♪ [PLEASE STAND BY] >> GOOD EVENING FROM THE WESTFIELD STUDIO THEATER AT IDEASTREAM PUBLIC MEDIA.

I AM NICK CASTELE.

SENIOR REPORTER AND PRODUCER AT IDEASTREAM PUBLIC MEDIA.

HOST OF THE AFTER JACKSON PODCAST, COVERING THE RACE TO BECOME CLEVELAND'S NEXT MAYOR.

CLEVELAND VOTERS WILL DO SOMETHING THEY HAVE NOT DONE IN 16 YEARS, ELECT A NEW LEADER FOR THEIR CITY.

A LEADER WHO WILL HAVE PROFOUND INFLUENCE OVER THAT ONLY THE RESIDENCE OF CLEVELAND PROPER, BUT FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

WELCOME TO CLEVELAND MAYORAL DEBATE: VOTERS FIRST, A PRESENTATION OF IDEASTREAM PUBLIC MEDIA AND THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND.

A NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND ONE OF THE OLDEST FREE-SPEECH FORMS IN THE U.S. OUR PARTNERS FOR THIS DEBATE INCLUDE CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS AND THE CLEVELAND DOCUMENTERS.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE LISTENING ON WVIZ AND STREAMING THE EVENT.

QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM ME AND TWO PANELISTS YEAR.

I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE ELIZABETH MCINTYRE.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR AT CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS.

AND LAWRENCE CASWELL.

FIELD COORDINATOR AT CLEVELAND DOCUMENTERS.

THE RULES FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE HAVE BEEN AGREED TO BY BOTH CAMPAIGNS.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION, AND I WILL MANAGE A REBUTTAL IF NEEDED.

CANDIDATES MAY NOT NECESSARILY ANSWER EVERY QUESTION ASKED.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL MAKE AN OPENING AND CLOSING STATEMENT.

NOW, THE TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION TO BECOME MAYOR OF CLEVELAND, KEVIN J. KELLEY.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT FROM WARD 13.

AND JUSTIN M. BIBB.

THINK OF HER WERE DISSIPATING IN THIS DEBATE.

LET'S BEGIN WITH YOUR OPENING -- THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS DEBATE.

LET'S BEGIN WITH YOUR OPENING REMARKS.

CONSOMM KELLEY, HE WILL SPEAK FIRST.

-- COUNCILMAN KELLEY, YOU WILL SPEAK FIRST.

MR. KELLEY: THANK YOU FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS KEVIN KELLEY.

MY MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES ARE THAT I AM A FATHER AND HUSBAND.

MY WIFE ELIZABETH AND I, WE ARE TOGETHER RAISING FIVE, STRONG INDEPENDENT YOUNG WOMEN.

I'VE BEEN WORKING IN CLEVELAND NEIGHBORHOODS EVERY DAY OF MY ADULT LIFE.

I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE AND A SOCIAL WORKER.

A COUNCILMAN.

FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL.

NOW I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR, THE HARDEST JOB IN GOVERNMENT.

BUT I AM NO STRANGER TO HARD WORK.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE I'VE BEEN 11 YEARS OLD.

AND I KNOW THAT CLEVELANDERS STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'VE STRUGGLED, TOO.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I LOST MY FATHER, WE LOST HER FAMILY HOME.

WE HAVE BEEN ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

BUT THERE ARE CHALLENGES AND STRUGGLES THAT I'LL NEVER KNOW.

AS CLEVELANDERS, WE DON'T GIVE UP.

WE FIGHT THROUGH.

AS YOUR MIRROR, I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU EVERY DAY.

WITH YOU AND FOR YOU.

WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT CLEVELANDERS BACK TO WORK.

WE WILL MAKE SURE CITIZENS HAVE BROADBAND ACCESS.

WE WILL MAKE SURE WE HAVE TRUE NEIGHBORHOOD EQUITY.

BUT NONE OF THIS WILL MATTER IF WE AS A COMMUNITY DO NOT ACCEPT AS OUR TOP PRIORITY THE SURGE OF GUN VIOLENCE, IF WE DO NOT GET OUR ARMS AROUND THE SAFETY ISSUE, NOTHING THAT WE DO WILL MATTER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NICK: MR. BIBB, YOUR OPENING REMARKS.

MR. BIBB: I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT NOW IS THE TIME FOR BOLD, NEW, DYNAMIC, VISIONARY LEADERSHIP TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD.

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT PUTTING PEOPLE AND NEIGHBORHOODS VERSE.

THIS ELECTION -- AND NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST.

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT OPPORTUNITY AND CHANGE.

IN THIS ELECTION, WE CAN ELECT A LEADER WHO NOT ONLY UNDERSTANDS THESE ISSUES ON A PERSONAL BASIS, AS A WORKING-CLASS KID IN THE SOUTHEAST SIDE, BUT A LEADER WHO IS COMMITTED TO BRINGING INNOVATIVE AND NEW IDEAS TO SOLVE MANY OF OUR AGE-OLD PROBLEMS.

I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER WORKING TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

I'VE WORKED WITH BIG-CITY MAYORS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS AN EXECUTIVE AT GALLUP.

I AM COMMITTED NOW MORE THAN EVER TO DOING THE HARD WORK OF REIMAGINING WHAT POLICING SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

TO HAVING A MORE MODERN AND RESPONSE OF CITY HALL, AND MAKING SURE EVERY CHILD IN CENTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO LIVE UP TO THEIR GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR URGENT LEADERSHIP.

AND I'M READY FOR THE JOB.

THANK YOU.

NICK: THANK YOU BOTH.

AS WE BEGIN THE QUESTIONING, LET ME SET THE STAGE.

WE HAVE A SERIES OF KEY TOPICS WE WILL EXPLORE WITH QUESTIONS PRESENTED BY ME, ELIZABETH AND LAWRENCE.

WE WILL INTRODUCE EACH TOPIC SEGMENT BY HEARING FROM SOMEONE IN THE CITY WHO HAS BEEN AFFECTED IN SOME WAY BY THE TOPIC.

OUR FIRST TOPIC TONIGHT, CRIME AND SAFETY.

BERNADETTE R. WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY A CLEVELAND POLICE OFFICER IN 2011.

10 YEARS LATER, SHE STILL SAYS JUSTICE WAS NOT SERVED.

IDEASTREAM PUBLIC MEDIA ONEHOST RICK JACKSON SPOKE WITH HER RECENTLY, THEY SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED FOR POLICE ACCOUNT ABILITY.

-- POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> THE POLICE WERE INVESTED GETTING THE POLICE.

SO IS THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE -- IF THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE FORCE CASE OR SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, THEY BROKE THE LAW, WHATEVER THEY DID, SOMEONE ELSE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE IN CHARGE OF THAT AND THAT THE POLICE.

THAT IS BIASED TO BEGIN WITH.

HOW CAN THEY INVESTIGATE EACH OTHER?

THAT WOULD BE ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS.

THAT THEY NEED SOME SORT OF THIRD-PARTY ACCOUNT ABILITY.

>> DO YOU THINK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF THE -- OR MAYOR, IT SHOULD BE OF THEIR CHOOSING?

>> I THINK I MAYOR SHOULD INITIATE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY SHOULD APPOINT SOMEBODY.

BUT I THINK THEY SHOULD INITIATE IT, MAY BE FORM A COMMITTEE.

I THINK IT IS THE MAYOR'S RESOURCE ABILITY.

-- MAYOR'S RESPONSIBILITY.

NICK: I WANT TO BEGIN WITH A DISCUSSION ABOUT ISSUES 24, A CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSED THAT WOULD GIVE THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION MARK POWER -- POLICE COMMISSION MORE POWER.

THIS ISSUE HAS DRAWN OPPOSITION FROM THE POLICE CHIEF, FROM THE SAFETY DIRECTOR.

DO YOU SUPPORT ISSUE 24, MR. IBB -- MR. BIBB, IF YOU ARE ELECTED?

HOW WILL YOU GET THE POLICE A PERMIT TO GO ALONG WITH THE IDEA?

MR. BIBB: THIS IS PERSONAL FOR ME.

MY FATHER WAS A POLICE OFFICER.

I REMEMBER HAVING A VERY VIVID CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO INTERACT WITH A POLICE OFFICER AS A SON OF A CUP.

HE WOULD SAY, JUSTIN, NO SIR, YES SIR, NO MA'AM, WE SPENT OVER $30 MILLION OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS IN THE CITY TRYING TO SETTLE POLICE MISCONDUCT LIMBS.

ISSUE 24 IS A POSITIVE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE COMMUNITY VOICES AROUND THE TABLE.

TRUST BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND THE POLICE IS CRITICAL TO ENSURE THAT EVERY COMMUNITY IS SAFE AND SECURE.

ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, WE SEE GOOD EXAMPLES OF THIS.

NEW JERSEY, CAMDEN AND NEWARK.

YOU GET BETTER ACCOUNT ABILITY WITH -- BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY WITH MORE VOICES ACROSS THE TABLE.

WE HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.

THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS BROKEN.

NICK: MR. KELLEY, THE SAFETY DIRECTOR IS ONE OF THE KEY POSITION MAKERS AND OFFICER DISCIPLINE -- IN OFFICER DISCIPLINE.

A REPORT CONCLUDED THE PREVIOUS SAFETY DIRECTOR WENT TOO EASY ON OFFICERS ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT, IN THE MONITORS OPINION.

YOU OPPOSE ISSUE 24.

I WILL A KELLEY ADMINISTRATION -- HOW WILL A KELLEY ADMINISTRATION AND SURE POLICE MISCONDUCT IS HANDLED APPROPRIATELY?

MR. KELLEY: THERE'S A LOT OF RHETORIC -- THERE'S A LOT OF BUZZWORDS, AND A LOT OF VIEWERS MIGHT NOT BE SURE ABOUT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES.

THIS IS A DEFINING MOMENT, BOTH IN TERMS OF POLICY AND HOW EACH CANDIDATE GOES ABOUT DECISION-MAKING.

ISSUE 24 WOULD MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS LESS SAFE.

ISSUE 24 WOULD RESULT IN HUNDREDS OF OFFICERS LEAVING THE JOB.

ISSUE 24 WOULD RESULT IN SLOWER RESPONSE TIMES.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, WHICH IS THE CONSENT DECREE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF USE OF FORCE CASES SINCE THE CONSENT DECREE, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINT AGAINST THE POLICE -- THERE'S $30 MILLION, THE FIGURE MY OPPONENT THROWS OUT, WE NEED TO BE GROUNDED IN FACT TEAR.

-- IN FACT HERE.

HOW MANY DOLLARS HAVE GONE OUT SINCE THE CONSENT DECREE.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT GO BACK TO 1975.

THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS PAID SINCE THE CONSENT DECREE HAS DROPPED DRAMATICALLY.

THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT DECISION SINCE THAT HAPPENED.

WHEN YOU CHOOSE -- WHEN YOU GET ON BOARD WITH AMENDING THE CHARTER, THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.

THIS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

WE NEED TO DEFEAT ISSUE 24.

AND WE CANNOT SHOW ANY NAIVETE BECAUSE IT USES WORDS LIKE REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

NICK: MR. BIG, 30 SECONDS TO RESPOND.

-- MR. BIBB, 30 SECONDS TO RESPOND.

MR. BIBB: THE FAMILIES DESERVE JUSTICE, AND JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED.

$30 MILLION IS A CRITICAL NUMBER TO THINK ABOUT.

BUT IT IS THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST TO POLICE MISCONDUCT THAT WE CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON.

AND RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRACY WORKS.

MY OPPONENT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.

BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, HE WANTS TO UNDERMINE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

VOTERS WANT TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE.

I BELIEVE GETTING MORE VOICES AROUND THE TABLE TO CREATE A BETTER CULTURE AND BETTER TRAINING PROTOCOLS IS A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO MAKE SURE THAT HER LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO FIGHT CRIME ALL ACROSS OUR CITY AND RESTORE TRUST.

