Taste Does Not Equate to Criminality

It is humorous to see how the conservative editorial page of the Cincinnati Enquirer frets over George Clooney, but seems to not care about the Fraud Abramoff has been accused of committing.

The question they should have been asking is not about George Clooney's father taught George, instead they should be grilling Jack Abramoff's father and ask "Didn't he teach his son not to break the law?"

Clooney's comments are a matter of taste, and don't equate to the crimes Abramoff is accused of committing. The newspaper's trivialize of white color crime is a symptom of the political gutter with which they are willing to stoop to make a weak point.

Steve Ramos Sundance Blog

City Beat's Steve Ramos gives his take on the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

For more on the Festival, check out their website.

I See Food on Fountain Square

More development happening around the Fountain Square Revamp.

2 Shot, Cookie Cutter Journalism Ensues

Fear and panic abound about a shoot out behind a Hyde Park School by teenagers. Was this about drugs? I don't know.

What I see in this story is a formula that is tired and does a disservice to the reader. We don't need to hear the fears of those living 100 yards away. Why is the reporting taking the angle that the fear caused in the neighborhood is news? The news is why the person was shot and who did it. Those are the facts. Adding in the fears of local residents creates an image that people who don't pay attention suck up like sheep that Hyde Park is somehow unsafe. Sure, report this happened, but the story is not the neighborhood reaction. That is a backstory, if and only if you get letters or outcry from residents on their own, not at the prompting of a reporter’s questions.

Mallory Crime Plan Revealed

'It won't be solved overnight'

Mallory's Crime Plan

Once the Mayor annouces his plan to curb crime, chime in on its merits. My initial question: will we have a detailed plan or will get high-level summary of a vague plan. The latter was Mallory's weakest point during the campaign.

Oppression of Women

Here comes the movement to continue the oppression of women. It is lead of course, by a man.

I hope every person who favors freedom for women from the tyranny of men, AND who votes for Bush now understand why their vote was wrong. This is all part of a plan to have laws in place once there is a solid 5 to overturn Roe. Alito makes 4. This should be the reason for every woman to vote against anyone who will appoint another Alito.

McEwen Running

In news to few, Bob McEwen officially announced he will run against Jean Schmidt for the GOP nomination in the 2nd Congressional District Race.

Mean Jean is ripe for attack and if he handles it correctly, she can be taken out easily. If he pours on the attacks, he may face a backlash. Right Wing women are Bob's primary swing votes. Are they still fearful of an aggressive woman in office, or are they finally breaking free from the paternalistic upbringing that governs their life. I don't see much freedom in the GOP in the 2nd District for woman. Jean is an aberration.

Hackett 'Preaches' the Truth

Paul Hackett speaks the truth about religious nuts 'controlling' the GOP. That sounds like rhetoric I would use, and I use it with a slight (very slight) sense of hyperbole, but that makes it no less true. Extreme religious movements have an unprecedented influence on the GOP here in Ohio. Groups like the Ohio Restoration Movement and the CCV have begun a push towards theocracy. They are using the GOP to do it, and the GOP is partnering up with them without much or any reservation. Ken Blackwell and George Bush get intense and allegedly illegal support from fundamentalist churches in Columbus, Fairfield Christian Church and the World Harvest Church, just to name a couple of churches who many want investigated by the IRS. These are merely the tip of the ice berg. The political actions of the extreme right is moving quickly inside extreme churches and the GOP is letting itself be caught up in their frenzy and mouth foaming of righteous indignation.

Hackett could have been far more critical. The GOP deserves no apology, but instead for the bigotry carried out against gays by their elected officials they should offer one up, and change their ways.

More Domestic Terrorism?

Who's phone is being tapped over this act of domestic terrorism? If I call the West Side on a regular basis, am I open to have my phones tapped? The West Side is a foreign country after all.

The AP report indicates that investigators are not making a connection to the December mosque bombing.

More from the Enquirer.

