Here Come The Judges!

By Margaret Adams

On Nov. 7th, Clevelanders will be voting on judges to fill six terms-of-office starting on Jan. 1, 2024. The judges will be elected to serve on the court for six years. In the past, there hasn’t been much attention paid to the candidates running for judge, however, since the Trump administration, the public has become more aware of the important role judges play in our lives—how a judge handles the cases before them, and the rulings they hand out impact all of us.

On Tuesday, Oct. 17th at 5:30 p.m., The Cleveland Observer (TCO), in partnership with Community Culture of Informed Voters (CCOIV), will host a moderated forum for the citizens of Cleveland to hear from the candidates for a judge position on the Cleveland Municipal Court. The Forum will be held in the Cleveland Connections/Neighbor Up Room in the Cleveland Foundation building located at 1971 East 66th St.

According to the Ohio Supreme Court judges salary chart, judges make an annual salary of over $100,000. To qualify to run for the office of a municipal judge, candidates must be less than 70 years old, licensed by the State of Ohio, and have practiced law for at least six years. Cleveland Municipal judges are nominated by petition. A candidate can have their name placed on the ballot if they turn in a petition with only 50 verified signatures from city voters. The Cleveland Municipal Court has jurisdiction over the City of Cleveland and the Village of Bratenahl.

The primary function of municipal judges is to handle misdemeanors, including traffic offenses, drug-related offenses (such as DUI), domestic violence, assault, theft of property (such as shoplifting), and landlord and tenant disputes. The judges conduct preliminary hearings and set bonds in felony cases committed in the city of Cleveland. They handle civil matters in the small claims court for cases under $6,000. The general division of the courts can determine civil cases where the controversy does not exceed $15,000.

According to the Cleveland Municipal Court’s web page, the court wants to “help solve community problems.” Rather than moving people through the system by sending them to jail and having them pay fines, the court is working to create remedies that go to the underlying reason(s) that cause people to appear before them. To do this they have established specialized dockets for drug offenders, domestic violence, and mental health issues. The community needs to hear from the candidates to learn how they will address some of the social issues facing those who appear before them. It is just as important to hear from the candidates about how they will address the disturbing incidents of crime and violence within the youth of our communities.

The forum being presented on Oct. 17th will give people the chance to listen to the judges whose decisions will have an impact on us, our families, and our communities for at least the next six years. Your attendance is strongly encouraged.

Poll Location Changes and New ID Requirements

By Gregory Moore

Despite a record voter turnout across Cuyahoga County in the August 8th Special Election, thousands of voters encountered a series of problems on election day related to changes in poll locations and the new photo ID requirements. According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, over 47,000 voters were impacted by changes to polling locations in 50 precincts across eight municipalities including voters in Cleveland’s Wards 7 and 9 where poll consolidations were concentrated. On August 3rd, the County Board had advised voters to confirm their voting location before going to the polls on Election Day.

According to election officials, poll locations are consolidated for a variety of reasons, including the lack of adequate poll workers and the need to reduce poll locations to accommodate what was expected to be a smaller voter turnout. More voters than expected arrived at their previously assigned poll locations and were directed by poll monitors or signage to their newly assigned location.

The August 8th statewide Special Election’s voter turnout of 38% defied expectations and went well beyond projections and last year’s August statewide turnout of 8.01%. Ohio voters statewide voted overwhelmingly (57.01% to 42.99%) to reject ISSUE #1, a Republican-led effort to dramatically increase the percentage requirement to pass a constitutional amendment from 50% +1 to 60%.

Courtney Flynn of the Ohio Voting Rights Coalition (OVRC) reported that there were over two hundred texts or calls into the 866-OUR-VOTE Election Protection hotline on election day, with the majority of problems reported related to changes in poll locations and new ID requirements for in-person voting. On January 6, 2023, Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio House Bill 458 into law that made several changes to election laws including new photo ID requirements that restricted the kind of identification that would be accepted to vote in-person during early voting and on election day.

To help mitigate the disparity, the state has offered a free state-issued ID to voters who request it with the proper documentation. Non-profit advocacy groups like Vote Riders have worked to assist voters in acquiring state-issued identification to ensure their ability to vote. The Ohio Voting Rights Coalition and local voting rights advocates plan to step up their efforts to inform voters of new poll locations, as well as new voter ID requirements for the upcoming November 7th general election.

