ANNOUNCER: THE DEBATE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GRANTS FROM THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS.

♪ NICK: GOOD EVENING FROM THE WESTFIELD STUDIO THEATER IN THE IDEA CENTER AT PLAYHOUSE SQUARE, RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND.

WELCOME TO THE CLEVELAND MAYORAL DEBATE, VOTERS FIRST.

I'M NICK CASTELE, SENIOR REPORTER AT IDEASTREAM PUBLIC MEDIA, AND HOST OF "AFTER JACKSON," OUR PODCAST CHRONICLING THE 2021 MAYORS RACE.

CLEVELAND MAYOR FRANK JACKSON IS RETIRING.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 16 YEARS, THE CITY WILL ELECT A NEW LEADER.

EARLY VOTING BEGAN TODAY AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE PRIMARY ELECTION ON SEPTEMBER 14.

TWO OF THE SEVEN CANDIDATES WILL EMERGE FROM THAT PRIMARY TO FACE OFF IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.

THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO DEBATES COORDINATED BY IDEASTREAM PUBLIC MEDIA, AND THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND, A NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, AND ONE OF THE OLDEST FREE SPEECH FORUMS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE RULES FOR TONIGHT HAVE BEEN AGREED TO BY ALL CAMPAIGNS.

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS ARE THE PRESS CLUB OF CLEVELAND AND THE NORTHEAST OHIO SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM COLLABORATIVE, A PARTNERSHIP OF NEARLY TWO DOZEN MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING IDEASTREAM.

WE WELCOME THOSE WATCHING ON WVIZ, LISTENING ON WCPN, AND STREAMING THE EVENT LIVE.

AT THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER, WE POLLED THE COMMUNITY TO ASK WHAT ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?

LAST WEEK, NORTHEAST OHIOANS ASKED THE CANDIDATES QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, RACIAL EQUITY, HEALTH EQUITY, HOUSING, AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT.

TONIGHT, THE CANDIDATES WILL DEBATE ON JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION, THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

JUST LIKE LAST WEEK, OUR QUESTIONS TONIGHT COME FROM Y OU, THOUGH I MAY HAVE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.

THE QUESTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN SHARED WITH CANDIDATES.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION.

WHEN REBUTTALS ARE NEEDED, AT MY DISCRETION, THAT PERSON WILL RECEIVE 30 SECONDS.

NOT EVERY CANDIDATE WILL ANSWER EVERY QUESTION.

WE WILL NOT HAVE OPENING STATEMENTS TONIGHT AS THE CANDIDATES OFFERED THOSE LAST WEEK.

INSTEAD, WE'LL USE THE TIME FOR MORE QUESTIONS AND MORE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES.

AT THE END OF THE DEBATE, EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 60 SECONDS FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

I'D LIKE TO NOW INTRODUCE THE SEVEN PEOPLE HERE RUNNING FOR THE MAYOR POSITION.

ONE IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF CLEVELAND.

FORMER MAYOR AND U.S.

CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH, COUNCILMAN BASHEER JONES OF WARD SEVEN, STATE SENATOR SANDRA WILLIAMS FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ZACK REED, FROM WARD TWO, NON-PROFIT EXECUTIVE JUSTIN BIBB, ATTORNEY ROSS DIBELLO, KEVIN KELLEY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT FROM WARD 13.

WE'RE NOW GOING TO BEGIN WITH QUESTIONS FROM YOU, SUBMITTED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

FOLLOWING EACH QUESTION, I'LL ASK SEVERAL OF THE CANDIDATES TO ANSWER BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT ON THE TOPIC OF EDUCATION.

THE SCHOOLS, AS WE ALL KNOW, HAVE FACED UNIQUE CHALLENGES DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT MOVED FROM IN PERSON INSTRUCTION TO FULLY REMOTE LEARNING.

AND MANY STUDENTS WERE LOST IN THE TRANSITION.

OUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM JOHN SHI OF SHAKER HEIGHTS.

JOHN: HOW DO YOU PLAN TO HELP STUDENTS WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND DURING THE PANDEMIC?

NICK: I WILL PUT THIS QUESTION FIRST TO SENATOR SANDRA WILLIAMS.

SENATOR?

SENATOR WILLIAMS: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

IT IS MY HONOR.

I WAS THE SPONSOR OF THE CLEVELAND PLAN, INCREASING GRADUATION RATES TO 86% IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE PANDEMIC, EDUCATION, MAKING SURE WE CAN CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE PREVENTING FAMILIES FROM GOING TO SCHOOL ONLINE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SECONDLY, WE NEED A TARGETED APPROACH FOR REMEDIAL EDUCATION FOR THE STUDENTS LEFT BEHIND.

I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED WE SHOULD HAVE TUTORING BEFORE, AFTER, AND ON THE WEEKEND FOR SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE FALLEN BEHIND.

STUDENTS HAVE BEEN FALLING BEHIND FOR A LONG TIME.

THANK YOU.

CHRIS: --COUNCILMAN BASHEER JONES: THANK YOU.

WE PARTNERED TO ENSURE STUDENTS HAD LAPTOPS, IPADS.

WE HAD THIS GROUP CALLED PCS FOR PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO INVEST IN WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

85% OF THE ACHIEVEMENT HAS TO DO WITH THE PROBLEMS YOU BRING, SO WE HAVE TO INVEST IN WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND END THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME PHENOMENAL WORK ALLEVIATING THIS ISSUE WITH THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

IN WARD SEVEN, WE ARE PUTTING EQUIPMENT ON BUILDINGS TO MAKE SURE EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT HAS WI-FI.

THAT IS THE KEY.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE GO NEXT TO KEVIN KELLEY.

KEVIN KELLEY: THANK YOU.

OUR SCHOLARS MUST SUCCEED IF WE ARE GOING TO SUCCEED.

MY DAUGHTER IS ATTENDING INSTRUCTION AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK OVER HER SHOULDER, THE TEACHERS HAD TO INSTRUCT KIDS HOW TO UPLOAD THEIR HOMEWORK, HOW DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN CLASS.

MANY KIDS DID NOT SIGN ON.

MANY KIDS WERE LOST.

WE NEED TO MAKE THE JUDGMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF EVERY CHILD IN THEIR NEED AND DECIDE, CAN WE BRING THAT STUDENT BACKUP AND KEEP THEM THROUGH TUTORING AND SUPPORT, OR DO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT REPEATING?

WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE CHILD AND MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD THAT LOST A STEP THIS YEAR IS SUPPORTED.

THANK YOU.

NICK: STAYING ON THE TOPIC OF EDUCATION.

WE WILL HEAR FROM KENNETH VALENTINE.

HE'S 10 YEARS OLD AND IN THE FIFTH GRADE ON THE WEST SIDE.

KENNETH:[SPEAKING SPANISH] NICK: I WILL GIVE YOU THE TRANSLATION COURTESY OF OUR OWN PRODUCER.

CONGRESSMAN, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION?

CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH: LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING [SPEAKING SPANISH].

AND SO, I BELIEVE HISPANIC AMERICANS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY AND WANT THE SAME THINGS ALL PARENTS WANT.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE SCHOOLS ARE SAFE, BUT MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CHILDREN ATTENDING THE SCHOOLS WILL BE CARED FOR.

I INTEND TO INITIATE A LEAD TESTING PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD IS TESTED, BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR IMPEDIMENTS TO CHILDREN LEARNING.

I WILL SEE THAT IT GETS CUT , BECAUSE IT IS TWICE AS MUCH.

WE WILL GIVE PARENTS A VOICE.

WERE TALKING ABOUT AN ELECTIVE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

IF THE PARENTS VOICE.

NICK: I WILL GO TO JUSTIN BIBB NEXT.

WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER TO THE QUESTION?

JUSTIN BIBB: OUR HISPANIC POPULATION IS A KEY PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND DESERVE HONEST, REAL REPRESENTATION FROM THE NEXT MAYOR IN OUR CITY.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS AT STAKE, IMPROVING PUBLIC EDUCATION IS CRITICAL.

THERE WAS TALK ABOUT THE CLEVELAND PLAN BY SENATOR WILLIAMS, AND THAT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT WE'VE GONE TO AN "F" FROM A "D".

WE NEED TUTORING GEAR ROUND.

INVEST IN OUR TEACHERS, TEACHER QUALITY, EFFECTIVENESS PROGRAMS, SO CHILDREN HAVE THE SKILLS THEY NEED.

MAYOR, I WENT TO BRING BACK OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS SO OUR KIDS CAN COMPETE IN A 21ST-CENTURY KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY.

NICK: WE TURN NOW TO THE COUNCILMAN.

>> I HAD A GOOD AND BROAD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

I USED TO BE THE PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, SO MY RELATIONSHIP GOES BACK A LONG WAY.

SECONDLY, TO HELP THAT YOUNG MAN , AND I APPRECIATE HIM STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND ASKING THE QUESTION, WE HAVE TO GO INTO THE SCHOOLS, TALK TO THE TEACHERS, AND PARENTS AND TALK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP WE CAN BUILD.

WE NEED TO BUILD A FIRST-CLASS EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

IN THE CENSUS, IT SHOWS THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IS GROWING IN CLEVELAND AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION, SO IT IS PARAMOUNT FOR US TO TALK TO HISPANIC STUDENTS AND FIND OUT HOW WE CAN ENSURE THEY CAN GO OUT THEY WANT TO HELP US REBUILD THE CITY.

NICK: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN,.

COUNCILMAN JONES?

COUNCILMAN BASHEER JONES: IN ORDER TO HAVE AN IMPACT, WE MUST WORK WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

I HAD CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE HISPANIC-AMERICAN COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A PLACE IN THE CITY.

THE CITY OF CLEVELAND DOES NOT RESPECT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

IT IS A FAST AND GROWING COMMUNITY IN CLEVELAND IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN CITY SERVICES, AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE MORE HISPANIC TEACHERS.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO WHAT CLEVELAND STUDENTS ARE LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM, WHAT ARE THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCING WHEN THEY WALK THROUGH THE DOOR OF THE SCHOOL?

WE GO TO A QUESTION FROM JESSICA.

JESSICA: RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN 87% OF OUR STATE STANDARDS DO NOT TALK ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS AFTER THE YEAR 1900.

