Here's An Actual Socialist

Want to know a real live socialist? The Enquirer profiles one and you can get an idea of the extremism he represents, and as the article points out, President Obama isn't a Socialist.

If you ever read about Dan La Botz attacking OTR redevelopment efforts, take the fact that his motivation is politics, not anything else, when evaluating his message. Every position he takes will be against any type of capitalistic action, so even if there are efforts that will help people transition out of poverty, if it is not done on his terms, then I don't see him supporting it.

This type of thinking is rampant in the 'Homeless' activist community and keeps the problem worse than is should be. Many people, like La Botz, would rather keep people living in Washington Park instead of accepting good plans from the City or other local groups. They do that because they want Socialism to run the city and country, and need the weapon of poverty to make their case. Take away their weapons and their case against capitalism falls apart. Extremists like La Botz are little different than the nuts at COAST. They have a purist ideology, but no actual concept of how to govern.

Woxy.com Returning???

CincyVoices reports on a recent online comment which indicates WOXY.com may be back. No details are known on how or when, except the key element that the DJs who made the station what it is, are either looking for work or in the case of one staffer have a job and looking to return to Cincinnati. I have to agree with Classicgrrl that without Joe, Shiv, Mike, you don't have much of a station.

Cincinnati SPJ Awards

Last night at the Blue Wisp (which is neither closed nor boring, by the way), the Cincinnati chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists had its annual awards ceremony. For a run-down of awards, see this Enquirer article. Kevin Osborne was awarded for having the best news blog, while Cincinnati.com was deemed the best website.

One award not mentioned: Lauren Bishop (aka Miss Print), with Stacy Doose (video) and Michael Keating (photo), won first place for web news feature for this piece marking the thirtieth anniversary of the tragedy at The Who concert at the Riverfront Coliseum. We had linked to it when the article first appeared, thinking it was a great read for anyone not old enough to remember the event.

Congratulations to Lauren and all of the Cincinnati SPJ winners!

Is "Black-on-Black Violence" A Myth?

Earlier this week, the Enquirer reported that several local non-profit agencies are working together to "curb black-on-black violence."

This piece, currently available at The Root, posits an interesting thesis: that the label "black-on-black violence" is an unnecessarily racialized view of problems that are really socioeconomic in nature. From the op-ed:

At this particular moment in our history, it is more important than ever to reject these kinds of racialized explanations. They are being used to slander public school children as incapable of learning; to deem affordable housing a hopeless cause. In gentrifying cities, ''black-on-black crime'' is used as a weapon to encourage public policies that treat black people as blights on the new urban aesthetic. There is a moral imperative to challenge these assumptions.

I've not fully thought this through, but I thought the piece made some good points (after all, have you ever heard a crime described as "white-on-white violence"?) that might be of interest to our readers.

And with respect to the linked Enquirer article: I should note that apart from the headline, the article doesn't use the phrase at issue. And, in fact, the body of the article does a pretty good job of exploring the socioeconomic causes of urban crime.

Gumption Awards Honor Cincinnatians For Progress on June 23rd

Head to OTR Venue 222 on June 23rd to honor Bobby Maly, Rob Richardson, Jr. and Joe Sprengard from Cincinnatians for Progress who are being awarded the Charles P. Taft Civic Gumption Award.  Information on tickets is Here.

Jack Kerouac's On the Road to CAM

The Cincinnati Art Museum brings On the Road to life with a full reading of the Jack Kerouac masterpiece. Local celebrities, actors, and Art Museum staff will read the Kerouac signature work from 11 AM to 5 PM on Saturday June 19th. Admission is free!

This event is part of the See America program:

Now through summer’s end, the Art Museum is presenting a series of exhibitions, installations, performances, and special events for visitors of all ages. Think of it as taking a visual road trip through the human and natural landscapes of this great country. The journey we’ve planned will take you and your family through art from all over this country, with an emphasis on the art of the Cincinnati area. You’ll find something new going on every week, so keep checking our online calendar and take the perfect staycation with us that you’ll remember for years to come.

As always for more information, check out www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

Is Monzel Running for Sheriff?

I am confused. No seriously, I am confused with which office Chris Monzel is seeking. I thought he was running for Hamilton County Commissioner. Based on the vote he made against a resolution condemning Greg Hartman's (aka Guy of Gisbourne) effort to pay for the Stadium budget gap by cutting funding for indigent healthcare, you might think he was running for the Sheriff of Nottingham.