Jay Hanselman

Once again preventing park cuts and saving public safety jobs were the focus of many speakers during a Cincinnati Council hearing Monday night on the city’s budget.

There was a smaller crowd for the session at the College Hill Recreation Center, and about 30 speakers offered testimony.

About half of them are asking Council not to reduce funding for the parks department.   The board that runs those facilities has threatened closures and reduced maintenance if the city manager’s budget is adopted.

A Cincinnati Council Member will be at the White House Wednesday afternoon to accept an award. 

Chris Seelbach is one of ten people being recognized this year as "Harvey Milk Champions of Change." 

“The award honors elected officials who champion equality and public service,” Seelbach said.  “And so I’m being honored for my attempts to make Cincinnati a place that more people feel welcome and respected.”

President Obama honored the late Harvey Milk in 2009 with America's highest civilian medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

The Week in Review with Jay Hanselman.

Two Cincinnati Council Members are supporting a plan to eliminate all the proposed firefighter layoffs while reducing police officer layoffs to 25.  

Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls and Council Member Chris Seelbach announced the proposal Thursday.

“We will continue to look for additional savings that could reduce layoffs even further,” Qualls said in a press release.  “We must preserve essential services that keep all of our neighborhoods safe and clean.”