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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Why Library Security Should Be Commissioned
The Library is the place where learning begins out side of grade school, high school and traditional college. Our libraries also serve communities from our youth to our elderly offering programs that provide meals during the summer when child hunger is at its highest. The library also provides 211 and belifare safe spaces for homeless teens. The libraries are all publicly accessible and all services are free of cost and are all welcome to come and learn, research, study and become better men and women and future scholars.
As we all know, the library security team works hard in the efforts to maintain the safety and order within these spaces. The officers as well as the leadership team are challenged day to day with the same issues that are faced by any other local enforcement team working within our city. Though non commissioned and unarmed they do a remarkable job dealing with maintaining the libraries patron code of conduct as well as working together with men and women of our Cleveland division of Police. The Officers in the library are all state certified security professionals who are also training in CIT response. They assist in handling mental health, vagrancy and low level crime in which they rely on the response of Cleveland police. With the lack of applicants and the low numbers police in Cleveland these library officers are task with responding to calls for service at the branches. The library has 26 branches spread from east to west and cannot run lights and sirens as police officers do.
Imagine being able to increase you security forces within your Cleveland public library. Commissioned officers are privileged to a lot more trainings and service techniques that provide a broader scope into dealing with citizens in our city. If the library would have its own officers commissioned the time response to serious matters has now been decreased. This would allow our Cleveland police forces to focused more on streets without being overwhelmed to respond to our libraries. This means the library can handle 70% of its calls for service without taking forces from our streets where the violence has increased significantly.
Commissioning the library security staff to me is an awesome idea that will contribute to the relief and sense of security of the community. Knowing where you can go and feel safe is an important factor these days. Also having officers who can meet a threat of deadly force or domestic terrorism is a key element in providing a safe environment for our scholars and those who are the future of our city state and country.
As we all know, the library security team works hard in the efforts to maintain the safety and order within these spaces. The officers as well as the leadership team are challenged day to day with the same issues that are faced by any other local enforcement team working within our city. Though non commissioned and unarmed they do a remarkable job dealing with maintaining the libraries patron code of conduct as well as working together with men and women of our Cleveland division of Police. The Officers in the library are all state certified security professionals who are also training in CIT response. They assist in handling mental health, vagrancy and low level crime in which they rely on the response of Cleveland police. With the lack of applicants and the low numbers police in Cleveland these library officers are task with responding to calls for service at the branches. The library has 26 branches spread from east to west and cannot run lights and sirens as police officers do.
Imagine being able to increase you security forces within your Cleveland public library. Commissioned officers are privileged to a lot more trainings and service techniques that provide a broader scope into dealing with citizens in our city. If the library would have its own officers commissioned the time response to serious matters has now been decreased. This would allow our Cleveland police forces to focused more on streets without being overwhelmed to respond to our libraries. This means the library can handle 70% of its calls for service without taking forces from our streets where the violence has increased significantly.
Commissioning the library security staff to me is an awesome idea that will contribute to the relief and sense of security of the community. Knowing where you can go and feel safe is an important factor these days. Also having officers who can meet a threat of deadly force or domestic terrorism is a key element in providing a safe environment for our scholars and those who are the future of our city state and country.
Concerned Citizen
Under age curfew
In our neighborhood Carnegie Ave Nw kiss’s in 12 walk the streets after 1:00am ring doorbells and going through yards s all summer every summer! So tired of it,
Tom
Why the Library Security Guards - Auxiliary / Shouldn't be allowed to have Weapons/Pepper spray on person - in the library.
Why should Council make the library guards not carry Weapons/ Vapes/ Pepper Spray on person - in the library.
People fear for their life at the library because of Weapons/ Vapes/ Pepper Spray from Security Guards/Auxiliary.,
It is a unspoken fear implied from the Security Guards/ Auxiliary that the library is not a safe learning environment for the library members and the security guards are armed and dangerous.,
ready to Spray./ Injure./ Vaporize.
The Library is a environment for learning, the library members should not have to fear
Killing/Vaporization/Spray &/or injury because of the Security Guard'/ Auxiliary' Weapons/Vapes/ Pepper Spray.
The final thought is a request for the library Security Guards / Auxiliary to stop carrying
Weapons/Pepper spray on person in the library.
The library members are not allowed to carry weapons,
and the Security Guards / Auxiliary should not be allowed to scare the library members away
because of Weapons/Vapes/Pepper Spray.
