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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WCSB 89.3 FM college radio takeover by "Ideastream" PBS.
The rug was pulled underneath WCSB college students and volunteers that run WCSB 89.3 FM radio station! I remember having the opportunity to volunteer at WCSB 89.3 FM Radio learning the in's and out's of radio broadcasting. This gave me the opportunity to be creative and supportive to Cleveland listeners. Playing music they enjoyed hearing and informing them of current events played a vital role in community radio broadcasting. Doing on-the-spot interviews from Cleveland residents and commuters added interest to my loyal listeners. WCSB 89.3 FM college-run radio station offers a vast variety of cultural programming and music genres. This allows the CSU students and volunteers a learning experience running, working and being creative fulfilling the needs of Cleveland and surrounding areas. "Ideastream" PLEASE consider giving back WCSB 89.3 FM radio to the CSU students and volunteers who volunteer their time, because they love what they're doing! This brings joy to their many loyal listeners depending on college radio since it's the heart and soul of radio!
Michele Fornaro Laskowski
WCSB transfer to Ideastream
I have been listening to WCSB for over 40 years and and was a programmer on sister college radio station at WRUW from 1980-1990. My mind has been continually expanded through the variety programs and music I have heard. I know from my own radio experience that the exposure to diverse musics and ideas when I was in college was a huge catalyst to my becoming the artist and educator that I am today. CSU has taken away an enormous learning and growing experience from their students. It has also wiped out a bedrock institution to the Greater Cleveland creative and cultural community at large. WCSB was public service to area artists, musicians, creatives, and the general public looking to go deep into a particular genre of music, or to expand their horizons. It was also one of the very few places where musicians, bands, and composers in the area could have their work aired. Over the years, WCPN and Ideastream have only tossed crumbs to the arts and cultural community and never provided that same intense and continuous impact. This loss is a travesty.
Catherine Butler
Just Because It’s Legal Doesn’t Mean It’s Right: A Public Concern Over the WCSB Takeover
I'm sure that what Cleveland State University did regarding the takeover of WCSB — a long-standing, student-run radio station — was legal. But that doesn't make it ethical.
Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. This decision appears to have been driven by personal gains and ulterior motives, not the best interests of students or the community that WCSB served for decades. Unfortunately, this is often how corporate agendas operate — the needs of the few end up outweighing the needs of the many.
Perhaps the president needed a new addition to their home, or this move guaranteed a yearly bonus, or even a convenient title bump. Whatever the incentive, it’s hard to imagine this decision was made without awareness of the backlash it would generate. I imagine those responsible thought: "Let the kids be mad and hold signs for a while — what’s done is done. And I’m getting that new car."
This action reeks of self-interest and disregard for the broader community. It may be irreversible now, but it should go on record — add this to the growing list of complaints from disappointed and disillusioned Cleveland citizens. We expected better.
Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. This decision appears to have been driven by personal gains and ulterior motives, not the best interests of students or the community that WCSB served for decades. Unfortunately, this is often how corporate agendas operate — the needs of the few end up outweighing the needs of the many.
Perhaps the president needed a new addition to their home, or this move guaranteed a yearly bonus, or even a convenient title bump. Whatever the incentive, it’s hard to imagine this decision was made without awareness of the backlash it would generate. I imagine those responsible thought: "Let the kids be mad and hold signs for a while — what’s done is done. And I’m getting that new car."
This action reeks of self-interest and disregard for the broader community. It may be irreversible now, but it should go on record — add this to the growing list of complaints from disappointed and disillusioned Cleveland citizens. We expected better.
Malcolm Bellew
WCSB
Cleveland City Council members:
Thank you for the opportunity to make a public statement about WCSB. Born and raised in Cleveland, I’m a proud CSU alum (BA 2007, MS 2009), former WCSB student member and Public Affairs director, and long time listener and donor to WCSB. Being part of the radio station while studying at Cleveland State was an amazing experience and led me to a career of public service. Even after moving out of state, I have continued to be a ‘CSB listener, supporter, and Radiothon donor.
