Porkopolis

Peace Activists Appeal Conviction

Trials aren't supposed to happen in secret in the United States. That's one reason a group of peace activists, including myself, is appealing our convictions for criminal trespass during an anti-war demonstration in Cincinnati. Reporters and members of the public who wanted to attend the first two days of our trial were barred from the courtroom.

Judges aren't supposed to impose extra punishment on defendants who insist on a jury trial. That's another reason we’re appealing.

Bengals Want to Shoot Stadium Birds

The Cincinnati Bengals have a long history of seeking favors and preferential treatment from local government officials, and now the team wants permission to shoot guns inside Paul Brown Stadium to kill pesky birds.

As part of the effort, Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Berding — who also serves as the Bengals' sales director — spent part of Wednesday pushing behind the scenes for quick approval from the city’s police and law departments, according to multiple City Hall sources.

The team wants an OK by today or Friday so it can prepare the stadium in time for the high-profile Oct. 1 game against the New England Patriots, which will be featured on ESPN's Monday Night Football.

Fishy Relatives

Six species of fish that would live in the Mill Creek — if it weren't so polluted — are depicted in porous concrete next to the Creek in Salway Park. Located across from the main entrance to Spring Grove Cemetery, the park is in the flood plain of the Mill Creek and is home to a new piece of utilitarian public art called "Laughing Brook."

Environmental artist Jackie Brookner created the six fish that will live in an engineered stream as a way to underscore the plight of the real one next to it and the importance of cleaning up the waterway. Building awareness for environmental issues in the minds of those who see it is as much a part of this piece of artwork as actually cleaning the water that runs through it.

More Mac with that Cheese?

Not-so-delicious irony? Just three days after The Enquirer devoted its Sunday Forum section to the topic of super obesity and ways Cincinnatians deal with their weight problems (including an oh-so-yummy online video feature of an obese woman undergoing gastric bypass surgery), the Wednesday front page story in the Life section features the following recipe for a pan of macaroni and cheese: 2-1/2 lbs. of macaroni, 3-1/3 lbs. of cheese sauce, 2-1/2 lbs. of shredded cheese, a stick of butter and a half gallon of whole milk.

I think I gained 20 pounds just reading the damn recipe, which must have a zillion or so calories in a single serving. The Enquirer titled this brand new Food section feature "Make It Great." Maybe they should have titled it "Make My Ass Great Big."

— Dan Bockrath
(Photo: Sciam.com)

Jail Foes Turn to Columbus for Help

Faced with silence and indifference from local officials, a group of Hamilton County residents opposed to a proposed county sales tax increase are asking the state of Ohio to investigate whether recent actions by Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. violated election laws.

In recent weeks Leis sent an e-mail to all deputies and other staffers of the sheriff's department, explicitly asking that they work to support a sales tax referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot and encouraging them to lobby their families and neighbors.

Will Conyers Come Out Against Jail Tax?

The Hamilton County Democratic Party is promoting the NAACP's annual dinner Oct. 5. The featured speaker is U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), chair of the House judiciary Committee. An e-mail from party headquarters urges members to attend.

"Congressman Conyers, as we all know, is leading important investigations in Congress at the moment and has been a pillar of strength in the Democratic Party," the e-mail says. "It should be interesting to hear what he has to say just now."

This is especially true if Conyers has something to say about Hamilton County's jail tax. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have endorsed the sales tax hike to build a new jail, while the NAACP led a petition drive to have it repealed. Voters get to decide Nov. 6. Will Conyers take local Democrats to task for joining forces with Republicans to build a new jail?

— Gregory Flannery
(Image: Albany.edu)

GOP Backs Jail Tax

In a move that’s sure to annoy the anti-tax crowd and deepen an ideological rift in the party, the Hamilton County Republican Party formally voted to oppose a sales tax referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The GOP's action means it supports the so-called "comprehensive public safety plan" created by two Democratic politicians, County Commissioners Todd Portune and David Pepper. The third county commissioner, Republican Pat DeWine, is a vocal opponent of the plan and is seeking re-election next year.

Lead Poisoning – Nothing New to Cincinnati

Much of the older housing in Cincinnati, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, contains lead-based paint that poisons children during critical stages of development. Thanks to a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Cincinnati Health Department is looking forward to dramatically increasing lead-reduction programs.

Some of the programs that will benefit from the infusion of cash will be "lead abatement, lead contractor/renovator training, blood lab screenings, lead-safe mitigation courses, abatement of units, HEPA Vacuum Loan Program … outreach and education," according to a health department news release.

The first challenge is identifying the sources of lead as a way to prevent contaminating anyone.

Charter Rules Still Unpredictable

For the second time in a year the Charter Committee is sending inconsistent signals about whether it allows media activists and journalists to join the organization.

Justin Jeffre, co-publisher of the Cincinnati Beacon newspaper and a frequent contributor to its Web site, was allowed Wednesday to renew his one-year membership in the Charter Committee with no questions asked by its staffers.

Democrats Back Sales Tax Hike

It might not come as much of a surprise, but the Hamilton County Democratic Party this week formally voted to oppose a sales tax referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot and support the so-called “comprehensive public safety plan” pushed by two Democratic county commissioners.

What is surprising, however, is their Republican counterparts have yet to take a stance on the issue.