right. Just early protection,
right. You just make sure,
okay. Oh, any gosh. Vice mayor
certain vice mayor jan-michele
lemon kearney is with us, from
the finance director dudas and
director alder and DR. Dudas.
We have no public comment so we
will jump right in with item 1.
>> DR. Dudas: to the chair, item
number 1 is a ordinance
submitted by mayor pureval and
councilmember jeffreys, this
would authorizes the transfer
and appropriation ofed $7,000.
These are existing funds in the
red bike program expansion
capital account. These
resources are being trans period
to transferred to the operating
budget and will be utilized for
one time resources for red bike
operations.
>> I will turn it over to
commune jeffreys and other
monies who want to comment. I
want to say that this investment
and our continued investment is
critically important. One,
can't imagine a thriving urban
center without imbibing share.
Out a a I a bike share and when
you look at the ridership of red
bike and the diversity of
incomes in which red bike
serves, equity of transportation
ream I is checked out. In fact
I was actually very proud to see
the diversity of ridership. And
so I know that the mayor and
councilmember jeffreys are
working really closely with
partners and thinking about
sustainability and models that
will work but proud to be very
supportive of this.
Councilmember jeffreys?
>> Councilmember Jeffreys: thank
you. So first just to
reiterate, this is not new
money, this is current capital
that was unutilized. To put
this in context. Red bike been
a round roughly ten years.
144,000 trips, 35% of those
trips are with their go program.
For those watching, the go
program is the program where
folks can pay $5 a month if are
you on public assistance or some
sort of assistance and use it
unlimited, so 35% of the trips,
20% of the users on on the go
program and that's a lot of
equity thing you said. So, red
bike lost their main sponsor, uc
health a couple months ago. And
they were struggling and as
everyone knows voted to shut it
down. And we as a city said,
no, this is a public asset and
we need to figure out the path
forward. So, we pulled together
a group of stakeholders to say,
hey, how do we have enough
funding for the next year?
What does that look like?
And that's $500,000 that is
required. So between the city
almost $200,000, $100,000 from
metro, $100,000 from haile
foundation. $25,000 from
interact for health. $25,000
from greater cincinnati
foundation, $15,000 from duke,
also we have raised over $35,000
out of a 50 challenge for
individual donations already.
So there is going to be a
fundraiser at the end of the
month. So we're at the $500,000
which is the first step. How do
we stabilize, have enough
funding for the year.
Separately interact for health
had offered and we have had a
meeting for about a hour and a
half with a consultant,
non-profit consultant on friday
who will help the organization
and the stakeholder figure out
the sustainable path forward.
There are a lot of discussions
about is this funded by a
different organizations like
metro or what's the city?
Who owns the assets, things of
that nature. All of which we
need to assess and figure out by
the end of the year but this
basically gives us full year
much operating support and to be
clear about a third of revenue
is covered by fare box value,
people paying for it. But the
biggest thing is roughly 20% of
their users are on the go
program, folks who use this as a
primary means of transportation
to get around. And right now
that's a object. They will open
up on 513 day. That's the plan.
Thank you for your support.
>> Councilmember Harris: 513
day.
>> Councilmember Johnson: thank
you, it is it sounds like some
of the questions I have are
answered.
I wastering trying to
figure
iwas trying to figure out is this
sustainable but that sounds like
if I heard correctly that is
something that's being looked
into to where we don't just take
almost $200,000 and then we turn
around next year and there's no
red bike. But it sounds like it
is something that's being looked
into. How soon do we think a
path forward will be clear?
>> Councilmember Jeffreys: we
have said by the end of the year
but even talk together con
ultimate and the that's by
OCTOBER, so by the end of the
year so if you have funding
through next APRIL, that gives
you a little bit of time. But
there are a lot of other
stakeholders. The haile
foundation has been a supporter
and they are a hundred grand n.
The other thing I would say to
answer that is they have 72
stations, if you just quickly do
the math if there is $10,000
sponsor per station, that, in
theory would makeup the entire.
So there are many ways for this
to be a sustainable model. That
would be $720,000 if you had
$10,000 per station sponsorship.
And that's just kind of simple
math. There are many paths
forward for red bike, but we
just need the time to sort it
out and this is not new money,
it was already authorized 3 or 4
years ago by council for
capital. So.
>> Councilmember Johnson: do we
have any idea what happened
between uc health and red bike?
>> Councilmember Jeffreys: uc
health my understanding because
they have pulled back from
sponsorships as almost
everything as most have because
of covid. I think most hospital
systems are not sponsoring much
of anything. They are not
sponsoring any fill and to
philanthropic activities is my
understanding.
>> Councilmember Harris: I will
add and I think you are right in
terms of sustainability, you
know it is from any out side
specify when you look at the
model set up in 2014 the was
that this primarily would be a
sort of full fee paying service,
but when you look at the fact
which I think is eligible, 35%
of the ridership is on this go
pass that that piece isn't
sustainable we need to restruck
to say this is a tool that's
being utilized by folks and so
the model has to look that way.
One of the things when I said so
councilmember jeffreys when we
did this was like, yes, we have
to save this and we have to be a
path to sustainability. And
every partner that I have talked
to that's been at the table is
in complete agreement about
that. We'll do PRESIDENT Pro
tem parks and then vice mayor.
>> Councilmember Parks: thank
you, chair. So, that's where my
questions came from around the
question of sustainability. It
sounds like we have really
good-bye in from
goodbuy in from the community. So
my question is after this almost
$200,000 do you anticipate that
we will need to contribute more,
or this will be it just in order
to get to a point where it can
take care of itself?
>>
>> Councilmember Jeffreys: I
think the ongoing like going
sustainable model has some
public private pone ent. What
the public is for we have had
discussion was metro, metro is a
hundred thousand dollars in.
Does metro response or the
entire thing?
Are they called metro go bikes?
There are a lot of things, I
don't know if they are
interested in that, they are
their own organization. There
is some public private to be
clear about 15%, 20% of their
operation is in northern
kentucky. So we have had a lot
of conversations with northern
kentucky of fill deality, others
that they obviously need to be a
piece of it. So, I think that's
an important part to include
northern kentucky in this as
well.
>> Councilmember Parks: are they
contributing at all at this
point?
>> Councilmember Jeffreys: I
mean, other than foundations,
devou good did offer $50,000,
they didn't cement that but they
are northern kentucky based.
But we're working with several
stakeholders, one nky, the
chamber over this, others to
contribute as well. Beyond the
foundations.
>> Councilmember Parks: thank
you.
>> Councilmember Harris: I think
the think that we would add and
what I would plans for
sustainability come forward that
council were able to review
because I do imagine a world in
which there is some city
contribution, but we have to
decide what we want to get out
of that, right, like what is the
benefit and, you know, how we
will move forward that way. And
so, but I do think the
municipalities in northern
kentucky there is real
opportunity there for some call
sharing. I appreciate the
question though. Vice mayor?
>> Vice Mayor Kearney:
congratulations I love how you
brought these partners together
in the greater cincinnati
region, not just cincinnati but
northern kentucky too and public
and private to make this happen.
So I want to point out that uc
health did support red bike for
ten years. And so, you know, I
still want to thank them for
that. I understand they can't
do it forever, but a decade is a
long time. And so that's
wonderful. Quick question and
it might be premature for this
but before the financial issues
occurred there was talk of
expansion and neighborhoods like
avondale and evanston, are they
still, is red bike still talking
about that?
>> Councilmember Jeffreys: I
think the sentiment first is
they have to get up and running
with their current footprint and
then the question becomes how do
you expand. But it is almost
like a business come out of, you
know, chapter 11 if you will,
you have to reorganize and then
focus on what you have today and
then I think candidly the
challenge with and red bike
would say this,s that they
expanded the capital allowed
them to expand but didn't have
the operating to expand the
dangs. You want to make sure
that they have the operating
dollars to continue.
>> Vice Mayor Kearney: thank
you.
>> Councilmember Harris: without
objection we'll move item number 1 for passage.
>> DR. Dudas: to the chair, item
number 2 is a grant ordinance
for the office of environment
and sustainability, it is a
compost and food waste reduction
grant through the federal U.S.
