Cleveland Mayor Bibb targets Browns official's removal

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb is seeking to remove a Cleveland Browns official from a lakefront planning board. This decision comes amid ongoing disputes about the team’s potential move from downtown Cleveland to a new stadium in Brook Park. The North Coast Waterfront Development Corp. is a non-profit organization created by the city to manage lakefront development. David Jenkins, the chief operating officer of both the Cleveland Browns and the Haslam Sports Group, was appointed to the board last October. In a letter to board members, Bibb expressed his concerns about Jenkins' continued membership. He pointed to recent statements from the Browns that showed a lack of commitment to lakefront development. Bibb highlighted that these statements indicated "no actionable plan" exists for improving the area. Jenkins' role on the board is also questioned in light of the Browns' ongoing legal issues regarding the Modell Law, which might restrict their ability to move. The Browns have disputed this interpretation and claimed the city lacks a clear plan for connecting the lakefront with downtown. Mayor Bibb has called for a meeting of the board on Monday to discuss Jenkins’ removal. To succeed, two-thirds of the 11 board members would need to agree, meaning eight votes are necessary. The executive director of the North Coast Waterfront Development Corp. did not comment on the situation. The Browns have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the matter.