The Solution to Ending the Violence Starts From Within

In the Enquirer article about the reaction of City Officials to the recent up-tick in violence the key to ending wide spread violences starts from within the communities suffering from them. Two paragraphs sum this up. First from Robin Moore, who lost her son in September of 2007:

Moore spoke about the code of silence that keeps people quiet while killers roam the streets freely. She spoke of the agony of losing a son. She spoke of the company she has with other mothers dealing with homicides, both the solved and the unsolved.

That's followed up from City Manager Milton Dohoney:

“The bottom line is this: Our community police will react when the call is made,” said Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney, adding that it takes more than that just police reacting to street violence. “This problem will only get better when the community decides to make it so.”

Religious leaders can preach peace, which is at best a long term attitude changer. The police can and will do their jobs and investigate the crimes. The solution is within the community: 1)turn in the criminals. 2) Listen to the pastors and teach the youth that violence is not a normal way of social interaction.

No one has said that the recent increase in murders and shootings are connected to the drug trade. It usually is. This type of spike seems like a gang war over turf or juvenile slights. Breaking the criminal gangs should be and I think is a focus of law enforcement. Another solution to help end type of violence would be to legalize drugs. That's a long way off and likely just as big of a hurdle to get over as finding a solution within the affected community, but both need to be sought.

CityBeat's Best of Cincinnati is Out

I really wonder who reads CityBeat sometimes, but I am totally amazed at who votes for the Reader's Picks in the Best of Cincinnati Issue now on-line. Who is voting for the Rusty Griswolds as the best local band? Seriously, who are they? I would like to invite them to Fountain Square this Summer on a Friday night to hear good local bands.

I will ask CityBeat to please create a best Cover Band category for next year's issue so we can try and avoid a repeat of this year's travesty.

I do have to wonder, how many email address does 700WLW's Scott Sloan have? Does he buy them in bulk or did he just hire a hacker?

Another question: can we have another new category? Something like Bar owned and run by the largest collection of Douche Bags would work. Cadillac Ranch would win hands down.

I'm surprised Cadillac Ranch got high rankings in so many categories, with it's lack of respect for events CityBeat sponsors, but then I remember the large collection of Douche Bags running that place, and the vote totals make sense. Douche bags lack good judgment and musical taste, but still know how to surf the web.

Read it in print tomorrow for all the rest.

Michael Flannery Resigns From CPS Board

The Enquirer is reporting that Cincinnati Public School Board member Michael Flannery is resigning from the school board effective April 13th. At Monday night's meeting Flannery stated he is resigning from the board do to health reasons. Flannery indicate he was undergoing tests, including an MRI of his brain. We all hope for a speedy recovery to Mr. Flannery.

The article also describes the process to fill the vacant seat, where the remaining six members vote to appoint a member to fill the rest of Flannery's term. If no candidate can get a majority, then a county judge will select a replacement.

COAST Endorses Chris Monzel

Local extremist group COAST has announced its endorsement of Chris Monzel for Hamilton County Commissioner in the GOP Primary.

Monzel's GOP primary opponent Leslie Ghiz should not be surprised and if she has any sense would be pleased to not get the support of the anti-city extremists.

Since Monzel is a "son of the suburbs," he has no problem doing everything he can to stop development in the city. Only effective City Council Members do that.

Cecil Thomas Thumbs His Nose at Democrats

There are many basic rules you need to follow when running in a contested Democratic primary. One of those rules is don't make appearances at extreme right-wing groups' candidate forums.

Why is this bad? Well, lets start with the obvious: look at the groups sponsoring this event!

Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati, COAST, the Cincinnati Tea Party, Family First, Citizens for Community Values Action, Warren County Right to Life, Ohio Liberty Council and Americans for Prosperity.

These aren't even remotely moderate groups, this is the FAR RIGHT-WING of Cincinnati and the Country's politics. The only groups to the right are going to be the Militias and the white supremacist groups (yes often one in the same).

99% of the people who attended the COAST Candidates Form were not Democrats. Therefore they will not be voting in the Democratic Primary in May. In November these same people are not going to vote for a Democratic candidate, at all. It is just a waste of resources and time to attend this event. Instead, go after your base! Is Thomas presuming he will get the black vote? That may be a reasonable presumption, but will he get the turnout from the black community he will need? Why not spend some time, maybe a Wednesday evening, working on getting voter turnout in traditionally black neighborhoods.

Instead Thomas is courting the Conservative vote. He's quoted as making a bad joke about him being Christian will be enough for the attendees to vote for him. I don't suppose a Democrat might not like seeing him making jokes at an event that includes speakers attacking Rep. Steve Driehaus, at the same time he's getting threats.  It is insulting.  It shows his lack of dedication to the primary.  It is a clear sign that he does not understand the basics of running a political campaign.  Thomas thinks he's running for City Council, but needs to find out that his not going to get the Westside Conservative votes in the Democratic Primary.

Google Fiber Cincinnati

Email, Tweet, Facebook, yell, scream, call your Mom and tell her and everyone else that Cincinnati needs to be the Test Site for Google's high speed Internet Project.

Tea Party Distances Itself From Driehaus Protest

Since we're quick to criticize the Tea Party, I thought we also need to point out when they do the right thing. The Cincinnati Tea Party today issued a statement in opposition to the protest planned at Steve Driehaus's home. A Tea Party spokesman asks its members not to even go past the protest out of curiosity. (Hat tip: Politics Extra Blog.)

I think we'll see the Tea Party act more and more responsibly as its members move from the role of protester to that of politician. Several Cincinnati Tea Party members are on the ballot to join the HamCo GOP Central Committee, and Mike Wilson is seeking the GOP nomination for the Ohio House seat currently occupied by Connie Pillich.

While there are few issues about which I agree with the Tea Party, I respect that they've brought people into the political process who have not previously been there. (Didn't many of us praise Barack Obama for the same thing two years ago?) As the movement matures, it'll be interesting to see it progress from a loose coalition of people raising their voices during town hall meetings to an organized group accomplishing political objectives. Condemning a Sunday protest outside a legislator's personal residence is a step in the right direction.