Public Comment

My name is Natosha Czuba and I am the Union Chapter Chairperson at Newton D. Baker. We were completed blindsided when we heard that the district is closing our school. We have endured a leaky roof with up to 40 barrels in our rooms and hallways, a flooded basement and noticeable mold on our ceilings. We have remained positive and waited patiently for the district to repair our building, which has been leaking for more than 10 years. We do understand that there is a deficit of funding, and that hard decisions need to be made. But why is there a need to split up this community that supported CMSD and haven't exposed the full conditions of our dilapidated building. We want the district to consider another option. The option is to move our students and staff together in another school building. There are a lot of buildings that are only 1/3 full. We even have a principal that volunteered to accept 300 students, and all of the staff at Newton D. Baker. If the district went with this option the students can stay with their teachers who have become like their families. We have a close knit family atmosphere at Newton D. Baker. Generations of students come to our school from all over the Cleveland area. We will not accept the fact that Dr. Morgan plans to split us up, and expose our students to even more trauma. Our population is 40% special needs, and we have created lasting bonds that may never form with teachers from other schools. I have a student who witnessed his father being murdered. That student feels safe and loved in my classroom. The district is taking that away, and putting him through even more trauma with him moving to a new school, with a new teacher, a new counselor and new students. We have a petition with signatures from over 800 parents, families and Cleveland residents. 85% of our parents signed our petition. We are prepared to do what is needed to protect and support our students, since the district chose not to consider their students and families. I am asking the district to consider the option of the students and staff all moving together to another building. Hoping to hear from you soon.

I am a teacher at Newton D Baker and want to ask a favor. When our district closes a school please think it through as a child. 1. I have been friends with some of these kids for many years and now you are breaking us up before my 8th grade promotion? 2 It took me years for this certain teacher to break down my wall, who can I talk to now? 3. I love the Arts but these other school options don't fill the void. Where else can I dance, play in a band or perform on stage? From the view of a teacher I can only say, it takes months and maybe years to build relationships with families and students. I feel this is more than closing a school. It's tearing down stability for many of our students, especially our special education population that makes up 40% of our enrollment. Please advocate for our students, families and teachers to stay together. There are buildings in the district that could fit us all. We are not closing because of performance, we are closing because our building is not safe. Sincerely Mark Steinbrunner Intervention Specialist Newton D Baker

I understand there are rules but to give out parking tickets at the jobs and family building is shameful people are there to get help they need help not parking tickets!

$25 million dollars for a bike path is not smart with housing and food shortages. With Trump all bets are off. Take care of people first. I am a biker so yes a path would be nice but people's needs first.

As you may be aware, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is proposing bus lanes along W25th street between Detroit and Lorain Avenue in Ohio City. As such, I want to write in support of maintaining bus lanes as part of the proposed bus improvements along W25th street, especially between Jay and Lorain. I regularly use the 51 MetroHealth which runs along this street, and the combination of traffic and parked cars can significantly delay buses. The problem has become so severe that I need to catch an earlier bus to avoid running late to work, adding up to 30 minutes to my commute at times. 24/7 bus lanes and signal priority are critical, defining features of this proposed project that will drastically improve my commute and the commute of others on this important corridor. A handful of businesses along W25th expressed opposition to bus lanes, with one of the reasons being the need for street parking for businesses. Although I can’t speak for everyone, as a resident of Westlake who patronizes many of these businesses, I usually don’t consider parking on the street as the traffic conditions there are too stressful. Moreover, there is plentiful surface parking on the same block. Businesses have also claimed that bus lanes reduce pedestrian safety. However, removing bus lanes from the proposal in favor of street parking is arguably more dangerous for pedestrian safety. 24/7 bus lanes permanently narrow the road, reducing vehicle speeds and improving safety. On the other hand, although parked cars can have a similar effect, cars are not regularly parked on W25th street all the time. Moreover, when I’m crossing the street, I find that parked cars can block myself from the view of other drivers, increasing the chances of a driver hitting me. Cleveland desperately needs improvements to transit such as bus lanes and signal priority as our transit system, although not the worst, suffers from unreliable schedules and long travel times that make it difficult for me and other transit riders to get to work, buy groceries, or simply live our life. I have seen the RTA and local government attempt to address these problems with improvements such as transit priority measures including bus lanes. However, too often do I see these projects whittled down and compromised, and I can’t help but feel that the removal of bus lanes will create yet another example of a transit project that was compromised due to the complaints of a few individuals over the hundreds of transit riders who use this corridor. Although I understand the concerns that a few businesses may have about bus lanes, many of the concerns can be addressed using other solutions that do not compromise this project and the mobility of our transit riders- whether it be emphasizing nearby surface parking or more street trees and other traffic calming devices that do not impede on bus lanes. It doesn’t make sense to remove bus lanes which carry some of the busiest bus routes in the city in favor of a handful of parking spaces when alternatives exist to both address parking space and pedestrian safety. I hope the city considers placing the equitable mobility of Clevelanders first by maintaining bus lanes in the proposed project instead of compromising the project with private vehicle parking.