The November ballot will include two statewide constitutional amendments which will ask voters to decide if Ohio should enshrine the right to an abortion in the Ohio constitution; also, if recreational use of marijuana should be legalized across the state. With the defeat of Issue # 1, both measures will require a 50% + 1 majority of Ohio voters to be approved.

Voters in the city of Cleveland will also be asked if they support a proposed People’s Budget Charter Amendment, which if approved would create a residents-led Steering Committee to directly decide how 2%, the equivalent of over $14 Million of the city budget, is spent on projects in their neighborhoods. A citywide grassroots organization, Participatory Budgeting CLE (PBCLE), has spearheaded the charter amendment and submitted the necessary signatures to qualify for the city’s November 7th ballot.

Update: Community Development Block Grant

By Lily Stuart

Recently, there is unrest about the City of Cleveland’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, whether it’s about how much money the city is being allocated, or how the City Council will choose to spend it. However, the nuances of such funding can be difficult to understand at first glance. This article will serve as a brief guide to CDBGs, investigate some of their flaws, and introduce recent updates surrounding the funding.

What is a CDBG?

A Community Development Block Grant is flexible federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Its goal is to develop stronger and more resilient communities by providing funding straight to local governments. According to the City of Cleveland, every project must meet one of the following conditions: directly benefit low-and moderate-income residents, eliminate and prevent blight and property deterioration, or serve an urgent need.

The Cleveland City Council’s Development, Planning, and Sustainability Committee will hold hearings in conjunction with the mayor to create a budget for the project. The Finance, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will view the proposed budget, then the council will vote on it. The federal government will process the information before informing the city of the amount of money it will receive. From here, Community Development Corporations (CDCs) will compete for funding through an application process. A subcommittee will review these applications and then send them to the finance committee. Then the council will vote on the applications.

According to the 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan Report, the City of Cleveland is asking for an estimated $35,217,201 from the Department of Housing and Development. In recent years, however, the city has failed to meet spending targets and grappled with completing housing repair projects and programs.

Where is the community involvement?

The City of Cleveland’s website states that “the public is encouraged to participate in every phase of the application development process.” Their annual Action Plan Report notes that this year there were three meetings for community members to attend, but the only method of outreach provided was its publication in the Plain Dealer. There is a lack of publicity online or through other outreach methods, both of which would increase the number of community interactions and attendance at meetings.

Because CDCs receive their funding through a “competitive grant process” (per Cleveland Neighborhood Process), the corporations are highly focused on how to secure their funding. Well-known CDCs include the Famicos Foundation, Burten, Bell, Carr Development, and University Circle, Inc.

Although the CDC is to interact with the public, CDCs often fail to hold meetings to investigate community interests. They fall behind in directly addressing the public needs and wants. The City Council holds meetings, but these are largely hearings to discuss the budget, rather than a direct in-route for the public to enumerate their concerns. This means that new projects and funding are oriented from the developer to the community, rather than from the community to the developer. This flaw has become evident in the city’s response.

In a community media roundtable at WOVU held on Feb. 16, an attendee asked Mayor Bibb about the ethical concerns regarding the disconnect between the city, developers, and the public. One interviewer noticed a need for ethical standards between the three, and even noted that often, the City Council “seems to favor the developer.” Mayor Bibb responded by explaining that “it has to be a balancing act”. He argued that “in some cases, you have issues where developers have too much authority and too much influence, but in other cases, you have a lot of nimbyism too, and that can be an inhibitor to change.” Nimbyism, as the mayor refers to it, is an acronym for “not-in-my-backyard” and describes community members who are against development and change. Broader conversations with the community could aid in solving these concerns and minimize the urge to use negatively-connotated terms like “nimby.”

Where are we now?

In September 2021, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and CDCs from across the city released the Neighborhood Platform, a set of fifty recommendations to guide the work of Mayor Bibb and the City Council. The goals encompass changes in housing policy, economic developments, investments in neighborhood infrastructure, and modernizing government. About a third of the way into Mayor Bibb’s term, ten of the fifty goals initially set are completed (20%), nineteen are in progress (58%), and eleven have not been started (22%). This means that in the next two and a half years of Mayor Bibb’s term, thirty recommendations (80%) need completion.

