Sept. 23: Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenters Tucker Handley (notes), Antoinette Teasley (notes) and Chau Tang (live-tweets)
‘This mic is a beautiful thing, but we don’t get no answers’
During public comment, Cleveland resident and disability advocate James Lamb challenged Cleveland City Council to be more accountable to residents and to make noticeable progress in the city.
“You all shove 90,000 pieces of literature in our mailboxes wanting us to vote. We vote, you get the paycheck,” Lamb said. “Twenty years some of you all been sitting here, and guess what, the East Side of Cleveland look like hell.”
Lamb pointed to falling-down houses and abandoned lots. There has been no accountability from public officials, he said.
“This mic is a beautiful thing, but we don’t get no answers,” said Lamb.
Cudell residents protest gas station proposal
Since public comment returned Sept. 9, several residents have spoken about two issues: A proposed gas station in Cudell and support for New Era Cleveland’s Antoine Tolbert, also known as Chairman Fahiem. That trend continued in this meeting.
Four of the seven people signed up for public comment spoke against legislation that would pave the way for the gas station. The gas station would replace a former CVS pharmacy in Ward 11 on Madison Avenue near Cudell Park.
Susan Zimmerman said she moved to the intersecting street of West Boulevard in 1985. As a Ward 15 resident, Zimmerman said she felt excluded from the process given that much of the Cudell neighborhood is in her ward. She expressed concern about traffic and neighborhood children walking to a nearby school.
A council committee is set to discuss the legislation on Oct. 8.
Council Members Danny Kelly and Jenny Spencer are hosting a “Turn up Your Vote” neighborhood event for residents of Ward 11 and Ward 15. The free event is set for tonight, Sept. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cudell Recreation Center, 1910 West Blvd.
Residents continue to speak up for New Era Cleveland
Two speakers praised Tolbert, leader of New Era Cleveland, for his work with kids in the community. Cleveland Heights resident Greg Levy called him “the pillar of integrity and backbone.”
In August, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office charged Tolbert with extortion and intimidation following an incident at a Lee-Harvard gas station. Tolbert has said he is not guilty and plans to fight the charges. Some of his supporters have called the charges false.
“No one seems to ask us what we, the community and the youth, want or need,” said Rameer Askew, one of New Era Cleveland’s youth leaders. Kids are yearning for the freedom to enjoy their childhood, he said, but the opportunity is “stolen from us because of the violence that lurks around every corner.”
Askew said that Tolbert has helped decrease violence in the community and that kids feel safe with him. He said community members can’t count on the police, and he described the gun violence he witnessed over the summer.
Askew asked council members one final question: “Do you care?”
Before Askew spoke, Council President Blaine Griffin called Tolbert for public comment. He wasn’t present. A woman approached the mic on his behalf but was dismissed by Griffin, who said it was not her turn to speak.
CMSD levy draws support from some Cleveland City Council members
Multiple council members said they support Issue 49, also known as a levy to support the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD).
“It’s important that we do everything we can to keep our schools moving forward in a positive way,” said Ward 1 Council Member Joe Jones.
Ward 9 Council Member Kevin Conwell and Ward 13 Council Member Kris Harsh also said they support the CMSD levy. Conwell said that more community members – such as parents and alumni – should get involved with the schools.
Watch the full meeting on Cleveland City Council’s YouTube.
Read the notes from Documenter Tucker Handley:
Read the notes from Documenter Antoinette Teasley:
Read the live-tweets from Documenter Chau Tang:
