From the 10/23/06 Enquirer:

 

 

Budget woes squeezing city

Focus on police spending means less for other functions

BY DAN KLEPAL | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

In coming weeks, city of Cincinnati officials will begin debating a two-year budget written by a new city manager.

 

Click on link for article.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061023/NEWS01/610230392/1077/COL02

 

So, have revenues gone down, or have expenses gone up?  Or have we been running a deficit all along?  It seems hard to understand how we could afford things during the riot-torn, post 9/11 recession years that we can't afford now...

I think that huge windfall the city received a few years back probably helped fill in the gaps during those years. 

Thx, Milt...go ahead and cut just about every environmental program/agency budget possible.  I mean Cincinnati is already known for its fantastic recycling participation and programing.  Ohh and while you're at it please take hunks out of the social programs/activities that the city offers (really the only community that does so right now in the region...not any more).  Way to be a leader instead of the typical politician...put more cops on the streets but at what costs?!?!?  I yearn for the day when visionary leaders return to the Cincinnati landscape!

 

Budget: Cuts, layoffs

BY GREGORY KORTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

November 13, 2006

 

CINCINNATI - Cincinnati’s city manager proposed a $1.2 billion-a-year budget today that includes 61 layoffs and deep cuts to arts, health care, litter pick-up, recreation facilities, recycling, social services and special events.

 

Despite cuts he described as “painful” and angst-ridden, City Manager Milton Dohoney said the city would focus on core services by adding 65 police officers – fewer than the 100 some council members wanted – and additional police overtime.

No link available for article.

Oh man, I live in Carthage and I don't see how this will go over well at all with the people here.

Everyone's already fuming over the School Board closing Carthage Paideia elementary school. Which, by the way, has either been the top ranked or second highest ranked elementary school in the district the last couple of years.

Now might close the Carthage Community Center. Community leaders here are going to flip their lids.

You take this away and you end up taking away all the youth programs that it has to offer. Not to mention all the stuff for Senior citizens. I even go there to use the weight room. It only costed me $15 for the whole year. It's small but has everything I need.

I don't think they put much thought into these things when they make decisions like this. Wait, that's been this cities problem for the last 10 years or so. So it should come as no surprise.

Nonetheless, people here in Carthage are going to think their getting picked on.

What the city seems to be doing is catering to its non-residents rather than their current residents.  People from the 'burbs feel that the city has a crime problem (warranted or not), the city sees this as an image problem and therefore is consistantly putting more cops on the streets (good thing, but cannot be only place of attention).

 

While the current residents of the city I'm sure are worried about crime, but I would not say at the cost of public services, and other free programs offered by the city.  IMO, the city needs to start thinking from the inside out....RESIDENTS COME FIRST!!!!!

^Are you sure residents arn't asking for more cops? I mean, I'd rather feel safe in my community than have recycling every week or a pool closer to my house. To me, it seems like council has their priorities straight, cops cater to both crime reduction for residents and the image problem.

Of course police serve the residents. Of course of course of course.  The mayor and council are not pushing for extra cops to please visitors.  Read some of the stories on this board from neighborhood council meetings and summits.  There's always a quote from a resident demanding more cops.

 

The city budget could sure use that housing rollback cash right now - the one that Cranley and Co. voted to give back to cincinnati homeowners last month - I think it amounted to a lunch at skyline to the average homeowner or somehting like that. :?

I'd call it tough love. I'm impress the new city manager had the courage to make tough choices. I've been reading about this upcoming deficit for years now and nothing has been done until now. Of course, politics will now come into play and pick it a part. I couldn't help but notice that funding for Tender Mercies was cut. I believe that was considered one of the more troublesome agencies. The less Social Services Agencies DT the better, IMO.

^Are you sure residents arn't asking for more cops? I mean, I'd rather feel safe in my community than have recycling every week or a pool closer to my house. To me, it seems like council has their priorities straight, cops cater to both crime reduction for residents and the image problem.

