May 30, 200718 yr Thank you County Commissioners! It was a necessary step for our city as well as the region as a whole. The only thing that I am disappointed in is how big of a butt-hole Pat Dewine was in this whole process. He was clearly was swept up in politics here. This guy has been pro-jail at every turn up until this point. Now, when solidarity is needed, he thinks only of political gain/opposing those evil democrats.
June 1, 200718 yr Didn't see this one coming... Opponents want to repeal tax boost Foes want to put commissioners' plan for jail to a vote BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER June 1, 2007 CINCINNATI - Within 12 hours of the Hamilton County commissioners' vote to raise the county sales tax to 7 percent to pay for a new jail and anti-crime plan, activists opposed to the plan organized their first meeting. Their goal: To gather the 28,750 signatures needed to force a November referendum to block the increase. Click on link for article.
June 2, 200718 yr Proposed jail tax spurs alliance NAACP, anti-tax group COAST will plot petition drive today BY HOWARD WILKINSON | [email protected] Two groups that usually find themselves on opposite ends of the political spectrum - the NAACP and COAST, the area's most conservative and most vocal anti-tax group - are working together to prevent Hamilton County commissioners from increasing the sales tax for a new jail. Click on link for article. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070602/NEWS01/706020406
June 2, 200718 yr These people wish to repeal the tax, but I'd like to see them propose something else to pay for the new jail and maintain it before they repeal something that was thought out and will fix the crime problem. I fear that if this goes to ballot that it will lkely be rejected, and we'll have people blaming the commission for the 'failure' of not building a jail, when essentially it is the residents of the county that are going to be so unwilling to pay to fix the problem. I don't want to say this, but perhaps if this referendum succeeds the commission should consider axing nonessential services to pay for the tax, things that would be close and dear to those anti-tax residents who feel that making the county safer should be a long, drawn out process or that it has a secret easy fix that includes pigs flying. The truth is that fix likely won't be easy, and any solution that ends up will likely not make people happy. I applaud Todd Portune and David Pepper for potentially committing political suicide in Hamilton County politics by raising the tax, but I feel that it will likely be in vain.
June 5, 200718 yr I just hope it doesn't get as ugly as the whole stadium debacle! I know we need a jail bad, but I just don't understand why fed or state money is not accessable for established urban areas like the Nati for this type of project. Same goes with BS I-75 bridge. These structures are going to go a long way in helping the economic vitality of this city and state for that matter. Maybe we are too far from C-bus! I wonder if Frankfort would be of any assistance
June 5, 200718 yr These people wish to repeal the tax, but I'd like to see them propose something else to pay for the new jail and maintain it before they repeal something that was thought out and will fix the crime problem. Why do you think another jail is going to "fix the crime problem" ? To this day, I don't really understand who is in the county jail and for how long. I know it is taking longer and longer for people to get to trial but nobody seems to want to put pressure on the judges or grand juries to move things along. If a guy is just unable to post bond, I don't think he can be forced by the county into any kind of treatment while he is just awaiting trial. That would come after sentencing which will frequently put the guy into the state correctional facility and out of the reach of the county. Then, of course, there are the city councilmen who want to pass more laws to put more people into an already overcrowded jail for no good reason.
June 6, 200718 yr I know we need a jail bad, but I just don't understand why fed or state money is not accessable for established urban areas like the Nati for this type of project. Same goes with BS I-75 bridge. My thoughts exactly...where are our federal dollars going. Oh yeah - Iraq. I guess domestic issues just aren't a concern for this administration.
