CLEVELAND — In what he called "a time for optimism," Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb delivered his 2023 State of the City Address on Wednesday night at East Tech High School in the Central neighborhood.
During his remarks, Bibb took a look back at his first year in office and laid the groundwork for areas his administration will focus on in the future. Specifically, Bibb discussed public safety, economic development, education, and "breaking down barriers to progress for the city and its people."
"We sought to usher in a new era of safety and opportunity. We sought to bring our community closer together," Bibb said in summarizing his first year. In referencing the bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, the mayor announced that "Cleveland is open and ready for business."
The address was hosted by the City Club of Cleveland and presented in partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Here is a rundown of some of the key areas Bibb touched on during his address on Wednesday:
Public Safety
Bibb stated that his number one priority continues to be keeping residents safe.
The mayor highlighted some of the city's key accomplishments in his first year in office when it came to policing and public safety:
- There was a 10% reduction in gun-related homicides
- There were no uses of deadly force by the Cleveland Division of Police in 2022
- The city negotiated the largest-ever pay increase for officers in the Cleveland Division of Police
- Penalties have been stiffened to deter joy riding
While the city's Community Police Commission is just getting started, Bibb did note that the use of force cases between 2018-2022 have declined by 37%. "This shows the consent decree is working, but we have to do more to be compliant," he added.
The administration is working with Cleveland City Council to create one of the nation's first neighborhood safety endowment funds, calling for the use of $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to "fund proven interventions to reduce crime in the streets." Bibb says an additional $13 million in grant money would be available in the future.
Bibb added that his administration is focusing on improved "care response," where mental health professionals and police will work together to get care to individuals who are in crisis.
The mayor also addressed the ongoing crisis of gun violence in the city. "We have a gun problem that plagues not just Cleveland, but the entire nation." He called upon GOP leaders in Columbus and in Washington D.C. "to give mayors more tools to keep guns off of our streets."
"We're doing everything in our power. Cleveland is doing its part. It's time for Republicans in Columbus and Washington to do your job," Bibb stated.
Economic Development
With the goal to give Cleveland residents "dignity and hope for a better future," Bibb outlined some of his plans to use ARPA funds to help transform key areas of the city.
- A $50 million "site-readiness fund" to create as many as 65,000 new jobs in Cleveland neighborhoods by reactivating a thousand acres of unused land
- $15 million for southeast side communities, including redevelopment of vacant buildings and lots along with grants for home repair
- $20 million for "waterfront activation," such as the construction of the Beulah Park-Euclid Beach Connector, investments and planning to redevelop the downtown Lake Erie waterfront, and payments for Bedrock's Cuyahoga Riverfront project as well as the construction of Irishtown Bend Park.
"Over the last two decades, more than 25% of the jobs in the city have been lost," Bibb said. "During that same period, the population of Cleveland declined by 22%. Even more striking is the notion that over the last 15 years, while the U.S. experienced 11% growth in trade-sector jobs, Cleveland saw a 5% decline."
Housing
No part of Bibb's speech received more applause than his pledge to introduce legislation to go after "predatory property managers and reckless out-of-state investors who have no regard for people who live in their properties."
"Tenants in our city should not have to live with leaky pipes, dangerous mold, constant water damage, elevators that don't work, and worst of all, no heat for months during a frigid Cleveland winter. These slumlords should be ashamed of themselves. We will hold you accountable and we will find you."
Bibb also added that the city will be working with Cuyahoga County to ensure that properties under a "lead hazard control order" can't be sold to a buyer without disclosing its lead status.
Cleveland Browns Stadium
During the audience questioning portion of the event, Bibb was asked if he supported a stadium renovation, or the construction of a new stadium. He was also asked if the city planned to contribute any money toward a stadium project.
"My vision right now is making sure we finally see real inclusive development on the lakefront. While we begin early conversations with the Haslams about the stadium, we want to be creative with how we address this issue because I'm no longer going to risk general revenue fund dollars for maintenance of a privately-owned football franchise," Bibb stated.
"We've got to be creative. We've got to think differently about financing. And we have to think differently about how this fits into a larger piece of making us have one of the best lakefronts in the world. That's my vision to get done as mayor."
You can watch Mayor Bibb's entire 2023 State of the City Address in the video player below.