The Haslams claim that Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne’s opposition to their plan to move the Browns to a new taxpayer-supported but Haslam-owned palace in Brook Park [is “inexplicable.”](https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/05/browns-to-cuyahoga-county-well-build-the-brook-park-stadium-without-you-if-need-be.html) That sounds a lot like the Borg saying, “Resistance is futile!”
“Inexplicable” that the county should resist using county funds and bonding capacity, sorely needed for other pressing public purposes, to gild a new Taj Mahal for the Haslams and, in doing so, undermine and cannibalize downtown Cleveland public and private facilities in which taxpayers and businesses have already made a huge investment? I don’t think so.
“Inexplicable” that public officials should not blindly accept the Haslams’ financial projections that experts have characterized as highly questionable? I don’t think so. A search of campaign finance records for contributions to Ohio Republican candidates and PACs by James and Susan “Dee” Haslam should make clear why the Haslams are warmly received by state Republican officials.
I commend our county and city officials for not letting the Haslams shake down the public. I urge Browns season ticketholders to let the Haslams know that they do not like this Brook Park boondoggle any better than they like the Browns’ abysmal performance on the field.
David S. Goodman,
Cleveland Heights