For now, Cleveland and other cities can regulate the sale of flavored tobacco products such as menthol cigarettes and vapes, thanks to a recent court ruling. Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Serrott last week issued a temporary restraining order on a state law prohibiting local governments and municipalities from enforcing and enacting their own tobacco bans. 

Serrot sided with Ohio cities, which filed a lawsuit earlier this month challenging the law.  Cleveland and the other cities are arguing the state law is unconstitutional and violated “home rule” rights of local governments. Cities also say the state law harms the public health of teens and minorities. The law was set to take effect on April 23. 

“It’s a temporary win,” Dr. Dave Margolius, Cleveland Department of Public Health Director, told Signal Cleveland.

Margolius, who has been an outspoken proponent of the city’s proposed tobacco law, said he is urging City Council to reconsider the proposed ban. City Council, after discussing the proposal with retailers and others, backed off the proposal last year. Margolius said he hopes City Council will hold a hearing to learn more about the draft legislation in mid-May, around the same time Serrot will hold a preliminary injunction hearing on the state law. That hearing is scheduled for May 17. 

“I’m inviting them back to the table to have them ask any questions, express concerns that they may have [regarding this proposed ban],” Margolius said. “We can’t wait anymore. It’s time for us to come together for solutions and save the lives and health of our residents.” 

Bibb gets a role in the DNC convention

Mayor Justin Bibb will play a part in shaping the Democratic Party’s official campaign platform at the party’s convention in Chicago this year. 

Bibb – who isn’t shy about praising President Joe Biden in local and national media – was named to the DNC Platform Committee by the national party and the Biden campaign. 

The job may turn out to be a blessing and a curse for Bibb. It raises the mayor’s profile within national Democratic circles. But it also could put him at the center of fierce disputes over the Democratic Party’s identity. 

Four years ago, the platform committee voted down an amendment endorsing Medicare For All, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ signature issue. This year, as NBC News recently reported, the platform fight could be over U.S. support for Israel. 

Speaking of national politics: Bibb made another visit to Washington, D.C., this week, where he addressed the legislative conference of North America’s Building Trades Unions. There, the mayor made sure to talk up the incumbent president. 

“Our president, President Joe Biden, has done more, probably, than any president in American history to create good-paying union jobs in cities like Cleveland all across this great nation,” Bibb said.  

Although the local building trades opposed Bibb in the 2021 election, they’ve embraced him – and given him plenty of campaign cash – as mayor. In Washington, Bibb posed for a photo with Cleveland trades leader Dave Wondolowski and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su.