My fiancé and I have faced severe stalking, gun violence, and a hate crime orchestrated by Steven M. Rogers and his family, including Marco Periandri and his wife, who have been planning this for years. Their actions stem from our interracial relationship, and the system has repeatedly tried to cover this up. They have relatives working in the clerk's office who are deliberately concealing past legal violations. It's crucial for the FBI to look into the situation at the justice center and in Cleveland. Both the county and city prosecutors should be removed from their positions and prosecuted. We are victims of a hate crime from our neighbors and the city of Cleveland, along with Cuyahoga County. Steven Roger's oldest son is in prison for murder and rape, yet the justice center and the mayor have managed to avoid holding this family accountable for their numerous violent attacks on ordinary citizens.

The budget for 911 has already increased for the 2025 year. Cleveland is a great city. I’m there all the time. I have many friends and relatives that live there. And I support many businesses. My husband and I grew up on the west side. 911 is critical to both the community and everyone that comes into Cleveland, Ohio. Use the money in the 2025 budget for hiring. Thanks

Hello, My name is Nicole Phelps; I cultivate a space in the community garden on West 47th Street. This garden has been in our neighborhood for nearly 20 years and is a staple in our community. My husband and I were fortunate enough join the neighborhood in October of 2023 and are active participants in the community. Our first summer was an amazing experience; we built connections with our neighbors by working a plot and attending activities held in the garden as a third space. Green spaces like our garden are a vital place of reprieve in our dense Cleveland neighborhoods and are just as important as public parks, serving a specific need for space we can share and utilize. Recently, our community learned that a private real estate developer is exploring development of our garden for housing, and we have serious concerns. By converting free, public spaces into private housing, we enrich some at the expense of many. Moreover, as federal funds for initiatives like our community garden disappear, we must carefully protect such public amenities. I have two requests of the Council and City: 1) Please help our neighborhood retain our treasured community garden, and 2) Please protect other community green spaces throughout Cleveland. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Good evening, my fellow future Canadians. As I look across the beautiful lake each day, an overwhelming feeling of hope and anxiety fills my mind. Cleveland, a 21st century city with significant potential for growth and prosperity, is currently attached like a cinder block to a 19th century country, with potential only for economic destruction and chaos. I would like to encourage our local leaders to breach discussions with the sovereign nation of Canada to willingly and peacefully extend their borders to include the city of Cleveland, beginning what I hope to be a complete encircling of the Great Lakes by our neighbors to the north and affording greater prosperity and freedom to each and every Clevelander. I understand this is a difficult request and a long process. However, failing to take this step is a missed opportunity to secure the future of a once-great city, particularly after planned investments to our infrastructure and economy were pulled due to the petulant tantrums from what remains of the United States government. It is often said that the captain goes down with the ship. I am no captain, and I propose we sprint at full speed toward the lifeboat on the other side of our lovely lake.

I am writing to advocate for the annexation of the proposed stadium site in Brook Park into the City of Cleveland. This strategic move would not only retain the Cleveland Browns within our city’s jurisdiction but also foster significant economic growth and community development. Economic Benefits The construction of a new, state-of-the-art domed stadium, along with an adjacent mixed-use development, is projected to cost $2.4 billion. This investment promises to transform the area into a vibrant hub for sports, entertainment, and commerce. By annexing the stadium site, Cleveland would directly benefit from the increased tax revenues generated by this development, including property taxes, sales taxes, and income taxes from new job creation. These funds could be reinvested into essential city services, infrastructure improvements, and community programs, thereby enhancing the quality of life for all residents. Preservation of the City’s Identity The Cleveland Browns are an integral part of our city’s heritage and identity. Their presence within city limits reinforces community pride and cohesion. Allowing the stadium to be built outside of Cleveland’s jurisdiction could dilute this connection and potentially lead to a loss of cultural significance. Annexation ensures that the team’s home remains synonymous with the city it represents, preserving our rich sports legacy. Legal and Logistical Considerations The current lease for Huntington Bank Field is set to expire after the 2028 season. The Browns’ owners have expressed intentions to relocate to Brook Park, citing better fan access and parking opportunities. However, the City of Cleveland has invoked the “Modell Law,” which requires teams using tax-supported facilities to seek city authorization before relocating. By annexing the proposed site, we can resolve potential legal disputes, retain the team’s location within our jurisdiction, and ensure that the economic benefits of the new development accrue to Cleveland. Historical Precedent Cleveland has a history of strategic annexations to promote growth and development. For instance, in 1947, Cleveland annexed over 1,000 acres, including the airport, from Brook Park, which facilitated the expansion of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. This move proved beneficial for the city’s economic development and infrastructure. Similarly, annexing the stadium site would align with our city’s tradition of proactive growth strategies. Conclusion Annexing the proposed stadium site in Brook Park into the City of Cleveland presents a unique opportunity to secure economic growth, preserve our cultural identity, and uphold our legal interests. I urge the City Council to consider this strategic move to ensure that the benefits of the new stadium and its associated developments are fully realized within our city’s boundaries.