GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Last month, Cuyahoga County Councilmembers approved the proposed site in Garfield Heights for the new county Jail. The land, which has never been developed, would cost an estimated $38 million to purchase outright while entire project is estimated to have a $750 million price tag.
On Wednesday at the Garfield Heights library, a group against the proposal called "No New Jail" held a meeting to discuss what's next. Things got a little heated during a question-and-answer session that included opinions from both sides of the debate.
No New Jail supporter Kareem Hinton says the facility absolutely needs to stay downtown and be renovated.
"In order to avoid people that are getting out and don't have access to the services they need like shelter, like mental health, like substance abuse treatment ... we should keep it in downtown Cleveland," Hinton told reporters following the meeting.
Members of the public also had plenty of questions, like "how do you proceed" if the jail stays where it is near the Justice Center? Others brought up the issue of funding, which they claimed hasn't been discusses as much at pro-jail meetings.
Right now, Cuyahoga County does not have the money for the property. The current sales tax increase is set to expire in 2027, but Council would like to extend that tax for 40 additional years. So far, that has not happened, with an initial proposal to do so being tabled.
"This is an issue that we should be voting on," Hinton said.
However, Garfield Heights City Councilman Clifford Kelley Jr. refutes the belief county residents have not been informed.
"[County Executive] Chris Ronayne and [Garfield Heights] Mayor [Matt] Burke have been pumping this up," he declared. "So to say that no one is doing that, that's is disingenuine [sic]."
The county says meeting organizers did not invite leadership from the Ronayne's office to tonight's meeting There will be other information sessions across the county by the No New Jail group, and their hope is to stop the process and get the new jail issue on the ballot.