RESTORE TRUST ON DAY ONE.

THAT IS ESSENTIAL.

MR. KELLEY: WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE TRAGIC EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE THIS OK. YOU CAN TRY TO SHROUD IT ANYWAY YOU WANT, BUT $30 MILLION HAS NOT BEEN SPENT SINCE OF THE CONSENT DECREE HAS BEEN SENT.

IT IS NAIVE TO THINK THAT YOU CAN USE A NUMBER SETTLING CASES FROM 1975 AND MAKE IT RELEVANT TO TODAY.

THE FACT THAT THE ARGUMENT -- THAT MY OPPONENT IS NOT GOING TO WIN HIS ARGUMENT IS A FIGHT THAT HE HAS TO GO TO DEMOCRACY IN THESE THINGS.

I'M NOT AGAINST A MICRO C. I DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO STOP THIS.

-- I'M NOT AGAINST DEMOCRACY.

I DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO STOP THIS.

IT'S A CHARTER AMENDMENT.

WE CANNOT BE NAIVE.

THIS SHOWS THE NAIVETE, IN TERMS OF THE APPROACH THE GOVERNMENT.

NICK: THANK YOU BOTH FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL BE COMING FROM LAWRENCE CASWELL.

LAWRENCE: THERE'S CURRENTLY NO PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FOR HOMICIDES THAT ARE SOLVED OR NOT SOLVED IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

THIS IS A BIG ISSUE FOR FAMILIES OFTEN FEEL LIKE THE POLICE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THEIR LOSS.

AND ARE NOT TRYING TO GET INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT COULD HELP GET TIPS AND SOLVE CASES.

OTHER CITIES MAKE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE, INFORMATION ABOUT HOMICIDES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

WASHINGTON, D.C. POSTS PRINTABLE ONLINE FLIERS WITH INFORMATION ON EACH AND SOLVED CASE -- UNSO LVED CASE.

WILL YOU MAKE INFORMATION OF SOLVED AND UNSOLVED HOMICIDES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, WHY OR WHY NOT?

NICK: MR. KELLEY, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU.

MR. KELLEY: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT OUR SOLVE RATE PER HOMICIDE IS AN OPTIMAL.

THAT IS -- IS UNACCEPTABLE.

THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO RETAIN, RECRUIT AND RETRAIN THE TALENT THAT WE NEED.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS ON SOMETHING LIKE ISSUE 24.

IT WILL DRIVE MORE OFFICERS AWAY FROM THE JOB.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE ALL OUR HOMICIDE DETECTIVE POSITIONS ARE FILLED IMMEDIATELY.

AS FAR AS DATA, IN TERMS OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS CAMPAIGN I'VE STATED I SUPPORT OPEN DATA FOR EVERY GOVERNMENT RECORD.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO THE RECORDS.

PUBLIC RECORDS ARE THE PUBLIC'S PROPERTY.

I BELIEVE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THEM.

THERE CAN BE NOTHING WORSE THAN LOSING A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY TO VIOLENT CRIME.

THE ONLY THING THAT COULD POSSIBLY MAKE THAT WORSE IS TO HAVE A DIVISION OF POLICE UNDERSTAFFED AND UNDER RESOURCED TO SOLVE THE CRIME AND REACH OUT TO THAT FAMILY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE BEING FELT, THAT THEIR TRAGEDIES ARE TRAGEDY.

NICK: THANK YOU, MR. BIBB.

MR. BIBB: VOTERS ARE FRUSTRATED THAT WHEN THEY LOSE A FAMILY MEMBER DUE TO GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY, THAT THEY CANNOT GET THEIR CALL RETURNED.

THAT THEY ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE.

WE NEED URGENT LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.

OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS SINCE THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS BEEN AT THE HELM IN CITY HALL, WE HAVE NEARLY AN 80% RATE OF NOT HAVING FILED THESE CASES.

RIGHT?

WE CAN'T AFFORD MORE OF THE SAME.

WE NEED TRANSPARENCY.

WE NEED TO HAVE URGENT LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.

AND AS MAYOR, I'M GOING TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE WE BEEF UP THE HOMICIDE UNIT AND WORK WITH OTHER LAW-ENFORCEMENT TO ENSURE WE CAN SOLVE THESE CASES IMMEDIATELY.

THESE FAMILIES DESERVE JUSTICE.

MR. KELLEY: WHEN WE -- THE GOALS OF BEEFING UP HOMICIDE -- IT'S NOT THAT EASY.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS, THE CHALLENGES OF HIRING OFFICERS THAT WE ARE FACING TODAY.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN JUST BE FOR OR AGAINST, OR SAY I'M GOING TO DO THIS.

RECRUITING AND TRAINING AND RETAINING OFFICERS IS HARD.

WE HAVE TO BE LASER FOCUSED ON BUILDING A STRONG, DIVERSE DIVISION OF POLICE.

ONE WAY WE CAN ENSURE WE WON'T DO THAT IS WITH IT ISSUE 24.

-- IS WITH ISSUE 24.

MR. BIBB: WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, PEOPLE ARE WAITING.

YOU'VE BEEN ENTERED FOR NEARLY 16 YEARS AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY REAL SUCCESS AROUND THESE ISSUES.

ISSUE 24 DOES A BETTER JOB OF ENSURING WE HAVE BETTER TRUST BETWEEN POLICE AND RESIDENTS, AND THAT IS CRITICAL TO MAKING SURE THAT EVERY COMMUNITY FEELS SAFE AND SECURE.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. KELLEY: IF YOU LOOK AT THE TIME I'VE BEEN COUNCIL PRESIDENT, SINCE THE CONSENT DECREE HAS BEEN SIGNED, THE NUMBERS ARE THE NUMBERS -- THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.

YOU CAN COME UP WITH DIFFERENT BUZZWORDS AND THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.

THE FACT IS, I AM THE HEAD OF THE LEGISLATIVE -- EVEN AS SUCH, WE'VE SEEN A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF USE OF FORCE CASES, COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE, WE HAVE CLEARED THE COMPLAINTS.

THE JUDGMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID.

THE HIGHEST ONE IS 175 THOUSAND DOLLARS, NOT $30 MILLION.

MR. BIBB: WHEN WAS THE LAST HELD A HEARING TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE?

MR. KELLEY: WE HAVE HELD MULTIPLE HEARINGS.

WE HAVE HELD MULTIPLE HEARINGS, WE MEET WITH A MONITOR, EVER SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE CONSENT DECREE.

MR. BIBB: 80% OF HOMICIDE CASES HAVE NOT BEEN SOLVED.

MR. KELLEY: I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DON'T KNOW THIS -- BUT THE CITY CASTLE HAS BEEN HOLDING HEARINGS, BRINGING THE MONITOR TO THE TABLE, BRINGING THE MONITORING TEAM TO THE TABLE, GOING OVER EVERYTHING THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THIS CONSENT DECREE.

NICK: THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

I WANT TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT QUESTION FROM ELIZABETH MCINTYRE.

ELIZABETH: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

ATTRACTING AND RETAINING JOBS IN CLEVELAND INVOLVES A LOT OF FACTORS.

INCLUDING HOW SAFE WORKERS FEEL.

HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS CLEVELAND'S CRIME RATE, AND WHAT ROLE WOULD YOU SEE THE CITY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY PLAYING IN MAKING CLEVELAND SAFER?

MR. BIBB: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DEPLOY MORE OF OUR OFFICERS.

RIGHT NOW, 50% OF OUR CUPS ARE WALKING IN DEET.

THE ALLOCATION MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.

I WANT TO HAVE AT LEAST 70% WALKING, DURING THE HARD WORK OF COMMITTEE POLICING.

WE HAVE TO PAY OUR OFFICERS MORE.

WE ARE LOSING SO MANY OF OUR NEW POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATES TO SHAKER, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, BEACHWOOD ETC.

BECAUSE WE ARE NOT PAYING OFFICERS ENOUGH TO STAY ON THE JOB.

THIRDLY, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OFFICERS WANT FAIRNESS.

THEY WANT TO HAVE A CULTURE WHERE TALENT IS PROMOTED, NOT BASED ON WHO YOU KNOW INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT.

I WOULD GLADLY WORK WITH THE BUSINESS COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CHANGING THE CULTURE OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND LEVERAGING BEST PRACTICES FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ORDER TO DO THAT INSIDER DEPARTMENT.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. KELLEY.

MR. KELLEY: WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE TALENT BACK TO DOWNTOWN OR TO ANY NEIGHBORHOOD UNTIL WE GET ARMS AROUND THIS PROBLEM.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT, HOW ARE WE RECRUITING, HOW ARE WE TRAINING, HOWEVER WE RETAINING OFFICERS?

THIS ISSUE OF SAFETY IS NOT JUST IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OTHER THAN DOWNTOWN, IT IS A NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORHOOD.

CERTAINLY AS MUCH AS IT IS MEANINGFUL AND ESSENTIAL TO RESIDENTS, IT MEANS THE SAME THING TO BUSINESSES.

THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOME UTILITY PROVIDERS, THEY DON'T LIKE TO GO INSERT NEIGHBORHOODS AT CERTAIN TIMES.

WORKING WITH THE POLICE, WE GET THEM THERE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY BELIEVES IN THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

I'VE ADVOCATED FOR A REAL COMMITTEE POLICING PROGRAM WITH MANY STATIONS, WITH FOOT PATROLS, WITH BIKE PATROLS, WITH THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE BETWEEN THE RESIDENCE AND COMMAND STAFF OF EACH DISTRICT, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE UNIT TO RESPOND TO QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH DCA TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE POLICE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A CULTURE OF SAFETY EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

THERE'S NOT 50% BEHIND THE DESK.

THE ONLY CREED OF WAY TO GET THERE IS IF YOU PUT EVERY PERSON WHO WAS INJURED -- IS INJURED, EVERYBODY WITH SOME SORT OF SUPERVISORY RESPONSE TO BLUE BEHIND A DESK, WHICH IN.

-- WHICH ISN'T TRUE.

MR. BIBB: THOSE OFFICERS ARE NOT DEPLOYED EFFECTIVELY.

YOU HAVE TO ZONE CARS PATROLLING ONE OF THE LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE CITY PER SHIFT.

THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF REDEPLOYING OUR EXISTING FORCES, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE VISIBLE PATROLS ALL ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AT THE TOP.

MR. KELLEY: THERE IS A DEPLOYMENT PLAN.

EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD BELIEVES THERE'S ONLY ONE CAR IN THEIR WARD.

I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO FACT CHECK THIS, POLICING IS DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR DIVISION OF POLICE THROUGH COMMITTEE RELATIONS COMMITTEE IS TO BRING THAT TRUST, TO BRING POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE SECOND DISTRICT WHERE I LIVE EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNSEL.

WE'VE BEEN DOING COMMUNITY POLICING BEFORE IT WAS A TERM.

I THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO IN EVERY SINGLE POLICE DISTRICT.

NICK: THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT TOPIC WITH THIS SIMPLE QUESTION -- HOW WELCOME DO YOU FEEL IN CLEVELAND?

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO IN SOME FASHION FEEL THIS FEELING OF BEING AN OUTSIDER FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, THE RACE, GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RELIGION.

CARMEN LANE IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

BRICK SPOKE TO CARMEN ABOUT INCLUSION.

CARMEN SAID INCLUSION MUST BE ADDRESSED IN A BROADWAY, NOT WITH SLOGANS AND ONE-TIME OUTREACH EVENTS.

THE EXCHANGE CAME AFTER RICK ASKED IF CARMEN FELT WELCOME IN CLEVELAND.

CARMEN: I BROUGHT WITH ME A PROP.

THIS IS A 1982 STUDY DONE BY THE GREATER CLEVELAND ROUNDTABLE ON RACE RELATIONS IN THE CITY.

UM, THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY SAID THE FOLLOWING THING -- THAT REALLY GOT MY ATTENTION.

