June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE

David Pepper on Where Clowning with Campaign Divergent the Charter Finance (p. 6) Views Collide Party (p. 8) The Cincinnati Beacon Black Males Under Arrest! by Michael Earl Patton, that " marijuana Senior Analyst usage between the races is ap- Get Published? Ever since Cincinnati en- proximately the What rubbish! acted its anti-marijuana same. And ordinance, thousands of census data When The Cincinnati people have been ar- shows the City Enquirer decided to infil- rested, earning perma- is 53% white. trate the blogosphere -- nent marks on their crimi- feeling intimidated by nal records. Many people the threat posed by who speak out blogs and the “new me- But how do these arrests against the"new dia” -- they unveiled look from the perspective j a i l p e n a l t i- over 30 blogs of their of race? es " under the This man is more likely to go to jail than white people. own and an interactive Cincinnati mari- feature called “Get Pub- From the law's inception juana ordinance " express have been arrested since It is interesting to note"the lished.” That way, they through May 10 of this concerns about African the"ordinance was enact- neighborhoods where could get free content year, 577 whites have Americans suffering pref- ed"for possession of small whites were arrested." from unpaid citizen writ- been arrested." For that erential enforcement. amounts of marijuana -- ers. same time period 3,644 not for drug dealing." The " following numbers b l a c k s h a v e b e e n Penalties may"include 30 reflect the arrests just for But this was not “citizen arrested. " 20 " people of days in jail for a first of- The average amount of the calendar year 2006 journalism” in a grass- unidentified race have fense and 6 months for a marijuana confiscated and do not include Janu- roots sense. It was a also been arrested second offense. during these arrests was ary through May 10"of this corporate attempt to along"with 2"Asians." 7 grams. " Analysis by year." Under the " Ohio Revised race of the arrests since monopolize the democ- The largest number -- 90, This means that about"6 Code,"possession of less the law was enacted racy of blogs. in fact -- were arrested in blacks have been ar- than 100 grams is not a show that"overwhelmingly Over-the-Rhine. But who needs The En- rested under the ordi- criminal offense, but it is the ones arrested are quirer’s nance for every 1 white." criminal under Cincinnati black." “Get Published!” (con!t on p. 2) feature, when you can Ye t s u r v e y s s h o w ordinance. " Thousands simply publish yourself!

To learn more, just visit What’s Inside? cincinnatibeacon.com. Another 98º Star in a Then click the button labeled “Rubbish.” New Reality Show The Labor Report ...... p. 4 by Jason A. Haap, MA The gimmick Notes ‘n Dotes The Dean of Cincinnati should seem obvious at first A Closer ! Did Jeff Berding, Nick Lachey became a household name -- using the Look ...... p. 6 Chris Bortz, and Leslie when the Cincinnati native and member genre of reality of pop band 98 Degrees starred on a programming Ghiz get drunk off wine Lifestyle .... p. 8 during the City!s budget reality show. Now, another member of to make boy negotiations? If you 98 Degrees, Jeff Timmons, is starring on band members have any evidence, let a new reality show for VH-1 to be re- look ridiculous. Jeff Timmons Soapbox .... p. 10 us know! leased this fall. Recently, Timmons gave The Cincinnati Beacon an exclusive "The intent at first might have been to ! Have you seen this sneak peek at the upcoming program. make people look foolish," explained “The List” – man? Timmons. "The writers would put us in Cincinnati’s The premise of the new show (which has situations that made us less than com- not yet been named) was to take guys fortable, but we were used to doing Big Money from different boy bands to see how they things that make us look that way." Contributors would make music together -- so VH-1 .... p. 12 contracted Jeff Timmons, Chris Kirpatrick "We were all in 'boy bands,'" continued (from InSync), Brian Abrams (Color Me Badd), and Rich Cronin (LFO). The Big Beacon (con!t on p. 2) Party! .... p. 12