Department of the agriculture.
The grant is $400,000 to divert
food loss and waste from
landfills and to increase food
recovery, transformation and to
create compost. The ordinance
also identifies the required
grant match of $100,000. There
is existing green cincinnati
sustainability initiatives
funding that will be utilized
for the grant match.
>> Councilmember Owens: this
quite exciting. Moving, it is
good to see recommendations
being crossed off in our green
cincinnati plan. One of the
goals being to decrease food
going to the landfill 50% by
2030. And so with just 6 years
to go we're well on our way, I
believe, in doing that. Making
progress.
>> Councilmember Harris:
fantastic. I hope we're average
able to leverage parner already
took this great work. I think
about last mile and a the work
they are doing. So that sounds
great. Councilmember anna albi?
>> Councilmember Albi: I wanted
to emphasize how important this
work is not just the
sustainability piece but when we
talk about addressing food
insecurity my staff toured the
free store just to morning and
nag atly the averages is 1 in 7
families are food insecure.
Cincinnati is actually higher
than that. And one in 4
children are food insecure in
our region. I want to highlight
the work of this and other food
security initiatives.
>> Councilmember Harris:
absolutely. Without objection
we'll move item number 2 for
passage.
>> DR. Dudas: to the chair, item
number 3 is related to the
western hills viaduct, so this
is a grant related ordinance for
the department of transportation
and engineering. What this
ordinance does is that it sets
up the required match accounts
in the capital improvement
program for each of the specific
grants received for the western
hills viaduct into the specific
matching accounts. It then
accepts and appropriates
$3.5 million from hamilton
county as their portion of the
match. Furthermore, the
ordinance amends prior ordinance
8-2022, which reconciles the new
schedule of payments to be
received. And then finally,
there is a transfer and
appropriation of $8.2 million
from the transit infrastructure
fund, grants fund to the better
than hills viaduct transit grant
which is also part of the
funding for the project.
>> Councilmember Harris: all
right. Without objection we'll
move item number 3 for passage.
>> DR. Dudas: to the chair, item
number 4 is a grant ordinance
for the department of
transportation and engineering.
This is a 9.0 $4 million grant
from the ohio department of
transportation, through the
local major bridge program.
The identified bridge is the
hopple street viaduct. So these
funds will be utilized for
design, construction, and right
of way acquisition related to
major preventive maintenance
work on the hopple street
viaduct. The various capital
accounts are created by this
ordinance.
>> Councilmember Harris: great.
Without objection we'll move
item number 4 for passage.
>> DR. Dudas: to the chair, item
number 5 thistles a grant
ordinance, also for the
department of transportation and
engineering. This is a ohio
urban transit program grant that
comes from the ohio department
of transportation. This is
$35,395. It is earmarked for
the streetcar, specifically for
preventive maintenance.
>> Councilmember Harris:
excellent. Without objection
we'll move item number 5 for
passage.
>> DR. Dudas: to the chair, item
number 6 is a motion submitted
by the vice mayor and
councilmember anna albi and
harris. This for the office of
environment and sustainability
to apply for fema funding for a
geotechnical stunned stud I of
the ravine behind hue et
crescent street through the
building resilient
infrastructure in communities
grant program.
>> Vice Mayor Kearney: thank
you, so, this came at the
request of allison chromier who
is executive director for cufa.
And you are familiar, we need to
make a change, it is not
actually hue et crescent street,
it is hue et crescent circle in
evanston but the houses back
there, the back parts of the
houses are sliding down, they
are sliding, the trees are
actually leaning at this point.
And so last year they asked for
money from a fema grant, and so
we met with morgan sutter and
she's really just so fantastic
at this whole grant writing
process. So what happened last
year is they needed to have and
she can explain this better but
I think a disaster plan or some
kind of plan in place before
they could apply for the money.
And some more began pulled all
of that together. It got
approved. And so now the city
is in a position where they can
actually go after this fema
grant. I should say I would
like to make a friendly
amendment, this doesn't
necessarily have to be done by
the office of environment and
sustainability, it might be done
by dote. So I would like to
amend this and say we move that
the administration apply for
this grant, apply for the fema
funding rather than oes t might
be oes but this makes it, it is
up to the administration how
this happens and morgan knows
how to do this. And I should
also mention that we have to see
how much the 25% match would be.
My understanding is that it is
about $87,000, but we don't have
an exact number yet. We'll let
the administration come back and
tell us that.
>> Councilmember Harris:
solicitor, can the cosponsors
accept the amendment and then or
do we have to do a second and
vote another amendment?
>> the movent wouldn't need to
make a could on the floor of the
committee just full on make the
amendment without seeking to
vote on it.
>> Councilmember Harris: great.
>> Vice Mayor Kearney: thank you
so much. So I will amend this
to say we move that the
administration apply for fema
funding for a go owe technical
study for the ravine behind hue
et crescent circle and the rest
stays the same. And the
residents would be really
grateful to see, and they have
been talking this for years and
years and every time I have gone
to see the site I know a lot of
you have been there too, I mean
it looks worse and worse every
time. So, this would be a huge
help. So thank you so much.
>> Councilmember Harris: yeah,
you know, I agree with you vice
mayor, it is an absolute
no-brainer. And so I appreciate
the residents coming down but
some of our partners that work
with us on the consistent basis
proactively reached out. It
obviously, right?
Like it is the current response
thing to do. I think as we
heard about it we were all like,
no, yeah, of course. So thank
you for moving this and full
support.
>> Councilmember Johnson: you
just took the words out of my
mouth. This is should be a
no-brainer. We need to make
sure we do everything we
possibly can to make sure these
residents are not dealing with
something of this magnitude,
especially if this city plays a
role in being able to alter and
fix what's going on over there.
So, I agree with you
wholeheartedly, MR. CHAIRMAN.
Thank you vice mayor for your
lead on this.
>> Councilmember Harris: all
right, without objection we'll
move item number 7 for passage.
I mean number 6, sorry. And
then so regarding number 7, so
thank you all for getting your
of 62% renters advertise
imperative that we support the
condition to create a healthier,
stronger housing ecosystem
through initiatives like access
to council and a rental
improvement fund that would help
to not only improve
affordability but increase
wealth and increase proved
building stock, reduce evictions
as well. So these are tangible
resource that is can help
stabilize housing, increase
affordability. And making sure
the law department has
everything they need to be
responsive is quite critical. A
city that grows certainly is one
that thrives. And so cincinnati
being one of the few
metropolitan cities in the
country that doesn't currently
have a crane downtown, a crane
in the sky. And so as we look
to the convention center
district something coming a line
we certainly see that change
soon. We want to make sure that
we're seeing those impacts in
our neighborhoods as well.
Thriving neighborhoods, also has
to mean that we're continuing to
reach the goals of the green
cincinnati plan, our carbon
blueprint, and it is paramount
into achieving becoming the 21
century that we want to be. One
where we want to proper
protecting the environment is at
the top of the list but
establishing policies and
creating conditions to make sure
that we're going after all of
the leveraged fell reasonable
doubt granted possible right now
because this is the time. And
it also supports an emerging
green economy which will attract
and retain talent in the city
and this region. Fifty-two
neighborhoods which know all
have different needs, but
certainly doing our best to make
sure we're reaching those needs
from rivelment, climate,
education perspective, we want
all neighborhoods to certainly
drive. And then finally, you
know it is one of the most
important jobs we have on city
council, managing our budget.
It is no small task but
certainly the principles of
transparency, accountability and
responsibility should always
apply. And so that certainly
leads to more growth and
sustainability. And so while
we're facing a deficit and arp a
funds are running out. Fiscal
responsibility is now more
important than ever. And
taxpayer dollars are not free.
And so competitive process that
is demonstrate return on
investment is how we should
allocate taxpayer dollars
because it is the right thing to
do. And so by demonstrate this
discipline and principled
approaches I think we can once
again help establish trust in
government.
>> Councilmember Jeffreys: luck
of the draw it doesn't matter.
