Cuyahoga County residents spend nearly four hours on the mic at public comment

Roughly 70 residents from across Cuyahoga County showed up to talk about a recently withdrawn resolution that called for the county to immediately stop investing in foreign countries, including Israel. Cuyahoga County holds about $16 million of Ohio’s $262 million in Israel Bonds.

For almost four hours, residents took to the mic to tell Cuyahoga County Council what they think about sending money to Israel during the current war.

Earlier this month, two council members – Vice President Cheryl Stephens and Patrick Kelley – introduced the resolution calling for the county to stop any additional investment in bonds issued by Israel. Stephens and Kelley withdrew it after Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne received a letter from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

Yost urged the county executive not to change the county’s stance on investing in Israel Bonds.

Yost said that change by a government agency could violate an Ohio law that makes it illegal for businesses that receive state funding to boycott, divest or sanction Israel.

Resolution 2024-0208:

A Resolution urging the Cuyahoga County Executive and the County Treasurer to immediately cease any additional County investment in bonds and other sovereign debt issued by the Nation of Israel; and urging the Investment Advisory Committee to amend the County’s Investment Policy to prohibit future investments in any foreign securities; and declaring the necessity that this Resolution become immediately effective.

Even though the resolution was withdrawn, residents still had a variety of viewpoints to share. 

“Do not pursue policies that ultimately attack the state of Israel and hold one of our country’s closest allies … to an impossible standard,” said Mark Ashed, who introduced himself as both Jewish and a Zionist. 

Sean Abbott-Klaftor, a middle school teacher in Cleveland Heights, had a different opinion. 

“Antisemitism is being used by my brothers and sisters who want our country to continue funding the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza,” Abbott-Klaftor said. “I’m here to say, not in our name.”

Wendy Bilgen, a professor at Cleveland State University, said that while many Jews might maintain their identity through an emotional and financial connection to Israel, she is not one of them.

“Tonight you’ve heard from a lot of different Jewish viewpoints. … I’m here to offer my Jewish viewpoint,” Bilgen said. 

Bilgen also thanked the council members who introduced the resolution and said she hopes a stronger one will return.

Back to business

Council approved 16 resolutions, including a contract with LMM (Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry) for $869,900 for services to help young people navigate housing instability or homelessness. 

Council also approved an amendment to a revenue-generating agreement with Securus Technologies, including an additional $1.36 million for the year. Securus Technologies sells inmate telecommunications software that allows people to pay to communicate with people inside of certain jails. For example, friends and family can pay $4 for 25 minutes at Cuyahoga County Corrections Center. 

Some new (and some familiar) faces in town

Council confirmed several appointments to different boards. Here are some of the highlights:

• Gina Vernaci, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture Board of Trustees
• Verna Darby, Division of Children and Family Services Advisory Board
• Bianca Crawford, Division of Children and Family Services Advisory Board
• Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd, Cuyahoga County Diversion Board

Read the tweet-thread from Documenter Emma Sedlak:

Suggested Reading

Residents at the mic ahead of Cleveland City Council’s summer break (podcast)

We listen back to five local commenters who stepped up to the mic at Cleveland City Hall and shared their thoughts with the public.

by Gennifer Harding-Gosnell, Lawrence Daniel Caswell and Camille Renner June 14, 2024October 18, 2024