IT SAID, THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL AGREEMENT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE MAJOR CHALLENGES THAT CLEVELAND FACES.

CREATING JOBS TO BOOST THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, REDUCING CRIME, AND IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS, SENSITIVITY OF THE POLICE, AND PROVIDING AFFORDABLE AND ADEQUATE HOUSING.

AND OUR COMMUNITY IN 1982 PERCEIVED RACIAL TENSION, AS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THESE MAJOR CLEVELAND PROBLEMS.

I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THOSE WHO WANT TO STEWARD IT.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT FOR SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF, I AM AWARE THAT DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES IN FLAT WAYS, THAT ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE, KEEPS US IN A PATTERN, WHERE THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NAME, AND PEOPLE LIKE ME FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE INTERSECTIONS OF THOSE SUBJECTS.

NICK: OUR FIRST QUESTION -- ASKING OUR FIRST QUESTION WILL BE LAWRENCE CASWELL.

LAWRENCE: LAST WEEK, MAYOR JACKSON SAID IN ORDER TO BE A GREAT CITY, CLEVELAND MUST GRAPPLE WITH THE UNDERLYING CORE ISSUES OF INSTITUTIONALIZED INEQUITIES, DISPARITIES, AND RACISM.

CLEVELAND IS A MAJORITY BLACK AND BROWN CITY THAT HAS DEEP-SEATED SEGREGATION ISSUES, SO I'M CURIOUS AS YOU SEE IT, WHAT ARE THE GREATEST BARRIERS TO INCLUSION AND EQUITY IN CLEVELAND TODAY?

WHAT ROLE CAN AMIR PLAY IN REDUCING -- A MAYOR PLAY IN REDUCING THOSE BARRIERS?

MR. KELLEY: INCLUSION HAS TO BE THE HALLMARK, THE TRADEMARK OF OUR CITY.

WE HAVE TO DO MORE THAN TALK ABOUT IT.

AND LET ME JUST DESCRIBE A FEW THINGS THAT I'VE DONE ABOUT IT -- WHEN I WAS COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT WE DO NOT HAVE, THE CITY OF CLEVELAND DID NOT HAVE A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN.

AND I SET ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR FRIENDS AT LEGAL AID AND WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON, HOW DO WE CRAFT A PLAN THAT HAS EVERY -- THAT WELCOMES EVERY CLEVELAND OR INTO CITY HALL?

-- EVERY CLEVELANDER INTO CITY HALL?

TRANSCRIBING FORMS WAS EASY.

THE REAL CHALLENGE CAME WHEN WE TRAINED EVERY PUBLIC FACING EMPLOYEE IN THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND CULTURES AND HOW WE ARE REACHING OUT AND MAKING SURE THE SERVICES ARE INCLUSIVE AND REACH EVERYBODY.

MORE RECENTLY, WE PASSED A PUBLIC OF CRISIS RESOLUTION, NOT JUST A PAPER RESOLUTION, BUT IT COMES WITH ACTION, WHERE THERE IS A TEAM WORKING ON THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN TERMS OF HOUSING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, THE PILLARS THAT GO TO IT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LOOKING THROUGH THE LENS EVERY TIME WE MAKE A DECISION AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.

NICK: MR. BIBB, YOUR CHANCE AT THIS QUESTION.

MR. BIBB: FOR FAR TOO LONG IN THIS CITY, WE HAVE YET TO TRULY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FRUSTRATIONS AND PAIN OF BEING ONE OF THE MOST SEGREGATED CITIES IN AMERICA.

AS MAYOR, I'M COMMITTED TO MORE THAN TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I WANT TO HIRE A RACIAL CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER IN MY ADMINISTRATION THAT WILL ANALYZE EVERY POLICY DECISION WE MAKE UNDER A RACIAL EQUITY LENS.

SECONDLY, THE EAST SIDE OF THE CITY, WHERE A MAJORITY OF OUR BLACK POPULATION CURRENTLY LIVES, HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN IN MANY CASES.

WE SHOULD BE USING A LARGE SHARE OF THE MONEY WE ARE GETTING FROM AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN BRING BACK MOUNT PLEASANT, BUCKEYE, THE HARBOR, OTHER ASPECT OF THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.

BECAUSE THEY DESERVE THE SAME ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY WE ARE SEEING IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR CITY.

WE'VE GOT TO INVEST IN BRINGING BACK THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TO ENSURE WE CAN ADDRESS THE RACIAL INEQUITIES AS A CITY.

NICK: THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

THE NEXT QUESTION WILL GO TO ELIZABETH MCINTYRE.

ELIZABETH: IT'S CLEAR THAT WE NEED MORE WORKERS IN OUR REGION.

THE NUMBERS DON'T LIVE HERE WITH THE DATA SHOWS WE ARE NOT RETAINING THE PEOPLE ALREADY HERE.

THE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE NOT EXACTLY WORKING IN OUR FAVOR.

THAT MEANS WE NEED TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO LIVE AND WORK IN NORTHEAST OHIO, WHETHER THEY ARE REFUGEES, INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, OR OTHERS WHO ARE NOT HOMEGROWN.

WHAT WILL YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION DUE TO BE INCLUSIVE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST BRAIN DRAIN AND ENSURE WE HAVE A MORE ROBUST AND DIVERSE WORKFORCE?

MR. BIBB: ONE THING THAT WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF IS REALLY INVESTING IN THE TALENT WE GET FROM OUR LOCAL UNIVERSITIES.

PITTSBURGH HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF THIS -- WORKING WITH CARNEGIE MELLON AND THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH TO REALLY LEVERAGE THAT TALENT.

YOU SEE THAT BEING DONE PRETTY WELL IN COLUMBUS AS WELL.

AS MAYOR, I WOULD CONVENE EVERY COLLEGE PRESIDENT IN THE CITY TO IDENTIFY, HOW DO WE KEEP THAT TALENT IN NORTHEAST OHIO, ONCE THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE OR GRADUATE SCHOOL HERE IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND?

SECONDLY, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE EMBRACING THAT GENERATION OF TALENT INSIDE CITY HALL.

THAT IS WHY I WANT TO HAVE A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM THAT RECRUITS THE NEXT GENERATION OF CIVIL SERVANTS WORKING IN OUR ADMINISTRATION.

THAT IS ALSO A GOOD WAY TO HAVE THE RIGHT CULTURE TO INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF TALENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MR. KELLEY: WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS FROM A SHORT-TERM LENS AND A LONG-TERM LENS.

THE SHORT-TERM LENS IS WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF REACHING OUT AND ACCEPTING OUR REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN REALLY BEGIN WORKING ON DAY ONE.

THE REFUGEE RESPONSE PROGRAM HAS SHOWN TREMENDOUS RESULTS.

WE CAN WORK WITH OTHERS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BECOMING OR WELCOMING CITY TO IMMIGRANTS.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THE WHERE JOBS ARE.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO WHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY.

WHEN NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT IS STIFLING OUR OPPORTUNITY.

TO ME, THE NUMBER ONE THING STIFLING OUR OPPORTUNITY IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE JOBS -- IS NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE JOBS, THERE ARE HIGH-PAYING JOBS, BUT WE ARE NOT PROPERLY TRAINING AND EDUCATING AND SKILLING OUR OWN CITIZENS FOR THIS JOB.

IT DOESN'T START AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL AND WORKING WITH UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS.

IT STARTS WITH WORKING WITH EVERY GRADE SCHOOL, TO EDUCATE OUR SKIDS AND GIVE THEM HOPE.

NICK: WE WILL BE RETURNING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LATER ON IN THE DISCUSSION.

THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM LAWRENCE CASWELL.

LAWRENCE: IN 2020, IN AN OP-ED, IT WAS SAID CLEVELAND IS THE EPICENTER OF THE TRANSMITTER CRISIS, CITING THE VIOLENT DEATHS OF EIGHT TRANS WOMEN IN AS MANY YEARS.

AFTER THE MURDER OF YET ANOTHER TRANS WOMAN THIS PAST JUNE, IT WAS REPORTED BY THE BUCKEYE FLAME AND OTHERS THAT THE VICTIM WAS FREQUENTLY MISSED GENDERED BY POLICE AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS.

HOW DO YOU INTEND TO ENSURE THAT TRANS INDIVIDUALS FEEL NOT ONLY SAFE IN THE CITY, BUT ALSO FEEL SEEN AND RESPECTED BY CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES?

NICK: MR. KELLEY.

MR. KELLEY: THANK YOU.

WHAT YOU DESCRIBED IS TRAGIC AND SOMETHING WE CANNOT ACCEPT IN CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY FEELS HEARD, RESPECTED.

ESPECIALLY BY MEMBERS OF THE DIVISION OF POLICE.

THERE WAS A MURDER IN WARD 13 I AM AWARE OF AND I THINK ABOUT FREQUENTLY.

IF YOU LOOK AT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE STEPS WE'VE TAKEN, GETTING ARE INDEXED TO 100% WAS NOT AN EASY TERM -- AN EASY THING TO DO.

WE HAD FOUR ORDINANCES WE NEEDED TO GET PAST TO GET TO THAT LEVEL.

THE LAST ONE WAS A HUMAN RIGHTS ANTIDISCRIMINATION BILL, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY GOT TERMED "THE BATHROOM BILL."

THAT WAS MINED TO SHEPHERD THROUGH COUNSEL.

THAT WAS SOMETHING I NEEDED TO DO TO WORK TO ALL THE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAT BROUGHT.

THAT CAME AFTER -- BENEFITS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES.

NICK: MR. BIBB.

MR. BIBB: THIS SHOULD OUTRAGES ALL IN THIS COMMITTEE.

AND AS MAYOR, I BELIEVE WE CAN DO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

MORE INVESTMENTS IN SAFE SPACES FOR OUR LGBT POPULATION, TO LIVE AND THRIVE AND FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A PART OF OUR COMMITTEE.

I SPENT SOME TIME AT THE LGBT CENTER ENSURE WAY, I WAS A -- I WAS AMAZED AT THE PROGRAM THEY HAD FOR THE COMMITTEE TO GO AND FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

WE SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING ALL ACROSS THE CITY MORE SAFE SPACES LIKE THAT.

SECONDLY, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT MUST HAVE THE RIGHT TRAINING AND ARTICLES IN PLACE TO BE WHERE THESE ISSUES -- TO MEET THESE ISSUES AND BETTER SUPPORT LGBT POPULATION.

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AWARE OF THE RIGHT TRAINING IN PLACE IN OUR DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THIS LONG-TERM.

NICK: ONE MORE QUESTION COMING FROM LAWRENCE.

MR. KELLEY: CLEVELAND'S HISPANIC PUBLISHING STANDS AT 13.1%.

AND INCREASE OF 23% FROM 2010.

ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSIS BY CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR ADAPTING CITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC INFORMATION'S TO ACCOMMODATE THE FASTEST GROWING AND LIKELY THE ONLY GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP IN THE CITY?

NICK: MR. BIBB.

MR. BIBB: WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR LET NEXT POPULATION HAS A VOICE -- LATINX POPULATION HAS A VOICE IN CITY HALL.

I WILL HAVE MEMBERS OF THE POPULATION IN MY CABINET.

WE ALSO NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF INVESTING IN LATINX BUSINESSES ACROSS OUR CITY.

THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR FIRST SHOT AND FOR DISSIPATING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE LATINX STUDENTS HAVE GOOD QUALITY EDUCATION, GOOD QUALITY AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS.

THAT IS HOW WE MAKE SURE THIS IS A SAFE PLACE FOR OUR LATINX POPULATION TO GROW AND THRIVE IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

NICK: MR. KELLEY.

MR. KELLEY: THANK YOU.

I AM HAPPY TO REPRESENT WARD 13.

I REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE'S CULTURE -- AND WHAT THEY NEED.

THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS DEALING WITH JACKSON'S PLAN.

WHEN I BECAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT, CITY HALL WAS ENDLESS ONLY -- WAS ENGLISH ONLY.

