Ten days after a Cleveland Heights city employee sent an email to the HR manager detailing an incident of verbal abuse by the mayor’s wife—and expressing a deep fear for her safety in the workplace—she was placed on administrative leave by the mayor himself. A little over two weeks later, she resigned from her position.

A hidden $48,000 contract between Cleveland Heights and Burges & Burges Strategists to conduct a citywide satisfaction survey—without public or council oversight—raises serious concerns about transparency and potential misuse of taxpayer dollars. Despite Mayor Seren’s public assurances that no survey would be conducted in an election year, the contract was quietly executed, leaving residents questioning whether public resources were used for political advantage.