Don't Call Us....

So, who is the next guy not to get his calls returned by Mayor Mallory's Communication Director? If you guessed Enquirer reporter Dan Klepal, then you win a free subscription to the Cincinnati Blog!

New Dem to Challenge for Schmidt's Seat?

A rumor is flying, well, not flying, but I got a tip that a Milford teacher, one Gabby Downey, is planning on announcing soon her candidacy for the 2nd Congressional District as a Democrat.

I know next to nothing about her, and I only post this as means to stir up controversy. Hell, if this generates a little buzz for her to have the courage to run, then GREAT! We need more Dems seeking office locally, especial in places like Milford. I can't find anything about her on the web, so if there is more out there, chime in.

More Hyde Park Murder Details

There is not much additional information, but it would appear that investigators have an idea who they are after. This clears up nothing about motive, and does not rule out any theory as to what was going on in the parking lot.

Post-Riot Loans

Tough choices for City Council. Do they forgive the loans or be strict? Is it fair to business who are making payments? I recognize several on this list of defaulted loans represent businesses that are no longer in business, which makes sense why the loans are defaulted.

I work with the businesses still in operation, but go after those out of business to make sure they did not just walk away with the loan money in their pocket. Bottom line I would write off most of the defaults. I don’t know how you encourage development with people if you punish them after they stayed downtown after a riot.

Phil Heimlich Out of Lt. Gov. Race

Phil Heimlich appears to have given in to the Christian Right and through his actions has endorsed Ken Blackwell for Governor, and ruined Jim Petro's chances for the GOP nomination.

In Blackwell we have a man who will owe everything to the theocratic wing of the GOP party. Petro and Monty are not running on the back of Jesus to get the nomination. It is said that Phil did not have courage to stick with his partner. He shows he lacks conviction, and is looking out for himself, not following principle.

Dubliner To Reopen

Great News! The Dubliner will reopen with a new owner. It will close this Wednesday, and according to published reports will reopen by March 1st.

One thing we can hope they continue or bring back it stopped: Tuesday Night Trivia!

Golden Globes

Anyone care to predict the winners? Will Brokeback Mountain win big? I haven't seen it yet, but it has the buzz. I loved Good Night, and Good Luck.

More Puff for Schmidt

Jogging? Jean Schmidt's vacation jogging becomes news?

No Motive???

The headline misleads the reader, the rest of the story is all background from friends and family of the victim, and emotional commentary from more locals. There is nothing about motive from the investigators. Who ever wrote the headline should take heed that they are not doing an accurate job.

UPDATE: Just to remind folks, the reporters generally don't write the headlines.

Save the Dubliner!!!

Brendan at the Cincinnati Beacon writes on the plight of the Dubliner, a great Pleasant Ridge restaurant in danger of closing. Brendan's take is that things look bad, and baring a lightning bolt from a Celtic God, we won't be able to hit the Dubliner after the 20th of this month.

I wish to echo his article and encourage folks to get out and support the restaurant.

Murder in Hyde Park

My first thoughts on seeing the "BREAKING NEWS" on the 11PM news showing on the TV screen at the Main Street bar I was at was slight shock. I have been to that bar, and parked in that parking lot. A friend standing next to me lamented a bit about it, because she lives a mile down the road.

After reading the articles this morning I can say that it has the same ear marks of most of the rest of murders in the city, which leads me to speculate that it was simply a drug deal gone bad. If not drugs, then it was a personal beef with a family member or friend. This is horrible for the man's family, but it goes to show that this can happen anywhere. This section from the story bothered me and I hope indicates an aberration, not a commonality.

Crime scene tape in Hyde Park doesn't happen everyday, making resident Megan Elkus quite uncomfortable.

"It just scares me, and I would like to find someplace else to live," said Elkus.

"I keep hearing different things that don't make me feel safe," said Elkus.

