CLEVELAND (WJW) — A FOX 8 I-Team investigation found that Cleveland City Hall was spending a lot of money on new wheels and more on SUVs used by the mayor’s security department.

We asked why, and although it seems like a simple question, we had to do a lot of research to get answers.

The I-Team took photos of SUVs parked at City Hall in the space used by the Mayor’s Security Department. We took note of the paint and rims.

City records show that three SUVs used by retail Mayor Justin Bibb all got “four new polished aluminum wheels.”

An SUV also received a new paint job.

Still, records show the vehicles are from 2020 and 2021.

The total cost of the upgrades is nearly $20,000. This also includes premium floor mats.

We showed the tapes to neighborhood activist Fay Harris.

“I say it’s a bit excessive. To me, it’s a waste of money,” she said.

Harris talked about what she sees as better uses for that money.

“Parks and recreation for children for the summer. It could be scholarships for children. It could be meals for the homeless,” she said.

Councilman Brian Kazy reacted with these words: “You don’t have to look good while riding in the city of Cleveland. Just ride in the city of Cleveland.

Kazy points to the detail of former Mayor Frank Jackson driving him around in a car and that EMS crews drive old ambulances, sometimes even breaking down while transporting patients.

Kazy added, “You spend $20,000 on vehicles less than two years old on vanity for yourself.”

So what does the mayor say about this?

We looked back and in at least six emails told his staff that we wanted to talk to him about the vehicles. It never happened.

When we entered the town hall we were stopped and told we needed an appointment to enter a public building.

In an email, a spokesperson wrote: “One of Mayor Bibb’s requests was for vehicles that would allow him to travel with his team of councilors. Traveling with his team of advisers allows him to receive in-person briefings and direct communications with members of his cabinet as he strives to be present in the city that elected him. In response to the mayor’s request, the department transferred three Chevy Tahoes to the mayor’s office, receiving the former mayor’s Ford sedans in exchange. Improvements have been made to Tahoes for mayoral security and privacy.

Still, it’s a hard sell on the street.

Fay Harris added: “I don’t think it’s necessary to put all this into three SUVs.”

However you look at it, at the heart of it all is simply the cost of what was done to these vehicles.

Still, it took the I-Team five requests for recordings and two dozen emails to get responses from city hall.

And, even then, we did not get all of our questions answered.