Page 1 June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE

this overwhelmingly white and upscale try to pull together stories Black Males neighborhood." A similar discrepancy New VH-1 that don't necessarily hap- (con!t from p. 1) can be seen in the combined neighbor- Reality TV pen in real life the way they hoods of Clifton and University get depicted on the screen. Other neighborhoods where more than Heights." As mentioned above there Show At the end of the day, it is 20 whites were arrested in 2006: 42" in were 20 whites arrested, compared to about entertainment." (con!t from p. 1) the Central Business District"and along 120 blacks. the riverfront, "29" in East Price Hill, 25 "I was actually asked to be Timmons, "so no matter in West Price Hill, 25 in California, and These data are very troubling, and on a couple of reality what, as much as we were 21 in Fairview." The Cincinnati Police show that the law seems to be en- shows, like The Surreal well received, we all had Department sometimes combines forced in a racially biased manner. Life," Jeffre continued, "but negative reactions to our Clifton with University Heights, and " I have no interest because music or our image. We when they do that the combined neigh- The data are"from the Cincinnati Police it seems to me that they had already been through borhoods had 20 whites arrested for Department statistics, which can be are just trying to make that kind of scrutiny." possession of small amounts of mari- found in the Cincinnati web site, people look like clowns juana. www.cincinnati-oh.gov." Click on De- because that is profitable. partments, then Cincinnati Police, then Perhaps the challenges of They are really not inter- In case you were wondering, there was Statistics." 2006 and 2007 Part I and overcoming a genre de- ested in the stories of who 1 white arrested in Hyde Park under this Part II Arrests were examined." Only signed to make people look those people actually are." ordinance. " There were 7 blacks ar- drug arrests under section 910-23 of ridiculous is easy to over- rested in Hyde Park, which certainly the Cincinnati Municipal Code (posses- come for a boy band mem- "If people are looking to does not reflect the racial composition of sion of less than 200 grams of mari- ber. Of course, there still see reality on TV," con- juana) are included. remains the question of cluded Jeffre, "then I sug- how the production team gest non-commercial chan- will edit together the mate- nels, like Free Speech TV rial. and Link TV on Dish Net- Tu r n F r e e d o m C e n t e r i n t o work." O h i o R i v e r M u s e u m "I haven't seen any of the edits, so who knows how Despite the "unreality" of that will turn out," admitted the genre as a whole, the offered at After all, it was the Ohio Timmons. "I trust the team prospect offers someone The Free- River that symbolized around this show." like Timmons a chance to dom Cen- freedom. But the theme showcase some of his ter? "Ohio River" just lends other projects. itself to so much more But not everyone from 98 I remember that it could become a Degrees has such trust in the big pen more effective tourism the reality show genre. "I'm working with a lot of w h e r e spot, and a more likely up-and-coming artists -- s l a v e s repeat destination loca- The Cincinnati Beacon’s some female artists and used to be tion for Cincinnati resi- own Justin Jeffre offers a rock bands," said Timmons. sold. Okay. dents. different perspective. "I'm doing some non- Interesting, traditional approaches." According to Timmons, the I guess. As with the CMC, the "Having been on a reality But after place could combine in- VH-1 program is not a ca- show, and seeing my reer boost, but an opportu- seeing it formation with family friends be portrayed a cer- once, there friendly, attractive, and nity for some of his projects tain way, it is obvious to me to gain exposure. seems little interactive exhibits. that while something like reason to Aquariums with Ohio The Newlyweds may have return. River animals. Incorpo- been one of the more 'real- "We didn't think it was go- Slave Museum rate Tall Stacks with the istic' shows on TV, there is ing to be a launching pad for our careers," said Tim- by Jason A. Haap, MA There's a movie by concept. Include a river- no question that the cam- mons. "It ended up being The Dean of Cincinnati Oprah. Not bad, I sup- boat section, with mod- eras change things," ex- pose. But again, I see no els, and hands-on things plained Jeffre. "Producers really funny." The Freedom Center reason to return for a for kids. (called "The Slave Cen- second viewing. ter" by African American On Ohio River Museum critics) remains a I remember lots of text would touch on so many doomed project. But who and graphics on expen- subjects - from literature can be surprised? I vis- sive looking presentation to science to biology to ited the place once, and boards. But if I wanted to chemistry to history never intend to return – spend an afternoon (which would include a an attitude vastly differ- reading, I would just buy permanent Underground ent than my take on a book for a fraction of Railroad exhibit as part something like the Cin- the cost of admission to of the larger whole). cinnati Museum Center, the Center. or the Contemporary Art It may be cliche to men- Center. I have family I also seem to remember tion, but a definition of passes to each. something about dining madness is to repeat the utensils that are like same behavior and to At those places, there what slaves might have expect a different result. are lots of things to see used. I am not im- and with which to inter- pressed. The Freedom Center has act. I can't tell you how shown us, consistently, many times I have gone The Freedom Center that it cannot succeed. to the CMC with my son. should be reinvented as Though the three main "The Ohio River Mu- Time to try something museums do not change seum." The reason is else. (for the most part), there elementary: such a con- is constantly a sense of cept would envelope the ! freshness and fun and social justice issues in- discovery associated herent in the story of the with a visit. But what is Underground Railroad.

Page 2 June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE

development dollars. Then, once slow downs, and other small- this population is counted, move scale acts of community terror- The Teachings of Mr. Pig them the hell out of the way. ism were designed to scare peo- (Townhouses in the West End, ple away to give access to large by Jason A. Haap, MA Huntington Mead- parcels of property? The Dean of Cincinnati ows, etc.) What if that is where 3CDC en- A few weeks before he died, I But what about the ters the picture? spoke with Findlay Market BBQ urban pioneers in extraordinaire, Mr. Pig, and he the center city? What if this is all part of a plan to shared some of his theories How can they be re-inhabit the City with a profile about what has really been hap- scared away? of wealthy young urban dwellers pening in Over-The-Rhine. seeking jobs at Blue Chip Com- Step 2:! Shake- panies? According to Mr. Pig, ten years down & Terror ago, there emerged two compet- Vortex Step 4:! Media Blitz ing visions for the future of down- town Cincinnati. In one corner, Get your police Take control of the corporate independent entrepreneurs and force to start media environment. " Get the urban pioneers inhabiting the shooting unarmed president of the area!s major center city. In the other, corpora- black men to daily paper to sit on your corpo- tized developers in league with people with no comprehensive death, over and rate board." Through an online the City!s Blue Chip Companies, plan? What could these big over, until the natural result oc- portal, like Cincinnati.com, part- hoping to colonize the center city money interests do to take con- curs. Riots. Organize a police ner with televised news, and get with development aimed at their trol of an entire center-city devel- slow down, and let crime take WCPO!s I-Team to run fluff sto- own clientele. opment project—when so many over." Refuse to respond to calls ries on what great work 3CDC is key locations were being taken about drugs deals and doing in Over-The-Rhine." Sway And what if the independent en- up by independent investors? vandalism. " Scare everyone public opinion through indirect trepreneurs got there first? And, how could a redevelopment away. Let the City collect lots of means whenever possible. Young creative class types bring- overhaul plan get subsidized by abandoned buildings. Drive down ing bars and night life and Bo- federal dollars? What if the big the price of real estate. These were just some musings hemian lifestyles, managing to power players strategized their by one man in the final days of co-exist (in some capacity, any- moves? Step 3: Incorporate. his life. His political ideologies way) with many of the people may be gone, but you can still who lived in the neighborhood Step 1: ! Count "em & Move What if the plan was to establish buy his BBQ at Findlay Market. before their arrival. Who would "em a corporate entity to benefit from feel slighted by such a move?" federal dollars being funneled Mr. Pig’s restaurant is still op- Wait for the 2000 census. Estab- into the City from the 2000 cen- erated by his wife. Find them Do big-money corporate types lish that areas are filled with high sus to help with the large-scale at 109 W. Elder, or on the web: like feeling snubbed by youthful, poverty so they qualify for federal purchase and redevelopment of www.mrpig.us and disorganized small business real estate? What if riots, police

CincyNation.com: A Daily Must Read

CincyNation is a daily must read. We scan all the news sites to make it easy for you to find information important to you. News headlines, weather, sports, events, real estate - it’s all there and updated daily. Online since 1999, get into the habit of checking out one of Cincinnati’s top news aggregators each and every day.

