Forum (Virtual) Focuses on The Critical Need For Political And Government Reforms At The State Level And In Cincinnati
Thursday, January 14, 2021 Noon
As 2021 begins, a critical,need to pursue political reforms exists at both the state and local levels. The First Energy/Larry Householder scandal that hangs over the Ohio General Assembly and the recent bribery cases involving three Cincinnati City Council members stand as two primary reasons for immediate reform efforts. At the next Community issues Forum, Catherine Turcer, Executive Director of Common Cause Ohio, and Jerry Newfarmer, former Cincinnati City Manager and President of Management Partners, will review reforms that they think would improve the current situation. www.facebook.com/Applied-Information-Resources-135718633124442
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on the Issues Confronting Cincinnati City Council and the Hamilton County Commissioners in 2021 and beyond!
Thursday, January 28, 2021 Noon
What are the issues confronting Cincinnati City Council and the Hamilton County Commissioners in 2021 and beyond! At the next Zoom Community Issues Forum, Commission President Denise Driehaus and Council member and former Mayor David Mann will review the problems and policy questions that must be dealt with in the coming months. This discussion takes place at noon on Thursday January 28th. ces-135718633124442
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on A Path To Economic Freedom – The Rev. Damon Lynch III Reveals How Community Building Can Bring Success to African-American Neighborhoods
Thursday, February 11, 2021 Noon
Poverty continues to grow in Cincinnati, and African-American residents comprise a large percentage of its poor. At the next Community Issues Forum, the Rev. Damon Lynch III, Pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church, offers “a path to economic freedom” for the city’s African-American neighborhoods.
” Becoming Joshua” is a just published collection of Rev. Lynch’s writings. Subtitled “a path to economic freedom,” the booklet emphasizes how community building can lead to economic and social success for African-American neighborhoods. At the Forum, Lynch will discuss how community building and organizing can bring sustained progress in eliminating poverty. As usual, questions and comments will be invited from Forum participants.
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Forum (Virtual) Focuses on An Effective Neighborhood Response to the Hardships of the Pandemic.
Thursday, February 25, 2021 Noon
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on An Two Proposed Charter Amendments On The May 4th Primary Ballot
Thursday, March 11, 2021 Noon
The two proposed Amendments focus on actions to be taken once a Councilmember is charged with a crime. One deals with the process of suspending or removing a member of Council, while the second calls for the naming of a Special Prosecutor to handle such cases. That prompts the question, do these proposals go far enough? Since the scandals all involved bribes linked to development projects, several reforms are being recommended that relate to political contributions and developers seeking City approval and support. As usual, questions and comments will be taken from Forum attendees.
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on the Mayoral Candidates in the May 4 Primary
Thursday, March 25, 2021 Noon
Cincinnati will elect a new Mayor in November. However, stage one of this process is the May 4th Mayoral Primary. The next Zoom Community Issues Forum will feature the mayoral candidates running in this Primary to be the two finalists who will face the voters this fall.
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on Affordable Housing Issues
Thursday, April 8, 2021 Noon
This Community Issues Forum launches a two part series on Cincinnati’s affordable housing crisis. Part One on Thursday, April 8th focuses on the housing need, while Part Two on Thursday, April 22nd features the City Charter Amendment proposal to fund the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Numerous studies currently document the affordable housing need in terms of numbers. Part One of this series provides a more personal perspective to this crisis. Stacey Burge, Executive Director of the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cincinnati, will talk about the effects of housing insecurity on families, and Mary Burke Rivers, Executive Director of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, will discuss all the problems affordable housing developers confront such as scarce funding
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on Issue 3 the ballot issue for Affordable Housing Issues
Thursday, April 22, 2021 Noon
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on A Reform Update – Where Do Things Stand In Terms Of Redistricting And Other Needed Campaign And Government Reforms In Ohio?
Thursday, May 6, 2021 Noon
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on An Update of a Busy and Unusual Period for City Council – A Review by Councilmember Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney
Thursday, May 20, 2021 Noon
The May 20 Community Issues Forum
2020-2021 has been an unusual and busy time for City Council and City Government in general. At the next Community Issues Forum, Councilmember Jan-Michelle Lemon Kearney will assess the critical issues that have confronted City Council and the Administration during the last twelve months. This Zoom Forum takes place on Thursday May 20th at 12:00 Noon.
