Cincinnati · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cincinnati public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
UC Health Mobile Crisis Team recognition
Council honored the mobile crisis team's 40 years of mental health crisis response — now operating 24/7 in every police district, serving nearly 3,000 people this year.
Vibrancy Art Fund and Arts Collaboration
A new fund will support artists and organizations in neighborhoods historically shortchanged by public and private arts investment, with Black Art Speaks leading application review and ArtsWave handling the money. Some members pressed for Black Art Speaks to be the fiscal agent.
College Hill property acquisition at 5911 Hamilton Avenue
A $402,500 transfer from the College Hill Equivalent Fund would help the local urban redevelopment corporation buy property at 5911 Hamilton Avenue, a key commercial corridor.
AMEND Consulting job creation tax credit
AMEND Consulting would get a 45% city income tax credit for committing to create at least 80 jobs at 312 Plum Street downtown. It's still in committee.
Paul Clock Bell Tower Acquisition and Restoration
Councilmember Walsh wants the city to move ahead with Option 2 to acquire and restore the historic Paul Clock Bell Tower and take ownership. The question goes to the infrastructure committee.
Procurement Oversight and Moral Obligation Payments
A resident flagged a state auditor investigation and an external auditor's management letter citing a $353,000 IRS penalty, IT security issues, fraud-training lapses and missed financial disclosure filings — and asked the committee to hold a public hearing.
Neumann Clubhouse replacement
$5 million in park bond money would fund replacing the Neumann Clubhouse, including equipment and furniture — a significant reinvestment in a neighborhood recreation facility.
Railroad Crossing Safety and Quiet Zone in Columbia Tusculum
A resident raised concerns about four back-to-back railroad crossings near Lunken Airport lacking safety gates, resulting in excessive train horn noise and safety risks amid new development.
Justice assistance grant for police overtime and advocacy services
Up to $274,735 in federal money would fund police visibility overtime and the sexual assault advocate contract with Women Helping Women.
Fire Department thermal imaging equipment
Councilmembers Johnson and Kearney want $225,000 of carryover money to buy thermal imaging gear for the fire department, but the motion was held rather than sent to Council.
Recognition of Retired Assistant Police Chief Ronald J. Twitty
The city honored retired Assistant Police Chief Ronald J. Twitty for his groundbreaking career in law enforcement and community leadership by passing a formal resolution and naming a street after him.
530 Walnut Street mixed-use renovation
The city would put $2.9 million of Downtown TIF money into Urban Sites' plan to turn 530 Walnut into roughly 67 apartments plus ground-floor commercial space — more housing in the central business district.
2260 Vine Street acquisition and demolition
Mount Auburn TIF dollars would help the Clifton Heights Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation buy and clear a property at 2260 Vine Street as a public infrastructure improvement.
Access to Free Period Products in Municipal Buildings
Council members advanced a motion requiring a comprehensive report on the availability and condition of free period product dispensers in municipal buildings and city-operated properties to ensure equitable access for employees and the public.
Paid Organ Donation Leave for City Employees
Vice Mayor Kearney's motion pushes the administration to recommend extra funding for city employees who become organ or tissue donors — supporting workers who take on a major personal sacrifice.
Water system bond refunding
The city wants flexibility to refinance its water system revenue bonds, possibly with cheaper loans from the Ohio Water Development Authority. Refunding debt can lower costs for water ratepayers.
Library Services and Community Partnerships
The committee reviewed programs and services offered through the public library system to support Cincinnati youth and families.
Civil Service Commission Policy Directives
Council advanced a motion requiring the administration to draft new human resources policies based on previous civil service recommendations.
Price Hill Litigation and Community Updates
City officials provided updates regarding Second Avenue litigation and general neighborhood developments in Price Hill.
Hate Crime Incident Procedures Update
City leaders are following up on how the administration tracks and responds to hate incidents and hate crimes. The committee requested a 30-day update on dashboard creation, reporting portals, and police procedure updates.
Certified Welcoming City Designation
Six organizations that serve Cincinnati's immigrant, minority, and entrepreneur communities briefed the committee. The presentations highlighted how chambers and nonprofits like MORTAR help launch and grow businesses that create local jobs.
Fee Schedule Adjustment
Cincinnati is tweaking its fee schedule for 2027, meaning the price tags for various city services are about to change. Depending on what you use, you could end up paying a bit more or a little less.
Home Rule Governance
Cincinnati's right to run its own show is constantly under threat as Ohio lawmakers keep trying to override local rules. This tug-of-war directly impacts everything from city policies to how much control you actually have over your neighborhood.
Climate Migration
Cincinnati is getting ahead of the curve by planning for people moving to the city to escape climate disasters elsewhere. Instead of scrambling later, city leaders are figuring out how to handle the extra growth now.
