Public Comment

I am a current student at Case Western Reserve University and a resident of Little Italy. This proposed expansion is beyond egregious and symptomatic of the racist policies that the University has implemented for years. Case Western Reserve has purposefully engineered a food desert around its campus which makes it almost impossible for East Cleveland residents and CWRU students to access groceries or AFFORDABLE food without owning a car. Similarly, Case police have shown an abject disregard for the people they are supposed to protect. They refuse to take any sort of claims of sexual violence or violence in general seriously (this is the reason why CWRU is currently under investigation by the FBI) but will pursue charges if they even suspect that a student could possess marijuana. If any member of a minority group walks around on the campus, they are consistently subject to interrogation and insistence that they leave. It is not uncommon to hear CWRU police say racial slurs on duty or openly follow someone for the simple crime of "being black." There is absolutely no reason for community members in the neighborhoods surrounding CWRU to trust the private police departments which now want to claim jurisdiction over their neighborhoods; they have demonstrably proved this over and over. All such an expansion would do is allow for Case Western Reserve to further alienate and oppress those who live around it. If the university were truly interested in protecting the safety of its students, it would actually allow them to shape such policies. As of today, Case Western Reserve University has not alerted students to the plans for this proposed expansion in any way, even though students oftentimes receive dozens of emails regarding changes in university policies. This is likely because they are aware of how vehemently students would oppose such a policy. Time and again, CWRU goes against the wishes of its students by kicking students out of their promised housing, increasing the cost of tuition significantly during a pandemic, and subjecting them to racist and dehumanizing treatment. All that they care about is making a profit and improving their reputation, regardless of how it affects students or community members. The proposed expansion of CWRU police jurisdiction is just another chapter in the university's long history of absurd corruption and policy-implemented racism and oppression. Case Western Reserve University should have its power in the community SEVERELY decreased after all of its recent actions to harm Cleveland residents, not increased for no justifiable reason. Please reject this proposed expansion. It is the only way to keep Cleveland safe.

Hi, My name is Lucas Popp, and I am a recent graduate of Case Western Reserve University. I'm writing to express my concern regarding Ordinance No 210, which aims to expand the jurisdiction of the university's private police department into the Glenville and Little Italy neighborhoods. My understanding is that the area surrounding the CWRU campus falls under the jurisdiction of several police departments already. I believe the ordinance indicates a negative step for the relationship between CWRU and the surrounding community, and has the potential for negative impacts on the surrounding community due to increased police presence. Whatever motivations the university has for expanding their police jurisdiction, I feel that they should address those issues in more constructive ways. Sincerely, Lucas Popp

I am a student at Case Western Reserve University and a resident of, and voter in, Ward 6. I'm concerned about the expansion of the police jurisdiction of CWRU and University Circle Incorporated further into Little Italy and Glenville. The most glaring concern is that the Cleveland City police department will now be under appropriate accountability mechanisms through the passing of Issue 24 in November by an overwhelming majority of voters. Cleveland police activity and misconduct is now reviewed and investigated by a community oversight committee that has power to make changes pending the results of the investigation. This type of community accountability is critical for all sectors, especially policing given the impact of it in our lives and the potential for violence. Cleveland was placed under a consent decree because of a federal investigation into our policing which found there was severe misconduct and abuse that disproportionately affects communities of color. The Department of Justice found that Cleveland Police Department has used excessive, unconstitutional force and there is a lack of officer training and accountability, and community engagement, among other concerns. Private police departments/public safety departments, including CWRU and UCI police, are not subject to the same types of community oversight. We should be very worried about the expansion of these jurisdictions without a commitment to the same community oversight mechanisms of Cleveland city police. Thank you for your time.

With the presence of University Circle PD, Case PD, Cleveland PD, and East Cleveland PD currently patrolling this area, expansion of Case PD to these areas is a gross overreach and will only infringe upon these communities. If Case is going to expand their policing to Ashbury/Little Italy, they should also put their resources and time into developing community resources in these neighborhoods and improving accessibility (salting and plowing roads and sidewalks) during the winter months.

Currently, boarding public transit without paying fare can result in fines up to $250 and up to 30 days in jail. I request City Council to think deeply about what purpose this response to fare evasion is serving. A person who cannot afford $2.50 for fare will likely be unable to pay a fine ten times as much, and a jail sentence of any length does not match up with such a minor infraction. Leaving fare evasion as a criminal offense ultimately does nothing but further burden the impacted individuals, who are overwhelmingly poor and/or people of color, with the legal and social stigma of a criminal record, which will follow them for years to come, if not the rest of their lives. Is it fair and just for someone to be potentially shut out of housing, educational, and employment opportunities just because they could not afford to pay $2.50? A person in that situation needs help rather than punishment. It's time for Cleveland to reassert itself as a great city and move towards decriminalizing fare evasion.

I would like to comment on the state of the roads and sidewalks during this and many other winters. While larger streets get plowed ( making it impossible to walk on the sidewalk if you are a pedestrian), neighborhoods (of whom I’m sure also pay taxes) are left to shovel feet of snow off roads and walkways. You all are aware, as we are, when winter weather will be present. Walking in the street as a pedestrian is dangerous enough without the added danger of snow. It is your responsibility to keep our roads and sidewalks safe and USEABLE. You all are doing an awful job at it and I would like to see improvements. Thank you.

Students Against Marshall has reviewed emergency resolution #22-2022 and so announces its concurrence with the Council's belief: 1. That because of Chief Justice John Marshall's life long association with slavery, the C|M|Law naming committee should eliminate any reference to him regarding the college of law and further: 2. This constitutes an emergency measure for the immediate preservation of public peace, property, health, and safety. Therefore, the Students Against Marshall request the Council members to affirmatively vote today for the resolution to take effect and be in force immediately upon its adoption and approval by the Mayor or the earliest period allowed by law. More information regarding Students Against Marshall, the law school's 2021 diversity report, and the naming committee's community survey which expires next Friday Jan 17 2022, is available online at the following link: www.linktr (dot) ee/csusam or the Instagram handle @students_against_marshall Thank you for your consideration.