By Dr. Mark Mussman The Minority of housing in Cincinnati was built before 1970. This means that while some housing has modern amenities, much of the housing was built before electricity, modern wiring, or even sewer systems (as in the case in Over-the-Rhine and the West End). The 1960’s and 70’s represented the tail end of the Great Migration of American Black families moving out of the South, and going as far north as possible. Unfortunately, once they arrived, they were still under the control of local jurisdictions who were not advocating for a free and equal society. The shadow of Jim Crow, the Black Codes, and segregation, were heavy in urban areas, like Cincinnati. Little had changed since the 1940’s, when none of the major corporations in Cincinnati had hired even a single Black person to work. Another great migration was coming out of the Appalachian mountains, coal miners were being replaced by machinery, and they became unnecessary. On top of these two groups, both Black and white, there was another type of displacement that was occuring: Urban Renewal. In Cincinnati, one of the most significant neighborhoods to be lost was Kenyon Barr, which is now, the West End and Queensgate. This neighborhood is to the west of downtown Cincinnati. The neighborhood was the epicenter of the Black community in Cincinnati. It was known as a “mixed income” neighborhood, with the bosses living on the same block as the workers. There was a long history of struggle and success, including Millionaire’s Row, and the more seedy places around the intersection of Kenyon and Barr Streets. Some of the first Black schools started here and later moved to Walnut Hills and other neighborhoods. When Kenyon Barr was raised for the West Side Highway, now I-75, it was just one of many Black neighborhoods that were destroyed, including Buck Town, due to the lack of value Cincinnati whites place on the lives of Black residents. Over 25,000 Black people were forced out of Kenyon Barr, virtually overnight, because Cincinnati’s white ruling class wanted the highway to come closer to the downtown, rather than stay on the Mill Creek. By the mid 1960’s, there were three groups of people (Great Migration, Appalachian, and Kenyon Barr residents) who were expelled from their homes and landed in Over-the-Rhine. Only to find the living conditions to be substandard, with many buildings containing many apartments without heating, electricity, and even bathrooms. Some apartment buildings shared a single bathroom on the ground floor. The 5 story tenement buildings were already seeing degeneration and disinvestment, and the families who were displaced to Over-the-Rhine weren’t in any economic position to obtain ownership of them. Slumlords let the buildings deteriorate while taking what money they could from the residents. Often forcing residents to flee from one slumlord to another. Once again, the instability of housing was having a dire effect on the ability of Over-the-Rhine’s 30,000 residents to gain a foothold for their children. People in the neighborhood started to understand that ownership of the land was the only way that they could remain in the neighborhood to create stability for the next generations. They saw the need for social service organizations to help people who were being excluded from quality services, education, health care, housing, and shelter. Cincinnati, once known as the “City of Steeples,” because of the many churches in the urban basin (which includes Over-the-Rhine and the West End), became a catalyst for community organizing. In the church basements, residents and clergy gathered to meet the economic and social crises head-on. Knowing that people needed to have better quality housing, they created ReStoc, which worked for decades to preserve old buildings for affordable housing. They created the Over-the-Rhine Housing Network, an organization to obtain and manage low-income and subsidized housing. They created the Shelterhouse because they recognized that Cincinnati needed a low-barrier shelter. They knew advocacy was important, so the Contact Center and the Homeless Coalition were created to push for systems change. In the ensuing years, other organizations were created like Peaslee Neighborhood Center, and religiously-influenced organizations like Tender Mercies, Power Inspires Progress (Venice on Vine), St. Francis Seraph’s outreach programs, Mercy Housing, and the Mary Magdalen Shower House. The tireless efforts put into these life-giving organizations constitute what we now call the Over- the-Rhine People’s Movement. Each of these organizations has seen opposition from the City of Cincinnati and other fronts. For example, it is illegal to create a shelter in the city, so after buddy gray’s apartment was too full for persons homeless, and the roof caved in at the Main Street building that was being used as a shelter, the city forcibly removed the shelter from the Teamster building at 12th and Elm. This happened several times before they were able to get the permit to keep the shelter there. The struggle to get Peaslee into the hands of the people was years long, and involved the untrained labor of mothers who didn’t want to lose an important asset in their neighborhood. When Over- the-Rhine Housing Network and ReStoc knew that the Recovery Hotel was needed, the City denied the permit, yet the community came together and found a workaround, which enabled the Recovery Hotel to open. Even as the population continued to decline into the 1990’s, the People’s Movement remained steadfast in their commitment to the quality of life issues of residents in Over-the-Rhine. But they were up against a federal designation: Historic Neighborhood. Residents had fought this designation because they knew this would result in less affordable housing and more displacement from the neighborhood, and they were absolutely correct. Developers had long fought the People’s Movement, and the apparent leader, buddy gray, for entrée into the neighborhood. Developers and other business interests felt that the work of Urban Renewal was yet to be complete, so they set their sights on Over-the-Rhine, as it abuts the downtown business district. With the largest collection of 19th Century German Italianate architecture in the world, developers were eager to create a new neighborhood under the guise of “mixed income.” They began with Main Street, which had been home to many people for decades. 