Making an In-Person Public Comment at An Upcoming Council Meeting
Council welcomes public comments at each regularly scheduled Monday evening Council meeting.
If you are interested in speaking at a Cleveland City Council, please read the revised rules and procedures for public comments and fill out the online form below.
Submitting a Registration to Speak
Anyone who is interested in addressing Cleveland City Council at a public meeting must register with City Council prior to that meeting.
Registrations may be submitted:
- By using the online form below
- In person at Cleveland City Hall, Room 220, 601 Lakeside Avenue NE. Paper forms are available to register.
- By downloading this form, filling it out, and emailing it to publiccomment@clevelandcitycouncil.gov or dropping it off at Council offices.
Registration Periods
Registrations will ONLY be accepted between Noon on Wednesday and 2:00 pm on the same day as a regularly scheduled Monday evening Council Meeting.
Council allows no more than 10 people to comment at its regularly scheduled Monday night meetings. Registration will close as soon as the first 10 people sign up. Each registrant will be allotted 3 minutes to speak.
Registrations will only be accepted for making comments at the next regular meeting; registrations for any future meeting will not be accepted until the Wednesday before the meeting. Early, incomplete, or false registrations will be rejected.
Notice of Registration
If your registration is successful, you will be notified by email or phone.
Accommodations
If you need assistance due to a language barrier or disability, please let us know at least three (3) days in advance by going here to make a request.
Attending Council Meetings
Cleveland City Council meetings are held in the Council Chamber on the second floor of Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue, East.
Visitors may park for free at the upper lot behind City Hall after 5:00 pm on days when Council is meeting.
Public Record
Please remember that all registration information and public comments are public records and can be subject to public record requests.
Decorum
Cleveland City Council must maintain orderly, efficient, and productive meetings to ensure the important business of city government is completed. Council has developed a set of rules and procedures that allow the public to be heard in a fair and orderly manner. These rules and procedures apply to all speakers, and Council does not discriminate based on the speaker's identity or viewpoint or the content of the speech. Please read Council's revised rules and procedures for public comments before you register and before you appear before City Council.
Please note: Anyone attending a Cleveland City Council meeting is prohibited from engaging in any action or behavior that substantially interrupts, delays, or disturbs the due conduct of the proceedings of the Council; such conduct includes but is not limited to: handclapping, stomping of feet, whistling, making other loud noises, yelling, or similar demonstrations. Any person who violates any of the above may be immediately removed from the Council Chamber.
Rules for Speakers
- Speakers may not yield their time to other speakers.
- Speakers shall only address the topic they registered to speak about.
- Speakers' comments shall not be frivolous or repetitive.
- Speakers shall not use language that is obscene or likely to produce imminent unlawful action.
- Speakers shall address all comments to the presiding officer.
Prohibited Items
- Signs, posters, banners, placards, or similar items
- Food and drink
Make a Comment In Person at a Council Meeting
To sign up to speak during the registration period (Noon Wednesday through 2:00 pm Monday before Council Meetings) click this button.
You will be notified by email or phone if you are one of the ten people who will speak.
Make a Comment Online
If you would rather submit your comments in writing, please fill out the form below.
Written public comments will be published on this page and delivered to all Councilmembers before the next full Council Meeting after they have been submitted.
Public Comments
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CMHA AND IT'S LACK OF TRANSPARENCY , BURNING AND GIVING FIRE DEPT. TO WRITE CITATIONS AND GIVE INFO. NOISE ORDANICE , CARMERA IN ALLEY,
MY NAME IS CARMEN M. SANDERS, ALL I WANT IS PEACE. I HAVE KNOWING WITTNESS AND A VICTIM OF THE SYSTEM AND THE PEOPLE. THE BURNING IN THE NEIGBORHOODS, FIREMAN HAVING TO GO ON CALLS THAT ARE MINOR WITH A WHOLE LARGE TRUCK TO WASTE TIME GAS AND STRAINS BUDGET AND PRODUCTIVITY. IN ADDITION, I THINK ITS TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT CANADA SMOKE BY ISSUEING AND SUGGESST AIR PURIFIERS AND AIR CONDITIONER. NOISE ORDANICE FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK FROM HOME. WE LOOSE MONEY EVERY CALL THAT DROPS FROM BACKGROUND NOISE. PREPARING FOR A FLOOD OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. WE NEED TO BE AWARE IF THE GOOD AND BAD INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS. I MAKE MYSELF AN EXAMPLE PROUDLY JUST TO SEE WHAT BUSINESSES UNDER ESTIMATED WHO I AM. AN HAVING MY CIVIL SERVENTS ON DECK. LIKE A ANGIE'S LIST. ANY AND EVERY UNIFORM OF SERVICE. THE MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE CLEAR. DON'T DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS WRONG. IN ALL THESE TOPICS I SEE EVERYTHING TO MAKE BETTER. I DO NOT LIKE THE FACT SENIORS ARE NOT LIVING AS WELL AS THE YOUNG GIRL IN A TOP CHEF COMPLEX WHILE OUR SENIORS THAT BEEN HERE AND ON THE LIST CAN'T EVEN GET A ROOM IN ALL THE 3 BDRMS THEIR GIVEN TO YOUNG ENTITLED 3 INDEPENDANT SENIORS SHOULD HAVE THAT OPTIONS OR WE NEED TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE. THEIR SHOULD NEVER BE WHERE FAMILY OR FRIENDS WILL NEVER TRUMP. DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST.