Like so many, I was heartbroken by the news that WCSB was being taken over by Ideastream for a canned jazz format, and that students and community volunteers were unceremoniously ousted. Those responsible for making this decision, more interested in advancing their careers than serving the public interest, have no understanding about what WCSB has meant to CSU students and the community for almost 50 years.
At WCSB, people across many ethnic backgrounds and from all walks of life volunteer their time to broadcast the most unique, diverse programming imaginable. They represent their backgrounds and lived experiences and come together as one cohesive community. It was an amazing privilege, to be a listener and a member. I was just one contributor, during one era, among many generations of students who poured their hearts and souls into WCSB. Imagining the airwaves without this treasure is unfathomable.
Thank you for your attention to this situation and the opportunity to share my comments. Please take every action in your power to reinstate WCSB, for the students and the COMMUNITY.
Respectfully,
Holly Whisman, PhD, RN
Thank you for the opportunity to make a public statement about WCSB. Born and raised in Cleveland, I’m a proud CSU alum (BA 2007, MS 2009), former WCSB student member and Public Affairs director, and long time listener and donor to WCSB. Being part of the radio station while studying at Cleveland State was an amazing experience and led me to a career of public service. Even after moving out of state, I have continued to be a ‘CSB listener, supporter, and Radiothon donor.
Like so many, I was heartbroken by the news that WCSB was being taken over by Ideastream for a canned jazz format, and that students and community volunteers were unceremoniously ousted. Those responsible for making this decision, more interested in advancing their careers than serving the public interest, have no understanding about what WCSB has meant to CSU students and the community for almost 50 years.
At WCSB, people across many ethnic backgrounds and from all walks of life volunteer their time to broadcast the most unique, diverse programming imaginable. They represent their backgrounds and lived experiences and come together as one cohesive community. It was an amazing privilege, to be a listener and a member. I was just one contributor, during one era, among many generations of students who poured their hearts and souls into WCSB. Imagining the airwaves without this treasure is unfathomable.
Thank you for your attention to this situation and the opportunity to share my comments. Please take every action in your power to reinstate WCSB, for the students and the COMMUNITY.
Respectfully,
Holly Whisman, PhD, RN
Holly Whisman
Resolution 1324-2025 --- WCSB Student Radio
Dear Council President Griffin and The Cleveland City Council,
I am a CSU Alumni (Levin College of Urban Affairs 2002). Ever since my undergraduate days at CSU when I studied jazz appreciation as one of my Urban Affairs elective courses, I've been a huge jazz aficionado (thank you CSU.)
But today I'm disappointed that WCSB has been taken away from some of the the brightest young Clevelanders, then handed over to the local public media conglomerate, Ideastream for 24/7 jazz.
Cleveland can be very proud of what her local young people have brought to us with WCSB - for over 50 years. WCSB is unique and special and belongs on the air as just as it was. It will be a disservice to Cleveland to silence their voices now. Escorting these vibrant young folks out of the radio station by police with no notice should make Cleveland feel ashamed of itself. As Cleveland's top decision makers, please do what you can to upend this injustice.
Please investigate how this came to be, and how it is that CSU president Laura Bloomberg is now to be seated on the powerful Ideastream Board of Trustees. Her seat there appears as highly self-serving, and a quid pro quo for her giving away something that belonged to the present day students at my Alma-mater. 'Given away in exchange for a powerful voice in local media for herself.
These days, I'm a long-serving librarian at a public library and I understand from where I sit how important it is when we lose independent voices like this. Cleveland please honor your your young people and investigate this travesty. I hope you will do what you can to encourage the return of WCSB to our students. Allow them to continue presenting their messages to our city - not to only fetch coffee for Ideastream bigwigs.