80 year-old women were being taken out of their apartments, handcuffed, face-down, on stretchers, by the Sheriff, so that their apartments could be turned into condos for the wealthy, white, elite. The neighborhood was able to stem this tide, after many trips to City Hall demanding that these developers be held accountable for their apparent crimes against humanity. Unfortunately, accountability did not last. If you’d like to learn more, please sign up for a virtual walking tour through our Facebook Page or cincihomeless.org/education

By Bill Woods Today is Earth Day. As this article gets written in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic on April 22nd, the country celebrates the 50th Anniversary of this day that was officially set aside to remember the importance of protecting the environment. Although most of us are at home fixated on the impacts of COVID-19, it is important that we put some time aside to affirm that the goal of addressing environmental issues is more important than ever before. A lot has happened since that first Earth Day in the spring of 1970. On that day half a century ago, I remember being part of a panel of speakers at an Earth Day celebration at Wilmington College. Since urban studies was then my academic specialty, I remember focusing my remarks on the need to work on cleaning up the air and other industrial pollutants that were an unhealthy reality of U.S. cities. Earth Day 1970 was an initial public acknowledgement that this country confronted major challenges in addressing a badly polluted environment. Even in the midst of heated debates about the Vietnam War, a bi-partisan spirit existed when it came to taking on environmental issues. A Republican President, Richard Nixon, and Congress enthusiastically endorsed this day to remember our responsibility to the environment. Several months after the first Earth Day, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, and in 1972, it enacted the Clean Water Act. Next came the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet level agency with the responsibility of enforcing these laws. During this same period, many states established EPAs to focus specifically on problems existing in their regions. With the EPA in operation and with general public support for environmental protection, significant steps were made to improve the environment in the time period since the first Earth Day. Besides EPA enforcement of air and water regulations, citizens also cited these regulations when providing evidence in lawsuits against industrial polluters that were endangering the health of their neighborhoods and communities. Environmental attorney David Altman, based in Cincinnati, has effectively used these federal regulations in numerous cases involving major corporate polluters. Despite the steady progress in this country since Earth Day I, much more must be done. Scientists have warned of the dangers to our planet of global warming, and new evidence of this growing crisis piles up almost on a daily basis. Even though, he confronted a divided Congress for most of his eight years in office, President Obama made global warming one of his top issues. He was able to strengthen regulations on automobile emissions in the U.S., and he was a key leader in promoting the Paris Accord, a Treaty dedicated to reducing Green House emissions that was signed by diverse governments across the globe. Then along came the Trump Administration. Since the President took office in January 2017, he seems to be dedicated to a policy that protecting the environment is a major hindrance to his slogan - "Make America Great Again." Since he rejects as false the scientific studies about global warming, he see no need for any new actions on this front. In fact, he loudly withdrew from the Paris Accord Treaty six months into his Presidency. The Trump Administration also seems hell bent on trashing air and water regulations previously enforced by the EPA. Trump's appointment of Andrew Wheeler, a former coal industry lobbyist, to head this agency, really put the fox in charge of the hen house. There has been a steady weakening of EPA regulations including the higher auto emission standard imposed by the Obama Administration. The Endangered Species Act has been weakened as well as a long-standing clean water regulation. Meanwhile, Wheeler disbanded the EPA's Science Panel, and imposed guidelines that reject most environmentally related health studies. Thus, Earth Day 2020 is not only occurring during the COVID-19 Pandemic, but it comes during a major retreat from national policies to improve the environment. People who are concerned about the environment and climate change better use their current time at home girding up for this fall's Presidential campaign. Another four years of this President's policies may just make it impossible for this country to take any meaningful steps to reduce the global perils that most reputable scientists are predicting. Earth Day will then seem like some meaningless ritual celebrated by ineffectual dreamers.

