My wife and I were on our honeymoon, and had someone staying at our house, watching the cats...she had to run home for a couple days, and the night she left someone broke into our house...the only thing he took was a cheap DVD player - left the liquor, missed the jewelry (not much of it to miss, but he missed it), ate some peanut butter, some turkey gravy, some candy, and cluttered up the place...and he went through all our wedding gifts, all unopened, but didn't take any of them (we think)...the worst part was he went through all the cards looking for cash - and didn't put them back with the presents they came from...we figured most of them out, but I had to call a few folks to ask them if they got us the thermos or the pyrex...

 

Actually, the worst part was the fingerprint dust - it was all over, and the cats got into it and tracked it everywhere...eventually they returned the wedding cards to us, but seeing fingerprinted wedding cards was just too horror-movie-disturbing to keep them around...

Does anyone notice the similarity here? You get married, you lose your stuff.

  Hey...I feel slighted!  Cleveland had 115 murders in 2005!  Did that lead Ohio?  Man, we're number one!  Something to be proud of!!!!  (sarcasm)  lol

I thkink Dayton has us both beat on a per capita basis but the stats always seem to be for metro areas & not actual cities.

Here are some stats for 2004 for...I couldn't find a complete list for 05' yet.  These are for cities, not metro areas....

 

http://print.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921299.html

Does anyone notice the similarity here? You get married, you lose your stuff.

 

LOL...I was thinking the same thing!

From the 4/5/06 Enquirer:

 

 

Leis seeking OK to renew city patrols

BY KIMBALL PERRY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

A day after two people were killed in Over-the-Rhine, Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. is no longer patrolling parts of that neighborhood - but he wants to.

 

Leis will meet Monday with Hamilton County commissioners to ask them to continue to pay for a program to have deputies patrol parts of Over-the-Rhine and downtown where county employees work and park.

 

"The bottom line is that the shootings that are taking place, the homicides that are occurring, are a problem that surpasses the ability of one (police) jurisdiction to handle it," Commissioner Todd Portune said Tuesday.

 

Two homicides Monday in Over-the-Rhine put Cincinnati on a pace to top 1971's 81 homicides, the most in recent memory.

 

Last year, police union officials opposed the plan to have sheriff's deputies patrol areas previously covered only by Cincinnati police, saying it was a turf issue. By law, Ohio sheriffs have jurisdiction anywhere within their county.

 

After a county worker reported she was kidnapped from a parking lot on the way to work, then robbed and raped, deputies patrolled those areas - temporarily - when workers were going to or from work.

 

Leis had agreed to do the patrols until Sunday, when daylight-saving time took effect.

 

He will ask commissioners Monday for money to continue patrolling the area.

 

Leis has $1 million from his budget he didn't use last year, but needs about $500,000 more to pay deputies for the patrols. Last year, Leis proposed at least six deputies in cruisers patrolling that area.

 

Portune supports the idea.

 

"We have $50 million in reserve funds," Portune said. "With the stuff going on in Over-the-Rhine, you've got to spend the money."

 

Commissioners Pat DeWine and Phil Heimlich have said that reserve fund needs to grow to address other issues, including the projected $191 million stadium fund deficit.

 

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Barnett said Leis also will ask for permission to expand the patrols to include crime "hot spots" in Hamilton County - including much of Over-the-Rhine.

 

Late last year, Leis was prepared to do the same thing, but he backed off when told the deputies could be subject to the "collaborative agreement" put in place after the Cincinnati riots in 2001.

 

That agreement requires each Cincinnati police traffic stop to be recorded; additional training for officers and supervisors; and stricter hiring, promotional and use-of-force policies.

 

Lawyers who helped implement the collaborative told the sheriff they think it applies to any law enforcement agency patrolling within Cincinnati limits.

 

Leis argues his department neither signed nor played a role in the agreement's implementation and isn't subject to it.

 

An April 12 Hamilton County court hearing is to address that.

 

E-mail [email protected]

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060405/NEWS01/604050387/1056/rss02

 

Does anyone notice the similarity here? You get married, you lose your stuff.

 

LOL...I was thinking the same thing!

 

It's the old...what's mine is hers and what's hers is hers

191 million dollar stadium deficit...that's really cool...

I hate to be one of the typical people that complain about the stadiums but it really bothers me when the city and county are willing to invest a billion dollars in stadiums when that much money could completely change OTR and other inner city neighborhoods and actually spawn a hell of a lot more private investment in surrounding areas than stadiums ever will. How long will it take to pay off their 1Billion + loans? 30 years? Both stadiums will be demolished around the same time it's paid off.  People are AFRAID to go OTR...they're only slightly less afraid of the CDB for bordering it and they're only slightly less afraid to be in Cincinnati period. That amount of money could completely change people's perception of Cincinnati but like the Romans we just want our bread and circuses and why should a government on any level object? When people are preoccupied with the politics of sports, they're apathetic towards what the gov't is doing, or what is going on around them in general.