I will go through each bucket
and highlight a couple. So,
public safety think all of us
agree job number 1, 2, 3, we
need to fully fund recruit
classes for police, fire, I call
it call out alternative response
to crisis too which is very and
that pedestrian safety is here
as a priority for me. But then
also street rehab. We heard
from the survey that's one of
the top issues for folks, that
we need to take care of our
streets. On thriving
neighborhoods call out a couple
here, stormwater management
given the recent storms in
particular I think we need to
look at green stormwater
infrastructure, bioswales,
gardens, things in strategic
areas in particular. I think
that's particularly important
given what we have seen
recently. A couple other things
that all of us would agree o
human services fund at 1.5%, I
think we can all agree on that.
I call it nsp. Growing economic
opportunity, invest in work
force development particularly I
think we need to invest in the
work that the vice mayor and
councilmember parks on urban
leads futures program. They
just had graduation and I think
that's one area that we need to
invest and have conversation
with the county. They did I did
talk to the urban league, they
did get funding from sent for
brown send a for brown we need a
conversation.
Between the city and county on
what's the going funding for
that because that program is
fantastic. And then on the
second bullet on that, providing
some relief around property tax,
whatever that looks like.
Economic development
organizations untilly fun
african-american chamber,
cintrifuse, et cetera. I did
call out investing in
efficiency, left that vague I
don't know what that means but I
think we highlighted that as a
council multiple times. Fiscal
sustainability, this is the year
that we have to as we all know
get to a structurally sound
budget, with the futures
commission work we don't know
what that looks like. We have
to keep that a little vague
because we don't know what that
is. Increase the pension
contribution. I think all of us
have that on there. It is
another one. And then last,
excellent equitable service
delivery, litter abatement has
ton evens criesed I invest in
dps weeks continue to hear that
from residents. Continue the
work to improve the csr program
which is great work already
going on. Under way as its. So
and then I did call out the
deferred maintenance on the
schedule of the cincy on track.
So a couple highlights. Thank
you for the opportunity.
>> Councilmember Harris: thank
you. Starting with public
safety, I would like to
highlight youth and young adults
shelter and homelessness
prevention to keep people off
the streets and support people
in need that thousands of
cincinnati children who are
currently experiencing
homelessness and providing
support for them now is a wise
investment to put them on the
right track. Thriving
neighborhoods, youth arts
programs to foster growth and
set children up for success.
Arts programs particularly those
aimed at youth have been shown
to improve the lives of
countless people. And these
programs provide a productive
space for children when they are
not at home or in school.
Growing economic opportunities.
Of course our jobs futures
program which is really doing
well I'm -- we're so happy about
it. We're so proud. So, what I
have listed is jobs training
programs aimed at give giving
all people access to economic
self sufficiency. Also, youth
youth job opportunities,
particularly ones which will
give young people a powerful
cultural experience that will
strengthen them. In terms of
fiscal sustainability,
, money
spent on grant writing is just a
great return on investment. I
if I'm correct I think that we
went from like $2 million a
couple years ago to last year we
actually got $600 million in
grants. So if we are able to
increase the number of grant
writers just logically we will
increase the amount of money to
get grants. I think that that
would be an investment and it
will pay off twofold. Excellent
and equitable service delivery.
Keeping seniors in their homes
through programs aimed at
supporting low income seniors.
I love organizations like, what
is it?
Pwc, people working
cooperatively. And there are
other organizations. While
people age it is best if they
can stay in their own homes.
And it is a healthy place to be.
That's it.
>> Councilmember Albi: thank you
so much. I first wanted to
start by saying I started my
morning reading through all your
memos and heartened to see the
overlap and how much we're on
the same page looking at
priorities for the future. With
that had mind I will keep mine
short. For when me I think big
picture number one priority is
making sure cincinnati is a safe
place for people to be. For
necessity that's are people paid
enough to have a roof over their
head, intoed, health care, and
investing into programs
supporting kids. So, with that
in mind I want to highlight a
few things. Under the
beginnings response, really
looking to invest more into vims
systems liaison team that's care
inn rum as I team. Survivors of
gun violence a key group, sadly
we're becoming a city of
survivors so making sure our
survivors have resources, access
to social workers and mental
health is really important.
Also highlighting the need for
funding for secure firearms
store storage. We know 40% of
the guns used in crimes right
now are stolen out of cars. In
addition secure firearm storage
can help prevent unintended
shootings a home and reduce
firearm suicides. Keeping guns
out of hands of folks who are
going in a mental health crisis
I want to highlight those. Of
course making sure we're
investing into community
programs through boots on the
ground, safe and clean, I think
those are vitally important.
And then to tag onto some of my
comments earlier around foot
food security, making sure that
we're investing into groups and
organizations that are getting
food out into the community,
food inn secured has gone up by
60% since covid ed covid and our
office is connected with
researchers who have found a
direct cause and affect
relationship between food
insecurity and increased rates
of violence. So trying to get
people fed especially kids is
really important. Last thing I
wanted to highlight is
communication, improved
communication with our
residents. We saw on that
survey that we started 24
process with that was like the
number 4 area that residents
would like to see improvement in
is city communication. So, how
can our city administration be
looking into new formats and
modes of communication including
text messages so we can get
people the information they
need?
That's a few highlights from me
and thank you all.
>> Councilmember Harris:
councilmember anna albi, I mean
considering that is your
full-time profession and your
expertise, I'm excited about you
bringing that lens to this.
Yep. Councilmember walsh?
>> Councilmember Walsh: thank
you, MR. CHAIRMAN. As we look
ahead budget deficits lie on the
horizon. The reason is simple,
we have not grown enough to keep
up with the demand for quality
service delivery city of
cincinnati. Cities that are not
growing are dying. Now is the
time to invest in ourselves and
create pathways for new revenue
and growth in our city. Our
future depends pends on it. My
budget priorities teak so go
beyond business as usual and
move cincinnati toward an
aggressive all in growth
meniality. Focus areas are on
neighborhood economic
development, fostering healthy
and thriving small business
ecosystem, downtown vitality,
public safety and service
delivery. Just a couple
highlights here, the
neighborhood economic
development we need to increase
capital funding for dced anarch
by significance fund so we can
be proactive in clear way to
growth and development. Our
downtown vitality we need
funding for existing events and
organization that is generate
revenue and buzz downtown to
make sure we're set up to
capture each more national
events and that and cite I
havely about and that
oktoberfest, black tech week and
how we can support and develop
it. On public safety side, it
is vital to increase authorized
strength of our fire department
for the first time in nearly 20
years to match increased demand
for critical work we do,
properly staffed in police and
fire and prioritize fleet and
equipment with long lead times
so they are safe and prepared.
I'm excited to work with my
colleagues and the
administration to craft a budget
so we can be proud of that sets
cincinnati up for success.
>> Vice Mayor Kearney: well you
know the ultimate goal is to
help every resident and every
neighborhood to thrive. And so
we are so look at everything
through a lens ever equity let's
start by saying that. Under
public safety three key things
we have to reduce gun violence.
It is out of control we to win
that fight. And that
establishing a robust monitor
and far et got racial health and
wealth gap and the aware railway
funds are arc quibble across
neighborhoods as the plan is.
Third think I understander
public safeties programs for
youth that create mentor shies,
recreation, career flower vagues
and opportunities, education and
tutoring support and conflict
resolution training. Under
thrive it's neighborhoods we
have to promote community
engagement cross all departments
and in everything we do so that
our community know that we're
representing them, we're working
for them and they are engaged in
the problem solving decision
make making process. We need
funding for communities
councils. We need to increase
that nsp funding up to $10,000 a
year. They do a lot, they do a
lot for the city and it is a
real struggle financially I'd
like to get back to that level.
We need training for our
community councils to increase
parties payings. They do
represent their communities but
many voices are not heard and
many people are not attending
and not informed. And so we
have to help our councils to
reach a broader audience and to
have more participation. And
that does include councilmember
anna albi mentioned the same
thing, technical to provide
communication to all residents,
especially concerning things
like meetings, 77 coming
development proposals, a lot of
community members say I didn't
know that was going to happen, I
didn't know that was coming
here, I didn't know that was the
plan. So we have to, we have
the technology weeks have to
find out how we can use it
across the city, across all of
our neighborhoods. And of
course supporting housing first
efforts to helps those those
experiencing homelessness to
have personal innocent housing
and 24/7 wrap around services.