By Amanda Lynn Barker As the social fallout from the pandemic continues to accelerate across Cincinnati, social service providers and street outreach workers are reporting rapidly increasing numbers of people who are experiencing homelessness outside. This is not surprising, given the political factors that are exacerbating an already tenuous economic environment. In his April 2, 2020, press conference, Governor DeWine announced that over 400,000 Ohioans have applied for unemployment benefits in the past two weeks. An article in The Columbus Dispatch published on April 9, 2020, states that, “in the past three weeks, 696,519 claims have been filed in Ohio. That is about 12% of the state’s jobs.” Approximately 200,000 people in Ohio are filing for unemployment benefits every week. Meanwhile, the state of Ohio has not passed any policies to help renters during this public health and economic crisis. As of March 31, 2020, only 12 states remain that have taken no measures to limit or stop evictions. Ohio is one of those states. Once the pandemic is over, anyone who has not been able to pay rent will face possible court hearings and a stain on their financial records that will jeopardize their future housing stability. The economic collapse from the pandemic; and the local, state, and federal governments’ apparent unwillingness to appropriately allocate resources, has pushed Cincinnati and Hamilton County residents already on the brink into homelessness. We are crawling toward the projected peak infection rate, currently set for mid-April according to recent data models. Organizations that distribute meals are reporting exponential increases in the number of people who need food. On March 24, 2020, Our Daily Bread distributed 164 lunch meals. Two weeks later on April 7, 2020, they served 350 lunch meals, a 113% increase. Additionally, St. Francis Seraph Ministries serves at least 250 breakfast and dinner meals daily. They report that typically, their numbers decrease throughout April, but this year, they are steadily increasing. Living outside, in a tent, or in a vehicle, does not provide access to food storage or preparation space. With more people currently experiencing homelessness outside as a direct result of the pandemic, it makes sense that organizations are providing more meals. Of even more immediate concern is access to clean water. It sounds absurd to even write about needing access to clean water in a 21st century American city, but our infrastructure is more fragile than some of us would like to believe. Several years ago, I worked in disaster response and deployed to New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy. I was on one of the first flights from San Francisco into La Guardia after the airport had reopened. The city was still without power and all the roads flooded. It was an eye-opening experience to witness the lack of food and how quickly communication breaks down during extended periods of power outages. Not only did my cell phone battery die multiple times while I was delivering bottled water and blankets through hurricane-ravaged townships, but I was also quite hungry from having only plastic- wrapped pastries to eat for about five days. In some ways, this pandemic reminds me of a hurricane, but the damage is much slower to unfold and will create a more difficult transition for recovery. Furthermore, not all of us are experiencing this disaster equally. Some of us are cozy with full pantries of hand soap and toilet paper, and freezers stocked with frozen entrees from Trader Joes. Others now no longer have anywhere to wash their hands or their clothes. Public restrooms throughout the city have been closed and public water fountains are turned off. Restaurants, coffee shops, community centers, and other spaces where people used to be able to use facilities or clean their hands are no longer open. Therefore, the significantly increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness outdoors in Cincinnati have very limited or in some cases, ZERO access to restrooms, drinking water, or water to clean their hands. Currently, nobody who is living outdoors has access to shower facilities or laundry facilities. Our Daily Bread and Mary Magdalene House have both set up port-o-lets with handwashing capabilities outside of their facilities. Additionally, Cincinnati Water Works has set up two water spigots outside of Our Daily Bread for drinking water. These provisions are indeed a step forward, but they only meet some of the basic needs for some of the people living outdoors who are within the vicinity of these two organizations which are located very close to each other. We need to do more. Although the reasons for closing the restrooms and turning off the water fountains makes sense, everyone still needs to have access to drinking water, and to water for handwashing, showering, and laundering clothes. These are basic human needs 100% of the time, and are of even greater importance to prevent illness such as Scabies, Hepatitis A, and trench foot; and also to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during our current pandemic. A coalition of 26 social service providers has requested the City of Cincinnati to finance, place, and service port-o-lets, handwashing stations, drinking water spigots, shower trucks, and laundry facilities at locations dispersed throughout the city. These will help meet the basic needs for the growing population of individuals who are experiencing homelessness outdoors. Access to housing is directly related to healthcare. At its most fundamental level, housing provides running water for drinking and cleaning, facilities to prepare and store food, and space to sleep through the night without fear. It is protection from the elements. It is a place to rest, heal, and recover from any mental or physical distress that the mind or body experiences. Without housing first, sorting through further development is stunted. At some point, this pandemic will end. As a city, we will need to evaluate the response and decide what systems are successful, and what needs to be redesigned. Cincinnati was experiencing a housing crisis before the pandemic, and now it is worse. The pandemic has illuminated a direct link between housing and health. It has also illuminated the ability of our social service providers to mobilize resources and to collaborate effectively, demonstrating a profound sense of resilience amidst uncertainty and shifting priorities. Today we need water, tomorrow we need a moratorium on evictions, and next week we need affordable housing for all to create a future that is healthier than our 2020 has been.

