Nov. 14 – Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenters Chau Tang and Christina Easter
What happened: Eight community members gave public comment. Five discussed nominees to the Community Police Commission (CPC). Thirteen nominees — 10 of whom Mayor Justin Bibb nominated — await council approval. Kareem Henton of Black Lives Matter Cleveland said he doesn’t have a problem with the people who have been nominated. He said he was concerned with who was left out. “You don’t have that member of a family that has lost a loved one to police violence,” Henton said. “Isn’t that part of why we created this?” The nominees don’t meet the criteria included in the Issue 24 charter amendment, he said. A year ago, Cleveland voters approved the amendments, which aim to strengthen oversight of police.
Support for nominees: The city stands by its process. Other community members — including nominees — expressed support in this meeting. Alana Garrett-Ferguson, a Bibb nominee, urged council to move forward seating the commission.
Sigma Gamma Rho honored: Council celebrated the 100th anniversary of Sigma Gamma Rho. Council President Blaine Griffin commended the sorority’s work in the community.
Read Documenter Christina Easter’s live Tweet from the meeting:
Watch the full public comments or read transcripts edited by Documenter Carolyn Cooper on Public Comment CLE (website created by Ohio City resident Angelo Trivisonno).