For the chicken littles, like Ms. Elkus, I really must just laugh at their extreme timidity. I can understand being freaked out a little, but to feel unsafe in Hyde Park is just not a rational or sane feeling to have. Hyde Park is likely safer than living in Mason or West Chester. At worst it is just as safe.

What I find most objectionable in the whole situation is that some people inside the bar were allegedly being uncooperative with the police, which is the main reason I am speculating it was drug related. A theory could be that the guy was out buying drugs for his friends and things went south. If people were just pissed that they could not leave until the police were finished investigating, then they are just arrogant assholes who deserved to be kept there all night. Will Peter Bronson write a column about the idiots in Hyde Park (logic indicates would be white) who could help solve the case, but were uncooperative?

More from the Enquirer.

Anti-School School Board Members

There is just no other way to say it, but these two new school board members are anti-school. They don't want people to learn, they want people to comply with their views on how to live. One is an anti-government anti-union extremist bent on destroying the public schools, while the other is a Christian extremist (ergo theocrat), bent on the destroying the public schools.

Now, sure, the conservatives are going to moan and cry that they do the same. Well, no, they don't. Being prevented from branding the school with ones religious dogma or having to pay taxes and fund schools to keep society growing is not a hardship and nothing hurting you. Religion is not banned from School, for example, and claims otherwise are myths. If your kid can't bring their bible to their school, then protest, I will join it. If you want your kid, or worse, use your kid to push religion on other kids, which includes doing religious presentations, then no, don't protest and either put your kid a religious school, or stop pushing religion on others.

Koppel to NPR

This is great. I am a huge NPR Fan and Koppel adds the right tone and presence to that organization. The more he is on the air, the better it will be and the more I will listen.

Growth In Downtown Jobs

Seventh Street lunch lines will get a bit longer as Federated Department Stores adds 200 positions to their downtown headquarters.

These news jobs are going to be salaried positions, not clerical, and will be a shot in the arm to the downtown economy.

Progress On the River

Joe Hansbaurer points to progress in development on the site of the Gregory Banquet Center, where 140 new condos and locations for two new restaurants will be built. This sounds like a great venture, but it appears to not be their first choice, mainly because the Gregory's wanted a new site for the Banquet Center. Joe makes a great point, why not put it at the Banks?

Blunt With an Edge?

The Enquirer's Malia Rulon blogs the Blunt states he has the support of 100 GOP members of the house, as opposed to Boehner's claim to only 86. 116 would make one a winner. I don't really care all that much, but having a home Republican to bash would be much more entertaining for me, so I am backing Boehner. Thus we may have his kiss of death!

Police Shooting

The third shooting of police officer in 6 weeks is raising the tension of the police. Are these incidents just aberrations, or are they a marked change in behavior among criminals in the city?

Mythical Land of Make-Believe

Why do people need to have it explained to them that Cincinnati is not a small town? That "small town feel" is a myth and only exists in the minds of fools longing for world that doesn't and never existed. I am not saying that the neighborhood in question is not a great place or that the crime is not horrible, but anyone living today in East Walnut Hills must know that they are, oh I don't know, just East of Walnut Hills, where urban blight takes away any notion that Cincinnati is a small town.

We are a big city. I grew up in a very small city, and we didn't even have mythical notions of "Leave it to Beaver" in our heads, where crime didn't happen and June Cleaver vacuumed in heels. Come on people, break the myths. Journalists shouldn't enable this kind of theme.

Surprise! Not!

McEwen is running against Schmidt for the GOP Nomination. McEwen stands a good chance of crushing her.

Ok Bronson Column

Peter Bronson is not in a position to be credible on the subject of community police relations, but his column makes mostly valid points. He could have done without this:

Jordan's aunt, Cassie Jamison, said the murder made her ashamed to be black. But dozens of witnesses saw who killed a young mother and said nothing.

They're the ones who should be ashamed.

Coming from Bronson it sounds bad. I doubt claim it's wrong, it just sounds bad.

