This has been happening every day, all summer long, so it wasn't just a July 4th thing. However, they certainly don't patrol every other park that closes at 10:00pm like they do the one near where the City Manager lives.

He lives in 2200 Victory Parkway.  I have noticed that the police have set up an elaborate cone maze all year outside the overlook near Lurray Ave. to discourage the cruising that has periodically overwhelmed that part of the park. 

^ Huh - I see. I had asked an African American couple what was going on and why they were chasing everyone out, and they smiled and suggested that I could ask the police if I wanted, and that I'd probably have better luck than them (I'm white).

 

I don't know - this sort of thing feels like an overreaction to me that reinforces tensions.

 

I don't think Milton would have done it. This whole administration has too much starch in their shorts, IMHO.

 

Even if no black candidates were to run this time Cranley is going to do way worse with African-Americans than he did in 2013.

I'm not knowledgeable about any variations in park policies that may exist pertaining to holiday hours, but some of my best friends used to live on Luray, near the part of Eden Park in question.  The overlook became totally out of control with drug dealing and other nuisances, and it's my understanding that it's been more aggressively policed, including traffic flow, for many years now.

They position the cones so as to prevent people from driving in circles.  You can only get to the overlook while driving north on Eden Park and can only exit in the northbound direction. 

 

 

I was taking a night skyline shot from Bellevue Hill Park last year when a police cruiser rolled up and he informed me that that the park closed at 10 pm. I told him I was just there to take a photo and he responded basically, "yeah dude, I see your camera, just get out of here." I never had this happen to me before.

Bellevue Hill had a shooting in 2016.  The police hang out in the park quite a bit and sometimes set up a generator-powered light on Ohio Ave. 

They position the cones so as to prevent people from driving in circles.  You can only get to the overlook while driving north on Eden Park and can only exit in the northbound direction.

 

They position the cones so as to prevent people from turning left into or out of the park. The left turns were causing large backups (past Krohn Conservatory) and were becoming a big issue for traffic flow.

 

The Mayor held a "meet and greet" at a high-rise near the park and told the attendants he was doing everything he could to prevent motorcycle noise.... which, I'm not sure he has any power to prevent what people drive.

They position the cones so as to prevent people from driving in circles.  You can only get to the overlook while driving north on Eden Park and can only exit in the northbound direction.

 

They position the cones so as to prevent people from turning left into or out of the park. The left turns were causing large backups (past Krohn Conservatory) and were becoming a big issue for traffic flow.

 

The Mayor held a "meet and greet" at a high-rise near the park and told the attendants he was doing everything he could to prevent motorcycle noise.... which, I'm not sure he has any power to prevent what people drive.

 

Ohio has noise limits on motorcycles... so in theory the mayor could ask the police department to be more aggressive about enforcing those limits.

 

Here are the state laws: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4513.221

 

(2) For motorcycles:

 

(a) When operated at a speed of thirty-five miles per hour or less, a maximum noise limit of eighty-two decibels;

 

(b) When operated at a speed of more than thirty-five miles per hour, a maximum noise limit of eighty-six decibels.

^ And, Cranley could ask the Police to ticket downtown drivers entering an intersection without a clear path to be able to exit that same intersection -- something that would help both the streetcar and people dealing with recent BSB-construction-related traffic backups.

 

More generally, Cranley and Black could decide to use their considerable power wisely to provide real benefits, and not to pander for money and votes.

I was taking a night skyline shot from Bellevue Hill Park last year when a police cruiser rolled up and he informed me that that the park closed at 10 pm. I told him I was just there to take a photo and he responded basically, "yeah dude, I see your camera, just get out of here." I never had this happen to me before.

 

I got two after hours park citations at Ault Park while I was in high school. I got them exactly a week apart by the same damn officer. The second time he was a total douche and said if he caught me again I'd have to come down to the district precinct and wash police cars with a toothbrush.

Ohio has noise limits on motorcycles... so in theory the mayor could ask the police department to be more aggressive about enforcing those limits.

 

Here are the state laws: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4513.221

 

(2) For motorcycles:

 

(a) When operated at a speed of thirty-five miles per hour or less, a maximum noise limit of eighty-two decibels;

 

(b) When operated at a speed of more than thirty-five miles per hour, a maximum noise limit of eighty-six decibels.

 

I did not know this existed. Thanks. However, the noise issues stem from 15 motorcycles driving by at the same time, rather than one being overly loud, so tough for them to do anything.

They position the cones so as to prevent people from driving in circles.  You can only get to the overlook while driving north on Eden Park and can only exit in the northbound direction.

 

They position the cones so as to prevent people from turning left into or out of the park. The left turns were causing large backups (past Krohn Conservatory) and were becoming a big issue for traffic flow.