Police Department Litigation
Another day, another police department drama in Cincinnati. A reinstated police captain is now suing the city and the former police chief, keeping local law enforcement leadership in hot water.
Trauma Care and Emergency Medical Education ('Stop the Bleed')
UC Health representatives presented information on regional trauma and burn services and demonstrated critical bleeding control techniques for everyday citizens.
Short-Term Rental Regulation and Neighborhood Impact
City leaders and realtors discussed how short-term rentals (STRs) affect neighborhood housing stock, noting that high concentrations in certain areas can displace permanent residents.
Lawsuit Against City
A wrongfully imprisoned Cincinnati man is suing the city and local police, which could end up hitting taxpayers in the wallet depending on how the case goes. It's a major legal headache for the city that highlights accountability issues within the local police force.
Public Records Transparency
The Ohio Supreme Court is deciding whether Cincinnati has to release public records about a brawl, which could make it much easier or harder for residents to see government files.
Sidewalk Regulations and E-Bike/Scooter Safety
The city has partnered with The Garage OTR and secured $50,000 in philanthropic funding to launch an e-bike incentive pilot program. The program offers zero-interest financing on e-bike purchases to make personal electric vehicles more affordable and accessible to residents across neighborhoods.
Downtown Street Lighting Assessment Concerns
A downtown resident raised concerns that property owners are being assessed for street lighting counts that exceed the number of actually working lights on their block. Council agreed to hold the lighting assessment ordinance for a week to investigate.
Cincy Reads Early Literacy Initiative
The Cincy Reads program successfully engaged nearly 1,900 participants to read over 605,000 minutes during March, promoting early childhood literacy and family reading habits across Cincinnati.
Findlay Market Expansion and Property Activation
Findlay Market Corporation will lease the long-vacant city-owned building at 1720 Race Street for 55 years, activating the ground floor with a pickup store and using upper floors for maintenance equipment — adding foot traffic near Findlay Market.
Affordable senior housing at 223 West Fourth Street
The Oskamp Flats project will build 27 affordable senior housing units downtown, with a 30-year lease of the adjacent Egan Alley for trash receptacles and outdoor use.
Emergency Sidewalk Repair Assessments
A resident criticized the city's policy of making adjacent property owners pay for sidewalk repairs, calling it an environmental justice issue that harms disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Red Bank Road Shared-Use Path Project
Madisonville is getting a new bike and pedestrian path along Red Bank Road backed by a $500,000 state grant.
CMAC Football Leadership Conference
A proposed summer conference for high school football players will focus on leadership, life skills, and academic success.
Downtown Employee and Business Parking Relief
City leaders and Represent Cincy are exploring ways to use city-owned assets to offer discounted parking passes for downtown small business owners and their staff to prevent parking tickets and high costs from eating up daily wages.
Enterprise Technology Solutions Cyber Security and Infrastructure
ETS Director Sean Ware presented the department's technology modernization efforts, including Windows 11 upgrades, phishing simulations, and workflow automation. The committee emphasized the critical importance of robust cybersecurity defenses against ransomware threats.
Emergency Communications Center National Accreditation
The city celebrated its Emergency Communications Center earning international accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Emergency Police Dispatch, marking a major milestone for emergency services.
Removal of Blighted Parking Meters
The city is evaluating the removal of hundreds of broken, unsightly parking meters that linger on streets, contributing to blight and reducing parking turnover.
Railroad Trust Fund and Budget Transparency
A resident raised concerns about transparency regarding how railroad trust fund proceeds and investment earnings are tracked in city financial reports.
Community Tension Over Avondale Funding and Leadership
Residents and council discussed governance friction between the Avondale Community Council and Avondale Development Corporation while debating funding for the Avondale Film Festival.
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
City officials and health experts presented updates on lead exposure risks and prevention programs in Cincinnati children.
CUF Neighborhood Revitalization and Property Acquisition
Council approved $1.025 million in TIF funds to help acquire and redevelop 125 Calhoun Street into mixed-use retail and residential space in Clifton Heights.
Traffic Citation Data and Enforcement Reporting
City leaders want a clear breakdown of traffic citations across every neighborhood to track enforcement trends and pedestrian safety. Reviewing multi-year data helps the city understand how traffic calming and stops impact public safety.
Mount Washington Business District Traffic Signal Improvements
Accepting a small tract of land on Beechmont Avenue allows the city to move forward with installing a new traffic signal to improve safety in the Mount Washington business district.
Municipal Golf Course Infrastructure Upgrades
The city is reallocating over $4.1 million from a delayed clubhouse project and golf revenues to fund much-needed facility improvements, irrigation upgrades, and new equipment across city-owned golf courses.
Legal Settlement
Cincinnati is facing fresh drama as talks heat up over a legal settlement in the Ryan Hinton case. This renewed attention is putting city legal practices right back in the spotlight.