January 06, 2025

Thank you Council President, good evening everybody. I first want to say Felicia de Rees or Happy Three Kings Day to everybody, and I would like to ask Council if you can acknowledge that in your celebrations in the future.

Now going with that I want to talk about the maps. We have seen the new maps and we have seen how much of a mess they are. I myself am an employee for Community Development through the CDC and I know how awful that's going to be for me, as it's going to be for every one of my residents to get divided and cut into wards and how awful it's going to be for those groups out there working on an everyday basis to help their communities. So I'm asking for you to please revise the maps one more time get some citizen input on it and check what is best for the city. Right now cutting the worst the way than they've been cut is just giving you and your close friends an amazing amount of like areas for you to take over, and the huge amount of gerrymandering that is happening.

Then I want to also go over something that was said in the last Council meeting before the break and it was by Councilman Polensek which was said about the ward the Latino ward it was refer a ward and I want to correct that because that when you use that kind of terminology, is literally going for and saying that you're segregating a city. Cleveland is one of the largest cities that is segregated in this country and we are not doing anything about it, and these maps are just keeping the same exact issue going and going after and after. So I do ask that in the future we don't use terminology like that and we actually look at how we write in the words. So please again take in consideration the way you write in your words, ask the C for their input and not just give a 5 minute like little time, or the day before. No, please ask them with weeks in advance, perhaps months, and think about this before we write in it. I know your elections are coming up and you need these maps to be written for your elections so they can support you and get you back into this seat. But don't think about your future job, think about Cleveland as a city because that's what you should be thinking about, not your job and your salary. So again rethink this and do better.

Good evening and happy New Year to everybody, hopefully had a great holiday season. We had a great 2024 and the fight still continues in 2025. I can still proudly say after this map unveiling I am still a ward 11 resident by maybe a few streets, but I still, I am so happy about that.

A big word last year was gerrymandering. It was a big focus up until the election, and you know right after it happened we never heard about it, and now that the the maps that we're voting on tonight, it feels like this is really the last say we really have, which is why I really want to sign up for public comment. I did attend the first community feedback session on October 15th at Tri-C's metro campus, but even then I still feel like this was a final draft. I feel like we're our inputs really not taken into consideration. Some people may think that these are just lines on a piece of paper, but you know what, they used to say that also about redlining. Some people may wonder, Diab, you're still in ward 11, why do you care so much? And to that I have to say that these lines mean so much more to me. Within these lines are residents neighborhoods with a rich history history, communities, and people and businesses that have been here for generations. These lines are our tickets to representation. Who's being catered to here, the residents, or is this a matter of incumbent protection? Gerrymandering is something I want to say let's do away within 2024, equitable and reasonable representation reflected by the newly drawn ward boundary lines. Now that's what I want to bring into 2025. I may still be Ward 11, but my neighborhood is being cut up. All of our neighborhoods are being cut up and behind these lines, there are people, there are faces, there are histories, and there are stories that still need to be told. Even after your guys' terms are done, these lines are going to still stick with these neighborhoods, so please take this into consideration. It's so much more important than the vote in November. These are real people and real communities. Thank you and that's my time.

Greetings everyone, greetings, Council President, council members, staff, attendees, and Mayor Bibb, thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Michael Hardy. I live in ward 11 and serve as ward 11's ward leader. I'm here to talk about the redistricting process that will be voted on tonight.

I hear we understood that this day was coming and now it is here. The boundaries for ward 11 were discussed during the city council election in Ward 11 back in 2021. Now the boundaries were discussed even more during the special election of 2023. There were many in the ward including myself who were aware that precincts 11a and 11b were getting moved to what is now ward 16 and will be ward 13. This was discussed and considered during the 2010 census, so we've known about this for some time.

