[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6190184,"mediaKeyId","5052757-f104d2d2e9fc12e69a6a4b2e3231a674","parentId",5052757,"title","Public commenters press council on Gaza fast and criticize police conduct and council responsiveness","audioSeconds",420,"startMs",998000,"endMs",1418000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5052757-f104d2d2e9fc12e69a6a4b2e3231a674&start=998&end=1418","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5052757-f104d2d2e9fc12e69a6a4b2e3231a674/thumbnail_998000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6190184/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Public-commenters-press-council-on-Gaza-fast-and-criticize-police-conduct-and-council-responsiveness","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190184-72c3f5a36dcacc312b49c444d10c9c0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776048421&Signature=HuJOctLKbz8PIPCf~EdjCU5VXSvFBnYq0x1sigpeHym5gtzNbQSs0AlowvV5-A5c1ozFmwLypdDXRAPN0pK4v6VsrkF8RnnuRr0fMD6UNDqbI3vHrNTqLMTilUgmj05hgHJzitGCVOdXLikpFYtEpfGGC49Jzfvw-rHf1qzPoU4qgG7P6GEUCFgF5uuH8~StOS4JupRX4DrDUwU2FNwYWDMQ2QGF4Hn4zV8p6hoGRj1BPckx4xE-Ao038VMoWRxnf9i6Gb2VFc4Wf-UdNJbtSs9-e41qilTJEIeILv2Gpvvic96opDRJdFGnjxmkxFib2fzePL7MlWr9braf8qsUSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Akron, OH ","date","2025-06-23T22:01:40Z","article","Two speakers addressed the council during the public comment period. Reverend Dr. Joyce Penfield described participating in a 40-day fast for Gaza and urged the council and community to \"stop the forced starvation of Gazans and to stop arming Israel.\" She said the fast had drawn 700 participants across the United States and mentioned upcoming public witness events in front of the federal building.

\"Why is our government putting itself in harm's way for a foreign government which commits war crimes with no accountability?\" Penfield asked, and she cited a U.S. weapons figure she gave as \"$39,200,000,000\" in relation to arms provided to Israel. She also asserted that Iran has no nuclear weapons and criticized media coverage and political narratives during her three-minute comment.

Autumn Bridal spoke next and criticized the council for what she described as selective enforcement of a 30-day speaking rule, and she accused council members and the Akron Police Department of ignoring or dismissing protesters. Bridal said she had been harassed by police patrols near her home and that images posted by others had led to unwanted attention; she said she had raised the issue with the mayor's office and the police chief without satisfactory remedy.

\"We're tired of backpedaling, tired of the disrespect,\" Bridal said, adding that she felt the council had tried to \"silence us and make us feel like we aren't getting anywhere.\" The council did not act on the topics raised during public comment; the clerk swore in speakers and the council thanked the participants at the end of the public comment period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Akron Council Meeting- 06.23.2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment, Reverend Joyce Penfield described a 40-day fast and called for an end to U.S. arms sales to Israel; Autumn Bridal accused council and the police union of ignoring protesters and described ongoing harassment by Akron police.","taxTitle","Akron, Summit County, Ohio","taxId",2666,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6190189,"Akron council approves multiple emergency ordinances, contracts and pilot program funding",307,1766000,2073000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5052757-f104d2d2e9fc12e69a6a4b2e3231a674&start=1766&end=2073","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5052757-f104d2d2e9fc12e69a6a4b2e3231a674/thumbnail_1766000.jpg","/articles/6190189/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Akron-council-approves-multiple-emergency-ordinances-contracts-and-pilot-program-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190189-61ed9fc2dab6ecf8db56c45ea49ef4d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1776048421&Signature=X-RYmTVHaYVwTFJvZOe6AkY3aT2s3j0CQoCzue8RLkF3gSf8DlXAAryhwoVWO13c7E1gfcfP4L1ykRMmS4jEbv37d6lmEBDRDLmeZNgShXD7Ys1YzZ9nsotUXcKB1kGNrZPQdvVv35AQdoY-FgUMVNoXFkZdKXivEe1f~5UPbwHjI~eaoOdz6F0jq1pmnl5YzPUQmcmD3V7SD9394trPmf0EtbztWfjH0onfZbCwjKSh5N7lw8YoWJh52GjN9B~xbFev5GCXzt7PUQYytxM6-TEXg1C3eXsCHfLpdScSX1FlVx-VPWz3JgO1kEMVpiOrpP1GyHvGtJP1wNMnkhEl7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Akron City Council moved through a package of new legislation and the consent agenda that included several emergency ordinances, contract authorizations and program approvals.