~~Sources:~~

~~Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (http://www.clevelandnp.org/2023_platformupdate/)~~

CNP Update on Implementation of the 2021 Neighborhood Platform (http://www.clevelandnp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/04.18.2023-Update-on-Implementation-of-the-2021-Neighborhood-Platform-vFINALweb.pdf)

~~City of Cleveland 2023-2024 Third Program Year Annual Action Plan (https://www.clevelandohio.gov/sites/default/files/cleNowPDFs/2023-2024ThirdProgramYearAnnualActionPlan.pdf)~~

~~US Department of Housing and Development (https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/cdbg)~~

~~City of Cleveland Website (https://www.clevelandohio.gov/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/CommunityDevelopment/BlockGrantProgram)~~

~~“Mayor Bibb Community Media Roundtable at WOVU: 02-16-2023” from the Neighborhood Media Foundation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YwJkVfFruA)~~

Community Speaks Out at Ward 7 Meeting

By Bruce Checefsky

A packed crowd filled the Cleveland Chinese Christian Church in AsiaTown during the Ward 7 community meeting to listen to City of Cleveland officials discuss plans to resurface Payne Avenue. The project will begin in 2024.

James DeRosa, Capital Projects Dir.

James D. DeRosa, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects, and Richard J. Switalski, Division of Engineering and Construction, said construction would not impact the Asian Festival scheduled for May 2024. The project includes replacing an 8-inch water main with a new 10-inch pipe between E13th Street to E30th Street. Sidewalks and a tree lawn with bike lanes are part of the plan. Construction will take 15 months, according to them.

Cleveland Ward 7 executive precinct committeeman Mike Seals asked about employment opportunities during construction for people living in the Hough neighborhood. “We live in the poorest neighborhood in the second poorest city in the country,” he said.

Other items on the agenda included Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) for non-Cleveland Public Power residential and small business customers. This is available through the City of Cleveland to provide a choice to the default supply of electricity.

Sarah O’Keeffe, Director of the Office of Sustainability and Climate Justice, recommended residents wait for the program for a better long-term choice of electricity supplier, which may take a few months to start. Low-income households experiencing high-energy burdens may be eligible to enroll in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) by contacting CHN Housing Partners at 216-574-7100. Her office phone number is 216-664-2455 for questions or concerns. “First Energy is increasing the cost of electricity,” she said. “Community Choice Aggregation through Cleveland Public Power offers a less expensive alternative.”

The city is considering building a land bridge to connect downtown to the lakefront, explained Keshia Chambers, assistant director of the mayor’s office of capital projects, and is expected to cost between $200 million and $500 million, depending on the design. Most of the funds will come from the federal and state government. The proposed land bridge, first unveiled by the owners of the Browns, would be built over the Shoreway and railroad lines, with access to the stadium, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center, and Lake Erie. Concerns arose about development along the lakefront parks, including downtown, as well as proposed development by Cleveland Metroparks at E 55th Street, E 72nd Street, and Martin Luther King Jr Drive. One constituent asked, “Where are we going to fish?”

Coucilwoman Stephanie Howse at the recent community meeting.

Ward 7 Councilwoman Stephanie D. Howse said updates on the redevelopment of Martin Luther King Jr High School at E. 71st Street are changing. Their plans included housing and a school, but the developers, Structures Unlimited based in Maryland, pulled back, leaving the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) to give them 90 days for another plan. “We are coming up with another community meeting to go through the third plan to see if that is something the community wants,” said Howse.

Improvements from the City of Cleveland and private developers took center stage during the meeting, but several people raised issues and concerns about shootings in the neighborhood. “These projects do not benefit the ‘hood’,” said one resident. “We are concerned about the shootings right next door to us,” she said. Howse assured the audience that law enforcement agencies tell her that the overwhelming majority of shootings in Ward 7 are not random, saying, “They are targeted and retaliatory. When I pick up the phone, I hear somebody is attacking people. I hear stuff, but it is months later.” People are not talking to law enforcement officers because the assailants are often the grandson or friend of someone they know, she said, telling residents they need to activate the community to take control of the situation. “We do not have enough money to pay our way out of violence prevention,” said Howse. “It is a collective effort.”

