Detroit Here We Come!!!

There is little doubt in my mind that Cincinnati and Hamilton County are in real trouble. The area is at a point where we have tough decisions as community to make. Everything including raising taxes and cutting public services is on the table. Without strong leadership and a comprehensive plan by both Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati working together, we will turn into Detroit.

I think the first thing both the City and County elected officials need to do is take a voluntary pay cut of at least 10 percent. They should do this as an acknowledgement to all of us that times are tough and that no stone will be left unturned and that everyone will share in the cut backs. The next thing these officials must do is pledge that no new taxes will be enacted including the $17 trash tax that the city manager is trying to put in place in Cincinnati. 

Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati along will all the municipalities must strive to be the most business and residential friendly area in Ohio and the Region to survive. To do this I agree with Todd Portune that we cannot stop the econmic development in areas like the Banks, what we can do though is slow it down some, and make sure we are staying in budget. We also must look at tax structure for business and residents of the City and the County. We have to make it so that it becomes a no-brainer to live in Hamilton County again. Much of our problem stems from losing residents and losing that revenue.  We need new ways to attract people to live in the area again.

We also need to right size all of our services and governments in Hamilton County and in Cincinnati. This includes all public services such as police and fire. I am not advocating cuts or layoffs, but we do have to consider that with a declining population we may be too heavy in some areas. Any cuts that are made should be done as not to put the public in danger.

This county and city needs new leadership. We need people that are willing to put the places they represent first rather than their careers. I don’t care if they are Democrats or Republicans we need people to run our city and county that can work together and come up with a comprehensive plan on how to revitalize this region. We can’t afford to spend $46 million dollars to move a fountain over 20ft or to have leaders drag there feet for over a decade to development riverfront while we watch the other side of the river grow and turn into a prime destination place and revenue stream. 

If our leadership doesn’t step up soon we will be in a worse crisis than we are today. Sheriff Leis and others need to face the fact that we must right size everything. Business as usual is no longer acceptable at any level. And voters should send a message that no matter what party you are affiliated with, if you can’t work together and you can’t come up with a plan then don’t expect to get elected. If we don’t change our ways we can just change our name to South Detroit.