 

What I was trying to say is that sure...residents want to be safe, and would like to see increased police presence.  But at what cost?!?!?  The same can be said for national security...sure I would like to be safe and secure from the threat of terrorism, but do I want my individual rights/freedoms to be trampled on in the process.

 

If you take away social programs you are only doing the reverse of what you are ultimately trying to accomplish with more police.  Police offer a response to crime and enforcement of the law, but at the same time they do not change the culture/cycle that leads a person to a criminal life in the first place.  Should you take away after school programs and other social efforts, then what is that going to lead to....kids having no where to go and are just sitting around looking for trouble.  This is not unique to the inner-city, but has/still does occur anywhere where you have children sitting around with little or nothing to do.

 

IMO, we should focus attention on correcting the problem at its roots rather than reacting to it!

I was robbed at gunpoint recently and from my point of view, additional cops masks the real problem.  The city needs more investigators and some restructuring of the current system including revamping the way that patrols are done and paid for right now.  And on a related issue city and county funding for services like medical/psychiatric care needs to be increased.  Lack of psychiatric treatment is a key problem in the city's rougher neighborhoods; go to parts of OTR and you'll see a large demo who need help desperately.

The city doesn't have 10-15 years to get the root causes. You got 20 and 30 year olds raping and killing that are beyond hope, then finding safe haven in these countless agencies. I've literary lost count how many there are now.

 

Your automatically assuming all S.S.A. are a good thing. I don't agree. I think they create an enabling environment. That allows certrain thugs to keep doing what their doing and then have warm meal and a roof over their head. Enough.

 

The Enquirer has a more detail article of the overall budget. Cuts have to be made. Don't let Grasscut see "1 million to demolish 91 condemned buildings in three neighborhoods: East Price Hill, Northside and Avondale." ;-) Another good thing.

The city doesn't have 10-15 years to get the root causes. You got 20 and 30 year olds raping and killing that are beyond hope, then finding safe haven in these countless agencies. I've literary lost count how many there are now.

 

Your automatically assuming all S.S.A. are a good thing. I don't agree. I think they create an enabling environment. That allows certrain thugs to keep doing what their doing and then have warm meal and a roof over their head. Enough.

 

So are you saying we shouldn't even try to fix the social problems in our society!?!?  Yes reactionary measures are neccessary, but so are social services that look to fix the root problem.  It is not an either/or situation both are contingent upon one another.  Policing alone creates a never ending cycle, and social services alone create a situation where certain people in society get off too easy for their actions.

What I was trying to say is that sure...residents want to be safe, and would like to see increased police presence.  But at what cost?!?!?  The same can be said for national security...sure I would like to be safe and secure from the threat of terrorism, but do I want my individual rights/freedoms to be trampled on in the process.

 

Rights and freedoms do not equate to recycling and health clinics, which will both still be available.

 

 

If you take away social programs you are only doing the reverse of what you are ultimately trying to accomplish with more police.  Police offer a response to crime and enforcement of the law, but at the same time they do not change the culture/cycle that leads a person to a criminal life in the first place.  Should you take away after school programs and other social efforts, then what is that going to lead to....kids having no where to go and are just sitting around looking for trouble.  This is not unique to the inner-city, but has/still does occur anywhere where you have children sitting around with little or nothing to do.

 

IMO, we should focus attention on correcting the problem at its roots rather than reacting to it!

 

Okay, I can certainly agree with that, but no social program cuts were even large enough to make the "more visible proposed cuts" list in the article you posted, so, while it does refer to social program cuts, I'm not seeing the problem.

 

Or prehaps you are saying the city should hire 40 or 50 cops, and start more proactive programs? I could certainly see this as a positive step.