Page 3 June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE The Labor Report

More Power to the People? The growing The Buzz’s Lincoln Ware Calls Out grassroots movement for social justice Insurance Giant Western and

by Justin P. Jeffre Working Group had been meeting Southern on its Treatment of for a year. (The coalition also African Americans In an era of hostile corporate pushed the seven member work- takeovers of public spaces, re- ing group to move back a deadline sources & decision making, it's they said couldn't be moved.) clear that there's a political force by Kevin O!Donnell, SEIU pushing back & reclaiming power This is not the first time corporate for the citizens that deserve it media has ignored newsworthy Lincoln Ware, local radio most. AMOS, organized labor, & actions. On March 6th, hundreds talk show host on The the NAACP are a growing political of people representing labor un- Buzz, dedicated a recent force that may not be getting a lot ions, AMOS, civil rights leaders hour-long show to the dis- of media attention, but Cincinnati's from as far as Atlanta Georgia, criminatory corporate prac- power players are increasingly members of the South West Ohio tices by the Western and taking notice. The Banks Working Green Party & the NAACP gath- Southern Group, an insur- Group consisted of five white ered on Fountain Square with ance company headquar- males until the growing coalition of banners, drums, shopping-carts & tered in Cincinnati. For labor, religious congregations & one person wearing an eagle cos- decades, Western and civic organizations came together tume to protest the poverty wages S o u t h e r n a l l e g e d l y & flexed their political muscles by that too many local fortune five charged 56,000 African Ameri- care. Graves has cleaned the demanding minority inclusion. hundred companies pay their jani- cans higher life insurance pre- Western and Southern head- tors. They said that corporations miums because of their race. It quarters for six years, and has Though most people wouldn't like Convergys have a responsibil- wasn!t until last year that the never received a raise or even a have known it from the lack of ity to pay living wages to the hard Ohio Department of Insurance cost-of-living adjustment. She coverage these groups receive working men & women in our and Western and Southern en- and her family are forced to de- from corporate media outlets, they community because the city has tered into a consent order to pend on public assistance to get moved City Council & the County given them special tax incentives address the problem. by. Commissioners to add two African to the tune of $52 million in recent Americans (Steve Love & Robert years. In the meantime Western and Other guests on the show in- Richardson) after the Banks (con!t on p. 5) Southern continues to stand in cluded Gary Hughley, Vice the way of good jobs in Cincin- President of the AMOS project, nati. “Twelve hundred janitors a faith group with 40 member have come together for a voice, congregations in the Cincinnati but Western and Southern and area. “We!re working hard with its cleaning contractor Execu- organizations that value work- tive Management Services are force development and minority holding out on us,” said Doris inclusion,” said Hughley. “We Graves, a local janitor at the need decent wages, health care Western and Southern!s office benefits, and other things to downtown. “Because of West- help lift people out of poverty in ern and Southern, there!s no our community.” process to give us a voice to stand up for our families and An affiliate of Western and our communities.” Southern, Eagle Realty, recently requested $21 million in public The janitors who clean Western subsidies from the City to build and Southern are primarily luxury condos, despite the dire African-American, and are paid need for affordable housing in as little as $28 per night with no Cincinnati. access to affordable health (con!t on p. 5)

Streetvibes is an award winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the The AMOS Project is a often invisible story of poverty in our community. group of congregations committed to living out their Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 25 cents and sell it for a $1 Join the Cincinnati NAACP! faith through public action. donation. CINCINNATI BRANCH NAACP The AMOS Project 745 Ezzard Charles Drive 4439 READING ROAD For more information about The Greater Cincinnati Coali- Cincinnati, OH 45203 tion for the Homeless, please visit www.cincihomeless.org CINCINNATI, OHIO 45229 513-281-1900 [email protected]

Page 4 June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE

organically for the past few Allied Media Conference Power to the years. We may be looking at the problems from different perspec- Hits Motor City People tives but more & more people (con!t from p. 4) are realizing we have to get or- by Gavin Leonard of organizers” – puts it, “I've ganized & work together to never seen a project move from Since 1999, the Allied Media With a Democratic majority on make sure that everyone gets a tiny crew of organizers to a treated fairly." Conference has been held on collective sense of ownership as council some wonder why the the 3rd weekend of June in city is subsidizing poverty wages dramatically as the AMC has. It's When Lt. Gov. Lee Fischer saw Bowling Green, Ohio. But on & why clawback provisions a testament to the quality of coalition members on May 23rd, June 22-24, the conference aren't being vigorously negoti- what the founders built and to he said, "I want you to know that moves north to Detroit in what ated & enforced. the critical need we have to obviously I just found out about promises to be the biggest and gather and build for a better this in the last 24 hours, so I ap- best set of training, workshops, "I think it's important that we world.”" preciate you allowing me to go panel discussions – and parties build coalitions. "I don't think this by and do this." He proceeded – yet. Whether you!ve been go- is a single fight," said Christo- The AMC sets itself apart be- to tell an audience of about 250, ing for years, or the 9th annual pher Smitherman, president of cause the organizers work year- "Gov. Strickland and I are AMC will be your first, you won!t the NAACP and a former coun- round to ensure the conference Democrats but we are unabash- regret the trek up I-75." cilman. He explained their strat- grows more relevant every year. edly pro-business. When we They build upon past suc- egy is to operate within coali- For the past 10 years I!ve tions "so we find issues that dif- have an economy that prospers, cesses, and they constantly pay everything gets better." probably averaged 4 confer- attention to building new audi- ferent organizations agree with, ences every year. As a local ac- and the NAACP, with labor, with ences. For instance, during the Despite an explosion of technol- tivist with regional and national AMOS, as an example, come past 2 years, the AMC has been ogy, great increases in worker connections, I!ve been a partici- together and move as a unified building relationships and de- productivity, soaring corporate pant and presenter of more than veloping partnerships with front on those issues." my fair share of get-togethers. profits, more tax shelters and young people and youth organi- corporate welfare, tens of mil- But in 2007, the AMC is the one zations across the country. Determined to keep the pressure and only conference I!m going on, the coalition showed up at a lions of American workers have to. Business Courier event at the seen a large decline in their real Jenny Lee, a Detroit local who wages. Working Americans has been involved with the AMC Zoo on May 23rd. When asked As Josh Breitbart, the long time work longer hours for less pay for years, says “The AMC is the about this growing movement, organizer – or “bridge between than any industrialized nation on only national media gathering Matt Ryan, an SEIU organizer, the founders and the new crew the planet. " that intentionally develops youth said, "I think it's been happening participation, ownership and leadership within the media jus- tice movement. " We have no in 2007 will include: 2006 youth tightest emcee on the block, or a doubt that the young people who participants leading sessions, total beginner, you can meet attend and help organize the INCITE! Women of Color Against great people, learn new skills, Allied Media Conference will be Violence organizing a track of and get inspired by great ideas the next generation of leaders in sessions, a youth media lab, and at the Allied Media Conference." this movement."" an amazing and huge team of local Detroit organizers." Registration is on a sliding scale, And it!s not just talk. More than and some travel stipends are simply catering to young people, "The AMC is for everyone who also available. women, or people of color, they sees communication as a key to actually work to provide leader- changing the world,” said Josh Check out ship development opportunities Breitbart. So whether you!re a www.alliedmediaconference.org for a variety of folks. Examples professional filmmaker, the for all the details.