WITH THE BANS ON DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RACE IN THE CLASSROOM, HOW CAN YOU GUARANTEE MY INDIGENOUS CHILDREN AND NON-NATIVE FRIENDS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THIS EDUCATION, BE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR HISTORY, NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY, THE PEOPLE, AS WELL AS THE HISTORY OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN BROTHERS AND SISTERS?

NICK: YOU WILL GET FIRST CRACK AT THIS QUESTION, MR. ROSS DIBELLO.

ROSS DIBELLO: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I THINK THIS IS INFUSING WHERE WE CAN.

WE WILL LOBBY, LOBBY, LOBBY.

IF THE SHIP SAILS, THE SHIP SAILS.

THIS IS ABOUT GETTING KIDS TO OUR MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES, MAKING SURE OUR CLASSROOMS ARE STOCKED WITH ALL CULTURES, RIGHT?

EDUCATION IS HISTORY.

YOU LEARN FROM HISTORY.

YOU GET BETTER IN THE FUTURE.

I ALSO THINK THIS GETS TO LISTENING TO THE TEACHERS UNION AS TO HOW THEY CAN HELP INFORM US ON WHERE OUR BLIND SPOTS ARE AND DIVERSIFYING EVERY CSMD SCHOOL.

IF I AM VICTORIOUS, WE WILL LOOK AT THE STAFF OF EVERY SCHOOL AND MAKE SURE WHICHEVER SCHOOL YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO WILL HAVE THAT HISTORIC EDUCATION.

NICK: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN JONES, HOW SHOULD SCHOOLS TEACH INDIGENOUS HISTORY?

COUNCILMAN BASHEER JONES: I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE WITH A DEGREE IN INDIGENOUS STUDIES.

WE KNOW WE HAVE A HISTORY.

SO WE HAVE TO WORK WITH, NUMBER ONE, WE NEED NEW BOOKS, AND NEED TEACHERS THAT ARE CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND UNDERSTAND THE CHILDREN THEY ARE EDUCATING.

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT YOU HAVE THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN SUSPENDED OUR BLACK BOYS, BLACK BOYS.

WHY?

IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THEM, YOU CAN'T HELP THEM.

NO ONE HERE HAS BEEN IN MORE CLASSROOMS THAN I HAVE.

NO ONE HAS SPOKEN AT MORE GRADUATIONS THAN I HAVE.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS, TEACHING HISTORY AND LEADERSHIP.

IN ORDER TO HELP SOMEBODY, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY COME FROM.

NICK: SENATOR WILLIAMS?

SAME QUESTION.

STATE SENATOR SANDRA WILLIAMS: THANK YOU.

I AGREE WITH THE LADY WHO ASKED THIS QUESTION.

I SPONSORED A BILL YEARS AGO THAT WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE OF OHIO TO TEACH NOT ONLY BLACK HISTORY, BUT EVERY OTHER TYPE OF HISTORY, LATINX, ASIAN, AND I GOT THE FEELING WE HAVE TOO MANY REQUIREMENTS UNDER OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, BUT AS THE MAYOR, I CAN WORK WITH THE CSMD TO MAKE SURE THAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR HISTORY SYSTEM.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE STATE TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

WE CAN DO IT ON OUR OWN TO WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND TEACH IT IN EVERY HISTORY CLASS.

THERE ARE CURRENT BILLS GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THAT MIGHT PREVENT US FROM DOING THAT, BUT I WILL WORK ON THAT.

NICK: TWO REQUEST.

>> WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DID NOT WRITE THESE HISTORY BOOKS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE TEACHERS, AND TO DOUBLE DOWN ON WHAT SENATOR WILLIAM SAID, IT COMES DOWN TO IF HER POINT.

THAT IS THE MAYOR'S RESPONSIBILITY.

I ONLY WANT MEMBERS THAT HOLD THE VALUES TO TEACH TRUE HISTORY.

THANK YOU.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCILMAN,, THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM MR. JUSTIN BIBB.

COUNCIL MEMBER ZACK REED: AS A COUNCILMAN, I WALKED AND TALKED WITH THOSE INDIGENOUS INDIVIDUALS AT EVERY HOME OPENER, TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE WAHOO WAS BASICALLY A RACIST SYMBOL, AND WORK WITH THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST, I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT I HAVE DONE RECENTLY.

NICK: THANK YOU.

JUSTIN BIBB: WE HAVE TO GROUND OF THIS CONVERSATION IN AND UNDERSTAND THE NUANCE.

THE MAYOR HAS A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPROVE EDUCATION, AND HE CANNOT TAKE THAT ROLE LIGHTLY.

WE NEED AN AGGRESSIVE STRATEGY TO HIRE MORE TEACHERS OF COLOR WHO LOOKED LIKE OUR STUDENTS, WHO SHARE THE LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND STOP TEACHING TO THE TEST, AND GROUND OUR CURRICULUM AND WHAT STUDENTS WANT TO LEARN.

THAT IS THE POLICY CHANGE WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

NICK: ON TO OUR NEXT QUESTION.

PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS A LOT OF COMPETITION FROM PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS, AND SCHOOL VOUCHERS MAKE IT EASIER TO CHOOSE AN ALTERNATIVE.

THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT HOW CLEVELAND SCHOOLS CAN COMPETE.

IT COMES FROM MILL CREEK.

>> HI, WE COME FROM A LONG LINE OF CLEVELAND PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATES.

I MYSELF GRADUATED.

MY SON IS ENROLLED IN PRESCHOOL IN THE CSMD SYSTEM.

WHAT WOULD YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION DO TO ATTRACT NEW, YOUNG FAMILIES WHO WANT TO ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IN CSMD?

NICK: COUNCILMAN KELLY?

KEVIN KELLEY: I HAVE HAD MY KIDS IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

THE PARENT NEEDS TO PICK THE BEST OPTION.

WHERE HAVING A GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH CSMD.

THERE IS SO MUCH POTENTIAL THERE .

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ATTRACT MORE FAMILIES.

WHEN WE LEFT THE CHARTER SCHOOL TO GO TO A CSMD SCHOOL, BECAUSE AN OUTREACH COORDINATOR SHOWED US HOW GREAT THIS EDUCATION COULD BE.

THE SUPPORT MY DAUGHTER WOULD GET IN A CSMD SCHOOL.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE COORDINATORS REACHING OUT TO FAMILIES TO BRING THEM IN AND SHOW ALL THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES CSMD PROVIDES, BECAUSE THERE ARE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES THAT CSMD OFFERS THE KIDS.

THERE ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS CLOSING ALL THE TIME.

THERE ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT ARE BEING SOLD.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WANT TO GET IN ON THIS.

FIRST WE WILL GO TO MR. JUSTIN BIBB.

JUSTIN BIBB: YES.

YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR AND DESERVE A PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND EVERY CHILD AND FAMILY INSIDE CSMD.

THEY DESERVE THAT BASIC FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.

IT IS CRITICAL WE GET THIS RIGHT TO GROW OUR POPULATION AND GROW OUR TAX BASE OVER TIME.

NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE TO BETTER INVEST IN OUR TEACHERS AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE CLASSROOM.

SECONDLY, WE HAVE TO GET REAL ABOUT MORE INVESTMENTS IN OUT OF SCHOOL TIME SUPPORT TO SUPPORT HER CHILDREN, LIKE INVESTMENTS IN THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE HORIZON EDUCATION ACADEMY.

THOSE PROGRAMS GO A LONG WAY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILD.

WITHOUT THAT, WE CANNOT HAVE A THRIVING PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR ALL FAMILIES.

NICK: THANK YOU.

CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH, WHAT WOULD YOUR ADMINISTRATION DO TO ATTRACT FAMILIES?

CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH: FIRST, ENSURED THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE SAFE --ENSURE THE SCHOOLS ARE SAFE.

SECOND, LET PEOPLE KNOW THE STANDARDS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE FOR HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION.

WE WANT EDUCATION WELL-FUNDED, AND IT IS, BUT I POINTED OUT EARLIER THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE RISING FAST AND THE MONEY INSTEAD SHOULD GO INTO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, TEACHERS SALARIES, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WANT TO SEE A UNIVERSAL PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM MORE FULLY DEVELOPED IN THE CLEVELAND SCHOOL SYSTEM, SO CHILDREN WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET A START WITH READING SKILLS, MATH, AND BASIC LEARNING SKILLS, AND WE WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT LEAD POISONING.

I WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR TO EVERYONE LISTENING.

WE MUST TEST THE CHILDREN, AND IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, WE MUST WORK ON THE HOUSE.

NICK: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

IN ORDER TO MAKE A CHANGE, WORKING AT GLENDALE, IF YOU WERE TO LISTEN TO HER, YOU WOULD SEE WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.

NOT JUST WHAT I WILL DO, BUT WHAT I HAVE DONE.

WITH THE SCHOOLS NEED IS MORE FUNDING TOWARD SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL PROGRAMS.

CHILDREN ARE BRINGING ISSUES TO THE CLASSROOM AND THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH MATH.

WE NEED TO INVEST IN MORE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

NICK: SENATOR WILLIAMS?

SAME QUESTION.

30 SECONDS.

STATE SENATOR SANDRA WILLIAMS: PARENTS COME TO ME TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THE CLEVELAND PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE FIRST THING I WOULD LET THEM KNOW IS THE SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE ON THE STATE LEVEL IS NOT A DIRECT AND ACCURATE REFLECTION OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE CLEVELAND MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I WOULD SIT DOWN WITH THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS MAKING SURE WE MEET WITH THOSE PARENTS IN BRINGING THEIR STUDENTS TO THE CITY OF CLEVELAND SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THEM TELL THEM THEM ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE ARE DOING.

WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM OUTSIDE CLEVELAND, PUTTING THE CHILDREN IN THE CLEVELAND SCHOOL OF ARTS, AND OTHERS THANK YOU.

NICK: COUNCILMAN,?

COUNCIL MEMBER ZACK REED: AS A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE CLEVELAND PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHEN I LEFT SCHOOL, I WAS READY TO GO TO WORK AND TAKE ON THE TASKS OF SOCIETY.