 

Deputies to patrol Over-the-Rhine

BY KIMBALL PERRY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

Hamilton County commissioners unanimously agreed today to support sheriff’s deputies patrolling Over-the-Rhine, the Cincinnati neighborhood that has seen several homicides this month.

 

“Everybody is aware of the crime problem in that specific area and the constant shootings in Over-the-Rhine,” Sheriff Simon Leis told commissioners today in a staff meeting.

 

Leis said he was surprised that he received unanimous support– as well as an additional $1.8 million in his budget – to allow his deputies to begin patrolling the neighborhood immediately north of downtown Cincinnati.

 

Leis said it will take up to two months before he can get the experienced deputies to begin the patrols, but said he will patrol the area regardless of whether his office will be subject to the so-called Collaborative Agreement.

 

That agreement calls for the Cincinnati Police Department to fill out paperwork and keep detailed information on much more police work, including traffic stops as part of a settlement of a lawsuit against Cincinnati police.

 

If it does – there is a court hearing Wednesday on that issue – Leis said he would adhere to it because he believes so strongly in how much help his department can be to the crime problem in Over-the-Rhine.

 

“The more (officers) you put up in that area, the more effective you’re going to be,” Leis said. “I think we’ve got to do something in this community. It’s out of control right now.”

 

Under Ohio law, the sheriff, an independently elected official, has jurisdiction anywhere inside Hamilton County.

 

Leis expects to have 19 deputies and supervisors involved in the Over-the-Rhine patrols.

 

Leis doesn’t believe the union that represents most Cincinnati police officers, which has complained that deputies patrolling Over-the-Rhine is the same as them stepping on Cincinnati police turf, will have a problem now with his deputies patrolling the area.

 

“I’m not getting into this to usurp the authority of the city,” Leis said. “I’m getting into this area to help out.”

 

Commissioner Todd Portune, who with the sheriff pushed for this proposal last year, said he was surprised the other two commissioners – Phil Heimlich and Pat DeWine – approved the funding for the patrols.

 

“I think it’s long overdue,” Portune said.

 

Leis proposes paying for the patrols by eliminating the security measures added last year at the Taft Law Center – home to the Hamilton County prosecutor, court of appeals, public defender and other offices.

 

E-mail [email protected]

"I think it's long overdue"  THANKYOU CAPTAIN OBVIOUS!

Yeah, this is good news, I believe. I don't think that the Hamilton C. Sheriffs will have to go through the same procedures that the city police do.

 

I could be wrong, but I am under the impression that the Sheriff Dept. will not mess around.

Streicher was on the tube (9?) saying Cinti police would be upping patrols in OTR as well.

  From what it seems, Cincy is definitely rougher than Columbus, and Cleveland is as well when it comes to homicides at least.  Do any of you have the up to date numbers this year for homicides for the big three C's?  I just am curious since both Cincy and Cleveland are smaller than Columbus when it comes to population.

  From what it seems, Cincy is definitely rougher than Columbus, and Cleveland is as well when it comes to homicides at least.  Do any of you have the up to date numbers this year for homicides for the big three C's?  I just am curious since both Cincy and Cleveland are smaller than Columbus when it comes to population.

I grew up in Columbus in the Bottoms, on Dana avenue and believe me there was some crazy ass people around there. I also had family that lived in Linden area which is really bad (they're now in jail for manslaughter). I went to Independence H.S. for a year before moving back to Cinci..a lot of the students were bloods and crips, including a few of my friends at the time...fights were common and so was bringing a gun to school. It seems like in Cinci the crime is just more concentrated to certain areas. I don't know if it's better or worse as a whole though.

I know Im late but that was a hell of a Toledo vs. Cincy segregation debate last year..My thoughts on the issue..

 

Looking at this as objectively as I can. I think one could come to the conclusion that although Toledo dosent have many super high income blacks, the trade off is having less concentrated poverty (i.e. ghettos, crime,etc).

 

For example I live in a neighborhood thats very diverse but its predominatly black and there are several middle class blacks who live with working class backs because the burbs as they are has no diversity, longer commutes, and some like myself realize by leaving the city you concentrate poverty hurting the neighborhood and ultimatley the city.

 

IMHO Toledo has no real "ghettos" compared to some of the cities Ive been to, which is in line with the city's low crime rate. But dont get me wrong id still probably take Cincy over this place.

