Was this CityBeat Article Actually Meant for the Enquirer?

In this week's CityBeat I was very surprised to read the article entitled: Pregnancy Center More Than Just 'Anti-Abortion'. The surprise comes with the balance of the article. The article gives many instances of contrary viewpoints from critics of the "Pregnancy Center," namely from Planned Parenthood. That's not the problem. The problem is that the article in total gives deference to the subject. The Pregnancy Center make statements about what they do or don't do, but they are taken at their word that they actually are being honest about their counseling practices and don't have an alternative agenda. This deference is like the natural bias the Prosecution gets in the eyes of the jury, when it often thinks: why would they bring a case at all if they guy wasn't guilty?

CityBeat is a liberal/progressive paper and more often than not it chooses subjects that would not present a positive viewpoint of an 'anti-abortion' organization. For example, a question that I would have asked the group, and I think most of the CityBeat staff would as well: Does the Pregnancy Center provide contraception? A follow-up question if they said 'no': If part of your mission is to prevent abortions, why would you not take the simple action of giving people the means to prevent unwanted pregnancy? That question may have been asked, but it wasn't in the article. If the group had said they do give out condoms or birth control pills, then that would earn the headline it got.

This story is something I would have expected to read in the Enquirer. This is how the Conservative bias of the paper comes through, especially with the headline used. The article has balance, but gives the subject, one the print readers of the Enquirer favor, a positive spin it likely does not deserve.

Add this to a pro-marriage insert this week and you would think there's a spy over at CityBeat's offices!

Layoff the Magic Mushrooms, Brinkman

Tom Brinkman would appear to like charging at windmills. Of all Republicans in Democratic clothing to challenge, he is thinking about taking on Dusty Rhodes for County Auditor. Why not just get certified as a police officer and take on Si Leis for sheriff while you are at it, Tom? There's about as much chance of that happening as him beating Rhodes.

Dear Freeman McNeil: Where Was the Black Vote?

During the recent controversy inside the Hamilton County Democratic Party Freeman McNeil is quoted on Cincinnati.com as saying:

“Black folks in Cincinnati make this a Democratic city,” McNeil said. “We have not received anything in return.”

Two points Mr. McNeil may want to consider: 1)The Hamilton County Democratic Party is more than just the City. 2)Where were the black votes in the 2009 council election?

In 2008 there was a huge turnout in predominately African-American Wards in the city proper, yet in 2009, those same wards saw a decline below the 2005 voter turnout, even with a Mayor, who happens to be black, up for re-election against a white Republican. The Democrats lost a seat on council, so the failure to get the out the vote falls on whom? If most of the black members of the HCDC's executive committee claim that blacks are responsible for the City being Democratic, then why did the ballots cast drop in most of the predominate black city wards in the 2009 city elections?

Ward		Neighborhoods		Change in Registered Voters 09-05	Change in Ballots Cast 09-05
0		City Wide		13,478	-91
1		Mt. Washington/California		384	730
2		Madisonville/Oakley		563	231
3		Evanston		307	-373
4		Hyde Park		-22	253
5		Mt. Lookout/Linwood		379	400
6		Downtown/OTR		1,248	226
7		Roselawn/Bond Hill		532	-351
8		Mt. Aburn/Mt. Adams		270	-77
9		Walnut Hills/E Walnut Hills		221	-154
10		OTR		588	-43
11		Clifton Heights		366	-115
12		CUF		958	-105
13		Avondale/North Avondale		341	-650
14		Pleasant Ridge/Kennedy Heights		452	46
15		Clifton		808	-68
16		Queensgate		225	0
17		West End/OTR		816	-117
18		West End		87	-194
19		Sedamville/Sayler Park		167	202
20		Price Hill		562	-20
21		South Fairmount		180	-86
22		Northside/Camp W/S. Cummingsville		527	16
23		College Hill/Mt. Airy		1,045	-29
24		HartWel/Carthage		532	74
25		Price Hill(Covedale)		833	-18
26		Westwood		1,109	131

I'll get called names for pointing this out.  I know certain people (like guys who wear capes around town) will surly call me all sorts of things for daring to put numbers back into the face of black Democrats using the race card to get someone a job. I'm doing it anyway, and it's not the first or last time.  I'll survive.

