CLEVELAND — Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and senior members of his administration hosted a community town hall Wednesday evening on the city's west side, with residents given the opportunity to personally ask him questions about his administration.
The event took place at the Gunning Neighborhood Resource and Recreation Center on Puritas Avenue in West Park. Chief among the topics was crime, especially following a tragic Fourth of July weekend that saw Police Officer Jamieson Ritter and a 10-year-old girl among those killed by gunfire.
"I recognize it has been a challenging couple of weeks for our city," Bibb admitted. But, he says, "We've been making some positive strides, I believe, around our public safety."
According to the mayor, recruiting for the police department is getting better, new recruits are making more money, and retention is up due to bonuses and pay raises.
The forum was about much more than just crime, with residents asking Bibb questions about things like education, homelessness, and transparency. A 10-year-old girl even asked about abandoned properties in Cleveland that aren't being used.
You can watch the whole town hall below:
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