THAT WAS NOT OK. NOW WE HAVE SPANISH.

THAT IS ALSO IN ADDITION TO THE FAST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC AND THE MOST FREQUENTLY SPOKEN LANGUAGE OUTSIDE OF ENGLISH.

SO WE TOOK THAT STEP.

WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT -- WE JUST PASSED TWO WEEKS AGO FUNDING FOR THE PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON WEST WHEN HE 5TH STREET FOR THE CLARK FULL IN AREA WHERE THERE'S A LARGE HISPANIC POPULATION.

THERE IS NO CITY IN THIS -- THERE IS NO CITY AIM AWARE OF WHERE THERE IS SUCH A RICH HISPANIC POPULATION THAT THERE IS NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD ATTRACTION.

SOME KIND OF CONGREGATING PLACE.

NICK: WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT TOPIC, WHICH CONCERNS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THAT CAN MEAN ANYTHING, FROM ATTRACTING LARGE INDUSTRIES TO RETAINING THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE, TO HELPING LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES THRIVE.

THE CANDIDATES HAVE HAD MUCH TO SAY ON THIS TOPIC, AND SO DO THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN AND OPERATE THEIR OWN RESTAURANT ON DETROIT AVENUE IN THE GORDON SQUARE ARTS DISTRICT, AND A NEW LOCATION ON DENISON AVENUE.

THEY HAVE LOST 70% OF THEIR BUSINESS IN THE PANDEMIC AND HOPE FOR MORE SUPPORT FROM A NEW ADMINISTRATION.

THEY SAID RESPONSIVENESS IS KEY.

>> WE NEED HELP WITH THE MAYOR, WITH PERMITS.

WE ARE TRYING TO UPDATE OUR LICENSE FOR OUR SECOND LOCATION ON DENISON.

THE FIRST LOCATION ON DETROIT HAS BEEN VERY GOOD.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THAT.

WE ARE TRYING TO OBTAIN IT FOR THE SECOND LOCATION.

TRYING TO GO IN THE BUILDING TO FIND SOMEONE WHO COULD GIVE US SOME ACCESS, SOME ENLIGHTENMENT, WHAT TO DO, WHAT NOT TO DO, HOW TO GO ABOUT IT, PHONE NUMBERS -- THAT'S BEEN THE CHALLENGE FOR US.

AND HAVE SOMEBODY HELP US.

NICK: ELIZABETH MCINTYRE HAS THE FIRST QUESTION ON THIS TOPIC.

ELIZABETH: WHAT INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU ENVISION FOR NEW BUSINESSES AND TO RETAIN BUSINESSES ALREADY HERE?

WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE GENERATED BY THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, AND HOW SO?

MR. KELLEY: IF WE TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHO WAS HURT THE MOST DURING COVID, IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT WERE STRUGGLING THE MOST BEFORE COVID.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FOR SOME REASON, THERE IS A MISNOMER THAT THEY ARE SOMEHOW WEALTHIER, THAT THEY HAVE IT GOOD.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE DREAMERS, THEY ARE PEOPLE THAT MAX OUT THEIR OWN CREDIT CARDS AND TAKE LOANS FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT BRINGS ME MORE WHEN THEY ARE WAITING FOR A SIGN OFF ON THEIR ELECTRICAL PERMIT OR SOMETHING SO THEY CAN REALIZE THEIR DREAM.

MOVING FORWARD, WE NEED A MAYOR WHO UNDERSTANDS THEIR PAIN, THAT WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WERE HURT MOST BY COVID.

NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS THAT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, THE NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS I CAN FIND WORKFORCE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE SURE UP THIS PIECE OF THE ECONOMY.

-- SHORE UP THIS BASE OF THE ECONOMY.

THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECT DOLLARS TO THESE BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE TO REALIZE THE VALUE OF THESE BUSINESSES.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. BIBB.

MR. BIBB: IT IS MY JOB AS MAYOR TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR GOOD QUALITY JOB CREATION ACROSS THE CITY.

IN CLEVELAND, WE ARE OPERATING IN A 19TH-CENTURY WORLD IN A 19 CENTERING ECONOMY -- 20TH CENTURY ECONOMY.

CITY HALL IS MOVING AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS.

WE SHOULD HAVE A DIGITIZED PERMIT SO YOU CAN TRACK YOUR PERMIT OVER TIME.

IT'S A SHAME THAT DURING THIS PANDEMIC, MANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS APPLIED FOR RELIEF FROM THE CITY, AND IT TOOK MONTHS AFTER MONTHS AFTER MONTHS TO GET THEM THE GRANTS THEY NEEDED TO STAY AFLOAT.

ONE MONTH IS TOO LATE IN TERMS OF KEEPING YOUR BUSINESS ALIVE.

WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF HAVING A MODERATE AND RESPONSIVE CITY HALL THAT MOVES AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS TO ENSURE WE CAN CREATE GOOD QUALITY JOBS ALL ACROSS THE CITY.

BECAUSE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY.

NICK: THANK YOU.

MR. KELLEY.

MR. KELLEY: WHEN COVID HIT, SMALL BUSINESSES WERE WAITING FOR THE PPP CHECKS, THE CITY OF CLEVELAND STEPPED UP WITH A FUND TO BRIDGE THE GAP.

IT TOOK A MINUTE, BUT NOT MONTHS AND MONTHS.

IT EXPOSED SOMETHING ELSE -- THAT ARE SMALL BUSINESSES NEED TECHNICAL AND BACK OFFICE SUPPORT.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE CLAW AWAY AT COVID, WE ARE GIVING BUSINESSES THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.

WE WILL DO THAT.

NICK: OUR NEXT QUESTION GOES TO LAWRENCE CASWELL.

LAWRENCE: YOU HAVE BOTH INDICATED YOUR FOR ALLOCATING MONEY IN THE CITY BUDGET TO SUPPORT ARTS AND CULTURE.

AS WELL AS A CABINET LEVEL POSITION, TELL ME WHAT SUPPORT WOULD LOOK LIKE UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION, IN PARTICULAR, SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, AS OPPOSED TO ARTS INSTITUTIONS?

MR. BIBB: ONE THING I GET EXCITED ABOUT IS HAVING AN ARTIST AND RESIDENT IN MY ADMINISTRATION THAT CAN WORK WITH MY CABINET AND COMMISSIONERS TO REALLY THINK ABOUT, HOW DO WE DO A BETTER JOB OF DESIGNING BASIC CITY SERVICES, LEVERAGING THE CREATIVE ENERGY OF OUR ARTISTS ACROSS OUR CITY?

AND INVESTING IN GREAT QUALITY PUBLIC SPACES.

OUR ARTISTS CAN TRULY PLAY A LARGE ROLE IN DOING THAT ALL ACROSS OUR CITY.

THIRDLY, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF INVESTING IN ARTISTS EARLY ON.

I WAS THAT HE HAS SCHOOL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AT CMSD, MANY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF GREAT ARTS PROGRAMS IN THE CITY.

WE HAVE TO START YOUNG, BECAUSE THE ARTIST ECONOMY IS A MAJOR DRIVER IN MAKING SURE WE CAN HAVE A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE CITY LONG-TERM.

NICK: MR. KELLEY.

MR. KELLEY: THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THE PUBLIC ARTS REQUIREMENT OF ALL PUBLIC PROJECTS.

THEY DO HAVE A PUBLIC ARTS COMPONENT.

THAT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.

NOW WE NEED TO MOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IN TERMS OF THIS ECONOMY, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GIVING ARTISTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED, THERE'S NO NEED FOR ANY ARTIST TO MOVE OUT OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

I HAD SIGNED A CONTRACT TO BRING PUBLIC ART TO OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF IT WAS THAT IT WOULD HAVE A ROTATING ARTIST STREAMED AND THEY WOULD BE PAID FOR THEIR WORK AND IT WOULD BE SOMETHING WHERE WE WOULD ENCOURAGE ARTISTS TO COME TO CITY HALL AND TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

BUT IT'S A STEP TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT THIS PART OF OUR ECONOMY IS INCLUDED IN CLEVELAND'S RECOVERY AND A PART OF CITY HALL AND BEAUTIFY CITY HALL AND MAKE IT THE GALLERY THAT IT SHOULD BE.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE, BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR, BEAUTIFUL ROTUNDA.

WE CAN TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, BUT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE PAID FAIRLY.

NICK: OUR NEXT QUESTION CONCERNS AND MAJOR PART OF THE ECONOMIC PICTURE -- EDUCATION.

WE ALL KNOW THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN UNIQUELY DISRUPTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

FOR EACH OF YOU, HOW CAN THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT MAKE UP FOR PANDEMIC LEARNING LOSS AND GET STUDENTS WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND BACK ON TRACK?

MR. KELLEY.

MR. KELLEY: THIS QUESTION MEANS A LOT TO ME.

I AM A CMSD DAD.

I SAW FIRSTHAND WHAT HAPPENED WHEN COVID HIT AND WHEN STUDENTS WERE SENT HOME.

I SAW THE FABULOUS JOB OUR TEACHERS DID TO DO WORKAROUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WENT FROM SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, TO TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE TEACHING KIDS HOW TO USE THESE DEVICES, HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR ASSIGNMENT.

WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE LOST A LOT DURING COVID.

THE FIRST AND WE NEED TO DO IS ASSESS -- HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT OF EVERY STUDENT.

WE ARE STILL IN THE REOPENING PHASE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT -- THAT WE ARE UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS LOST DURING COVID IN WHAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD IN THIS COMMUNITY TO HAVE LOST A YEAR OF EDUCATION.

IT'S TOO IMPORTANT.

I SEE IT IN MY DAUGHTER'S CLASS AND WITH HER PEERS.

THERE'S SOME LOSS.

WE HAVE TO GET TO WHERE WE WERE AND EXCEED WHERE WE WERE.

NICK: MR. BIBB.

MR. BIBB: THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP WAS A MAJOR ISSUE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

IN MANY CASES, THE PANDEMIC ACCELERATED THAT ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND LEARNING LOSS IN OUR CITY.

HAVE WE MADE GREAT STRIDES?

ABSOLUTELY.

I AM EXCITED TO ENGAGE IN THE REDESIGN OF THE PLAN, IF ELECTED MAYOR.

BUT AS WITH THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, IT IS IMPORTANT TO TIE THIS TO THE FUTURE OF WORK.

TO HELP OUR CHILDREN IN THIS MOMENT, NUMBER ONE, WE NEED TO BETTER INVEST IN TEACHERS SO THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO KEEP OUR KIDS ENGAGED IN THE CLASSROOM, WE NEED MORE SUPPORT AROUND HIGH DOSAGE MENTORING FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT HAVE SUFFERED A LOT OF LEARNING MUSTERING THE PANDEMIC.

-- LEARNING MUSTERING THE PANDEMIC -- LEARNING LOSS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES HIGH QUALITY OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING.

THAT IS HOW WE MEET THE NEEDS OF HER CHILDREN -- NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN.

MR. KELLEY: AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT -- THE EDUCATION OF THE FUTURE, WE HAVE TO STOP THINKING THAT WE CANNOT BE TALKING ABOUT THE PORTFOLIO OF OPPORTUNITIES AS MOTIVATION FOR THE KIDS, FOR THE PARENTS, TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY TREAT THEIR ACADEMIC LIFE SERIOUSLY, IF A PARENT WORKS WITH A TEACHER AND WE AS A COMMITTEE MOVE FORWARD, THERE'S A PORTFOLIO OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR SCHOLARS.

NICK: MR. BIBB.

MR. BIBB: I WOULD JUST SAY, ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZING AS I HAVE BEEN CANVASSING THE CITY AS MANY OF OUR PARENTS DON'T HAVE A VOICE IN TERMS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

WE SHOULD BE EXPLORING HAVING A ROBUST PARENTAL ADVISORY BOARD TO ADVISOR BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE CEO OF CMSD AND MY ADMINISTRATION IF ELECTED MAYOR.

