Live reporting by
Timothy Zelina
Commenters advocate for Gaza ceasefire
tim zelina
@t_zelina
Good evening folks, live tweeting the Cleveland City Council meeting @ 7pm this evening. If you want to watch along you can view a Livestream of the meeting here: or on YT @: …
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05:57 PM Dec 4, 2023 CST
Resident Jenna Mullahdeen speaks on Gaza, calling for a ceasefire. She discussed the history of Gaza and Palestine.
"At this point after seven weeks you are inexcusable for ignorance, but many do not know the history."
"At this point after seven weeks you are inexcusable for ignorance, but many do not know the history."
Christopher Hudson of PSL speaks on council's proposal to limit public comments to issues on the agenda. This proposal was floated in wake of the regular appearance of pro-Palestinian demonstrators .
Next is Cameron Demasca (sp?), another PSL member, who speaks to condemn the presence of heightened security during recent council meetings.
"At the last council meeting, there was an unprecedented number of police officers mobilized in city hall," he said.
"At the last council meeting, there was an unprecedented number of police officers mobilized in city hall," he said.
Basma Hamid from Ward 13 speaks to call for a ceasefire. She mentions how the war is draining for her.
"Are you okay? I'm not. My days, my nights, my daily life are not the same anymore," she said.
"Are you okay? I'm not. My days, my nights, my daily life are not the same anymore," she said.
Resident Julia Medina also calls for a ceasefire. She said the United States is sending financial and physical aid to help "Israel to commit war crimes". She then asks why the US has money to provide aid for Israel while Americans live in poverty.
Next is a Shaker Heights resident named Sayed (I unfortunately did not catch his last name) who speaks on public health.
"Not a bait and switch," he says with a smile.
He says Cleveland is failing to provide affordable housing, which in his view is integral to public health.
"Not a bait and switch," he says with a smile.
He says Cleveland is failing to provide affordable housing, which in his view is integral to public health.
"We can't wait for politicians whose ambitions are beyond Cleveland to help out." Syed Shah said. (got his last name!)
Bryan Duplazer, a local resident, is also here to speak on Palestine.
He says he had a warped view of Palestine most his life, only perceiving it through the lens of terrorism and Hamas. When he met his wife, a Palestinian woman, his perception of Palestinians changed.
He says he had a warped view of Palestine most his life, only perceiving it through the lens of terrorism and Hamas. When he met his wife, a Palestinian woman, his perception of Palestinians changed.
Duplazer says council's rhetoric is making Palestinians feel unsafe in Cleveland, and that anti-Palestinian sentiment is growing dangerously across the US.
"Even locally, in your city, a Palestinian owner has had his establishment vandalized and harassed constantly," he said.
"Even locally, in your city, a Palestinian owner has had his establishment vandalized and harassed constantly," he said.
Dana By, from Edgewater, speaks on the issue of council's public comment period.
She says council took a step towards democracy by opening up the public comment period. She's disturbed by the recent move to roll back the accessibility of the public comment period.
She says council took a step towards democracy by opening up the public comment period. She's disturbed by the recent move to roll back the accessibility of the public comment period.
"As city council members, you have signed up to hear from all the people. Not just those who donate, not just those who march in parades with you," she said.
Michelle Jackson from Buckeye Shaker also speaks on the public comment dispute:
She starts by mentioning how the Public Budgement amendment, Issue 38, came very close to passage in spite of near universal opposition by council and local government.
She starts by mentioning how the Public Budgement amendment, Issue 38, came very close to passage in spite of near universal opposition by council and local government.
She said the day after this vote (Nov 8), council released a statement pledging greater civic engagement with voters, but then turned around to try and "neuter" the public comment period before the end of the year.
"I urge this body to reconsider its shift away from democracy."
"I urge this body to reconsider its shift away from democracy."
You can read more on Issue 38 and council's response to the vote here:
ideastream.org/government-pol…
The last speaker is Cleveland Heights resident and Palestinian youth activist Chance Zurub. He speaks to call for a ceasefire resolution and condemn council for not acting sooner.
He mentions how council criticized the resolution for not including a passage on Cle gun violence (?), but when an updated resolution included such a statement, it too was ignored.
"I lost thirty people in my family. The temperature is not cooling down," Zurub said.
"I lost thirty people in my family. The temperature is not cooling down," Zurub said.
Demonstrators chant "Resolution now" as Zurub continues speaking over Blaine calling for time. Zurub asks: "How many Palestinians need to die?"
Council has approved councilmember Stephanie D. Howse-Jones, organizer Dameyonna Willis, Dr. Linda Bradley, social worker Taneisha Fair, and college student representative Anastasia Sakairoun to serve on the Cleveland Commission on Black Women and Girls.