 

The Mayor held a "meet and greet" at a high-rise near the park and told the attendants he was doing everything he could to prevent motorcycle noise.... which, I'm not sure he has any power to prevent what people drive.

 

Yeah, it would be nice if the city did something about the packs of loud motorcycles that cruise around Downtown and OTR, annoying everyone who lives there. But if Cranley can buy some votes from rich people in a condo tower near the park, he'll focus enforcement efforts there instead.

Cranley's inherited vacation home to be destroyed by dinnertime, tonight:

 

 

Aw shucks the bastard sold it back in April:

The mayor’s pit bull...

 

City Manager Harry Black misused funds, retaliated against Cincinnati police captain, suit alleges

 

CINCINNATI -- City Manager Harry Black is running city purchases through a company his close friend owns, according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday.

 

Cincinnati Police Capt. Jeffrey L. Butler, who claims Black retaliated against him for a different issue, alleges the arrangement effectively requires the city pay a 15-percent markup.

 

Records show Al Foxx, who Butler claims is Black's close friend, incorporated the company in Ohio in May 2016. Butler says Foxx and Black worked together for the city of Baltimore, Maryland. According to news site Baltimore Brew, Foxx left his job as that city's public works director in January 2014; Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley hired away Black, Baltimore's finance director, about six months later. Foxx said he was moving here and would work at a construction and facilities maintenance company with a relative, Baltimore Brew reported.

 

The use of Foxx's company, Butler says, is just an example of what he calls Black's pattern of misusing funds and abusing power. Black dismissed Butler's claims as frivolous, calling the lawsuit a personnel matter involving "an unhappy employee."

 

Cont

^remember how nobody from the traditional Cincinnati media vetted this guy?  And how Cranley went after Randy Simes for merely posting links to the Baltimore Brew on UrbanCincy? 

I have heard these types of allegations since Black became the City Manager. Funneling money to his buddies from Baltimore. Cincinnati media is just starting to notice in Year 4.

I have heard these types of allegations since Black became the City Manager. Funneling money to his buddies from Baltimore. Cincinnati media is just starting to notice in Year 4.

 

I passed by Harry Black in public recently.  I looked him in the eye and nodded hello before I realized who it was! 

 

Meanwhile, Cranley Scandal #72 continues:

https://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/political-fight-ends-with-dianne-rosenberg-ousted-from-cincinnati-park-board?page=2

Re: the super-high price Cranley sold the vacation home he inherited:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-sold-40-million-estate-155724850.html

Jay Hanselman on Twitter: Multiple sources at city hall say they’ve heard Mayor John Cranley is asking City Manager Harry Black to resign.  No comment from mayor’s office.

More info from the Business Courier: "Mayor John Cranley asked City Manager Harry Black to resign on Friday amid a firestorm of controversy over the ousting of the Cincinnati Police Department's No. 2 official, and Black has refused, the Business Courier has learned."

 

Meanwhile, the Hamilton County GOP is hemming and hawing on Twitter about how big of a mess it is that the Mayor can not fire the City Manager. So basically they just publicly admitted that they don't understand how Cincinnati's form of government works. The City Manager is the boss in our system, not the Mayor.

So I guess I'm really curious as to everyone's thoughts on this? I understand what's going on some what but if the city manager had a right to believe that the 2nd in Command was trying to undermine the chief and the city manager because they are black, that is some pretty serious stuff, especially on Cranley right?  I know there are some shady stuff that has happened with CM Black with contracts but, to me it would not seem likely he would just make this stuff up?  Hopefully whatever it is the truth comes out in the open when that audit gets released

^ It seems more likely to me that Black was implicated in one way or another in the dirt uncovered by this audit. You had people at CPD billing for ~40 hours of overtime every single week of the year, yet the person who got forced out was the person who called that out. The chief also "forced" him out by paying him nearly half a million dollars.

 

No matter what the outcome, you know something weird is going on when Cranley, Seelbach, the GOP, and the FOP are all in agreement on something.

 

Enquirer takes Cranley's side, as usual [https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/editorials/2018/03/07/editorial-policing-and-politics-dont-mix/399009002/]:

 

Managing roughly 6,500 employees and multiple departments isn't exactly a walk in the park. And the occasional dust-up between a manager and his employees are to be expected. But recent reports about Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black's behavior while engaging employees have brought into question his level of professionalism. A former 911 worker said Black "angrily lashed out" at her when she raised concerns about operations at the 911 center, which she claims is so badly mismanaged that it "poses a threat" to public safety. The employee also said Black pointed his finger in her face, then later asked her for a hug in an attempt to make amends, which she said was unprofessional and made her feel "horribly uncomfortable." The allegations come on the heels of a complaint last November by Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police Union President Dan Hils that Black made an angry phone call to him late one night. Black is a competent manager capable of displaying better judgment than he's shown in these instances. Angry late night phone calls and blowing up at your employees in front of others isn't professional and only gives ammunition to his critics and political adversaries.