I ALSO WANT TO HAVE A YOUTH COUNCIL IN MY ADMINISTRATION, WHERE YOUTH ARE AT THE CENTER OF HOW WE IMPROVE NOT ONLY PUBLIC EDUCATION -- BUT HOW DO WE MAKE CLEVELAND A GREAT CITY THAT WORKS FOR OUR CHILDREN?

BECAUSE IF IT DOES, IT CAN WORK FOR EVERYBODY.

NICK: BEFORE WE MOVE ONTO THE NEXT TOPIC, LET ME REMIND AUDIENCE THAT YOU ARE TUNED INTO CLEVELAND MAYORAL DEBATE: VOTERS FIRST.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY IDEASTREAM PUBLIC MEDIA.

OUR PARTNERS FOR THIS DEBATE INCLUDE CRAIN'S CLEVELAND BUSINESS AND THE CLEVELAND DOCUMENTERS.

WE TUNED OUT TO THE INTERSECTION OF HEALTH AND POVERTY AND THE DISPARITY IN HEALTH OUTCOMES BETWEEN RICHER WRITERS OF CODES POORER BROWNER ONES.

ONE OF THE BECAUSE CONCERNS IS LEAD POISONING OF CHILDREN.

THIS MAN LOST HIS SON, DEMETRIUS, TO LEAD POISONING.

HE DIED AT 24.

THE CITY IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, HE SAYS, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN HE HAS LOST HOPE.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE MADE MORE PROGRESS IN THE LAST 3-4 YEARS THAN AT ANY TIME IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.

SO, IT'S -- YOU DON'T WANT TO GET FRUSTRATED.

YOU JUST KEEP WAITING FOR AWARENESS OF THE PUBLIC.

THE PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN.

AND EVENTUALLY, IT WILL RESONATE WITH THEM HOW SERIOUS AND HOW URGENT THE ISSUE IS.

>> ALTHOUGH WE DON'T KNOW WHICH OF THE TWO GENTLEMEN IT IS YOU, ONE OF THEM THAT YOU ARE SPEAKING TO RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO BE OUR MAYOR.

IS THIS ONE OF HIS FIRST ISSUES THAT YOU WANT HIM TO TACKLE?

>> YES, IT IS.

MOST DEFINITELY.

CLEVELAND IS ONE OF THE WORST LEAD CONTAMINATED CITIES IN THE U.S.

RECENTLY, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE WATER CRISIS AND THE LEAD CRISIS IN FLINT.

WE KNOW THAT IT IS THREE TIMES MORE DAMAGING HERE, BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING STOCK THAT HAS BEEN BUILT BEFORE 1978.

NICK: THE CITY RECENTLY BEGAN TO IMPLEMENT THE LEAD SAFE HOUSING LAW PASSED IN RECENT YEARS.

BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK LEFT TO DO.

FOR OUR CANDIDATES, WHAT CAN THE CITY DO TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF ENSURING THAT OUR RENTALS ARE SAFE FROM LEAD PAINT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT LANDLORDS COMPLY WITH THE RULES?

MR. BIBB.

MR. BIBB: HAD THE FORTUNE TO MEET DEREK ON SATURDAY.

HIS STORY BROKE MY HEART.

IT IS A SHAME, THAT IT TOOK A CITIZEN-LED EFFORT TO FINALLY GET ASKED -- FINALLY GET ACTION ON THIS ISSUE IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

WE NEED MORE URGENT LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE NOW MORE THAN EVER.

THAT IS WHY IF ELECTED MAYOR, I INTEND TO MAKE SURE WE BEEF UP OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT WITHIN THE ISSUES TO ABATE THE HOMES PLAGUED WITH LEAD PAINT.

I ATTEND TO A POINT A LEAD CZAR TO ERADICATE THE ISSUE LONG TERM.

I WOULD USE A PORTION OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FULLY FUND AN ENDOWMENT TO ERADICATE THIS CRISIS IN CLEVELAND ONCE AND FOR ALL.

NICK: COUNCIL PRESIDENT KELLEY.

MR. KELLEY: THE LEAD CRISIS IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND IS TRAGIC AND UNACCEPTABLE.

WE NEED TO CREATE A LEAD SAFE CLEVELAND.

THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IS REALLY ONE OF WORKFORCE.

THE NUMBER OF CERTIFIED LET INSPECTORS THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF TRAINING AND GETTING PEOPLE READY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE PERSONNEL WITHIN CITY HALL TO REALLY DO -- YOU CAN'T JUST BEEF SOMETHING UP, BECAUSE OUR REQUIREMENTS TO BE AN INSPECTOR -- THERE ARE OTHER QUALIFICATIONS YOU NEED TO HAVE.

IT'S HARD TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE.

WE ARE SLOWED DOWN BY WORKFORCE A LITTLE BIT.

BUT AGAIN, WE CAN'T USE ANY OF THOSE EXCUSES, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT CREATING A LEAD SAFE CLEVELAND IS PRIORITY.

INSPECTORS COULDN'T GO IN THE HOUSES AT THIS TIME.

BUT WE HAVE IMPROVED ON REGISTRATION AND WE CANNOT REST UNTIL WE HAVE A TRUE LEAD SAFE CLEVELAND.

NICK: MR. BIBB.

MR. BIBB: THIS IS A PART OF POLITICS IN CLEVELAND THAT FRUSTRATES ME, AND WHY I BELIEVE OUR CAMPAIGN HAS RESONATED WITH FOLKS ALL ACROSS OUR CITY.

WE CAN'T BE AFRAID TO TRY HARD THINGS.

THERE'S ALWAYS AN EXCUSE.

THIS IS HARD, IT IS HARD TO HIRE -- SO WE GIVE UP.

PEOPLE WANT CHANGE.

WE HAVE HAD 16 YEARS OF A FAILED STATUS QUO.

ON THIS ISSUE, WE NEED URGENT LEADERSHIP TO TRY HARD THINGS.

NICK: MR. KELLEY.

MR. BIBB: IT IS EASY TO BE FOR OR AGAINST THINGS.

GETTING THE RENTAL REGISTRATION WAS HARD AND WE DID IT.

MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO GET IN THE HOUSES.

IT.

.

WAS HARD, BUT WE DID IT.

IT IS EASY TO SAY SOMETHING ON A CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITHOUT A PLANT ACTUALL DELIVER IT.

WE HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM WORDS AND LOOK AT ACTIONS.

NICK: OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM LAWRENCE.

LAWRENCE: CLEVELAND'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS STRUGGLED FOR YEARS WITH WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION AND DIFFICULTY DEALING WITH PRESSING PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES LIKE LEAD POISONING.

HOW WOULD YOUR ADMINISTRATION WORK THIS DEPARTMENT DIFFERENTLY?

MR. KELLEY: THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AS SOMETHING THAT IS CRITICAL.

PUBLIC HEALTH IS ONE OF THOSE FUNDAMENTAL BREAD AND BUTTER MUNICIPAL ISSUES THAT'S BEEN PART OF CITY GOVERNMENT FOR AS LONG AS THERE'S BEEN CITY GOVERNMENT.

WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE CRISIS WE HAVE BEEN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW IS COVID.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S FIRST PRIORITY IS GOING TO BE GETTING OUR CITIZENS VACCINATED AND DOING SO WITH A HYPER LOCAL PERSPECTIVE, IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE ARE REACHING OUT TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE IN CHURCHES AND LIBRARIES.

MAKING SURE THAT GETS SENT.

WE ALSO NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE STATE OF OHIO AND ALL THOSE GRANTS FUNDERS THAT DEAL WITH OUR AIR QUALITY RIGHT NOW, SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BEGIN WORKING ON RIGHT AWAY.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TREE CANOPY AS PART OF OUR AIR QUALITY PLAN.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH JUST HAS TO START AT THE TOP -- THERE'S GOT TO BE LEADERSHIP THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE -- AND PUBLIC HEALTH IS OUR FIRST FOCUS.

MR. BIBB: THIS PANDEMIC HAS TRULY EXPOSED HOW INEPT WE HAVE BEEN AT MANAGING THE PUBLIC OF DEPARTMENT YEAR AFTER YEAR.

-- PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THEY RECEIVE LESS THAN 2% OF THE ENTIRE CITY BUDGET.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE EPIDEMIOLOGIST EMPLOYED IN OUR DEPARTMENT TO BRING THE PANDEMIC.

ALL ACROSS THE CITY, EVEN INTERNAL CITY HALL EMPLOYEES DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO GET THEIR SHOT AND GET VACCINATED.

WE NEED NOT ONLY URGENT LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE, BUT A MAYOR THAT IS WILLING TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

I INTEND TO EXPLORE A PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COUNTY PUBLIC OF DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN FULLY SUPPORT A BLACK HEALTH IN OUR CITY -- FULLY SUPPORT PUBLIC HEALTH IN OUR CITY.

FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY PERSPECTIVE, WHERE SHOULD CLEVELAND BE GOING IN THE FUTURE?

NOW IS A TIME FOR ACTION IN THIS ISSUE.

WE CANNOT AFFORD MORE OF THE SAME.

NICK: MR. KELLEY.

MR. KELLEY: THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS A CRITICAL FUNCTION FOR THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

MY OPPONENT HAS THROWN OUT THIS 2% THING OUT MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER.

IT'S NOT TRUE UNLESS YOU DON'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF THE DOLLARS THAT COME -- FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE OF OHIO, IN TERMS OF AIR QUALITY, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY THAT COMES IN THAN WAS TRANSFERRED FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

-- WHAT'S TRANSFERRED FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

ELIZABETH: THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND OUR MAJOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ARE SUFFERING FROM DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT, POVERTY, AND POOR HEALTH.

WHAT WILL YOUR ADMINISTRATION DO TO IMPROVE POPULATION HEALTH IN CLEVELAND?

TO LIFT THE FORTUNES OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE NOT ONLY IN THE SHADOWS OF THESE ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS, BUT BEYOND THEM?

NICK: MR. BIBB.

MR. BIBB: THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT.

WE TOUT THAT WE ARE A HEALTH CARE MECCA ACROSS HIS COUNTRY.

BUT IN HEALTH, CENTRAL, CEDAR, MANY RESIDENTS HAVE SOME OF THE WORST HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT RIVAL IN MANY CASES THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES.

AS MAYOR, I WILL TAKE THIS ISSUE HEAD-ON.

WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE RESIDENTS IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE ACCESS TO JOBS IN THESE INSTITUTIONS AND GOOD ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF EXAMINING THE CHARITY CARE INVESTMENT DOLLARS TO ENSURE WE ARE SEEING REAL INVESTMENT IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A MAYOR THAT CAN BRING THESE INSTITUTIONS TOGETHER TO GET MORE ACCOUNTABILITY ON THIS ISSUE LONG TERM.

NICK: MR. KELLEY.

MR. BIBB: THANK YOU.

WE CANNOT BE THE HEALTH CARE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDING THESE GREENS OF DUCHENNE'S ARE IN POVERTY -- THESE GREAT INSTITUTIONS ARE IN POVERTY.

IN THE FOUR YEARS MR. JONES AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER COME OVER $500 MILLION HAS BEEN INVESTED IN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUE TO MAKE SURE PROJECTS LIKE THE GLENVILLE PROJECT COME TO FRUITION.

INVESTED WILL -- INVESTMENT WILL BE CRITICAL TO THE NEXT MAYOR.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE NEED TO START WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH ASSESSMENT.

WE NEED TO START DOING A BETTER ASSESSMENT OVER NOT WHO HAS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE OR DOCTORS, WE NEED TO START ASKING QUESTIONS LIKE, DO YOU LIVE WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK OF A PARK?

DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD, DO YOU FEEL SAFE IN YOUR HOME?

DO YOU HAVE A JOB?

DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS, IS THERE IS COOL YOU CONTINUE KIDS TO?

