A Statement from the Campaign
Fellow Clevelanders,
This may be the most difficult thing I have ever had to write. As of today, Wednesday, May 19, I am suspending the Knaack for Ward 11 campaign. I still care very deeply about affecting positive change for this city, but a combination of factors have led me to the conclusion that I am not capable of operating an effective campaign which can achieve that goal.
These factors include personal time constraints, the stress of running the campaign operation, and mental health struggles which have only worsened over the past few months. Recent discussions with advisors and those close to me have made me realize that these things have a much greater negative impact on the campaign’s effectiveness than I had initially believed. With that in mind, it is clear to me that this is the best course of action both for myself personally and for the community as a whole.
I apologize to everyone who had any sort of interest in seeing this campaign succeed. I’m sorry if I have disappointed you.
Thank you for your support.
In eternal solidarity,
Stefan Knaack
This may be the most difficult thing I have ever had to write. As of today, Wednesday, May 19, I am suspending the Knaack for Ward 11 campaign. I still care very deeply about affecting positive change for this city, but a combination of factors have led me to the conclusion that I am not capable of operating an effective campaign which can achieve that goal.
These factors include personal time constraints, the stress of running the campaign operation, and mental health struggles which have only worsened over the past few months. Recent discussions with advisors and those close to me have made me realize that these things have a much greater negative impact on the campaign’s effectiveness than I had initially believed. With that in mind, it is clear to me that this is the best course of action both for myself personally and for the community as a whole.
I apologize to everyone who had any sort of interest in seeing this campaign succeed. I’m sorry if I have disappointed you.
Thank you for your support.
In eternal solidarity,
Stefan Knaack
Stefan's Plan for a New, Progressive Cleveland
Guarantee Housing For All
Too many Clevelanders go to sleep without a roof over their head. I believe we must do everything in our power to end homelessness, which is why I want to expand municipal housing aid programs, enact rent control policies, protect tenants from undue eviction, and improve the quality and capacity of our homeless shelters so we can ensure that everyone has a safe place to sleep at night in our city.
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Build A New Public Safety
Police misuse of force, particularly against people of color, has been an issue in Cleveland for much too long. Despite a 2014 report from the Department of Justice which condemned our police service's "unnecessary and excessive use of deadly force", we have seen little in the way of actual change. We must fundamentally restructure our police and introduce robust accountability measures to prevent Clevelanders from becoming victims of police violence.
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Protect Immigrants
Immigrants, regardless of their legal status, are valued members of our community, and we have a responsibility to protect them. By declaring Cleveland a sanctuary city, banning the use of municipal funds to enforce Federal immigration law, and legally restricting police cooperation with ICE and CBP, we can create a city in which our immigrant neighbors feel safe and welcome.
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Ensure the Public Health
Issues like lead contamination, drug addiction, and lack of access to proper medical care are daily realities for many Clevelanders. Through reforming our drug policies to orient them towards treatment instead of punishment, infrastructure and education investments, and expanding municipal health care services, we can keep our population healthy, safe, and prosperous.
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Advocate for Workers
Workers are the drivers of the economy, but they have seen little of the economic gains of recent years. By increasing our minimum wage to $15 with mandated cost of living adjustments, strengthening the enforcement of labor law at Cleveland businesses, and supporting attempts to organize workplaces, we can improve workers' lives and build a local economy which works for all.
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Truly Represent our Ward
Machine politics have prevented our city from having effectively representative government for decades, and the results have been disastrous for Clevelanders. The interests of the residents of Ward 11 are my number one priority, which is why I want to expand resident services, democratize our municipal government, and plan to work tirelessly to represent you as your Councilperson and ombudsman.
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Join the Grassroots Movement
If you're ready to join the fight for a Cleveland that works for everyone, we would love to have you onboard.