But what wasn't discussed was splitting precinct 11b. Now this area is arguably the first area in Cuyahoga County with a sizable number of African-American residents. They were brought here to work on the railroad back in the late 1800s and they resided in what is now ward 11 and ward 11a and b. Highway I-71 moved some people out of the way so they had to move north of the Highway 71 to live in some areas there, and you still have people who live, families who live on both sides of the highway. And this is near Linndale. I'm talking about the railroad in Linndale that's where the the people worked, West Linndale, they call it. So 11a and 11b borders are identifiable. They're clearly identifiable. This was a voting block, and it's a strong voting block, one of the biggest voting blocks in the area, and this is getting divided. You know those streets need to stay intact. This is probably an issue in other communities where similar things are happening now and have happened, but what we always want to do in a democracy is let people know that you know they are not cut out of this democracy and that they can be involved in the democratic process. You know people need to know that their vote counts and that their vote is meaningful. Keeping the integrity of the ward 11 communities intact was important. In 2023 during that election it was talked about quite a bit but now keeping the integrity of precincts 11a and 11b intact is important. You I actually live in 11b. I am asking you to to pause this vote so that we can have further discussions on the redistricting process and ward 11 and in other areas where I know there's quite a bit of talk going on. But I want to thank you for listening and may God bless everyone here. Thank you very much.

Good evening, council president and members. My name is Nadia Zaiem. I am co-president of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland. For over 100 years, the league has been a nonpartisan grassroots organization that believes voters should pay a critical role in democracy our mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. That is why we advocate for fair redistricting. At the state and local level this past year the league actively advocated for issue one, the statewide effort to take Ohio redistricting out of the hands of politicians and create a fair transparent and public process. We cheered when Council unanimously approved resolution 1083 2024 in support of issue one, stating that gerrymandering takes power away from the people of Ohio in Cleveland, allowing representatives to choose their voters rather than voters choosing their representatives, thereby undermining the foundational principles of free and fair elections that produce democratic governance. Like the voters of Ohio, the residents of the city of Cleveland deserve rting process that includes time for meaningful public input and revisions. You have a wonderful opportunity to show the state of Ohio how fair districting works. Maps which keep neighborhoods together not only build strong communities but they encourage voting. People will vote if they feel like their vote makes a difference. When wards are drawn in a way that splits communities and neighborhoods, people don't see a connection between their vote and what happens in our government. We have provided you with a handout with our proposed map as an example of how it is possible to draw a fair map, one that keeps communities and neighborhoods together, has wards fairly equal in population and gives citizens a true voice and representation. It even includes two true Hispanic opportunity districts, wards 11 and 14, with Hispanic voting age population of at least 32%. Please do not rush this important process. City Council has known since April 2021 when it received census data that a map with fewer wards would have to be drawn. Nevertheless Council took no action for 3 years until May 2024. After this delay, now there is a rush to approve maps without time up for meaningful community input and revisions. The league applauds Council for having three community meetings in October, however those meetings were held with only a week's notice and were ill timed, just prior to the November general election. The most important time for public engagement is when C can respond to a proposed map. Now is the time for community input, public meetings, and revisions based on public input. We hope that you take a step back, listen to your constituents, allow time for meaningful public input and adopt a map that reflects the communities you serve. The league will continue to fight for fair maps at both the state and local levels, empowering voters and defending democracy.

Good evening, Council President council members, it's very good to be here. My name is Reverend Dean Van Farowe I'm a 25-year resident of Detroit Shoreway, I'm also employed in the ward as a pastor of Calvary Reformed. I ask you tonight to reject the proposed ward maps and the main reason is that cohesive neighborhoods are split up or mapped unnaturally. So I live on 65th between Bridge and Lorain Avenues. Previously my ward went to a natural border, West 85th, and then in 2014 to Cudell Commons Park, still a natural boundary. Now it strangely ends to the west at West 73rd Street, but more strangely, heads east all the way past Burke Lakefront Airport. What do Burke Lakefront and Detroit Shoreway share in common? How could a council member oversee both of those? Well, speaking of downtown, it will now be split into three wards. How inefficient to serve as a council member there. Take another example. A friend of mine lives on West 89th Street. They commented to me that their new ward will extend all the way to Old Brooklyn. Imagine, they can no longer speak to the concerns of Cudell Park but now to Esterbrook Recreation Center. They can go out of their door in the new ward 11 and walk to the new ward 12, 6, and 8, in 5 to 10 minutes, but it might take them up to 2 hours to walk to Old Brooklyn.

