Cincinnati City Council did not vote on a motion from Council Member Betsy Sundermann Wednesday that states "council does not support the movement to defund the Cincinnati Police Department."
During a City Council meeting Tuesday, the City Manager's Office said it wants to partner up with Cincinnati Public Schools in order to promote the Safe and Healthy Schools Program. The program allows for temporary school facilities to operate around the city in order to provide safe in-person instruction. However, Assistant City Manager John Juech said they haven’t heard back from CPS.
Cincinnati has been dealing with a significant increase in shootings and homicides. But some residents told a City Council committee Tuesday that smaller violations are plaguing their neighborhoods.
Cincinnati Council is expected to approve an ordinance Thursday banning single use plastic bags. It would apply starting Jan. 1, 2021, to stores that sell food, including restaurants. A council committee approved the measure Wednesday.
Cincinnati Council's Law and Public Safety Committee talked for nearly three hours Tuesday morning about the recent spike in gun violence in the city. As of Monday, there have been 68 homicides in the city. That compares to 73 homicides for all of 2019.
All nine seats on Cincinnati City Council will be on the ballot in November 2021, and right now five of those seats are held by members who cannot seek re-election because of term limits.
Cincinnati is joining Dayton and Columbus in requiring people to wear facial coverings at indoor establishments to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The full City Council approved the ordinance by a 7-2 vote on July 3. It takes effect July 9.
Cincinnati's Law and Public Safety Committee voted on a series of proposals Tuesday to reform the police department by holding it accountable and making it more transparent. The full council could pass the measures in the next month.
Despite President Trump's intention to send military troops into cities to "dominate" the streets, there appears to be no need for anything like that in Cincinnati, where the demonstrations have been large and loud but largely non-violent.
Democrat David Mann, who has served as Cincinnati mayor twice before, is once again throwing his hat into the ring of candidates hoping to replace current Mayor John Cranley, who is term limited, in 2021.
Construction crews will begin work Monday to repave and make safety improvements on Liberty Street. The $7.4 million project spans between Reading Road in Pendleton to Dalton Avenue in Queensgate.
