Communities Can Protest, But Kroger Will Win

I think I understand why multiple community groups are protesting the Roselawn Kroger closing, but other than guilt and creation of bad public relations, there is nothing to be done by government to stop it. Sure, citizens or even the City could try and delay it with pointless lawsuits, but in the end, businesses are not required to lose money. They are not even required to make money. We live in a capitalistic society were private business can operate as they please, as long as it is within the law.  There is no law against closing a businesses, so far as I've heard about.  Therefore the fight now should be on educating people about other places to shop.

It would be ideal that all businesses would try and serve the greater good of the community. If that were true we wouldn't need protection from large corporations.

This action by Kroger is another reason to support local businesses. Shop in places like Findlay Market or head to the Gateway Quarter as much as possible. You can't get everything, but the more you spend your money with more in mind than just price, the more you will save in the long run. Save jobs and makes jobs: Shop Local!

UPDATE: Yesterday's All Things Considered had a very interesting and timely report about a program in Baltimore where low income residents in neighborhoods under-served by grocery stores can go to public libraries and by groceries on-line and have them delivered the next day to the library. This is a small program, funded by a grant, but it is an interesting idea. I don't know if could work here, but it is another possible option.

Sean Parker Appointed to CPS Board

From Ben Fischer of the Enquirer via Twitter: It's official, Sean Parker was just appointed to the Cincinanti school board.

A "Wow" Moment for Cecil Thomas

I only wish I'd seen this before I wrote my April Fool's Day post.

Thomas's view on abortion is nothing new. When he completed his 2009 Council questionnaire, he cited the Bible as support for his anti-abortion stance. While his responses are no longer available online, he had written something like "The Bible is good enough for me."

But in the current questionnaire, his response regarding stem cell research (quoting a Bible verse that doesn't seem to have anything to do with embryos or science) seems particularly over the top.

This may be yet another example of Thomas's lack of familiarity with primary contests. He's unlikely to pick up many Democratic voters with his answers.

Clark Montessori A Finalist in Commencement Challenge

I find it hard to believe that there's anyone who hasn't already heard this, but my email and FB have been filled with entreaties to go to the White House's Commencement Challenge and give Clark Montessori a high rating, so the school will make the next cut in its effort to have President Obama deliver the school's commencement address.

Regardless of your political views, you've got to admit it'd be pretty cool if the President gave the address at your high school graduation.

That said, I'm not sure that I approve of POTUS presiding over an American Idol-style competition to determine which high school he will visit.....

Interesting Decisions in Upcoming Trespassing Trial

As you know, last month Chris Smitherman (the president of the Cincinnati branch of the NAACP) and Rev. Dock Foster were arrested for trespassing during a protest outside of a Cincinnati public school construction site. The two--with others--were protesting CPS's under-inclusion of minority contractors in construction bids. At the time, I remarked that Smitherman and Rev. Foster had acted "in the best tradition of the civil rights movement." Griff, as the blog's resident law-and-order conservative, was less enthusiastic.

I had assumed that the arrest was just part one of the pair's protest. I anticipated that the two would ask a jury to find that their actions were justified, much the same way the "Flannery Five" did after being arrested for trespassing at Steve Chabot's office a few years ago.

It looks like I was wrong.

Trials for the two men are now scheduled. Rev. Foster's case has been assigned to Judge Rucker, and is set for May 26. Smitherman's case, assigned to Judge Powers, is set for May 6. Both cases are set for bench trial--that is, trial to the judge. Neither man has filed a jury demand. (In Ohio, one waives the right to a jury trial in a misdemeanor case unless a jury demand is filed at least 10 days prior to trial.)

There's obviously a lot we don't know. Perhaps both have decided to enter a guilty or no-contest plea. Perhaps both have reached plea agreements with the City. Or perhaps both intend to seek a continuance on the trial date. But I'm surprised that neither has (thus far) signaled a desire to air their cause before a jury of their peers.

Second Sunday in OTR

A new year brings a smart change to SSOM. The monthly event showcasing the growing neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine has changed its name from Second Sunday on Main, to Second Sunday in OTR.

The event, now in its sixth year, started as a fair focusing on the Main Street area. Reflecting on the growth on Vine and 12th Streets, organizers have changed the name and formally incorporated all of OTR into the event.

Here's the detail from last week's press release:

Second Sunday on Main will expand and change its name to Second Sunday in OTR (Over-the-Rhine), and will include Main, Vine and other surrounding streets between 12th and 14th streets. SSOTR will continue to be a hip, eclectic neighborhood event, but in its 6th season will embrace the vibrant neighborhood and expand beyond Main Street.

The season begins May 9 and continues through September 12 on the second Sunday of every month from 12 – 5 p.m. in historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The event is free and open to the public.

“The focus is going to change to be about the shops, restaurants and residents that are responsible for the rebirth of OTR,” said Barbara Hauser, chair of Second Sunday. “The energy and commitment to this neighborhood is endless and our hope is we can take this event to the next level and truly celebrate all of OTR.”

Several changes will occur including the Beer Garden and live music will move to the newly opened Neon’s Unplugged in their 4,000 square foot patio with a bocce ball court. “We are excited to be a part of Second Sunday and the expansion,” said Dan MacDonald, co-owner of Neon’s. “We want Neon’s to be a part of the fabric of the community, a place for folks to gather, hang out and make connections.”

This is really great news for the event. The addition of Neon's brings a local that will really grow from the exposure. Part of Neon's concept was to be a community and neighborhood place for people to share an afternoon or an evening. This cooperation will really give the event a chance to grow.

The schedule for the summer is as follows:
• Sunday, May 9 Take Mom to OTR
• Sunday, June 13 Dog Days
• Sunday, July 11 Global Groove
• Sunday, August 8 Neighbor Block Party
• Sunday, September 12 Eco-OTR-ia

Is "First in Print" Working?

Last month, I mocked Enquirer Editor Tom Callinan's "First in Print" strategy. (Well, it wasn't so much the strategy I had troubles with, but Callinan's suggestion that bloggers are just vultures preying on the corpse of the traditional media.)

If I'm any bellweather, though, "First in Print" may be working. For the last several weeks, I've been buying a Sunday paper. At first, it was because there were one or two interesting-looking articles that I didn't want to wait to read until the next day. Lately, though, I do it because I've rediscovered the joy of reading the Sunday paper--that luxurious feeling of spreading out with the paper, going through the various sections, finding hidden gems towards the back of a section you might not have found if you hadn't followed a front-page story to its end, and (yes, I'll admit it!) reading the color comic strips.

So...has anyone else started reading the print edition of the Sunday paper again? Or am I (as usual) alone?