CLEVELAND — The City of Cleveland is temporarily closing down offices as cities and states all over the country prepare for the possibility of "large gatherings" of individuals leading up to President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Cleveland City Hall, all downtown City of Cleveland non-emergency office buildings and facilities and the Willard Garage attached to City Hall will be closed from Friday, Jan. 15 through Wednesday, Jan. 20, according to a news release sent out by the City of Cleveland.
All City of Cleveland Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Centers, as well as Cleveland Public Auditorium, will be closed from Monday, Jan. 18 through Wednesday, Jan. 20.
The City said its employees who can work from home “reasonably” will be required to do so to keep business operating.
Critical employees and emergency responders are required to report to work daily through the closure, the city said.
While the news release does not specifically mention the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6 or the FBI’s warning of more potential armed protests across the country leading up to Biden’s inauguration, city officials said they are partnering with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies “to ensure safety.”
The City also asked residents to report any suspicious and criminal activity, “especially large or unusual gatherings of individuals,” to law enforcement.
For emergencies, residents should call 911. For non-emergencies, residents should call 216-621-1234.
