Cleveland City Council Meeting - September 14, 2026

Cleveland City Council met on September 14, 2026, with Council President Blaine Griffin presiding. The source transcript is timestamped 23:03:52 UTC. The meeting included public comment, presentations, ceremonial items, emergency ordinances and resolutions, and announcements. This summary is based solely on the raw transcript; no agenda or minutes were available.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public comment included seven speakers, each under a three-minute limit signaled by yellow and red lights.
• Saint James Singleton (Ward 9), a pastor, described a dream allegory about intervening in a fight and said he and his team ran a free summer daycare and youth program for approximately 100 children, operating free from morning until about 8 p.m. with no city assistance. He said his car was repossessed because he spent his own money on swimming pools, bounce houses, and food, and he criticized city priorities that fund streets and prisons while grassroots caregivers receive no support. Position: called for the city to support and fund community youth programs.
• Tyresha Thompson (Ward 9) supported St. James's Built and Strong Individuals Youth Program, saying it served about 100 children this summer, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to about 8 p.m., with eight unpaid volunteers and no city funding. She said St. James personally called Councilman Conwell on August 11 about book bags and school supplies, was directed to email a formal request, and never received a response or contribution. Position: expressed disappointment that the city did not show up and asked what the city is doing to save youth.
• Daryl Houston (Bedford Heights) said a city-planted tree on the mayor's property damaged a sidewalk and sewer lines, costing him $7,000-$10,000 out of pocket, and that emails to Law Director Mark Griffin and Marty Kane went unaddressed. He announced seven Mondays of naming officials and demanding accountability, and criticized 36-month grant reimbursement timelines. Position: demanded accountability from city officials.
• James Box (Black Guard and Truth Ministries) alleged that a city community-relations employee, Jockey Simmons, had knowledge of the disappearance and homicide of Keyshawn Williams and withheld information. Box said he directed U.S. Marshals to Simmons, who then lawyered up and later gave a statement. He asked why someone in a position of trust could withhold such information. Position: demanded answers and accountability.
• Matthew Strazinski (Slavic Village), a former Cleveland police dispatcher, sheriff's deputy, and code enforcement officer, called for a city population of 1 million and 33 council members. He complained about a city water department work truck smelling of marijuana, a city worker sleeping in a city vehicle, and an 8-hour police response wait. Position: urged Mayor Bibb to take stronger action on police and city employee conduct.
• Marshall 'Maestro' Stevens, listed as from Akron but described as a Cleveland-area father and self-represented litigant in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court case FA 2370 4239, said he won two appeals on September 3 and that the 8th District vacated a custody judgment and reversed a child support calculation. He said his contempt/enforcement motion filed January 6 was 251 days old without an evidentiary hearing, and that hearing notices were repeatedly changed. He cited Ohio statistics of 23.7% average parenting time for fathers (86.5 days) and the 90-day threshold for a 10% child support reduction. Position: asked officials and local media to demand transparent court assignments, accurate notices, dates certain, and public reporting on parenting-time enforcement delays.
• Juan Calado Diaz (Ward 12) urged the council to stop using AI and to block data centers in Cleveland and Ohio, citing articles alleging that Elon Musk used AI to put child pornography into a system, AI company executives predicting possible human extinction by 2035, water consumption by data centers, and Flock cameras targeting people of color and immigrants. Council President Griffin responded by recommending three upcoming community meetings on data centers led by Councilman Brian Casey.
• After James Box's comment, the Council President asked speakers to avoid profanity because children and families were in the audience.

Ceremonial Items, Communications, and Presentations

• The clerk read numerous communication files, including a Dell cooperative purchasing notification, appointment of Rachel Nigroscalis as clerk of council pro tem, state grant notifications, and multiple liquor license applications and transfers. Councilmembers offered condolences for many community members, including Rory James Garrett II, and congratulatory or recognition resolutions for many individuals and organizations. A moment of silence was observed.
• Councilwoman Stephanie House Jones recognized Kelly and Aria, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland's 2026 Big and Little of the Year. Jessica Payne, President and CEO, said she was a little matched in 1994, that the program serves about 200 children per year in Cuyahoga County, about half of them Cleveland residents, and that volunteers are needed; a couple of hours per month can make a difference.

Legislation & Resolutions

• First-reading emergency ordinances referred to committee included legal-aid eviction services, a West Ninth Street encroachment permit, vehicle and equipment purchases, a two-year lease of the Five-Point Building/Collinwood Community Center to Famikos Foundation with a two-year renewal option, medical examiner and fingerprint-system payments, an easement amendment, electrical test equipment for Cleveland Public Power, land-bank parcel transfers, an IX Center lease amendment with a payroll credit, temporary personnel contracts, and a new Fair Employment Wage Board section.
• First-reading emergency Ordinance 1036-2026, approving the collective bargaining agreement with the Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association Analysts and Specialist Unit and amending compensation, was placed on final passage. The suspension motion passed 13 yes, and the ordinance passed 13 yes.
• First-reading emergency resolutions adopted included liquor permit withdrawals and objections, support for the Cleveland State University UPASS program with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, encouragement for Cleveland Public Library musical instrument lending, a call to waive pre-November 2014 red-light and speed camera citations, a resolution recognizing National Diaper Need Awareness Week, and Resolution 1047-2026 renaming a portion of Lake Erie as the Gulf of Cleveland. On 1047-2026, the vote was 13 yes and 1 no; all other resolutions passed 14 yes.
• Second-reading emergency ordinances passed 14 yes, including $1,064,980 in additional appropriations to the general fund and $1,064,980 to the Special Revenue Fund, a public auditorium food and beverage concession agreement of up to 3 years, bond authorizations totaling approximately $38.6 million for vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, parks, buildings, and streets, and acceptance of ODOT Pedestrian Safety Improvement Program grants. One $6,730,000 parks bond authorization appeared without a clear ordinance number in the transcript.
• Second-reading emergency Resolution 956-2026 passed 14 yes, urging the U.S. Postal Service to create an age-friendly mail access initiative working committee for secure outgoing mail collection in senior buildings.
• Ordinance 1274-2024, authorizing the Gunning Park Recreation Center solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage project and a contract with Ameresco, was tabled by a 14 yes vote.

Announcements & Miscellaneous

• Councilman Casey announced data center community meetings: Thursday, September 24, at Collinwood Rec Center, 6-8 p.m.; Tuesday, September 29, at City Hall Council Chambers; and Wednesday, October 7, at Gunning Rec, 6-8 p.m.
• Council President Griffin acknowledged Fred Ward and Building Freedom Ohio Partners, who advocate for restored citizens and against collateral sanctions; Earl Savage, the new Cleveland Teachers Union president; and Ward 6 resident Ebony Bogan.
• Councilman Conwell discussed collateral sanctions for restored citizens and said Ted Ginn Sr. needs more help; he urged finding out what happened rather than punishing children. Councilwoman Hudson reported illegal dumping at 3801 Muriel in Ward 11, where her office and CDCs removed 14,000 pounds of debris; Metro West had removed 526,000 pounds so far in 2026 in its service area. Position: demanded more enforcement and stronger illegal dumping laws.
• Councilman Harsh thanked colleagues for passing Resolution 1047-2026 and made a satirical speech about renaming Lake Erie as the Gulf of Cleveland.

Key Outcomes

• The council passed the emergency ordinances and resolutions described above, with final votes of 13 yes or 14 yes; Resolution 1047-2026 received one no vote.
• The council tabled the Gunning Park solar project by a 14 yes vote.
• Councilman Santana's absence was excused.
• The next Cleveland City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2026, at 7 p.m.