 

 

 

@ Cdawg

 

I think what im trying to say is by looks alone a person from the outside whose never been to Toledo probably couldnt tell a place is "ghetto" without looking at crime statistics. For example theres parts of Detroit and Cleveland that simply looks like a bomb got dropped on it and by looks alone you say "wow, thats ghetto". Also ghetto refers to a poor race, ethnicity, who have been ISOLATED. Thats why i said no real ghetto.

 

ah yes but I forgot about Vistula, which is odd because one of my best buddies lives in that area and im always interested in the wild stories he tells me. Your right on the race thing, I think thats whats throwing me off too..Its just not the stereotypical "Boyz in the Hood" type ghetto you see on TV, the media has screwed alot of us up in the head actually..I wonder how common "intergrated ghettos" even are.

 

I wonder whats stopping Toledo from annexing Ottawa Hills anyway, its practically surrounded by the city.  As for other high income area theres also an area called Stone Oak which is a supposably more wealthy than Ottawa Hills and extremely nice but I dont know if thats included in the metro. 

wow all these essays about Toledo lol I'll bookmark this page just in case I ever have to do a paper on it.

More patrols in Over-the-Rhine

$1.8M OK'd for sheriff's deputies in 2 neighborhoods

BY KIMBALL PERRY AND EILEEN KELLEY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

 

OVER-THE RHINE - With three killings in her neighborhood in less than a week, Kecia Bronson is dreading this year.

 

"I have four small children. They can't go outside now with all the shooting around here. Who knows what it will be like this summer," Bronson, a 13th Street resident, said.

 

If Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. has his way, Over-the-Rhine will be like any other place in the county when it comes to crime.

 

"I think we've got to do something in this community. It's out of control right now," Leis said Monday.

 

What Leis is doing is adding sheriff's patrols to the neighborhood.

 

The city is on pace to break a homicide record of 81 set in 1971. So far this year, 24 people have been killed in street violence, and three of the last four, since April 3, have happened in Over-the-Rhine. Another occurred in the West End, less than a block from Over-the-Rhine's boundary.

 

Leis made the decision after meeting Monday with Hamilton County commissioners, who promised to give the sheriff's office the $1.8 million that Leis said was needed to have 16 deputies and three sergeants patrol the neighborhood immediately north of downtown Cincinnati. The patrol area includes Pendleton, a small neighborhood adjacent to the east side of Over-the-Rhine.

 

That extra help is needed, said Philip Lusenhop, owner of Noel's Plumbing Supply at 1200 Walnut St.

 

He comes to work at 5 a.m. and often sees problems. "It's so obvious what they are doing," Lusenhop said. "A car pulls up, they (drug dealers) stick their head in, hand them something, and they leave.

 

"They sure aren't saying, 'Hi,'" he said. "They should do something about the drugs. These people getting killed - all of the shootings - it's drug-related."

 

Police agree, saying about 90 percent of the killings in the city are related to narcotics.

 

The most recent four deaths, which included the shootings of two people from the suburbs on one of the city's most notorious drug corners here, 14th and Race streets, revolved around drugs.

 

Many people here say life has gotten out of hand, especially since the 2001 riots.

 

"(Police) have forgotten about us," said Angel Wallace, who lives on the streets here.

 

That's not so, said Cincinnati Sgt. Jim Perkins, who for most of his almost decade-long career has worked in Over-the-Rhine.

 

Thirty-seven officers are assigned to Over-the-Rhine and its surrounding neighborhoods from 3 to 11 p.m.

 

That doesn't mean they are all on the street. Vacations, days off and illness eat away at the city's police manpower, meaning on average about 20 police are in Over-the-Rhine on any given night.

 

RECIPE FOR DISASTER?

 

Some city police say the addition of sheriff's deputies will spell disaster because the deputies will be unfamiliar with undercover Cincinnati officers and don't have the experience patrolling a violent urban neighborhood.

 

"As a Cincinnati police officer working in Over-the-Rhine, I can tell you that it is very different than working in a suburban environment," Perkins said. "There might be a perception that we are weak, but actually, we are strong."

 

Kathy Harrell, the president of the police union, said her members would rather not have the sheriff's deputies here.

 

Many police point to potential communication, safety and training problems. They fear that the some problems associated with race and police could blow up again with a new set of officers.

 

Many residents and business owners ignore those arguments. They want help and don't care what the patches on the uniforms say.

 

"It doesn't matter as long as they help people and slow down crime," said Chief Saleh, owner of Chief's Dollar Store in the 1300 block of Vine Street.

 

Larry Ashford, owner of Smitty's men's store in the 1400 block of Vine Street, agreed - adding that sheriff's deputies are the ideal officers to get the job done.

 

"(Criminals) are not scared of the Cincinnati police. Si's men don't have to answer to too many people, just to Si," Ashford said. He said the bad guys are "a little more scared of the deputies than they are of the police."

 

But Perkins said the job of city police "is not to intimidate or scare anybody."