IF WE WANT TO ATTRACT PARENTS TO PUT THEIR CHILDREN INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE FIRST HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THEY KNOW WHEN THAT CHILD GRADUATES THAT THEY ARE READY TO TAKE ON THE TASKS OF OUR SOCIETY AND THEY ARE JOB-READY.

WE NEED TO REIMAGINE EDUCATION.

WE NEED TO TAKE THE SCHOOL AND IMAGINE IT AS A SCHOOL.

NICK: THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS FOR THAT ONE.

MY APOLOGIES FOR THE CONFUSION.

I KNOW YOU ARE ON A ROLL.

MR. ROSS DIBELLO?

ROSS DIBELLO: THANK YOU.

BY THE END OF MY TERM WE WILL BE STEALING KIDS FROM PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WE WILL GET CREATIVE WITH OUR CURRICULUM, BUILT ON THE SUMMER PROGRAM, IN SCHOOL, AFTERSCHOOL, ART, MUSIC, SPORTS, EXPANDING THE CHEST PROGRAM, SENDING KIDS THROUGH CONTINUING READING WITH NO JUDGMENT.

WE WILL GET CREATIVE TO CREATE INDEPENDENT THOUGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED MORE THAN EVER.

NICK: THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR EAGERNESS AND PARTICIPATION.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT QUESTIONS TO GET TO.

THE NEXT TOPIC WAS IDENTIFIED BY OUR COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT, JOBS AND THE ECONOMY, PARTICULARLY AS CLEVELAND RECOVERS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

OUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM THE STOCKYARDS NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING CLEVELAND RESIDENTS IN TERMS OF GETTING JOBS THAT PAY A LIVING WAGE?

NICK: AGAIN, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING CLEVELAND RESIDENTS IN TERMS OF GETTING JOBS THAT PAY A LIVING WAGE?

COUNCILMAN REED?

COUNCIL MEMBER ZACK REED: YOU HAVE TO PUT SOMEBODY IN OFFICE WHO UNDERSTANDS $15 AN HOUR IS THE WAY TO GO, AS IT RELATES TO HAVING A GOOD JOB.

ONE OF MY OPPONENTS LITERALLY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE, WENT TO COLUMBUS, AND GOT THE PEOPLE IN COLUMBUS TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF CLEVELAND COULD NOT MAKE $15 AN HOUR.

SECONDLY WE HAVE TWO ENSURE WE HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT IS SECOND TO NONE.

IF WE PUT AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND THAT IS IS SECOND TO NONE WITHIN THEY WILL KNOW THEN THAT THE PERSON WHO GRADUATED FROM CLEVELAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOW IS READY TO GO TO WORK IN YOUR BUSINESS, THEN THEY ARE READY ON DAY ONE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL, AS IT RELATES TO MAKING A BUSINESS A BETTER BUSINESS, BUT FIRST, WE HAVE TO ENSURE A GOOD WAGE.

NICK: THANK YOU.

I SEE A LOT OF HANDS UP.

COUNCILMAN KELLEY?

COUNCILMAN KELLEY: THANK YOU.

FOR ALL OF MR. REED'S TALK, HE VOTED AGAINST IT TOO.

NICK: THANK YOU.

A FEW SECONDS TO RESPOND.

>> LET'S BE CLEAR.

I WENT OUT AND GOT PEOPLE TO SIGN A PETITION TO ENSURE THEY COULD MAKE $15 AN HOUR.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I SUPPORT $15 AN HOUR.

I WENT TO THE STREET TO ENSURE THEY COULD MAKE $15 AN HOUR.

U.S. COUNCIL PRESIDENT MADE THE DECISION NOT TO ACCEPT THE DECISION.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

NICK: THANK YOU BOTH, JAMMIN.

I HAD YOU ON MY LIST FOR THE FULL-TIME, OF THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

ROSS DIBELLO: IN 2012, I WAS WORKING AT THE CASINO, THEY SAID SIX DOLLARS AN HOUR PLUS TIPS.

THE FIRST BIANNUAL PAYCHECK CAME, NO TIPS.

FOUR COWORKERS WENT TO THEIR SUPERVISORS, CRYING THEIR EYES OUT, DID NOT KNOW WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO GO NEXT.

ALL FOUR OF THOSE COWORKERS WERE BLACK FEMALES.

WE DO NOT HAVE AN ECONOMY SET UP FOR CLEVELANDERS.

WE GIVE AWAY MILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS TO MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES FOR THE PROMISE OF 700 JOBS, 1200 JOBS THERE, BUT IT IS NOT MEET COMING DUE, AND OUR NEIGHBORS WHO SEE THOSE JOBS.

RIGHT?

THIS CRONY CAPITALISM HAS TO END .

WE HAVE TO FUND NEW AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE OUTER NEIGHBORHOODS WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS, NOT INCREASING THE WEALTH OF A SELECT FEW SO WE CAN GET REELECTION AFTER REELECTION.

WE NEED I SEE A FEW HANDS UP, COUNCILMAN JONES, YOU ARE ON MY LIST FOR THE FULL ANSWER.

ROSS DIBELLO: IT IS ONE THING ABOUT TALK, THERE IS NO ECONOMY WITHOUT EDUCATION.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M GOING TO BE AN EDUCATION MAYOR.

NOT ONLY IS IT IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY, MAKING SURE PEOPLE AREN'T LIVING WAGE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE ATTRACTING BUSINESS.

WE HAVE TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE A CITY HALL THAT IS PREPARED TO BRING IN NEW BUSINESSES.

THAT IS WHAT I HAVE DONE INWARD 7.

IN ONLY 2.5 YEARS, TAKE A YEAR AWAY FROM COVID, THE FOURTH YOU'RE NOT EVEN DONE UNTIL JANUARY.

2.5 YEARS, WE ROT IN CREAM OF FOUNDATION.

OVER 700 NEW JOBS.

TWO BRAND-NEW HOTELS, A SUPERMARKET.

IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE CITY, WE MUST BE COLLABORATORS.

IT IS NOT YOU VERSUS ME.

THAT IS THE WAY WAY WE ARE GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

JUSTIN BIBB I SEE A FEW HANDS HERE.

-- NICK: I SEE A FEW HANDS HERE.

I WILL START WITH MR. BIBB.

JUSTIN BIBB: AS WE FIGHT OR MORE ECONOMIC RECOVERY, WE NEED A MAYOR WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW TO WORK.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A MODERN AND RESPONSIVE CITY HALL, THAT IS BUSINESS FRIENDLY.

WE ARE ONE OF THE WORST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY TO DO BUSINESS WITH.

THAT HAS TO STOP.

WE HAVE TO BETTER INVEST IN YOUTH PROGRAMS TO GET OUR CHILDREN BACK TO WORK AND INVEST IN PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE ADULT LITERACY ISSUE TO ENSURE THAT OUR ADULT WORKFORCE HAS THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO COMPETE.

NICK: SENATOR WILLIAMS, HE SICKENS FOR YOU.

SANDRA WILLIAMS I WOULD LIKE TO -- WHEN THE UNION CAME TO CITY HALL, I WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY ELECTED MEMBER AT CITY HALL TO HELP THEM TURN IN THOSE SIGNATURES.

THE VOTERS SIGNED THE PETITION, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DAY AT THE POLLS TO VOTE ON SOMETHING.

I AM RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, IF THE VOTERS HERE IN CLEVELAND WANT A $15 MINIMUM WAGE, WE SHOULD WORK WITH THEM ON THAT.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION COMPLETELY -- WE MUST MATCH EMPLOYERS WITH EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN GET THOSE JOBS.

NICK: THANK YOU, SENATOR.

CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH?

DENNIS KUCHINICH: IT IS AN OUTRAGE THAT ANYONE CAN STAND ON THE STAGE AND DEBATE AS A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR -- AS NEXT MAYOR OF CLEVELAND, I INTEND TO MAKE JOBS AND IMPORTANT ISSUE.

HOW WILL I DO IT?

WE HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF POVERTY.

I WILL GO TO WASHINGTON, MEET WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND CREATE PROGRAMS FOR THE HIGH POVERTY AREAS OF OUR COUNTRY, WHICH CLEVELAND IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST.

WE WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES.

TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

WE WILL DO THAT.

NICK: THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN.

WE DO HAVE TO MOVE ON FOR TIME.

IF YOU MENTIONED YOU SPECIFICALLY?

I WILL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS, WE WILL MOVE ON.

DENNIS KUCHINICH: IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT.

>> YOU WERE NOT HERE DURING THAT DEBATE, I WAS HERE, I WAS TALKING TO OWNERS OF GROCERY STORES, SMALL BUSINESSES, THOSE THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED.

YOU WERE TALKING TO FOX NEWS.

I WAS IN CLEVELAND, YOU WERE TALKING TO NUMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE NOT TO INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE.

>> YOU WERE NOT HERE.

>> CALL MAYOR KELLEY.

>> YOU WERE NOT HERE, I WAS.

>> THROUGH THAT PETITION.

NICK: WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT QUESTION.

WE DO HAVE MANY QUESTIONS TO GET TO.

I HOPE WE CAN HEAR FOR MORE FROM THE CITIZENS OF CLEVELAND.

IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF JOB AVAILABILITY, IT IS ALSO ABOUT THE SKILLS REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB.

SHE OWNS BUSINESS IN THE CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD CLEVELAND AND HAS HIS QUESTION -- >> WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF CITY RESIDENTS LOOKING FOR A GOOD JOB THAT WILL PROVIDE A FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGE AND CANNOT FIND ONE FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

ON THE FLIPSIDE, WE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OVERQUALIFIED RESIDENTS TO -- WHAT WILL YOU DO TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE TRAINING THEY NEED TO FILL THESE POSITIONS SO BUSINESSES CAN GROW IN SCALE?

NICK: SENATOR WILLIAMS, I WILL GO TO YOU FIRST, HOW CAN YOU GET PEOPLE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO FILL THE POSITIONS ARE OPEN?

SANDRA WILLIAMS: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

THERE ARE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STATE OF OHIO THAT WE CAN UTILIZE TO HELP EMPLOYERS TRAIN WORKERS OR POTENTIAL WORKERS FOR THOSE JOBS.

