Public Policy and Community Information Research
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Thursday, September 10, 2020 at 12:00 Noon, Via Zoom.TBD
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Past Forums
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on the Ongoing Environmental Crisis
Thursday, September 3 , 2020
The ongoing environmental crisis continues, but the the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the Presidential election have recently made it the neglected elephant in the room.
At the next Zoom Community Issues Forum, David Altman, an Environmental Attorney who represents average people and who takes on major corporate polluters, will provide an update on where things stand in terms of this crisis.
Besides recent distractions, Altman will review the impacts of environmental deregulation that have been a hallmark of the current Administration in Washington, D.C.
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on Strategies for Affordable Housing
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Housing Our Future – Strategies for Addressing Our Affordable Housing Crisis
LISC ( Local Initiatives Support Corporation) just released “Housing Our Future – Strategies for Cincinnati and. Hamilton County.” Responding to Greater Cincinnati’s affordable housing crisis, this year long effort developed a series of strategies that would expand access to 
affordable housing in this area. At the next Zoom Community Issues Forum, Kristen Baker, Executive Director of LISC, and Liz Blume, Director of Xavier’s Community Building Institute, will discuss these strategies and how they can be implemented. This session takes place on Thursday August 20th at 12:00-noon.
Housing_our_Future_Report-_5-27-2020
Forum (Virtual) Focuses Communities Act Now -CAN
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Communities Act Now (CAN),
An Action Platform for Equitable Development in Cincinnati.
The Peaslee Neighborhood Center just announced the launching of Communities Act Now (CAN), an action platform for equitable development in Cincinnati. CAN includes Peaslee’s Equitable Development Rubric and plans for a well funded Affordable Housing Trust Fund, a Good Cause Eviction ordinance, and tax reforms that better assist schools and struggling communities. At the next Zoom Community Issues Forum, Jenn Arens, Peaslee’s Education Coordinator, Amanda Barker, of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, and Marche Gendrew of the Cincinnati Educational Justice Coalition will discuss the CAN-platform.
Forum (Virtual) Focuses Cincinnati Public Schools-Can They Open Safely During the Pandemic
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Can schools open and operate safely in the midst of a health crisis?
This question is very much on the minds o
f parents, teachers, school administrators, and the general public.
As August approaches, school boards and superintendents across the country are scrambling to put together flexible and safe plans for the children in their districts.
At the next Zoom Community Issues Forum, join Cincinnati School Board Member Eve Bolton and Melanie Bates outline how Cincinnati Public is preparing to open and operate safely and effectively. This Zoom Forum takes place at 12:00 Noon on Thursday July 23rd.
Forum (Virtual) Focuses Voting Issues
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Catherine Turcer, Executive Director of Common Cause, Ifeolu Claytor and Mia Lewis will give us an update on what is happening with voting procedures for November. Voting sho
uld be accessible for all eligible Ohioans — whether they’re a nurse working overtime, a parent balancing their job responsibilities and childcare, or a senior.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it new challenges to virtually every aspect of our lives — including how we conduct elections.
Multiple states have seen breakdowns in their election systems — hours-long lines at polling places… tens of thousands of lost and uncounted absentee ballots… unexpected polling place closures and consolidations without proper communication to voters.
This doesn’t belong in a 21st-century democracy — and if we don’t take action right now, it could get even worse in November, forcing millions to choose between risking their health, and giving up the right to vote.
Catherine Turcer (she/her) Common Cause Ohio: voteohio.gov to track your absentee ballot
Mia Lewis: A document about applying for an absentee ballot: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cT7W1dzAUyV5Catherine Turcer (she/her)
Common Cause Ohio: cturcer@commoncause.orgCatherine Turcer (she/her) Common Cause Ohio: cturcer@commoncause.org01:23:39
Ifeolu (E-Fay-Oh-Loo) Claytor {He/Him/His} AVIL-OH: Ifeolu@allvotingislocal.org
Forum (Virtual) Focuses the City Budget
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Cincinnati City Council must approve the 2021 Budget by June 30th. As Council members consider changes in the document given to them by the City Manager and the Mayor, they are also hearing many suggestions and demands from attendees at the public hearings on the budget. At the next Community Issues Forum, Councilmen David Mann Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, will discuss the process and the key items in the budget. This Zoom Forum takes place at 12:00 Noon on Thursday June 25th
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on Cincinnati’s Week of Protests
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Like cities across the country, Cincinnati has experienced a week of protests focusing on racial bias in policing and other inequities confronting African-Americans. Initially sparked by the cruel and unnecessary death of George Floyd while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police, protests in Cincinnati have highlighted other current inequities such as the arrests and jailing of African-Americans cited for violating state and local public health regulations related to the Pandemic. At the next Community Forum, Councilwoman Jan-Michelle Lemon Kearney will discuss the origins and impacts of the protests, while providing her insights on what needs to come next.
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on difficulties confronting homeless families and individuals during this Pandemic
Thursday, May 21, 2020
The Community Issues Forum features livestreamed(recorded) presentation. Josh Spring, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition depicts the difficulties confronting homeless families and individuals during this Pandemic. He will discuss how this health crisis highlights the gaping holes in the safety net and our growing social and economic inequities. READ SUMMARY OF PRESENTATION.