 

"We don't want the citizens to fear us. We want them to work in cooperation with us and to help fulfill our objective."

 

Those objectives, are to clean up the city and address the quality of life issues, Perkins said.

 

"We really need the people to know that we are out there working for them," he said.

 

In the past week, police have saturated the area - beyond the normal patrol - sending a clear message that even the person littering is going to have to answer to police, Lt. Kurt Byrd, Cincinnati police spokesman, said. "They want to make the streets safe to residents and visitors."

 

Last fall, Leis and county Commissioner Todd Portune, at the suggestion of businessmen and residents of Over-the-Rhine, pushed to have deputies patrol the neighborhood in addition to the Cincinnati police.

 

That was placed on hold, though, when Leis balked at being subjected to the so-called collaborative agreement. That agreement, put into place after the 2001 riots, requires each Cincinnati police traffic stop to be recorded, additional training for officers and supervisors, and stricter hiring, promotional and use-of-force policies.

 

Reaction to Leis' deputies was enthusiastic Monday.

 

"I'm totally psyched. This is a new day in Over-the-Rhine," John Donaldson, a developer and neighborhood resident, said after Monday's meeting where Leis was given the money for the patrols.

 

He and others have pushed elected officials for months to take the area back from criminals.

 

"The days of open-air drug dealing are over. We're going to see a huge difference in safety in Over-the-Rhine," Donaldson said.

 

He and 33 others have signed up for what Donaldson said was the first Citizens on Patrol group in that neighborhood.

 

Unarmed, they will walk the streets at night to report - and hopefully deter - crime.

 

"It's an image-changing thing," added Michael Morgan, a Realtor who also signed up for the program. "I have these moments where I go back and forth to determine if it's a sane thing to do on the streets of Over-the-Rhine.

 

"But decent people care about the neighborhood. It's about making that place safe for decent people to walk down the street."

 

If police did their job, Morgan added, it wouldn't be an issue.

 

"We had four killed (in less than a week). That's extremely frightening, but the Cincinnati Police Department's almost official response is, 'Then stay out of the neighborhood,'" Morgan said.

 

Commissioners agreeing to pay for the deputies' patrols comes two days before a Hamilton County judge is to hear whether deputies should be subject to the collaborative agreement.

 

Leis previously has argued that because his department wasn't part of the agreement, it shouldn't be subject to its findings.

 

He changed that stance Monday, though. "I would hope it would not apply to us," Leis said, "but if it does, we will work within the confines of the collaborative. I'll worry about the consequences later."

 

The primary importance, Leis insisted, is cleaning up the neighborhood - even literally - even if it bothers Cincinnati police, some of whom think it unfair that deputies will be on their turf.

 

"I'm not getting into this game to usurp the authority of the city. I'm getting into this area to help out," Leis said.

 

The sheriff also plans to have jail inmates pick up litter in Over-the-Rhine.

 

MORE IMPORTANT THAN BANKS

 

Ashford insisted most of the problems in Over-the-Rhine are caused by people who don't live there. "It's not as bad at it looks," he said. "It's just a few (expletive)."

 

He thinks that the crime issue needs to be addressed even before such high-profile issues as developing the Banks. That $600 million residential, commercial and retail neighborhood is to be built between the two sports stadiums.

 

"If you don't have a core, you don't have an apple," Ashford said. "If you don't fix this, the Banks don't mean nothing."

 

That's essentially the message being sent by trustees of the Cincinnati Symphony, who say it is difficult to attract concert-goers to Music Hall in Over-the-Rhine.

 

"I have hope that this city will find a will to change this neighborhood into a prosperous neighborhood that retains its color, but regains its streets from the drug dealers," Paavo Järvi, the symphony's music director, said.

 

Symphony trustees have pondered moving from Music Hall.

 

"If (the neighborhood) isn't cleaned up, no matter what we do to the hall won't make any difference," trustee Jack Rouse said. "Music Hall is the anchor of Over-the-Rhine, but it's anchoring nothing."

 

Staff writer Quan Truong contributed.

I say its about damn time to nip this thing in the butt.  This kind of activity should have happened immediately after the riots in 2001.  That is when the shit really hit the fan and we should have taken care of it then, not wait 5 years.

Am I the only one who is encouraged by the news coming out of OTR?  I just had a conversation with a friend of mine that I have known for years who is/was a very prominent business leader in Cincinnati.  I swear I can read the same article as others and get a whole different message out of it.  My friend tells me how things are just falling apart in OTR and Mt. Auburn, from the murder rate to lack of development, OTR is a lost cause. 

