Public asks council to pause Saint Vincent Charity demolition; council declines immediate vote

Several public speakers urged Cleveland City Council on May 19 to adopt an immediate one-week pause on demolition activity at Saint Vincent Charity Hospital while the speakers await guidance from a Vatican official and protesters. Leonor Calum told council, “We ask you to vote here and now for a simple resolution to pause the demolition for 1 week.”

James Jermielik, another speaker, repeated the request during public comment and asked for a “yes or no” vote from council. The clerk and council indicated no vote would be taken at that meeting. “No. We're not voting for that today,” the clerk said in response to the request to take action immediately.

Speakers framed the request as a short delay—one week—to allow time for outside religious authorities and community stakeholders to respond. They appealed to council for due process and a temporary moratorium; no council member moved the requested resolution during the meeting and no formal council action was recorded on the request.

Council staff and members did not announce any follow-up steps, and the speakers concluded their allotted public-comment time. The speakers represented themselves and the BlackWhite Party and raised broader national and international concerns alongside the local demolition request. At the time of the meeting, the demolition activity and any city involvement or permits were not described in detail to the council record by staff or members.