Porkopolis

Lindner Cash for Portune

Even though it increasingly appears he might not have any Republican-endorsed opposition, Democrat Todd Portune is raising big bucks in his re-election campaign for the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners — including cash from ultra-conservative billionaire businessman Carl Lindner Jr.

Portune confirmed for CityBeat today that Lindner is among the contributors to his campaign war chest, which contains $130,000 so far. Additionally, Portune said other prominent Republicans have given him money, but he declined to reveal precise amounts of each contribution until campaign finance reports are filed.

But Portune quashed persistent rumors that he made a deal with Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. and GOP leaders last fall that Portune wouldn't face serious opposition in 2008 in exchange for his supporting a sales tax increase to build a new jail on last November’s ballot. Voters ultimately rejected the tax increase, known as Issue 27.

Pepperoni and Tax Deductions

Knowing that 32 people found jobs in 2007 doesn't sound like a huge accomplishment for a placement agency. But what if that "agency" went beyond helping those 32 people with their resumes and interview skills? Teaching such fundamentals as running a cash register and estimating and ordering supplies to make sure a restaurant operates successfully — not to mention addressing issues like child care and setting up a checking account — are that "extra" that makes any successful job placement a big damn deal.

Power Inspires Progress (PIP) operates Venice on Vine — a pizza joint — and Venice Catering as a way to teach job skills and life skills to the people who need it most. It’s living their mission of "Meaningful employment at a living wage for everyone."

So if you're looking for a last-minute donation opportunity to help round out your charitable giving receipts for the year, consider PIP as a way to help increase the number of people finding jobs — and more.

— Margo Pierce

Harris Running for County Commission

Fresh off of a campaign for Cincinnati City Council, Greg Harris has set his sights on the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners.

Harris, 36, announced today he is running as a Democrat against Commissioner Pat DeWine, a Republican incumbent. Harris picked up the necessary paperwork this afternoon from the Hamilton County Board of Elections.

Ohio's Suicidal Legislation

If the goal of Senate Bill 10 (SB !0) is to get people who were convicted of a sex offense to kill themselves so that the state doesn't have to pay to keep them in prison and politicians don't have to worry about getting re-elected because paranoid citizens think their child might be snatched up by a pervert who should be locked up for life even though our constitution doesn't allow that, then the bill is working out just fine.

Margie Slagel, a staffer at the Ohio Justice and Policy center says that the death toll is already beginning. As of Dec. 1 former sex offenders who have already been sentenced to a specific amount of time in prison or on probation and mandatory reporting to Ohio’s sex-offender registry are getting letters telling them about their new sentences. Their classification is being changed to match a new law passed earlier this year. Some of those in the lowest tier under the old system had a 10-year reporting requirement but are now being moved into the "worst of the worst" category.

Mallory Snubs Him; County Wants Him

If Cincinnati’s mayor doesn't want him, Hamilton County commissioners will gladly use his expertise instead.

Commissioners last week unanimously approved Lamont Taylor as one of the county’s appointees to the governing board for the regional transit agency that operates the Metro bus system. Taylor had served on the board for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) as the city of Cincinnati’s appointee since 2003, but a political dispute with Mayor Mark Mallory caused his ouster as board chairman in October.

Heimlich Still Running

Perhaps hoping to mimic Richard Nixon's return to politics in the late 1960s after a failed presidential run, former Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich will file his paperwork Friday to challenge U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt in the Republican primary for Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District seat.

Heimlich told The Cincinnati Enquirer that he plans to visit the Hamilton County Board of Elections Friday to file necessary documents. The deadline is Jan. 4.

The Right Words Make All the Difference

The headlines are wrong wrong wrong: "Torture Chamber Found in Iraq." The Bush regime has taught us to think of torture as "harsh interrogation methods" — an admittedly unpleasant but sometimes necessary tool when facing a tough enemy. In this case, freedom fighters with Al Qaida in Iraq allegedly used harsh interrogation methods in their war of resistance against the U.S. occupation. If the right words are used, almost anything can be made more palatable.

— Gregory Flannery
(Photo: Bias.blogfodder.net)

Hands Off Streicher?

Some residents and neighborhood groups are saying that Cincinnati Police Chief Thomas Streicher Jr. receives preferential treatment at City Hall and gets away with behavior that would cause any other department head to be fired.

Streicher's recent comments on a WKRC (550 AM) talk show bolster their assertion. After City Councilman John Cranley appeared as a guest on host Brian Thomas' show to discuss the controversy over unspent overtime money in the police department, Streicher called in with a fiery rebuttal.

Oinker of the Day 12.18

CityBeat has posted surveys about bad Christmas gifts and about sex. What kind of survey would you like to see?

— Margo Pierce

There's Still Money for P.R.

Despite facing a $25.4 million deficit next year and plans to abolish 92 job positions, Cincinnati City Council has allocated money to hire an assistant for the city's spokeswoman.

Included in the proposed 2008 budget adjustment that city council will vote on later this month is $63,000 set aside for hiring a communications specialist to assist Meg Olberding, the city's public information officer.