We should keep in mind that the folks who suffer most from crime are the poor themselves.  Property crime is higher in OTR than in Hyde Park - and that ain't because of Prospect Hill getting hit over and over.  The poor are more likely to be robbed and burglarized, they have to spend money on security (grates for windows, extra locks, heavy doors, etc.), they shop at places that have to pay their own "security premium," they live in an environment that's not hospitable to quality jobs, etc., etc.  And that's just financial - aesthetically, the neighborhoods are graffiti'd and boarded up; psychologically, they live with a higher level of fear than a family in Oakley does that they'll be mugged or caught in the cross-fire or see their kids get wrapped up with the wrong folks...

 

All in all, the absolute best thing we could do for the poor is to fight crime.  Just getting criminals off the streets will help make life better for the folks who are steeped in the "root causes," because one of the biggest root causes is the crime itself.

 

 

At least that's how I see it...note - I didn't quote stats, and will happily repent if someone can show that I'm wrong on any of my assertions - I may well be...

 

The city doesn't have 10-15 years to get the root causes. You got 20 and 30 year olds raping and killing that are beyond hope, then finding safe haven in these countless agencies. I've literary lost count how many there are now.

 

Your automatically assuming all S.S.A. are a good thing. I don't agree. I think they create an enabling environment. That allows certain thugs to keep doing what their doing and then have warm meal and a roof over their head. Enough.

 

So are you saying we shouldn't even try to fix the social problems in our society!?!?  Yes reactionary measures are necessary, but so are social services that look to fix the root problem.  It is not an either/or situation both are contingent upon one another.  Policing alone creates a never ending cycle, and social services alone create a situation where certain people in society get off too easy for their actions.

 

There are a wealth (not being ironic) of programs that deal with root causes. Cuts or not from the city, I believe (feel free to correct me) that CPS has a rather substantial program in place that reaches out to families and their children in need. Though they can't seem to get a handle on the truancy problem.

 

Another huge program that I'm very familiar with is Head State which is funded by the Federal, State and maybe Local tax dollars. It a large operation in the city and Hamilton County that reaches out to thousands of poor families. Personally, I like the idea of Head Start, but some of the situations these kids (ages 3-5) are in, is brutal and even at that young of age I can already see the lost causes. My dear old Mom work there for 10 years and had to do home visits in the evening hours. Me or my Dad would be her escort and besides the absolute terrible city neighborhoods(the Price Hills, Fairmount, wrong side of Western Northern) the mom would open the door high or drunk, he home or apt would be trashed. Dad's were rarely around. If a kid had a chance it was usually because a grandparent was involved. Millions of dollars are spend every year on Head Start. These families make choices and you can't hold their hand through life.

 

Governments and agencies can only do some much. They can't be expect to fix every screwed-up person and the choices they make.

 

And I will always question the purpose of some of this S.S.A. Are they making a political statement? Are the religious-based agencies really making a difference or are they only taking about Jesus?

My mom also taught Head Start and I also accompanied her on home visits, and while I'm sure there are plenty of "lost causes", there are also plenty of kids who benefit from the program and go on to break the cycle of poverty.

 

You say that "these families make choices" - you're forgetting that no child ever asks to be born into such horrible situations. Not all of the parents chose to be in dire financial straits - some have (aka substance abuse), but others are on disability for legitimate reasons. I absolutely support accountability for Head Start funding, but removing yet one more means of support for people who have so little is flat-out cruel.

Or prehaps you are saying the city should hire 40 or 50 cops, and start more proactive programs? I could certainly see this as a positive step.

 

There you have it...its not just one or the other, but both programs are neccessary for a positive result.  It goes along the lines of not putting all of your eggs in one basket, most of the time you'll get burned.  Maybe I jumped the gun a little bit and over-reacted to the budget announcement, but its something that seems to be a popular political move, but does not equate to an overall positive social result.

Or prehaps you are saying the city should hire 40 or 50 cops, and start more proactive programs? I could certainly see this as a positive step.

