Mayor Justin Bibb launches Substack newsletter

Driving the news: Bibb's debut post, "Four Lessons from My First Term as Cleveland's Mayor," reflects on his first four years in office as he begins his second term.

• He revisits challenging moments, including the death of Cleveland police officer Shane Bartek and the "leafgate" episode, in which Bibb was forced to resume the city's curbside leaf collection program after backlash.
• He also defends his "big swing" on waterfront development and a results-driven public safety partnership with Gov. Mike DeWine.

The money quote: Public safety "doesn't improve through purity tests," he writes. "It improves through coalitions."

Zoom out: Bibb sent an email to supporters Jan. 2 promoting the post.

• "I'm sharing [these lessons] not because the work is finished, but because the next chapter for Cleveland requires the same commitment that brought us this far: leading with heart, listening with care, and always putting people first."

👀 What we're watching: How will Bibb deploy his Substack to continue building his national profile as he explores his next political move?