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Cleveland City Council
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Monday, Oct. 2, 2023
7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m. EDT

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601 Lakeside Ave Cleveland, OH 44114 (Directions)

City Hall (Attend in person or watch via YouTube), Council Chambers

Cleveland City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Cleveland in Ohio. In this meeting, residents may address council with public comments, and council typically introduces legislation and votes on legislation. Council does not typically discuss legislation in detail at this meeting; that happens in council’s committee meetings.

There are 17 elected Cleveland City Council members representing the 17 wards of the City of Cleveland. Each ward has approximately 25,000 residents. Council Members are elected to serve a four-year term. Council members serve two roles in their duties: to draft and enact legislation for the city of Cleveland and act as ombudspersons for their constituents. The meetings are streamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ClevelandCityCouncil/streams Also find meetings streamed online on TV20 at: http://www.tv20cleveland.com/watch-now/ Find past Documenters coverage of City Council meetings here: https://cleveland.documenters.org/reporting/?agency=181

For more information go to Cleveland City Council’s website: https://www.clevelandcitycouncil.org.

Attendees are encouraged to observe COVID protocols, including social distancing and wearing a face mask.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Cleveland - OH Documenters Team

Live reporting by Alicia Moreland

Public commenters speak out against hate speech

Alicia Moreland
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 2/20
Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any inquiries on the meeting or these tweets to @cledocumenters. Or email us at cledocumenters@gmail.com
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 3/20
The Meeting was called to order at 7pm followed by the usual Monday night routine: roll call and the pledge of allegiance. 🇺🇸👌 We jumped quickly into public comment, which is always my favorite part of Monday nights.
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 4/20
For context, most of the commenters tonight spoke on behalf of Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities, who were attacked by a commenter at last weeks city council meeting. I will try, in a moment, to get video of that comment.
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 5/20
The first commenter was attorney Adam Rosen @osuadamr, speaking in support of the Jewish community and it's long history in Cleveland.
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 6/20
@osuadamr Public commenter Adam Rosen on last weeks hate speech: “When cracks emerge that divide us, we must call out this hate for the future we are dreaming of.”
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 7/20
@osuadamr Our second commenter of the evening was Jenna Thomas @jennaincle , Advocacy & Policy Manager for Bike Cleveland. @Bike_CLE She spoke tonight about the organization's upcoming "week without driving".
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 8/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE She urged continued support for bike infrastructure. Jenna Thomas on the value of bike lanes: “A connected and accessible mobility network keeps our social support system strong”.
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 9/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE Our third commenter of the evening was Rabbi Scott Roland of Shaarey Tikvah speaking in support of the Jewish community.
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 10/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE Our final commenter of the evening was Phyllis Harris of the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland speaking in support of the LGBTQ+ community. "Equality means more than passing laws."
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 11/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE And for reference, here's an article that contains info on the drama during last weeks public comment: signalcleveland.org/opposition-to-…
signalcleveland.org/opposition-to-…
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 12/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE Alright. We moved on to the legislative portion of the meeting. Communications were read, followed by several condolence resolutions.
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 13/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE All legislation was passed with 16 yays except for the following: 1142-2023- Nay from Ward 17's Slife 583-2023- Nay from Ward 14's Santana 908-2023- Nay from Ward 7's Howse-Jones and Ward 17's Slife See the legislation here: cleveland.documenters.org/documents/agen…
cleveland.documenters.org/documents/agen…
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 14/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE Council President Griffin introduced Tom McNair, the new Economic Development Director. Polensek spoke in support of 1142- (regarding helicopters for the CPD) and for the new curfew for minors.
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 15/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE Polensek also spoke on his difficulty getting police reports, saying they were all redacted. He directed his comments to Law Director & Chief Legal Counsel Mark Griffin.
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 16/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE Kerry McCormack spoke and thanked the public commenters that spoke up in support of the Jewish and LGBTQ+ community. This was followed by Joe Jones, talking on the problem of vacant lots in Ward 1.
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 17/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE Jenny Spencer spoke in support of public comment but noted that 2.5 years in, it may be time to look at the rules. President Griffin agreed with that, and said a preliminary conversation had been had in regards to updating the rules after last weeks hate comments... (1/2)
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 18/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE ...and that further deliberation as a body is needed. To paraphrase Griffin: The goal is to protect free speech and citizens ability to comment freely without allowing abusive or hateful speech to gain a podium. (2/2)
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 19/20
@osuadamr @jennaincle @Bike_CLE The meeting ended at 8pm. Until next time folks!
Alicia Moreland @DDutchCreative 20/20
Quick correction folks… Council also referred some legislation to committees. You can see that legislation under the EMERGENCY ORDINANCES REFERRED section of this agenda: cityofcleveland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&… https://twitter.com/DDutchCreative/status/1709003302606688346
cityofcleveland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&…
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Note-taking by Lakeisha Smith

Council OKs police helicopter repair

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Note-taking by Dean Jackson

Public commenters decry last week's speakers

View notes

Agency Information

Cleveland City Council

See meeting notes for details

www.clevelandcitycouncil.org

(216) 664-2840

@CleCityCouncil

Facebook page

See Documenters reporting

Cleveland City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Cleveland in Ohio. There are 17 elected Cleveland City Council members representing the 17 wards of the City of Cleveland. Each ward has approximately 25,000 residents. Council Members are elected to serve a four-year term. Council members serve two roles in their duties: to draft and enact legislation for the city of Cleveland and act as ombudsmen for their constituents.

Find meetings streamed at: *online on TV20 at: http://www.tv20cleveland.com/watch-now/

*The meetings are also streamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ClevelandCityCouncil/

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