REMEMBER
REMEMBER
CARMEN M. SANDERS
Little Italy Special Improvement District
We are opposed to the Little Italy Special Improvement District (SID) tax as currently proposed because it includes assessments on owner occupied dwellings.
According to the Cuyahoga County Community Resource guide, an SID is a defined geographic area the purpose of which is to support the growth and development of a business district through services that enhance the area’s vibrancy, improve its safety and cleanliness, and attract investment. Ohio law allows for the creation of Special Improvement Districts” for business district improvements, special energy improvement projects, or shoreline improvement projects”.
The guidebook gives examples of the assessments levied for several SIDs in Cleveland Heights, notably Cedar-Fairmount, Cedar-Lee and Coventry which are comparable to Little Italy in size and number of businesses. Their annual budgets range from $66,000 to $165,300. The Gordon Square budget in Cle. is $133,663, each of these much lower than that of the proposed SID. Only the Cedar-Lee and Coventry examples show the documents that describe the properties that are levied assessments and it appears that the parcels on which levies are imposed are the businesses within the area, not owner occupied homes. For example, 75 parcels are taxed within the Cedar-Lee district and 18 parcels in Coventry.
In fact, the recently formed UCI SID explicitly excludes residences from the
tax, as do the SIDs in Cleveland Hts., both of which border Little Italy. Thus the sur-tax
on the SID will discourage and disadvantage owner occupied home ownership in Little Italy and encourage home ownership in other Cleveland neighborhoods that do not have this tax. Many longtime senior owners have been especially hit by the higher taxes due to development. Owner occupied housing is known to be crucial to communities for stability, maintenance, civic engagement, social capital, and economic benefit and has been a goal of the City Council and Mayor’s offices.
The predominance of businesses in Little Italy in the form of numerous restaurants, rental housing, airbnbs, parking lots, valet services, retail shops is more than adequate to fund an SID which by definition and Ohio law is meant for business development. Zillow alone lists 970 rental properties available in Little Italy and is a corporate manager of many of them. Case Western Reserve University has recently added over 800 residents to Little Italy for which it receives hefty room and board fees and, as a nonprofit, pays no taxes. Case also manages multiple fraternity houses on Murray Hill, other rental units, as well as parking lots. The majority of rental housing in Little Italy is occupied also by Case students such that the university should have an institutional investment in maintaining and supporting Little Italy.
As well said by resident Arthur Hargate, "Commercial enterprises, private equity investor property owners from afar, well-funded non-profit institutions and absentee landlords that extract economic value and substantial profits from Little Italy’s location, history, heritage and culture should be directly targeted to pay an amount that recognizes the massive economic benefit they enjoy from exploiting their presence in Little Italy. Commercial concerns, absentee landlords and nonprofits extract economic value from the neighborhood every day and therefore preferentially benefit from the services the SID Tax will fund."
For these reasons we are adamantly opposed to the establishment of this SID that will assess taxes on owner occupied dwellings in Little Italy, as such a levy would be unfair, taxing residents rather than businesses that would derive the most benefit, would discourage and be a detriment to owner occupied home ownership essential to a thriving community.
We request City Council to restrict the SID to businesses and institutions as intended by Ohio Law and to reduce the budget to the private police services cost of $170,000
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Lynn and Mark Singer
2079 Random Rd. 205
Cleveland, OH 44106
According to the Cuyahoga County Community Resource guide, an SID is a defined geographic area the purpose of which is to support the growth and development of a business district through services that enhance the area’s vibrancy, improve its safety and cleanliness, and attract investment. Ohio law allows for the creation of Special Improvement Districts” for business district improvements, special energy improvement projects, or shoreline improvement projects”.
The guidebook gives examples of the assessments levied for several SIDs in Cleveland Heights, notably Cedar-Fairmount, Cedar-Lee and Coventry which are comparable to Little Italy in size and number of businesses. Their annual budgets range from $66,000 to $165,300. The Gordon Square budget in Cle. is $133,663, each of these much lower than that of the proposed SID. Only the Cedar-Lee and Coventry examples show the documents that describe the properties that are levied assessments and it appears that the parcels on which levies are imposed are the businesses within the area, not owner occupied homes. For example, 75 parcels are taxed within the Cedar-Lee district and 18 parcels in Coventry.