June 6, 200718 yr These people wish to repeal the tax, but I'd like to see them propose something else to pay for the new jail and maintain it before they repeal something that was thought out and will fix the crime problem. Why do you think another jail is going to "fix the crime problem" ? To this day, I don't really understand who is in the county jail and for how long. I know it is taking longer and longer for people to get to trial but nobody seems to want to put pressure on the judges or grand juries to move things along. If a guy is just unable to post bond, I don't think he can be forced by the county into any kind of treatment while he is just awaiting trial. That would come after sentencing which will frequently put the guy into the state correctional facility and out of the reach of the county. Then, of course, there are the city councilmen who want to pass more laws to put more people into an already overcrowded jail for no good reason. the county jail contains people who commit first degree misdemeanors or less, punishable by up to no more than 180 days in prison. they might be there longer due to multiple misdemeanors running consecutively. They also include people who are held awaiting trial who cannot post a bond or the people to whom bond is denied. the vast majority of defendants do not have to post bond and are released on their own recognicance. An example of a first degree misdemeanor is drunk driving but there are many others.
June 6, 200718 yr New Jail a Taxing Problem Editorial BY JOHN FOX | CITY BEAT June 6, 2007 CINCINNATI - Hamilton County commissioners voted last week to increase the county's sales tax to fund a new jail and a larger safety plan. They considered placing the plan on the August or November ballot but ultimately decided to hike the sales tax without a public vote. Click on link for article.
June 16, 200717 yr Jail-tax opponents 'struggling' Petition drive finds signatures hard to come by BY JESSICA BROWN | [email protected] It's been two weeks since Hamilton County Commissioners Todd Portune and David Pepper voted to increase the county's sales tax to pay for a new jail and public safety programs. Click on link for article. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070616/NEWS01/706160416/1056/COL02
June 16, 200717 yr I haven't seen this one either. Last year during the casino petitions I was accosted almost every day at Miami Whitewater; now I see no one for this drive and even if I did I'd politely decline signing.
June 17, 200717 yr I have seen tons of petitions. I wonder if that story is a plant to motivate the supporters
June 19, 200717 yr I have seen tons of petitions. I wonder if that story is a plant to motivate the supporters Interesting thought...
June 19, 200717 yr I have seen none for the jail. I have seen some for other petition drives (minimum wage, etc.) but not the jail.
June 25, 200717 yr Leis: Don't sign jail tax petitions Cincinnati Business Courier - 3:17 PM EDT Monday, June 25, 2007 by Lucy MaySenior staff reporter Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis on Monday asked an Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce gathering to support commissioners' efforts to increase the county sales tax to fund a new jail. Click on link for article. http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/06/25/daily10.html?jst=b_ln_hl
June 28, 200717 yr Anti-sales tax petition needs lot of names BY HOWARD WILKINSON | [email protected] The Cincinnati Enquirer - Thursday, June 28, 2007 HYDE PARK - The petition drive to give Hamilton County residents a vote on a sales tax increase has collected just over 20,000 signatures in the past three weeks, but leaders of the effort say they will need at least twice that many in the next two weeks to be successful. Click on link for article. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070628/NEWS01/706280342/1056/COL02
July 7, 200717 yr Coalition pushes petition drive 34,000 signatures meant to put sales-tax increase on ballot BY HOWARD WILKINSON AND JESSICA BROWN | [email protected]; [email protected] With a week to go, leaders of a petition drive to place a planned Hamilton County sales tax increase for a new jail on the November ballot say they have collected 34,014 signatures - but it is not yet clear how many of those signatures will count. Click on link for article. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070707/NEWS01/707070402/1077/COL02&GID=4+Ovogko4kRZ2QMoFXxwNqGoLENtWe/VjcVBhR8f2lE%3D
July 12, 200717 yr i am glad i finally came across the petition yesterday. i can't wait for this to get on the ballot.
July 12, 200717 yr i am glad i finally came across the petition yesterday. i can't wait for this to get on the ballot. Not going to happen...they are already just barely meeting the required number of signatures, and it always turns out that a decent chunk of those are invalid.
July 12, 200717 yr I was approached by a man offering to "register me to vote". Since I'm not yet registered, I agreed and filled out the form. He then told, not asked, me to sign this paper. I knew it must be the jail tax petition, even though he had covered the heading at the top, and told him I didn't want to sign the petition, so this guy went nuts! He tore up my voter registration paper and started yelling and cursing at me. They need to do background checks on these people!