 

I spend almost 24 hours a day in OTR and or MT. Auburn.  I know the people, I know the police, I know the developments and let me tell everyone that if you live in or around OTR you have a hell of a lot to be proud of.  From Dunlap to Prospect Hill, from the half million dollar homes on Dorsey to the million dollar condos in the American Building and the countless projects in between, OTR is changing.  With groups from 3CDC to Uptown and the Findlay Group-Developers from Vernon Rader, Jim Hohlbein, and Greg Badger, strong residents like those involved in the sectors, Citizens on Patrol, and the Chamber, OTR is Coming! 

 

It is frustrating to me to have people look at you like you are nuts when you talk about a positive future for OTR, it is even more frustrating when you can mention the names of any of the people, groups or developments and they have never even heard of them.  I no longer believe that it is our fault for not getting the message out, I truly believe that the negativism that has come out of OTR for so long is simply ingrained in people.  I am on the phones from 8:00 am through 11:00pm every day trying to put together deals for people who are interested in investing in OTR and it is very rarely local people. (there are some exceptions)

 

One year, that is how long I think it will take to make a fundamental change in OTR.  Five years, that is how long I think it will take to hit the point of critical mass in OTR.  Never, that is when I believe that some will admit that OTR will see a new day.  I live in OTR, I work in OTR, and I am proud of OTR! regardless if others are ignorant of what is the truth.

Thank You Michael Redman!!!  I feel your pain as well.  Right now I am in the process of moving out of my parents suburban home.  When I talk to people about where I am looking they gasp when I say:  downtown, clifton, or even  :-o OTR.  People are sooooo brainwashed by the local media its rediculous. 

 

I'm not going to go on one of my local media bashes because I understand.  You get more ratings when you blow a senseless crime out of proportion and make it into some major issue...or keep a running tally comparing this years homicide numbers to last years and the record year (1971) as if it were some kind of game show.

 

But it is not!!!  These are people's lives and interests at stake here.  Not too mention the entire regions interests.  Should the inner-city fall apart then this region will be in a bad way (see Detroit).  Now not for one second do I believe that is going to happen.  I feel that Cincinnati is on a dramatic rebound, especially OTR.

 

It sickens me to hear that people are scared to go downtown, uptown, or OTR.  The crime is not random crime it is drug related crime.  If you are not involved you will not have a problem!!!

 

Now just for fun here is a list of areas where someone lives that has told me that downtown, uptown, and OTR are dangerous...kinda interesting list IMO:

 

Green Twp.

Lower Price Hill

Springdale

Colerain Twp.

Mt. Healthy

Delhi Twp.

Price Hill

 

I'll update as the list grows...and I'll keep fighting the good fight and stand up for the inner-city!

I too am very excited about Cincy's future and can't wait to move there.  I can't help but wonder, though, if we are diluting ourselves.  Are we really seeing the truth or are we merely hoping?  I hope to God we see the truth because OTR is soooo important to the vitality of Cincy's urban core.

Yay we're one step closer to turning OTR into Yuppieland, Nick Spencer's wet dream.

 

No but seriously I wish I had the money to buy up a few of those buildings because I do see a good future ahead. Whether it's in 2 years or 20 years, eventually OTR will make a 180 degree turn. It's just a matter of time. Right now is when you want to take advantage of people's ignorance because the way people feel hopeless about the neighborhood, it can only mean a cheaper price for you to buy real estate there lol.

If they have a convicted sexual predator law preventing someone from living within 1000 feet of a school why not have a drug or felony law where if anyone is convicted, they can't live within 1000 feet of a school????  I bet that would clear up OTR fast.

I dont understand that law anyway. Child molesters are a threat to any neighborhood, and it's common for kids to play outside (or atleast they should have the right to). Atleast at school they're supervised.

If they have a convicted sexual predator law preventing someone from living within 1000 feet of a school why not have a drug or felony law where if anyone is convicted, they can't live within 1000 feet of a school????  I bet that would clear up OTR fast.

They have at least experimented with "throwing da bums out" of specific neighborhoods.

Restraining orders ?

Dunno how well it works.

"Earl walked right through that restraining order & put her in intensive care."

There is a quote I heard once that can best describe OTR

"Out of adversity, comes creativity"

Atlas,

Are we really seeing the truth or are we merely hoping?

 

I know it is tacky to quote one's self but here it is.

 

From Dunlap to Prospect Hill, from the half million dollar homes on Dorsey to the million dollar condos in the American Building and the countless projects in between, OTR is changing.  With groups from 3CDC to Uptown and the Findlay Group-Developers from Vernon Rader, Jim Hohlbein, and Greg Badger, strong residents like those involved in the sectors, Citizens on Patrol, and the Chamber, OTR is Coming! 