“We need to call on to continue mistreating City Council and the Western our local elected lead- members in our com- City Manager to stand ers to take a moral munity.” up for good jobs with and stand to help families living wages, and to in our community,” said After the radio show, stop awarding corpora- Southern one caller, Reverend Doris Graves joined tions that take advan- Damon Lynch III. “We other janitors and tage of our communi- can!t allow companies community leaders to ties. (con!t from p. 4) with a track record like deliver 2,000 signed Western and Southern petitions calling on the !

INKTANK World HQ 1311 Main Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 542-0195

InkTank is the writing and literacy center in Over-the-Rhine, dedicated to promoting literacy arts as a means to tran- scend perceived barriers of age, race, economic, geo- graphic and educational backgrounds, while strengthening the sense of community in Cincinnati. For more information, visit Media Bridges on the web: http://www.mediabridges.org/

Page 5 June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE A Closer LooK

Campaign Finance Reform: The Struggle

by Hamilton County In my case, knowing the fund- Commissioner David Pepper raising prowess of my opponent, I tried to raise a large amount, A Closer Look... generally through modest contributions." " By the end, as The Cincinnati Beacon From a campaign finance standpoint, the 2006 County generously funded attack ads Commission race was a mess!" against me piled up, we had to Jason A. Haap, MA While I was proud to win, it was make a decision."" I could sim- President, Content and Audience a case study of what can hap- ply lose under the onslaught of Awareness pen under a broken campaign negative ads, or I could finance system, and why people compete." " Knowing I led the Justin P. Jeffre lose faith in politics. polls, I chose to compete - but President, Community Outreach " that was an expensive and Minister of Information Certain individuals gave more proposition."" I not only had to than $50,000 or $100,000!" ask some people for more sup- port than I would have liked, I Richard D. Hines People appointed to influential positions contributed to the can- had to take out large loans to President, Publishing and didate who appointed them. " keep pace." " The risk paid off Professional Development Businesses with valuable (although the debt is still County contracts were asked there)."" Few candidates could for, and gave, large amounts." even contemplate taking such a Other contributors: Amanda have appointed to important About $3 million got spent in risk. Griffin, Josh Krekeler, Kevin boards and committees (and are total, with a massive amount " O!Donnell, Michael Earl Patton, therefore making important pol- pouring in over the final weeks." This type of out-of-control David Pepper, Zak Nordyke. icy decisions and recommenda- " spending creates an unequal tions on behalf of citizens). Much of the problem exists be- playing field." " Equally bad, it " cause there are no contribution understandably makes citizens For these individuals, when a limits at the County level - unlike highly skeptical of our system. commissioner comes calling for Contact Us! in City, state and federal " fundraising dollars (with unlim- elections."" As one side begins The lack of contribution limits is ited contribution amounts), what The Cincinnati Beacon, LLC accumulating contributions from worsened by contributors having are they going to say? At what 407 Vine Street, Suite 210 individuals of $10,000, $25,000 too much direct interest in contribution amount will they Cincinnati, OH 45202 or more, the other side must County decisions - either be- # # # # compete, or lose. It quickly cause they do business for the (con!t on p. 7) voicemail: (513) 407-4233 spins out of control from there. County, or because they are " individuals the Commissioners The Cincinnati Beacon is an in- dependent media project de- signed to provide quality alterna- tive perspectives on Cincinnati Stranded! The Lonely 3CDC Parking Garage living. by Jason A. Haap, MA meant to discredit 3CDC – our parking ticket, and therefore she Currently, we boast an all volun- The Dean of Cincinnati City!s corporatized version of was not able to get her car out teer staff, and we provide excel- urban planning? of the garage. lent opportunities for professional Imagine being a young woman, development for up-and-coming all alone, stuck in the middle of According to Kristy Marcelle “It was a frustrating experience,” journalists or journalism students. the night at Fountain Square from Northside, this scenario said Marcelle. “Luckily I was Contact us to learn how you can with no way home, with no one made for a very troublesome with someone who parked in become part of The Cincinnati to help, with only a parking reality after spending an eve- the same garage, and I was Beacon team! ticket that the pay machines ning downtown with friends. able to get a ride home.” won!t accept. For whatever reason, the ma- (con!t on p. 7) Without acceptance of that chine would not accept her Photo credits magic ticket from the dysfunc- tional machine, your car cannot Pictures of David Pepper, and get out of the garage. With no Jeff Timmons reproduced, with one responding to the “Help” permission, from their web button, you are left alone. pages. Stranded. All other photos issued free of restrictions as stock footage, with Welcome to the latest threat the exception of the picture of brought to us by 3CDC!s “new The Underground Railroad Free- and improved” parking system dom Center, from Wikipedia, re- at the Fountain Square garage. produced here under the GNU Free Documentation License, Welcome to Fountaingate. Version 1.2 Think the scenario depicted above sounds like a conspiracy