THAT HOW WE GET TO NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH EQUITY AND QUALITY HEALTH IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ACCORDING TO THE CLEVELAND PARTNER PUBLIC HEALTH, AT LAST CHECK, SHY OF 40% OF CLEVELAND RESIDENTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

WHAT SHOULD THE CITY BE DOING TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED AND PROTECTED FROM THE VIRUS RIGHT NOW?

MR. KELLEY.

MR. KELLEY: WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING TO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE.

VACCINATING PEOPLE IN CHURCHES AND LIBRARIES AND REC CENTERS.

WE SET UP THE WOLF STING CENTER WHICH WAS IN MANY WAYS WILL EXECUTED -- WELL EXECUTED.

PEOPLE WERE JUST NOT GOING DOWN TO THE CENTER TO GET THEIR SHOT.

I WAS KNOCKING ON DOORS.

I RAN INTO AN ELDERLY WOMAN WHO ANSWERED THE DOOR, AND SHE TOLD ME SHE HAS NOT GOTTEN HER SHOT YET BECAUSE SHE WAS WINNING FOR SOMEBODY TO COME AND TELL HER HOW TO GET IT AND WHERE TO GO.

THAT CAN BE THE APPROACH.

VACCINATION IS THE ONE THING -- THE ONE WEAPON WE HAVE AGAINST THIS THAT WE KNOW WORKS AND IMPROVES PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT VACCINATIONS AND VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE A PARTNER IN THAT.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD START TOMORROW.

MR. BIBB: WE'VE GOT TO GO ON THE OFFENSIVE ON THIS ISSUE.

THE MAYORS OFFICE MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET VACCINATED.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE 40% VACCINATION NUMBER, THAT IS EVEN WORSE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ALL ACROSS THE CITY.

I WOULD BE KNOCKING ON DOORS AS MAYOR MYSELF, TALKING ABOUT WHY WE SHOULD TRUST THE SCIENCE, TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING VACCINATED, BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET OUR ECONOMY MOVING AGAIN UNTIL EVERYBODY IN THE CITY GETS VACCINATED AND WE ARE BACK TO SAFETY ALL ACROSS OUR CITY.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SHOULD MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT TOPIC -- INFRASTRUCTURE.

FEDERAL MONEY IS EXPECTED FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, HALF OF IT IS ALREADY HERE.

POSSIBLY ANOTHER INFUSION OF FUNDS COULD COME IF CONGRESS HAMMERS AT AN INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL.

INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING WILL BE A KEY ISSUE FOR CLEVELAND'S NEXT MAYOR.

DIANA SPENT A LOT OF TIME BIKING AROUND CLEVELAND.

SHE WANTS SMOOTH AND SAFE ROADS AND SIDEWALKS FOR EVERYBODY.

SHE TOLD US THE NEXT MAYOR NEEDS TO ADDRESS WHAT SHE SEES AS A BIG EAST SIDE/WESTSIDE DISPARITY IN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.

>> WHAT WE NEED IS A MAYOR TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EAST AND WEST SIDE OF CLEVELAND.

HOW WE CAN MAKE THEM CONNECTED AND VERY SIMILAR IN A LOT OF WAYS.

AND SAFER.

OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE EAST SIDE IS DEFINITELY LACKING, WHEN IT COMES TO HOW THE ROADWAYS ARE CONSTRUCTED, SAFETY ON ROADWAYS, OUR SIDEWALKS, HOW CAN YOU CONNECT YOUR STREET TO THIS SIDEWALK IN A SAFE WAY?

MOST OF THE SIDEWALKS ON THE EAST SIDE ARE CURVED.

THERE'S NO RAMP TO GET ON.

AND -- WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SEE IS TO CONNECT US, TO MAKE US COHESIVE, TO MAKE US A REAL COMMUNITY.

WITH ALL THE DISCONNECTIONS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, IT LACKS COMMUNITY AND, I BELIEVE THAT IF WE CONNECT THOSE, WE WILL BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO DIFFERENT TYPES OF NEIGHBORHOODS, WHERE THEY CAN EXPLORE AND SEE THE BEAUTY OF WHAT CLEVELAND CAN REALLY OFFER.

NICK: OUR FIRST QUESTION GOES TO ELIZABETH.

ELIZABETH: YOU MENTIONED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

LET'S START THERE.

THIS HAS A CHANCE TO HAVE A LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT ON A LOT OF CLEVELANDERS' LIVES.

HOW DO YOU TEND TO USE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS AND POTENTIALLY THE INFRASTRUCTURE RESOURCES?

MR. BIBB: WHEN I GOT WORD OF THE FACT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE OVER A HALF $1 BILLION TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, I CALLED FOR ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY THAT WILL WORK WITH THE CHAMBER AND OTHER CDC'S TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A COHESIVE STRATEGY AROUND HOW WE SPEND THE DOLLARS.

SECONDLY, WE SHOULD BE LEVERAGING THE CAPITAL LONG-TERM, TO INVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IDENTIFY PROJECTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, AND FINALLY, MAKE SURE WE CAN USE THESE DOLLARS TO ERADICATE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

ONCE AND FOR ALL, FUND A LEAD PAINT AND DOWNWARD TO MATURE WE HAVE NO MORE LEAD PAINT ACROSS ESSAY -- ENDOWMENT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE NO MORE LEAD PAINT ACROSS THE CITY.

MAYORS HAVE TO WORK WITH WE NEED A MAYOR WHO CAN WORK WITH THE NEXT COUNSEL PRESIDENT TO INSURE WE GET REAL ACTION IMMEDIATELY COME DAY ONE.

NICK: MR. KELLY?

>> WE HAVE FOOD INSECURITY.

WE HAVE HOUSING INSECURITY.

WE ARE DEALING WITH HOUSING, BOTH DEM POLICE, BLIGHT REMOVAL, BROAD BAND.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE FOOD BACK, THE FOOD INSECURITY MAKING SURE WE CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.

WE CAN PUT IT IN OUR PARKS, PUBLIC WORKS.

THIS IS TRANSFORMATIONAL, THIS IS ONCE IN A LIFETIME.

THAT'S WHY, THUS FAR, WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS.

WE'VE FUNNED THE FOOD BANK'S CAPITAL.

WE PUT MONEY TOWARDS BROADBAND.

WE KNOW THAT THE NEED IS THERE.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A PLAN BEING WORKED ON.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR ANYTHING.

WE'RE WORKING ON OUR PLAN.

WE HAVE A COMMITTEE HEARING TODAY.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE MARCH 11, IN TERMS OF PUTTING TOGETHER THE CATEGORIES OF HOW ARE WE BEST GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THIS.

BROADBAND WAS CRISIS NOW.

LIKE WE SAID, WHEN BROADBAND HAPPENED, MY DAUGHTER AND C.M.S.

SENT HOME $38,000 KNOWING THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE BROADBAND ACCESS.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. BIBB, WAS THERE A RESPONSE YOU WANTED TOO OFFER?

>> NO.

NICK: THE CLEVELAND GUARDIANS, CUYAHOGA COUNTY AND THE STATE OF OHIO ARE PROPOSING A $435 MILLION LEASE EXTENSION DEAL.

IT WOULD COST THE PUBLIC SECTOR $285 MILLION OVER THE LIFE OF THAT DEAL BEFORE FACTORING AN ADDITIONAL COST TIED TO A 10-YEAR RENEWAL AFTER THAT.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A GOOD DEAL FOR THE CITY?

MR. KELLEY?

MR. KELLEY: THANK YOU.

WE CANNOT LOSE THE GUARDIANS AS A PART OF THE CLEVELAND FABRIC.

WE CANNOT RISK THAT.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT IS FAIR THAT IS FAIR TO THE PUBLIC THAT IS FAIR TO THE TEAM AND THE -- THE PLAN THAT IS IN FRONT OF US HAS STARTED THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE COUNSEL DELIBERATION PROJECT.

SO I STILL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

BUT I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE PARAMETERS.

I'VE READ THE TERM SHEET.

EVERYTHING IS A BUT FOR QUESTION.

BY SPENDING -- BY ALLOWING THE ADMISSION TASKING TO BE USED IN SUCH A WAY -- DO WE GET THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM THIS STADIUM?

THIS ARENA?

NOW, THE -- THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, THIS ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN VERY GOOD THE CITY.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD THAT IN KEEPING THE TEAM, WE HAVE A TRUST, A BOND WITH THE PUBLIC THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT -- THAT WE ARE -- WE'RE GOING TO SPEND WHAT IS NEEDED TO KEEP THIS TEAM AND TO KEEP THIS AN ECONOMICALLY ROBUST PART OF THE ECONOMY.

NICK: MR. BIBB IS THIS A GOOD DEAL FOR THE CITY?

MR. BIBB: NUMBER ONE, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THREE MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS TEAMS IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND IS A MAJOR ECONOMIC AND CIVIC AS SE.

DON'T GET ME WRONG ON THIS.

HOWEVER, THERE IS DEEP FRUSTRATION AND ANGER AND PAIN IN THE FACT THAT THE PUBLIC AND EVEN CITY COUNSEL IS THE LAST TO KNOW WHEN THESE DEALS GET DONE THAT'S WHY FOLKS ARE STILL UPSET ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A VOTE ON THE QUICK AND LOANS DEAL.

AND FOR US TO TRULY PUT PEOPLE AND NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE STRONG, PUBLIC INPUT AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT NOT WHEN THE DEAL IS DONE BUT WHEN THE DEALS ARE CREATED THE FIRST PLACE.

I WOULD SAY THIS.

I WOULD WANT TO SEE STRONGER COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENTS AN METRICKING GOALS AROUND ALL OF THESE PLANS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GETTING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF RESOURCES LONG-TERM.

NICK: MR. KELLEY, WAS THERE A RESPONSE YOU'D LIKE TO OFFER?

MR. KELLY: YES.

THIS WAS IN FRONT OF COUNSEL.

NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT COUNSEL BEING INVOLVED.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT MY OPPONENT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN ONE OF THESE DEALS BEFORE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY GO.

BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU KNOW, THE -- THE TERM SHEET IS GIVEN TO THE CLEVELAND CITY COUNSEL.

THEN WE DELIVER ON IT.

THAT'S WHEN WE BRING THE PUBLIC IN.

THAT'S WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED.

HE MENTIONED THE QUDIAL.

BUT THE PETITION COMMITTEE WITHDREW THE PETITION.

MR. BIBB: HE WORKED WITH REPUBLICANS DOWN THE STATE TO DENY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS ISSUE.

AND HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.

DEMOCRACY WORKS.

AND FOR FAR TOO LONG WE'VE HAD A CITY WHERE WE BARELY JUST GOT PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS.

WITHOUT RESIDENT VOICE AND INPUT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE MORE FRUSTRATION ON THESE HERB SHOES.

WE NEED A MAYOR WHO BELIEVES THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND TAKING REAL PUBLIC INMUTT FROM DAY IN AND DAY OUT ALL THE TIME.

NICK: MR. KELLEY?

MR. KELLEY: THAT IS PERFECT EXAMPLE OF NOT HAVING A COMMAND OF THE FACTS.

IT SHOW AS NAIVITE OF HOW ET WORKS.

READ WHAT HAPPENS.

THE PETITION COMMITTEE IN THE QUE DEAL WITHDREW THE PETITIONS.

I DIDN'T GO TO COLUMBUS TO DO THAT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THE PETITION COMMITTEE DID.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF FACTS IF YOU WANT TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND IF YOU'RE GOING I ACT TACK SOMEBODY MAKE SURE YOUR FACTS ARE KIND OF RIGHT.

AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG.

PLEASE CHECK THE FACTS.

THE PETITION COMMITTEE WITHDREW THE PETITIONS.

MR. BIBB: THE COUNSEL PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO DENY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN RESIDENT VOICE.

I KNOW THE FACTS AND I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO LEAD FROM DAY ONE.

NICK: A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, SURE.

MR. KELLY: YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF CHARGES AGAINST ME.

THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE AGAIN, PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PETITION THEIR GOVERNMENT.

