By Dante Sudilovsky ’17, Editor-in-Chief 

On Thursday, April 7th, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson visited University School during a special assembly hosted by the National Convention Club. Mayor Jackson, in his third term as mayor of Cleveland proper, answered questions regarding this summer’s Republican National Convention, the Cleveland School system, security and terrorism, and the 2016 presidential election.  Jackson spoke candidly regarding difficult questions vollied by University School students in the assembly audience.  The assembly was divided into two segments: Jackson’s five minute speech overviewing the upcoming GOP National Convention followed by a 40 minute Question and Answer Session.

The assembly was hosted by Eric Miranda ’18’s National Convention Club, a group which organizes University School students to get involved in the Convention through volunteering.  On his own volition, Miranda reached out to Mr. Jackson and requested his attendance at University Schol.  Through much dedication, Mr. Jackson and Miranda worked through the mayor’s busy schedule to find time for Thursday’s assembly.  Incredibly, very little administrative involvement occurred in the planning of the assembly.  A student, rather than the administration at large, organized a prominent guest speaker.

 A student, rather than the administration at large, organized a prominent guest speaker.

After an introduction by Eric Miranda, Mr. Jackson opened the assembly with a broad overview of the Convention and work being completed to ensure it will occur without major infrastructure or security concerns.  The Mayor detailed the so-called New Cleveland comprised of gentrifying areas in both the city itself and surrounding suburbs, increasing real estate prices in the heart of the city, expansion in the theater district, and budding tourist infrastructure and attractions— including the May 2012 opening of the Horseshoe Casino and general increases in hotel room availability.  Mr. Jackson reiterated why Cleveland was chosen as the host city for the National Convention— namely the improvements associated with New Cleveland, hotel availability and growth in infrastructure such as the ongoing addition of fiber-optic internet connections at destinations downtown, most importantly the Quicken Loans arena where the Convention will take place.  When asked why Cleveland was selected for the Convention in 2016 whereas its bid was declined by the DNC for its convention in 2008, Mr. Jackson stated that the increase in hotel availability and improvements in infrastructure were key to making the bid winnable.

Mr. Jackson discussed security at the convention, a topic which is quickly evolving in light of tension at GOP political rallies and a recent online petition to allow guns at the convention which garnered over 50,000 signatures. The City of Cleveland received a $50 million security grant from the federal government to bolster security.  According to Jackson, roughly 2,000 police officers from other police forces will join Cleveland officers in order to secure the ‘Convention Perimeter,’ the area surrounding the convention zone which these officers are tasked with protecting.  Mr. Jackson said that federal forces including the Secret Service will be responsible for security within the Convention Zone.  In an event likely to garner thousands of protesters along with roughly 50,000 attendants, the City of Cleveland recently solicited a bid for 2,000 sets of riot gear and steel barricades for crowd control.

The Mayor talked about efforts by private industry to raise the necessary $60 million to ensure a successful convention.  When asked by a student in the audience why the city would take such a risk, Mr. Jackson responded smartly,  reiterating a classic statement that reward cannot be reaped without risk.  Moreover, several students asked about the long term economic impact of the Convention.  Naturally, Mr. Jackson stated that the Convention should bring more tourists to the city, increase investment and city revenue, and bring international prominence to the city.  The Mayor said he believed the Convention will have a long term, positive impact on the city on its road to becoming a truly New Cleveland.

The Mayor said he believed the Convention will have a long term, positive impact on the city on its road to becoming a truly New Cleveland.

Before closing the Q & A session, Mr.  Jackson took a final question from Henry Shapard ’16 asking who he wants as the GOP presidential nominee. The mayor, a Democrat, stated he would like either Mr. Ted Cruz or Mr. Donald Trump as the GOP nominee and would prefer Mr. Bernie Sanders as the Democratic nominee, although he believes Mrs. Hillary Clinton will likely clinch the nomination.

As a whole, the discussion was well received from University School students as interesting and intellectually stimulating.  Mr. Jackson did not shy away from difficult questions, but answered them with transparency.  On behalf of the US News and the University School community,  I would like to sincerely thank Mr. Jackson for taking time out of his busy schedule to visit University School. It was a uniquely US experience which illustrates just one more reason why US is special.

 It was a uniquely US experience which illustrates just one more reason why US is a special place.

A brief gallery of photography from the event is available below:

Gallery • 9 Photos