 

There you have it...its not just one or the other, but both programs are neccessary for a positive result.  It goes along the lines of not putting all of your eggs in one basket, most of the time you'll get burned.  Maybe I jumped the gun a little bit and over-reacted to the budget announcement, but its something that seems to be a popular political move, but does not equate to an overall positive social result.

 

Agreed!  IMO simply boosting the number of cops, if it is not accompanied by a change in policing strategy (or lack thereof), won't get us the most bang for the buck.  As mentioned above though, nobody ever lost an election for 'supporting the cops'.

Cutting NSP money is just dumb, and to save $100,000!?!  I would argue that NSP may be the single best use of City money, given the volunteer hours that this money typically leverages.

It's the CPS items that bug me.  By asking CPS to spend $3 million on school resource officers and crossing guards we're asking CPS to cut $3 million somewhere else or eliminate school resource officers & crossing guards.  CPS has budgetary woes of their own and the net result of this will be less instructional dollars available.  Truly penny wise and pound foolish.....

^Are you sure residents arn't asking for more cops? I mean, I'd rather feel safe in my community than have recycling every week or a pool closer to my house. To me, it seems like council has their priorities straight, cops cater to both crime reduction for residents and the image problem.

 

What I was trying to say is that sure...residents want to be safe, and would like to see increased police presence.  But at what cost?!?!?  The same can be said for national security...sure I would like to be safe and secure from the threat of terrorism, but do I want my individual rights/freedoms to be trampled on in the process.

 

If you take away social programs you are only doing the reverse of what you are ultimately trying to accomplish with more police.  Police offer a response to crime and enforcement of the law, but at the same time they do not change the culture/cycle that leads a person to a criminal life in the first place.  Should you take away after school programs and other social efforts, then what is that going to lead to....kids having no where to go and are just sitting around looking for trouble.  This is not unique to the inner-city, but has/still does occur anywhere where you have children sitting around with little or nothing to do.

 

IMO, we should focus attention on correcting the problem at its roots rather than reacting to it!

^Truth.

 

More cops patrolling per capita too often means more supervisors sitting at their desks. There are also many other factors involved. It's a lot easier to grasp the concept of more police = safer neighborhood. Unfortunately, politicians like to do what the public percieves as a "good" idea which of course is based on very limited knowledge on these issues.

 

Cutting things like social programs scares the hell out of me, after reading The Tipping Point. In the mid '90s, Baltimore experienced a big syphilis epidemic. In a matter of 1 year, it increased 500 percent. People blamed it on crack cocaine (because it leads to risky sexual behavior) but what really happend was the clinics in the poor areas were getting their budget cut because the city decided to cut back on medical services. Their staff decrease meant less people could get appts to see a Dr. and people had to wait longer, meaning the disease had a little more time to spread. They would often run out of drugs for treatment, as well. Before the decrease in funding, visits to the clinic were stagnant and the epidemic was able to remain at equilibrium but after a certain point of decreasing funds, syphilis spread like wild fire, and into different neighborhoods that previously weren't adversely effected by it.

 

Not that Cincinnati has a big Syphilis problem but the moral of the story is that sometimes little things can make a big difference and I hope they take that into consideration.

My mom also taught Head Start and I also accompanied her on home visits, and while I'm sure there are plenty of "lost causes", there are also plenty of kids who benefit from the program and go on to break the cycle of poverty.

 

You say that "these families make choices" - you're forgetting that no child ever asks to be born into such horrible situations. Not all of the parents chose to be in dire financial straits - some have (aka substance abuse), but others are on disability for legitimate reasons. I absolutely support accountability for Head Start funding, but removing yet one more means of support for people who have so little is flat-out cruel.

 

Poor grammar aside, my point is there's millions of dollars that are spent for the poor on a yearly basis and there needs to be accountability. I like how the United Way(another source of dollars) started asking what have you done for me lately, before they give an organization more money. Are the agencies truly solving a problem? I don't think that's too much to ask.