The security guards not being allowed to carry weapons/Pepper Spray can create less injuries/
Less Homicides/Less Murders.
Thanking the city to make the Library environment a murder less/less Homicidal / injure less environment by way of Weapons, Vapes/Pepper Spray not being allowed in the Library.
Council 15.
People fear for their life at the library because of Weapons/ Vapes/ Pepper Spray from Security Guards/Auxiliary.,
It is a unspoken fear implied from the Security Guards/ Auxiliary that the library is not a safe learning environment for the library members and the security guards are armed and dangerous.,
ready to Spray./ Injure./ Vaporize.
The Library is a environment for learning, the library members should not have to fear
Killing/Vaporization/Spray &/or injury because of the Security Guard'/ Auxiliary' Weapons/Vapes/ Pepper Spray.
The final thought is a request for the library Security Guards / Auxiliary to stop carrying
Weapons/Pepper spray on person in the library.
The library members are not allowed to carry weapons,
and the Security Guards / Auxiliary should not be allowed to scare the library members away
because of Weapons/Vapes/Pepper Spray.
The security guards not being allowed to carry weapons/Pepper Spray can create less injuries/
Less Homicides/Less Murders.
Thanking the city to make the Library environment a murder less/less Homicidal / injure less environment by way of Weapons, Vapes/Pepper Spray not being allowed in the Library.
Council 15.
Majeeda Ali
Ridiculous amount of speeding in this city including hot rods, motorcycles and illegal dirt bikes!
The area of Chatfield Ave from W150th to Rocky River Drive is being used as a racetrack for sadistic narcissistic morons who fail to realize that it's a neighborhood where people live. Please put stop signs, a roundabout or other traffic calming measure at Chatfield and Greenhill and until then. Please post a police officer with a radar gun to stop this racing down a residential street at all hours of the day and night! The city would make significant revenue from speeding tickets on this one street alone if the police bothered to spend any time here. I understand the safety risk involved in high-speed chases on freeways but it's likely those same offenders speeding on the freeways causing unsafe conditions for all drivers, who are racing around the city streets, so come catch them here and put a stop to this!
Tired of living on a Raceway!
Process for Ramming Thought Self Serving Campaign Finance Increase
Many councilpersons including the Council President (my councilman) continually attack the administration for walk on pieces of legislation that are introduced and passes the same day in Council, however that is EXACTLY what you are doing today with your self serving piece of campaign finance legislation. The process is unacceptable, I do not support it, and the community does not support this hypocritical behavior of this council.
M. McCarthy
Public Schools Tax Increase
(Plain Press June 2024) So now the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) wants to reach deeper into homeowners’ pockets in the form of two tax increases, euphemistically called school “levies,” that hit average Cleveland residents especially hard because it’s clear that wealthy and privileged people are simply not paying their fair share to support our urban public schools.
Why are we not talking about decades of lavish property tax abatements for fancy hotels, swank office buildings, billionaire-owned sports franchises and luxury condos and apartments that effectively strip urban public schools of desperately needed revenue increases? Why are we not talking about gargantuan nonprofit land holdings in Cleveland and massive nonprofit endowments delivering huge income streams that are exempt from property and other tax?
LETTER
Taxpayer provided subsidies and tax abatements for property development like luxury condos and fancy apartments are especially heinous, encouraging powerful, well-connected developers and their well-to-do clients to evade their share of support for urban public schools, while making a financial killing on their property investments.
What do the billionaire-owned sports franchises pay in property tax? And what do the heavily subsidized hotels, office buildings and high-rises’ pay? And what about the massive non-profit industrial complex of hospitals and universities sitting on prime land here? Isn’t it time for them to step up along with other property owners and support our urban public schools?
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and the City of Cleveland engage in mind-numbing austerity talk with respect to the public schools as if it’s somehow a good thing, sounding like sadistic neoliberal business orthodoxy: cut the fat, tighten the belt, trim the deadwood; like this is an inherently healthy process. It’s anything but healthy. It’s deeply toxic. It’s deeply toxic because our kids are going to suffer as a result.
As property owners, my wife and I have supported every school tax levy posed to us in the last 50 years, but now on a fixed income, the ever-increasing property valuations, driven up by tax-abated luxury developments and higher ensuing taxes, are getting harder and harder to manage. It’s especially hard because we know full-well that the lion’s share of the tax burden falls on average people, while phantom “trickle-down” tax advantages favor the wealthy, corporations and huge non-profit institutions that do not pay their fair share, while our politicians coddle them because they are big employers or campaign donors.