AS A MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE CITY BUDGET AND WORK WITH THOSE EMPLOYERS WHO NEED TO MATCH EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.

THAT WILL BE PART OF MY SPONSOR ABILITY AS MAYOR.

I HAVE TALKED BUSINESSES AROUND THE CITY ABOUT THIS.

THEY SAID THEY CANNOT FIND WORKERS.

I CAN FIND A LOT OF EMPLOYEES.

I WILL HAVE PROGRAM WHERE WE WILL SIT DOWN, I WILL BRING THE EMPLOYEES AND THE EMPLOYERS TO THE TABLE AND WE WILL MATCH THOSE INDIVIDUALS UP.

TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, WE ARE GRADUATING PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT JOB READY.

THE PROGRAM THAT I HAVE AND HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WILL MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE TRAINED AND READY FOR SCHOOL AS SOON AS THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL FOR IN DEMAND JOBS.

NICK: THANK YOU.

CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH, THE SAME QUESTION?

DENNIS KUCHINICH: IT IS TIME THAT WE FOCUSED OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM I'M PREPARING PEOPLE FOR WORK THAT THEY CAN DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING HIGH SCHOOL.

THE TRADES PROGRAMS, AT ONE TIME IN THE CITY WERE VERY IMPORTANT.

TODAY, THE MISMATCH BETWEEN SKILLS AND JOBS AVAILABLE IS PRETTY SEVERE.

OUR PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THE WORK WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HELP AND COACHING.

THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO REINSTITUTE JOB SPECIFIC ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES THROUGH THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT.

USE THOSE SCHOOLS AFTER SCHOOL, SO AFTER PEOPLE COME BACK FROM THEIR WORK THEY CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER THEIR SKILLS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN DONE FOR A WHILE.

I THINK -- I AGREE WITH SENATOR WILLIAMS IN TERMS OF THEIR APPROACH.

THAT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IF WE HAVE THE KIND OF PEOPLE.

NICK: I'VE SEEN A FEW HANDS UP.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT KELLI, I HAVE YOU NEXT ON MY LIST FOR THE POOL TIME.

KEVIN KELLEY: THIS IS THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUE FACING OUR CITY.

THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY.

THAT'S WHY PUT FORTH BY JOBS PROGRAM WHERE EVERY CLEVELAND OR WHO WANTS A JOB, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THERE IS OPPORTUNITY WAITING FOR THEM.

WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF OPEN, AVAILABLE JOBS IN HEALTH CARE, MANUFACTURING, SKILLED TRADES, INFORMATION SERVICES, YET PEOPLE -- THE INDUSTRY CANNOT FIND THE PEOPLES TO FILL THEM.

IT WE HAVE ON EMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED -- UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED PEOPLE.

THAT IS NOT A CONDITION WE SHOULD ACCEPT.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH INDUSTRY, WITH THE SCHOOLS TO'S TRAIN OUR CITIZENS FOR THE JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

WE CANNOT FAIL KIDS.

K TO 12 AND THEN THINK THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO FIX IT.

WE HAVE TO GO BACK, START WITH THEM IN FIFTH OR SIXTH GRADE.

THAT IS PART OF THE GROUP PATHWAYS INITIATIVE.

WE NEED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AT THE BASIS.

NICK: THANK YOU.

I WANT TO GET YOU BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT QUESTION.

MR. BIG, 30 SECONDS.

-- MR. JUSTIN BIBB, 30 SECONDS.

JUSTIN BIBB: WE LOST NEARLY 37% OF HER POPULATION SINCE 2005.

WE ARE A LAGGING CITY IN TERMS OF GOOD JOB GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF CONNECTING OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS AND ARE K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THE MESS -- SMEAR MUST BE PROACTIVE.

NICK: THANK YOU.

>> THERE ARE 3000 HIGH STILL JOBS OUT RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS WHY WAS SAYING EARLIER WE NEED TO TRANSFORM AND REIMAGINE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

THAT IS THE REASON ON DAY ONE, WE NEED TO TRANSFORM COLLINGWOOD HIGH SCHOOL INTO A WORLD-CLASS VOCATIONAL SCHOOL.

WE NEED TO BRING THE CASH AND BACK INTO HER -- WE NEED TO BRING OUR BACK INTO HER SCHOOLS.

WHEN WE DO THAT, YOU WILL SEE INDIVIDUALS READY TO GO TO WORK ON DAY ONE.

NICK: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN JOE?

-- JONES.

BASHEER JONES: I'M ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE HERE WHO HAS CREATED JOBS IN WARD 7.

EVERYBODY IS NOT GOING TO COLLEGE.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO GO INTO THE TRADES.

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

WITH THE HELP OF MIDTOWN, WE BROUGHT MAGNET MANUFACTURING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE OLD MARKET.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, COLLEGE -- DRAYTON -- TRADE, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO DO IT.

NICK: THANK YOU, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION, WHICH IS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT.

WE SEEN THE HOUSING MARKET IN SOME PARTS OF CLEVELAND ARE HOT RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY THE WEST SIDE.

MANY NEIGHBORHOODS OUTSIDE THOSE AREAS ARE STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM THE FINANCIAL CRASH MORE THAN ONE DECADE AGO.

RESIDENTIAL -- THE BETTER PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

SHE HAS HIS QUESTION -- >> HOW WILL YOU BALANCE THE REVITALIZATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND GENTRIFICATION IN A MIDSIZE CITY LIKE CLEVELAND?

NICK: THE QUESTION IS HOW WILL YOU BALANCE THE REVITALIZATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND JUDGE OF ROTATION IN A MIDSIZE SALIC CLEVELAND?

COUNCILMAN REED, YOUR FIRST.

ZACK REED: WE NEED TO START BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

IT IS NOT AFFORDABLE.

IF WE DO NOT ENSURE THE PEOPLE HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD, YOU CAN NEVER ENSURE WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TURN THESE WORDS AND NEIGHBORHOODS INTO WHAT THEY CAN BE AND SHOULD BE.

THESE VACANT LOTS, WE NEED TO TRANSFORM THEM INTO PRODUCTIVE LOTS.

I AM SAYING, WE SHOULD BE BUILDING NEW HOUSES, BUILDING NEW BUILDINGS, TAKING THE BLIGHT FROM THESE COMMUNITIES AND TURN IT AROUND.

WE SHOULD IN NO WAY BE CALLED THE POOREST CITY IN AMERICA WITH ALL THE RESOURCES AND FUNDING THAT WE HAVE.

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS.

WINE BOARD TO DO IS START TO INVEST IN NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CITY.

NICK: THANK YOU.

MR. DIBELLO?

ROSS DIBELLO: THE SIX.

WANT YOU TO KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO GET RID OF THE BLANKET 15 YEAR TAX ABATEMENT.

BEYOND THAT, TO WORRY ABOUT TRANSPORTATION DISPLACEMENT, WE'RE GOING TO DO -- EVEN USED IF YOU DON'T GET DISPLACED, YOU CANNOT BE ASKED TO PAY $35 -- 35% TO 50% TOWARDS YOUR RENT.

WE WANT TO REVITALIZE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL 34.

WE WANT DEVELOPMENT EVERYWHERE, NOT JUST A FEW PLACES.

THIS SERVES ITS PURPOSE.

RERECORD GET RID THAT TAX ABATEMENT AND CREATE AFFORDABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED HOUSING IN ALL PARTS OF TOWN.

WE ARE GOING TO USE OUR HIGH SCHOOLERS, YOUNG ADULTS AND THOSE REENTERING SOCIETY TO BUILD ON THOSE VACANT PROPERTIES.

WE HAVE WAY TOO MANY VACANT.

THOSE CAN BECOME BEAUTIFUL PLACES WITH AFFORDABLE PRICES.

NICK: THANK YOU.

SENATOR WILLIAMS, SAME QUESTION.

SANDRA WILLIAMS: FIRST OF ALL, THE EAST SIDE OF CLEVELAND AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE NEVER RECOVERED SINCE HER 2008 RECESSION.

THERE'S ONE PERSON WHO BOUGHT HER HOME IN 1973 FOR $13,500.

A FEW YEARS AGO, IT WAS RENTED AT $80,000.

HER HOUSE IS NOW WORTH $19,000.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

TAX ABATEMENT SHOULD BE USED SPARINGLY.

USE ONLY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED ABATEMENT.

WHEN GROWTH IS HAPPENING IN A COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO, THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO DO TAX ABATEMENT.

I WANT TO TOUCH ON THIS HALF $1 BILLION THAT I BROUGHT HOME IN THE STATES LAST OPERATING BUDGET THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO IT COUNCILMAN REED SAID AND GET RID THE BLIGHT.

3.5 MILLION DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CITY AND COUNTY TO TAKE DOWN -- CLEAN UP THESE ABANDONED CONTAMINATED BUILDING.

TO, BUILD -- AT NO MORE THAN 10% PER YEAR.

NICK: COUNCILMAN JONES, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.

BASHEER JONES: THE FACT IS IN WARD 7, I HELPED COMMUNITY -- NOT I, WE.

COMMUTING MEMBERS ON THIS COMMUNITY LAND TRACT.

I'M BORED TO WORK WITH THE CDC AND FUND AND SUPPORT SENIORS HOMES.

SOME OF THEM ARE LIVING IN HOMES, THE ROOTS ARE FALLING APART.

LASTLY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I'M GOOD WORK WITH THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

NICK: CONGRESSMAN CONSENTS, 30 SECONDS.

-- JUSTIN H. DENNIS KUCHINICH: IN THE AREAS WHERE THERE HAS BEEN GENTRIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT, SENIORS, THE HOMEOWNERS ARE FINDING THEIR TAXES GO UP AND THEIR POSITION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THREATENED.

I WENT TO SEE THEM GET SOME OF THAT TAX MONEY BACK.

I INTEND TO DO THAT AS MAYOR.

WE ARE GOING TO CUT UTILITY RATE SO PEOPLE CAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS SITTING ON A $400 MILLION SURPLUS.

CERT 300, CUT RATES 10%.

NICK: COUNCIL PRESIDENT CALLIE?

-- KEVIN KELLEY.