Okay skipping down to growing
economic opportunities, of
course employment opportunities
for adults and youth in programs
councilmember PRESIDENT Pro tem
parks already mentioned the
really awesome building futures
with our building trades which
graduated their first cohort.
We hope to increase that to many
more u maybe 4 cohorts, up to 8
cohorts per year so we get folks
involved in really lucrative
jobs so that's so important.
Support such as mid wet con,
midwest week and other things
that increase opportunities that
training and growth and hot tech
field. That is brings more
youth and that population
growing and younger and so
that's really important that we
support those. Beings
furthering the equitable
development policy that council
passed in FEBRUARY of 2023, so
that our minority and women
contractors get into that
clubhouse. I get a bite it
happen he will that they get a
chance to compete and grow. Of
course, we have as to grow our
wbe and mbes. In terms of
fiscal sustainability many have
mentioned this already, but a
plan to address the city's
budget deficit, correct the
short falls and pension fund,
and of course equitably disperse
any balance that we're holding
in reserve. And filely under
excellent and equitable service
delivery weeks have to track and
a transparent and easily
accessible manner across all zip
codes and neighborhoods
expenditures of city funds where
tax abatements are being given,
the number and amount of related
and commercial tax abatements
and of course affordable housing
for individuals and families
whose annual income is at our
below area median income.
>> Councilmember Harris: thank
you. MR. Johnson?
>> Councilmember Johnson: thank
you, MR. CHAIRMAN. And it has
been said, most things have
already been saids as MISS Anna
albi ants vice mayor and I think
PRESIDENT Pro tem parks pointed
out, the we all seem to be
geared toward the same thing,
thank you for the small smooth
process that you have put in
place, very, very briefly
housing assistant, think we all
know that people are stable in
housing then all the other
mitigating circumstances and
factors that contribute to
homelessness get eaten up s to
spike. I will use that
terminology. But keeping people
in their homes, PRESIDENT Pro
tem parks talked about the fact
our seniors being able to do
what we can to make sure if they
choose to to stay in their homes
they are able to do that. One
of the you have heard me say
this from this platform before
as we get older in life one of
the worse things to be focused
on is first of all health and
resources, so that leads me into
our definitely our amazing
retired city employees that we
make sure that we adequately
funding the pension. Of course
teen employment, just be frank
about something, yes, we do need
to improve and sus stain our
police and fire, but I'm also
looking to see what we can do
different in the recruiting
proper cease to make more
attractive to come to
cincinnati. Ladies and
gentlemen, we are battling our
suburban areas to retain police
and firemen and they are leaving
to go to our suburban area, blue
ash, madeira, the montgomery,
independent ya'll hill. They
are going there. So we have to
be intentional about making sure
our recruiting process they
comes to our amazing first
responders are addressed. Of
course like you said, teen --
excuse me youth violence is
something that we want to make
sure we're addressing. And then
let me say this our rising 15
business economic development
for our rise rising 15, the 15
most underserved communities in
the city, we have to make sure
we're looking to make sure that
we're providing some avenue of
economic development, boots on
the ground programs for people
that are getting done every day
out there in the trenches. And
then our present infrastructure.
Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> Councilmember Harris: thank
you, MR. Johnson. And so I will
just round us out. I want to
thank the office of performance
and data analytics, I think the
work they have been doing with
all the departments to bring
them through the performs
management process, the ashlee
community resilience kips that
are in alignment with the.
And the community surveys and I
think that we're seeing a lot of
overlap in our priorities
because the data is being
presented in a way that is
clear. So I wanted to call that
out. Public safety again,
continue prioritization of
police and fire recruit class.
We're battling both attrition
and hiring. Full support for
adhering to the cincy on track
plan. I think that's important
at the city manager laid out a
pathway. And so want toking
support that. And then
maintaining funding for
pedestrian safety projects.
Under thriving neighborhoods,
continuing to fund our community
development corporations: they
have been doing incredible work
and inn creation support for
neighborhood business districts,
nbdip, those are tools that both
community councils and cdcs use
and help support economic
centers of neighborhoods. And
then our continued supports for
the affordable housing leverage
fund. Under growing economic
opportunities I think that we
need to be thinking and
investing in revenue generating
events and so this year we have
blink, we have potential forbes
30 under 30, we have black tech
week, we have events that are
drawing folks to our city,
potential residents, potential
new businesses and so supporting
those are important to me.
Asking for continued support for
the black developers conference.
It was wonderful hit last year,
we served over 500 people.
We're coming back this year to
do more. And particularly
around housing and having tracts
for not only small developers
for folks who are investors and
folks in construction
management. So we have learned
so much about tailoring this to
make it more a fruitful event.
Physical sustainability. We
have all said it. We have to
implement a path forked and I
think we're ready for that work.
I want to prior tied leveraged
for high return on investment,
so for me thinking about
organizations like redi,
african-american chamber, cincy
tech, cintrifuse, film cincy
they have come to us, they have
shown us for every dollar that
we invest they are doing 3, 4 in
return. And then again our
laser focus on our pension
solution. And then actually
under equitable service and
delivery, like 5 bullet points I
want to highlight is just
support technical and personal
investments. We want to ensure
permitting, zone ago
professionals and contracting is
done in a timely manner and
efficient manner for our
partners. So for folks we did a --
>> Vice Mayor Kearney: could I,
mr. CHAIRMAN Could I say
something?
I wanted to point out just so
you all understand that whatever
includes the african-american
chamber I have to recuse myself
so make sure it is in a separate
motion because have I to step
out during that discussion and
vote. Just fyi.
>> Councilmember Harris:
absolutely, we'll make that
procedural and announce that and
do that thank you for bringing
that to our attention. For
folks watching, my colleagues
just went through highlights, we
will file these, approve and
file or just file. We'll file
these, so our full motions will
be available on line. And so,
you know, we just went through
and did some highlights. Okay
so we will file items 7-15, and
then we have one public speaker
that we'll go through, we'll
take public comment.
MR. Blassingame, you have the
you have the privilege of the
floor floor for two minutes.
>> thank you for the opportunity
I want to chime in here real
quickie looked at some of your
budget proposals, and vice mayor
kearney I think it is a great
idea partnering with the closing
the health gap to eliminate or
reduce helps disparities that
cincinnatians experience.
That's a really good initiative,
really good effort. I want to
know how are you going to fund
all these ideas?
I mean you know you aiming for
the mayor's office at some point
but how are going to fund them.
Give me more detail and how you
plan to fund those things. Some
sayings e saying excellent
equity, it is just equity,
either are you going to help
people get out poverty for
$25,000 or plus or minus
children out of poverty into
upper mouth mobility in
cincinnati or you are not. Tell
me what you are going do do,
what are you going do do you,
how will you fund it. Shawn
anna albi, I never met you or
had a experience with you like
the fact that are you work with
the urban league. That's a
wonderful said r safety net
organization, a lot for me u a
lot are community and it needs
to be continued to be partnered
with the city. Also I read
councilmember parks you want to
health department homeless
individuals. I would like to
you ask a component for people
who are homeless who have been
banded from homeless shelter who
cannot get no homeless shelter
because they are band for
whatever reason. The city needs
to track them because they lost
in the sauce. Consider that
when considering that. Thank
you.
>> Councilmember Harris: thank
you for your time with that this
meeting is adjourned.
-captioning questions call
305-3991. Program info visit
www.Cincinnati-oh.Gov/citicable.
>> good afternoon and welcome to
the findlay market opening day
parade. The sunnies shining the
people are lining the parade
proud. We're so glad to have
you with us. I'm ann thompson.
>> I'm bill rinehart this it 105
opening day parade from the
findlay market. The skis are a
little bluer, air appreciate err
than color up and down race and
fifth red and across the basin
as well. We have a special
reporter to join us today, sarah
strickland. Thanks for being
here.
>> thanks for having me. I'm
excited.
>> you you will be camping up
with city officials and kids and
anybody interesting at that you
come across.
>> I can't wait to talk to the
interesting people in cincinnati
especially the mayor and
hopefully I will catch the city
manager and I have a special
place in my heart for
firefighters and looking for
chief mckinley.