When running for County Executive Chris Ronayne had suggested certain local nonprofits should step up and throw money into a pot to better support and improve community health, a great idea which should logically include support to urban public schools. The fact is our public-school funding mechanism is structurally inadequate, unfair, racist, and deeply corrupted. Isn’t it the right time to call that out publicly and do something about it?
My wife and I will of course support the Cleveland school levy, as we always do, because children need a decent education. We will also call out the powerful and privileged who do not pay their fair share. We hope you will too. Because sunlight is said to be a very good disinfectant, especially for moral rot.
Arthur Hargate
Cleveland
Why are we not talking about decades of lavish property tax abatements for fancy hotels, swank office buildings, billionaire-owned sports franchises and luxury condos and apartments that effectively strip urban public schools of desperately needed revenue increases? Why are we not talking about gargantuan nonprofit land holdings in Cleveland and massive nonprofit endowments delivering huge income streams that are exempt from property and other tax?
LETTER
Taxpayer provided subsidies and tax abatements for property development like luxury condos and fancy apartments are especially heinous, encouraging powerful, well-connected developers and their well-to-do clients to evade their share of support for urban public schools, while making a financial killing on their property investments.
What do the billionaire-owned sports franchises pay in property tax? And what do the heavily subsidized hotels, office buildings and high-rises’ pay? And what about the massive non-profit industrial complex of hospitals and universities sitting on prime land here? Isn’t it time for them to step up along with other property owners and support our urban public schools?
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and the City of Cleveland engage in mind-numbing austerity talk with respect to the public schools as if it’s somehow a good thing, sounding like sadistic neoliberal business orthodoxy: cut the fat, tighten the belt, trim the deadwood; like this is an inherently healthy process. It’s anything but healthy. It’s deeply toxic. It’s deeply toxic because our kids are going to suffer as a result.
As property owners, my wife and I have supported every school tax levy posed to us in the last 50 years, but now on a fixed income, the ever-increasing property valuations, driven up by tax-abated luxury developments and higher ensuing taxes, are getting harder and harder to manage. It’s especially hard because we know full-well that the lion’s share of the tax burden falls on average people, while phantom “trickle-down” tax advantages favor the wealthy, corporations and huge non-profit institutions that do not pay their fair share, while our politicians coddle them because they are big employers or campaign donors.
When running for County Executive Chris Ronayne had suggested certain local nonprofits should step up and throw money into a pot to better support and improve community health, a great idea which should logically include support to urban public schools. The fact is our public-school funding mechanism is structurally inadequate, unfair, racist, and deeply corrupted. Isn’t it the right time to call that out publicly and do something about it?
My wife and I will of course support the Cleveland school levy, as we always do, because children need a decent education. We will also call out the powerful and privileged who do not pay their fair share. We hope you will too. Because sunlight is said to be a very good disinfectant, especially for moral rot.
Arthur Hargate
Cleveland
Arthur Hargate
POLICE CORRUPTION
WEAK ACCOUNTABILITY BY PUBLIC OFFICIAL IS A CENTRAL CAUSE OF POLICE CORRUPTION AND ABUSE OF POWER HERE IN CLEVELAND.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CONCLUDED THAT THE C.P.D. DEMOSTRATED A PATTERN OF " UNEASONABLE AND UNNECESSARY USE OF FORCE". C.P.D. USED GUNS, TASERS. PEPPER SPRAY AND FISTS IN EXCESS.
ONCE AGAIN CLEVELAND BLACK COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BETRAYED BY SO-CALLED BLACK LEADERS AND CLERGY BEHIND THE MAYOR ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMVENT POLICY OR RULE OF LAW.
IT IS REPREHISIBLE THAT MAYOR BIBBS WOULD ATTEMPT TO EMPLOY SOMEONE AS CHIEF PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR WHO WAS CHARGE WITH A FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHT LAWSUIT FOR THE VIOLATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF (2) ELDERLY BLACK FOLKS.
WE NEED TO HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISCONDUCT ALONG WITH ITS BLACK POLITICAL COLLABORATORS.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE,
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CONCLUDED THAT THE C.P.D. DEMOSTRATED A PATTERN OF " UNEASONABLE AND UNNECESSARY USE OF FORCE". C.P.D. USED GUNS, TASERS. PEPPER SPRAY AND FISTS IN EXCESS.