 

This anecdote about the finger pointing is pretty weak.  I'm sure the guy has done a lot more than that.  I've had bosses throw snow balls in my face and smoke in my parked car to try to get me to quit. 

A lot of times the real stuff IS way worse than the media reports. On a President or Congress member the worst will come out, but local media can be pretty soft on that stuff. I remember a couple years ago my vice principal from middle and high school got fired for looking at "bikini" websites at work (according to the local media). Some parents with forensic audit access were able to determine that he was looking at way worse stuff than bikinis.

A press release was just put out that states Cranley and Black have reached an agreement for Black to resign.

So far, Cranley/Black have added $1,000,000+ to the city budget by firing top administrative officials over the last 3 years. This only accounts for three individuals.

 

Harry Black: $400,000 + insurance for two years.

Lt. Col. David Bailey: $400,000

Chief Jeffrey Blackwell: $255,000

Let me get this straight...

 

Cranley poaches Black form Baltimore for only two real reasons...

1.  Fire popular (and well performing) police chief Jeffery Blackwell

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/05/cincinnati-police-reform/393797/

 

2.  Kill the streetcar. Which from gross mismanagement by the Mayor's office seems to be happening with some success.

 

 

The only thing that makes sense is that Black got tired of being Cranley's yes man. He should have known better when he signed up for the job. I wish they'd both leave.

 

Harry Black released a statement saying that he has not agreed to an exit deal. The Business Courier has backtracked on their original story to reflect that fact.

Chris Wetterich on Twitter:

 

Here’s where we stand as of 6:02 p.m.

 

Mayor John Cranley’s office says he has an agreement in principle with City Manager Harry Black for him to resign.

 

Harry Black says he has not resigned, is having good conversations with Cranley and Council and still wants to be manager...

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but the $400k figure might be trotted out because he'd be taxed at roughly 40%, meaning the cash he'd walk away with would be his approximate annual salary. 

Harry Black now telling the media he is "not interested in settlement talks" and has every intention to stay in Cincinnati and continue being the City Manager.

 

It's going to be a fascinating next four years if we're stuck with a City Manager and a Mayor that hate eachother.

During John’s press conference he has said he is trying to fire Black "Based on a pattern of behavior over several years that has been abusive and in some cases retaliatory and threatening and in some cases unprofessional and in some cases completely inappropriate. I advised him to cease and desist certain behaviors … those behaviors are resurfacing and getting more egregious. I feel in good conscience I need to share this with council to decide how to move forward with the city. I am very worried a number of employees between now and then will suffer from retaliation. We’re going to have to create a safe space for employees to testify. There are citizens who have been subject to similar treatment who also will come forward. Obviously, this is tragic and sad."

That's what Cranley does to people.

It was interesting because Cranley stated when asked about racism in the police department something along the lines of "Well, there basically is and we've been working on that as well as in general in the city, but this has nothing to do with Lt. Col. Bailey"

 

And that Harry Black shouldn't have come out and said there were rogue elements and that the public should have been aware of the audit.

 

I don't know, it just seems like it's a cover up by Cranley, where with Black, he probably is aggressive and hurts people's feelings but can Black and his side pull together information and evidence to negate what Cranley is going to dump on him?

 

Of course, all this could be true and Cranley is 100% correct.  Seems like some healing and cleaning needs to be done in the police department and City Hall in general, really a sit back and sip your tea Kermit moment.  Of course, since the Enquirer is on Cranley's payroll, they have already come out with articles that were very light on evidence and heavy on opinion.  They blamed Black for a ton of people resigning and leaving when I remember a lot of those names at the time, Cranley was the one that pushed them to resign.  But 99% of the consumers wouldn't try to think of that.  The way the Enquirer reports it, it makes it seem like it was all Harry Black and the NAACP, etc. is only backing Black because of race.  To me, that is exactly how the Enquirer is putting it.

Cranley and Black go to war

By Chris Wetterich  – Staff reporter and columnist, Cincinnati Business Courier

 

Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said Wednesday that he will present the City Council with written documentation on City Manager Harry Black’s conduct in an attempt to convince members to terminate him, but Black vowed to fight for his job, sending Cincinnati city government into chaos unseen since the 2001 riots.

 

It’s a high-stakes conflict that will carry dire consequences – professional ones for Black and political ones for Cranley. It also comes as the city faces critical, unresolved issues including a budget deficit, a fight over bidding rules on certain projects and fixing the operations of the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/03/14/cranley-and-black-go-to-war.html

 

the bold might be a little sensationalist...