>> one reason you why you run
the cincinnati fire museum.
>> absolutely.
>> all right. Well sarah, we'll
let you get to work and we'll
bring up our first interview who
is kelly. So if you want to
come behind us and pick up a mic
here.
Thanks so much. Can you step up
there.
>> I can, hi.
>> so are you a familiar face to
many people and congratulation
on your new position.
>> thank you very much. Running
findlay market. And so I wanted
to mention that during the news
conference that you guys had,
kneel luken talked about how
much you are an asset to findlay
market. He was so glad too you
are now the ceo.
Talk with about your vision.
>> thank you for that. I have
been at market for almost 11
years so there is a piece of me
where nothing is too crazy right
away. I think I understand the
needs of our merchants, small
businesses, our full-time
merchants, outdoor vend offers.
I think we're going to push our
food innovation programs along.
We'll be a fresh food market,
that's always going to be number
one. At our core we're a
grocery store making sure as the
market district gross grows we
stay true to our values.
>> you have a lot of new things.
Talk about any new vendors,
parking garage.
>> oh, my gosh the parking
garage when we talk about
parking it is not good. But it
is good now, we have the findlay
garage. You know we talk to a
lot of people and we often hear
I would come more if it was he's
together park. And guess what,
it is easier now. We have the
findlay garage that's just
across the street from the
market house, 500 spots. So if
parking was ever a issue for
people, now it is no longer a
issue. We have suite names
coming in the next month and new
findlay launch residents this
sum irrelevant. A lot more
outdoor market vendors and even
a commoner farmers comes up this
season.
>> very good. Kelly, one thing
I ream I enjoyed seeing on your
website that you could send a
message to jim scott and in fact
I thinking that you went to
visit him.
>> I did.
>> talk about jim scott and how
he is associated with the
parade.
>> jim is almost ever 1's best
friend I think.
He has been a spokesperson for
the parade for many years. He
has been in the parade more than
50 years. And he is just so
loved by our community. I just
walked the route and the signs
that everyone had made, they are
big banners, little kids made
signs, and he's here.
I just saw him right before I
came down here. It was
emotional. His wife is in the
backseat as she should be with a
pageant sash and she's got a
crown on. I could not be
happier that he made it here
today.
>> thank you so much. Kelly,
we'll are the you enjoy the
parade and look forward to it.
>> have so much fun.
>> thank you, kelly.
>> thank you so much.
>> up next is jason bear on with
cincinnati parks and we're going
to talk about not just what's
happening today at cincinnati
parks but what's going to be
happening over the court of the
entire season. Jason, how the
heck are you?
Good to see you. So what are
parks doing for opening day.
>> always a great day to be out
for opening day and opening day
takes place in so many parks, so
we're here in piatt pushing the
oldest park in 1817, you were
just a junk pup. It became a
park in 1868 given to us by john
piatt. Who were great back
there. John was a steamboat
building irrelevant and federal
court judge. What a gift to the
city, right?
And so all the years later, 200
years later we're in the parks
celebratings opening day. They
had support back in the day.
Once opening day days I at love
people are focus on the solar
euclid. Will you being ale
shall aim to go a park and watch
it.
>> anywhere in the city, right?
That's what makes parks so
great. Ten% of the city is park
land. So 5,000 acres of the
city's 50 through acres are
parks, so you can go to any
park. We have a couple specific
events. In mount airy we have a
great event with the observatory
training and education about
eclipse on eclipse monday the
eighth you can go to the
moerlein house on the event lawn
there will be a big day we'll
have special glasses can view it
with. There will be like
planetarium type stuff and
interactive stuff. It will be a
great day. Have a beer or
sandwich, come on the lawn and
learn about the eclipse and hang
out and watch it.
>> krohn conservatory change
willing the show for the season.
>> absolutely we're finishing up
the spring show which has been
successful and everybody has
lovered it. The butterfly show
is starting MAY 11, cincinnati
traditions like people get most
excited about to come see
butterflies. Each year we do a
different installation. This
year it is butterflies in
states. So I have haven't I
cannot wait to see what our team
cooked up. There will be normal
put flies which are amazing plus
all kinds of space related
things, eclipse, it will be a
heck of a show. All summer
until AUGUST.
>> I have questions about that I
will wait and go and ask them
there.
>> I love it.
>> what he is else I new?
>> is always things changing.
So lytle park downtown has been
kind of taken out a little bit
when we did the great renovation
for the tunnel from 71 so we
finally brought that back on
line. If you have been there
recently you seen new walkways,
a new playground, paths. We put
in a new fountain. Can't turn
on anyone else. We woke up it
is e was under first reading,
not until and over freezing. We
will have the grand opening on
friday, APRIL 26, 11:00 A.M. So
hope to see you there covering
it. It will be a great day and
that park will bring so much
energy and excitement to
downtown.
>> where can we go to learn more
about everything that's
happening in the parks?
>> you can google cincinnati
parks t will take you to our
website and and look at social
media facebook and twitter and
insurance at that gram. Have
the third best social media for
a park system in the country, we
always have great information,
great place to go to learn about
the natural environment, parks
and all the great events and
volunteer opportunities we have
going all the time.
>> thank you very much. Jason
from cincinnati parks.
>> go reds.
>> as we wait for the parade to
come down race street we're here
arrest garfield place we will be
interviewing a number of
different folks and so next up.
>> we've got kevin osborn to
greater cincinnati waterworks.
>> thank you for stopping by.
>> there is a parade some where.
Do you know where it is.
>> that way, it is a beautiful
day for a parade. Greater
cincinnati waterworks has a
knot. As sixth
sixth year in
the parade, a break due to
covid. A bat water theme and
our employees will be having
inflatable baseballs and bats,
so it is quite a little party
scene. But it is really a
teamwork effort. Our design and
built the float on their own
time. This year we like to show
our support for the city and
reds. So we're very happy about
that.
>> why are you so involved in
the parade?
>> well.
>> because you can?
>> because we can, because it is
there. Actually waterworks has
been around since 1817 and pre
dates a lot of things you think
of in cincinnati. So our roots
run deep here, we like to
support the city. We're the
oldest municipally owned utility
in the state of ohio and so old
in fact that back when we
started in the early 18 hundreds
the water was transported
through wooden pipes.
>> interesting.
>> I think that's very bizarre.
>> I was about to ask, do you
have still have wood than pipes?
>> we have section of that in
our little make shift museum.
>> my question is did people get
splinters when they drank?
I don't know.
>> you released a water report,
is everything good?
>> we have to do an annual water
quality report mandated by epa
and we meet or exceed all state
and federal regulation also.
>> congratulations, and it
activists good.
>> it is good for you.
>> where can we learn more about
greater cincinnati waterworks
on.
>> on our website through the
city website. We know a lot of
customers are battling inflation
right now. We have flexible
payment plans if they need help
getting caught up on their bill
and avoid disconnection. If
they want to check this out call
us.
>> thank you so much.
>> have a good today day.
>> cautiously opennity misty
particular.
>> we'll take it.
>> thank you for having me.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
>> thank you very much. Greater
cincinnati waterworks.
>> we have started the parade,
bill you were so busy talking to
kevin that it is coming down
race street and I understand
that it was actually a training
session to make sure that all
155 plus entries stayed in
order. So there were color
coded maps designed by a graphs
designer and that's one way they
are keeping everybody in line.
>> I like to hear that. More
than 150 entries and if you are
playing along at home, I counted
20 marching band, 4 nobody
marched, do lippy and 9 entries
with at least one horse. So if
you are a big parade fan like I
am, you will not be disappointed
with the 105 findlay market
parade as we head to great
american ball park and we host
the national this afternoon.
Game time 4:10.
>> did you know that 3 of the
bands are actually super bands,
they played up of like other
bands.
>> multiple schools. I did
notice that. I was going
through the list earlier, who do
we have here we have rozzi's as
we usually do. They do the
fireworks for the reds games and
they start off ahead of everyone
else, shooting off a few flames
and fireworks to make sure every
cyst out of the street, on the
sidewalks.