Sincerely yours, Rob Schneider
I am a CSU Alumni (Levin College of Urban Affairs 2002). Ever since my undergraduate days at CSU when I studied jazz appreciation as one of my Urban Affairs elective courses, I've been a huge jazz aficionado (thank you CSU.)
But today I'm disappointed that WCSB has been taken away from some of the the brightest young Clevelanders, then handed over to the local public media conglomerate, Ideastream for 24/7 jazz.
Cleveland can be very proud of what her local young people have brought to us with WCSB - for over 50 years. WCSB is unique and special and belongs on the air as just as it was. It will be a disservice to Cleveland to silence their voices now. Escorting these vibrant young folks out of the radio station by police with no notice should make Cleveland feel ashamed of itself. As Cleveland's top decision makers, please do what you can to upend this injustice.
Please investigate how this came to be, and how it is that CSU president Laura Bloomberg is now to be seated on the powerful Ideastream Board of Trustees. Her seat there appears as highly self-serving, and a quid pro quo for her giving away something that belonged to the present day students at my Alma-mater. 'Given away in exchange for a powerful voice in local media for herself.
These days, I'm a long-serving librarian at a public library and I understand from where I sit how important it is when we lose independent voices like this. Cleveland please honor your your young people and investigate this travesty. I hope you will do what you can to encourage the return of WCSB to our students. Allow them to continue presenting their messages to our city - not to only fetch coffee for Ideastream bigwigs.
Sincerely yours, Rob Schneider
Robert Schneider
SELFISH TAKEOVER OF WCSB -
This stupid and SELFISH action was absolutely ridiculous. In this already crap time in our history..to rip the real WCSB away from us was devastating! HOW DARE THE POWERS THAT BE?? We had NO say.. NO clue! I literally screamed and cried how horrible this action was. NO consideration of the DJs or the people that having been LOVING that station their entire lives..even just a few weeks! Where will I hear music that I would only hear on CSB? Where will I get my local updates on events in genres I love? I will NEVER support CSU, or Ideastream ever again and I will pass this on to my grave.
Andy Z
WCSB coup
It is unconscionable what happened at WCSB. With no warning, and no input from programmers or the community, the station was unceremoniously switched from a vibrant, cultural keystone of Cleveland culture to a bland, no-one-asked-for-it faceless, characterless automated jazz station.
Not only is this an outage to the countless students and community members who have volunteered their time, talent, and voices for the past 50 years, helping to form the actual cultural backbone of Cleveland’s music legacy, but it smacks of the shameful authoritarian moment we are living in. I previously had a positive impression of both CSU and Ideastream, having listened to WKSU for years, but now I don’t want to have anything to do with either. Shame on both for this corporate coup, and I hope for the sake of all of the fans of the station and programmers and staff, as well as the reputations of CSU and Ideastream that you reinstate WCSB as a student and community-run entity. It enriches our lives and city immeasurably.
Not only is this an outage to the countless students and community members who have volunteered their time, talent, and voices for the past 50 years, helping to form the actual cultural backbone of Cleveland’s music legacy, but it smacks of the shameful authoritarian moment we are living in. I previously had a positive impression of both CSU and Ideastream, having listened to WKSU for years, but now I don’t want to have anything to do with either. Shame on both for this corporate coup, and I hope for the sake of all of the fans of the station and programmers and staff, as well as the reputations of CSU and Ideastream that you reinstate WCSB as a student and community-run entity. It enriches our lives and city immeasurably.
Dan
CSU ideastream
Keep the power in the hands of the students! The way this was handled was extremely disrespectful to all the students and members of the radio station who have put countless hours into making it what it is. Get rid of ideastream and let people who actually care about it be in charge
Kevin H
WCSB Resolution
As a devoted and longstanding member of what was previously recognized as WCSB Cleveland, I emphatically recommend that the council move forward with passing this critically important resolution that addresses our community's pressing needs. This station has been a cornerstone of my personal development, providing a platform for diverse voices that would otherwise go unheard. WCSB Cleveland has served as a vital cultural hub, connecting listeners with authentic programming that commercial stations simply cannot offer. The countless hours of volunteer-driven content have educated, entertained, and united our community for 50 years. This resolution isn't just about preserving a radio station—it's about protecting a cherished institution that has fostered artistic expression, amplified marginalized perspectives, and created meaningful connections throughout our region for decades!