 

I also forgot the most obvious source of funding in the city/Hamilton county and that's the two multi-million dollar tax levies that got renewed - Hamilton County Children's Services Levy and Health Care Levy. I'm not a fan of these, but if people want to tax themselves . . .of course poor people aren't effected since they probably don't pay property tax.

 

The city has some tough choices to make and questioning what S.S.A are doing shouldn't be out of the question.

 

The more I read about Milton Dohoney, the more I like. He puts it out there and people have to deal with it.

 

P.S. As for Head Start, I like the program, but from my experience, it's a prime reason to keep abortion safe and legal.

Are you seeerriiioussllyyy alluding that organizations like United Way aren't important/productive?

Huh?, not at all. The United Way recently (a year or two ago?) changed the procedures on how and who they give their donations to. They tighten their guidelines so as not to piss their hard earn dollars away, i.e. even the United Way doesn't find all Social Service Agencies doing wonderful things and has even lower or even dropped funding to some agencies. And it sounds like that's what the City of Cincy is doing too.

P.S. As for Head Start, I like the program, but from my experience, it's a prime reason to keep abortion safe and legal.

Huh?  Inappropriateness aside, this statement baffles me.  Head Start is very successful with a tough tough demographic.  Guess what, poverty isn't pretty and, as was well put above, we don't choose our parents.  It's a bad idea to cut services to children because you don't approve of how their parents run their lives.

I'm really glad we rolled back taxes $8

Capital funding for the Art Museum, Music Hall, and Cincinnati Museum Center was also eliminated from the budget. I know that not everyone supports the idea of public support of the arts, but I think these institutions deserve city funding, if for no other reason than the city owns these buildings and shares a responsibility for their upkeep.

Yeah I just got an email from one of my classmates saying that funding to the arts is completely eliminated and that there's a public forum at Cincinnati State regarding arts and cultural funding and they would like as many people to show up as possible. It's tonight at 6:00pm. It sucks because these institutions are part of Cincinnati's identity and should be funded but on the other hand...we are bringing the planning dept back.

 

 

Here's the email I received:

 

November 14, 2006

 

To: All Culture and Arts Professionals and Supporters

From: Buzz Ward

Re: Culture and Arts Funding in the Cincinnati City Budget

 

Yesterday, the City Manager officially submitted his recommended budget

for next year. It includes the elimination of $1,033,000 in arts

funding - $433,000 from the Arts Allocation budget and $600,000 from the

facilities maintenance budget for Music Hall, The Art Museum, and the

Museum Center ?

reducing the City's support for the Arts to $200,000.

 

The Mayor now has 14 days in which to comment on the City Manager's

proposed budget. In order to hear from the citizens regarding the

budget, the Mayor is convening a forum this Thursday evening at 6:00

p.m. in the main building at Cincinnati State. The Arts Community needs

to be fully represented there to advocate for sustained funding of the

Arts Allocation budget and the Facilities budget for the three

city-owned arts facilities and reject the drastic cuts proposed by the

City Manager. According to Vice Mayor Tarbell's office, the Mayor is

concerned about arts funding and we need to demonstrate its importance

to the community.

 

Points you may wish to make in support of maintaining the City's support

for the Arts:

 

In a survey of Greater Cincinnati residents quoted in the City Manager's

Budget, 37% said that the "activities, cultural events, and sporting

events" were the "main strengths of Cincinnati." This was the single

highest response to that issue with the next closest only registering

8%.

 

The City's Cultural and Arts Institutions give Cincinnati a competitive

advantage in attracting and keeping businesses in the area. We enhance

the quality of life for all our citizens. We serve hundreds of

thousands of our school children enhancing their learning, and we are an

economic engine for the community. A vibrant and healthy cultural life

is critical to any kind of successful redevelopment of the urban core.

If we are to survive and compete as a region, support of the cultural

and arts institutions is essential.

 

I urge you and your friends to turn out to advocate for sustained

cultural and arts funding at this Thursday's Mayor's forum. Thank you

in advance.

