Cleveland City Council approved lower parking rates and shorter enforcement hours at its final meeting before the summer recess last week — and we have thoughts.

State of play: Council members said downtown parking had become too expensive under Mayor Justin Bibb, who introduced new rates and eliminated free evening and weekend parking earlier this year.

How it works: Downtown meters can now charge $1-$3 per hour Monday-Saturday from 7am-10pm.

• Sunday parking will be free, except during special events.

Between the lines: Event rates can climb to $8 per hour, but only in designated zones near the Gateway District and the lakefront.

Zoom out: Outside downtown, parking will cost $1 per hour for up to eight hours, then up to $3 per hour Monday-Friday from 7am-8pm.

💭 Sam's thought bubble: I am rabidly opposed to paying for parking as anything other than a last resort, and I'll generally bike, take public transit or park far away from my destination to avoid doing so.

• And yet I am 100% in support of higher rates.
• The Bibb administration's arguments — that higher rates and dynamic pricing increase vehicle turnover and bring in much-needed cash for the city — are borne out by year-over-year revenue.

💭 Troy's thought bubble: I disagree. I think the city is generating revenue at the expense of local businesses.

• Higher parking rates and a drawback on free parking discourages people from going downtown, especially when you factor in the money you have to pay for "special events."

📬 What's your take on Cleveland parking rates? Reply and let us know.

The Rockefeller Foundation is bringing its national "Big Bets for America" series to Cleveland tomorrow, and organizers say it will be the largest stop yet.

Why it matters: The gathering will convene local and national political and philanthropic leaders to discuss topics like urban revitalization, while showcasing some of the city's recent redevelopment efforts.

• Major financial commitments will also be announced.

The big picture: Big Bets for America is a traveling series designed to spotlight local solutions to national challenges.

• After stops in Oklahoma City and Baltimore this year, the Rockefeller Foundation chose Cleveland as its final destination of 2026.

The intrigue: Rockefeller launched a $100 million "Good Jobs for America" strategy at the Baltimore convening, and event organizers from the foundation tell Axios the dollars announced in Cleveland will surpass that figure.

Zoom in: Mayor Justin Bibb and Gov. Mike DeWine are both expected to attend, alongside Klutch Sports Group founder Rich Paul and a host of civic and philanthropic execs.

• NBC's Al Roker will moderate morning sessions at Hotel Cleveland.
• Attendees will tour several of Cleveland's major, ongoing projects in the afternoon, including the waterfront, the Midline and the Cavaliers' Global Peak Performance Center on the Cuyahoga.

Between the lines: The event doubles as a homecoming for the Rockefeller Foundation.

• The foundation's namesake, John D. Rockefeller, built Standard Oil in Cleveland before moving to New York.

👀 There are more than 1,700 active license plate cameras in Cuyahoga County — virtually all of them operated by Flock Safety — per unsealed federal court filings. (Cleveland.com)

• The latest: Council introduced at its meeting last week an ordinance, requested by the Bibb administration, to renew its contract with Flock for one year.

🎥 Northeast Ohio filmmaker James Ingalls II is planning a nearly 70,000 square-foot film studio campus in Euclid. (NEOtrans)

🚨 A former Akron police lieutenant operated for years a network of paid police protection for outside businesses, often charging clients more than the rates allowed by APD and pocketing a cut. (Signal Akron)

🎤 Comedian Dave Chappelle has announced a run of arena tours in June, including a stop at Rocket Arena June 16. (Live Nation)

Chaos gardening — the viral TikTok trend of scattering seeds and "letting nature decide" — is taking root as demand for native plants is rising.

Why it matters: Native chaos gardens appeal to homeowners seeking lower-maintenance yards that also help local wildlife thrive.

The big picture: "Native plants offer this easy solution to make positive change," Sara Ressing, an education and program coordinator with nonprofit Wild Ones, tells Axios.

Catch up quick: Chaos gardening embraces a less structured approach: Scatter seeds, observe what survives and let soil, sunlight and water determine the outcome.

• Ressing says the trend overlaps naturally with native gardening because both prioritize welcoming nature back into yards.

Yes, but: Garden experts warn that tossing random seed packets into the yard doesn't always work as advertised.

• You may need to organize your chaos for success — mixing bulbs and starter plants into a less structured garden.

What to plant: Ohio is home to more than 1,800 native plant species. Some of the best for chaos gardening include coneflowers, cosmos and black-eyed Susans.

The bottom line: Chaos gardening may look carefree online, but experts say the best results come from pairing experimentation with intention.

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This week's photo was taken by Jordan Menvielle (@jordan.menvielle.photography), who captured Ash Cave at Hocking Hills State Park.

📷 If you have a recent photo representing Cleveland's essence, please submit it by replying to this email.