 

This is now.  Granted more is coming, a lot more, but this is more than hopes and dreams.  You can buy a 1.2 million dollar condo in the American Building today (and I would be happy to sell it to you) For 639,000 you can have a lovely home at 539 Milton today, 3CDC is at work, Uptown is at work, Findlay is continuing to progress today.  Vernon Raders 5 buildings have been under const for the past 6 months, Jim Hohlbeins first 3 units will be ready by mid May and 4 more are being presold, Greg Badger has units for sale at Dunlap now.  I am one of those residents of a strong sector (Mulberry McMicken)  I am one of the 38 now signed up members of Citizens on Patrol and we start classes next Thurs, and on top of that, the Sherriffs just got approval to patrol. 

 

This is now, this is today. We still have even bigger hopes for projects in the future and I am closely involved with those also and they will happen including the possibility of large scale new residential development on what is now the Hussman building and the adjoining parcels, Expansion into the next phase on the hillside with Hohlbein, KD Lamp on Elm for 101 Condos.  Believe in OTR

I don't know about living there but I am really sold on Findlay Market as a place to go food shopping.

 

I and my partner went there on a Saturday a few weeks ago and picked up some good stuff, especially that great little spice booth at the end of the market.  Since my SO is a big foody and loves to cook this was a godsend for him.  And we stocked up on veggies and meats and also stopped off at that German place on the south side of the market.  Had soup and sanwhiches at that little cafe on the north side.

 

I noticed that some of the buildings around Findlay Market are under development of some sort.  That would be a great place to live over, Findlay Market, due to the street life.

 

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

 

I know its not OTR but we also enjoyed the Betts House.  Thats why we went, based on the thread here on the Betts House, I wanted to go see it.  We recieved a little guided tour of the house, and I spent quite a bit of time studying all the old maps and that time line they have up in their exhibit space.  The neighborhood around the Betts House is pretty interesting too.  Closer in than OTR, perhaps just a bit of the old West End still survives in those few streets. 

 

So, after the Betts House, since we where in the area, we went up to Findlay Market....which is going to be a must-stop stop during our future Cincy visits. 

 

 

"Believe in OTR" That sounds like it should be on a Tshirt or motivational poster.

 

58 arrested in Over-the-Rhine slam

 

Charges range from drug offenses to littering

BY WILLIAM A. WEATHERS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

OVER-THE RHINE - The first day of a Cincinnati police crackdown on criminal activity resulted in 58 arrests, including more than a dozen people charged with drug offenses.

 

Charges for those arrested by police Monday ranged from littering, open container violations and loud music to drug trafficking and possession of crack cocaine.

 

Officers also seized 128.5 grams of marijuana, 7.26 grams of crack cocaine and 3.9 grams of heroin.

 

"Our goal is to make it a safe environment for people who live in and visit Over-the-Rhine," police spokesman Lt. Kurt Byrd said Tuesday.

 

Monday was the first day of a targeted effort by Cincinnati police to combat crime and violence in Over-the-Rhine. The neighborhood has been the site of three homicides since April 3, and police say most of the violence occurring in the neighborhood is related to the drug trade.

 

Also on Monday, Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. announced plans to have sheriff's deputies begin patrolling the neighborhood within a few months.

 

The 58 arrests by the Over-the-Rhine Task Force included three adult felony arrests, 39 adult misdemeanor arrests, three juvenile felony arrests, one juvenile misdemeanor arrests and 13 vice arrests.

 

"I think it shows a phenomenal work effort on the part of the officers assigned to the task force," Byrd said.

 

Meanwhile, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory said Tuesday that he plans to meet with Police Chief Tom Streicher and Sheriff Simon Leis to discuss the sheriff's patrols in Over-the-Rhine.

 

"We have to have a conversation about that," the mayor said. "There are issues of coordination and command structure to be discussed. The chief, sheriff and I need to have a discussion to see if and how this will work. We're not looking for a showdown, but we need to discuss those issues."

 

Mallory said it's important to know to whom officers - whether police or sheriff's deputies - will report, whether the sheriff will respond to 911 calls and whether they will be held to rules of the collaborative agreement negotiated with the federal government.

 

 

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060412/NEWS01/604120358/-1/CINCI

 

58 arrested in Over-the-Rhine slam

 

Charges range from drug offenses to littering

BY WILLIAM A. WEATHERS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

OVER-THE RHINE - The first day of a Cincinnati police crackdown on criminal activity resulted in 58 arrests, including more than a dozen people charged with drug offenses.

 

Charges for those arrested by police Monday ranged from littering, open container violations and loud music to drug trafficking and possession of crack cocaine.

 

Officers also seized 128.5 grams of marijuana, 7.26 grams of crack cocaine and 3.9 grams of heroin.

 

"Our goal is to make it a safe environment for people who live in and visit Over-the-Rhine," police spokesman Lt. Kurt Byrd said Tuesday.

