Oct. 3 – Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenters Chau Tang and McKenzie Merriman
What happened: Residents spoke against the expansion of ShotSpotter, a gunshot-detection technology. The city has piloted it in parts of wards 1, 2, 4 and 6 since November 2020. Ward 3 resident Matthew Ahn focused on violence prevention. “It cannot prevent violence. The violence has already happened once ShotSpotter is alerted,” he said. City Council’s Safety Committee discussed and advanced the legislation at its Oct. 6 meeting. City Council approved the expansion at its Oct. 10 meeting.
Speaking out against hate: Ward 3 resident Paula Kampf challenged a public comment made at a recent meeting. She also took issue with council’s silence in response to that comment. A community member asked council on Sept. 26 to protect heterosexual and Christian rights. She said she did not want to be “forced to accept homosexuality and other beliefs.” Kampf called the comment hateful and harmful to the LGBTQIA+ community. She urged council to respond in opposition when comments like that are made. “I call on you, city councilors, to speak out when hate is asked of you,” Kampf said.
And also: Council passed legislation for additional funding for a new Meijer grocery store in Fairfax.
Kampf also mentioned The Trevor Project. It offers free and confidential counseling for LGBTQIA+ youth 24/7. Learn more about the help The Trevor Project offers.
Watch the full public comments or read transcripts on Public Comment CLE (website created by Ohio City resident Angelo Trivisonno).