Cobourg Mayor Responds to Northumberland County Statement

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Last Updated: 1:08pm

Things became noticeably heated this week after a statement issued by Northumberland County leadership prompted a formal and strongly worded response from Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland, bringing a public disagreement between municipal and county officials into the spotlight.

The exchange follows a county-issued release that referenced remarks attributed to the mayor, leading Cleveland to publicly dispute how his comments were characterized.

The original statement released by Bob Crate, Warden of Northumberland County, and Acting CAO Glenn Dees

Mayor Disputes Claims Attributed to Him

In his response, Mayor Cleveland stated that he has never said nor implied the sentiments attributed to him in the county’s release, describing the characterization as inaccurate.

Mayor's Response

“I have never directly said or inferred ever the sentiments attributed to me,” Cleveland wrote. adding that his public remarks have focused on criminal activity as defined under federal and provincial law, rather than on social service workers or individuals accessing social supports.

The mayor specifically rejected any suggestion that he referred to social service workers as “criminal enablers” or implied that people accessing social services are criminals.

Disagreement Over Language and Interpretation

Cleveland also denied calling for “widespread investigations,” a phrase included in the county’s statement, and challenged county communications staff to provide evidence that he made such remarks.

He requested that no further statements be issued attributing those views to him, stating that he believes the wording used in the county’s release misrepresented his position.

Broader Context of Ongoing Public Debate

In his statement, the mayor acknowledged that the disagreement comes amid ongoing and often highly visible public discussions surrounding encampments, drug-related crime, and past operations at 310 Division Street in Cobourg.

Cleveland stated that his previous comments were intended to address public safety concerns and should not be interpreted as commentary on social services or the individuals who rely on them.

County Response

As of publication, Northumberland County has not released an additional statement responding directly to the mayor’s rebuttal beyond its original release.

The situation highlights differing interpretations of public remarks and reflects the challenges faced by municipalities and counties when navigating complex social and public safety issues in a highly public forum.

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This article is intended to inform readers by summarizing and contextualizing publicly available statements issued by elected officials and government representatives. Small Town News and Small Town Productions make no determinations regarding the accuracy, intent, or implications of those statements and encourage readers to review the original source materials directly.

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