Cleveland, OH
Video shows East Cleveland mayor drinking alcohol, smoking on city property
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – More drama is brewing in East Cleveland where the mayor was recently caught on camera drinking alcohol on city property.
19 Investigates obtained video of Mayor Brandon King inside a city garage with city employees present.
The video, filmed on a Friday night in late July, shows Mayor King drinking and smoking a cigar while sitting a table topped with several bottles of liquor and beer.
East Cleveland’s mayor was filmed drinking alcohol and smoking on city property
According to the City of East Cleveland’s employee handbook, the “unauthorized use” of alcohol on city premises is prohibited.
The employee handbook also states, “Smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco products are prohibited in all facilities, vehicles and all off-site City meetings and programs.” Signs posted on the exterior of East Cleveland City Hall state, “No smoking within 25′ of building.” Ohio’s Smoke Free Workplace Act, which was implemented in 2006, also requires places of employment and public places to be smoke free.
Mayor Brandon King released a written statement in response to the video on Thursday.
In the part relevant to the allegations of his conduct, the mayor wrote, “So, if I want to wind down a 6- or 7-day work week by having a Guinness Stout (not beer) and smoking a cigar in the garage, after hours, with staff, residents and stake holders and discuss the disfunction of our legislative body or the revitalization opportunities that are before us or international politics, no policy or media outlet is going to stop me.”
“City Hall is not his personal club,” said Justyn Anderson, Deputy Clerk of Council for East Cleveland. “It’s not about repercussions. It’s about doing what is right.”
Anderson said, “It’s devastating what’s in the video. Our city leader, the mayor, is on camera drinking and smoking in our city hall.”
“I am devastated and something needs to be done and he needs to be held accountable,” said East Cleveland City Council President Juanita Gowdy.
She plans on introducing legislation to address what she sees as a misuse of city property.
“You should be working, grinding, getting these city problems taken care of,” said Ward 3 council member Lateek Shabazz
“This type of behavior should not be allowed anywhere, and that’s why it’s important for me to let the residents know and the viewers that this can not be tolerated,” Anderson said.
This is just the latest in a string of controversial incidents involving East Cleveland city employees.
Within the last two years, 18 East Cleveland police officers have been been indicted for various crimes, including some charged with stealing from people while on duty, felonious assault, and accepting bribes.
19 News has requested a comment from the other city employees seen in the video.
When reached by phone, one gentleman hung up. We have not yet heard back from the others.
Read the entire statement from Mayor Brandon King:
“For the record, I’m working at city hall 6 to 7 days a week every week unless I’m on vacation. I also work most holidays. I manage the day to day, I build and manage the relationships with our partners such as Cuyahoga Land Bank, State of Ohio and the 5 state departments operating in the city today. I manage the relationships with RTA, Cuyahoga County, OHM, Phoenix investments(owners of Nela Park) Genesis( owners of BDD building) and the list goes on. I source and spec all city heavy equipment, fire trucks, ambulances, skid steer, front end loaders, tractors, riding mowers, service vehicles, housing vehicles, salt trucks, etc.
I also do what most mayors in Ohio don’t do. I do plumbing work in city hall, carpentry, flooring, painting and just last week operated the John Deere tractor to cut 7 acres of the former Huron Road hospital site.
Most of all I deal with the most disrespectful, uneducated, unorganized, illogical city council in the history of the city. I must reassure the very partners I referenced above, that their investment in the city will not be destroyed by this council and its volunteers.
So, if I want to wind down a 6- or 7-day work week by having a Guinness Stout (not beer) and smoking a cigar in the garage, after hours, with staff, residents and stake holders and discuss the disfunction of our legislative body or the revitalization opportunities that are before us or international politics, no policy or media outlet is going to stop me.”
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Cleveland, OH
Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen Receives All-Defensive Team Votes For Stellar Season
In a season where just three Cleveland Cavaliers played 70+ games, Jarrett Allen stepped up in a big way, especially with his presence on the defensive end of the floor.
The NBA All-Defensive Team is reserved for the most consistently effective defenders in the league. And with the recent switch to positionless voting, it makes being voted as a member of this group that much more exclusive.
On Monday, NBA Communications announced that Allen received 20 total points in the 2023-24 All-Defensive Team voting process. The 2022 NBA All-Star garnered one first-place vote (worth two points) and another 18 votes for second place (worth one point apiece).
However, these 20 points were not enough for Allen to make any of the 2023-24 NBA All-Defensive Teams. Four centers made the First Team in Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves), Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), and Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers).
Overall, the Cleveland big man finished 14th in voting, behind Luguentz Dort (34 points) and Chet Holmgren (21 points) of the Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as Kawhi Leonard (29 points) of the Los Angeles Clippers on the NBA’s de facto Honorable Mention list.
Just some of Allen’s defensive presence could be felt in the Cavaliers’ first two playoff games against the Orlando Magic before he eventually suffered a rib injury that made him miss the remainder of the team’s playoff run. The big man played a significant role in this span, recording a combined 26 defensive rebounds, four steals, and three blocks.
Allen averaged 1.1 blocks and 0.7 steals per game during the regular season, reaching these marks for the third consecutive campaign.
Cleveland, OH
Stunning Cavs Front Office Changes Coming During Pivotal Offseason
The Cleveland Cavaliers are entering the offseason with a lot of questions to be answered. Despite going 48-34 and notching the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, they were sent packing by the Boston Celtics in five games in the semifinals.
There have been questions surrounding the future of J.B. Bickerstaff, Donovan Mitchell, and Darius Garland in Cleveland.
With all these things looming over the organization, the Cavs decided to make a shocking change ahead of this offseason.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is going to be ‘significantly’ more included in the basketball operations starting this offseason.
The Cavs have Koby Altman as the President of Basketball Operations and Mike Gansey as the general manager. Nonetheless, it looks like those two men will have to include Gilbert in conversations regarding the future of the club.
Jarret Allen’s name has already been involved in trade discussions with Mitchell’s potential massive extension hanging in the balance.
Windhorst appeared on ‘The Hoop Collective’ and said, “I would think the Cavs are going to be spending more time in this next month looking at possible Jarrett Allen trades and what that can bring.”
Allen has two years and $40 million left on his current deal and the Cavs could be looking to move that.
As for Garland, it has been reported that his management Klutch Sports will meet with Cleveland this offseason to orchestrate a trade if Mitchell decides to stay in Cleveland long-term.
With all these big changes on the horizon, the 62-year-old owner will have a say in what transpires.
More Cavaliers news and rumors:
Cleveland, OH
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