Federal Deficit…What it Means to You

By Margaret Adams

It seems that congress is gearing up for another fight about the federal deficit. We have been experiencing this budget fight between the Republicans and the Democrats more intensely over the last three to four administration cycles. It seems that both parties are less willing to cooperate and work together for a common cause. The Republicans want to cut spending and balance the budget, and the Democrats are accused of spending more funds than are available. Debt is when expenses are more than income. A deficit is when debt keeps accumulating. Budgeting for the country is definitely not like budgeting for the average family’s household. The biggest difference is most households have a set income and will have to work more to increase that income or do without some luxuries or necessities to decrease expenses. The government can increase its income through several options, such as increasing taxes or printing more money. Decreasing federal expenditures affects many people and many areas of the economy.

The federal budget’s income consists of taxes, fees, and investments. The government collects almost 50% of its income from individual taxpayers and around 9.2% from corporations [figures obtained from the Peter G. Peterson foundation]. The Treasury sells debt such as treasury notes, bonds, and savings bonds to raise income and is the largest holder of domestic debt. Debt sold by the Treasury is purchased by investment funds (mutual funds and pensions), commercial banks, insurance companies, corporations, state and local government, the public, and other countries. According to debt.org/government, in the year 2012, approximately half of the federal debt held by the public was owned by foreign investors (China and Japan being the largest). By the end of 2021, debt held by foreign countries decreased to around 33%. There is an old saying that whoever holds the purse strings controls how the money is going to be spent. Taxpayers should ask who influences how the money collected by the U.S. government is being spent. Is the spending of money being controlled by corporate and foreign debt holders who may have influence over politicians?

There are three categories of spending (i.e., expenses) by the government per National Priorities Project.org. Mandatory spending includes Social Security, Medicare, safety net programs like Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and infrastructures like highways. Mandatory spending makes up about 60% of the Federal Budget’s expenses. Discretionary spending makes up around 30% and pays for things like the military, education, VA hospitals, transportation, food and agriculture, energy, and the environment, and includes federal employees and other items that can be added or taken away by congress. The cost of government investigations and special counsels and hearings are under the discretionary category and therefore it’s taxpayers’ money that pays for them. The third category consists of the interest payments the government is required to pay on its debt.

Politicians claim they want a balanced budget, but there is no constitutional law that states the budget must be balanced. As of yet, politicians have not taken the steps to put into law that the budget must be balanced. Republicans complain about the deficit, but research done by the A-Mark Foundation.org over the past 40 years shows that the deficit increased the most under Republican administrations. Republicans tend to promote tax cuts, while Democrats are against cuts stating they benefit the wealthy. In reality, it depends on whose research one relies on as to who has benefited the most from the cuts. Tax cuts take away money needed for the country to operate. Less money leads to cuts in public services (safety net programs).

Elbridge Gerry, a representative from Massachusetts (1789-1791), believed that Congress, specifically the House of Representatives, should hold the purse strings because they were more representative of the public. Today, voters must question this representation and keep an eye on their elected politicians to make sure they are being good shepherds of their tax dollars. Voters will need to look past the banter and infighting witnessed on TV and start researching just how our representatives vote on how to spend taxpayer money.

Understanding Cleveland’s Ward Boundaries

by Abbey Marshall

How are wards drawn? How have they changed over time? How might they change in the future?

Cleveland has 17 city council wards. Many Clevelanders probably think about those boundaries when they elect council members every four years—or if they need to know who to call about a problem with their trash. The number of council seats is expected to shrink by two before 2025 because Cleveland’s population is shrinking. That means the ward boundaries will change.

How does that happen? Who gets to decide which wards are eliminated and which ward(s) takes in those residents?

What is a ward?

A ward is a political boundary used to determine representation on Cleveland City Council. Right now there are 17 wards, a number that can fluctuate based on population change. Unlike other major Ohio cities such as Cincinnati and Columbus, Cleveland has no at-large council members who represent the city as a whole rather than individual wards.

In 2023, Columbus will shift from at-large council seats to seats based on new council districts. Residents citywide can vote for each of the district seats.

