Cleveland City Hall

Cleveland Public Relations Director Blaine Griffin last week issued a scathing statement on Facebook, accusing council members of veiled racism for standing in the way of a proposal to build a dirt bike track in the city.

(Plain Dealer file photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - After a heated City Council debate last week over a plan to legitimize Cleveland's underground dirt bike culture by building a track in a city park, one city official sounded off on Facebook, calling out critics of the plan for what he described as veiled racism.

In a Facebook post Friday night, Cleveland Community Relations Director Blaine Griffin wrote that he has seen the city throw millions of dollars at skateboard parks, boat docks, rowing sports and bike trails. But when it came to finding a home for dirt bike and BMX enthusiasts -- who currently ride illegally on city streets for lack of a better place -- council members took issue with it, Griffin wrote.

"And because they are young, black and aggressive, people totally demonized the project," he wrote. "They disrespected them and the Councilwoman who tried to find a release valve for these activities. The reason that they gave is because they wanted [their] own personal parks to be fixed. The message that they sent to these young people (Who rarely get involved in the electoral and political process) is, 'The only thing appropriate for you young Black men is an interaction with police, a number and jail.' Listen to Dog Whistle Politics. Race is always lurking in the background."

Griffin went on to say that the group also disrespected Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland, who had pledged some of her own discretionary funding for the $2 million park proposed for the Marion Motley Playfields in her ward. Griffin pointed out that council etiquette calls for members to support their colleagues' project proposals.

"I guess she is a woman, so people felt free to pick on her," Griffin wrote.

The project is aimed at providing a place for the growing number of dirt bike riders who illegally use city streets and parks to ride dirt bikes and ATVs while performing death-defying stunts.

The park would be built to regulation specifications for motocross. The sport involves motorized dirt bikes, and BMX bikes, which are pedal-operated and designed for tricks.

The park would consist of a quarter-mile loop track and a straight-away track for riders to perform stunts. An amphitheater would be built for spectators, and a separate building would house an area for the riders to learn bike repair.

Mayor Frank Jackson's administrators appeared before council's Committee of the Whole last Wednesday, seeking approval from council to start the bidding process on construction and for a five-year contract for a day-to-day operator.

A group of representatives of the so-called BikeLife culture testified at the hearing that the sport has had a positive influence on thousands of Cleveland youth, and that riders from feuding neighborhood factions have become friends through riding.

But some council members argued that the city should not spend the money on a new park when existing parks, pools and recreation centers are unusable and in desperate need of repair. And they took issue with the notion that the city would expedite a $2 million project catering to a population that is "terrorizing" the streets with their illegal, unlicensed vehicles, while young children have nowhere safe to play.

"You believe a motocross track should be a priority," argued Councilman Michael Polensek. "I say our priorities should be to little kids who can't use their parks. This is outrageous. I've seen some bizarre things in my time here, but this is unbelievable."

Councilwoman Dona Brady and Councilman Matt Zone, said police should be arresting those caught riding in the street illegally or turfing the grass in city parks.

Members also objected to the fact that the administration had asked council to pass the legislation without prior committee hearings.

After a contentious hour-long debate, Council President Kevin Kelley tabled the discussion until council returns from summer recess next month.

Below is the full text of Griffin's Facebook response to the council hearing.

Griffin, who declined to comment for this story, refers in his post to 'Twittergate,' and says he is grateful for that controversy because it "help[ed] me understand who I am and what I really stand for."

The scandal erupted in April 2015, after Griffin launched a Twitter account on behalf of the Community Relations Board with the intention of opening discussion in advance of a verdict in Cleveland Police Officer Michael Brelo's manslaughter trial.

But in a series of Tweets, someone manning the account asked Twitter users if they think Cleveland should be "burned down" like Baltimore or Ferguson, Missouri. The tweets sparked national controversy and an uproar on social media.

A couple days later, Jackson acknowledged that Griffin was behind the Tweets and said he had been reprimanded.

When Brelo was acquitted the next month, protests erupted downtown but remained peaceful, due in large part to the efforts of Griffin and his team of community outreach workers.