Aftab Pureval

How does a Democratic mayor work in a Republican-led state on changes to stop gun violence? Hear Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep's talk with Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval about his efforts to curb gun violence as the state legislature peels away gun regulations.

Cincinnati Council voted Wednesday to approve $60,000 to hire a search firm that will facilitate the hiring of the next city manager. Some council members say the process for hiring the position needs to be more transparent moving forward.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and his wife, Dr. Whitney Whitis, welcomed their second child this week. Pureval will take two weeks of paternity leave, followed by 10 weeks with a reduced public schedule.

"What you have seen, even when we disagreed ... is that we can disagree without being disagreeable," Pureval said of what he calls a "culture change" at City Hall.

The city government newcomer is working to hire a permanent city manager and new police chief.

City administration is proposing a $300,000 investment in the American Dream Down Payment Initiative (ADDI), which supports lower income residents by providing funds for down payments and closing costs.

Mayor Aftab Pureval says the partnership with the University of Cincinnati allows city employees to continue building their skills and further their careers.

One of Cincinnati's eight international sister cities is Kharkiv, the site of the heaviest fighting after Russian forces invaded Ukraine Thursday. Mayor Aftab Pureval says he's reached out to the city government, "offering to be helpful in any way we can."

Cincinnati's Affordable Housing Trust Fund could be used to subsidize development for the first time ever within the next few months. Some of that is contingent on council approval, including the first proposed annual revenue source for the fund.

Cincinnati's first-ever committee focused on housing met for its inaugural meeting Wednesday. Council members are proposing the creation of a Tenants Bill of Rights, changes to tax abatements and density regulations, among other initiatives.