KEVIN KELLEY: TOO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE SUFFERED FROM TWO MADE DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO, EVER TAKE A RIDE OUT TO 105TH STREET AND LOOK AT THE PROJECT I WORKED TO GET DONE ON THE TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE.

LOOK AT 25TH STREET.

PUBLIC SECTORS NEED TO STEP UP AND PROVIDE CAPITAL FOR UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE CAN DO IT IF WE HAVE THAT ATTITUDE.

NICK: MR. BIG?

-- MR. JUSTIN BIBB.

JUSTIN BIBB: THE WAY WE DO DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY IS BROKEN.

WE HAVE TO INVEST A HYPER LOCAL APPROACH TO INVESTING PEOPLE AND NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY.

AS MAYOR, I WANT TO RETHINK OUR ABATEMENT POLICY TO SPUR MORE INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF INVESTING JOBS, LIKE OPPORTUNITY CORPORATE TO PUT PEOPLE TO WORK IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.

NICK: THANK YOU.

ON TOUR NEXT QUESTION.

THE LATEST FIGURES FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU SHOW THAT CLEVELAND LOST 6% OF ITS POPULATION OVER THE LAST DECADE.

THAT IS DESPITE NEW GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS.

COURTNEY ASKED THIS -- >> HOW DO YOU PLAN TO CULTIVATE A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT TO RETAIN OUR CITIES -- OUR CITY'S YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED IN CLEVELAND OR COME FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES?

NICK: MR. BENNET -- MR. JUSTIN BIBB.

JUSTIN BIBB: WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF INVESTING IN YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A SEAT AND VOICE AT THE TABLE.

WHEN I WORKED AT CHI GOVERNMENT, I WAS -- NEXT-GENERATION INITIATIVE PROGRAM WHICH HELPED YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WORK IN SAY GOVERNMENT.

GIVE THEM A VOICE AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND AUTHORITY IN MAKING SURE WE CAN INVEST IN OUR COUNTY AND CLEVELAND.

I WANT TO DO THE SAME AS MAYOR.

I WILL HAVE A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO WORK IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE TO INVEST IN THE CULTURE OF OUR RESIDENTS.

WE ARE A MAJORITY BLACK CITY.

A LOT OF ARE CULTURAL ASSETS DO NOT REFLECT THAT.

WE MUST OBEY OTHER DROVE TO LYNETTE NARRATIVE -- OF SHARING THAT NARRATIVE.

NICK: CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH?

HOW WILL YOU HELP ATTRACT AND RETAIN YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN CLEVELAND?

DENNIS KUCHINICH: THAT IS BEING MADE HERE IS WE HAVE TO REMIND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR THEM IN THIS COMMUNITY.

YOU DO THAT THROUGH PROVIDING JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND WE NEED TO WORK IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO DO THAT.

PROVIDING BASIC SERVICES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, SAFETY AND KEEPING THE STREETS CLEAN, KEEPING THE ENVIRONMENT OUT, THE COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT WILL ATTRACT YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS ARE KEPT UP AND WE ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE.

CLEVELAND IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF A WHOLE NEW.

OF GROWTH.

-- A WHOLE NEW PERIOD OF GROWTH.

PEOPLE ARE FINDING THEIR WATER SUPPLIES ARE STARTING TO RUN OUT.

WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF FRESHWATER FROM THE GREAT LAKES.

THAT IS OUR FUTURE.

THOSE WOULD HELP US KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND HELP US ATTRACT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO CLEVELAND.

IT IS A HAPPENING PLACE.

NICK: I SEE SOME HANDS UP.

WE GO FIRST TO MR. ROSS DIBELLO.

WE WILL GET YOU NEXT.

MR. DIBELLO, YOU HAVE THE FULL TIME.

ROSS DIBELLO: WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY URBAN AREAS ON PLANET EARTH THAT CAN CONSISTENTLY LOSE PEOPLE.

ELECTION AFTER ELECTION CYCLE DECADE AFTER DECADE.

WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION IN POVERTY.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO SET UP SHOP HERE?

WE DO HAVE RACIALLY, ENVIRONMENTALLY, BROKEN LEADERSHIP.

WE ARE BUILT THIS WAY ON PURPOSE.

WE HAVE TO START BY ELECTING BETTER LEADERS.

WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION IN CHILD POVERTY.

COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS CAME OUT OF THE STUDY THAT SAYS FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN ERADICATING CHILD POVERTY, IT RETURNS SEVEN DOLLARS TO THE ECONOMY.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, IT RETURNS FIVE DOLLARS BACK TO THE ECONOMY.

WE DO NOT SPEND OUR MONEY WELL AND HAVE GOOD LEADERS.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

NICK: COUNCILMAN JONES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

BASHEER JONES: THIS RACE IN ITSELF IS AN EXAMPLE.

THERE IS NO SUCCESSION PLAN.

THERE'S A PATHWAY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SIT AT THE TABLE.

THAT IS THE MESSAGE I WANT TO GIVE TO EVERY YOUNG PERSON OUT THERE.

DO NOT WAIT FOR YOUR PLACE AT THE TABLE.

YOU MUST COME TO THE TABLE, IT WILL NOT BE GIVEN TO YOU.

IN REALITY, WE HAVE TO BE A CITY THAT GIVES YOUNG PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE.

UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION, BLACK CONTRACTORS, MINORITY BUSINESSES WILL DO MORE WORK IN THE CITY.

WHERE THERE IS MORE OPPORTUNITIES, PEOPLE STEP IN.

NICK: COUNCILMAN REED, 30 SECONDS.

ZACK REED I AM YOUNG:.

THE GUY WAS GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES BY CONGRESSMAN LOUIS STOKES.

I WAS GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES BY CONGRESSWOMEN.

IF YOU'RE SAYING YOU DO NOT HAVE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT RUN OUT THERE AND GOT SOME, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS RING ARTS BACK TO HER COMMUNITIES.

THESE YOUNG PEOPLE COMING BACK IN OUR COMMUNITIES, TRANSFORM THESE VACANT LOTS INTO PLACES WHERE ARTISTS WANT TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.

I GUARANTEE YOU, YOU WILL SEE MORE ARTISTS MOVING BACK INTO HER COMMUNITIES.

WE ALL KNOW WHEN ARTISTS MOVE-IN , WE WILL THRIVE.

NICK: WE HAVE A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CONVERSATION.

>> I DID NOT MENTION YOU AT ALL.

>> HE IMPLIED.

NICK: I WANT TO GET SOME OTHERS, WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU.

>> IF I CAN RESPOND TO THAT.

NICK: I WILL GIVE YOU A FEW SECONDS TO RESPOND.

>> HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR 17 YEARS, HAS NO PUBLIC SUCCESS.

HE HAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING , BESIDES HIS WORDS.

SHOWS YOUR LEGISLATION, SHOWS YOUR HOMES BUILT, SHOWS WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.

ALL YOU HAVE DONE IS TALK.

YOU'RE GREAT TALKER, YOU HAVE TO START WALKING IT.

NICK: COUNCILMAN REED, RESPOND.

ZACK REED: $8.5 MILLION PROJECT, ALL-NEWS -- ALL NEW SCHOOLS IN.

NEW HOUSING ON 144TH.

MR. JONES, MAYBE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS ENSURE -- KNOW WHAT TIME THE COUNCIL STARTS SO YOU WILL NOT MISS HOUSE -- HALF OF THE COUNCIL MEETINGS DURING ZOOM.

>> YOU SHOULD BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU GO, MY FRIEND.

NICK: SENATOR WILLIAMS, 30 SECONDS ON THIS QUESTION, WHICH I WILL REMIND YOU IS ABOUT ATTRACTING AND RETAINING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO CLEVELAND.

SANDRA WILLIAMS: I THINK WE HAVE TO GET OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES OF JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE GONE OFF TO COLLEGE AND CAME BACK AND COULD NOT FIND A JOB.

AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW THIS.

WE HAVE COMPANIES THERE SOME OF THE BEST IN OUR CITY, BUT WE STILL NEED TO ATTRACT NEW COMPANIES.

COMPANIES WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO WORK.

WE ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OTHER MINORITIES IN THE CITY NOT HAVING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF OPPORTUNITIES.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SANDRA WILLIAMS: WE MUST ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF SMALL-BUSINESS BUSINESS AND MINORITY BUSINESS.

>> YOUNG FAMILIES ARE GOING TO GO WHERE JOBS ARE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEST INDUSTRIES HAVE OF ATTRACTING PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM SO THERE WILL BE PLENTIFUL JOBS AND INDUSTRY WILL EXPAND.

THEY WILL STAY IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN THEY ARE SAFE AND THERE'S GOOD SCHOOLS TO SEND THEM TO.

I ALSO LOOK AT AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND HOW WE ARE RE--- REACHING OUT FOR INDIGENT POPULATIONS, REFUGEE POPULATIONS.

WE ARE NOT DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF BRINGING THEM TO CLEVELAND.

NICK: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

SHE ASKED ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES, SPECIFICALLY THOSE IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

>> WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT YOU WERE IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND YOU WALKED AROUND AND VISITED ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES -- HISPANIC BUSINESSES AND SAID THAT WITH THE OWNERS TO SEE THE STRUGGLES AND THEIR NEEDS BEFORE, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH THE PANDEMIC, AND WHERE YOU WERE TO DO ABOUT IT?

NICK: COUNCIL PRESIDENT KEVIN KELLEY.

KEVIN KELLEY: LAST WEEK, AND BEFORE THAT, THERE ARE SOME GREAT SMALL BUSINESSES ON 787 AND MEMPHIS AVENUE.

A GREAT LITTLE PURSE RESORT.

I WENT ON 25TH STREET AND MET WITH A LOT OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS THERE.

SOME OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THAT WEST 24TH STREET PORTER TO THRIVE.

WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

-- FOUR-DOOR TO THRIVE.

WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

I ASSUME THAT SHE HAS VISITED THE 787 MARKET ON MEMPHIS AVENUE.

I BELIEVE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, I BELIEVE THAT THAT CORRIDOR IS ALREADY TO GO.

THAT IS WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FUTURE.

NICK: MR. DIBELLO, THIS QUESTION IS ALSO FOR YOU, YOU HAVE THE FULL TIME.

