Porkopolis

Parents Behind Bars

The startling statistic that approximately one in 99 U.S. adults is serving time in jail or prison has gotten a lot of attention. What isn't getting as much play is the effect this has on other people, specifically the children of incarcerated adults.

It’s estimated that more than 2 million children have one or both parents serving time in federal or state penitentiaries. An additional 8 million minors have had a parent incarcerated at some point in their lives, according to Susanna Ryan, author and social activist.

Even though approximately 10 million children deal with the reality in their everyday lives, there’s little support for the boys and girls who suffer from the emotional and psychological effects of being separated from their parent(s) and from the stigma of their circumstances, she says.

Freedom Center Foes Track Cash

Two area groups allege a financially struggling museum is legally trying to curry favors from state officials who will decide whether to give taxpayer money to the institution.

The groups — the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) and the Blue Chip Young Republicans — oppose giving any further state funding to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. COAST issued a press release today detailing all the money that the museum's executives and board members have contributed to Ohio officials in recent years.

Affordable Housing

Here's an interesting conversation starter: Do we need more available and affordable housing for people with disabilities in Covington?

It might not have been at the top of your "to do" list this week, but if you're interested in supporting people with disabilities and helping build an inclusive community, this might be a reason to duck out of work a little early tomorrow.

From 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, the city of Covington will host a panel discussion. Two different groups will present the problems and the solutions. It’s also a chance to meet John J. Johnson, executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights (reception at 11:30 a.m.).

Join the conversation at the Covington Commission Chambers, 638 Madison Ave. For information, call 859-292-2935.

— Margo Pierce

Storytelling Through StoryCorps

A bedtime story, ghost stories around a campfire and talking about summer vacation are all storytelling. Sharing ideas, fictional or factual, are frequently done in story form and are what make up an "oral tradition."

Recording a significant snippet in your life is what StoryCorps is all about. Described as “a national initiative to instruct and inspire ordinary Americans to record meaningful oral histories with family members and friends” by a WVXU (91.7 FM) press release, the rolling sound booth is all about stories.

"StoryCorps is a manifestation of the 15-year mission of Sound Portraits Productions to tell the stories of ordinary Americans with dignity, celebrating the power and poetry in their words," says creator David Isay. "We believe that StoryCorps will engage communities, teach participants to become better listeners, foster intergenerational communication, and help Americans appreciate the strength in the stories of everyday people they find all around them."

The StoryCorps RV will be in Cincinnati May 15-June 7.

Tax Breaks Dangled as Streetcar Incentive

With Cincinnati officials this week finally approving a streetcar plan that a city council majority agrees on, the next big hurdle facing the project is convincing the private sector to contribute up to $60 million to help pay for the initial $137 million cost.

City council voted 6-2 Wednesday to build a long-discussed $102 million streetcar loop through downtown and Over-the-Rhine, as well as an initial $35 million connector link to the uptown area near the University of Cincinnati. Eventually, a loop would be built in the uptown area for another $48 million.

Opposed to the plan were Councilmen John Cranley and Chris Monzel; Councilwoman Laketa Cole was absent for the vote.

A longtime streetcar advocate believes that creative financing mechanisms, like some of the methods used to fund Portland’s system in Oregon, could be used to raise at least $21 million from the private sector and possibly more.

For-Profit As Evil?

"This whole paper is just a political diatribe … the old kind of Jimmy Carter-esque approach to the world that doesn't work. It tries to promote this image of these bad people who, God forbid, want to make a profit while they actually employ everybody and this is some kind of horrible plot against the citizens of Cincinnati. Take away those corporate people, and this city is broke and out of business and that’s the real truth."

So says Michael Weissbuch, an associate professor of political science and sociology at Xavier University, about the assertions made by Dan La Botz, a community organizer and professor of history at the University of Cincinnati, in his paper Who Rules Cincinnati? A Study of Cincinnati's Economic Power Structure and Its Impact on Communities and People.

These polarized views are presented in the current cover story in CityBeat, “Ruling Class: How Corporate Power and Money Control Cincinnati ... or Not.” What I found interesting about both is the similar way in which each person presents his points: the extremes.

Democracy Is So Rad

"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual -- or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country."

Founding Father Samuel Adams made that remark more than two centuries ago, but it serves as an apt reminder for some Hamilton County Republicans and Democrats in 2008.

After impassioned speeches on both sides of the debate, the Hamilton County Democratic Party’s Central Committee voted by an almost 4-to-1 margin to uphold a deal between the major political parties that eliminates serious competition from the two county commission races on the November ballot.

Daily Beat

Streetcar plan approved: City Council voted yesterday to approve the Cincinnati streetcar plan that puts down a four-mile route in downtown and Over-the-Rhine, plus a connection up to the UC area that was intended to satisfy Councilwoman Roxanne Qualls. City Manager Milton Dohoney has been fighting naysayers on the project and many will continue to bash the concept, but now he can go find additional funds in order to get the tracks laid in the streets. Will local corporations come on board to help build the project, or would some people think they'd be bigfooting the city again? Make no mistake: Passage of this plan is a big step forward for Cincinnati.

Shakeup at the Reds: Heads are still spinning at the sudden firing yesterday of Reds General Manager Wayne Krivsky. Bob Castellini has a warm spot for the St. Louis Cardinals, where new GM Walt Jocketty cames from. Castellini and a number of Cincinnatians were part owners of the Cards along with majority owner Bill DeWitt, so Jocketty's success in St. Louis means a lot in the current Reds offices.

Clinton wins Pennsylvania primary: Analysis comes in after Hillary Clinton's big win on Tuesday: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, New York Times, Washington Post and Daily Kos.

In blogland: Stephen Carter-Novotni has This Week in Wellness, Sister Flanders has more sex advice and Larry Gross can't help making friends.

— John Fox

Daily Beat

Keystone State showdown: It's Pennsylvania's turn today to decide once and for all who will be the Democratic Party's presidential nominee ... or punt it to the next primary. The pundits are already trying to determine exactly what a "win" would be for either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Kevin Osborne reminds us of Bill Clinton's selective memory.

The latest polls have Clinton winning Pennsylvania by 6 percent. Jason Gargano tells me Clinton will win by 8. I'm thinking it's closer: less than 5.

Happy Earth Day: Couldn't be a more beautiful day in these parts to remind ourselves to be good stewards of the environment. Margo Pierce has info on some alternative local Earth Day events, and Stephen Carter-Novotni has a whole host of "Green Your Life" posts on the Renewal blog.

Democrats Don't Endorse Dole: Kevin Osborne reports from last night's Hamilton County Democratic Central Committee meeting that the party won't endorse independent candidate Chris Dole in the County Commission race against Greg Hartmann.

Running With the Halen: Ric Hickey has an awesome tribute to Van Halen on the Spill It blog, recounting his teenage years as an Eddie Van Halen guitar groupie and his curiosity about tonight's VH show at US Bank Arena. Rock on, dude!

In the Name of the Father: Larry Gross joins his buddy Bill Maher and wades into the Catholic Church bashing controversy in the wake of Pope Benedict's recent U.S. visit. Bless you, my son. 

— John Fox

Dems Say 'No' to Dole

Ending a heated war of words during the past few weeks, the Hamilton County Democratic Party's Central Committee decided Monday night against endorsing independent candidate Chris Dole in his county commission race.

After fervent speeches by supporters and opponents of the proposed endorsement, the committee voted 98-23 not to endorse Dole.

For more details about the meeting, see this week's issue of CityBeat, which hits newsstands Wednesday.

— Kevin Osborne