Solutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 29, 2009

WENSTRUP ANNOUNCES 'SOLUTIONS FOR CINCINNATI'

CINCINNATI, OH - Mayoral candidate Dr. Brad Wenstrup today announced his 'Solutions for Cincinnati' - a set of core principles and ideas that will guide his service as Mayor. "I promise right here and right now I will make fixing the challenges confronting our city my number one priority, and I will stay in town to get the job done," said Wenstrup.

Wenstrup cited leadership and accountability as one of the primary reasons he is running for Mayor. He pointed to Mallory's absentee track record as a symptom of a greater problem of accountability at City Hall, noting that the Mayor often does not attend the public comment portion of City Council meetings when the public has the opportunity to address the people they hired to address their concerns. Wenstrup outlined his solutions for Cincinnati, focusing on four priority areas: jobs & economic development, government waste & spending, safety, and leadership & accountability.

Jobs & Economic Development

Encourage growth at the neighborhood level
The City must work cooperatively with entities that have a proven track record of success in creating jobs and stimulating economic development. 3CDC has shown that it can effectively work to revitalize our urban core, and the Port Authority has demonstrated its ability to support economic development throughout our region. In cooperation and partnership with neighborhood development organizations, local businesses, and other interested parties, the City should leverage the work of 3CDC and the Port Authority to develop sustainable projects beyond the urban core and into the other 52 neighborhoods of the City.
Repeal the EJO & hire an Economic Development director
The Environmental Justice Ordinance kills jobs. It duplicates the efforts of the federal and Ohio Environmental Protection Agencies. It will stifle new economic development while further hampering Cincinnati businesses already struggling to compete in a challenging economic environment. Those businesses will have to pass these costs along to the consumer, creating a de facto tax on those whom it is intended to assist.

Ironically, while the City has chosen to create, staff, and fund this job killer, it has yet to fill the position of Economic Development director that was vacated months ago. Supporting job creation and economic development is a higher priority than climate protection, which is already protected on the State and Federal level.
Stimulate business development & support economic inclusion
The City must work to create a friendlier atmosphere for job creation and expansion, especially with small businesses. In addition to creating a simpler regulatory environment, we must look at the current set of incentives for attracting and retaining businesses and evaluate whether or not those incentive packages need to be updated or enhanced.

Economic inclusion must remain a top priority for Cincinnati and all who want to do business with our City. Stimulating job growth for all businesses, including minorityowned, women-owned, and small businesses is critical to the long-term viability of our City.

Government Waste & Spending

Derail the streetcar
The streetcar idea is ill-conceived and inappropriate at this time - especially during this current economic situation. We need to look for real transportation solutions for all of our city's neighborhoods and we need to fund those transportation options with the resources already provided to us by taxpayers.
Consolidate services
The City bureaucracy is inefficient, outdated and its competitive edge has been blunted by redundant jobs and responsibilities. Many city services are duplicated by the county or other governmental entities, such as prosecutors' offices, health departments, environmental protection agencies, and park systems. The City should explore options for shared services and responsibilities, implement those changes promptly, and realize the related cost savings to help offset budget deficits.
Trim the fat, not the muscle
The City should evaluate operation of any service that is revenue draining. The responsibility of government is to provide those services which citizens cannot more effectively provide for themselves. The City must live within its means and provide efficient basic services. It should not threaten or consider layoffs to essential service personnel such as police and fire personnel positions. Other reductions can and should be made before safety cuts are considered during tough budget times.
Provide creative solutions
While the City should seek to provide responsible recreational options for its residents, it need not continue to invest in outdated, inefficient services. Other cities have successfully moved from operating swimming pools to "spraygrounds," which are more fun for children, safer for those who use them, and much less expensive to operate. Cincinnati should explore these and other creative solutions to the services it provides to its citizens.

Safety

No cuts to police & fire personnel on my watch.
I will not support a single cut to the frontline police and firefighters who work hard every day to protect us. We need to maintain effective negotiations with the police and fire unions and continue to work cooperatively at all times. There will be no cuts in street strength in a Wenstrup Administration.
Fix broken windows & improve quality of life
We don't have to reinvent the wheel - where success has been demonstrated, let's learn from others. New York City successfully implemented a strategy of "broken windows" policing that improved the quality of life and ultimately, the safety of all residents. By focusing on seemingly "petty" crimes, and consistently enforcing existing laws, New York City effectively reduced more major offenses and improved the quality of life for its residents. Cincinnati has tinkered with various portions of this approach but should wholly adopt this policy of policing.
Encourage community involvement
The police alone cannot protect us. We must look for creative ways to empower communities and individuals to reclaim their neighborhoods from crime and blight. As Mayor, I will champion Citizens on Patrol, Good Guy Loitering, Block Watches and other community-oriented policing techniques that improve safety and fight crime. We are all in this together and we need to look out for one another as well as those who are protecting us.

Leadership & Accountability

Transparency
Sunshine is the best disinfectant. The finance functions of the City should be transparent and easily accessible to those who care to review how and where their money is spent. Finance and budget documents should be placed on-line in an easily accessible and readable format. This underscores the government's commitment to efficient and responsible delivery of services and it is also important for a free press to have instant access to these records.

An engaged Mayor
I will attend the public comment sessions of Cincinnati City Council meetings. These are the times when real people facing real issues have their chance to address the people they hired - the Mayor and Council. It is the ultimate display of disrespect to the voters and to the office of the Mayor itself to not be present or walk out when people come before their elected officials to be heard.

Furthermore, I travel to our community councils and meet with them regularly (not just during election time) to hear what is important to them.

Improve customer service
The City is a customer-service entity like any other. But too many of our customers are treated poorly or go unserved altogether. I will work to strengthen our quality control to make sure that city employees are courteous, conscientious, and responsive to the needs and the people of this city. I will work to develop standards that will help us constantly improve the services being delivered.

I will insist on that level of service, because I will hold myself to the same standard. Leadership starts at the top.