ROSS DIBELLO: ONE OF OUR FIRST DEBATES WAS AT 4407.

WE SAT WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE GROUP STOOD UP AND SAID, THEY TOLD US THEY WERE DOING IS A BIG FAVOR BY GIVING OUR GROUP OF SMALL BUSINESSES $50,000.

THE NEXT DAY THEY GAVE 1.8 MILLION DOLLARS TO ONE PROJECT DOWNTOWN.

MY THOUGHT IS, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAY THAT 10, 15 YEARS AGO.

WE NEED THAT PUBLIC LEDGER.

$50,000 IS PEANUTS TO A GROUP OF HISPANIC SMALL BUSINESSES.

KNOW THE AMOUNTS OF MIGHT THROWN AROUND.

WE NEED YOU TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE BETTER TO US, AND SEE WHERE OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING.

NICK: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN REED, SAME QUESTION ABOUT SUPPORTING HISPANIC SMALL BUSINESSES.

ZACK REED: AS THE MINORITY AFFAIRS COORDINATOR FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE, MY JOB WAS TO TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE OF OHIO, TALKING TO MINORITY BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ON WAYS WE CAN GROW BUSINESSES, START A BUSINESS, BRO A BUSINESS AND MAINTAIN A BUSINESS.

ONE OF THE STOPS I ASKED THE SECRETARY TO COME TO WAS HERE ON WEST WING FIFTH.

WE MET WITH THE BUSINESS OWNER AND TALKED ABOUT THE FACT SHE WANTS TO BUILD A HISPANIC INCUBATOR ON WEST WING FIFTH.

THEY NEED TO FUND IT.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT A CITY SHOULD EMBRACE THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

THE FACT THAT WE HAD $511 MILLION, WE SHOULD BE GIVING A PORTION OF THAT FUNDING, LIKE CINCINNATI IS, TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO GROW JOBS AND BUSINESSES.

WHEN I MAYOR OF THE SAVE CLEVELAND, I'M GOING TO TAKE WHAT I LEARNED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND CREATE JOBS IN THE HUMAN -- HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

NICK: A FEW HANDS UP.

COUNCILMAN JONES, I SAW YOURS FIRST.

BASHEER JONES: IF WE WANT TO INCREASE POPULATION, WE MUST MAKE SURE WE ARE SUPPORTING A DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

AT THE WEST SIDE MARKET, TALKING TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS, JUST TO SEE HOW WE HAVE FAILED THEM.

THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

OVER 60% OF BUSINESS IN AMERICA IS SMALL BUSINESSES.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TAKE THE FUNDING FROM THE $511 MILLION TO MAKE SURE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES GET THE GRANTS THEY NEED.

NICK: SENATOR WILLIAMS, YOUR NEXT, 30 SECONDS.

SANDRA WILLIAMS: YES, I HAVE SAT DOWN WITH HISPANIC BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF CLEVELAND AND STATE OF OHIO.

THEY HAVE CITED THE LACK OF SUPPORT AND RESOURCES AND THE DIFFICULTY IN DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

MY ANSWER IS WE ARE GOING TO CREATE A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

WE ARE GOING TO REMOVE THE RED TAPE THAT EXISTS.

IT SHOULD NOT TAKE IT AS LONG.

NICK: THANK YOU.

CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH?

DENNIS KUCHINICH: THROUGH THE 16 YEARS I WAS IN THE U.S. CONGRESS.

I -- SPENT EVERY DAY CHECKING WITH BUSINESSES.

HIS NAME WAS LOUIS GOMEZ.

HE REACHED OUT.

I INTEND AS MAYOR TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHOSE JOB WILL BE TO REACH OUT TO THE HISPANIC BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND SEE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE WITH RESPECT TO BANKING AND MARKETING AND THE THINGS THEY CAN HELP MAKE A BUSINESS THRIVE.

NICK: THANK YOU.

MR. JUSTIN BIBB.

JUSTIN BIBB: WE TALKED ABOUT -- THE PENGUINS PIERCING FROM OUR HISPANIC BUSINESSES THAT ECHO THE POLICIES DIVERSITY.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT TOOK MONTHS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO GET THE RELIEF THEY DESERVE.

WE HAVE AN OUTDATED CITY HALL.

WE HAVE TO BE A MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY CITY.

IT TAKES A MAYOR WHO CAN BE HANDS-ON TO CREATE GOOD QUALITY JOBS.

NICK: YOU ARE TUNING INTO THE MAYORAL DEBATE.

WE ARE SPEAKING WITH THE SEVEN CANDIDATES WERE COMPETING IN THE SEPTEMBER 14 MAYORAL PRIMARY.

WE TURN NOW TO TWO RELATED ISSUES.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION.

THIS QUESTION IS FROM AUBREY FOX AND THE JEFFERSON NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR OUR WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING OUR FAILED RECYCLING PROGRAM?

NICK: WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE FIELD CYCLING -- RECYCLING PROGRAM.

>> IT IS A SHAME THAT IT TOOK NEARLY TWO YEARS FOR THIS MAYOR AND COUNCIL LEADERSHIP TO BE TRANSPARENT.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE GONE TO A CURBSIDE PROGRAM, THAT IS OK.

I BELIEVE IS THE NEXT MAYOR, WE HAVE TO HIT THE RESET BUTTONED.

INVEST IN MORE COMMUNITY EDUCATION TO GET OUR RED -- RESIDENCY EDUCATION ON HOW TO RECYCLE.

WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB AS A CITY OF INVESTING.

YOU LOOK AT THE GREAT PROGRAM DANIEL BROWN STARTED, INVESTING IN COMPOSTING.

IT IS THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS RECYCLING PROBLEM.

NICK: FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE ENDS AND OUTS, CLEVELAND HAS RESTARTED ITS RECYCLING PROGRAM, BUT IS OFTEN.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT KEVIN KELLEY, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

KEVIN KELLEY": WE ALL NEED TO BE COMMITTED CHECK HOW WOULD YOU BETTER WITH OUR SOLID WASTE.

THE RECYCLING PROGRAM THAT COLLAPSED, WE FAILED EDUCATING PEOPLE IN TERMS OF WHEN IT WAS ENDING, AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TO BRING THE PROGRAM BACK.

WE ARE STARTING WITH A MORE LIMITED PROGRAM.

WE START WITH THOSE GOODS WHERE THERE IS A MARKET, FOR FIBERS, ALUMINUM, SOME PLASTICS.

THE DAYS OF STORING EVERYTHING IN A LOO BUCKET ARE OVER.

WE CAN GET BACK TO A MORE ROBUST RECYCLING PROGRAM, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CREATING THE ECONOMY IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, WE SHOULD NOT BE SIPPING OUR RATE -- SHIPPING OUR RECYCLED GOODS OUT OF THE CITY.

WE SHOULD DO OUR OWN RECYCLING, BUT IT BACK INTO PRODUCTIVE USE.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES AND CHALLENGES OF RECYCLING WITH THIS MARKET.

NICK: COUNCILMAN JONES, EURONEXT.

-- YOU ARE NEXT.

BASHEER JONES: COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT.

DUMPING IS A MAJOR ISSUE IN OUR CITY.

THE PLAN IS FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GREAT RECYCLABLE PROGRAM, BUT ALSO, I'M GOING TO BRING CITY SERVICES TO YOU.

I'M NOT GOING TO WAIT FOR YOU TO COME.

CITY HALL HAS TO COME TO YOU.

AS MAYOR, I'M BOARDWALK THE STREETS, FIX THE SIDEWALKS, TO CARE THE STREETS.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN TRUST US.

WE HAVE TO REBUILD THE TRUST BACK IN THE CITY.

I GET IT.

IF WE DO NOT LISTEN TO YOU, THAT IS WHY YOU LEAVE THE CITY.

THAT IS WHY YOU DO NOT BELIEVE WE CAN TAKE CARE A BUSINESS.

WE ARE GOING TO COME RIGHT YOUR DOORSTEP.

WHETHER IT IS RECYCLING, OR DEALING WITH DUMPING, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

WE WILL IMPLEMENT THE SOLUTIONS WE COME UP WITH TOGETHER.

NICK: CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH, 30 SECONDS.

DENNIS KUCHINICH: YOU CANNOT BLAME THE PEOPLE OF CLEVELAND FOR THE FAILURES OF WASTE MANAGEMENT.

YOU HAVE TO BLAME CITY HALL.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO RECYCLE FAILED LEADERSHIP.

NICK: THANK YOU.

WE WILL GO NEXT TO COUNCILMAN ZACK REED.

ZACK REED: LET US BE CLEAR.

WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.

THE FACT THAT CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL DID NOT KNOW THAT RECYCLING HAD STOPPED IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND IS A ALARMING DISH -- IS ALARMING AND A SHAME.

YOU CANNOT BLAME THIS ON THE CITIZENS.

YOU HAVE TO LAY THE BLAME WHERE IT IS, AT CITY HALL.

WHEN I AM MAYOR, WE ARE GOING TO FIX CITY SERVICES.

NICK: THANK YOU.

SENATOR WILLIAMS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

SANDRA WILLIAMS: AS MAYOR, YOU HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT AND HONEST WITH THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO REPRESENT.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WILL GET FROM ME.

IF I WERE NOT GOING TO BE DUMPING YOUR RECYCLABLES THERE, YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HONEST WITH PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO TEACH PEOPLE WHERE THE RECYCLING GOES.

THERE ARE SO MAKE RULES ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT RECYCLE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED ABOUT HOW TO RECYCLE.

NICK: MR. DIBELLO, 30 SECONDS FOR YOU.

ROSS DIBELLO: WE SHOULD BE CLAIMING THE TEAM OR WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION.

THERE WOULD STILL BE THE TRUCKS, WE NEED TO DO RECYCLING.

JUST PAY THE $7 MILLION.

WE NEED TO START COMPOSTING.

BEYOND THAT, WE HAVE A PLACE THAT HAS BEEN WRACKED, AND IN ENVIRONMENTALLY JUSTICE SENSE.

THIS GOES WELL BEYOND RECYCLING.

NICK: THANK YOU.

WE MOVE ONTO ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.

ONE OF CLEVELAND'S BIGGEST ASSETS IS LAKE ERIE.