I'll be at the meeting. Hopefully there's a good turnout.

 

Also, David, we're not really bringing back the planning department. Yes, it's being split off from Community Development and getting a director, but they aren't hiring any new planners or getting any increased funding to do any sort of long range planning. In fact, they'd functionally lose one planner, since she's classified under the housing division. With the salary of a director, they could hire 2-3 planners, so it's really a bad thing for planning at the city level.

Terrible.

Yes, it's being split off from Community Development and getting a director, but they aren't hiring any new planners or getting any increased funding to do any sort of long range planning. In fact, they'd functionally lose one planner, since she's classified under the housing division. With the salary of a director, they could hire 2-3 planners, so it's really a bad thing for planning at the city level.

 

Ahh...the old 'catch 22'.  I wish this damn city would take a significant interest in planning...after Cincinnati is the birthplace of 'modern planning' and home to the first comprehensive plan.  What happened to the days of ol'...what happened to the vision of Cincinnati?? :cry:

City spending cuts protested

Social, recreation directors tell mayor that services they provide are crucial

BY KIMBALL PERRY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

Services for the elderly would be discontinued in at least two Cincinnati neighborhoods if the city doesn't alter its proposed $1.2 billion budget for next year.

 

Click on link for article.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061117/NEWS01/611170375/1077/COL02

Is the city required by state law to have a balanced budget? Or can they go deeper into debt like our Federal Government.

Required to have a balanced budget.

For those of you willing to help CMC, the Art Museum, and Music Hall, here's an email about how you can help.

Thank you to those who were able to attend the Mayor's Budget Forum in support of funding for Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati Art Museum and Music Hall. This weekend, the Mayor will be making his decisions, adding his comments to the budget, and passing it on to Council on Monday.

 

So ... now is the time for us to fill his e-mail with our thoughts. The Mayor has said that he is concerned about these cuts in funding but he wants to know that the community shares his concerns. Please take a moment and e-mail a quick note to Mayor Mallory  using the suggestions below. And please pass this request on to friends, family and co-workers.

 

Subject: Restore Capital Funds to Art Museum, Music Hall, Union Terminal.

It's important that we all use the same subject line so the Mayor's office knows just how many of us support this funding.

 

Body: Thank the Mayor for his support of our institutions and ask him to put this funding, historically given to our three institutions for maintenance and upkeep, back in the 2007/2008 budget.

 

Supporting Points: consider using one or more of the following supporting points in your e-mail:

 

    * As the owner of our buildings and grounds, the City has a vested interest in their success and a shared responsibility for their upkeep.

    * City funds are used to leverage private investments for the critical repairs and maintenance needed on these facilities.

    * These are CAPITAL funds and will not work in opposition to the city operating priorities of increased law enforcement and social services.

    * These dollars are small in proportion to the entire CAPITAL budget, but large and important to our budgets. It is important to ensure maintenance of existing cultural treasures while building new amenities, such as The Banks, the Riverfront Park and the Kennedy Connector.

 

Send e-mail to: Mayor Mark Mallory at [email protected].

 

Once again, thank you so much for your support of our city's cultural treasures.

Mallory restores city budget cuts

BY KIMBALL PERRY | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

November 20, 2006

 

CAMP WASHINGTON –Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory today proposed changes in the city budget that would restore funding for recreation centers, several human services programs and neighborhood councils.

 

Mallory outlined changes to the budget previously proposed by new City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. The city manager's budget called for adding 65 police officers but closed two community centers and 13 city pools as well as cutting social service funding.

 

Click on link for article.

Out of sequence from a posting timeline point of view, but a relevent none the less...

 

Cuts will hurt more than many may think

 

BY JUSTIN STENGER | GUEST COLUMNIST

 

I applaud the city manager's effort to boost economic development in the city of Cincinnati. Clearly, this is necessary to help attract new jobs and businesses. However, the proposed budget ignores Cincinnati's greatest traditions and best attributes.

