Cleveland City Council convened on January 12, 2026, beginning with a series of ceremonial recognitions honoring local athletes, law enforcement, and community organizations, followed by extensive public comments addressing public safety, housing policy, foreign relations, and administrative accountability. The legislative body then proceeded to review and vote on various ordinances regarding funding, leases, and administrative authorizations, concluding with council announcements and expressions of concern regarding infrastructure and school district policies.
Will all council members. Will all of the council members please come in the well so that we can get the meeting started. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Griffin. Here, Bishop, Conwell, Davis, Gray, Harsh, House Jones, Hudson, Jones, Casey, Polensic, Santana, Shaw, Slife, Star. You have a quorum, Mr. President. Thank you. Will everyone please rise for a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. For which can stand one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. We have a very patched house and busy schedule today. This meeting of Cleveland City Council is a lawful meeting under section six oh five.04 of codified ordinances. No person with purpose to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting shall do any act which obstructs or interferes with the due conduct of such meeting. Members of the public are invited to speak only under the rules set by this council. Disruptions, including but not limited to speaking out of turn or making loud noises and loud utterances, are in violation of the rules and interfere with the due conduct of this lawful meeting. Such disruptions may constitute a misdemeanor and a violation of section six oh five dot oh four. Anyone who disrupts this lawful meeting in violation of the codified ordinances commits misdemeanors and is subject to prosecution. I'm sorry. Third, we're gonna invite the presidents up from Zeta Phi Beta, the uh women of Zeta Phi Beta. And then last but not least, we're gonna hear from the state champions, Glenville Tar Blooders. In that order. If the Mason family can join up here, let's get him a round of applause. How are you doing, man? Good to see you out there. Hey man, what's up, bro? You want to start off when I do uh you want him to just jump in? Okay. All right. Okay. Well, first of all, we want to honor this young man, and today is uh an evening of champions. And this young man actually came to our community meeting and got really involved with us a few months ago. And lo and behold, after he went to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he has come back as the WBO World Lightweight Champion of the world. We all should stand up. Give it that a round of applause. So we'll go into Abdullah Mason, the youngest world champion in men's boxing today. Today is January 12th, 2026. This is in recognition of his extraordinary athletic accomplishments and for bringing honor and distinction to the city of Cleveland, Cleveland City Council proudly honors Abdullah Mason and the entire Mason family. And it goes on to say on November the 22nd, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at just 21 years of age, Abdullah Mason captured the WBO World Lightweight Title, becoming the youngest active male world champion. We need to get that a round of applause. Cleveland City Council commends Abdullah Mason for his historic achievement and celebrates the pride he brings to Clevelanders. He serves as a shining example of determination, perseverance, and greatness for people everywhere. Abdullah, on behalf of all of Cleveland City Council, and I also want to see if the mayor would like to join us. We honor you in the city of Cleveland. Brother, you make us all proud. Thank you so much. Thank you. Wanna move this up a little bit? Hold up, I'm gonna get him, make a couple of remarks.