July 12, 200717 yr I was approached by a man offering to "register me to vote". Since I'm not yet registered, I agreed and filled out the form. He then told, not asked, me to sign this paper. I knew it must be the jail tax petition, even though he had covered the heading at the top, and told him I didn't want to sign the petition, so this guy went nuts! He tore up my voter registration paper and started yelling and cursing at me. They need to do background checks on these people! People actually gather signatures for a living. I would imagine they have a tendency towards mental illness. I would imagine tearing up somebody's voter registration is illegal, tho.
July 13, 200717 yr County eating away at reserves Costly safety plans push fund well below target BY DAN MONK | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER July 13, 2007 CINCINNATI - Hamilton County is spending down its fiscal reserves at the rate of $1.8 million a month, a pace that could deplete that rainy day fund by this time next year. Click on link for article.
July 15, 200717 yr Jail crisis or county pork? Debate goes on as opponents submit signatures for November referendum BY JESSICA BROWN | [email protected] LINK TO PDF:http://news.enquirer.com/assets/AB79437715.PDF Hamilton County Commissioners Todd Portune and David Pepper raised the county sales tax to pay for a new jail. Then, on Friday, a coalition trying to block that increase and allow the public to vote on it filed petitions to try to stop the tax. Click on link for article. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070715/NEWS01/707150410
July 30, 200717 yr County deal with Butler jail on table BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER July 29, 2007 CINCINNATI - Hamilton County officials must decide by the end of the week whether taxpayers can afford to keep more than 300 inmates in the Butler County jail past Oct. 6. Click on link for article.
July 31, 200717 yr Jail bed rentals might stop County can't find money to renew Butler contract BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER July 31, 2007 CINCINNATI - It looks like 300 beds for Hamilton County inmates might disappear, dumping that many low-level criminals back onto the streets. Click on link for article.
July 31, 200717 yr County reps trade salvos over jail issue BY JOE WESSELS | CINCINNATI POST July 31, 2007 CINCINNATI - Two Hamilton County commissioners say the county is headed for a financial and safety crisis because of the actions of the third commissioner relating to the building of a new jail. Click on link for article.
August 1, 200717 yr County: Triple-bunk prisoners BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER August 1, 2007 CINCINNATI - Hamilton County Commissioners this morning said they will ask the federal courts for permission to triple bunk at least 300 inmates in the Hamilton County Justice Center in order to avoid putting them out on the streets. Click on link for article.
August 2, 200717 yr Jail tax vote headed to ballot BY JESSICA BROWN | [email protected] It looks like those who wanted a Hamilton County sales tax increase on the November ballot will get their wish. The Board of Elections has verified that more than 38,000 of the more than 50,000 signatures turned in by petitioners are valid. Click on link for article. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/NEWS01/308020040&GID=zDYy3zzj3cJZAJT2N53rB30Ps3J23dnJfOe/+4q8TGg%3D
September 10, 200717 yr County weighs merits of housing federal inmates BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER September 10, 2007 CINCINNATI - A decision may come today about whether to continue a decades-old practice of housing federal inmates in the Hamilton County Justice Center. Click on link for article.
September 11, 200717 yr At first glance this seems like a pretty dumb move. County to continue housing federal inmates September 10, 2007 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER CINCINNATI - Saying that Hamilton County needs to cooperate with federal crime-reduction efforts, Commissioners David Pepper and Todd Portune voted Monday to continue a program that houses federal inmates in the Hamilton County Justice Center. Click on link for article.
September 12, 200717 yr Leis, tax opponents skirmish BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER September 11, 2007 CINCINNATI - For the second time in two months, the Hamilton County sheriff is being criticized for remarks he allegedly made outside public meetings. Click on link for article.
September 13, 200717 yr Jail Break More than crime and punishment are on the line in Hamilton County jail referendum BY KEVIN OSBORNE | CITY BEAT September 12, 2007 CINCINNATI - It's rare to find a local issue so volatile that it not only pits Republicans against Republicans and Democrats against Democrats but also forges an unusual alliance between conservative and liberal groups who otherwise wouldn't even talk to each other, much less cooperate on a political campaign. Click on link for article.