>> I wanted to to add something
to that. This summer we found
them preparation for riverfest
under a tent wiring the
explosives along five bars and
there were about 10,000 to
12,000 fireworks then for a 30
minute show. And I was
interested in the fact that rows
I's rozzi's has interest in a
fireworks fact friday in hitly
and get some from there and some
in wilmington ton.
>> you know this because you
used to do a lot of stores on
rozzi's when you worked for
cincinnati public radio.
>> that's right. I have moved
on. So just a quick pitch I
know bill you are a cincinnati
public radio, I have moved
downstairs in the same building
as we see the entries behind us,
so I work for cet think tv
public television where worry
embarking on a new effort and we
can talk more about that later
you but using solution
journalism we're taking a deep
dive into the housing crisis.
>> you can see the parade coming
down race street. Those are
cincinnati police department
poker cycles and I'm pretty sure
those are different departments,
not just cincinnati police, you
have hamilton county in there,
colerain, ohio state highway
patrol. They always start off
the parade making sure once
again like rozzi's everyone is
off the street, on to the
sidewalk and staling safe for
the entire event.
>> they had to limit the number
ever entries in past years, I
think it was a year or two they
had to cut 40 entries because
they wanted to keep it to 2
hours. Let's go to sarah who
has somebody.
>> hi, happy opening day. Are
you reds fans?
>> yes.
>> of course.
>> and who is your favorite
player.
>> dewill crews.
>> I like all of them.
>> me too. I love them all.
What neighborhood are you
representing?
>> I live on the west side.
>> west side, awesome. And are
you going to the game today?
>> unfortunately not, I wish.
>> I wish too. I won't be going
either. Woo here comes my
favorite car, the police on the
motorcycles.
>> all right, thank you star o
say a. I have something to say
about he willly, her favorite
plashings, I don't know if you
heard this, but the last time he
con doublinged all in english he
has been practicing english like
every day he said.
>> I saw something about that
this morning. He'll as I recall
last year the 2023 findlay
market opening day, the
motorcycle officers did their
thing and then when we were just
about to be done with them,
suddenly one of them untruering
by standing up on his bike.
>> I do remember that. The
question is would you do that
though?
>> no, no. I don't think my
health insurance would cover
such a thing.
>> all right. Well you know,
earlier I mentioned kelly and
the news conference from the
findlay market opening day. And
I kind of like what the mayor
said, so mayor pureval said this
is a chance for us to celebrate
the optimism of the season. And
this is a day you can't spent
any place else.
>> we do need to thank a number
of people including city cable,
campbell media, tbnk, cincinnati
parks, cincinnati recreation
commission, and of course the
cincinnati transportation and
engineering department for
providing us with that
cherrypicker, bucket truck so we
can get those smooth aerial
views of the parade.
>> thank you for that, bill.
And we should mention that the
parade focus the 1999 reds team.
As it 25th anniversary as a team
for that year brought brought in
2 million fans and the team went
96-67, just barely missing the
play offs. And the grant grand
margin challenges are from that
year. Difficult my try young
and poke I reece. They will
becoming up as we look down the
street we see the honor,
cincinnati police department,
carrying the flags of the united
states, state of ohio, and city
of cincinnati. And right behind
them we seat the command staff,
cincinnati police and some of
their family members. Chief and
that lift of your screen in
uniform with a red hat, she's
the one in the red. Good idea,
good description there, bill,
she's the one in the reds hat.
>> you know and the honor guard
is part of that really gets
around so members were in
washington D.C. Par at this time
at this time pacing in a
ceremony for the national law
enforcement memorial vigil at
the national malicious. Grand
marshals pokey reese and dmitri you have
state highway patrol, covington,
cincinnati, hamilton county
sheriff, is colerain last a
motorcycle unit still and a
couple others in there. And
can't name off the top of my
head. But they obviously do
rehearse and practice together.
Because I mean that might come
naturally, but --
>> they are very much in
precision, for sure.
>> here comes the cincinnati
police department honor guard.
The crowd recognize rises to its
feet. A lot of people taking
off their hats. Sarah.
>> I have the police chief, the
power lady, are you headed to
the game after the parade?
>> I will be, yes, 4:00 o'clock
game and I will be there to
chief cheer them to a victory.
>> fantastic, have fun for me.
>> thank you, I will.
>> thank you, sarah, you are
getting your exercise today,
trying to keep up with all the
officials and track down just
enthusiastic fans.
>> once again this is the 105th
findlay market opening day we
have cincinnati police leading
off command staff 20 mag, 9 fire
trucks, 9 entries with horses,
and I see the first band coming
already.
>> okay, and maybe after the
first band or whenever steve who
is in charge tells us we have
one more interview to do onset.
Hey jude, excuse us as we just
call out our interview if you
want to step up here and so,
yes, why don't you introduce
yourself and tell us a little
bit about the who you are with.
>> okay I'm jude johnson with
the city of cincinnati human
services career pathways
initiative program.
>> and lots of people are
interested in finding a job.
And throughout the year you have
lots of jobs.
>> we do. We do we're career
pathways, the city of cincinnati
has never had recruiting, so
with this initiative that mayor
pureval and city manager long
put in the place about a year
and a half ago, it allows me to
go out and partner with all the
area high schools, colleges,
universities, tech schools, work
force development and tell them
about our jobs that we have.
>> and so if people are in high
school and trying to figure out
what do I want to do, like I
wonder what skills they would
need and of course it would
demend on the job.
>> it would, our brachia jobs
out into three tiers, tiers 1 is
part-time, season 58 jobs,
co-op, intern opportunities and
seasonal positions. Tier 2
would be our school to work
because there are a number of
jobs that the city of cincinnati
has where you can just graduate
from high school and come right
on into the city. And then of
the third fear is our jobs that
require the degree, licensing,
or certification.
>> yeah, I know people are going
to be tuning in because it will
be replaying all year round but
in terms of summer, there is
aquatic positions.
>> a number of aquatic
positions. We are in desperate
need of lifeguard, we have I am
g a that 23 pools to choose
from, we provide a uniform, we
provide training for you. So
come on out. Here is the other
thing we have head guard, we
have pool monitor, we have pool
managers and pool supervisor
position that is we need filled.
So we partner with again the
area high schools and colleges
for that. Also we do have our
summer youth program, youth 2
work, that's out of the
recreation commission. And we
go around to the local high
schools we hire on police
cadets, fire cadets and other
various cities jobs where
students can work.
>> where can people go to find
out more information?
>> they can go to government
jobs.Com/careers/cincinnati. Or
they can just 513-352-6239 and
we'll be glad to work with them.
>> thank you very much. With
the city human services
department. Thank you so much.
>> we're looking now at the time
cincinnati fire department and
the cincinnati firefighters
union local 48, just like the
cincinnati reds are the first
proper fiction at baseball team,
cincinnati fire department is
the first professional fire
department in the united states.
171 years as of APRIL 1. And
you young local 48 represents
more than 850 members of the
cincinnati fire department, they
are all fire fighters and pair
immediate I, engine 5
traditionally leads the parade.
Frank mckinley on there some
where, sarah, do you see the
chief, are you with the chief?
Not so much.
>> I'm sure we'll find him.
>> okay, keep looking. And
actually looking at the entry
they have another fire truck i
didn't take into account. When
I said 9 fire trucks, we MAY
have 10.
>> (Via phone): wow.
>> after that your scorecard if
you are playing along at home.
>> so many kids when you ask
them what's your favorite part
of the parade they say the fire
trucks.
>> look at all the kids on
there. Look at the ladder truck
behind number 29 there.
Twenty-nine has got a lot of
passengers up there. And the
ladder truck behind it.
>> leads go reds, let's go reds.
>> let's go reds I hear that.
>> they are getting the crowd
fired up. Get the pun?
Fired up. I meant to do that.
Once again cincinnati fire
department and firefighters
union local 48, every year they
are near the front of the
parade.
>> we're here at eighth and gar
field. And so we have another
interview.
>> sarah?
>> I'm with the cincinnati fire
department PRESIDENT Union
leader matt alter. Matt, how
are you doing today?
>> it is a great day in
cincinnati, it is a holiday. It
is our favorite thing we do.