"The Poor" Are Not the Problem

There's a great debate on CityLink over on Nick Spencer's blog. What I think is being missed is a definition of the type of people being discussed. The term "poor" is thrown around, as is "homeless," and as are other terms. In this discussion I believe we are having the preverbal apples vs. oranges debate.

The problem with OTR, the West End, and other urban blighted areas is not "the poor." When I say "the poor" I mean the people who live in little apartments, collect welfare, food stamps, and need the food bank for help, but generally function in society. I don't mean they lead stellar lives, but they are not living on the street asking you for money, not smashing in car windows, not dealing drugs, and not taking drugs. Am I generalizing? Yes. I am going to be called hatefilled and callous? Yes. I am just talking, what I am saying I think points out an important distinction that is causing the discussion to fixate on macro political issues unrelated to the situation.

The people who are the problem are criminals and those not willing (or unable) to get to a level of "resonable" living. These are your drug dealers, drunks, bums, petty theives, sex offenders, and the mentally ill living on the street. If these people have no place to get help, then we as a society are beyond cruel, we are sick. If these people have the opportunity to gain help, but refuse, then they bare most, if not nearly all of the responsibilty for the choices they made and are continueing to make. One simple thing people refusing to live life without help should to be forced to take is that the location of the social services they need will be moved, likely with their place of living, to areas where the society as a whole can best function. Is that fair? It is fair. I do not believe in bending over backwards for bums and drug addicts. I believe in helping them, and for the government to take the leading in providing that help, but not at the expense of progress for the city.

Does this mean we are kicking out the poor? No. A person who lives in OTR, but who need help should be given a fair chance to live where they want to live. This does not mean they have to pay market rate rent because that is "fair" to everyone. That is not fair to them to have to suddenly battle for housing with people with more means. Fair allows those who are making a good effort to get help on terms that they would prefer. Those not willing to make a good faith effort to live within basic socital norms do not get to pick and choose where they run amock.

I feel sorry for the person forced to beg for money. I don't think making their feelings more important then the rest of society. Pandhandlers, drug addicts, and bums have as much responsiblity to the society as the rest of us, and if their only inconvience is to move to Queensgate to have get help, then they will just have to accept it, or then can just not have any help from the society I consider myself a member.

Compasion does not equal coddling. Hate does not equal toughness. Being liberal does not mean that people can avoid responsibility because they want to. If you want to be a bum, you can be a bum, but don't expect to get helping living that way from the government.

CityLink is not a panacea. It will likely be another tool of evangelicals to feel good about themselves, which can be fine, but at the same time they lock in the poor to exposure to their religius dogma as the ticket to getting assitance.

I have no solutions. I believe that there will always be poor people and there will always be bums living on the street, that is a fact of life in a capitalistic democracy. We shouldn't try to force a common solution on both groups, and shouldn't lump the groups together in our discource nor in our actual policy making.

The issue of the West End develpment is something almost seperate from the CityLink issue. I don't see West End development happening, at least not on the potential scale that OTR has with the school for performing arts plans on Central Parkway. The West End may indeed suffer if this social service center goes in. The NIMBY stance is one that I rarely agree with, and in this case I make no execption.

This is Disturbing

This is not the type of thing I would link to normally, but this happened here in town. I don't want to know exactly. I could have drive by, and I would just prefer to keep this type of crazy thing out of my mind on that direct a level. These things are back ground noise when they happen 4 states away. When it could be 4 miles or 4 blocks, then it gets creepy.

Boehner House Majority Leader?

Will Ohio's John Boehner become the next House Majority Leader? Last time Boehner was mentioned this much in the news, he was allegedly part of the coup d'etat against Newt Gingrich. Will it be Blunt or Boehner?

Lawsuit

Someone is getting sued over this, and someone is going to be issuing a beefy settlement.

Great Bengals Season

Tough game today, but an overall great season for the Bengals. I hope everyone stays positive and gains a little civic pride.

