Keba Sylla candidate for Cleveland Heights City Council
Biographical information
What neighborhood or area of the city do you live in? I live in Overlook/ Boulevard area.
How long have you lived in Cleveland Heights? What brought you here?
I have been living in the city for the past 10 years since I came to a Conference at Case Western University.
Tell us about yourself.
I am a Professor at the University of Akron. I have a BA and a MA in Criminal Justice Studies and a Ph.D. (in Progress) in Public Administration at the University of Akron. I am married. I love soccer, I like going to movies, cooking African food and having friends over to my house.
If elected, how would you encourage citizens to participate in decision making?
If elected, I will urge all citizens to come to the city hall, or to send not only their complaints but also their ideas, visions to us, so we can understand their concerns on various issues across the city. Finally, I will organize meetings and urge citizens to participate in those meetings where everyone can voice their concerns, ideas etc.
Describe one innovative idea that would transform the city.
I will support strong public education in our city, by emphasizing behavioral issues with parents, teachers, and administrators. This will ensure future economic growth.
Who are the community stakeholders in Cleveland Heights? What ideas do you have for how these stakeholders can work together toward common goals?
The Community stakeholders are: All the citizens of the City of Cleveland Heights, business owners, non –profit/ grass roots movements, churches, and youth organizations, and political leaders. Once elected I will convene a meeting with all the stakeholders to set an agenda of work on various critical issues in the city. I will urge all of them to create a timely forum in each neighborhood, so all the stakeholders will take part in it and discuss the city’s main concerns.
What is your plan to develop the local economy?
My plan for the local economic development is first, based on the creation of an economic forum team with all economic and business actors in the community under the leadership of the city manager and his team. Second, I will update a comprehensive zoning plan in the city to attract not only new residents but also many businesses and companies which will develop a sustainable economic development.
What are the best qualities of Cleveland Heights and what would you do to sustain them?
The best qualities of Cleveland Heights are the community spirit and its location, parks, side walks, diverse populations, housing and other recreational areas across the city. To maintain this environment, I will urge all citizens to adopt a “green culture” spirit, but also, I will advertize our city to companies and to people to come and live in our city. Finally, I will fight crime and fear of crime to ensure a good and livable community.
How do you view recent residential and commercial developments in terms of overall planning, architecture, functionality and sense of place? What types of new development do you think are appropriate and realistic for Cleveland Heights?
I view recent residential and commercial development in terms of overall planning, architecture, functionality and sense of place, as a little bit old fashioned and not responding to the norms of the 21st green architecture and functionality. I believe, small residential housing with new sustainability technology, more efficient in terms of energy should be encouraged in the city. Business building, storage and recycling buildings are also realistic in our city. Finally, public buildings must also be energy efficient to alleviate the burden of the energy cost for our citizens.
Describe one way that you think the city could realistically work cooperatively with other local governments to reduce costs and/or improve services.
We can share services with other cities by sharing costs regarding winter salt, firefighters, and police cooperation regarding crime.
What would you tell a current resident of the City of Cleveland Heights who was thinking of leaving town?
I will tell them to stay and to take advantage of the great location, the community spirit and the diverse population and the school system, the people of this community have worked for decades, to establish great spirit and neighborhood services here.
How would you market the City of Cleveland Heights to a prospective resident?
I will present our city as one of the most diverse cities in North East Ohio, more tolerant and more livable in term of parks, side walks and recreational areas including libraries.
Please give one concrete example of how you propose to address one of the following real or perceived quality of life issues: crime, litter, vacant storefronts, disengaged youth, foreclosures/vacant houses, population decline, public school performance, high taxes.
If elected, I will focus on crime and related issues across the city and in each neighborhood. As a Professor of Criminal Justice studies, I know how to deal with crime and the fear of crime. Prevention, collaboration with other cities and a strong law enforcement unit are keys to successfully create a safe and healthy community. I will do that once I am elected.
How would you work together with the CH-UH City School District to address the issue you identified above? Please restate the issue you are addressing.
I will make sure we all work together. My plan to address behavioral issues in the city school district is not based on blaming each other. I will urge cooperation and understand that the education of our children is not a game. They are the future of this community, and our economic growth and development depends up on their education. As a city council member and a professor, I will work tirelessly with all members in the community and in the Board of education in the District of CH-UH School District to talk seriously about our schools’ situation. I will organize a forum and a school fun day to raise these issues across the community.
To learn more about this candidate, visit:
Step It Up Video Interviews