OPINION
It’s time to take back the neighborhood
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Don’t be afraid to walk and get to know our streets—The charm of Northside is that it’s small and walk-able. While you should not walk around alone, especially at night (in any neighborhood, for that matter), you should walk around Northside in groups. It saves gas, lowers our carbon footprint, and encourages us to meet our neighbors so that we are able to identify when something isn’t right. Self awareness is key to preventing crime. If something happens, report it. Personally, I have experienced an attempted robbery (in Hoffner Park) and have been harassed more than once on Chase and Hamilton Ave. My biggest regret is that I did not report these. I called the Police Department and was immediately tossed into a frustrating bureaucracy of transfers that I eventually hung up on. Tons of crimes go unreported every week. These unreported crimes skew the crime statistics, make us feel even more alienated and encourage the perpetrator to commit harmful acts again. Reporting a crime, no matter how daunting, puts the power back into the hands of the victim and allows for the Police department to do their job. Be meaningful with your words. Whether you were raised in Northside, lived here for a few years or you are a recent transplant, you rep-
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n light of recent events and regarding the waves of crime and robberies that have hit Northside, we all must do our part to make Northside safer; however it’s not going to be easy. Northside is comprised of business owners, students, seniors, and children. We take pride in being a family friendly neighborhood and a place to visit, drink good beer and listen to music. In just a span of a few square miles Northside is the home to blacks, whites, Jews, Catholics, atheists, gays—to name a few. So how does such a diverse neighborhood fight crime? We work together.
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Your Vote, Your Voice |Get to Your Polls on May 6th
s my friend David Pepper says about politics, “there is never an off year.” Obviously, 2014 is an important one as there are numerous exciting State-wide races – from Governor to Treasurer to Attorney General to Secretary of State. And, of course, there are all the State-wide Congressional races. On a national level, Southwest Ohio is facing Congressional races in District 1 and District 2 – both of which will have primaries to determine the Democratic candidate in the May election. On a more fundamental and grassroots level, we will all be able to elect our new Precinct Executives, or keep our current ones, on May 6th. What is a “Precinct Executive?” and “why should I care?” you may ask. In brief, Precinct Executives control the local Democrat & Republican Parties. They are elected to do a number of things, the most important of which are as follows: 1) Determine the direction of their party 2) Set bylaws and governing principles for their party
3) Endorse candidates for political office Yes, the job consists primarily of attending meetings and the like, but the Precinct Executives truly have the last word on WHO is endorsed for WHAT office. If you are tired of the candidates your Party endorses, then the Precinct Executive races should be of great interest to you. On the other hand, if you LOVE who your Party endorses then. . .well. . .the Precinct Executive races should ALSO be of great interest to you. To cut to the chase – the most fundamental way YOU can have a say in your Party is by voting for & supporting your Precinct Executive. Chances are you already know who is running for Precinct Executive for your precinct. The candidates are typically folks who are already very involved in their communities. If you don’t know in what precinct you live, you can go to http:// boe.hamilton-co.org for all of that information. Many people were upset with how the 2013 Council and Mayoral elections turned out. However, many people were also overjoyed life & culture 45223
resent Northside. You are a leader to someone else in the community. Don’t use hateful rhetoric or assume anything about the people around you. Being supportive, creating helpful dialogue, and having faith in our community is what will separate us from other communities that experience the same problems. Be careful what you post on social networks, whether it’s after a crime or responding to a recent event—everyone reads your words and creates conclusions about who you are and what you represent. Hurtful, racist, unfair words can harm your business, your public face, and make Northside appear intolerant to outsiders. Finally, don’t be afraid to speak up. The more we talk about what is happening, the closer we can come to finding solutions. Your voice matters.
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BY Rae Hoffman Rae Hoffman lives in Northside with her pug, Athena. She has a BA and MFA in Poetry. She has been published in Kenning, Poetica Magazine, Red River Review, and is forthcoming in Mojo. When she is not working, she knits religiously, listens to local bands around Cincinnati, and wanders around trying to find the beauty and secret to everything.
(such is the way of Democracy). The fact is that, regardless of how you felt about the results of the 2013 elections, voter turnout was embarrassingly low. Our Democracy only works when the PEOPLE, for whom Democracy exists, get out and VOTE. Your vote is your voice, and I urge you to use in on May 6th, 2014. One thing’s for certain – Northside is involved. That is one of the things I admire so much about your neighborhood. So please, urge all of your friends in other neighborhoods to follow your example. Happy voting, Happy baseball season, and happy Spring.
BY Mike Moroski Mike Moroski has been active in the community for 12 years fighting for issues affecting low-income people, education, homelessness, and affordable housing. He currently serves as Director of Community Outreach at Lower Price Hill Community School, board member, activist, & educator and has two post-graduate degrees: one in English, and one in Nonprofit Administration. vol. 1 | Issue 7 APRIL 14’ 15