Public Comment

I fully support the passage of the Residents First legislation that will work toward solving the many problems associated with absentee, fraudulent and inactive landlords in Cleveland. As I tenant, I have a keen and vested interest in ensuring that this important legislation passes. Thankfully I rent from a family member but I shudder to think about the time in the future when I may have to rent from a private landlord, corporation, etc. Frankly it is very likely that I will move out of Cleveland to avoid the many pitfalls associated with renting from these absentee landlords. It is only fair and just that renters in the city of Cleveland have the ability to live in a clean, safe and affordable home. Please do what is in the best interests of those you represent and pass this important legislation. Thank you for your consideration of my comments.

Richmond California becomes the first US city to declare support for Palestinians. All people in Gaza and Palestine are currently facing a campaign of ethnic cleansing, and genocide with collective punishment by the state of Israel. Human Rights organizations are blind, deaf, speechless, and inhuman, while People in Gaza being slaughtered cruelty by the 100's every single day on Live on all T.V. all over the world by the hands of Zionists, and the American government and its army and troops.

As the weeks pass by, 7,000+ Palestinians have been murdered by Israel and every country that has financially backed them. This includes the state of Ohio who has sent millions upon millions of dollars to Israel. Cleveland has continued to either be silent in this genocide, or you have politicians who have been in CLEAR support of the Genocide. State Rep. Max Miller commented on the situation saying “you can put a nice parking lot where Palestinians live”. This is horrifying and I demand Cleveland takes a FIRM stance AGAINST Israel and stops funding this genocide.

I am horrified to know that the money I pay in taxes is funding the genocide that’s happening to Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli state. The fact that Cleveland has not made a firm stance against this genocide proves that the people representing the people of Cleveland have been bought out. It is absolutely deplorable. The death of Palestinians is on the hands of Cleveland if this continues. The Palestinian people are protected under international humanitarian law and their rights are currently being violated while the U.S. government sits back and continues to provide military, financial, and unwavering moral support to the Israeli government.  This genocide of the Palestinian people while the world watches in silence is one of the most unspeakable acts I have ever witnessed in my lifetime. The city of CLEVELAND is sitting back. Do something.

This comment should be for Cleveland issues and not for foreign or issues about statements. Been trying to sign up for 3 weeks and everytime it's full because if foreigners signing up for comment that isn't Cleveland related. Fix this problem!

At this point it's appalling that city council and the mayor are ignoring us. When you make a sweeping, controversial statement, especially when it's about literal genocide, you need to expect pushback. It's weak of you all to just roll your eyes and act like we're the ones out of line when we want our voices heard. I know council already doesn't do anything and doesn't listen to people who don't donate thousands of dollars to campaigns, but at least pretend to listen. Get it together, y'all.

I do not support the colonial state of Israel. It keeps me up at night that my tax payer dollars are being used to kill children. Do not speak on behalf of the City of Cleveland if you cannot speak for all- and more importantly those being exterminated from their homes.

I am calling that Council President and my ward representative Blaine Griffin rescind his statement of support for Israel and rather denounce the genocide of Palestinians by Israel and US funding. I will never support my tax dollars going to an apartheid state and am appalled by the silence of council on this issue, ignoring the thousands of Palestinians and their allies here in Cleveland. You have the power to support your constituents and yet you don't. You continually threaten to, and in some cases actually, shut down public comment. You have the power of the purse, choosing where to receive money from and where to send money. We will remember who spoke out against a genocide and those who didn't.

The mayor and council should have way more important things to worry about in the city of Cleveland than supporting a foreign country that is currently committing genocide on the Palestinian people. Your actions threaten the safety of your own residents that you were voted in to represent. Instead you alienate them and open them up possible harm and ridicule for being Palestinian. You all should be ashamed and turn and immediate corner and support a ceasefire and an end to the killing of innocent people.

I and 7 other community members made public comment on Monday demanding Mayor Bibb and Council President Griffin to denounce the genocide in Israel. Neither bothered to be present at Council. The response given by Council members after we left was appalling. Councilman Polenesk called to have non-residents barred from speaking. Well I am a resident and I oppose this. When city officials make public statements that affect the lives and safety of the tens of thousands of Palestinians who live and work in the Greater Cleveland area, they have a right to come to Council to make comment. The city government saw fit to send an army of police to Beachwood for a pro-Israel rally on Monday October 9th. Clearly city officials are ok with spending tax dollars for use outside of Cleveland, so to say that non-Clevelanders can't speak at Council is hypocritical. Councilman James derided us for leaving in the middle of session. It is frankly disgusting to suggest that Palestinians should be forced to sit and listen to a public comment where they lie that Hamas beheaded infants, a claim that has been retracted and debunked, in order to sate the decorum of your session. I watched the rest of your session on Youtube. You approved ordinance after ordinance with no discussion unanimously. This is what you insisted we sit through? It has only been a few years since public comment has even been allowed at city council in decades, an unimaginable fact on its own, and now we can see why. It is an undemocratic political machine that pushes back the minute is challenged.