Cleveland City Council votes to not flush ‘Everyone Poops’ from library shelves

The No. 1 point of city business for Cleveland City Council is usually budgets, roads, developments and ordinances. But at their Aug. 19 meeting, it was No. 2 that sparked the best conversation of the night — a debate over the children’s book Everyone Poops. The 1977 potty-training classic by Japanese author Taro Gomi was called into question after a library patron complained about its illustrations, prompting a discussion that left both council members and audience members struggling to keep straight faces.

Head librarian Mary Cohn, used a measured tone of someone well accustomed to explaining library materials as she told council members, “In this book, Gomi uses simple language and colorful illustrations to explain that all living things eat and therefore all living things produce waste. The book highlights the universality of defecation across different species, including humans, and emphasizes that this is a natural part of life. Its primary purpose is to serve as a tool and help children become more comfortable with their bodily functions during the potty training stage while reinforcing that there is nothing embarrassing or shameful about this process.”

Cohn noted that since 2022, the book has been checked out 18 times by parents and caregivers as part of a potty-training package loaned out by the library.

Council members sided with Cohn’s assessment. After a brief discussion, they voted to keep Everyone Poops on library shelves, allowing the book to remain part of the potty-training kit available to parents and caregivers.

In other business, a lengthy discussion unfolded between council members, Emilio Levario, head of development services for the city, and Carl Smith, owner of a 1.17-acre property at Dunnam and Fostoria that borders the U.S. 59 service road. Smith sought to have his property rezoned from residential to commercial, telling council that he has been paying commercial-level taxes since purchasing the land in 2008 but has been unable to sell it as commercial property due to its zoning restriction.

“Financially it is devastating to me because the property as residential property is a fraction of what it is worth as commercial,” Smith said.

While Smith argued that the property’s proximity to US 59 makes it better suited for commercial use, city staff cautioned about its location on a U-turn with indirect highway access and the potential impact on the adjoining neighborhood. In the end, the matter died for lack of a motion from any council member, leaving the property zoned residential.

Another rezoning request was met with a different outcome. A 1.41-acre tract located on Southline at South Travis Street was approved for a change from single-family residential to general commercial zoning to allow for an office flex space building. Council voted 3-1 in favor, with Councilwoman Rachel Hall casting the lone dissenting vote. Hall said she was concerned nearby residents had not been adequately informed of the change.

Council also approved rezoning 65.27 acres near the Cleveland Rail Park project from residential to general industrial. The city itself requested the change. Levario explained that the rezoning is intended to aid the Texas Department of Transportation in completing the SH 105 widening project without interruption or red tape.

Council members also approved a resolution renaming the SH 105 bypass as Veterans Memorial Parkway. Willie Carter, who is spearheading the effort, explained that former State Rep. Ernest Bailes had been assisting with the project before leaving office, and he is now working with State Rep. Janis Holt to see it through.

In other actions, council agreed to hold hearings on the proposed tax rate and budget at the September regular meeting. They also approved a street closure request from the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce for the upcoming Peddle in the Pines and Log Jam Fest, a two-day event scheduled for Nov. 7-8. During the festival, E. Crockett Street between Travis Street and Bonham Avenue, and N. College Street between Houston and Boothe will be closed.

Chamber Director Victoria Good told council this will be the eighth year for the cycling event, previously known as Rock N Ride.

Council also approved an in-kind request for use of the Cleveland Civic Center by TUFF Kids for its Dancing With the Stars fundraiser, set for March 21, 2026.