THEY HAVE A RIGHT, JUST LIKE THIS ISSUE 24 GOING TO THE BALL LO.

I CAN'T STOP THAT.

THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.

MR. BIBB: WHY DID YOU STOP THE VOTE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE?

MR. KELLY: I DON'T HAVE THE HOT TO DO THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS, THAT'S LITTLE BIT.

NICK: WE'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND.

MR. BIBB: REVEREND OTIS MOSS KNOWS AND BELIEVES HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.

THE VOTE LESS DECIDE ON NOVEMBER 2ND.

NICK: GENTLEMEN, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM ELIZABETH MCINTYRE.

ELIZABETH: CLEVELAND HOPKINS INTERNATIONAL AND THE AIRPORTS ARE OWN AND OPERATED AND FACING THEIR OWN CHALLENGES.

BURKE IS LOSING MORE THAN $MILLION ANNUALLY AND HOPKINS EARLIER THIS YEAR CITY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE ADD $2 BILLION PLAN TO REMAKE THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AT THAT TIME AIRPORT WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF HOPKINS AND BURKE?

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ELIZABETH.

THIS YES GO TO MR. BIBB.

MR. BIBB: I THINK IT'S TIME TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF BURKE I WOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT BETTER CONNECTING DOWNTOWN T EXCITED ABOUT THE PROPOSED PLANS FROM THE BROWNS.

WHEN HE COMES TO HOPKINS AS WE THINK OF THE $2 BILLION MASTER PLAN, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S TIED A FOCUSED STRATEGY HOW TO RETAIN BUSINESSES.

AND WE'VE GOT A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARIZONA ALLIANCE.

AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO NOT HAVE A MAYOR WHO'S INVOLVED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE UNTIL WE HAVE A COMPETITIVE AIRPORT, WE WON'T HAVE A COMPETITIVE ECONOMY LONG-TERM.

BUT I AM TRYING TO HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT BURKE.

I KNOW THE ISSUES.

HIGH CONSTRUCTION COST.

THE U.S. ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS HAS A DRUDGING FACILITY THERE AND POTENTIAL FINE FROM THE F.A.A.

THESE ARE THINGS WE SHOULD DISCUSS BECAUSE THE FUTURE OF OUR LAKE FRONT IS AT RISK HERE.

NICK: THANK YOU, MR. KEINGLY MRT DOOR TO CLEVELAND, OHIO, TO MANY OF OUR VISITORS AND IT'S CRITICAL BUSINESS TRAVEL IF WE WANT TO KEEP BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY IN CLEVELAND A CONVERSATION I HAD A FEW YEARS AGO WITH A COMPANY THAT WAS SPECULATED MAY MOVE, OF COURSE WE WANT TO STAY IN CLEVELAND AS LONG AS IT MAKES SENSE AS LONG AS THERE ARE DAILIES TO THE PLACES WE HAVE BUSINESSES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CREATING OUR ATMOSPHERE WHERE OUR LEGACY CARRIERS WANT TO BE PART OF CLEVELAND.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE EXPANDING ROUTES.

AN PART OF THAT IS THE AIRPLANE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SMART ABOUT BURK LAKE AIRPORT.

IT'S NOT JUST REAL ESTATE.

IF BURKE WERE TO CLOSE AND THAT TRAFFIC WERE TO COME TO HOPKINS THAT WOULD SLOW THE TAKE-OFF, THE LANDING, THE WHOLE SCHEDULE OF OPERATIONS THAT WE HAVE AT HOPKINS.

IT'S NOT A SIMPLE ISSUE.

ANY CANDIDATE THAT SAYS I'M GOING CLOSE BURKE, I WOULD RECOMMEND THEM CLOSE CROSSING THEM OFF OF YOUR LIST BECAUSE IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATE THAN THAT.

IT'S A REGIONAL AIRPORT THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT.

>> WHEY SAID NOW IS THE TIME TO HAVE A HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN WORK AROUND THESE ISSUES WELL HAVE A COUNTY AIRPORT THAT WE HAVE WITH CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

WE HAVE AKRON REGIONAL AIRPORT AND WE HAVE AN OPERATE IN LORRAINE.

THESE ARE THINGS WE CAN WORK AROUND.

BUT FOR FAR TOO LONG WE CAN TALK ABOUT BURKE.

AND HAVE NO REAL ACTION.

WE SHOULD HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THAT.

NICK: MR. KELLY?

MR. KELLY: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW THIS.

BUT WE GAVE AN OPTION TO A DEVELOPER TO LOOK AT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY FEASIBLE WAY THAT IT COULD BE DEVELOPED.

WE HAVE SOIL SAMPLES.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED.

IT'S THAT IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE ANSWER.

THE SANS THAT IT'S CHALLENGING.

WE NEED TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ASSET.

BUT AGAIN, WE CAN -- WE CAN HAVE A MORE REGIONAL APPROACH TO OUR AIR SERVICE AND WE'RE THE RELIEVER AIRPORTS ARE.

BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT HOPKINS IS THE CENTER OF THIS -- OF THIS AVIATION ECONOMY.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. KELLE.

THIS IS CLEVELAND DEBATE ME YOUR DEBATE, VOTERS FIRST.

I INVITE YOU TO LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST AFTER JACKSON, CLIVE LAND'S NEXT MAYOR WHICH PROVIDES A WEEKLY EXAMINATION OF CANDIDATE ACTIVITY, VOICES FROM VOTERS AND IN-DEPTH REPORTING FACING CLEVELAND'S NEXT MAYOR WE STARTED THE PODCAST IN JUDGE AND POST NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY.

YOU CAN LISTEN ON ITUNE, STITCHER,ED SO FIGHT, SOUND CLOUD OR MPR-1 JUST LISTEN TO AFTER JACKSON CLEVELAND'S NEXT MAYOR.

NOW TO OUR FINAL ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

HOW DOES A NEW MAYOR HELP MAKE THIS CITY'S GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER?

ONE ANSWER, BETTER COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT.

COURTNEY MICHELLE REEFS WHO IS 28 SAID HER GENERAL VACATION LESS INVOLVE AND LESS AWARE THAN IT COULD BE.

COURTNEY DESCRIBES THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN CITY HALL AND HER GENERATION OF POTENTIAL VOTERS.

MANY OF HER PIERCE FEEL CURRENT LEADERS AND CANDIDATES ARE IGNORING THEM AND NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NEW METHODS OF REACHING OUT TO YOUNGER VOTERS.

>> WE ARE IN THE DARK.

WE HAVE NO IDEA, AND IF WE KEEP GOING THAT THE PACE THAT WE'RE GOING, THEN NOTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHATEVER WE'RE DOING NOW, IT'S NOT WORKING.

LIKE I SAID IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY MOM, I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW?

I'M SURE THAT MY FRIENDS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW?

MY COLLEGE EX-ROOMMATES DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THE QUESTION IS, WHY DON'T THESE PEOPLE KNOW?

WHY IS THIS TONIGHT OLDER GENERATION?

HOW CAN WE GET THE YOUNGER GENERATION INVOLVED BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BECOME THAT OLDER GENERATION.

IF WE'RE NOT ALREADY LEARNING THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW, THEN IT'S GOING DOMINO EFFECT FROM THERE.

NICK: OUR FIRST QUESTION WILL TO LAWRENCE CASWELL.

MR. CASWELL: I CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY UBER DRIVES THERE ARE.

I CAN FIND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO WRITE DEBATE QUESTIONS AND I CAN TRANSLATE THIS SENTENCE INTO PRETTY MUCH ANY LAND LANGUAGE I WANT TO.

AND YET ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE I CANNOT EASILY SEARCH ALL THE RENTAL PROPERTIES REGISTERED IN THE CITY OR THE FULL LIST OF THE CITY'S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OR WHEN THEY'LL MEET OR WHAT THEY'LL DISCUSS WHAT >> YOU PLANS FOR UP DATING NOT JUST THE CITY'S WEBSITE BUT PUBLIC FACING CITY COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN GENERAL TO MEET THE STANDARDS THAT ARE COMMON PLACE OTHER SECTORS?

NICK: THIS YES GO FIRST TO MR. KELLEY.

MR. KELLEY: MAKING SURE THAT 601 LAKESIDE IS SEEN AS A PARTNERS AS AN ENTITY THAT'S GOING HELP YOU GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE, THAT'S GOT TO BE OUR GOAL.

WHETHER YOU'RE GOING THERE FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE, WHETHER YOU'RE GOING THERE FOR A PERMIT.

WHETHER YOU'RE GOING -- WHATEVER BRINGS YOU TO CITY HALL OR IF YOU'RE GENERALLY INTERESTED IN GOVERNMENT, THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THE FIRST STEP IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN OPEN DAY TO MODEL.

ON CLEVELAND CITY COUNSEL WE BEGAN HIRE AGO SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTANT TO START MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING NOT JUST ON OUR WEBSITE BUT ON OUR FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER TO MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO REACH PEOPLE BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL A PART OF THEIR GOVERNMENT.

IT WORKS BETTER THE MORE PEOPLE THAT INVOLVED.

IT WORKS BETTER WHEN WE ARE REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE THAT WE ARE BEING TRANSPARENT AND THAT WE ARE INCLUDING FEMALE THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN.

AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST -- IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO FIND OUT HOW DO WE REACH OUT TO PEOPLE.

WE'VE GOT ALWAYS BE IMPROVING.

WE'VE GOT TO ALWAYS GET SO THAT EVERY CITIZEN FEELS A PART OF THIS GREAT CITY.

NICK: MR. BIBB?

MR. BIBB: I'M 34-YEAR-OLD MILLENIAL.

AND OUR CAMPAIGN EMBODY IT IS FUTURE OF THIS CITY AND THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY.

YOUNG PEOPLE STEPPING UP.

WE ENGAGE 100 STUDENTS SO FAR TO KNOCK ON DOORS, TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF TO CITY.

AND THAT'S HOW I'M GOING GOVERN.

I WANT TO HAVE A YOUTH DOWN IN MY ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE US FETE FEED BACK HOW WE CAN BE MORE BETTER FROM A TECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVE.

WHEN IT COMES TO CITY OPERATIONS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRACK OUR CALL WITH THE MAYOR'S ACTION LINE LIKE YOU TRACK A FEDEX PACKAGE OR AN AMAZON PACKAGE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO START A BUSINESS IN CLEVELAND ON YOUR SMARTPHONE LIKE YOU CAN DO IN THE CITY OF MIAMI.

I LED THE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE WHERE WE LEAVE STREAMED OUR BOARD MEETINGS.

I LED AN EARTH TO BRING OUR FIRST CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICERS.

IT'S THOSE UP GRADES WE NEED TO MAKE CLEVELAND RELEVANT NOT JUST IN 2021 BUT IN 2050.

NICK: MR. KELLY, DID YOU HAVE A RESPONSE?

>> NO.

NICK: ON TO OUR NEXT QUESTION.

VOTER TURNOUT.

TURNOUT WAS ABOUT 16% IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND IF 25% OF REGISTERED VOTERS SHOWED UP THIS UNTIL THE GENERAL ELECTION, IT WOULD BE MORE THAN THE TURNOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY HAVE YOUR CAMPAIGNS DONE AND WHAT OUGHT YOU DO IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THIS LACK OF VOTER ENGAGEMENT IN OUR LOCAL EXS WILL?

MR. BIBB: I TALKED ABOUT THE EXAMPLE WITH STUDENTS FOR BIBB.

THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS OUR CAMPAIGN DID SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.

WE WERE ONE TO FIRST CAMPAIGNS TO ANNOUNCE ON JANUARY 12TH, AND AT THE HEIGHT OF THIS PANDEMIC, WE DID THE HARD WORK IN MEETING VOTERS WHERE THEY ARE, HOSTING MEET AND GREET ON ZOOM, TAKING QUESTIONS UNFILTERED FROM RESIDENTS ALL ACROSS THE CITY.