In fact, the recently formed UCI SID explicitly excludes residences from the
tax, as do the SIDs in Cleveland Hts., both of which border Little Italy. Thus the sur-tax
on the SID will discourage and disadvantage owner occupied home ownership in Little Italy and encourage home ownership in other Cleveland neighborhoods that do not have this tax. Many longtime senior owners have been especially hit by the higher taxes due to development. Owner occupied housing is known to be crucial to communities for stability, maintenance, civic engagement, social capital, and economic benefit and has been a goal of the City Council and Mayor’s offices.
The predominance of businesses in Little Italy in the form of numerous restaurants, rental housing, airbnbs, parking lots, valet services, retail shops is more than adequate to fund an SID which by definition and Ohio law is meant for business development. Zillow alone lists 970 rental properties available in Little Italy and is a corporate manager of many of them. Case Western Reserve University has recently added over 800 residents to Little Italy for which it receives hefty room and board fees and, as a nonprofit, pays no taxes. Case also manages multiple fraternity houses on Murray Hill, other rental units, as well as parking lots. The majority of rental housing in Little Italy is occupied also by Case students such that the university should have an institutional investment in maintaining and supporting Little Italy.
As well said by resident Arthur Hargate, "Commercial enterprises, private equity investor property owners from afar, well-funded non-profit institutions and absentee landlords that extract economic value and substantial profits from Little Italy’s location, history, heritage and culture should be directly targeted to pay an amount that recognizes the massive economic benefit they enjoy from exploiting their presence in Little Italy. Commercial concerns, absentee landlords and nonprofits extract economic value from the neighborhood every day and therefore preferentially benefit from the services the SID Tax will fund."
For these reasons we are adamantly opposed to the establishment of this SID that will assess taxes on owner occupied dwellings in Little Italy, as such a levy would be unfair, taxing residents rather than businesses that would derive the most benefit, would discourage and be a detriment to owner occupied home ownership essential to a thriving community.
We request City Council to restrict the SID to businesses and institutions as intended by Ohio Law and to reduce the budget to the private police services cost of $170,000
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Lynn and Mark Singer
2079 Random Rd. 205
Cleveland, OH 44106
Lynn Singer
The explosion that happened in Garden valley apartments
Yep it Kyanna Bell again still fucked up behind this explosion still can't put my life back together still taking my kids back and forth to the hospital still having surgery but still no answer on what the fuck displaced us 44 families So who the fuck is the blame my man Cordale SHEFFIELD lost his life my kids lost their skin they lost they since of safety stuff they was never scared of they are now kids should not have to live in fear but y'all don't give a fuck about us 44 families because we do belong to y'all meaning us as the 44 families does not have the same DNA as any of y'all that are in them seats that can put a end to this fucked up shit but no y'all don't care right Cordale SHEFFIELD was not none of y'all son brother cousin friend nephew or nothing to mo of y'all and neither is my kids or the 43 families fuck us that's how y'all really feel
Kyanna Bell
Demolition of historic homes on East 115th Street
Re: E. 115th between Mayfield and Cornell:
How is in that a “nonprofit” institution like University Hospitals is able to acquire the historic dwellings on an entire neighborhood street, intentionally allow them to deteriorate and then demolish them with NO PUBLIC INPUT, using our tax money. Shameful.
How is in that a “nonprofit” institution like University Hospitals is able to acquire the historic dwellings on an entire neighborhood street, intentionally allow them to deteriorate and then demolish them with NO PUBLIC INPUT, using our tax money. Shameful.
Arthur Hargate
Impact of Right to Counsel on Responsible Landlords
I am a small landlord in Cleveland who pays my mortgage, maintains my properties, and follows every legal requirement when a tenant stops paying rent.
I currently have a tenant who is months behind. I served proper notices and filed for eviction. Because of Cleveland’s Right to Counsel ordinance, the tenant received free legal representation. Her attorney has indicated the case could potentially be dismissed on a technicality, which would force me to hire a lawyer and start over while continuing to cover the mortgage with no rent coming in. I have already used up my reserve funds.
I do not oppose tenants having access to legal help. What I oppose is a system that creates such a large imbalance: free counsel and potential delays for the non-paying tenant, while the landlord who did everything right absorbs all the carrying costs and legal risk and then threatened by the tenants free council that because he represents the tenant, legal tactics can be deployed to get the eviction hearing dismissed. The result is that responsible property owners are effectively subsidizing non-payment for months.