>> LAKE ERIE AND THE REST OF THE GREAT LAKES ARE THE LARGEST BODIES OF FRESHWATER IN THE COUNTRY.

AS ACCESS TO FRESH WATER BECOMES INCREASINGLY SCARCE, AND FURTHER COMMODIFIED, WHAT SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY WOULD YOU CHAMPION TO PRESERVE LAKE ERIE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME?

NICK: COUNCILMAN REED, HOW WOULD YOU PRESERVE LAKE ERIE?

ZACK REED: THE FIRST THING I WOULD DO, LIKE PEARL B STOKES, I WOULD GO TO A RIVER AND SAY THIS IS A GREAT ASSET.

WE NEED TO PRESERVE IT.

ONE THING THAT I WOULD DO, I HAVE 11 YEARS WORKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

MY JOB WAS TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OHIO.

I HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF DOING SOMETHING ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCES AND PRESERVING SOME.

THE OTHER THING I WOULD DO HIS WORK WITH OUR SENATORS AND PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON DC TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS KNOW THAT DUMPING FERTILIZER AND COMING DOWN TO OUR NATURAL RESOURCES IS NOT NEGOTIABLE.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT IT.

WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR LEADERS IN WASHINGTON, LEADERS IN COLUMBUS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THIS FRESH BODY OF WATER, A GREAT NATURAL RESOURCE, AND WE ARE BORN TO PRESERVE IT BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

NICK: CONGRESSMAN TWO SAYS, YOU HAVE THE FULL TIME FOR THIS, HOW WOULD YOU PRESERVE LAKE ERIE?

DENNIS KUCHINICH: AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, I HOPE TO MOVE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE U.S. CANADIAN COMMISSION TO STOP THE TAKING OF BOTH WATER RESOURCES OUT OF LAKE ERIE.

IT IS OUR FUTURE, OUR HEALTH, THE PATH FOR CLEVELAND REESTABLISH ITSELF NATIONALLY.

SPECIFICALLY, I WANT TO SEE TREEPLANTING ALONG WATERWAYS TO STABILIZE BANKS.

I WANT TO CREATE FLOATING WETLANDS TO HELP PURIFY THE WATER NEAR THE SHORE.

BEYOND THAT, WE NEED TO STOP THE USE OF PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDES BY CITY HALL AND HELP OUR RESIDENTS LEARN HOW THEY CAN USE NON-TOXIC MEANS OF LONG CARE -- LAWN CARE.

THIS LAKE IS SO PRECIOUS TO US, IS NOT SPARE OF THE SAVED CLEVELAND, I'M PREPARED TO LEAD THE WAY TO PROTECTING AS A NATURAL RESOURCE AND A SOURCE OF WATER, RECREATION, EVERYTHING IT DOES.

NICK: SENATOR WILLIAMS, I HAD YOU ON MY LIST FOR THE FULL TIME FOR THIS QUESTION.

MY APOLOGIES TO THOSE THEIR HANDS UP, WE ARE BEING CLOSE TO THE END.

SANDRA WILLIAMS: THE FIRST THING I WOULD DO IS MAKE SURE THAT OUR WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY.

IT IS GOOD SYSTEM, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING OUR CHECKS AND BALANCES.

WE DO NOT WANT TO BE LIKE THE CITY IN MICHIGAN.

I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE OHIO EPA AS WELL AS THE COALITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE IN THE STATE OF OHIO AND SURROUNDING CITIES MAKING SURE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING OUR BODIES OF WATER.

YEARS AGO, IN THE AREA OF TOLEDO, OHIO, THEY HAD ALGAE BLOOMS, BECAUSE ALL TYPES OF PROBLEMS.

YOU HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE WHEN PROTECTING OUR WATERWAYS.

I WILL DO THAT WORKING WITH SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND STATES AND THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL.

NICK: THANK YOU.

WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT QUESTION, I WILL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP IN SOON.

WE CANNOT TALK ABOUT PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT BY CUTTING GREENHOUSE GASES WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.

>> HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE CITIES -- THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION STRUCTURE TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE AND HOW WOULD YOU FIND IT?

NICK: MR. JUSTIN BIBB, THIS QUESTION TO YOU FIRST.

JUSTIN BIBB: I HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT EXPERIENCE HAVING BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR THREE YEARS.

THIS IS ABOUT ACCESS TO GETTING TO A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT, TO GETTING INTO A GOOD JOB, GOING TO SCHOOL.

WE AS A CITY MUST TAKE A PROACTIVE ROLE TO INVEST IN QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSIT ACROSS OUR CITY.

THE NEXT MAYOR MUST WORK WITH THE CEO OF RPA AND OTHER LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO EXPLORE ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES TO BETTER INVEST IN PUBLIC TRANSIT.

I WANT TO CREATE A DEPARTMENT ABOUT ABILITY AND TRANSPORTATION INSIDE CITY GOVERNMENT SO WE CAN BETTER INVEST IN TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO IN MULTIMODAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS SO OUR RESIDENTS CAN GET THE ACCESS TO GOOD TRANSIT THEY DESERVE AND NEED.

I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I POINT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF RPA THAT REFLECT THE LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT OUR RIDERS SEE DAY IN, DAY OUT.

NICK: MR. TO BELLOW?

ROSS DIBELLO: WE WANT TO RESTORE RIDERSHIP TO PRE-2006 LEVELS.

WE HAVE LOST MONEY, AND RIDERS.

THIS IS DOWNWARD SPIRAL.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT FOR FUNDING.

WE ARE GETTING $511 MILLION.

RPA IS GOING TO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.

-- $200 MILLION.

THAT IS NOT PERPETUATING AND SUSTAINABLE.

COUNTYWIDE, WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK AT NEW FORMS OF TAXATION, WE MAY HAVE TO TAX PARKING.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE IT MORE POPULAR AND AFFORDABLE.

WE WANT TO GET TO FREE FARES.

IT IS NOT FREE -- INCOME BASE.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT WORK FRIENDLY AND CLEAN.

WE WANT ALL DOOR BOARDING COME UP MORE ROUTES YEAR-ROUND WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF WHEREVER YOU LIVE.

THAT IS GOING TO TAKE WORK.

NICK: COUNCIL PRESIDENT KEVIN KELLEY, THE FULL MINUTE.

KEVIN KELLEY: TRANSPORTATION IS CRITICAL TO GETTING TO JOBS, GETTING TO SCHOOL COME AGAIN TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS.

IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON LIKE A LASER.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS REALIZE WHERE THE REAL ENEMY IS, THAT IS IN COLUMBUS.

THE STATE FUNDING OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS SHAMEFUL.

WE NEED TO USE OUR COLLECTIVE POLITICAL LOBBYING ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET MORE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

THAT HAS GOT TO BE THE JOB OF THE NEXT MAYOR, ALWAYS BE LOBBYING FOR THAT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR SMART POLICY, TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT.

WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT TRANSPORTATION IS KEY.

EVERY TIME WE DO A ROAD PROJECT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WITH VISION ZERO, WE IDENTIFY THOSE INTERSECTIONS.

WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT MOST PEOPLE CARE MOST ABOUT THE ROADS THAT THEY DRIVE ON.

THE STREETS OR SIDESTREETS.

WE ARE MAKING GREAT STRIDES THERE.

NICK: COUNCILMAN JONES, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.

BASHEER JONES: WE HAVE TO PUT SOME RESPECT FOR THE SAME.

DOES CARL STOKES.

WITHOUT HIM, THERE IS NO EPA.

OUR LAKE HAS TO BE NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE ECOSYSTEM, BUT ALSO THE ECONOMY.

WHAT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION, AS MAYOR, IT IS ALL ABOUT BEING A CHAMPION.

NO INSTITUTION WILL BE IN THE CITY AND OUTPUT RESIDENTS FIRST.

WE WANT TO HEAR THEIR THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS.

IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT YOU HAVE AN RPA THAT REMOVED FROM THE BUSES FROM THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HAVE A SAY.

NICK: COUNCILMAN REED, WE WILL GO TO YOU THAN SENATOR WILLIAMS.

ZACK REED: FIRST OF ALL, A MAYOR NEEDS TO PUT BOARD MEMBERS THAT UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORTATION.

WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE WALKING THE WALK AND TALKING THE TALK, WHEN THE MAYOR OF THE SAVE CLEVELAND SHUTDOWN PUBLIC SQUARE AND DID NOT ALLOW BUSES TO GO THROUGH, THE BOARD DID NOT SAY ANYTHING.

IT TOOK CITIZENS LIKE MYSELF TO GO OUT AND DEMAND THAT WE OPEN THIS PUBLIC SQUARE BACK UP.

PEOPLE WERE BEING LATE TO WORK AND DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND GOING WHERE THEY NEED TO GO BECAUSE THE MAYOR STEPPED UP, CLOSE DOWN PUBLIC SQUARE, IT TOOK CITIZENS LIKE ME AND OTHERS TO GET OPEN.

NICK: I DO NEED TO MOVE ON.

JUSTIN BIBB MR.JUSTIN BIBB JUSTIN BIBB I WILL GIVE YOU A MOMENT TO RESPOND.

JUSTIN BIBB: AS MAYOR I'M BEEN A DO EVERYTHING I CAN NOT ONLY TO OPEN PUBLIC SQUARE, FOLKS ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THAT AS WELL.

NICK: SENATOR WILLIAMS COME UP VERY BRIEFLY.

WE HAVE TO GO THE LAST QUESTION.

SANDRA WILLIAMS: I JUST PROBLEM 33 MILLION DOLLARS IN TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OHIO HISTORY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE GREATER CLEVELAND TRANSIT AUTHORITY ON THE TRACK SYSTEM.

THAT IS THE OHIO DEPARTMENT TRANSPORTATION SO THEY CAN REPLACE THE RAILCARS WE HAVE.

THIS IS NEVER HAPPENED IN THE CITY HISTORY.

SO MAEVE ARE RESIDENTS ARE TRAVELING OUTSIDE CLEVELAND TO GO TO WORK.

WE NEED TO HAVE DIRECT TRANSPORTATION FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS NOT TO HAVE TO CATCH TWO TO THREE BUSES TO GET TO WORK.

NICK: NOT SURE IF I SAW ANY OTHER REBUTTALS.