Page 6 June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE

applying limits to contractors of state The Green Party Challenge: Campaign Finance and county government, but not to No Influence Peddling! others. " " This has caused even (con!t from p. 7) more complications at the County by Josh level - where many citizens and Krekeler, say no? Again, this leads to poor family members (including, perhaps, Convener, practices, as well as public cynicism foster parents) will face limits, at the Southwest about the whole system. same time that others can continue Ohio Green " to give $100,000 checks. " " The Party What can be done to reform?" " It process of sorting between who starts with reasonable limits, and full faces limits and who doesn't has The South- disclosure. become a bureaucratic, costly west Ohio " nightmare. Green Party At the County level, Todd Portune " has sent a and I immediately enacted ethics My proposal is simpler. Let's have a letter to all reforms to County appointed boards reasonable limit on ALL contributors c a n d i d a t e s and commissions."" All current and to County races."" Whether it be the for Cincinnati future members must disclose prior city level ($1,000 per person), Con- City Council, freer to make independent campaign contributions (as well as gressional level ($2,200), or the old asking them not to accept decisions if elected." business relationships, etc.) with state level ($2,500), let's pick a rea- contributions from some of County elected officials."" And dur- sonable number that applies to ALL the people and groups that A close examination of cam- ing their terms, these members are contributors." " Very simple." " No historically give large paign finance reports shows not to contribute to Commission costly bureaucracy. " Easy to contributions." that certain people regularly candidates." " That way, the deci- enforce. " Let's make sure there is contribute to a group of can- sions they make represent citi- disclosure of who's giving to whom, Some in this race will raise didates who are able to zens,"independent of County Com- including in the closing weeks when close to $100,000, and others maximize their exposure with mission campaigns. money starts flying. " " My good will raise quite a bit more." In expensive media advertising." " friend State Representative Tyrone the Green Party, we under- Only the state legislature can im- Yates is pushing for reasonable lim- stand that broad political ex- Once they're in office, there's pose contribution limits. " " In the its in Columbus, and I support his posure usually has a price a common perception that wake of their November 2006 elec- effort. tag, but we also think that the politicians will return the tion loss, the Republican legislature " excessive fundraising un- favor by seeking opportuni- rushed through a campaign finance I saw first-hand in 2006 the mess dermines democracy." ties to help those donors' reform bill."After more than a dec- that results from a broken campaign companies, employers, ade of doing nothing while they held system. Through common sense It leads to political alienation." friends, and relatives at the statewide offices, it now looks like reforms, we need to make the Regular people, without high- public's expense." In Cincin- this "reform" was partisan payback changes necessary to avoid such a powered connections or large nati, there is a growing his- for their loss."Unfortunately, the bill mess in the future. incomes, see candidates tory of major commitments of creates numerous headaches in raising two or three times as public money that gives cre- much as they make in a year d e n c e t o t h a t i d e a . " - just to campaign for City Multimillion-dollar deals made Council." Many of them con- for the benefit of Saks, Con- clude that such politicians vergys, and Kroger, preferen- only care about the wealthy. " tial misuse of Tax Increment This attitude leads to low Financing programs, and voter turnout and general other less-publicized initia- MAGIC FOR HIRE! mistrust of elected officials, tives, all point to an inappro- two signs of an unhealthy Andrew Warner doesn’t fool around with priate influence over how our stage shows or kids’ shows. But if you society. " city's money is spent. " want entertainment for anything else, he’s your guy. Local Greens believe that Although identifying the most Andrew can do reoccurring bar gigs, cor- candidates who agree to run likely influential contributors porate parties, weddings, picnics, univer- without money from these (both people and entities) is sity events or anything else with a lot of sources will be more respon- an inexact process, we have people. sible to their constituents and compiled a partial list based Mail [email protected] on historical contribution for information about rates (flexible, es- pecially with reoccurring gigs) and scheduling. But Marcelle claims no such www.andrew-warner.com problems plagued her ticket, Stranded! which appeared in perfect working order. (con!t from p. 7) For Marcelle, the issue has For critics of 3CDC, it is trou- left her feeling apprehensive bling that private property about not only parking at can be held hostage by dys- Fountain Square. 109 West Elder Street (next to Findlay Market) functional technology. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 513.651.2251 “I'd be weary about parking in Since cash cannot be used that garage by myself in the Rib tips and at the exit, the new parking future,” she said. chicken on system encourages people to Tuesdays, carry their tickets with them. Wednesdays, Such handling can subject Bill Donabedian of 3CDC did the tickets to damage – such not respond to inquiries re- Fridays, and as folding, wrinkling, tears, garding the potential danger Saturdays! etc. Such damage may make of this situation given his Call about the ticket unreadable by the management strategy for the daily specials! machine. parking garage.

Page 7 June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE

Lifestyle

Clowning around with the Mom’s Workout Charter Party: The S.I.P. by Zak Nordyke by Jason A. Haap, MA in the form of a song, and voila – In the summer of 2005 The Dean of Cincinnati The Singing Secretary was born. when I was still in college, my mom (Joan Barlage) Dave Rothfuss has a career as For the past few months, Dave made a five hour journey to Dave Rothfuss, co-owner of Unselfish Produc- Rothfuss has been actively blog- aka “The Singing Secretary” Murray, Kentucky to visit. tions (an event planning busi- ging satiric posts at The Social This small college town isn’t ness), and as a musician in the Ironist Party!s official website: traditional) are not welcome to exactly the entertainment band “2 Night Stand” – but he socialironist.cincinnatibeacon.com. join Charter. That gave Rothfuss capital of the world, so one also has an alter-ego of sorts, a (Full disclosure: The Cincinnati an idea: join Charter, and then must be creative to avoid political persona designed to ridi- Beacon provides hosting for the get a bunch of social outcasts boredom. The university cule the absurdities of the politi- S.I.P. site.) and weirdos to join – a hostile had opened a state-of-the- art fitness center, so I joked cal process. Enter “The Singing takeover, of sorts, from the S.I.P. that this could be the perfect Secretary,” complete with ragged Now, why, you might ask, should “We want to infiltrate the Charter opportunity for her to get a straw hat and huge sunglasses. someone care about any of these “buff” body. Surprisingly, she Party,” said Rothfuss. “I!ve al- shenanigans? That!s where the said, “We don’t have many A singing secretary? Such a Charter Party comes in. ways wanted to be an elitist.” other options, so I might just monicker begs several questions, as well do something to im- like “A secretary for whom?” That A few months ago, The Charter So while some may question why prove my health.” would be Sean Holbrook, a larger Party (which touts itself as an any of this matters, Charter!s ac- than life candidate for Cincinnati open and transparent political tions get at the heart of the cur- We journeyed over to the City Council running as part of party who welcomes anyone to rent political landscape – one fitness center and I put my the Social Ironist Party (S.I.P.). join) returned my membership mistrusted by many, viewed as mom through a workout. Somewhere along the line, the check, telling me that people af- exclusive and filled with insiders. Holbrook team decided that all filiated with the media (be it print, It was absolutely horrible! press inquiries would be handled online, traditional, or non- (con!t on p. 9) (con!t on p. 9)