This commission seeks to "create opportunities and improve quality of life for Black women and girls", per the Mayor's office.
You can read more on the commission here:
mayor.clevelandohio.gov/initiatives/ci…
You can read more on the commission here:
Notable ordinances: 1380-2023 and 1387-2023 seek to apply for and distribute grants in pursuit of a "Cartel Gang Narcotics and Laundering Task Force, formerly known as the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force"
That's about it for first readings. The rest of these (even that one, really) are pretty mundane business, but if you're interested you can read on them at the Agenda tab here:
cityofcleveland.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx?…
Next is ordinances to be read for passage.
First, and notably, is an ordinance that allows the Director of Public Safety to contract social workers to serve as co-responders with the local police department.
This program was passed in Nov 22, following successful trials.
First, and notably, is an ordinance that allows the Director of Public Safety to contract social workers to serve as co-responders with the local police department.
This program was passed in Nov 22, following successful trials.
Next are emergency Resolutions read in full and adopted. These both refer to liquor permits, one to reject a permit, one to approve one.
Council approves both with 14 years, no nays.
Council approves both with 14 years, no nays.
Ordinance 1135-2023 will disestablish the Divisions of Neighborhood Services, Neighborhood Development, and Administrative Services, and replace them with the Divisions of Community Programming, Program Operations, Enterprise Operations, Residential Improvement ... (cont.)
(cont.) ...Housing Development and Property Utilization within the Department of Community Development.
Seems like a significant bureaucratic shuffle.
Seems like a significant bureaucratic shuffle.
Many ordinances amending previously passed ordinances and providing grants for city repair/maintenance programs. So far nothing particularly noteworthy.
Ordinance 1340-2023 permits the city to apply for grants under the 2023 Stop Violence Against Women Act. Establishes a sexual assault advocate position w/i the city justice system, also funds the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center & LEO components of Cleveland Domestic Violence Program
1345-2023 permits the city to establish the Job Creation Tax Incentive Program, a bid by Mayor Bibb to encourage job creation in the city.
You can read more on this proposal here:
cleveland.com/metro/2023/11/…
You can read more on this proposal here:
Ordinance 1361 will allocate an additional $45 million to the General Fund, $11.3 million to the Special Revenue Fund, and $205,000 to the Internal Service Fund
Ordinance 1362 will reappropriate $18 million within the General Fund, $10,000 within the Internal Service Fund and $90,000 within the Small Enterprise Fund.
1370 will establish MomsFirst services for women "at risk of poor birth outcomes for a period of one year."
MomsFirst is a local program that provides mothers pregnancy and early-childhood rearing support through home visits and consultations.
momsfirst.org
MomsFirst is a local program that provides mothers pregnancy and early-childhood rearing support through home visits and consultations.
No introductions and no announcements. Demonstrators begin chanting "Free Palestine" during miscellaneous business, but only for a few moments.
Councilwoman Spencer speaks: "Although council did not introduce and pass a resolutoin this evening in regards to the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, I wanted to acknowledge..."
Spencer is cut off by protestors. Blaine asks for them to "please allow her to finish."
Spencer is cut off by protestors. Blaine asks for them to "please allow her to finish."
She continues: "I'm learning and please allow me to speak. I do rise..."
Cut off again.
"I do rise to say that our hearts have been breaking since October 7th, how could they not?"
Cut off again.
"I do rise to say that our hearts have been breaking since October 7th, how could they not?"
"Too many civilian lives have been lost in this conflict, including a staggering death toll that is over 15,000 people." Someone interrupts to yell "20,000".
She then thanks the ceasefire advocates for their stories.
She then thanks the ceasefire advocates for their stories.
"I believe in the promise of the state of Israel, but Israel's increasingly right wing government has been going in the wrong direction for a very long time when it comes to policies towards the Palestinian people," she continues.
She says the US has leverage over Israel due to the amount of aid sent. Said US should condition this aid to be used for the pursuit of peace and a negotiated settlement. Also says council does not want to limit comment, but also speakers should not disrupt council business.
Councilman McCormack stands to speak on the public comment debate. He says council should take a step back to analyze how public comment has been structured and see if there is a need for improvement in the process.
McCormack says council should not limit public comments to legislation being considered. He feels the current scope of public comment is beneficial for the city council.
He says people should not allowed to come and promote businesses or share personal business.
He says people should not allowed to come and promote businesses or share personal business.
He did not clarify what was meant by "people sharing their personal business." Unsure what this refers to.
And council is adjourned! Another night of high emotions, and this on the back of a litany of business stemming from council's committee of the whole meetings earlier today.
Questions? Comments? Got something wrong? Contact us @cledocumenters #documenters #cledocumenters
Questions? Comments? Got something wrong? Contact us @cledocumenters #documenters #cledocumenters