Nov. 28 – Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenters Karima McCree-Wilson, Daniel McLaughlin and Dorothy Ajamu
What happened: Eight community members made public comments. Topics included renovations at public transit stations, participatory budgeting and resources for people experiencing homelessness. Josiah Quarles from the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) spoke about emergency rental assistance. The program, funded by the federal government, stopped accepting new applications on Dec. 2. He said losing the program would destabilize people’s housing. “It’s like if you have a table and you kick one of the legs out from under it, it’s very easy for that table to be upturned,” Quarles said.
Lead-pipe removal progresses: Council passed legislation related to the city’s effort to replace lead pipes. The law allows the city to hire consultants to manage the program.
And also: Council introduced legislation concerning $7.5 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The money would support affordable housing and property renovations. The legislation was on council’s Dec. 5 agenda.
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).