Councilman Lombardo sponsored multiple items that the body approved or placed on the consent agenda: an ordinance authorizing the mayor to contract with the Akron International Soapbox Derby to provide operational funding for the 2025 event (passed 13-0 after suspension of rules), and ordinances authorizing contracts with Power Engineers Incorporated to continue work on the city's special assessment system and accepting a grant from the city's Firm Financial Empowerment Fund (both placed on the consent agenda). Lombardo also presented an ordinance to establish a three-year pilot program to advance eligible residents' access to legal counsel; the council suspended the rules and passed that item 13-0.

Councilman Kammer moved ratification of emergency demolition contracts with Butcher and Sons Inc. to pay a contractor that had already completed emergency demolitions around the city; that ordinance passed 13-0 after suspension of the rules. Councilman Kammer also offered an ordinance authorizing a design contract with Burgess & Niple Inc. for the Cuyahoga Street storage facility disinfection project; that item was placed on the consent agenda.

Vice President Fusco offered and the council formally adopted a master tree planting plan by resolution and placed related amendments to City of Akron Codified Ordinances Title 9, Chapter 101 (trees and shrubs) on the consent agenda for later handling. Several conditional-use requests (high-rise sign, commercial building, vape shops, marijuana dispensary) offered by Fusco were referred to appropriate committees rather than voted on.

Where the council voted immediately, the committee reports were recorded as favorable, rules were suspended for immediate consideration, and the items passed unanimously (13-0) unless otherwise noted. Items referred to committees were not decided at this meeting.","At a single meeting, Akron City Council suspended rules and approved a series of ordinances and contracts — including funding for the Akron International Soapbox Derby, emergency demolition payments, a pilot legal-counsel program, and adoption of a master tree planting plan — most by unanimous votes or placement on the consent agenda.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6190193,"Akron council adopts resolution opposing state bill that would eliminate inside millage funding",266,1476000,1742000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5052757-f104d2d2e9fc12e69a6a4b2e3231a674&start=1476&end=1742","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5052757-f104d2d2e9fc12e69a6a4b2e3231a674/thumbnail_1476000.jpg","/articles/6190193/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Akron-council-adopts-resolution-opposing-state-bill-that-would-eliminate-inside-millage-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190193-b59b93d104c30af41051196a9b92b512/orig.mp4?Expires=1776048421&Signature=dOEQIrZ7ZHmfJeIfkgWSVEkSnU1Kq0-GtVlq~H3A0HghEitkiRCoXurQ1~poyLT7WwYkM8UmGjPX6jacChQfOIBd4yRYhUIkGdTmtRMRKZV3HifCD-4bFFJKXu6VlIn52VHc8oHO4N3d7kN7ovEo3lcuuPdlBbt0p1MUQnKKdLkoI9~tWfKEUxWAyGkCm2juCaxILese24lV8lNcBS~CdffTctLObeVSmUiz8H2wQc3ElaDeWeObXEkY2rGZ1ZERlR-7JWXZyEO539IjY2uXvQUioX9ClxUywzwZCEYhLzikLugLolxs3n2vtFZZd~ZEXdvWh1nWbV8gDjWzIFY45Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vice President Fusco introduced a resolution for the Akron City Council urging opposition to Ohio General Assembly House Bill 335, which he said would eliminate the state'constitutional \"inside millage\" that provides revenue for local services. He told colleagues the city'charter allows 10.5 mills in Akron and that about 2.8 of those mills fund emergency medical services; other named allocations included 0.3 mills for police pension, 0.3 for fire pension, 0.2 and 0.42 for debt service, and 6.48 mills for the general fund.

\"That's about $25,000,000 that we would lose,\" Vice President Fusco said, adding that statewide elimination of the inside millage could remove \"just over $40,000,000\" from local government funds. Fusco thanked Mike Wheeler and finance staff, including Steve Fricker, for preparing the figures for council.

Councilman McKittrick moved the resolution on behalf of \"mayor and council as a whole.\" The rules were suspended for immediate consideration, and the resolution passed 13 to 0. The motion record shows the council formally adopted the resolution opposing House Bill 335 and declared an emergency so the body's position could be sent promptly to state lawmakers.

The discussion on the council floor consisted of Fusco's presentation of the bill's potential fiscal impact and a request that the mayor and council be listed as sponsors of the resolution. No amendments or alternate motions were recorded on the floor; the item moved directly to a vote after suspension of the rules.

Council action: the council approved the resolution opposing HB 335 13 to 0, with suspension of the rules to allow immediate passage. No other formal directions or referrals on the item were recorded.","The Akron City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing Ohio House Bill 335, which council members said would eliminate the constitutional \"inside millage\" and strip roughly $25 million from Akron's general fund and more than $40 million from local funds statewide.","actionData","errors"]

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Public commenters press council on Gaza fast and criticize police conduct and council responsiveness

Akron council approves multiple emergency ordinances, contracts and pilot program funding

Akron council adopts resolution opposing state bill that would eliminate inside millage funding