The Reader Beat aims to cover city and county council meetings as well as other important government and community-related meetings. The following is a summary of each meeting for the month of December.
City Council Dec. 3: Public comments addressed the resolution brought forward by council to acknowledge the death of Marchello Woodard and to ask for updates regarding the status of the investigation and to release information to the public to the fullest extent permitted by law. Constituent Shateria Franklin (40 Under 40 Class of 2023), mother of Woodard’s youngest son, urged council to pass the resolution, saying: “We hold positions of power to make change – not to make a name for ourselves, not to build our pockets up, but to actually make change.” A resolution of the Erie City Council requesting transparency and timely public updates regarding the death of Marchello D. Woodard and the ongoing investigation by the Erie County District Attorney and the Pennsylvania Board of Probation & Parole passed unanimously with amendments put forward by Councilmember Chuck Nelson. The amendments included a request by city council for the coroner to sign and release the death certificate.
County Council Dec. 9: This meeting followed the special meeting that was held on Dec. 8, addressing County Executive Brenton Davis’ 2026 budget vetoes. Fourteen of the 21 vetoes issued by Davis were overridden. However, portions of the budget funding the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Commission (Diverse Erie) and Black Wall Street failed to be approved. Constituents spoke out against this vote during the council meetings. “The willingness to claw back that money from an organization that has boosted homeownership amongst Americans in Erie, PA, it’s tough, it spells out the quiet hate that spoils this society,” Constituent Kennedy Horton, son of Council member Andre Horton, said. “That money was clawed back for no other reason than the color of those business (owners) and homeowners.” Constituents and council members alike also spent time recognizing Andre Horton for his 12 years of service in county council, as this was his last meeting before he begins serving on city council in January. Council member Rock Copeland presented Horton with an award and written acknowledgment of his service, highlighting the creation of Erie County Community College, founding youth programs such as the Summer Jobs Program, and his instrumental work in council adopting Resolution 43, 2020 that declares racism a public health crisis. Horton graciously accepted the award while wiping away tears. “The first years, after every meeting no matter the tough votes, like the votes last night, we all used to go out and we’d leave it right here,” Horton said. “That’s my prayer for y’all. After the tough votes, find some place because something happens when you break bread with people.”…