CONGRESSMAN?

DENNIS KUCHINICH: I HELPED FORM THE REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

THE BASIS WAS THIS, LOW FARES, INCREASING THE FREQUENCY AND DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICE.

OUR POPULATION IS GREATLY DIFFERENT NOW.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE SERVICES GO TOWARD PEOPLE.

THEIR NEW PLAN DOES NOT DO THAT.

I'M GOING TO SEE THAT PLAN REEVALUATED.

THERE WERE PEOPLE ON EACH SIDE THAT COULD NOT GET TO WORK, THEY HAD WALKED THREE BLOCKS TO CATCH UP BOSS.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THE TRANSIT DEPENDENT ARE ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO ABBAS NEARBY.

NICK WVIZ.ORG -- TO ABBAS NEARBY.

NICK: CANDIDATES, YOU WILL HAVE 60 SECONDS TO DELIVER CLOSING REMARKS.

BEGIN WITH ROSS DIBELLO.

ROSS DIBELLO LET ME BE CLEAR: CLEVELAND.

WE ARE NOT GOING -- WE NEED CHANGE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET WITH THE SIX.

I WANT THIS JOB.

LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT SEPARATES ME FROM THESE SIX.

I WANT FULL-BLOWN PUBLIC COMMENT AND PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING ON EVERY PENNY.

I WANT TO END THE 15 YEAR TAX ABATEMENT.

I WANT TO STOP GIVING OUR TAX DOLLARS MILLIONAIRES.

I WANT TO START A PUBLIC BANK.

LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT HOW SOME OF MY OPPONENTS SEE END-USE CRIME.

A FEW OF THEM WANT TO ADD HUNDREDS OF OFFICERS.

11-STEP TAKE THE OFFICERS WORKING ON DESKS AND PUT THEM ON THE STREETS.

THIS EITHER MEANS THAT THEY DO NOT GET THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME, OR THAT THEY GET IT, BUT DO NOT CARE ABOUT OUR MENTAL WELL-BEING AND THE LEVEL OF DISCOURSE.

THEY ARE MORE OF THE SAME.

I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE BECAUSE I WANT THIS JOB.

NICK: CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH, YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT.

DENNIS KUCHINICH: SOME OF MY OPPONENTS IN THIS RACE REFERRED TO ME AS DENNIS THE MENACE.

LET ME ASSURE THEM, THAT IS CORRECT.

I AM AN MENACE, TO VIOLENT CRIMINALS WHO ARE RUNNING IN THE STREETS.

I'M A MENACE TO BANKS TO REDLINE.

I'M A MENACE TO UTILITIES WHICH PRICE GOUGE PEOPLE.

I'M A MENACE TO CRICKET POLITICIANS WHO STEAL FROM THE TAXPAYERS, AND THOSE WHO LOOK THE OTHER WAY.

PEOPLE OF CLEVELAND KNOW ME, AND TRUST ME.

THEY KNOW I PUT MY CAREER ON THE LINE.

WE WILL SEE THE RESIDENTIAL RATES REDUCED WHEN I GET THEM.

PEOPLE KNOW I STAND UP FOR THEM, SPEAK OUT FOR THEM.

THAT THEY CAN RELY ON ME WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN, WHEN EVERYONE ELSE FEELS THEM, THE PEOPLE CLEVELAND KNOW I WILL BE THERE FOR THEM.

GO TO KUCINICH.COM.

TO RESTORE GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE FOR THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

NICK: COUNCIL PRESIDENT KEVIN KELLEY.

KEVIN KELLEY: I WANT TO THANK ALL THE CANDIDATES NEVER ONE WHO HELPED PUT THIS TOGETHER.

THIS IS BEEN A LIVELY TWO DEBATES THAT WE WENT THROUGH.

HOPEFULLY THE VIEWERS UNDERSTAND BY WATCHING THIS THAT THESE ARE SERIOUS TIMES FOR THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

THESE ARE CRITICAL MOMENTS.

THIS IS NO TIME FOR A QUANTUM LEAP BACKWARDS.

THIS IS NO TIME FOR SAY ANYTHING POLITICS TO DETERMINE THIS.

IT IS NO TIME FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.

THESE ARE SERIOUS TIMES, NOT TIMES FOR PLATITUDE, FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.

I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF WARD 13, AND THE COLLEAGUES TO ELECT ME PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

THIS IS PREPARE ME TO BE YOUR MAYOR.

WE NEED A COMPETENT, EXPERIENCED MAYOR, READY TO LEAD ON DAY ONE.

THAT IS WHAT I WILL BRING TO THIS JOB.

THINK YOU, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT.

NICK: SENATOR SANDRA WILLIAMS.

SANDRA WILLIAMS: I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE SPONSORS WHO PUT THIS EVENT ON PUREE DAY BECAUSE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHO WILL BE HERE -- WHO WILL BE YOUR NEXT MAYOR.

I BELIEVE THE NEXT MAYOR OF CLEVELAND WILL BE ME.

I AM OFFICIALLY ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE, BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY WOMAN IN THIS RACE, BUT BECAUSE I AM THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON.

WE ARE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE.

WE HAVE SO MANY ISSUES TO ADDRESS IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND THAT HAVE GONE ON FACED FOR A LONG TIME.

MY JOB HISTORY HAS PREPARED ME FOR THIS BIG TASK.

I HAVE SERVED THIS COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVES.

I'VE SERVED 10.5 YEARS IN THE FIELD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I HAVE SERVED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, FIGHTING FOR YOU, BRINGING HOME DOLLARS TO HELP TRANSFORM THE CITY.

WE HAVE TO MUCH AT STAKE TO LEAVE THE CITY IN THE HANDS OF SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT PREPARED.

I BELIEVE I AM THAT LEADER, I AM AGAIN ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NICK: NEXT, THE CLOSING STATEMENT FROM JUSTIN BIBB.

JUSTIN BIBB: WHAT YOU HEARD TONIGHT IS THAT THE GREAT PROMISE OF OUR CITY IS SO REAL.

THE FAILED POLITICS OF THE PAST WILL NOT GET US THERE.

IN THIS ELECTION, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT ALL, NEW, VISIONARY LEADERSHIP THE PARTNERS WITH YOU TO LEADER OUR CITY FORWARD.

PAST STARTS BY PUTTING PEOPLE AND NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST.

GOVERNMENT ALONE CANNOT CREATE CHANGE.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT LIVE THESE ISSUES AND SEE THESE ISSUES DAY IN AND DAY OUT, YOU ARE THE ONES THAT CAN HELP THE NEXT MAYOR CREATE CHANGE.

YOU DESERVE YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD FOR SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS, MORE POLICING, BETTER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SO THEY CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL.

I AM JUSTIN BIBB.

I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN TURN THIS MOMENT INTO A MOVEMENT.

NICK: NEXT, COUNCILMAN BASHEER JONES.

BASHEER JONES: MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY FROM BREAST CANCER 11 YEARS AGO.

I CAN REMEMBER SLEEPING IN SHELTERS IN CLEVELAND.

SHE WOULD TELL ME, TRUE SUCCESS IS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU GAIN, BUT IT IS ABOUT WHAT YOU GIVE.

I CAN REMEMBER SITTING IN THE BRICK PROGRAM AND REVERENDS, SING DOWN WITH THESE GREAT MEN WHO WOULD SAY TO ME AND MIKE NELSON, WHO SAID YOU CAN GO UP TO MOREHOUSE, BUT MAKE SURE YOU COME BACK TO THE CITY AND WORK.

WE NEED A GENERATION OF CHANGE.

THAT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.

I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WITHIN OUR OWN GENERATION, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

I'M NOT JUST SOMEONE WHO WALKED IN, BUT SOMEBODY THAT TALKED IT.

I WORKED WITH GREAT LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO ASSISTED ME.

I HAVE THE SUCCESS OF BEING A PUBLIC OFFICIAL COME UP I HAVE EVEN MORE SUCCESS OF BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT.

FOLLOW US, FOLLOW YOUR JOURNEY, I AM ASKING FOR YOUR BOAT AND YOUR PRAYERS.

GOD BLESS YOU.

NICK: CLOSING US OUT, CONGRESSMAN ZACK REED.

ZACK REED: I AM ZACK REED, I'M RUNNING FOR CITY -- FOR MAYOR OF CLEVELAND.

ALL ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT THE FUTURE.

WHEN YOU LOOK UP AND LOOK OVER THE HORIZON, AS WE GO DOWN THIS PATHWAY TO ELECT THE NEXT MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, THINK ABOUT IT.

ONE CANDIDATE HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR 16 YEARS AND HAS FAILED AT EVERY REGARD WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING OUR CITY SAFER, PROVIDING CITY SERVICES, AND REDUCING POVERTY.

YET THEY TALKED ABOUT CHANGE.

ANOTHER ONE TOMORROW WOULD STAND WITH SOMEONE BY THE NAME OF MAYOR OUR WAY AND RECEIVE HIS ENDORSEMENT, WHO WAS MAYOR OVER 20 YEARS AGO.

YET WE TALK ABOUT PROGRESS AND CHANGE.

YOU NEED SOMEONE ON DAY ONE LIKE MYSELF TO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO GO DOWN THERE AND ENSURE THAT OUR CITY IS GOING TO BE SAFER, WE ARE GOING TO REDUCE POVERTY, AND WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE CITY SERVICES TO EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

MY NAME IS ZACK REED, I'M ASKING FOR YOUR BOAT ON SEPTEMBER 14.

-- YOUR VOTE ON SEPTEMBER 14.

NICK: THANK YOU.

THIS PRODUCED WAS PRODUCED BY IDS -- IDEASTREAM.

OUR FIRST PARTNERS ARE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND.

OUR THANKS TO THE CANDIDATES FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS DEBATE.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING THE TIME, ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS AND HAVING A RESPECTFUL AND HONEST CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER.

I WANT TO THANK THE BOATERS IN THIS COMMUNITY -- THE VOTERS IN THIS COMMITTEE -- COMMUNITY.

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY PODCAST, AFTER JACKSON, CLEVELAND'S NEXT MAYOR.

I AM NICK CASTELE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪ >> CLEVELAND MAYORAL DEBATE COME UP