If the goal is stable housing, we also need a system that does not drive good landlords out of the market or force them to absorb endless losses. I ask Council to examine the real cost this policy places on small landlords and to consider balanced reforms that protect tenants without transferring the entire financial burden onto those who follow the law.
I currently have a tenant who is months behind. I served proper notices and filed for eviction. Because of Cleveland’s Right to Counsel ordinance, the tenant received free legal representation. Her attorney has indicated the case could potentially be dismissed on a technicality, which would force me to hire a lawyer and start over while continuing to cover the mortgage with no rent coming in. I have already used up my reserve funds.
I do not oppose tenants having access to legal help. What I oppose is a system that creates such a large imbalance: free counsel and potential delays for the non-paying tenant, while the landlord who did everything right absorbs all the carrying costs and legal risk and then threatened by the tenants free council that because he represents the tenant, legal tactics can be deployed to get the eviction hearing dismissed. The result is that responsible property owners are effectively subsidizing non-payment for months.
If the goal is stable housing, we also need a system that does not drive good landlords out of the market or force them to absorb endless losses. I ask Council to examine the real cost this policy places on small landlords and to consider balanced reforms that protect tenants without transferring the entire financial burden onto those who follow the law.
Shawn Swanson
General
My name is I rahim qanawi I fund out I have 13 public record in Cleveland I never been in Cleveland in from nj my idintity was stolen from some one name Dakota marcott lives in boynton Florida
Ibrahim qanawi
The explosion that happened in Garden valley apartments on June 23 2025
Yep it's me again up crying my heart out while y'all sleeping good I'm still mentally exhausted physically exhausted but my heart still hurts missing the love of my life missing a good man missing a good father a man that's gone too soon he should still be here living his best life.His life was taken from us and still no answer why still no one is taking accountability for that explosion so y'all just said fuck us leave us out here lost empty and us 44 families just got to live with this hurt lost and pain with lots of fear and no understanding why we all lost everything even our since of safety but hay looks like y'all don't fuck care about us as people they need to take accountability for the shit
Kyanna Bell
The explosion that happened in Garden valley on June 23 2025 apartments
Its me again Kyanna Bell I'm still sitting here crying looking at my kids talk about the explosion looking at them cry and wish they could have saved their dad it's crazy I never imagined that this would be me and my kids life story and still no reason why this shit happened to us we was a happy family now look at us we are struggling with life we are struggling with are mental health we are all having a very hard time moving on from this and still no real help from no one but the for ladies that put their time and their lives on hold to make sure we as I say we meaning 44 families are not forgotten I'm so thankful for them because I don't know where we would be without them...You high people that suppose to take care of us as community only out to help ur own sad I'm really stressed out I really hate people that don't do what they swear they was going to do when y'all raised that right hand swearing on that oath that you was going to take care of this huh got some b******* but I'll take care of yourselves God don't like ugly he ain't fun the beauty so look in the mirror karma is a mother f*****
Kyanna Bell
The explosion that happened in Garden valley June 23 2025 apartments
We are still here hello we are still mentally exhausted hello we are still going back and forth to doctors appointment we are angry we lost we can get Cordale SHEFFIELD back our family is separated my son is all over the place and now he is placed where he doesn't want to be and I'm mad hurts I wish this never happened to us 44 families we did not deserve this shit and everyone just keep living there lives and we still trying to put our lifes back together and it's very hard it's not easy when everything scares your kids when we supposed to have fun we don't we have pain hurt heart broken because we down 3 in our family but hay y'all don't care y'all living y'all best life right
Kyanna Bell
The explosion that happened in Garden valley apartments
Yep it's me again I'm never going away I'm lost I'm hurt I'm mad I'm angry I want justice for my kids and for my man Cordale SHEFFIELD who is missed daily I can't stop crying I can't stop thinking about him my heart is broken 💔 and it's been a whole fucking year still no one wants to take accountability for what fucked up our lives and it's like they just left us for dead me an my kids are still struggling with this shit it's like one death after another and we don't have the chance to heal before we hit with something else but again that explosion set us back it took our since of safety and it's still taking more and more from us mentally but it's crazy how everyone can just go on with their lifes and we still fucking catch hell my kids us back and forth the hospital and they fill like giving up at times and as a mother a real Loving mother how you think that feels the man my kids looked up to they father us gone and he is not coming back we got to live with that my step son is all over the place where he doesn't want to be and I miss him also my life is in a reck and y'all just living y'all best life me and my kids are dying inside and it hurts like hell y'all just sitting in y'all high hope chairs with no care in the world and we got to worry about how we going to make it wtf who the family going to take accountability for this explosion that took our lives....WHERE IS JUSTICE FOR US 44 FAMILIES THAT LOST EVERYTHING WHO GIVES A FUCK ABOUT US
Kyanna Bell
Submissions are accepted up to 5 hours before a hearing if time slots are available