Opening day is a tradition for
the fire department. First
professional fire department in
the united states, we're
honoring the first professional
baseball team. Engine 5, they
have been leading open opening
day since the first one they
started off with horses and
steam pom manierer, over 200
plus firefighters and their
families joining us and it will
be a great event. Make sure you
watch the ball game here, where
you will see another 200
firefighters holding the
american flag during the
national anthem.
>> cincinnati fire museum as we
mentioned. And we have somebody
else who has joined us on the
stage, it is with the cincinnati
recreation commission. Thanks
so much, chris.
>> thank you for having me
today.
>> we have lots of important
information to get out. So just
say, what's new?
What do you than the want to
talk about.
>> what's new?
Well, I'm pleased to be here
first and foremost. Opening day
is a celebration in cincinnati.
Unlike any other spot in the
country. So, pleased to be
here.
But what's not going on in
recreation?
In any given time I feel like we
are kind of on a major baseball
league schedule. 112 games a
year and sometimes double
headers, but we have got
programs going on constantly,
summer day camps presidents
gearing up for summer, getting
pools ready to go for folks,
swim lessons accompanying our
pools, swim team, we have e
sports. You are looking for
something to do, whether you are
a kid, teen, adults, seniors,
look for cincinnati recreation
commission, we have so many
different programs to serve the
community.
>> we heard from hems which
leads to the question, do you
have enough staffing?
>> well, can you ever have
enough staffing?
right?
We are continuing to recruit and
we are going to -- it is looking
good. I will put it that way
without giving out too much
information. We always have
positions open, whether it is at
the center level, whether at the
at the offices near downtown, or
whether it is our aquatic
centers. So I think the bi-big
can he the pools and aquatics
but last year we did open 196
our pools. Bringing those folks
back and continue to have folks
like jude out resulting for us
and getting dollars and our life
guard academy keep that's going.
Feeling confident about this
summer.
>> good, thank you, cry chris we
appreciate you stopping by and
was,.
>> cincy wreck.Org. Can you go
to 24 hours a day or facebook
and cincy rec,.
>> thank you so much.
>> all right. Chris pike from
the cincinnati recreation
commission.
>> right now is the treen tries
hamilton county including the
sheriff department we heard the
sheriff pipe and drum corps go
by and embedded in them is
evanston bull doing
cheerleaders, if you are wonner
who they are. Hamilton county
commissioners in there as well,
along with the hamilton county
prosecutor melissa powers.
PRESIDENT Alicia reece, vice
PRESIDENT Driehaus and
commissioner dumas. And.
>> I wanted to add about the
sheriff department, I don't know
if they broad one of their k-9s
but there is one k-9 who I don't
think is here today, who I had
the pleasure of meetings, larry,
and he's a electronic sniffing
dog which comes in handy. We
won't go into how all that
works, but larry seems to be
doing very well for the sheriff
department.
>> oh, my, artificial
intelligence coming for the jobs
of dogs now. It is again a
wonderful day here, skis are
blue, not a cloud in the sky.
Temperature expected to be
around 57, 58 this afternoon.
But I'm going to guess it is
going to go above 60, that's my
official prediction.
>> it will with the sun, for
sure.
>> and thattal and all the
energy, I think warms things up.
>> that's right. Hamilton
county melissa powers and also
on the way we will have the
hamilton county police
association including their dive
team. They represent 64 local
state and federal agencies in
different law enforcement
aspects. They have a firearms
team, a clergy team, a swat
team, under water search and
recovery, and honor guard.
Their moto is cooperation in
operation, and they say it is
true today as it was 85 years
ago.
>> they have lots of high tech
equipment, have I a look at some
of their sew far stuff. They
had a demonstration one time so
it is fascinating. And there is
one of their boats,.
>> with gaper.
>> I missed him. There we go we
got some ends, grand marshals
pokey reese and dmitri young
grand marshals pokey reese and
dmitri young e cincinnati reds
oar that 199 team, a out feed
and fromed 8 to 200-10-6789
reece first base and and 1997
and with the team until 2001.
>> what I like is that they make
regular both of them appearances
at reds fest and this year at
the reds fantasy camp they were
co-coaches and led their teams
to the championship.
>> a beautiful thing about this
reds balance club and this
community, the players MAY
leave, but they come back. This
know where they are loved.
>> I talked to a couple people
on the parade proud this is
their first parade. And
somebody I work with he was like
he's from out of town, hey,
what's the parade?
Tell me about it.
>> you have to come down here to
experience it. Her the
cincinnati reds entry. They are
getting the fans pumped up.
>> let's go reds let's go reds
let's go reds.
>> you will hear that chant a
awful lot today. There is red
sill a very you ever caught a
t-shirt from red sill a?
>> I haven't.
>> no, no I count catch it if
they hand it had to me. I have
at that to say whenever it rolls
out on the field, hairs on the
back of my neck stand up. It is
a thrill. I did get on kid's
cam.
>> were you sitting next to
anybody?
>> no, that's the strangest
thing. I was with some friends.
You're never expecting it and
there you are on the big screen.
Behave.
>> we have lots of regulars in
the parade. I was talk tag the
parade cochair she mentioned she
like the jump ropers, unicorns,
and the lawn mow guys.
>> from wapokoneta. I'm looking
to see though guys. But let's
not get ahead of ourselves.
We'll wait until they get here
to talk about them. They are
hosting the washington nationals
today and while we were talking
about how good the weather is,
we should thank our lucky stars
on the east coast two games have
already been postponed because
of rain, brewers and metts and
philadelphia will not be playing
today because they looked at the
forecast and said, they said no,
we're not playing.
>> and along with bill we're
here at race and garfield place,
broadcasting the findlay market
opening day parade, thanks to a
number of partners including
citicable, campbell media, tbnk,
cincinnati parks cincinnati
recreation a craigs and others.
Thanks for watching.
>> I think we missed governor.
He watts in there some where, or
supposed to be. And there is
other friends from fox 19 and
coming up we've got the city of
cincinnati's entry.
>> speaking fer governor dewine,
this like his favorite day of
the year.
>> no doubt, no doubt. This man
loves the reds he's from greene
county so he's inquirely within
reds territory.
>> question saw the mayor walk
by affidavit affidavit affidavit
and city manager and council
members.
>> what do you think about 07ing
today this year?
>> opening today this year is
bigger and better than ever. We
have beautiful weather, we've
got so much hope for the rids
and the city is just doing
amazing. So much momentum, so
much energy it is a beautiful
day?
Cincinnati. Thank you so much
for chatting with us. Enjoy the
game.
>> happy opening day everyone.
>> thank you mayor pureval
mayor, thank you sarah.
>> the mayor, council members,
city manager's office, and
department of public services
they are matching with the cincy
sluggers softball team, a
non-profit dedicated to getting
in girls involved in sports.
Their mission they proper I had
viewed girls with structure
discipline and teamwork and that
helps them on and off the field.
>> shout out to the city council
members, jeff cramerding, meeka
owens, reggie harris, vice mayor
jan-michele lemon kearney,
scotty johnson, PRESIDENT Pro
tem parks, mark jeffreys,.
>> are you headed to the game
after this?
>> absolutely, I will be there,
I am so happy to cheer on our
reds. Yes.
>> wonderful, wonderful to see
you.
>> thank you.
>> sheryl long, sheryl long.
>> sheryl long. Comings up
behind them we see friends from
local 12. They have been
involved with opening day since
they came on the air about 730
years
770years ago. Seventy years ago.
>> speaking of friends behind
them.
One the nicest guys you will
ever meet, jim scott, I think we
both had the pleasure to work
with him years ago.
>> I totally agree with you,
bill. He always turns the
conversation to the other person
as reluctant talk about himself.
Extremely friendly and we're
routing for you jim.
>> he's the honorary began
marshal this year. He's always
kind of been a unofficial grand
marshall walking the route of
the parade with a shovel
following horses, putting
himself to work. Just in the
last year he was revealed
diagnosis with als. He was
really looking forward to
getting out and joining the
parade again this year, so we're
more than happy to have him, ifs
fantastic to see him.
>> aye, I think I read he had
been in 50 parades, possibly, or
been to 50 parades.