Geographic boundaries are created in different ways and serve different purposes. Neighborhoods can be determined informally by residents, census tracts, or historical events and are often used to define community. Ward boundaries are used to break up the city for legislative representation.

City council elections are held every four years. In addition to their legislative responsibilities for creating and passing city laws, a council member will shoulder the responsibility to serve the ward’s best interests. Having clearly defined ward boundaries help council members better understand the residents they serve using census data, which includes demographics of race, income, and more.

How is the number of wards determined?

Cleveland’s charter, the city’s governing document, defines how population determines the number of wards the city will be divided into at the time of redistricting. The number of wards will be an odd number between 11 and 25 based on population data (shown below), reflecting a ratio of roughly one ward for every 25,000 people.

The city’s current population is about 367,000, according to the 2021 population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The last time the wards were changed in 2013, Cleveland’s population had dropped to about 375,000 and the number of council wards was reduced from 19 to 17.

How are ward boundaries determined?

Ward boundaries are determined by census tracts, which include data on population, demographics, and income, but in the end, are approved by the council during the redistricting process.

The council can select a consultant to redraw the districts. Alternatively, the council president can appoint a consultant. Once a consultant is selected, that firm will review census data and survey the community to suggest ward boundaries. The firm then presents that information to the council which approves it as legislation.

What is redistricting, and how often does it happen in Cleveland?

Redistricting, or redrawing ward boundaries, happens once a decade after the census. According to the city’s charter, the ward boundaries must be redrawn and established before the next election cycle in 2025. The city’s current population requires the number of wards to decrease from the current 17 to 15 unless legislative action is taken to change what is currently in the charter. That action has to be approved by voters.

“We want to make sure that we don’t diminish the body to the point where citizens don’t have access to government the way they need to, but we also want to make sure we’re lean enough to not be self-preserving,” Cleveland City Council President and Ward 6 representative Blaine A. Griffin said.
The early stages of redistricting, such as finding a consultant and surveying the community, will likely begin soon, he said.
Redistricting can lead to divisive political debates. Two council people are slated to lose their wards by the 2025 election, potentially pitting current council members against each other when wards are combined. In previous redistricting processes, some council members fought tooth and nail to keep their wards in place.

“I compare it to a feudal system; of course, lords want to keep their power and seat so they will argue over the data and lines drawn and how that will shift in any direction,” said Lawrence Keller, an associate professor emeritus in Cleveland State University’s public administration program. “There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes negotiation.”

The process can be “contentious,” Keller said, citing instances in recent redistricting efforts where council members pushed for moving boundaries that would keep votes in their favor. “Since council has to approve the boundaries, you can imagine the politics that can come up when you have to get a majority to vote,” Keller said.

Why are neighborhoods sometimes split up?

Griffin said the city attempts to keep neighborhoods as whole as possible, but sometimes population growth or loss in certain neighborhoods makes that impossible. “You always want to keep neighborhoods as whole as possible because people are really attached to their neighborhood—that’s what gives them a sense of community, that’s what people embrace as a built environment,” he said.

Each of Cleveland’s 34 neighborhoods has its own needs, Griffin said. The goal is to try to avoid splitting up neighborhoods—but having diverse wards is also important. “We don’t want to create islands of wealth, and we don’t want to create islands of poverty,” he said. “It’s good to have mixed-income, mixed race—I think they make a neighborhood strong and vibrant and culturally relevant.”

How can residents get involved in the redistricting process?

Council ultimately votes on the new boundaries. Residents also have some voice in the process. The consulting firm and city council will conduct community conversations and surveys, Griffin said, but any residents wishing to speak about redistricting may voice their opinions or concerns at the weekly city council meeting’s public comment period.

How Have Ward Boundaries Changed Over Time? A look back on notable historical moments that shaped the makeup of today’s city council.

CLEVELAND INCORPORATED AS A CITY WITH THREE WARDS

When Cleveland was first established, it was at “the mercy of the state,” City Archivist Charles Mocsiran said. Ohio’s legislature decided how the city was split up. In 1836, there were three wards, each with three council people and one alderman (another representative).

HOME RULE ESTABLISHED

Cleveland first established home rule in 1914, allowing the city to define its own ward boundaries. Lawmakers decided to establish one ward per 25,000 residents. The measure was approved by voters, as required for any charter change.

