Resident tells Strongsville council she opposes state transportation change, cites ORC 5501.6 removal and potential displacement

A Strongsville resident addressed council during the public-comment period March 17 to protest state-level changes to transportation legislation and to warn local officials about potential displacement from a proposed interchange.

"To say I'm angry would be an understatement," said the speaker identifying herself as Dumasola of 3440 Boston Rock, referring to the removal of a repeal of ORC 5501.6 from the senate transportation portion of the budget. She said more than 35 proponent testimonies had been submitted supporting the repeal and that none opposed it, and she criticized a state senator she named as Patton for removing the provision.

Dumasola also referenced House and Senate action and individual lawmakers, saying the provision had previously been in a House bill and that the senator moved it into the transportation budget and then removed it. She said city officials were supporting a project she opposed and warned that it could displace homeowners: "You will stand before God one day, and you will have to answer to your greed," she said, accusing officials of prioritizing money and predicting displacement of "50 to 90 families." She named Mayor Perciak in her remarks and said residents would continue to fight to restore the provision to the budget.

Her remarks were delivered as public comment and did not prompt immediate council action during the March 17 meeting. Council did not take a vote on the legislative matter at the meeting; the record shows council proceeded to other agenda items after public comment.

Dumasola ended her comments by saying Patton’s actions had "pissed off a lot of residents" and that "this fight will now get bigger." No formal council response or motion addressing the state statute or the interchange was recorded at the meeting.