Really, Milford?

Before a single flake of snow has fallen, and with only a few inches of snow predicted (snow that isn't scheduled to start falling for at least twelve more hours), Milford has declared a snow emergency.

Runners-up in the Race to Over-React to the Coming of the White Death: Little Miami and Mason schools, which have already decided on a two-hour delay for schools tomorrow. (If the forecasts are right--and they never seem to be--getting to school will be trickier, not easier, two hours later than usual.)

Stay tuned to the Cincinnati Blog, your best source for the ridiculing of people who can't deal with southwest Ohio's relatively tame winters.

Do Any City Republicans Want to Be on Council?

So all three Republican Council Members are running for Hamilton County Commission. All three would be running against each other in the GOP Primary.

So, I'm sure all three will have time to find ways to improve the city's budget problems. They've been so full of ideas recently that they have solved all of the problems facing us in the City.

Leslie Ghiz Announces Run for Commission

Showing her dedication to the City, Council Member Leslie Ghiz today announced her run for Hamilton County Commissioner. This has long been rumored and gives support to her right wing tilt during last year's council race.

According to the Enquirer she will not step down from council during the campaign, but claims she will reduce her law practice to compensate for the time.

How much time has she actually been putting into her duties as a council member before now?

No word on who will be challenging her.

Plummer Fired From Police Department, Again

Cincinnati Police Officer Anthony Plummer has been fired from the force, again. Plummer was the officer who shocked the daughter of Councilman Cecil Thomas with a taser last summer. All reports of the incident reported that Plummer used excessive force in dealing with Celeste Thomas, who was on her knees when hit with the taser. There is no one out defending this officer's bad actions, but there will be at least one group who defend him.

Plummer is appealing his termination, as he did back in 2006 when he was fired the first time. This is the point where the Police Union must act. It is obvious Plummer does not belong on the police force. The FOP should convince Plummer not to return to the force. If the FOP lift a finger to help Plummer get back on the force, then they are complicit in his actions. The language from the internal police investigation was beyond damaging, it was a condemnation. The FOP must act to not only keep the citizens safer by getting this cop of the streets, they do themselves harm by defending him. How can any professional defend the improper actions of this terrible police officer? I know the argument they will make, they have to follow the rules of the union and defend him to the end, but when is enough, enough? All they are doing now is fighting for him to get money. He doesn't deserve a dime from anyone and it is theft if the city is forced to pay him anything and it is an injustice to the public if he gets his job back.

Plummer must go. If arbitration goes the wrong way, the only likely option would be some kind of buyout, which still sucks, but to keep a gun out of this guy's hands it may be worth the price.

A New Year, and a New Disclaimer

Since joining Brian here at the Cincinnati Blog a little more than two years ago, I've been a solo practitioner. That's meant that I've never had to worry about anyone attributing my words to anyone else.

As of today, though, I'm a proud partner in Caster, Dutta & Seibel, LLC. My point is not to advertise (though you should certainly contact us with any of your criminal defense, civil rights, employment, or appellate needs!). Instead, I just want to make it clear--as it should be to anyone who isn't an utter moron--that when I write, I do so only for myself. My musings here are my own thoughts, and should not be attributed to any entity in which I am a member or any of the other members of those entities.

And as you all know, Brian and I don't always agree, so I don't write for him, either.

Happy New Year!

The Top Local News Stories of 2009

I'm sure people will quibble with my list of the top local news stories of 2009, but that's why we are here. My list gives deference to stories that are more important. I know that's not what the masses want, but since when is this blog about pleasing the masses? Anyway, here's the top ten:

1. City Budget Battles - The lack of civility on council is a disgrace.
   
2. County Budget Battles - The lack of planning from the Stadium Tax architects is causing a critical reduction of services. We actually need a functioning court and corner's office.
   
3. City Council Election - Loss of Harris, wins for Winburn and Quinlivan: The Obama voters stayed home and the GOP scared enough Republicans to vote for Winburn.
   
4. City Lay offs: Workers did lose jobs, but the FOP doesn't seem to care about that, just their own raises.
5. Issue 9 goes down in defeat. The citizenry actually listened on this issue and defeated anti-city forces. We must be vigilant and defend progress, the likes of COAST and Smitherman will not end their quest to destroy the city.
   
6. CinWeekly dies. Yes, it was "replaced" with Metromix, but there is less content, which goes went along with laying off the entire staff.
7. Decline of the Enquirer and CityBeat: The economic downturn has hurt print media across the board and these publications took hits this year. We have less news gathering. Fewer reporters are out looking for stories. The existing ones don't have time to work on stories that may not actually pan out. Local News is dying. I don't know how to prevent that.
   
8. Bengals and Bearcats are successful: Pride actually does a city well and people are more positive about where they live when their sports teams does well. Yes, that says a lot about our Culture, when sports drive so much of our Psyche, but if the Bengals win the SuperBowl, even Westwood Concern would support the Streetcar.
9. People are coming downtown: We just had an election last month and it touched on crime, but overall, people think downtown is safe. No one demagogued the CDB. Many still fear OTR irrationally, but that too is changing.
   
10. Ups and Downs in the Arts: Many local arts organizations had layoffs over the last year or closed outright (I will miss New Stage), but actions like Mrs. Nippert's gift to the CSO, the Opera, and the Ballet gives hope that once traditional donors get their investments back to a more comfortable level, they will continue giving and maybe give more.
    

Top Cincinnati Area News Stories of 2009?

So, I'm taking nominations for the top news stories of 2009. This is for the Cincinnati area, so keep your Health Care and Obama stories to yourself for this purpose. I think I'm looking for two types of stories, those that actually mattered and those that got a ton of attention. The latter being included, I'll likely have a sports story. I won't have that many, and no I don't think any high school sport story would ever make it, even if your school won the state championship. I'll have my top picks later this week.