Mimi O'Connor and other Erie residents told the City Council on Oct. 1 that 91 days of silence since the death of Marcello "Cello" Woodard has intensified community grief and mistrust, and urged officials to communicate with the family and the public.

O'Connor, who identified herself as a city resident, said silence has been "its own pervasive brutality" and called for "accountability and transparency," adding that connection and communication "is life respecting and honoring life." She said a rally is scheduled for Saturday at noon at "20 first in parade" and invited council members to attend.

Deontay Cooley, who identified himself as a lifelong Erie resident, echoed calls for officials to show up at community events and said residents want sustained dialogue with police and elected officials. He urged the council to consider a community police review board, requested more town-hall style meetings in neighborhoods and said he had not received a promised response from an official (he named Jim Winarski) to an earlier email.

Why it matters: Speakers said lack of public communication is deepening community mistrust and called on council members to be visible and responsive as the investigation proceeds. Several speakers asked the council to prioritize forums for ongoing dialogue between police and residents.

Council reaction and next steps: During liaison and council reports, at least one council member said they would reach out to community partners to organize a public conversation. The meeting record shows no formal council action or vote on the matter; remarks were made during the public comment period and liaison reports.

Context and limits: Speakers described the situation as one of grief and lack of public information; the council did not provide new investigative details during the meeting. Requests for the mayor or other officials to participate in the Saturday rally were made by speakers but the council did not vote or issue a formal statement at the meeting.

Ending: Organizers and speakers made repeated appeals for council members to attend community events and to make themselves available for dialogue; no formal city action was recorded during the Oct. 1 meeting.