Cleveland mayoral hopeful Justin Bibb calls for a public comment segment at city council meetings....Clevelandurbannews.com and-Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, Ohio's Black digital news leaders
By Kathy Wray Coleman, associate publisher, editor in chief
Clevelandurbannews.com and-Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com-CLEVELAND, Ohio-Justin Bibb, one of several people vying to win Cleveland's mayoral election this year, announced on Wednesday his support for implementing a public comment period at city council meetings.
Currently citizens can only speak at council meetings per the request of city council members and must instead voice their concerns on issues of public concern during council committee meetings, which are held infrequently on weekday mornings when most people are at work.
Community activists and community members have called for a speaking forum for citizens at regular council meetings like they do in most neighboring suburbs.
"It's time for politicians to listen to the voices of residents and allow for public comment at city council meetings," said Bibb, 34 and a former banker who heads a local non-profit and is an executive at Urbanova, an organization of stakeholders advocating for smart city technology in cities like Cleveland.
Residents, he said, "need to be heard."
He went on to say that "I will make it easier to communicate with me at City Hall and in your neighborhood. From day one, you can expect my administration to hold regular community conversations in each Ward, walk the neighborhoods, host office hours and be available to residents."
That is, of course, if he wins the race for mayor.
Others purportedly running for mayor include state Sen Sandra Williams, Council President Kevin Kelley, Ward 7 Councilman Basheer Jones, former councilman Zack Reed, who lost a runoff to current Mayor Frank Jackson in 2017, former congressman Dennis Kucinich, Robert Kilo, and Edwin's entrepreneur Brandon Chrostowski
All of them are Democrats but Kilo, a Republican.
The mayoral election is non partisan,
"I'm proud to join the growing coalition of supporters for public comment," said the energetic and articulate Bibb, who is Black. "For far too long, politicians have ignored these calls. It's time to act. Residents can't wait."
A four-term Black mayor, Jackson, 74, has not ruled out the possibility of seeking an unprecedented fifth term, though sources say it is unlikely.
The top two primary winners will advance to the Nov. 2 general election for mayor.
Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and blog in Ohio and in the Midwest, and the most read independent digital news sites in Ohio. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.
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