Pre-Post Mortem

The recent announcement from the Cincinnati Post on another round of buyout to employees has been played up by WVXU, including even audio quotes from an employee of the Paper, local Newspaper Guild President Bob Driehuas.

Greg Flannery has dire views on the Post, and believes the Post may not survive the JOA.

Sinnard Running Again

"Centrist" Democrat Jeff Sinnard is running as for the Ohio-2 district. I call Jeff a "centrist" from my own impression. He has many liberal views, but others that would put him in his own version of the middle ground.

CAM Loses Director

Timothy Rub is leaving the Cincinnati Art Museum effective in April. Rub has been considered a true asset to the Museum. What does the bode for the CAM and the visual art scene in Cincinnati?

Sara Pearce comments more on the Enquirer Art Blog. The Post has a story as well.

CityLink Moves Forward

The land for the CityLink service center has been purchased. Construction funds are being sought from private sources. This effort is great, and I applaud organizers. I hope the center is not used as the only location for social services in the city, and this is not used to replace government run services. If not, then it should help provide good services and in turn help parts of OTR develop.

Candidate Don Quixote

Eric Fingerhut is charging at windmills in his effort to gain the Democratic nomination. He can't defeat Strickland.

Inbred

One Party Rule is not democracy. In a small municipality, it is not surprising. The CCV's office are in Sharonville, so this does not shock.

Ok, Just Stupid

Ok, this Bronson Column is really just stupid. It is so bad, I will not comment further.

Enjoying It

Nice article on Enjoy the Arts. I am a Passport member and can attest that it is worth it. I have been to more theatre since I got the membership and I have been invited to more events. Join up at www.etastart.com.

Doug Trapp Returns

In case you have missed his byline, CityBeat's Doug Trapp returns to town and the to the paper with some thoughts on taking a leap.

Slow Death

I envision this job reduction by the Cincinnati Post to be the beginning of a drip-drip-drip of staff and substance to the newspaper, which over the next two years will become either a NKY paper, or will die.

The most telling part of the story is the headline "Scripps to cut deeper at Post." This says to me that the actual Post management don't want to do this, but that the parent company, headquartered here in Cincinnati, is doing it.

Enquirer Political Blog Changes

Korte appears to be off the City Hall and politics beat if the new description of "Politics Extra" is correct:

The Enquirer's team of political reporters - plus occasional special guest stars - chronicle the behind-the-scenes maneuvers, the stuff that didn't make the headlines, and the faux pas of Southwest Ohio political leaders. Regular bloggers include political reporter Howard Wilkinson, city hall reporter Dan Klepal, Hamilton County reporter Kimball Perry, Columbus reporter Jon Craig, and Washington reporter Malia Rulon. Is is administered by Government/Public Affairs editor Carl Weiser, cweiser@enquirer.com.

News of the changes did make the make the paper today, but more of an announcement that the blog will cover more than City Hall. This is going to make for a big blog mess. Group blogs can work, but they take some common thread. Single voice blogs have that thread by default.

What is Greg's beat now? Do we have more than one City Hall Reporter? Rumors flew last month, so were they true?

Earth to Bronson Part XXXVII

Once again Peter doesn't grasp the concept that TV shows are fictional. If you have a pill popping priest its not there to say something it true. It is a dramatic device called "character." I mean, do we have to explain to Peter that there really isn't a world with a talking lion behind Carl Linder's wardrobe?

One Crack House at a Time

Nick Spencer is back to blogging and reports on the actions taken by the CPD and city to finally clear out the Crack House across from alchemize. This is only one building, but getting crime off of a street is progress. Glad to see Nick back blogging, and I'm glad this crack house is gone.

Jim Borgman Blog

This is a brilliant idea. Brogman has a unique voice at the Enquirer and seeing how he goes about creating his editorial cartoons is very fascinating.

Happy New Year!!!!

Hope 2006 brings you good fortune and good health.