Cleveland City Council Approves Medical Debt Forgiveness Plan

Here’s what happened last week in local public government meetings covered by Cleveland Documenters.

Cleveland Public Meetings Report – The week of April 24, 2023

April 24 – Cleveland City Council

Covered by Documenter Tucker Handley

What happened: Public commenters discussed several topics, including funding for Cleveland schools, a pending ban on flavored tobacco products, and preventing child abuse. Jennifer Johnson, Executive Director at Canopy Child Advocacy Center, urged Council to pass a resolution recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Council was set to vote on it at its May 1 meeting. “A lot of times people talk about intervention or prevention but not both,” she said.

Repairing West Side Market: Council introduced legislation that would fund West Side Market building repairs with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money and other potential grants. The legislation does not include a maximum cost. It says the city’s Board of Control would set what can be spent. Council members are split about using ARPA funds for the market. Council Members Kevin Conwell, and Richard Starr have argued they should use the money to address food insecurity on the East Side. Former Council Member Eugene Miller orchestrated a robocall encouraging residents to oppose the plan. The city owns the market. Mayor Justin Bibb supports spending at least $15 million on the repairs.

Waiting Decades: Don Whitaker, owner of D.W. Whitaker Meats at the market, took the public comment mic and described why repairs are necessary. “The market needs so many basic repairs that have not been addressed for decades,” he said. “This weekend alone, we had [an] ongoing leaking roof, which rains in our stairwells down to our coolers. Another employee got stuck in our only working elevator, with three unusable elevators for years.” The needed repairs and other “revenue-generating ideas” may cost $32 million to $40 million, Whitaker said.

And also: Council approved $10,000 of casino revenue funds for a community garden in Old Brooklyn.

Not familiar with council’s casino revenue money? Check out our analysis of how council directed nearly $4 million of it from 2020-2022.

Watch the full public comments or read transcripts edited by Documenter Gennifer Harding-Gosnell on the Public Comment CLE website created by Ohio City resident Angelo Trivisonno.

Cleveland Police oversight bodies explain what they do:

April 26 – Safety Committee, Cleveland City Council

Covered by Documenters Carolyn Cooper and Nicholas Ventura

What happened: Council members were updated on what money the city is spending on police oversight, and meeting and measuring its goals under the consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Issue 24, the ballot initiative that made changes to Cleveland’s charter. Cleveland has a Civilian Police Review Board to review complaints against officers, a Community Police Commission to oversee the department’s policies and do a final review of police discipline, and a Public Safety Inspector General to oversee policies and practices and review investigations of safety forces, including police. In addition, Mayor Justin Bibb created a Police Accountability Team to oversee the city’s progress as required under the consent decree. Council Member Michael Polensek said there was growing confusion about the changes, and he asked if they still needed all of the different entities. Chief Ethics Officer Delante Thomas responded, “The residents of Cleveland decided that we do,” adding that the Inspector General job is required by the consent decree.

Citizen Complaints: Thomas outlined the process to submit a complaint against a police department employee. He said officers are required to have complaint forms in their vehicles. Council Member Deborah Gray asked if someone could file a complaint at the scene if they disagreed with how a family member was treated at the time of arrest. Chief of Police Wayne Drummond said yes.

Left wondering: Documenter Carolyn Cooper asked, “Will some people hesitate to file complaints against the police because they fear retaliation?”

The Community Police Commission is holding public meetings the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. The next one is set for May 10. Learn more about the meetings and how to attend.

April 24 – Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council

What happened: Council members learned the details of how $1.9 million of American Rescue Plan Act money would be used to wipe away medical debt for thousands of Clevelanders. RIP Medical Debt, a national nonprofit, will run the program, which Council approved at its meeting that evening. People are eligible if they are Cleveland residents and fit one of the following criteria:

About 81% of Cleveland residents are estimated to meet the income requirement, according to Keith Hearle, a senior advisor for RIP Medical Debt. Officials believe the $1.9 million could help about 50,000 residents.

Waiting on Hospitals: Hearle explained that RIP Medical Debt enters agreements with hospitals. It is still discussing the program with Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, and MetroHealth, he said.

Wondering about your next steps to medical debt forgiveness? Council Member Kris Harsh said residents do not need to sign up or apply. Eligible households will receive notification once their debt has been paid off. Signal Cleveland’s Nick Castele has more about the program.

On deck
Check out what local government meetings Documenters are set to cover this week.