The Better Council, Better Cleveland Pledge

In 2021, the top issue for council members and candidates alike needs to be rebuilding trust and good governance at City Hall. As the Plain Dealer editorial board has pointed out, the relationship between Clevelanders and our city leadership has broken down. Fixing this problem is not a partisan issue — it’s about making sure the building blocks of our democracy are in place so we can tackle the problems our city faces such as public safety, health, and housing.

To begin rebuilding the relationship between residents and City Hall we need to make Council more transparent, accountable, and accessible. That’s why I launched my campaign with this pledge.

I welcome any other council candidates or incumbents to join me in making the following commitments:

1. First, we must establish public comment at City Council meetings.

2. Second, we must give Clevelanders input over the budget. In this challenging year where the budget will face strain because of COVID-19, we can start with resident forums for feedback and take the low-cost measure of putting an interactive version of the city budget online like other cities do.

3. Third, we must take City Council to the people. As soon as it is safe, let’s hold council meetings at recreation centers, libraries, and parks. Let’s show the public what council does — and do work worthy of public viewing.