 

Monday was the first day of a targeted effort by Cincinnati police to combat crime and violence in Over-the-Rhine. The neighborhood has been the site of three homicides since April 3, and police say most of the violence occurring in the neighborhood is related to the drug trade.

 

Also on Monday, Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. announced plans to have sheriff's deputies begin patrolling the neighborhood within a few months.

 

The 58 arrests by the Over-the-Rhine Task Force included three adult felony arrests, 39 adult misdemeanor arrests, three juvenile felony arrests, one juvenile misdemeanor arrests and 13 vice arrests.

 

"I think it shows a phenomenal work effort on the part of the officers assigned to the task force," Byrd said.

 

Meanwhile, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory said Tuesday that he plans to meet with Police Chief Tom Streicher and Sheriff Simon Leis to discuss the sheriff's patrols in Over-the-Rhine.

 

"We have to have a conversation about that," the mayor said. "There are issues of coordination and command structure to be discussed. The chief, sheriff and I need to have a discussion to see if and how this will work. We're not looking for a showdown, but we need to discuss those issues."

 

Mallory said it's important to know to whom officers - whether police or sheriff's deputies - will report, whether the sheriff will respond to 911 calls and whether they will be held to rules of the collaborative agreement negotiated with the federal government.

 

 

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060412/NEWS01/604120358/-1/CINCI

:whip: That's whats up 

I like the fact that they are starting to sweep in and arrests everyone, I drive home threw otr every day and I'm sick of everyone thinking that i want to buy drugs just because I'm in a car on a certain street. I'm just trying to go home from work you would think they would recognize me by now.

^Same with me. Every time I drive through Mcmicken, Vine, etc people whistle at me or yell to get my attention, thinking I'm there to buy drugs. I REALLY hate when prostitutes come up to my window at a redlight. The last thing I need is a police officer seeing that. OTR may be a haven for drugs and prostitution but it's also the quickest way to get from Clifton to Downtown.

Thats really weird...I too take Vine St. up to Clifton and back downtown quite often.  I have never encountered any of these situations that you two have mentioned.  Hopefully I never will encounter them either with this new police presence!

 

Good luck Redmond on the citizens on patrol program.  Its great to hear that residents are going to being fighting for their neighborhood!  Report back on whether the numbers for members grows and how successful or not successful it is.

Way to go CPD and HCSD!

 

I also take Vine to go from Uptown to Downtown, but I have never had any trouble with prostitutes (which is awkward because of my good looks and charming style ;) ). I have had a few whistles though from sellers (not on Vine, but other OTR streets).

I'm not trying to say it's an every day occurance but the prostitute thing happend a few times.

i take Clifton to sycamore on the way to work and main to Clifton home, not much prostitutes, but east Clifton around the school is very active with drug dealers and look outs.

Most of the prostitutes solicit around Walnut st north and south of the liberty corridor and also Mcmicken between vine and Mohawk.

and also Mcmicken between vine and Mohawk.

Is that near that weird little intersection with the stop signs? lol she actually pulled the handle on my car door trying to get in. I told that crank skank to get the hell away from my car. She looked like death, personified. Meth is not good.

I often wonder were the hot blond prostitutes are in this city  :evil:

They work at strip clubs and make more money legally lol

But what is a guy to look at on the way to work, if they are making money in some strip club out in the subburbs???? :-D

Police Make 77 Arrests In Over The Rhine On Tuesday

 

Reported by: Becky Freemal

Web produced by: Mark Sickmiller

Photographed by: 9News

First posted: 4/12/2006 12:11:01 PM

 

Since Monday, Cincinnati Police have made more than 113 arrests in their Over The Rhine crackdown.

 

The increased patrols come as a result of four murders in the area in about a week.

 

On Monday, Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher announced he'd be adding approximately 50 officers to patrol the area and make arrests.

 

On Monday, 46 people were arrested on charges ranging from loud music to drug possession.

 

On Tuesday, police arrested 77 more people on misdemeanors and felonies.

 

Chief Streicher told 9News on Wednesday that he's very proud of his officers and the work they have done in Over The Rhine this week.

 

He says one frustration is a lack of Hamilton County jail space. Of the 46 people arrested Monday night, only eight remained in jail Tuesday evening.

 

"He says one frustration is a lack of Hamilton County jail space. Of the 46 people arrested Monday night, only eight remained in jail Tuesday evening."

 

 

That sucks  :x

That would be the lack of forsight in SW Ohio and Hamilton County in particular (see Light Rail, development trends, lack of regionalism, etc).  Hamilton County was warned about this jail overcrowding years ago and decided to ignore the warnings....they now pay the consequences.

Can;t we pay other counties to take our criminals.....get these people out of the f***ing city!!!!...send them to the suburbs!!!!      Is that even a possibility???

^You are. Hamilton's population just went up by 200.

