Cleveland Council Divides Three Neighborhoods Despite Protests

Cleveland City Council last night approved a ward redistricting plan that divides three neighborhoods. The 16-4 vote was taken quickly without debate or a roll call.

Councilmen Brian Cummins (Ward 15), Zack Reed (Ward 3), Joe Cimperman (Ward 13) and Anthony Brancatelli (Ward 12) voted against the plan, which divides Old Brooklyn, Brooklyn Centre and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods.

“This is a compliant council which ends up being a complacent council,” Cummins said. “There has been a lack of robust discussion about this.”

Reed echoed his comments, telling Council President Martin Sweeney "you don't know the history of Mount Pleasant.

"What crack cocaine couldn’t destroy, what predatory lending couldn’t destroy, this great body under your leadership Mr. President has destroyed. You have destroyed Mount Pleasant,” Reed told Sweeney to the cheers of about 60 Mouont Pleasant residents.

Reed called Sweeney’s refusal to honor Cummins request for a few extra days to work out better ward lines “callousness.”

Cummins said the issue was not about unity of council in adopting the plan but a lack of transparency and collaboration.

“This is only the beginning,” Cummins warned. “We can’t allow redistricting in 2011 (after the 2010 Census) to be done the way it has been done in 2009.”

Cimperman agreed, saying the plan was adopted “in an imperfect process with unnecessary hardship. It is very frustrating.”