This is the first time we've ever had a Mayor try to fire the sitting City Manager during their term (out of the three strong mayors that Cincinnati has had since it adopted this form of government). We don't really know how bad things might get if we have a Mayor and City Manager that hate eachothers' guts. Things could get really, really dysfunctional if City Council doesn't agree to fire Black and if one of the two doesn't resign.

^ I perused the city charter looking for ways a mayor could capitalize on this situation, but I don't see many good options. The mayor's ability to "pocket veto" legislation seems like it might be the primary potential point of dysfunction.

This is the first time we've ever had a Mayor try to fire the sitting City Manager during their term (out of the three strong mayors that Cincinnati has had since it adopted this form of government). We don't really know how bad things might get if we have a Mayor and City Manager that hate eachothers' guts. Things could get really, really dysfunctional if City Council doesn't agree to fire Black and if one of the two doesn't resign.

 

I think this could backfire on Cranley big-time...if he gets people to come out of the woodwork and testify against Black, then Black and the rest of Cranley's enemies will have no problem finding people who will do the same to Cranley.  But I think it's deeper than that -- I'd bet that Black has SERIOUS dirt on Cranley and that's why Cranley wants him gone.  The police thing is just the excuse. 

Did anyone read the memo from Police Chief Isaac to Harry Black.  It certainly was pretty damning.  I don't understand how Cranley could disagree with Harry Black firing Bailey if he actually backed Police Chief Isaac.

 

Seems like some rogue elements is indeed part of this, and Bailey wouldn't do any of those things if he wasn't trying to undermind Isaac IMO.  That's what we have a professional city who makes a huge salary for, to know and understand when to fire and hire, and it seemed like it was appropiate in that case.

 

So now what does Cranley have to do with this?

 

I actually think it's refreshing that we have someone sticking to their principals in Harry Black.  It caught my attention when he said in substance "The outside support I have received proves to me that I am meant to be here in Cincinnati."  They are still cleaning up the "good ole boys" police department and it needs to happen.

 

The other stuff, who knows, and Harry Black didn't deny doing anything, just saying that people would use innuendo and greatly embellish facts to defame his character.

The smear campaign is underway. Hopefully there's more interesting stuff than this still coming:

 

Harry Black visited a strip club in Denver with top police officials. John Cranley says that 'sends a bad message.'

 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/15/harry-black-strip-club-denver/428150002/

 

Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black, the chief of police and two assistant police chiefs went to a strip club two years ago during a work trip.

 

And Black asked the city's female city solicitor, Paula Boggs Muething, to go with them. She declined...

 

"My concern, which I shared with him at the time, is he's the boss. He should not be subjecting subordinates to those kinds of behaviors," Cranley said. "He can do this on his own private time, but it sends a bad message."

What happens in Denver stays in Denver.  But I'd guess it was Kincaid who tattled.

The Enquirer is just going to print whatever Cranley asks them to, isn't it? Seems like the story here is that there is a blatant smear campaign.

The thing that was interesting was that they tried to keep Dave Bailey's name out of it when talking about who went into the strip club, but then later on there was something in there saying Bailey went in there, but they weren't at any fault because they were asked by their superior.

 

Seriously, I've been in that position before, it's no pressure to be like, "Nah I'm good I'm going to just go to the bar for another drink".

 

The other interesting thing was that if not mentioned here already, Cranley literally told Black he was going to make it a smear campaign on him if he didn't resign.  Also, it was Harry Black which went to the Enquirer on this, knowing Cranley was going to put this out there.  They probably still asked Cranley to proof read it and add in your own quotes for us, but to me it seems this would be the worst of any smear.

So "they" took a cab back to the airport and Black made them uncomfortable with his conversation...give me a break!

https://www.wcpo.com/news/government/heres-why-were-reporting-that-our-city-manager-went-to-a-topless-bar-on-a-city-trip

 

The real question is why they used city money to take a cab when Denver has a commuter train that takes you there for cheaper...oh yeah this trip was so long ago that their commuter train wasn't running yet.  So then why not take the bus?  I'd bet they had a bus before they had the train. 

Newsflash for anyone believes that the government should "run like a business" ... businesses spend money on their employees going to strip clubs all the time.

Hard to get outraged over coworkers going out for drinks after a long day of work and happening to end up at a strip club. Were they supposed to not invite everyone along? No taxpayer money spent at the strip club, no problem.

The real question is why they used city money to take a cab when Denver has a commuter train that takes you there for cheaper...oh yeah this trip was so long ago that their commuter train wasn't running yet.  So then why not take the bus?  I'd bet they had a bus before they had the train. 

 

There's the REAL scandal!!

I just can't understand how somebody in that kind of position would put their livelihood at risk by going to a strip club with coworkers on a work trip. It's not that I necessarily have a problem with it, but it's that other people will. Why risk it?