ONCE AGAIN CLEVELAND BLACK COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BETRAYED BY SO-CALLED BLACK LEADERS AND CLERGY BEHIND THE MAYOR ATTEMPT TO CIRCUMVENT POLICY OR RULE OF LAW.
IT IS REPREHISIBLE THAT MAYOR BIBBS WOULD ATTEMPT TO EMPLOY SOMEONE AS CHIEF PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR WHO WAS CHARGE WITH A FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHT LAWSUIT FOR THE VIOLATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF (2) ELDERLY BLACK FOLKS.
WE NEED TO HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISCONDUCT ALONG WITH ITS BLACK POLITICAL COLLABORATORS.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE,
ANTHONY THOMAS
Land Bank Tree Trimming Paid by City of Cleveland for CHN
I do NOT support our HUD and/or general funds being used to pay Townsend Tree Trimming to come and destroy the trees on lots so the CHN can build their crappy houses on. Every year, CHN builds 30 of these houses built out of matchbox sticks, and before the city sells them the lots for $200, the City of Cleveland spends TENS OF THOUSANDS of our dollars to Townsend Tree to clear the lots. Why should the city of Cleveland not only sell the lots at a loss of $200, but then also pay thousands to have the trees removed and trimmed? CHN should pay for that! It is unfair that we receive UNEQUAL treatment under the law. As neighbors we are not allowed to purchase land bank lots at market price, but you will sell them at a discount of only $200 to CHN AND you pay thousands to get rid of the trees. Residents should have first right of refusal or atleast equal treatment, which is required by the 14th amendment: No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Section 2.
Robin
Announcement of the United Nations Association-USA Greater Cleveland Chapter. An invitation to formerly join as Ambassador for Genuine PEACE.
I was invited to open a "New Chapter" of The United Nations Association-USA, which is a domestic division of the United Nations. There are approximately 200 cities with a Chapter of the UNA-USA throughout the United States.
We invite any and everyone to become a member of our "New" UNA-USA Chapter with monthly meetings at Burke Lakefront Airport. Membership can be obtained by visiting the UNA-USA website at unausa.org.
Our promotion of PEACE and Unity will include a PEACE Academy with multiple units of engagement for various age groups and Social designations.
Our BIG Picture agenda asks the question of EVERY Clevelander - Do We, as a geographical location, have a "Branding" beyond the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and our sports Teams? Yes, we have highly revered Health and educational institutions, but what is our Brand and what do wish it to be? We have a strong suggestion . . . . .
Thank you,
Gregory Johnson, Community Servant
We invite any and everyone to become a member of our "New" UNA-USA Chapter with monthly meetings at Burke Lakefront Airport. Membership can be obtained by visiting the UNA-USA website at unausa.org.
Our promotion of PEACE and Unity will include a PEACE Academy with multiple units of engagement for various age groups and Social designations.
Our BIG Picture agenda asks the question of EVERY Clevelander - Do We, as a geographical location, have a "Branding" beyond the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and our sports Teams? Yes, we have highly revered Health and educational institutions, but what is our Brand and what do wish it to be? We have a strong suggestion . . . . .
Thank you,
Gregory Johnson, Community Servant
Gregory Johnson
Why Cleveland baseball team '2024 should be reNamed.
Why re-Name the Cleveland, baseball team '2024
The Cleveland, baseball team should be re-named because,
Guardians of people don't want to get assaulted from a bat or ball.
Concluding, Guardianship is for an honor of good care to & for people and
shouldn't be mistaken for violence from a bat & or ball (less battering).
The Request to re-name the Cleveland baseball team will honor guardians caring to & for people.
The renaming Cleveland baseball team can end violence mistaken from a bat & or ball.
Thank you for supporting the request of why Cleveland baseball team should be renamed.
The Cleveland, baseball team should be re-named because,
Guardians of people don't want to get assaulted from a bat or ball.
Concluding, Guardianship is for an honor of good care to & for people and
shouldn't be mistaken for violence from a bat & or ball (less battering).
The Request to re-name the Cleveland baseball team will honor guardians caring to & for people.
The renaming Cleveland baseball team can end violence mistaken from a bat & or ball.
Thank you for supporting the request of why Cleveland baseball team should be renamed.
Majeeda Ali
Submissions are accepted up to 5 hours before a hearing if time slots are available