily for justice. Along with praying for justice, I pray that no other mother or parent will have to experience gun violence as I have and walk in these shoes.”
Michelle Bell, Cleveland
Watch Bell’s full comment.
Many public commenters urged City Council to pass legislation banning the sale of menthol tobacco and flavored vape products in local retail stores. On September 18, Thad Franklin, a barbershop owner in Ward 6, talked about the campaign he started to talk to young people about the dangers of vaping. He also worries about the targeting of these products toward the African-American community. Council has not yet passed the legislation.
You might see Mike Tyson on [the packaging], or you might see some of the celebrities and rappers and entertainers that you see today, and it helps gravitate the kids to buy these products. And it’s disgusting to me. In my community and throughout the inner city, these products sit right on the counter by the candy and the gum. They are clearly marketed for our kids, like menthol and other flavor products, and definitely for the African community in my city…”
-Thad Franklin, Ward 6
Read Franklin’s full comment here.
Public comment itself became a topic of discussion after council proposed changes to public comment guidelines following derogatory remarks made about the LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities at the Sept. 25 City Council meeting and after protests at Monday night meetings by supporters of Palestine. A member of the public has sued Cleveland City Council, claiming violations of his First Amendment rights.
On Dec. 4, resident Dana Bye, a law student at Cleveland State University, urged council to maintain public comment as it is. She said it’s a way for Clevelanders to bring people-centric issues to council’s attention and to participate in democracy.
Some on council want to roll back public comment, to which I can only ask, what are you afraid of? As City Council members, you have signed up to hear from all of the people, not just those who donate, not just those who march in parades with you. Sometimes the voices that make you the most uncomfortable are the voices you need to hear from the most.”
-Dana Bye, Ward 15
Read Bye’s full comment.
Read all public comments given at Cleveland City Council this year at PublicCommentCLE. Sign up to give public comment at the Cleveland City Council website. Learn more about how to sign up and tips for how to make your comments shine in Signal Cleveland’s guide to public comment.
