Chatter about Westwood seceding from Cincinnati (appointed, real estate, subsidized)

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by Joeytraveler

I'm involved in my hood in the city and have no idea who he is...

Does he go by "Restorationconsultant" on the streets?

[restorationconsultant]

Cincy-rise, Hate to disagree but when you concentrate on one or two areas and you don't enforce in an equal and fair manner, Guess what? The city gets sued. Right now there are SEVERAL lawsuits against the city challenging the VBML (Vacant Building Maintence License) claiming abuse of power and discriminatory enforcement. You have Banks suing the city and vice versa over Vacant properties and enforcement issues.

Slumlords just go where ever the light isn't shining. You have to shine the light everywhere to get them to actually leave.

If you dont enforce the ordinace in a fair and equal manner you open yourself up to lawsuits EVERYTIME!

[Cincy-Rise]

^ Oh, I'm not saying that we shouldn't prosecute slumlords.

[jlrosen]

If Westwood secedes Cincinnati will be the 4th largest city in the State by municpal boundaries, despite the fact that it is the largest by metro area

[aquila]

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

*coming from someone that resides in West Chester*


What the past city government has done has NOTHING to do with what's happening now. I always do this (I'm in sales) ... I try to compare myself to my past ... it doesn't mean anything nor does it have anything to do with my achievements in the present.

Our mayor has balls and he gets ***** done.

By the way, Louisville is on the right track, but it still hasn't caught up to Cincinnati when it was in its prime yet.

So you're telling me I should NOW have hope? After losing hope years ago, because the city kept screwing things up?

BTW....what difference does it make if I live in West Chester? Cincinnati was my home far longer than WC has been my home.

I think from now on, I'll just shut the hell up. I don't live in Hamilton County anymore, so I really don't have a say in any of this.

[restorationconsultant]

It strikes me that IF Westwood were sucessfull it would have some regional implications especially with some areas of say Cleveland where I imagine there are neighborhoods that would like to not be part of Cleveland.

Maybe "bigger isnt better"? I mean if a city gets so large that it can't resonably provide services in an effective manner then maybe being smaller might be better. You CAN focus more on downtown development and Urban Neighborhoods in a more effective way.

Coming from Indianapolis, which has a combined city-county government, I can tell you its not all its cracked up to be. They have a huge city council and anything that requires a council vote takes FOREVER. You have the suburban townships at war with the downtown townships over where money is allocated. After 30 years they combined Police and sheriff only to a year later seperate it somewhat. They are still in an uphill battle to combine fire departments and township assessor duties. There are advantages to combined city/county but there are a lot of disadvantages when you need to get something done.

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by aquila

So you're telling me I should NOW have hope? After losing hope years ago, because the city kept screwing things up?

Of course!

Why dwell on the past when it has nothing to do with the present ... especially when the present is telling a different story?

BTW....what difference does it make if I live in West Chester?

The same difference in why I won't live in WC.

[aquila]

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

Of course!

Why dwell on the past when it has nothing to do with the present ... especially when the present is telling a different story?

The saddest words are "what might have been". Oh the things Cincinnati could have been sooner, instead of later - and in a greater scope.

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

The same difference in why I won't live in WC.

But you'd LOVE West Chester, CR.

I was in a bad mood. No big issue.

[The Don]

What has happened to Westwood is criminal and there is plenty of blame to go around.

As much as I would love to punish the city by having Westwood secede I think that would be a classic case of "cutting off your nose to spite your face".

Particularly in this day of downward spiraling economies, a large section-8 community with substantial public services requirements (police, fire, health, social services, etc) just couldn't survive.

It IS somewhat amusing to see the same advocates for metro-gov trot out their arguments here -- it is precisely because the Village of Westwood agreed to be annexed by the City of Cincinnati, that Westwood finds itself in its current sad state.

As I have previously written -- the solution to the problem is simple - proportional representation -- just as Cincinnati was when it was a progressive city.

This business with 9 at-large councilmen is disasterous. They are not directly accountable to any constituancy, are so petty in their proclivities and -- susceptible to those with deep pockets (slumlords and the like).

If Westwood is to have a chance a survival, let those who are quixotically thinking about establishing their own city push to have their own district within the city.

[Cincy-Rise]

Originally Posted by aquila

The saddest words are "what might have been".

The "what might have been" is happening now as we speak. You're just too far north to see this.