LORAIN, OHIO — Public frustration over city leadership’s absence from a recent Community Safety Forum reached a boiling point this week, with new allegations that Mayor Jack Bradley and members of his administration not only ignored the event — but actively tried to shut it down.
The April 29 forum at Lorain High School was intended to bring together residents, law enforcement, and elected officials for a conversation about youth violence and public safety. Hundreds attended, including school board members, nonprofit leaders, and faith-based advocates. But neither the mayor nor the Lorain Police Department participated.
At the time, Deputy Police Chief Michael Failing issued a letter citing “ethical and strategic concerns” for the department’s absence. Mayor Bradley offered no public comment.
That silence broke at this week’s Lorain City Council meeting — but not from the mayor.
Councilman Dimacchia: The Mayor Tried to Cancel the Event
Councilman Tony Dimacchia, one of the event’s organizers, directly challenged the mayor’s narrative and delivered a sharp rebuke on the record.
“You were, in fact, invited,” Dimacchia said from the dais. “The very first email I sent, you were invited — just like everybody else.”
He went further, alleging that the mayor’s office had gone to the Lorain City School District in the days leading up to the event in an attempt to get the forum canceled, claiming violations of the Ohio Ethics Law and the Open Meetings Act — accusations Dimacchia flatly denied.
“None of them were true,” he said. “This was never about politics. It was about bringing critical stakeholders to the table for a conversation the community was begging to have.”
Dimacchia said city officials, including police and safety leadership, were originally expected to attend, but withdrew the night before.
“That was a missed opportunity for this city, period,” he said. “Residents were asking questions, and we should’ve shown up to answer them.”
Jayne Moralez Confronts City Officials After Ejection
During the same council meeting, longtime resident Jayne Moralez was escorted out after speaking from her seat about the city’s absence at the forum.
Outside the meeting room, she spoke with the acting police chief and another city official in a tense but controlled exchange. She questioned why elected officials failed to show up, even as residents who were grieving or concerned made the effort to be there.
“I had a death in my family and showed up at that meeting. Where were you?” she asked.
“This was a citywide town hall — you had a chance to address every citizen, and you didn’t.”
Police explained that by speaking out of turn and not using the podium, Moralez and another resident had technically disrupted the meeting and could be charged with a misdemeanor. They ultimately chose to leave voluntarily.
The women did not threaten anyone or cause a scene, but their quiet resistance raised a deeper issue: If concerned citizens cannot question their leaders at a public meeting — then where can they?
A Pattern of Avoidance?
Mayor Bradley has remained publicly silent on both the forum and the council meeting disruption. In the days following the forum, his official Facebook page featured photos from unrelated ribbon-cuttings and cleanup events, but no mention of the safety forum or the public’s concerns.
For many residents, the silence has deepened the frustration. On social media and in council chambers, some have questioned whether city leadership is avoiding difficult conversations at a time when transparency and responsiveness are most needed.
As of publication, neither the mayor nor the police department has issued further comment.