Cleveland, OH

Council Pulls Legislation to Use Public Funds to Fight Participatory Budgeting Initiative

Published

10 months ago

September 19, 2023

Press Room

Council Pulls Legislation to Use Public Funds to Fight Participatory Budgeting Initiative

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Maria Elena Scott

PB CLE campaign manager Molly Martin called the ordinance, “another example of this status quo institution choosing to expand their power rather than respect the will of the people”.

A proposed ordinance sponsored by Cleveland city council President Blaine Griffin, added to council’s Monday agenda over the weekend, would have authorized, if passed, the council president or designee to use public funds to “provide the public information about, and to support or oppose passage of, proposed tax levies, bond issues, and other ballot issues.”

While not explicitly about the impending vote in Cleveland on a participatory budgeting charter amendment, it was clearly the target.

But the legislation was pulled from consideration yesterday.

“People’s Budget Cleveland is dismayed by City Council’s latest efforts to subvert the democratic process in Cleveland. This weekend, City Council introduced last-minute legislation to retroactively authorize the President of City Council to spend public money to defeat resident-led ballot initiatives,” said PB CLE campaign manager Molly Martin in a statement. “This broad overreach sets a dangerous precedent, and is another example of this status quo institution choosing to expand their power rather than respect the will of the people. Our city deserves better.”

Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer, who co-sponsored legislation for a participatory budgeting pilot program earlier this year and tried to coordinate a compromise between PB CLE and Council leadership this month (but who ultimately came out against the charter amendment), blasted the proposed ordinance.

“What we are talking about here is spending taxpayer dollars to run a campaign to tell residents how to vote,” Maurer wrote in an Instagram story. “The city never needed this statutory authority before for city tax levies or school board levies. Now, 7 weeks before a citizen-led election on the very question of budgeting, we want the ‘clear authority’ to spend money to oppose it? That’s a power grab.”

By Monday afternoon, council appeared to reverse course, removing the legislation from the Monday night meeting agenda and letting the Bibb administration take the fall.

“It was suggested by the administration that council move forward with this ordinance,” council director of communications Darryle Torbert told Scene. “After internal conversation, council leadership decided that they were not going to move forward with it.”

“I just wanted to make sure that we were compliant and that we did everything above board,” Blaine Griffin told Signal, referencing the conversations with the law department. “This does not mean and this has never meant that we are trying to run a campaign out of City Hall.”

Meanwhile, a Bibb spokesperson told Signal the law department offered advice but that City Hall did not advocate for the measure.

But it seems that council might still proceed with the same plan, just relying on legal avenues other than city legislation.

“They felt it was unnecessary…because it was something that was proposed by the mayor’s law team to council and there’s already information at the State House and information from the State House, from the Supreme Court, that says that local governments have the right and the ability to use resources to inform and to advocate for or against issues that might be of importance to residents,” said Torbert.

Maurer, in comments on social media, disagreed.

“They are arguing that Ohio law doesn’t explicitly forbid it. And without it being explicitly forbidden apparently our Law Department looked to other sources,” Maurer wrote over a picture of the “Ohio Auditor of State’s FAQs related to Section 9.03 of the Ohio Revised Code’s prohibition against using public funds to support the passage of a political subdivision’s levy or bond issues”.

Over a picture of the court case “Kidwell v. City of Union,” Maurer wrote:

“The First Amendment case does not address what’s obviously a long-standing Ohio state law question about spending public dollars for campaigns. And it’s far from clear that this statutory authority is something the city can grant to itself rather than through the charter or by virtue of state law.”

Maurer went on to clarify that, even if using public funds to campaign against the charter amendment is technically legal, she doesn’t think it’s right.

But PB CLE isn’t just facing trouble from council. Republican State Senator Jerry Cirino (Kirtland) has announced plans to introduce a bill Tuesday to prevent the passage of the charter amendment in November by mandating that only city councils can make decisions about a city’s budget, effectively pre-empting the issue. (Council and Bibb have previously decried state preemption laws, most recently when it came to local gun laws and proposed legislation to ban flavored tobacco products in a city with the highest smoking rate in the state.

“I think this is a situation where the Statehouse needs to step in, lest other cities think they can do this as well,” cleveland.com reports Cirino said. “So it’s not just about Cleveland. If this were to happen in Cleveland, I think it’s such a bad idea, I wouldn’t want to see it come up anywhere else.”

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Cleveland, OH

Ohio Murder Suspect Captured by Police

Published

4 hours ago

July 8, 2024

Press Room

New Jersey’s criminal justice system lacks equity and fairness, Governor Claims

Newark, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy has signed Executive Order No. 362 to expedite the review process for certain clemency applications. This order includes specific categories such as non-violent convictions and cases involving excessive trial penalties. It aims to address systemic inequities in the criminal legal system.

The initiative, according to Murphy was enacted to benefit what he termed “black and brown” communities in New Jersey.

“As we celebrate Juneteenth and reflect on our nation’s ongoing journey toward racial justice for Black and Brown Americans, I am proud to sign this Executive Order to help address inequities and unfairness in our justice system in New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy. “This new clemency initiative is a cornerstone of our Administration’s efforts to make New Jersey the State of Second Chances. Today, we pledge to take a responsible and equity-driven approach to pardons and commutations that will prioritize the most compelling cases.”