Darrick Grant
WCSB Resolution
We are at a critical point in world history, where the whims of a few oligarchs threaten the very existence of the freedom and livelihoods of everyday people. Attacking diversity and dismantling the tools of public communication can only serve an agenda, which is, in my opinion, evil. We see these actions taking place on a global and national level, and many of us feel powerless to stop them. But we can, and MUST, stand up for what is right in our own community.
What is right is to GIVE IT BACK!
For all of its history until this past October 3, WCSB has been a unique and vital resource for the critically under-represented voices in Cleveland and beyond. It's not about disliking jazz (WCSB played jazz!) and it's not about limiting the voice of Ideastream (accessible through other media channels in our market, including existing terrestrial radio!). It's about the needless destruction and erasure of all those OTHER voices, from the all of the foreign language audiences, to the on-air personalities, to that one nerdy weird middle school girl who gets exposed to that life-changing music at the end of the dial while she works late into the night on her homework. GIVE IT BACK!
The action by Laura Bloomberg to hand over operations of the station to Ideastream has disenfranchised those voices -- and HOW it was done, in such a surreptitious way, speaks clearly of the actors' knowledge that what they were doing was WRONG. My voice is just one, but I am part of a unanimous response by our community who DOES NOT WANT to lose "our" WCSB. With the exception of Dr. Bloomberg and Kevin Martin, EVERY person I have spoken with on this issue thinks that it is a BAD IDEA, and a terrible loss. GIVE IT BACK.
This can all be resolved with a very simple solution: Return operation of the radio station WCSB at 89.3 to the students and volunteers who have run it for nearly 50 years. JUST GIVE IT BACK.
In doing so, Dr. Bloomberg and Kevin Martin can redeem themselves as supporters of diversity and public discourse, which are the stated goals - and should be the ACTUAL missions - of their respective organizations, as well as the right side of history at this moment in time.
What is right is to GIVE IT BACK!
For all of its history until this past October 3, WCSB has been a unique and vital resource for the critically under-represented voices in Cleveland and beyond. It's not about disliking jazz (WCSB played jazz!) and it's not about limiting the voice of Ideastream (accessible through other media channels in our market, including existing terrestrial radio!). It's about the needless destruction and erasure of all those OTHER voices, from the all of the foreign language audiences, to the on-air personalities, to that one nerdy weird middle school girl who gets exposed to that life-changing music at the end of the dial while she works late into the night on her homework. GIVE IT BACK!
The action by Laura Bloomberg to hand over operations of the station to Ideastream has disenfranchised those voices -- and HOW it was done, in such a surreptitious way, speaks clearly of the actors' knowledge that what they were doing was WRONG. My voice is just one, but I am part of a unanimous response by our community who DOES NOT WANT to lose "our" WCSB. With the exception of Dr. Bloomberg and Kevin Martin, EVERY person I have spoken with on this issue thinks that it is a BAD IDEA, and a terrible loss. GIVE IT BACK.
This can all be resolved with a very simple solution: Return operation of the radio station WCSB at 89.3 to the students and volunteers who have run it for nearly 50 years. JUST GIVE IT BACK.
In doing so, Dr. Bloomberg and Kevin Martin can redeem themselves as supporters of diversity and public discourse, which are the stated goals - and should be the ACTUAL missions - of their respective organizations, as well as the right side of history at this moment in time.
Elaine Krumlauf
Submissions are accepted up to 5 hours before a hearing if time slots are available