CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne remained calm through his state of the county address on Thursday, as residents in support of the Palestinian community staged disruptions throughout the speech and protested outside.

What You Need To Know

  • Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne remained calm through his state of the county address on Thursday, as residents in support of the Palestinian community staged disruptions throughout the speech and protested outside

  • In response to an audience question after his speech, Ronayne said the county will not be moving away from the $16 million it owns in Israel Bonds

  • During his remarks, Ronayne announced plans to launch a property tax assistance program for residents who are struggling, after the latest round of reappraisals resulted in dramatic increases in value for many

  • He also touched on many of the county’s sustainability initiatives — celebrating the $130 million dollar Climate Reduction Grant that the county got from the EPA this year and announcing the launch of a fellowship program for local youth at the Fresh Water Institute

“We will find him wherever he’s at,” Noelle Naser, a local Palestinian activist, said. “Whatever public event he chooses to speak at, wherever he decides to go, we will be there as well, making our voices heard and reminding him that we aren’t going anywhere.”

For months, demonstrators have been trying to meet with Ronayne to discuss the $16 million dollars the county owns in Israel bonds.

At Thursday’s address, demonstrators stood up one-at-a-time at different points throughout the evening to yell over Ronayne.

In a Q&A after the speech, an audience member asked Ronayne why the county continues to support the investment.

“On the matter of Israel Bonds, there are $16 million in Israel Bonds in our county portfolio,” Ronayne said. “It was invested years ago. He’s right, it’s come through on reinvestment, and I’m just going to say this: we are not moving away from Israel Bonds. I see Council President Pernel Jones out there, I appreciate you. We are not. And to the why, we can continue to talk, but the answer is we’re not moving and neither is any municipality or state in the nation that we’ve found.”

Ronayne didn’t say anything else on the matter, focusing instead on other issues affecting the county. 

One issue at the top of mind for residents is the dramatic increase in property taxes we saw after this year’s round of reappraisals, in which home values in the county increased by a 32% on average.

Ronayne said the county is planning to launch a property tax assistance program in the fall, but he's calling on state lawmakers to take action as well. 

The county program will give cash assistance to seniors struggling to make ends meet and set up alternative payment plans for other residents in need.

Creating affordable housing options also continues to be a priority for the county.

Ronayne said they have secured $3 million to launch an Affordable Housing Fund that will be used for fix ups and modular homes.

And, he said they are continuing to invest into economic development initiatives that create jobs — like the new Meijer Fairfax Market, the mixed-use CentroVilla project and more. 

“Will our young people return to or stay in Cuyahoga County after school? It depends on a job,” he said. “The County’s development team has been focused on investments that will create a multiplier effect in our community, creating jobs for today and the future.”

Just four months ago, the county launched an Office of Small Business.

Ronayne said 502 businesses, 75% of which were women or minority-owned, have already taken advantage of the new resource.

He also touched on many of the county’s sustainability initiatives — celebrating the $130 million dollar Climate Reduction Grant that the county got from the EPA this year and announcing the launch of a fellowship program for local youth at the Fresh Water Institute.