Two recent – though somewhat hidden – developments show how Mayor Justin Bibb’s term in office may be debated next year.
The first is a set of billboards on the outskirts of downtown Cleveland. Bearing the mayor’s name and smiling image, the billboards carry a brief, all-caps message: “THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP & SERVICE TO OUR CITY.”
An organization called the National Black Empowerment Action Fund paid for the billboards. This past election cycle, the group spent money against Democratic U.S. Reps. Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, both of whom lost their seats to primary challengers.
NBEAF founder Darius Jones previously worked for Michael Bloomberg’s 2020 presidential campaign and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, according to the group’s website.
The fund did not respond to emails requesting comment. On Instagram, Jones noted that NBEAF had bought billboards for several other mayors: Atlanta’s Andre Dickens; Frank Scott Jr. of Little Rock, Ark.; Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, Ala.; and Steven Reed of Montgomery, Ala.
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