A Seat at the Table: Ward 5 Councilman Richard A. Starr on Why Local Power Beats the President

Cleveland isn’t just where we live...it’s where we build, and Councilman Richard Starr is here to show us the blueprint. Host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Ward 5’s own Richard A. Starr to dismantle the myth that the White House holds more sway over your daily life than City Hall. If you’ve ever wondered why your street hasn’t been paved, why a dilapidated building is still standing on your block, or where the millions in city resources actually go, this conversation is for you. Councilman Starr, a "mighty scarab" and East Tech graduate who rose from the Boys and Girls Club to the halls of government, pulls back the curtain on the three branches of local government and how they dictate the quality of life for Black Clevelanders. From securing $300 million for neighborhood development to launching home repair grants with no income restrictions, Starr proves that when we participate, we win. In this episode, we dig into:The Power of the Purse: Why Council members are the true "lawmakers" of Cleveland and how they set the city budget. Neighborhood Deliverables: The reality behind demolishing 88 nuisance properties and resurfacing major arteries like Carnegie and E. 79th. The Census Crisis: How a gap of only 3,200 people cost Cleveland two city council seats and vital federal funding. Economic Equity: The details on new job creation starting at $23/hr and the push for food cooperatives to end food deserts. This isn’t just politics. It's about the economic equity and civic engagement required to move Ward 5 and the entire city of Cleveland, Ohio forward. Whether you are a millennial homeowner or a young leader ready to intern, it’s time to stop making excuses and start leveraging the local officials who work for you.