Springfield, Ohio A petition calling for the recall of Springfield's entire city commission is under consideration in response to the city's leadership's failure to address long-standing issues exacerbated by the recent influx of Haitians.
The petition, obtained by Blaze Media, cites Article 59 of the City Charter and says it seeks to recall “all members” of the Springfield City Commission. Named in the draft are Mayor Rob Lew, Vice Mayor David Estrop, Commissioner Crystal Brown, Commissioner Bridget Houston and Commissioner Tracy Tackett.
The petition accuses the city of not enforcing building codes, says the city is using funds that could be used to hire police officers for other purposes, and calls for the removal of city leaders for the following reasons:
- “The current committee members have neglected their public responsibilities.”
- “By willfully abandoning its traditional practice of consistent code enforcement, the Commission has created an intolerable housing crisis. The Commission has allowed unscrupulous landlords to proliferate unsafe rental housing, resulting in residents living in substandard conditions, creating serious occupational hazards for public safety officers deployed to such rental housing, and causing long-term residents to be locked out of the local housing market.”
- “The Commission has failed to maintain an adequate police department. Several years ago, city voters levied a special real estate tax to hire an additional 24 police officers. … Instead of hiring an additional 24 officers, the Commission has used restricted funds for purposes other than officer compensation….”
The housing shortage for Americans in Springfield has become one of the most pressing issues.
Julio Rosas/Blaze Media
A committee to oversee the petition process is still being formed. Once formed, it will formally notify city commissioners, who will be tasked with submitting a 200-word response within five days. The petition will then begin to gather signatures.
A recall election will be held if at least 15 percent of registered voters in the last regular municipal election sign a petition within 30 days.
The housing shortage for U.S. citizens in Springfield has become one of the most pressing issues since 20,000 Haitians arrived over the past few years.
“Instead of putting one family in a three-bedroom home, they're actually renting out a bedroom to each family, which means the landlord is technically tripling the rent. [income]” explained local resident Mark Sanders.
The Blaze-News made multiple calls to the Springfield mayor's office, many of which went unanswered. The Blaze-News tried to leave a message with one person, but the mailbox was full.
Americans who have been forced from their homes and can afford to leave Springfield are doing so, but not everyone has the means. One source shared photos of encampments that have popped up around town:
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