We all know that one side of Shaker Square will share a ward with a section of Slavic Village. That historic neighborhood will now be in six different wards. I served two terms on the board of Northwest Neighborhood CDC, I saw how important it is that the CDCs align well with neighborhood concerns. I like that local urban planner Greg suus, who often works with CDCs urged you recently to coordinate ward boundaries with CDC service areas. This would, quote, 'streamline funding mechanisms and political machinery required to make the mission of a CDC successful.' Mr. suus is correct in my view. When they are not aligned, work does not get done. I would simply add at the conclusion that you guys have not had a chance for administrative review. You've not had a chance as committees to look at these maps. This is a rushed process that should have been started long ago, and I urge you to reject these maps. Thank you.

Happy New Year to all. I'm here right from the end. I'm asking you to reject those map proposal. The maps will destroy the city. The maps will destroy the sense of community in the city and this community that exists for over 100 years. I'm part of it for 45 years in that community. It's been like council woman describe her word been turkey thing are ward 15. Now they ward 15 today. It's been like Taliban hanging, they place people straight line and hang them. Ward 15 being hanged in those map south north to south ward 12, ward 11, ward 7, just to satisfy some.

I don't know, what I'm asking you, I'm asking your conscience, reject those maps. The other thing, as assuming you pass it, we're not giving up. Tomorrow morning, you pass it tonight, tomorrow morning we'll start another alternatives, one of them to place a referendum to change the structure of this Council, reduce it to 9 or 11, and all elected at large, no ward, no district. You divide the communities, we will reunite those communities and believe me Council President, talk to us, talk to the League of Women Voters, talk, there's zero groups oppose this, and you want to find the numbers. Pass it and we'll find the numbers next election. Thank you.

Thank you all for the opportunity to speak publicly on the proposed ward maps. My name is Brent Misenko and I have been a proud homeowner in the Clifton Baltic neighborhood for the last decade. I applaud council's decision to hire a non-biased nonpartisan third party to draw the map. I know it's a difficult process when we lose two wards and attempt to combine 34 Spas into just 15 wards. More often than not visiting outside consultants, using outside consultants is the only truly fair way to draw these maps. I would also like to commend city council for taking input on these maps over the last few months. For the first time I'm here today in strong support of the process and of the proposed ward maps, particularly with regard in the changes impacting ward 15 where my home is located. For years my property has been one of just three houses on the West Boulevard section of my neighborhood in ward 15 with my home being the only single family owner occupied residence. The proposed ward map however does something we have long advocated for, fully uniting West Boulevard in the closely knit Clifton Baltic neighborhood and finally getting rid of the gerrymandered scorpion's tale. Additionally drawing the west side wards more north and south versus east and west increases the socioeconomic diversity in the proposed wards. That is something that every single one of us should champion. I firmly believe in the strength of our communities and of Cleveland as a whole. I firmly believe that the strength of our communities and of Cleveland as a whole comes from the rich diversity of our population. This map more accurately reflects that diversity and will enhance our ward's ability to grow, thrive, and collaborate. I encourage you all to approve the proposed ward maps today. Thank you for your time, consideration, and for working to make our great city even stronger through thoughtful and effective representation.

Hi everybody. I'm Kat Richards. I'm a resident of the Edgewater neighborhood for 30 plus years. I've been through three redistricting processes, all of which seem to not make sense for my neighborhood. So I'm here in support of the new ward maps.

We feel like going south a little bit for us since we are a single family residence neighborhood is better for us. We don't exactly belong in a mixed use neighborhood. We have one of those most stringent zoning appropriations that there are. So I wanted to thank everybody for letting me speak. It was very interesting to hear everyone else talk about this. It illustrates how complicated the process is. But like I said, for the first time in 30 years, I'm actually impressed with the new map and I hope that we vote to keep it. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Linda Meglin and I live on Edgewater Drive, and I was the president of Edgewater North's homeowners association for 13 years, and I still remain active in the neighborhood. I've lived through two redistricting processes and believe the maps that this body will hopefully pass tonight are positive and have an excellent result for my neighborhood.

