Blogs

We are proud to report that thanks to your help I was re-elected to Cincinnati City Council!

I have been honored to serve on Cincinnati City Council for 4 years and ask for your vote today to earn another two years of leading Cincinnati and making our City a better place to live, work and play.

I have always put politics aside and put the people of Cincinnati first.

Unfortunately, there are some within my own party who see things differently. On Saturday morning, a small group of them decided to remove my endorsement by the Cincinnati Democratic Committee (CDC). Let me be clear - nothing about me has changed. I remain, and always will be, proud to be a member of the Democratic Party. I’m not going to stop fighting for what I believe in. I believe my priorities are consistent with the ideals of the party that I grew up in and continue to be a part of today.

My proposal to restrict and regulate panhandling in Cincinnati has received a great deal of support and, not surprisingly, a fair share of criticism. It is important that we be compassionate to those who have less and need more. I have always been guided by that principle. We need to help the homeless. But panhandling doesn't help anyone - the panhandler or the person who gives him change.

As Mark Twain once said, things happen in Cincinnati later than everywhere else. The economic recession hit home in Cincinnati just weeks ago with a Finance Report, based on first quarter tax payments to the City, showing a $20 million deficit for the balance of this year and a $40 million deficit for 2010. This bad news arrived with the report of the City Pension Board which predicted a $1 billion deficit in the fund providing retirement benefits to city workers. The pension fund’s liability, soon to be more than the total value of the fund, will require far greater contributions to the system, at a time when we have much less money. Like too many other governments, businesses and households, the City of Cincinnati had for too long spent more than we took in each year, and did not save for long-term liabilities and financial emergencies that have now come due.

We should use these tough times as an opportunity to focus on our future, and what is needed from City government to arrive at that vision.

I'm really enjoying the use of social media now - follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JeffBerding and find me on Facebook to keep tabs on what I'm doing at City Hall.

Council had a busy two weeks, but we sure can accomplish a lot. I was happy to play a key role in the negotiations for a compromise on Human Services funding. Still a lot of work to be done, but we'll get there with leadership from David Crowley and Chris Bortz.

We also provided deals to Macy's and Graeter's - two of our best corporate citizens, and both well deserving of our help staying in the City - more jobs and more ice cream!

Yesterday I hosted a presentation in the Rules and Government Operations Committee on the City's priorities for the Federal Stimulus Package currently making its way through Congress. I think we have an opportunity to get some great projects started - like The Banks, the Streetcar and other strategic investments that provide both long term benefit to the community and immediate job opportunities to local workers.

Hamilton County Recorder Rebecca Groppe and I teamed together today to improve the ability of neighborhoods to force absentee property owners to maintain derelict lots in the city.

Residents and City inspectors have an easy time identifying problem properties. However, identifying the owners is often a much tougher challenge and can prevent the City from forcing compliance with our quality of life laws.