Public Comment

I live on West 65th Street north of Detroit Avenue in current Ward 15. The proposed map splits Ward 15 across three new wards and moves my address – and more than half of the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood – into new Ward 7 with Ohio City and Tremont. I think Council should reconsider these changes. The three current Ward 15 neighborhoods – Cudell, Detroit Shoreway, and Edgewater – share common geography, interests, and community organizations. Splitting us across three wards without regard for neighborhood boundaries or shared interests runs contrary to Council President Griffin’s originally stated goals for the redistricting process and will result in a reduced voice for our shared interests. I understand that the redistricting process will be imperfect given the charter requirements and realities of Cleveland’s population trends, but the proposed map falls below an acceptable level of imperfection. At the very least, Council should consider rejoining Detroit Shoreway as part of one ward separate from Ohio City and Tremont.

Dear Council Members: I am concerned that the new City Ward Map does not acknowledge and value the cohesiveness of neighborhoods. For instance, current Ward 15, except for the "Brady dogleg" that cuts through Cudell and Edgewater from Jefferson, makes a lot of sense. It consists primarily of three neighborhoods: Edgewater, Cudell and Detroit Shoreway. It is compact, cohesive, and shares common interests. Further, it has likely increased in population rather than decreased. The new ward map divides 15 into three pieces without regard to neighborhood boundaries and divvies them off in different directions. In particular, the new map divides three adjacent neighborhoods in half without necessity, namely Edgewater, Cudell and West Blvd., splitting them between two different new wards These neighborhoods could easily be kept together, and their neighborhood interests and character maintained, and properly represented. While I don't have complete information regarding population and neighborhood boundaries, most of the maps on Council's website created by city residents look more neighborhood friendly and fairer to residents than the one presented to the public. Without having fully explored them all, I find Map 4 very promising in maintaining as many neighborhood boundaries as possible. I do hope that the final map is more about residents and neighborhoods than politicians. Thank you for your honest, fair minded and impartial consideration of this matter, Chris Murray