 

Click on link for article.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061119/EDIT02/611190341/1021/EDIT

Mallory says no to pool closings

His plan backs recreation

BY KIMBALL PERRY | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

November 21, 2006

 

CINCINNATI - All Cincinnati pools and recreation centers will be open - and open longer - under Mayor Mark Mallory's plan to restore more than $3.5 million in cuts to the 2007 budget proposed by City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr.

 

Click on link for article.

From the 11/29/06 Enquirer:

 

 

Clinics on chopping block

At least 1 might be closed, pharmacies consolidated

BY SHARON COOLIDGE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

At least one and possibly as many as three health clinics that serve Cincinnati's poorest residents might be shut to put more police on the street.

 

Click on link for article.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/NEWS01/611290350/1077/COL02

 

Budget hearing well-attended

City weighs tilt towards hiring police

BY DAN KLEPAL | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

December 13, 2006

 

DOWNTOWN - They filled all the seats inside the Duke Energy Center conference room Tuesday night, and when all the seats were gone they began lining the walls.

 

Click on link for article.

This Dahoney guy thinks in terms of day to day operations...NOT what is best for the city 20 years down the road, or hell even 2 years down the road!

 

Lights! Camera! ... Action?

Commission says city won't get its share of movie, TV productions if council cuts budget

BY PAUL CLARK | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

December 15, 2006

 

CINCINNATI - Two major Hollywood productions plan extensive location shooting in Greater Cincinnati next year, emboldening supporters of the regional film commission to predict a $20 million movie payoff for the local economy in 2007.

 

But they say it depends on whether municipal fiscal planners yell "cut."

 

Click on link for article.

Council demands more cops

Hires driven by politics, not request from chief

BY DAN HORN & DAN KLEPAL | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

December 17, 2006

 

CINCINNATI - Few people complained earlier this year when the Cincinnati City Council demanded the city hire 100 additional police officers.

 

Click on link for article.

to me, homicides seem like a really bad gauge of overall crime, especially when the vast majority involve motives (drugs)

Council members want more put into pensions

BY DAN KLEPAL | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

December 18, 2006

 

CINCINNATI - Cincinnati City Council members are struggling to pass a balanced budget for 2007-08 because they started with a projected $28 million deficit.

 

Click on link for article.

Council shuts down over budget

BY DAN KLEPAL | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

December 18, 2006

 

CINCINNATI - Cincinnati City Council's Finance Committee shut down Monday because of an argument over two competing budget proposals.

 

Click on link for article.

Council stuck on budget

'Unorthodox' session drags on until the wee hours

BY DAN KLEPAL | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

December 21, 2006

 

CINCINNATI - Negotiations over a $350 million spending plan for the city of Cincinnati started Wednesday morning and didn’t conclude until 2:30 a.m. today.

 

Click on link for article.

City to hire police, keep clinics open

BY DAN KLEPAL | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

December 22, 2006

 

CINCINNATI - Cincinnati City Council adopted a budget this morning that will pay for programs for the poor – including keeping all health clinics open – put some money in its savings accounts and do a variety of other things, such as establish an office of environmental quality and fully fund the city’s retirement system.

 

Click on link for article.

From the 12/23/06 Enquirer:

 

 

Budget looks long term

Clinics, parks, police benefit from city's plan

BY DAN KLEPAL | [email protected]

 

Health clinics, swimming pools and recreation centers will stay open. More police officers will walk the streets. Programs for the poor will continue getting help from city tax dollars. The city's savings account will grow.

 

Click on link for article.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061223/NEWS01/612230343/1077/COL02

 

New foundation aids arts

BY CLIFF PEALE | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

January 5, 2007

 

CINCINNATI - A newly funded private foundation will grant $400,000 to local arts groups during each of the next two years to make up for city of Cincinnati budget cuts.

 

Click on link for article.