Forum Focuses on Issues Confronting Hamilton County And Cincinnati City Governments In 2020
What are the important issues confronting City Council and the Hamilton County Commission in 2020 and beyond? At the first Community Issues Forum of 2020, Councilman David Mann and County Commissioner Denise Driehaus address this question as well as assessing how they sees local government’s role in future developments and plans for the city and county. This luncheon presentation took place at 12:00 noon, Thursday January 9th, Christ Church Cathedral Forum Room (Third Floor), 318 East Fourth Street.
Forum Focuses on A Levy To Improve The Metro Bus System Is On The March Ballot – Why Is It Needed?.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
On March 17th, voters will determine the fate of a proposed transit levy designed to improve Metro Bus services in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. At the next Community Issues Forum, Pete Metz, Manager of Transportation Initiatives for the Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce, will make the case for why this levy is so badly needed. This luncheon presentation takes place at 12:00 noon, Thursday January 23rd, Christ Church Cathedral Forum Room (Third Floor), 318 East Fourth Street. Video Part II
Forum Focuses on the Race for Hamilton County Sheriff
Thursday, February 13, 2020
The upcoming primary takes place on Tuesday March 17th, and it features a number of contested races for office. At the next Community Issues Forum, Sheriff Jim Neil (invited) and Charmaine McGuffey will make their case why they are running for the office of Hamilton County Sheriff. In this contest for the Democratic Party’s nomination for Sheriff, Charmaine McGuffey is challenging the incumbent, Sheriff Jim Neil. The
Hamilton County Democratic Party recently endorsed McGuffey in this primary race, which is a rare action when a Party’s incumbent is running for reelection. At the upcoming Forum Neil and McGuffey will explain their differences in running this office including the Hamilton County jail. VIDEO PART II
Forum Focuses on Contested Races In The Upcoming March Primary: Races For Congress And County Commissioner
Thursday, February 20, 2020
The upcoming primary takes place on Tuesday March 17 and it features contested races for Hamilton County Commissioner and for Congress (The 1st District). At the next Community Issues Forum, Alicia Reece, Connie Pillich, and Kelli Prather, will make their case why they are running for a seat on the Hamilton County Commission, and Kate Schroder and Nikki Foster will inform attendees why they should be the Democratic candidate for Congress opposing Congressman Steve Chabot. This luncheon presentation takes place at 12:00 noon, Thursday February 20th, Christ Church Cathedral Forum Room (Third Floor), 318 East Fourth Street.
Forum Focuses on A Ballot Initiative To Fund The City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Cincinnati confronts an affordable housing crisis. In 2019, Advocates For Affordable Housing (AHA) worked with City Council to establish an Affordable Housing Trust Fund. At the next Community Issues Forum, John E, Schrider, Director of the Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, and Peg Fox, Director of MARCC (Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati), will introduce a Charter Amendment proposal that would provide adequate funding for this entity. This luncheon presentation takes place at 12:00 noon, Thursday March 5th, Christ Church Cathedral Forum Room (Third Floor), 318 East Fourth Street. Trust Fund Powerpoint
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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 the 2020 Election-Jaime Castle and Brad Wenstrup
Thursday, September 17 , 2020
The Community Issues Forum begins a series of forums focusing on the upcoming elections. The opening pre-election Forum on Thursday September 17t
h features the two candidates running for Congress in Ohio’s Second District; Congressman Brad Wenstrup (invited) and Jaime Castle. Formerly a practicing physician, Brad Wenstrup has served in Congress for several terms. A newcomer to politics, Jaime Castle grew up in Green Hills and graduated from Miami University with a B.S in Secondary Education. She taught English at Roger Bacon High School and later established a small business as a seamstress. A mother of two children, she still substitute teaches in the Cincinnati Public School system. After presenting why they are running for Congress, the candidates will take questions from the Zoom-participants.
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on the 2020 Election-County Commissioner’s Race and Sheriff’s Race
Thursday, October 1 , 2020
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on –Is the Pandemic Worsening and Where Do We Go from Here?
Thursday, October 29 , 2020, Noon
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on Covid-19’S Impact On Existing Inequities In Greater Cincinnati
Thursday, November 12, 2020, Noon
Before the start of the pandemic, poverty, homelessness, an affordable housing crisis, and other inequities related to income and race already existed in Cincinnati. Seven months of this public health crisis has increased unemployment and left too many families and individuals with insufficient incomes to pay for food, rent or utilities.
At the next Community Issues Forum on November 12th, a panel will report on how COVID-19 has increased existing inequities in this area. Speakers included John E. Schrider, Director of the Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, and Ryan Luckie and Michael Truitt of the Free Store Food Bank.