I'VE BEEN KNOCKING ON DOORS AND DOING MEET AND GREET GROWTHS IN BACK PORCHES.

I BELIEVE THAT WORK HAS TO CONTINUE ONCE I'M ELECTED MAYOR BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU DO A BETTER JOB OF CONNECTING CENTSS TO THE DAILY WORKING OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

I WOULD SAY THIS THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE TO COME DOWN TO CITY HALL TO PAY FOR PARKING OR TO SEE YOUR PAY OR, THAT'S OUTDATED.

WE SHOULD BE BRINGING GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE LIKE USING OUR LIBRARIES AS A FRONT DOOR TO CITY WHAT RESIDENTS CAN SEE AND FEEL THEIR CITY ON A DAILY BASIS.

NICK: MR. KELLEY, THIS QUESTION IS NEXT FOR YOU MR. KELLEY: NO CANDIDATE WANTS LOW VOTER TURNOUT.

YOU DRIVE THE VOTE OUT.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING NOT JUST IN CAMPAIGNSLE THE DOOR KNOCK, THE MEET AND GREETS, ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S SENT THROUGH THE MAIL, THE SOCIAL MEDIA, TV.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A SENSE THAT THEIR VOTE MATTERS THAT THEY ARE INCLUDED IN THIS GOVERNMENT WE HAVE TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN PEOPLE IN POVERTY, WHEN PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO WORK TWO, THREE JOBS PUT FOOD ON YOUR TABLE, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR KIDS ARE CLOTHE AND READY FOR SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY, SOMETIMES VOTING IS NOT AS IMPORTANT TO THEM BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT MORE STRESSORS THAN OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY SO WE REALLY NEED TO FIND A WAY TO CONTINUE TO MAKE VOTING AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S WHY I HAVE PUSHED AGAINST THE -- THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S DROP BOX PROGRAM.

WE HAVE THE MOST RESTRICTIVE LAW IN THE STATE OF OHIO THAT SADLY THE SUPREME COURT FOUND TO BE PERMISSIBLE.

BUT WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT THOSE BARRIERS OF PEOPLE VOTING.

WE HAVE TO BREAK THEM DOWN.

WE HAVE TO START AT THAT TIME STATE LEVEL BUT THE STATE DOES NOT WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR CENTSS TO VOTE.

NICK: WE'LL TURN BACK TO LAWRENCE DANIEL CASWELL.

MR. CASWELL: SINCE WE BEGAN COVERING CITY.

THEY HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION'S DELAYS IN PROVIDING INFORMATION OR ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

SOME COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE SUGGESTED THE ADMINISTRATION SENDS LEGISLATION LATE LEAVING COUNSEL LESS TIME CONSIDER IT.

WHAT WILL YOU DO TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COUNSEL AND THE ADMINISTRATION WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THE CHECKS AND BALANCES NEEDED?

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S PART OF A COUNCILMEMBER'S JOB TO BE FRUSTRATED BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

I ESPN A LOT OF MY TEAM -- I SPEND A LOT OF MY TIME TRYING TO GET THAT DONE.

IT'S NOT AS IF THINGS ARE GETTING JAMMED ON THE CALENDAR MONDAY AT 6:00.

BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE MAYOR HAS A STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNSEL.

I BELIEVE WHEN I'M MAJOR HAVING BEEN A COUNCILMAN,LY UNDERSTAND THOSE DIFFERENCES.

I WILL UNDERSTAND THOSE NEEDS AND WHERE THAT TENSION COMES FROM BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR A COUNCIL PERSON IF THEY HAVE A PROJECT THAT THEY ARE WAITING ON THAT IT GETS EXECUTED.

THEY'RE BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE PERMIT DOESN'T GET ISSUED.

THEY'RE BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE SHEET DOESN'T GET SIGNED.

AS MAYOR, I WILL HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF HOW COUNSEL NEEDS THESE SERVICES AND HAVE A VERY STRONG AGGRESSIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP ON EVERY ISSUE.

NICK: MR. KELLY, THANK YOU.

MR. BIBB?

MR. BIBB: I'M UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO SIT THE RESET BUTTON BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE IT'S MAYOR'S OFFICE.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FIND OUT ON FOX 8 NEWS THAT WE WEREN'T RECYCLING.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE LAST TO KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO STADIUM FINANCING NIELS THE CITY.

AND IF ELECT MAYOR, I INTEND TO TREAT CITY COUNSEL AS A CO-EQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY DESERVE THAT KIND OF TRANSPARENCY AND TRANSPORT ME AND MY ADMINISTRATION.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT NOW AS YOU DO THE HARD WORK OF MAKING SURE WE'RE MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENT, THE MAYOR AND THEIR STAFF MUST BE WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF CITY COUNSEL AND NAIR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVING QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH CITY COUNSEL STAFF.

WE NEED TO TREAT CITY COUNCIL AS A CO-EQUAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY DESERVE THAT KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.

NICK: DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE?

>> THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND WHEN I GET THERE, THAT IS THE HARDEST JOB IN GOVERNMENT THE SECOND HARD ZEST TO BE A COUNCILMAN.

SIT HARD WORK DEALING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES.

YOU'RE THAT FRONT LINE.

YOU'RE THE FACE -- YOU'RE THE FIRST AREA THAT THEY HAVE FOR THEIR ANGER TOWARDS ALL THINGS GOVERNMENT.

YOU'RE THE FRONT DOOR TO GOVERNMENT.

SO I WILL GO IN UNDERSTANDING JUST HOW IMPORTANT THAT COMMUNICATION IS, JUST HOW IMPORTANT EXECUTION OF THESE -- OF THESE PROJECTSES IS.

WE WILL RESPECT EACH OTHER.

AND WE WILL DO GREAT.

NICK: MR. BIBB?

MR. BIBB: THE LACK OF DISCONTENT AND THE MAYOR'S SAUCE A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THEM NOT KNOWING HOW TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE CAN'T AFFORD MORE OF THE SAME IN THIS ELECTION WE HAVE MORE OF OF THE SAME, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SAME THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD, SAME OLD, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

NICK: WE WANT TO MOVE TO CLOSING STATEMENTS BUT WE DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FROM ELIZABETH MCINTYRE.

MS. MCINTYRE: SOME VENDORS AT THE MARKET HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE CLEVELAND METRO PARKS OR ANOTHER NONPROFIT TAKE OVER OPERATIONS.

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN SPECIFICALLY TO REMEDY THE LONG STANDING ISSUES AT THE WEST SIDE MARKET.

NICK: MR. BIBB, WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU?

MR. BIBB: I WAS THERE LAST SATURDAY TALKING TO VENDORS.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MUCH FRUSTRATION AT THAT TIME LACK OF MANAGEMENT, THE LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS AND THE LACK OF CARE OF HOW WE TREAT THIS AMAZING ASSET IN OUR CITY.

LIKE OTHER PUBLIC MARKETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I SUPPORT COUNSEL CAREY MCCORMICK TO BRING AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT TO SUPPORT THE CITY IN EXECUTING A PLAN FOR THE CITY AND THE MARKET.

WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE OUR VENDORS HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE WITH THESE DISCUSSIONS.

WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER CONSULTANT.

WE HAVE A PATHWAY.

AND AS MAYOR I WILL SUPPORT THAT PROPOSAL FROM DAY ONE.

NICK: MR. KELLY?

MR. KELLY: IT'S TOO PORN TO FAIL.

WE ARE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ATTENDING THE NEEDS OF THE MARKET AND THE VENDORS ITSELF.

WE NEED TO STOP RESPONDING TO THEM IN A CASE BY CASE, PROBLEM BY PROBLEM BASIS.

IT IS PREMATURE TOPIC A MODEL THAT I LIKE BETTER THAN OTHERS BECAUSE I'VE READ THEM ALL.

THERE IS VALUE IN ALL OF THEM.

JUST FOR EXAMPLE THE VENDOR MODEL WHERE WE BRING A NONPROFIT VENDOR, MAKES SOME STONES ME BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE OWN THE AIRPLANE, BUT WE DON'T DO THE CONCESSIONS AND WE DON'T DO THE MARKING BUT AGAIN, JUST MAKING SHOE THAT THE VENDORS FEEL THAT THEY'RE BEING LISTENED TO, MAKING SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT CHANGE IS GOING TO COME ON DAY ONE, THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE MARKET THAT ISN'T ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS OR PROBLEM BY PROBLEM BASIS, AND WE'RE GOING PUSH THIS FORWARD AND BUILD A GREAT MARKET.

NICK: TIME NOW FOR CLOSING REMARKS, A REMINDER THAT YOU WILL EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE AND WE WILL GO IN THE SAME ORDER AS OPENING REMARKS.

MR. KELLY, WE BEGIN WITH YOU.

MR. KELLEY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO TUNED IN TODAY, TONIGHT.

THIS IS THE MOST CRITICAL ELECTION OF OUR LIFE TIMES.

WE ARE COMING OFF OF TWO MAJOR RECESSIONS IN 10 YEARS.

AND NOW, WE'RE HEARING OF OTHER THINGS H IN THE HORIZON, INPLACE, SUPPLY CHAIN.

WE HAVE A VIOLENT CRIME PROBLEM THAT IS OUT OF HAND.

WE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

WE NEED A MAYOR WHO IS READY TO BE MAYOR ON DAY ONE.

AND AGAIN IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE TALK, IF YOU LOOK, THE CHOICE COULDN'T BE CLEARER.

YOU CAN HAVE RHETORIC OR RESULTS.

WE CAN HAVE A -- YOU KNOW, PLATITUDES ARE PROGRESS.

BUT IF YOU NEED AN ISSUE TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT TIME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES, IT IS ISSUE 24.

ISSUE 24 WOULD MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS LESS SAFE.

I WOULD MAKE RECRUITING AND RETAINING POLICE OFFICERS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

AND IT WOULD DECIMATE THE DIVISION AND MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODSLESS SAFE I.

SHOWS THE NAIVETE TO JUMP INTO SOMETHING THAT WOULD CHANGE THE CHARTER FOREVER UNTIL ANOTHER BALLOT INITIATIVE.

NICK: MR. BIBB?

MR. BIBB: THIS WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION IN CLEVELAND HISTORY.

I'M ASKING THE VOTERS ONE SIMPLE QUESTION.

WHO DO YOU TRUST IN WHO DO YOU TRUST TO DO THE HARD WORK OF NOT ONLY LORING CRIME AND PAYING OFFICERS MORE, BUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT FEELS SAFE AND SECURE AND GETS THE TRUST AND RESPECT THEY DESERVE WITH EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW.

WHO DO YOU TRUST TO BRING IN NEW IDEAS TO HAVE A MORE MODERN AND RESPONSE TO CITY HALL TO MOVE OUR CITY INTO THE 21ST CENTUFULLY WHO DO YOU TRUST TO DO THE HARD WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS A QUALITY EDUCATION SO THEY CAN LIVE UP TO THEIR GOD GIVEN POTENTIAL?

I BELIEVE THAT NOW IS THE TIME FOR NOT JUST URGENT LEADERSHIP BUT THEY IS WILLING TO TURN THE PAGE FROM THE FAILED POLITICS OF THE PAST BECAUSE WE KNOW WHERE THAT'S GOTTEN US.

THE LOWEST POPULATION SINCE THE 1800'S.

THE LIVES CONNECTED CITY IN AMERICA, POOREST CITY IN THIS COUNTRY FOR BLACK WOMEN.

WE CAN'T AFFORD MORE OF THE SAME.

JOIN OUR MOVEMENT BECAUSE CLEVELAND CAN'T WAIT.

NICK: THANK YOU TO BOTH OF OUR CANDIDATES AND THANK YOU TO OUR AUDIENCE FOR LISTENING AS WHELM I'M NICK CASS TELL, GOOD NIGHT.

-- NICK CASTELE, GOOD NIGHT ♪ >> CLEVELAND MAYORAL DEBATE VOTERS FIRST, IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ASSEM ASSEM ASSEM ASSEM ASSEA