Residents urged Cleveland officials to use remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds to support Cleveland students and initiatives that would create good-paying jobs and open avenues for making homes in city neighborhoods safe and healthy. Another resident thanked council for supporting transformational bicycle midway projects.
The Public Comment CLE website has all of the week’s comments and transcripts, edited by Cleveland Documenter Gennifer Harding-Gosnell. Read more about the meeting, which was covered by Documenters Brandy Smith and Preeya Shankar.
Register to make a public comment or learn more about the process in our guide to public comment at Cleveland City Council.
Student support
Derrick Holifield, of Ward 9, is the principal at Cleveland’s Kenneth Clement Boys Leadership Academy. Holifield said he and his staff work daily to disrupt a school-to-prison pipeline and need the additional support that would come from Mayor Justin Bibb’s proposal to spend American Rescue Plan Act funding on literacy support.
When I think about the Black boys at the school that I lead, I remember traumatic experiences being the backdrop of my childhood and my neighborhood. I know my students are affected by that same trauma because promised changes never came. We cannot waste the potential of Cleveland residents anymore. Give our scholars and their families a shot at academic success, positive health outcomes and economic equity.
Derrick Holifield, Ward 9
Watch Holifield’s full comment.
Building for the future
Xavier Page-Tabb, of Ward 2, talked about being an apprentice electrician and how the Cleveland Builds program has helped him get into the building trades. Council will consider funding the program with ARPA money.
Without the Cleveland Builds program, I wouldn’t be where I am because of how they have guided me and helped me set up a great opportunity for myself to really help understand what I wanted to do in life. Then I wouldn’t be in the position to where I can make over $80,000 a year within five years of being included into this workforce.
Xavier Page-Tabb, of Ward 2
Watch Page-Tabb’s full comment.
Bike lane projects
Barb Clint, of Ward 8, told council the Superior and Lorain midway projects, which are expected to add public bike lanes to both roads, will position Cleveland as a leader in active transportation.
The midway is not only about safety but also about transportation equity for the thousands of Clevelanders who either do not own or choose not to own a car. And it’s also about social cohesion, creating safe and inviting places where folks of all ages and backgrounds will literally cross paths.
Barb Clint, Ward 8