“Crowding in our state prisons creates hurdles for safety, healthcare, and programming,” said Terry Schuster, New Jersey’s Corrections Ombudsperson. “Governor Murphy’s announcement today clears the path for people who can safely return home, and eases the burden on the Department of Corrections to manage and improve prison conditions.”

The order also establishes a Clemency Advisory Board to review applications and provide recommendations to the Governor. This board is the first of its kind in New Jersey and includes diverse members from various criminal justice backgrounds.

Governor Murphy highlighted the initiative as part of efforts to make New Jersey a state of second chances. He emphasized the importance of addressing inequities in the justice system.

“In New Jersey, we believe in second chances and giving our residents every opportunity to succeed,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “Governor Murphy’s creation of a Clemency Advisory Board and plan to ensure expedited consideration for a large number of worthy applicants demonstrates this administration’s commitment to those principles.

Lt. Governor Tahesha Way echoed this sentiment, noting the significance of the order in the ongoing struggle for racial justice. Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and other officials also expressed support for the initiative, underscoring its potential to provide second chances and promote rehabilitation.

“Governor Murphy’s actions today are bigger than a new program or correcting a handful of injustices. This is an entirely new approach to clemency that is going to cut red tape and restore hope, dignity, and opportunity for people unjustly trapped in the system,” said Robert “Meek Mill” Williams, Co-Founder and Co-Chair, REFORM Alliance. “I know personally the life-changing impact that clemency can have. Today’s announcement means that many more people will have an opportunity to reunite with their families, get back on their feet, and chase their dreams. It takes true leadership to use executive power like this, and I applaud Governor Murphy for doing what’s right and taking this bold step.”

The Clemency Advisory Board’s appointed members include legal professionals, a university professor, and a police chaplain, among others. This initiative builds on previous reforms by the Murphy Administration aimed at providing second chances to justice-involved individuals.

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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Guardians Reveal AL-Leading Five All-Stars

Published

11 hours ago

July 8, 2024

Press Room

Cleveland Guardians Reveal AL-Leading Five All-Stars

The Cleveland Guardians are 56-32 (.636) through their first 88 games this season, which is the best record in the American League.

And after the 2024 MLB All-Star Game pitchers and reserves were announced on Sunday, the team will now have the most American League representatives in this year’s Midsummer Classic.

Below is a breakdown of Cleveland’s five All-Stars for the 2024 campaign, the team’s most since 2018.

This year marks the 31-year-old’s fourth consecutive All-Star selection, and sixth overall.

Ramírez ranks top-six in MLB in: RBI (76, second), home runs (23, tied for fourth), total bases (182, sixth), runs (68, sixth), and extra-base hits (42, tied for sixth).

2024 marks the 26-year-old’s first career All-Star selection. The left fielder has been one of MLB’s premier hitters this year, and has won an American League Gold Glove Award each of the last two seasons.

Kwan leads MLB with a .364 batting average, while ranking top-10 in on-base percentage (.419, third), OPS (.957, sixth), and slugging percentage (.538, 10th).

The Guardians closer is heading to his third consecutive All-Star Game. The 26-year-old ranks second in MLB with 27 saves, while tallying a 0.85 ERA, 39 strikeouts, and a 0.64 WHIP.

A baseball player wearing a white jersey and navy and red hat while throwing a baseball.

Jul 6, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Progressive Field. / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Naylor has been named an All-Star for the first time. The 27-year-old has been one of MLB’s most productive power hitters this season, ranking fifth in RBI (66) and tied for eighth in home runs (21).

The Cleveland utilityman is off to his first career All-Star Game in his first full MLB season. In 66 games this year, the 28-year-old is hitting .306 with 57 hits, 14 doubles, eight home runs, 33 RBI, and a .920 OPS.

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Cleveland, OH

Northeast Ohio weather: Heating up Monday, ALERT midweek for remnants of Beryl

Published

19 hours ago

July 7, 2024

Press Room

Northeast Ohio weather: Heating up Monday, ALERT midweek for remnants of Beryl

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Sunday night stays mostly clear and calm with low temperatures in the mid 60s.

On Monday, expect lots of sunshine with a slight increase in humidity. Temperatures warm up as well to around 90 degrees for the afternoon.

Tuesday sees a partly cloudy sky with a stray shower or storm possible, but rain chances are actually trending downward on Tuesday. As a result, temperatures are trending upward and close in on the 90-degree mark again.

Showers and a few storms are likely on Wednesday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl approach the region. Wednesday is a 19 First Alert Weather Day. There may end up being a couple rounds of rain, one in the morning followed by another during the evening with a dry break in between. Therefore, high temperatures still reach the mid 80s with higher humidity.

A few showers linger on Thursday, mainly for the first part of the day, before sunshine increases during the afternoon. High temperatures stay in the low 80s.

Friday and Saturday will be mostly sunny, dry, and increasingly warmer as high temperatures reach the mid to upper 80s.

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