>> handing out spark joy wrist
bands he's a good man. He's
always got that chip back in the
backseat. He's a voice of
kroger for years and worked at
wlw for a good long time. He
was with me whether he I first
started working there and I was
blown away. Why is he helping
me?
Why is he talking to me?
I'll a nobody.
>> oh, come on bill.
>> he didn't think so. I don't
think he's ever met anyone who
wasn't a friend. There are
friends from iheart radio.
>> the gates open today at 2:10.
The game begins 2 hours late
irrelevant with the pre game
ceremonies at 3:30.
>> all eyes on you, you are
skipping work you are in
trouble.
>> kroger wagon.
>> there are some kids to be
fired up to be out of school.
They know [Indiscernible]
>> kroger wagon with kroger
started as just home delivery of
groceries and guess what's
happening a hundred and
something years later.
>> now they have robots.
>> home delivery of groceries
again.
>> with robots putting those
orders together in a facility in
monroe, among other places.
>> wow. Coming back to the game
and pre gave ceremonies, do you
know who is delivering the game
balance ball, bill?
>> I did, I did know but I
forgot.
>> one of my favorite players
first pitch is reds hall of
famer shawn case I.
>> the mayor.
>> hone err captain marty
brennaman. Me and bill here on
race street at garfield place,
thanks for watching the findlay
market opening day parade. What
a great diactor baseball.
>> spring semester spirit band
MARCH band, basketball bands and
others have a grand today total
of 85 members their vision for
the university of cincinnati to
be the most musical campus in
the united states.
>> very good. Maybe they will
favor us with a tune.
>> and speaking of music, at the
game [Indiscernible] From denver
kentucky will be singing the
national anthem. She's done it
for a number of years, and while
she is doing that a giant
american flag, 300 by 150 will
be unif you recalled by members
of the cincinnati firefighter
local 48 and retired firefighter
john win friday sings GOD bless
america during the seventh inn I
go stretch.
>> a number of long time
traditions here in the queen
city. Porkopolis, a city where
professional baseball started.
1869. University of cincinnati
spring semester spirit band.
Oh, oh, oh, uc.
>> all right, go uc. Thanks for
that.
>> are you a uc alumni?
>> I'm not I thought I would
throw my spirit in there. I
went to muskingum.
>> oh. Here they go.
>> music (
(Music).
>> the first of two or three
collegiate bands we have in the
parade this year.
>> some of the high schools are
going to be bigger than you u I
might remember because they form
these super bands so they fit in
with like the college bands and
how many members they have. So
we'll look forward to especially
the cincinnati one that has like
4 or 5 bands into one.
>> a couple of counties that
just took all their high schools
and combined them into one big
band. Instead of 20 they will
have a hundred.
>> yeah. Along here we have
jeff ruby culinary
entertainment. The 338th united
states army reserve command band
finding solutions for stable and
loving homes for vulnerable
youth.
>> and the word on the street he
was going to have some mma
fighters.
>> oh. So I don't know if
that's a his float or a little
bit later.
>> there is jeff ruby,.
>> including mat the hammer ham
he will.
>> channel 9, wcpo followed by
the reds community fund. The
cincinnati reds non-profit
providing underserved kids at
the time o the turned to play
baseball and softball. The
community fund hosts various
youth teams from greater
cincinnati and junior high,
baseball and softball players.
>> we got a look at rosie and
what is that MR. Baseball, the
one with the baseball head?
>> MR. Red.
>> oh, okay.
>> MR. Red legs and MR. Red.
>> okay, thank you thank you.
>> the kid glove program the
powell crosley amateur baseball
fund go to the purchase of
baseball and softball equipment
for kids in the area and they
have marty and
and amanda benjamin
with them. I think they are a
little bit back. A lot of the
local high school baseball
players, a lot of them. And
that's got to be quite a thrill
if you play the game you love
the game and to be part of
something like this, that's got
to be lovely too.
>> can't beat it. And then at
some point we'll have the like
old fashioned reds players.
>> yes. There's I couple
different convenient acknowledge
groups going through the list
earlier. There is marty
brennaman retired a couple years
ago. But still active.
>> I still like listening back
to his recordings like it is
going, it's going gone.
>> we're watching highlights
from the 1975 world series at
the very end and there will be
filmed. Marty asking some
questions of the players, like,
wow.
>> it's great.
>> doing very well, you can't do
better than opening day.
>> you are going to the game?
>> I am we're looking forward to
seeing some baseball after a 5
or 6 weeks in spring training.
>> awesome, enjoy, thank you
marty.
>> good to see you guys.
>> you too.
>> great grab, sarah. Mart
irrelevant benjamin. It is
unique to see him in the parade
because official will you he's
preparing for the game.
>> he would be, that's for sure.
We have the anthony munoz
foundation, founded by the pro
hall of famer anthony munoz, the
foundation names to impact
mentally, fifth I canly through
8 impact programs.
Scholarships, character camps
presidents, leadership
opportunities and a tutor
thanking and mentoring program.
>> so many kids have a great
time waving and just being down
here. Soaking it all in.
>> let's go reds, let's go reds.
>> many people are in the
parade, even more watching it
because remember this parade
starts up at findlay market
which is just about a mile from
where we are and it goes down to
#th street then turns east to
the end of fifth which is
sentinel where it dissolves, and
I know from experience once you
get onto fifth street the crowds
really get thick.
>> so last year there were
130,000 lining the parade proud.
I can't quite remember what was
the weather like, bill?
Was it this nice?
>> it was a lot like this, so we
have had two good years in a
row. I see the who dey! Coming
up. Westwood chicks are made up
with women from all kinds of
different occupations than and
different experiences and what
do they do?
When they get together and they
tailgate.
>> have we MISS The bengal
legend float?
>> oh, ken doctor anderson and
super u super bowl 16, cove I go
walker from super bowl 23.
>> cincinnati make some noise.
>> here's are the westwood
chicks, d who'd
who'd who'd chicks
they tailgate for bengals games.
It is all right about baseball
today.
>>ed happy to have them.
>> who do we have next.
Number 27, oh, there they are.
Here is ken anderson and the
cincinnati bengal legend float.
Some past and present bengal
players. City does love a
winner all right there is ken
anderson waving. Lots of people
looks forward to the next bengal
season. Legality get through
baseball season first. We have
some tights also women MISS
Hoist, 2023, mad than I so than
manager too much bayingly french
MISS Sinned indiana cindy
bridge, mallory hudson, and then
my following we have some
bengals mixed in with them.
The.
>> the kicker unit, jim breech,
do you go pell friday and shayne
graham.
>> there is MISS America 2000,
heather french henry in the
jeep. And here comes the
transit, well after MISS America
2000, we have the transit
authority transit authority of
northern kentucky with the
southbank trolleys they do game
day shuttle service from one
side of the ohio river to the
other. And they are run them
daily, not just during games.
So you can park on one side,
ride over, see the game, and
then ride back. And those are
nice rides, to I have done that.
>> I want to say some things
about the reds, so reds
PRESIDENT Bill cast cast castle
league I we're wild castellini
we're excited about this sees
other than they arrived at
spring training weeks early.
And a shout out to the reds
translator who are hey who works
with elli and alexis, he's
always smiling. I don't know if
you have seen him on the reds
game or at the ball park. He
says it doesn't feel like a job.
He even helps them buy cars, he
wants them to be focused obeys
balance.
Onobeys balance. He has dialect
that's difficult. But we did
see the elli has been working on
his english, I don't know how
much longer he will need who are
hey. He did last news
conference in english.
>> we have clydesdale horses
from wegman farm. Big
magnificent beasts.
Have you
ever seen their feet?
>> they are pretty big.
>> yep yes. And they come to us
from wegman farm with the sin
feet credit union float. Cinfed
credit union float.
I think we might have some bell
gins and I'm not, I don't
remember which is larger on
average. Clydesdale or ben
gins,
>> we are colleagues from the
cincinnati enquirer in the
parade with their dedicated reds
reporter, gordon along with
other reporters and
photographers. Get to work, you
guys.
>> what about time off?
>> okay.
>> we want to thank the crew