Three residents used the Nov. 25 public-comment period to ask Cuyahoga County Council not to reinvest proceeds from Israeli bonds that mature Dec. 1, 2025. Anne Gazzi, who identified herself as a county resident, appealed to council members to ‘‘consider the babies’’ and said county and national infant and preterm birth rates provide reason to prioritize local social programs rather than reinvesting in the foreign bonds. Gazzi also cited a March of Dimes report as background for the county’s infant health concerns.

Zizwe Chiguka, who said he has lived in the county all his life, called on council to refrain from reinvestment and characterized U.S. financial support for Israel as morally problematic. He cited national aid figures as context for his plea that local governments reconsider investment choices.

A third commenter, who identified himself as Lou, argued the county could free funds by not renewing the bonds and directed those savings toward local budget needs, including rainy-day funds and shelter operations. He said prior advocates had urged a rainy-day fund and criticized shelter rules that he said harm residents’ health.

Council did not discuss or vote on changing its investment policy during the meeting. The public comments were heard during the meeting’s public-comment period; the transcript does not show any administration or council response to the specific request to stop reinvesting the maturing bonds.