CITY MANAGER GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED

Between 1924 and 1931, the city did away with wards entirely and instead split Cleveland into four districts with 25 council members through a city manager form of government, Mocsiran said.

CITY REESTABLISHES

The city manager system of government was changed in 1931 when Cleveland residents voted to give each new ward one council member per 30,000 people. For 50 years, Cleveland had 33 different wards and council people representing them. Though boundaries changed during those times, the number of wards did not.

NUMBER OF WARDS SLASHED

In 1981, the number of wards was slashed from 33 to 21 due to a charter change and population decline. Those boundaries changed two additional times without reducing the number of wards.

NEW (AND CURRENT) CHARTER ESTABLISHED

In 2009, voters approved the current charter amendment, again establishing one councilman per 25,000 residents, and the city went down to 19 wards as steady population loss continued.

WARDS REDUCE AGAIN

The city then reduced its wards once more in 2013 to its current 17, based on census data.

NEXT ELECTION CYCLE
The next election cycle for city council will take place in 2025 when new maps must be finalized. As it stands, Cleveland will lose two wards due to population loss unless a new charter amendment is proposed by council and approved by voters.

Wage Theft and Payroll Fraud Prevention Ordinance

By Bruce Checefsky

On Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, the Cleveland City Council passed the Wage Theft and Payroll Fraud Prevention Ordinance, which prohibits the City of Cleveland from entering into contracts with all businesses, from construction companies to food vendors, who were found to practice wage theft in the past three years.

Wage theft is a violation of any federal or State of Ohio law regarding prompt payment of wages, minimum wage standards, prevailing wage rates, and hours worked. The most blatant wage theft is asking an employee to work overtime, work through breaks, report early, or leave late without pay.

The ordinance places the burden on employers entering into contracts with the city to disclose any adverse determination. An adverse determination is a denial or limited authorization of a requested service. Failure to do so will subject the individual or entity to criminal penalties. The employer is placed on an Adverse Determination List with the Fair Employment Wage Board (FEWB) where they will remain for the next three years.

An employer can be removed from the list before the period lapses by receiving a waiver if it results in disruption to city operations, a change in ownership since the adverse determination, or if they have complied with the requirements of the final action placing them on the list.

The measure is a victory for advocacy group Guardians for Fair Work, and organizer Nora Kelley, which has been lobbying city officials to deliver wage-theft protections for Cleveland workers since last year.

“This is an important first step at making clear that we have public policies supporting workers,” said Kelley. “Columbus and Cincinnati have similar ordinances to protect their workers. City of Cleveland Wage Theft and Payroll Fraud Prevention Ordinance will go into effect in January 2023.”

Businesses seeking contracts with the city or financial assistance will have to report to the FEWB; a seven-member board that will monitor the living wage ordinance. Board members include two from labor, two from business, one community representative, one from the Mayor’s office, and one from City Council. Mayor Bibb will make the appointments, except for the City Council seat.

City Council and the Bibb administration need to pass a 2023 budget that provides the Fair Employment Wage Board with the financial resources needed to implement the regulations before the Ordinance can take effect.

“Seating the Board within 180 days of passage of the Ordinance is key to its enforcement,” added Kelley.

Policy Matters Ohio reports that in the fiscal year 2017, food service, retail, construction, healthcare, and hotels were the top five culprits of wage theft, accounting for 14,523 cases and 125,716 affected workers between them. Childcare services, janitorial services, and temporary help also made the top 10.

Ohio ranked second in the number of low-wage workers reporting wages below the legal minimum wage. Six wage and hour agents monitor labor practices for over 5.5 million workers.

The City Council vote was a victory for Guardians for Fair Work and Policy Matters Ohio. Justin Strekal, Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus (CCPC) Steering Committee Member and Organizer with Guardians for Fair Work, addressed a packed City Council chambers before the vote.

“There are over 250,000 documented cases of wage theft every year in Ohio. An average victim loses 24% of their take-home which is over $2,900 in Cleveland if they stay on the job for a full year,” said Strekal.

“I want to thank City Council for their vote of support and to let you know that we will be back next year to talk about how we can expand protection for workers in Cleveland, ”he added.