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Residents pressure Cleveland council over services and spending; one speaker seeks mayoral recall
Summary
Several public commenters criticized the mayor's spending priorities and city service responsiveness; Ward 12 resident Juan C. Colado Diaz said he intends to pursue a recall, citing unresolved utility and code-enforcement issues.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to press Cleveland City Council on municipal spending choices and front-line service failures.
Juan C. Colado Diaz, introduced as representing Ward 12, told council he spent long periods on hold with Cleveland Public Power and 311 while an abandoned property near his home continued to cause pest problems. He asked council members to help him pursue a recall of Mayor Justin Bib if transparency and service responsiveness do not improve. "I am asking council for the second time today and I'm going to keep coming every week for someone to help me to begin a recall process of the mayor of Cleveland," Diaz said.
James Lamb of Ward 7 criticized what he described as extravagant internal spending and a lack of visible investment in neighborhoods. Lamb questioned purchases he considered excessive — including a claimed $2,245 chair and other internal expenditures — and urged council to ensure more resources flow into neighborhoods for services and repairs.
Council did not take immediate action on recall steps or file any formal petitions during the meeting. Council President Blaine A. Griffin told members there would be additional budget amendment discussions with the mayor and department directors, and urged members raising concerns to meet with administration staff for follow-up.
Speakers framed their complaints as both quality-of-life and accountability issues. Diaz said he would continue attending council meetings until he receives clearer responses on service timelines and transparency.