For more about CincyLatino, visit them on the web: www.cincylatino.com

Page 8 June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE

sue – one that gets at the heart of not only the political lifestyle, but Charter also at the heart of free speech Mom’s (con!t from p. 8) and the basic rights of Americans to participate in their local gov- Workout Jeff Cramerding, Executive Direc- ernment. tor of Charter, did not return our (con!t from p. 8) message asking about this appar- Though the Charters talk about ent hypocrisy. themselves as if they are one of She didn!t under- the oldest independent political stand any of the ter- Rothfuss, whose answers always parties in the country, the truth is push the line of satire, thinks he minology I used, and that Ohio only recognizes two po- the weight was either knows why. litical parties: Democrats and Re- too light or too heavy. " Monday-Wednesday-Friday: publicans. Charters are not a It seemed that every 5 seconds “The Charter Party is like a country party, they are a committee – with Joan!s Fat-Blasting tool of choice club for politics,” he explained. she would yell, “This is hurting my has always been the treadmill. private membership lists and pri- joints.” When we left the gym, I “Joining an elite and exclusive vate rules. We developed a simple system of group like that is going to be great threw my hands up in defeat, furi- power walking one minute and ous that I could not figure out the for my ego.” So the Charter Party, which pro- switching to a light jog the next. proper exercise routine for my fesses to be about open and This alternating system of low to mom. Rothfuss said the chance to get transparent government, really just medium intensity enabled Joan to his own people into Charter is a masquerades as a political party. complete her 3 mile objective in a This anger drove me to become a great opportunity for the Sean In reality, they are a private club reasonable time without causing personal trainer/fitness coach. Holbrook City Council campaign. where certain people can be de- over exhaustion. At the end of 6 For three straight months I read nied membership according to the months, Joan was able to jog the “I really want to get hooked up on every health magazine, watched whims of Jeff Cramerding. entire 3 miles at a moderately their insider deals so I can make countless exercise videos, and intense pace. lots of money,” said Rothfuss. trained any friend or family mem- And even if Cramerding invents ber that wanted to get in shape. I rules as he goes along (as he did Tuesday-Thursday:" Joan mainly When asked about the Charter decided to put these new skills to when he denied my membership used nautilus machines to tone Party!s political platform, Rothfuss use by taking on the job that cap- based on my participation in non- and tighten her major muscle continued with his quirky but in- tured my interest in the first place traditional media), there is nothing groups. This equipment made it sightful line of reasoning. “Non- -- getting my mom in great shape. easy for her to maintain good lift- partisanship is cute, but I want this to force him to play by his own rules. (Welcome to “Chartergate.”) ing form while staying safe. On to be about the photo- This time, I came equipped with weight training days, we selected opportunities.” The Singing Secretary empha- an array of tools and techniques. I four exercises: two upper-body was able to take my mom from and two lower-body -- each per- In all seriousness, The Singing sizes this point, joining Charter to 145 lbs and 28% body fat to formed for 30 seconds. " Joan!s Secretary!s clowning around with expose their hypocrisy while gain- 127.5 lbs and 23% body fat in goal was to go through the entire The Charter Party and Jeff Cra- ing more exposure to the quirky about 6 months. four activity circuit three times. merding plays with a very real is- satire of the S.I.P. This basic fitness regiment, in The Joan Barlage 6 month conjunction with some smart die- body transformation program tary changes, created massive physical change.

Kaldis stirring controversy from a New Favorite wooden seat. When was the last time you truly Spots Await walked about listening to the chimes that flow from steeples in by Amanda Griffin every direction, taken a deep breath & known that this is a liv- Take the time to free yourself of ing city? Have you ever made suburbia & make your way back your way to the Carew Tower, The Hearing Speech & Deaf th downtown. Adventure is lurking only to find yourself on the 49 Center of Greater Cincinnati is a on every corner, just waiting to be floor taking in views of the entire nonprofit organization working to rediscovered. city & beyond from one vantage provide Better Communication for point? ALL. The Center serves people Although we have all heard sto- ries of turning this city around, On any given afternoon you can with hearing loss, those with try out your skills on the nearly speech disorders and people stadiums, art galleries, & the new Fountain Square are only a mere empty outdoor skating rink. Music who are Deaf. The Center!s staff step in the right direction. It is the of the 80s acts as your inspiration are nationally certified and com- residents who truly make this all to lace up your skates & dust off mitted to providing cutting edge of this come to life. those old leg warmers that until technology and services in a now had served no purpose. The The quirkiness of the locals playgrounds & the wading foun- family focused environment. tain are yet another reason to Center staff and leadership vol- makes Cincinnati unique in so many ways. search for your inner child & en- unteers are committed to remov- joy the day. It is amazing how ing obstacles to communication. Just lunch can become a day of many people have yet to experi- adventure. On any given after- ence Tuckers on a Saturday noon you may spot the kung fu morning or find their way to Find- lay Market for fresh cut flowers. 2825 Burnet Avenue ninja fighter with tainted skin spouting out jargon from one Cincinnati, OH 45219 cross walk to the next. The career Embrace all that is good right Voice (513) 221-0527 - woman ready to take on the world here before us. Take advantage of life!s little adventures & dis- TTY (513) 221-3300 in her JC Penney suit & reeboks. Or the lowly artist belly up at cover your own favorite spots.