It could have been so much easier. Instead of handling this with wisdom and discretion, it was put out in the press. Division and discourse plays right into the hands of Republicans. Instead of playing games race, why not look at the qualifications of executive director, Caleb Faux?  Here is the ED of the party who just over a year ago help steer the county Blue for the first time in decades and for a black candidate as well. Having over 117,000 non-city residents vote for Obama is a big deal.  He didn't do it on his own, but as the ED, he gets some of the credit.


Now, its time to get past this and sing a happy tune.  There are elections to be won this year.

Attention City Council - You Have a Job, Currently

This is ridiculous. With Cecil Thomas talking about running for County Commissioner that makes Five of the Nine sitting Council members either declared candidates for different offices or openly talking about running. A majority of council members are already thinking about moving on and they were just elected. All of the Republicans are ready to leave and half of the Democrats are ready to move on. Does that mean Bortz, Berding and Qualls all want to be Mayor? I'm hoping Quinlivan will actually try and serve on council for more than one term and get some experience before thinking about moving on.

I think we have a new FIVE to mock, but I don't have a catchy name. Once they leave office maybe they be the Forgettable Five.

Cole vs. Reece

Alicia Reece and Laketa Cole both appear to want State Rep. Yates soon to be vacant House seat, but only one will get it. Reports indicate Reece will be appointed to fill Yates' seat when he moves to an open Municipal Judgeship. Cole is signaling she may run against Reece in November. At this point I'm not sure why they are talking about November, what about the primary?

I think there would not be a big cry from anyone if Cole left City Council.

Fine Arts Fund's ArtAlive Party Feb 20th at the CAC

The Fine Arts Fund kicks off their annual campaign with a great event: the ArtAlive Party, Saturday February 20th, 2010, 7 PM at the CAC. Cincinnati is privileged to have a world class arts scene and a core reason for that is the FAF. If you don't know what the FAF does for Cincinnati, then you really need to read their website www.fineartsfund.org.  This event brings the art community together to celebrate the Cincinnati tradition of supporting the arts and this gives the art supporter the chance to experience the amazing cutting edge art going on right here in Cincinnati.  This is about Cincinnati, this is not about what is going on in other places, this is happening here and now.

$25 in advance ($30 at the door) gets you a great night of excitement including special live performances and the opening of the Shepard Fairey: Supply and Demand exhibit at the CAC. Add in great food, a drink, and mixing with the people who make Cincinnati vibrant and you have an evening not to miss.

If this isn't enough, that whole weekend, Feb 20th - 21st, is the FAF's Sampler Weekend filled with FREE arts events all across the metro area.

So When Does Monzel Move to the Suburbs?

Chris Monzel gave his "I Hate the City" announcement speech on Wednesday making it official that he is running for Hamilton County Commissioner.

The highlights of the speech were:

• Monzel calling himself a 'Son of the Suburbs.'  I guess 'Son of the South' was taken?
• Monzel promised to not raise taxes, but has no plan to deal with the budget shortfall.  I wonder if he was facing a foreclosure at home, would he refuse to get a second job to pay off his mortgage payments because he made a pledge not to increase revenue? Not paying your bills must be worse than taking the hit and telling the kids what they can't have.  No health-care?  No food?  I'm sure he'd call for giving up milkshakes, which 'would' prevent a foreclosure in most families.
  
• He held his press conference at an electric car company showroom.  I am guessing the Tea Baggers are going to put a hit out on him for doing that.

Expectations for the primary fight between Ghiz and Monzel are high.  The highest hope we could all have is that both Ghiz and Monzel quit council and appoint Amy Murray and George Zamary to council in their place.  If I'm going to have a Republican on council, I'd like them to want to be on council and care about the city.