Besides the backdrop of the pandemic, Council has experienced the loss of three of its members due to corruption charges. Currently, it is busy determining how to spend millions of dollars allocated from the federal relief package, and it must soon pass a new budget. Although the City opposed Issue III, a number of Councilmembers seek to respond to Cincinnati’s affordable housing crisis. Finally, 2021 is. Council election year, and four current members will be retiring due to term limits. View on facebook https://www.facebook.com/Applied-Information-Resources-135718633124442
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on A Campaign To Make The Extension Of The Child Tax Credit Permanent – A Forum Featuring Senator Sherrod Brown
Friday, June 25, 2021 Noon
On Friday June 25th, the Community Issues Forum will hold a special forum featuring Senator Sherrod Brown. The Ohio Senator is championing making permanent the extension of the child tax credit as an effective way to reduce poverty in this country. Other speakers will include a local advocate for the child tax credit and a member of Senator Brown’s a staff.
In the large COVID-relief bill passed by Congress in March, an extension of the child tax credit was made to low-income families. This temporary extension provides monthly payments of $300 dollars for children five years old and younger and $250 for older children. Preliminary evidence shows that this extension if made permanent could significantly reduce poverty. For this reason, Senator Brown and others are seeking public support to convince Congress to do just that. As usual, questions and comments will be invited from the Forum attendees.
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on What Are The Critical Issues That The New City Council And Mayor Need To Address After The November Election?
Thursday, September 16, 2021 Noon
At the first Community Issues Forum of the fall, a panel of community leaders will describe those issues that need immediate attention from the City candidates who win terms on November 2nd. They are: Josh Spring, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, Joele Newman, Lead Community Organizer for the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, David Altman, environmental attorney and civic leader, and Connie Roesch, President of Cincinnatus. Connie Roesch video presentation
Josh Spring video presentation
Dave Altman video presentation
Joele Newman video presentation
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on David Mann and Aftab Pureval Present Their Case for Becoming Mayor
Thursday, September 30, 2021 Noon
Cincinnati voters will elect a new Mayor this fall. After eight years in this Office, John Cranley will step down after the November election. At the next Community Issues Forum, Councilman David Mann and Aftab Pureval, the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, will make their cases why they should be elected to this position. This Forum via Zoom takes place at 12:00 noon on Thursday September 30th.
Many critical issues will confront the new Mayor and City Council once in office. Furthermore, questions have been raised recently about the proper roles of the Mayor and the City Manager in administering City policies and services. After their formal presentations, the two Mayoral candidates will respond to questions. As usual, questions and comments are invited from Forum attendees.
Forum (Virtual) Focuses on The Ballot Issues That Confront City And County Voters This Election
Thursday, October 14, 2021 Noon
What are the ballot issues that Cincinnati and Hamilton County voters must decide this election cycle? At the next Community Issues Forum, attendees will hear presentations about the County’s Children’s Services Levy ( a renewal ), the Hamilton County Great Parks Levy, and Issue III, a proposed Amendment to the Cincinnati City Charter. Speakers will include Representative Tom Brinkman and Darrick Dansby, Jens Sutmoller of the Children’s Services Levy Campaign, and Todd Palmeter, Executive Director of the Great Parks of Hamilton County. This Zoom Forum takes place on Thursday October 14th from noon to 1:00PM.
The Children’s Services Levy represents a request to County voters to continue funding for current programs that assist children with critical needs, while the Great Parks Levy seeks approval for proposed new funding for park improvements. Meanwhile, Issue III is a complex City Charter Amendment proposal that includes a number of changes to how the City is governed. Besides hearing the presentations on these ballot proposal, attendees will be invited to ask questions and make brief comments. VIDEO OF TOM BRINKMAN EXPLANING ISSUE 3
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Forum (Virtual) Focuses on “The Horrors Of Gerrymandering” – A Halloween Campaign Update On Congressional Redistricting Reform In Ohio
Thursday, October 28, 2021 Noon
Since the last redistricting process in 2011, voters by a wide margin have passed two Ohio Constitutional Amendments aimed at ending political party gerrymandering in this state. As of today, the special Commission established to draft new state representative districts has drawn new maps that ignore the guidelines of the Amendment.
Meanwhile, members of the Ohio General Assembly work in secret drawing up new Congressional districts. These “horrors” will be reviewed at the Forum, and Catherine Turcer and other redistricting reformers will outline what citizens can do to rectify this refusal by a Republican controlled General Assembly to obey Ohio law. As usual, time will be set aside for questions and comments by Forum participants.
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Forum (Virtual) Focuses on Meet the New Cincinnati City Council Members
Thursday, December 2, 2021 Noon
On November 2nd, Cincinnati voters elected six new City Council members. This is the highest turnover of City Council members in years. At the next Community Issues Forum, they will introduce themselves and discuss why they ran and the immediate issues that concern them. The members include, Jeff Cramerding, Reggie Harris, Mark Jeffreys, Scotty Johnson, Meeka Owens, and Victoria Parks. This Forum via Zoom takes place on Thursday December 2nd at twelve noon.
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