I want to give you a little background for everyone about the representation of our neighborhood because we believe we should be included with our neighbors to the south not to the east. Now, nothing against the Detroit Shoreway area at all, as a matter of fact my neighbors and I frequent the businesses often and our issues facing our neighborhood just closely align with the neighbor in the south. We'd like you to consider the history from 1963 where Cleveland had 33 wards, the maps ran north and south. This was true to 1986 with 21 wards. Then we were separated. Then in 2003 we were back with our south neighbors when we were represented by councilman Westbrook, and in 2008 when Cleveland had 21 wards and they introduced what was called the 'Scorpion's Tail'. We were ward 18 with our southern neighbors and we were represented by councilman Zone. Then in 2010 there were 19 wards and we were with our southern neighbors except we didn't we weren't a part of with the Scorpions Tail, and once again we were represented by councilman Zone. Then in 2013 councilman Westbrook agreed to step down and the boundaries were changed, and then we were moved from the southern to east-west, so there's where we are today. And I know with all this history, I sound like John Meechum, but, and if you've lost track, we've been more with our southern neighbors than with the east, so the proposed map returns our neighborhood to what is a more natural fit and with what previous council members had determined being connected to the southern neighbors.

Again we certainly support Detroit Shoreway and all that, all the neighborhoods, but our neighborhood does have certain issues that are different from everybody else. Our neighborhood has a very specific zoning. It's we have created and protected our double and single family for years. Our association has continued to be committed to this, and when the Gold Coast was being put together, being built, the plan was to tear down all the houses on Edgewater Drive, all the houses, and so what we did, the neighborhood did, was you know, got together, stuck together, fought it and we won. Thank you.

First here are copies of, at least if I can finish the speech in time. Okay I'll just leave it lay here. If you want to help me, contact me after the meeting, or in if it's on TV right to city council City Hall. I start with a prayer. Harry and Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Jesus holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now at the hour of our death, amen.

Mary help me. My name is James Germaniuk. I'm not a democrat or a republican. I disagree with the Democrats in that I am not for same-sex unions and I am 100% pro-life. I disagree with Trump because I am against supporting people the Lord gave me the black white party based on the Ten Commandments, the Bible, the encyclicals of the Pope, and the teaching of the Catholic Church. We are all precipitance of God's, Jesus's mercy, and should be charitable to others.

Okay. I ask that St Vincent Charity Hospital not be torn down but it be used to treat the babies from Gaza. For the last three years the Lord has given me the scripture for the Middle East. The Revelation is certain a great war. Daniel 10:1. Not only will it save babies but it might well prevent a great regional war if the Muslims see some charity, some Christianity toward them, the Palestinians would temper their vengeance. For example, Hezbollah said as long as Israel bombed Gaza they would bomb Israel. In Matthew 25:36, it says, 'you saw me ill and you cared for me well. Lord when we see you ill, what did you when you did it for the least of my brethren, you did it for me.' Scripture says the beginning of wisdom is fear the Lord. Okay, can you imagine your aunt, mother, grandmother, a baby child being imprisoned in your ward with no way out and being bombed?

President Gerald Ford had a baby lift at the end of the Vietnam War. We had a vigil outside of St Vincent Charity Hospital on Christmas Eve. We had a clear view of the bridge, we heard a loud crash. The man could have been dying. It would have taken five minutes to get to St Vincent had it been open, but one half hour to get to another hospital, and in that case the guy would be dead on arrival. The doctors in Gaza describe holding a baby's brain flowing out of his hand. The hospital has to use gauze over and over again, spreading infections.

Instead of making a political decision, think of your eternal salvation. Instead of being the Marie Antoinette, quit city outrageous tax increases for the poor, hit and run drivers not arrested, and street takeovers. The whole world will admire you for while they did nothing. Proverbs says 'did you fail to rescue those who were being dragged off to death? You did not fail to rescue those tottering near death.' Proverbs 24:11. I might get through it. For decades, Nori and I have fought to save babies in the womb from being killed. Now they're killing babies after birth. 33 years from now no one will know what you did for your ward, but with the Lord, a thousand years are like a watch in the night. Jesus will always know what you did for his least brethren. You can make a mistake, we all do. Allowing St Vincent Charity Hospital to self destruct.