From a different thread about OTR

 

I just recieved this email from John Donaldson.

 

All,

 

Many concerned residents of OTR met with at the County administrators building today to support the Todd Portune and the Sheriffs proposal to begin patrolling OTR. All three commissioners acknowledged that crime is out of control by agreeing unanimously to provide funding for the Sheriff. Phil Heimlich the commissioner president made it a point to highlight the fact that the Sheriff has not yet gotten approval to be released from the Collaborative agreement. The Sheriff rebutted by saying "we cannot wait any longer crime is out of control". During the meeting Phil Heimlich danced around the issue a bit by saying he supported the County Finance director to try to provide funding. it was difficult to tell if Mr Heimlich was authorizing the spending so Si in Si's way finally took the floor and asked Phil point blank to stop playing on words and clearly state if he was going to fund this initiative or not. Phil agreed to fund the Sheriffs request. Pat Dewine and of course Mr Portune also agreed.

 

The Sheriff indicated that he needed 1 - 2 months to ramp up to hire additional 20 police. This timing will work out nicely as OTRs first Citizens on patrol will begin about that time. We currently have about 34 folks signed up. This is truly a new page in OTRs history.

 

"WE" can make a difference by working together.

 

Thanks to the Sheriff for stepping up to the plate and thanks to Mr Portune for leading the initiative to funding this.

If this is true, then this cop is an a-hole and should be fired or severely disciplined.

 

OTR organizer insulted

Businessman favored county deputy patrols

BY KIMBALL PERRY AND WILLIAM A. WEATHERS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

An Over-the-Rhine businessman who was trying to form a volunteer Citizens on Patrol unit said he was chewed out by a Cincinnati assistant police chief Wednesday for comments he made about the department.

 

John Donaldson said Lt. Col. Richard Janke came to his business and criticized him for comments he made supporting Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr.'s plan to have deputies patrol Over-the-Rhine.

 

"He came in, threw the newspaper down on the table and said, 'Are these your quotes in the paper?' " Donaldson said of Janke.

 

 

The incident is the latest in the hotly debated issue of Over-the-Rhine crime and who should patrol its violent streets.

 

Earlier Wednesday, Police Chief Tom Streicher said he will meet with Leis next week to discuss the patrols and mend relations. He said there is a lot of "animosity" in his department about Leis' plan, which pits "one agency against another."

 

Streicher said if the county has the money for deputy patrols, then commissioners should give it to him and he'll hire more police.

 

Donaldson said that after he confirmed his comments, Janke told him he was no longer part of the Citizens on Patrol, which is controlled by Cincinnati police.

 

Donaldson said he tried to explain, but Janke didn't want to hear him. "He said, 'Shut up, I'm talking,' " he recounted. "I said, 'You're being very disrespectful.' He said, "I came here with the full authority of the chief and if you've got a problem with that, set up a meeting.'"

 

"I told (Janke) I thought Cincinnati police were outgunned down here and having (deputies) come in could only help. He said, 'They're going to screw it up,'" he said.

 

Janke declined to talk about the incident when contacted Wednesday. "I don't want to talk to you," he said.

 

Calls to Streicher and his public information staff were not returned.

 

Another Over-the-Rhine businessman quoted in the same story, Michael Morgan, said he also received several calls from Janke on Wednesday but was unable to speak to him.

 

Donaldson, a real estate developer who also lives in Over-the-Rhine, has been trying to combat area crime. He said that's why he was so shocked by Janke's behavior.

 

"To me, it seems apparent that the (Cincinnati) beat officers are not the problem. It's the police administration," Donaldson said. "For them to come in and intimidate someone who has supported the police the way I have is offensive.

 

"I don't care what color the (police) uniforms are. We need help. We have open-air drug-dealing. We have open-air prostitution. This is our city, our neighborhood and we need to take it back."

 

He said he would file a complaint against Janke with the Citizen Complaint Authority.

 

Donaldson also will suggest to those he recruited for Citizens on Patrol, scheduled to begin its first patrols in about two months, to forget about it. Donaldson got 34 volunteers to patrol the neighborhood's streets at night.

 

Donaldson is one of the most outspoken Over-the-Rhine businessmen and residents when it came to asking for more police help. He dealt with Leis and county officials to convince them deputies were needed.

 

Streicher said he planned to meet with Leis to discuss the deputies. But he said the county's crime-fighting priority should be building a new jail so the people being arrested daily can be incarcerated.

 

Hamilton County Commissioners Phil Heimlich supports Leis' plans. "He made the decision that this is necessary for public safety and we support that decision."

 

The issue, Heimlich said, is safety.

 

A police sweep through Over-the-Rhine continued Wednesday. More than 115 people have been arrested since Monday, Capt. Kenneth Jones said.