September 20, 200717 yr Ky. might take Ohio inmates Bill supports housing in neighboring counties BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER September 19, 2007 CINCINNATI - Up to 100 Hamilton County inmates could be moving across the Ohio River - and the state line - into Campbell County's jail in Newport if an Ohio bill proposed Tuesday becomes law. Click on link for article.
September 24, 200717 yr Even with support from both parties I think this might go down. Dems, GOP, back sales tax rise September 24, 2007 | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER CINCINNATI - The plan to raise Hamilton County's sales tax to pay for a new jail and safety programs won the backing today of both the county Democratic and Republican parties. Click on link for article.
October 17, 200717 yr No 'plan B' if jail sales tax fails BY JESSICA BROWN | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER October 16, 2007 CINCINNATI - There is no “Plan B” to fix jail overcrowding if voters defeat Issue 27 at the polls Nov. 6. Click on link for article.
October 26, 200717 yr Even if it passes, jail tax might fall short BY DAN MONK | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER October 26, 2007 CINCINNATI - We don't know how Hamilton County voters will decide Issue 27 on Nov. 6. But we're pretty sure they won't understand it. Click on link for article.
January 21, 200817 yr County paid for empty jails Prisoners returned as soon as sales tax failed BY GREGORY KORTE | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER January 21, 2008 CINCINNATI - Hamilton County taxpayers spent $833,755 for empty jail cells in Butler County under an agreement that paid for 300 jail cells a night - whether they were filled or not. Click on link for article.
January 21, 200817 yr I find this disturbing on a couple of levels. One is that I can't believe they would negotiate such a lousy contract...between this one and the deal that gave premium land away to the Freedom Center (with no provision for it to come back to the county after a certain time) - I'm not real sure which one is worse. Obviously this one has cost the taxpayers much more, but the Freedom Center land deal could have cost taxpayers in excess of $1M. Seriously...what the heck was going on, at the county, level during this time frame. Did they just fall asleep and lose all business savvy?!?! The second thing that disturbs me is that the powers at be in Butler County had to know this was a rotten deal, and knew that HamCo was at their mercy (so to speak). Did they really have to take them to the cleaners and screw Hamilton County taxpayers?!?! I guess they're not for the whole regional cooperation thing...
January 21, 200817 yr If a new jail levy comes on the ballot, this will make it harder for it to pass. People will say "look at those empty beds we had in Butler County....."
January 21, 200817 yr If a new jail levy comes on the ballot, this will make it harder for it to pass. People will say "look at those empty beds we had in Butler County....." Oh don't worry, I'm pretty confident that the county will be sued before another ballot measure is put forth. Thus forcing us to build a new facility and costing taxpayers even more money.
January 21, 200817 yr If a new jail levy comes on the ballot, this will make it harder for it to pass. People will say "look at those empty beds we had in Butler County....." Oh don't worry, I'm pretty confident that the county will be sued before another ballot measure is put forth. Thus forcing us to build a new facility and costing taxpayers even more money. True, I can see that happening, especially with the condition of the Queensgate facility. The jail downtown was built as the result of a lawsuit in the '80s.
February 22, 200817 yr Jail funding high on county's state capital wish list BY DAN MONK | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER February 22, 2008 CINCINNATI - For every state dollar local civic groups want to spend on entertainment, Hamilton County wants $2.07 for new jails. Click on link for article.
April 2, 200817 yr Hamilton Co. pays $10K,to settle suit Money goes for attorney's fees from litigation over jail campaign BY JESSICA BROWN | [email protected] April 2, 2008 Hamilton County is shelling out $10,000 in taxpayer money to settle a federal lawsuit stemming from the unsuccessful jail tax campaign last year. Click on link for article. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080402/NEWS01/804020349/1056/COL02
August 12, 200816 yr Early releases from jail down Crowding eases despite voter rejection of tax http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/NEWS01/808120315/1055/NEWS A year ago, supporters of a tax increase for a bigger Hamilton County jail and more safety programs said the plan was critical to avoid a public safety crisis. Click on link for article.
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