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Residents demand transparency and resources after Marcello Woodard’s death; some urge tabling large bond
Summary
Multiple residents spoke during public comment at the Sept. 3 Erie City Council meeting, calling for transparency about the death of Marcello Woodard, criticizing the pace of police funding decisions and urging council to delay a large capital bond until voters and taxpayers get more information.
Several Erie residents used the public-comment period at the Sept. 3 council meeting to demand transparency in the investigation of Marcello Woodard’s death and to urge the council to prioritize community resources over large capital spending.
Michelle Dover Shaw, who identified herself as an Erie resident, told council she had listened to the previous night’s study session on the Miller Brothers bond and urged the council “to table moving the bond forward until the public receives all the detailed projections of how much this will actually cost the taxpayers.”
Deonte Cooley, a lifelong Erie resident, said he agreed with calls to delay the bond vote and criticized what he described as an overreliance on policing as the answer to community problems. “If we are able to find $52,000,000 to invest in the Erie community, why not that be a resource?” Cooley said, urging investment in services and neighborhood supports.
Michael Keys, who identified himself as an Erie resident and former council member, raised procedural concerns about outside agencies using deadly force in the city and again urged caution about entering new debt. Keys said the city should focus on needs such as a municipal garage and parks improvements if large sums are available.
Speakers also called on elected officials to speak openly about the Woodard case and said that silence or slow public communication increased community tension. Several speakers asked for more visible emotional and institutional support for the family and clearer public updates about investigative steps and timelines.
The public comments preceded council debate on several ordinances, including the Miller Brothers bond authorization and other items on the Sept. 3 agenda.