Page 9 June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE The Soapbox

Prohibition II: History and Weed by Michael Earl Patton stuff." And an industry that could And why not? " It is bulkier, be regulated and taxed is driven easier to detect by smell, and is It is odd that we “stay the underground, protected by cor- detected in drug tests for longer Are you interested in course” or even “surge” in the rupt officials. " Profits go up, periods of time." The reasoning Drug War when we already have cash is king, and criminal gangs seems to be that if we cannot helping to support The the precedent of Prohibition." start to get involved." Disputes stamp out the trade in the hard Cincinnati Beacon? We are repeating the same mis- are settled by gunfire rather than drugs like cocaine, meth, and takes seeing the same effects. " lawsuits. heroin, we can at least stamp Consider buying an adver- We make the mild stuff illegal out the trade in marijuana. tisement. We have some of and put it in the same category Prohibition, or the Noble Ex- as the hard stuff." The result is periment, made the manufacture And thereby drive the pot smok- the best rates in town! Or that the consumers of the mild and sale of all alcohol illegal, ers to the harder drugs." Are our consider offering free copies stuff switch over to the hard starting in 1920." Before Prohi- leaders that ignorant of history?" of this paper at your business. bition most Americans who Did they not learn that clamping drank consumed beer and down on beer and wine sales Let us know! wine." These items were too during Prohibition I led to the Subscriptions available! bulky to be transported and collusion of public officials with hidden in anything like the organized crime, the St. Valen- quantities before." Consumers tine!s Day Massacre, and many Send inquiries/offers to: determined to obtain their alco- other shootings?" After we in- [email protected] hol switched to harder forms creased the penalties for mari- Or call (513) 407-4233 such as gin, whiskey, and rum." juana in Cincinnati during Prohi- These were more easily con- bition II didn!t we have a record cealed as they were smuggled number of murders? in from overseas and Mexico—I Women Writing for (a) Change mean Canada. Prohibition I was repealed by inspires women and girls to craft more conscious lives through the popular demand in 1933. " art of writing and the practices In Cincinnati we treat marijuana When will we repeal Prohibition of community. much like the harder drugs." II?" Women Writing for (a) Change 6906 Plainfield Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 Tom Brinkman on School Choice: Where Democratic Phone: (513) 272-1171 Voters and Republican Politicians Meet www.womenwriting.org

The Cincinnati Beacon: Why sources from the "poor" Postal Party and the African American do you value "School Choice"? Service. Their cries ring hollow. community -- at least locally? How do you respond to those who say you are pulling stu- The Cincinnati Beacon: Many Tom Brinkman: The local Re- dents, and resources, from a Cincinnati charter schools serve publican Party has a proud his- struggling public school district a black and urban" population -- tory of supporting African Ameri- in Cincinnati? a stereotypical profile for a can candidates." Ken Blackwell Democrat. Considering the rela- is a prime example. " Certainly Tom Brinkman: Monopolies do tively low number of African there is a disconnect between not allow for choice and lead to Americans registered as Repub- all parties and a majority of the tyranny. Our nation and its citi- licans, what do you make of this citizens, as can be seen by the zens have thrown off tyranny discrepancy? " Why do Demo- low voter turnout in local elec- Harmony Community School throughout our history. We have crats oppose schools that tions. universal choice in almost eve- Democratic voters choose, and rything except K to 12 educa- conversely why do Republicans The Cincinnati Beacon:" What tion. In that area only the rich support an issue that their voting decisions, if any, do you see have choice and this has lead to base does not utilize? Democratic leaders making lo- a greater distance between our cally that harm the African richer and poorer citizens. Tom Brinkman: The Democrat American community? Do you Party is controlled by Big Labor see any decisions being made School choice gives students a and the teachers at public by area Republicans to benefit chance to find an educational schools do not like the competi- the African American commu- “One Size Fits Few” opportunity that fits them. Public tion that Charters and vouchers nity? Harmony Community School is a schools win when students go to give them. " Therefore, Demo- public charter school in Rose- charter schools and use vouch- crats must tow the line when it Tom Brinkman: See my answer lawn, grades 7-12. Next year, we ers. They retain levy money that comes to support of public edu- above about the teacher unions will offer Cincinnati’s first free does not follow the student and cation even when it is not in the for things that local Democrats thus have much more money to best interest of one of their larg- do to the African American and public access to single gen- spend on fewer students.Their est constituencies. community." der education with our split arguments sound like those at gender model. Learn more: 921- the post office who criticized The Cincinnati Beacon:" How 5260 Fed Ex and UPS of taking re- would you describe the "discon- (Con!t on p. 11) www.harmonycommunityschool.org nect" between the Republican

