CLEVELAND — In Cleveland’s city council meetings last week and Monday night, residents have used the public comment period to speak out against city leaders who have released statements in support of Israel without extending that same compassion to Palestinian constituents.
“When we start to call on everyone to look for a political solution to say the city of Cleveland does not stand with violence, including violence against Palestinians, that’s how we start to rectify the situation,” said Dr. Shereen Naser, a community organizer who spoke at both meetings.
Mayor Justin Bibb, Council President Blaine Griffin and other members have expressed support for Israel with statements on social media.
After hearing similar concerns last week, neither Bibb nor Griffin released statements with condolences for Palestinians, and neither were in attendance at Monday night’s meeting.
Organizers said they will continue returning to speak at public comment until they release statements of support for Palestinians in Cleveland.
Some Jewish residents also spoke at the meeting to share their perspective on the conflict, saying their community is also dealing with tragedy.
“What’s happening in Israel affects Jews all over the world,” said Adam Rosen, one of the Jewish residents to share a statement. “Jews everywhere feel isolated and unsafe, and this is a reasonable fear. To us, the attack by Hamas was not about Israelis or the Israeli government, it was about Jews.”
As another man was sharing a similar message during public comment, those who came to support the Palestinian community walked out and rallied on city hall’s front steps.
Naser said they walked out because the situation in Gaza is an urgent crisis, and the only message they have time for are those calling for a ceasefire.
“Five thousand Palestinians dead,” Naser said. “How many in prison with no due process? 200 of those imprisoned, children. My father right now in the West Bank can’t leave his house because of settlers who are roaming with guns. We’re there to talk about a very urgent ceasefire needed right now. Humanitarian aid into Gaza needed right now.”
The public comment period of city council has been a topic of debate recently, after Council President Blaine Griffin cut off the mic of a man who used his three minutes to read off individual council members' use of the Council Leadership Fund in a meeting at the end of September.
Public comment has only been a part of council meetings since 2021, after community members organized and proposed a plan to implement it.
Council made a list of rules for their public comment period, including one that prevents speakers from using an individual council member's name, which is why Griffin cut the mic.
After listening through public comment, council members approved a 30-year tax increment financing project towards a mixed use development project at 1250 Riverbed St., which will have 70 apartments and more than 2500 square feet of office space.
The developer will make payments equal to the taxes the school district would have received but for the TIF, which will support debt service related to the project as an incentive to partially offset additional development costs to convert the former industrial building on the west bank of the Flats.
Council also passed legislation allowing them to apply for and accept a $500,000 dollar grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to conduct the Calgary Park Renovation Project Program in Brooklyn Centre.