Learn more about what’s happening
at the Cleveland Heights City Hall
and what it says about
the health of our
local democracy
Financially Paralyzed: Cleveland Heights Has No Bond Rating—And Why It Matters
Cleveland Heights currently has no bond rating. Not a low rating. Not a downgraded rating. No rating at all. And this was entirely preventable. Now, large project, such as restoring Lower Lake or fulfilling our consent decree with the EPA repair our sewers
Games Seren Plays: How Our Mayor Undermines City Council and Our City
Mayor Seren withholds info, breaks rules, and mismanages finances. Learn how these “games” harm Cleveland Heights and why a recall is needed.
“Completely Devoid of Substance”: Special Master Finds City’s Refusal to Release Bodycam Footage Baseless, Recommends City Pays for All Legal Costs
A Special Master has issued a scathing recommendation against the City of Cleveland Heights for refusing to release body-worn camera footage of Mayor Seren’s wife’s obscene outburst inside City Hall on December 6, 2024. Dismissing the City’s defense as “completely devoid of substance,” the Special Master found that there was no legal basis for hiding the footage.
What Leadership Looks Like When It Fails: December 6, 2024, at Cleveland Heights City Hall
On December 6, 2024, Mayor Kahlil Seren stood by while his wife shouted and cursed inside Cleveland Heights City Hall for over 20 minutes—making no effort to de-escalate the situation or protect staff. This incident, and the city’s refusal to release key footage, raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and leadership in a democratic society.
When Silence Is Safety: What One Employee’s Email Reveals About Power, Fear, and Democracy in Cleveland Heights
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.
The Secret Survey: Why Transparency and Trust in Government Matter More Than Ever
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.
Crisis in Cleveland Heights: Examining Dan Horrigan’s Resignation and Its Implications for Democracy
Emails reveal that Cleveland Heights City Administrator Dan Horrigan resigned after only two months due to an “untenable” work environment caused by Mayor Seren’s wife’s presence at City Hall.
“Let the people know the facts. And the country will be safe.”
Abraham Lincoln