Page 10 June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE

Brinkman and Best Web Site. The En- Not the Best in quirer was strongest in photog- raphy, where it won three firsts (con!t from p. 10) Ohio for Best Spot News Photo, Best General News Photo and Democrats have run the City Best Photographer -- all for of Cincinnati for over 35 years by Cincy News Ache Glenn Hartong, who deserves and the decline has occurred the recognition. on their watch." Cincinnati is The Associated Press Society of poorer and more dangerous Ohio awards prizes in five That's the good news. The big than ever before, under their classes, based on the circulation winner was the Columbus Dis- watch. " Republicans try to of the newspaper. The Enquirer patch, which won 30 awards reach out to the African competes against just five other and eight firsts. The Cleveland American community, but it is newspapers for prizes -- the Ak- Plain Dealer won 28 awards not a Republican city. Bush ron Beacon-Journal, the Cleve- and 11 firsts. The Enquirer was only received 30 percent of land Plain Dealer, the Columbus shut out in 14 categories, in- the vote in 2004. Dispatch, the Dayton Daily News and the Toledo Blade. cluding General Excellence, Best Columnist, Best Feature in that category for its coverage The Cincinnati Beacon: How and Best Community Service. of the shooting involving rapper do you see school choice The competition gives three T.I. working out in the Cincinnati" awards for General Excellence, In 15 categories where writing educational landscape in the so each paper has a 50-50 and reporting were most impor- I point this out to show just how next ten years? chance of getting at least a mention. It's a coin flip. tant, including "best section" weak the Enquirer's news op- awards, the Enquirer didn't do eration has become. Start with Tom Brinkman: Voucher re- well -- just two firsts and eight 19 awards. Take out seven that quests are double what they When the awards were handed awards overall. The Dispatch went to photo, four to sports, were last year. This occurred out a few weeks ago, the En- received 16 awards and seven and one each to the web site, despite the Cincinnati Public quirer lost. First place for Gen- firsts. The Plain Dealer: 14 Borgman and the recently de- School attempts to keep in- eral Excellence went to Cleve- awards and three firsts. There parted Byron McCauley. That formation from eligible stu- land, second to Akron and third were four awards given for Best means the heart of the news dents and parents. Charter to Columbus. Community Service. Columbus operation won just five awards, Schools continue to grow and won the top two, followed by and two of those were honor- prosper. Perhaps the Cincin- In all, there were 109 awards in Akron and Dayton. Cincinnati's able mentions. There were zero nati Public Schools will learn 31 categories. The Enquirer won over-the-top Marcus Fiesel cov- for features, graphics and head- to coexist with school choice. 19 awards, including six first- erage -- clearly the paper's lines. (Hey, I can dream, can't I?) place awards, including Best Business Writer (Alexander highest priority story since ! Coolidge), Best Investigative August -- got an honorable men- This is a newspaper that doesn't Reporting (imagine that, for a tion for Best Breaking News. know how to excel. I'm not sure package on eminent domain) The Enquirer also won a second it wants to.

number per year, depending on size. " For example, buildings Ethnic with 2 or 3 apartment units are allowed 6 calls per year." If that number is exceeded the owner Cleansing is warned that the building is “in danger” of being declared a by Michael Earl Patton chronic nuisance and they must develop a plan accept- One way to change the ethnic able to the police to reduce the composition of Cincinnati is to nuisance calls within 13 days." restrict housing options. " At a landlord training seminar, the The key is cooperation with Cincinnati police recommended police."If police determine the landlords not rent to people landlord is cooperative, they who have any kind of drug said they would not pursue conviction. " The seminar was penalties." And the police em- held to explain the chronic nui- phasized not to rent to people sance premises ordinance, with drug convictions. Not even which holds landlords civilly sexual offenders were so men- and criminally liable if their tioned. property exceeds the quota for police runs. The message was For whatever reason, African- clear: rent to someone who has Americans are convicted much had a drug conviction, even for more often than other groups possession of a marijuana for drug crimes." Reports indi- joint, the landlord runs the risk cate that people are arrested of fees, fines, and even jail. and sentenced to jail for an average of 7 grams of The chronic nuisance premises marijuana." Were most of the ordinance sets quotas for po- convictees black? " Whether lice calls to service “nuisance they were or not, the CPD is activities,” which include such recommending to landlords diverse activities as assault, that they NOT be allowed to drug possession (including rent an apartment anymore in marijuana), prostitution, loud Cincinnati. noises, curfew violations, tru- ancy, and kidnapping. " Each The net effect will surely be to multi-family dwelling is allowed change the ethnic composition 3 calls per month and a certain of Cincinnati." To order copies, call Tony Brunsman: 513.382.4315

Page 11 June 2007 www.cincinnatibeacon.com FREE

The Dean’s Phrase Maze

L L I W B F J

L O N G E F E

E S I D R M B

I N N O V E E

E S A E L P R

Start in the top right, and the correct path of the maze will form a continuous path, without cross- ing, moving through the top, bottom, left, or right of boxes. When you reach the end, you will be able to read this month!s secret phrase.

It!s a phrase maze!

Cincinnati’s Big Money Contributor List This list was complied by Josh Robert and Marilyn Rhein For more info, visit http://www.nojailtax.org Krekeler (Convener of the Gilbert and Mary Richards Southwest Ohio Green Party) Jack Rouse based on historic contributions Jeff Ruby patterns. These individuals, William Rumpke lobbyists, or PACs traditionally John and Lynn Schiff give more money to more can- J. Robin Sinclaire didates than anyone else. J. Robert and Mary Ruth Smy- junas Individuals and/ James Verdin Alexander Warm or Lobbyists Geraldine Warner Richard Weiland T. Justin and Kristen Acker- James and Alison Zimmerman " mann " Jeffrey Anderson " Thomas Atkins " Troy Blackburn Political Action Neil Bortz Mike Brown Committees Otto Budig Thomas and Karen Cassady Cincinnati Bell Robert and Susan Castellini Convergys Martin and Manuel Chavez Fifth Third Bank Stanley Chesley Frost Brown Todd, LLC Robert Coletti Home Builders Association Thomas and Cathy Crain Keating Muething & Klekamp John Davies Procter & Gamble Good Gov- Tim and Sharon Dodds ernment PAC W. Stuart and Martha Dornette Realtors PAC Richard and Joyce Farmer Taft, Stettinius & Hollister Henry and Elaine Fischer Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease Bang! David and Elizabeth Hendy LLP Michael Hoch Western Southern " George and Amy Joseph Celebrate The Cincinnati Beacon’s Inaugural issue! Ronald Joseph NOTE: This list is a variation | | Robert and Mary Kohlhepp on the recently issued “Likely Bang Nightclub Cincinnati, Ohio 513.651.BANG John Leffler Killers” list. Could this be Free Hors d’OEuvres and drink specials! Lindner Family called the “Likely Influence Anthony, Joseph, Jerome, and Peddlers” list? You be the John Maas judge! *Saturday, June 23rd* Robert and Cynthia Muhl- hauser Quentin and Jeanne Nesbitt ! 314 W. 4th Street 7–10 PM John and Frances Pepper

Page 12