By Bill Woods Scary! Weird! Strange! Lonely! Tragic! Otherworldly! Unsettling! These are just a few words that neighbors have used to describe what we are all now experiencing. It is safe to say, none of us, unless we are over a hundred-years old, have lived through anything like the Coronavirus Pandemic. In a sense, the whole world has been brought to a halt. Everything we were doing before the middle of March has been put on hold. For activists this period of time is particularly challenging. Instead of doing something, we are told that the best thing we can do to save lives and to bring COVID-19 under control is to stay home and do nothing. It is requiring us to draw on inner resources that aren't normally needed in our day to day lives. On a positive note, neighbor's that you hardly spoke to in the past are reaching out and asking whether you are coping and in need of supplies. Then there is the issue of public leadership and government responses. State Governors such as Andrew Cuomo of New York and Mike DeWine of Ohio have been the leaders who have stepped up to the plate to protect their citizens and to provide health services to those threatened by the virus. These Governors led the way in establishing the stay-at-home mandates and other health regulations. Governor Cuomo's daily briefings, which provide factual and sensible updates about the crisis in New York and New York City, offer a positive contrast to the briefings offered by President Trump. Congress has also taken swift action. Overcoming the current polarized political environment, the House and the Senate negotiated and voted in a bipartisan fashion to enact three laws that provide funding to address the economic crises created by the Pandemic. This legislation allocates financial assistance to individuals, state governments, and small and large businesses. More Congressional action will undoubtedly be needed. It's a good thing that Congress and state and local officials have by and large been there for their constituents. The response from the Trump Administration not only came far too late, but it has failed to adequately supply the states with essential supplies such as respirators and masks. In terms of guidelines and information about the virus, several health experts such Dr. Anthony Fauci have been strong voices for reason and science within the Administration's Coronavirus Task Force. However, President Trump undercuts the advice of these experts with his adlib-remarks at the daily briefings. Except for the presentations of Dr. Fauci and other health officials, the daily briefings from the White House take on the unreality of a poor Reality-TV program. The President's stream of consciousness ramblings are full of misinformation and self- congratulations about the "terrific job" his Administration is doing. He refuses to take responsibility for the crises mounting on the front lines in terms of supplies, and he has actually attacked the Governors of Washington and Michigan for not being thankful enough. At these events, he seldom passes up a chance to attack "the fake news" that he declares wrongfully criticizes his "best ever" policies and actions. Since he sees these briefings as all about him, he communicates little empathy for the health care workers who put their lives on the line each day and for the individuals and families suffering from the impact of COVID-19. The failed leadership of the President during this Coronavirus Pandemic, when added to his other harmful policies and impeachable offenses, reinforce the importance of November's election. The current crisis has already played havoc with the spring primaries, and Americans need to be assured that a fair and safe process for conducting the fall election will be in place for voters. One simple way to accomplish this goal is to copy the voting system of the state of Washington. Voting in Washington is now all done by mail. Registered voters automatically receive a ballot by mail, and they simply mark their choices and mail it back to the Board of Elections. Even though Washington was in the midst of the Pandemic when it held its primary, it's voting took place easily and efficiently. Although we may experience a break in the spreading of COVID-19 by late spring or early summer, health experts are warning that we could experience a second round of the virus this fall. Knowing this possibility now gives public officials plenty of time to put in place voting procedures that cannot be disrupted by the threat of the virus and the need for social distancing. Citizens, however, can't assume that such steps will be taken. Activists must get behind citizen groups such as Common Cause and the League of Women Voters that are already advocating to insure easily accessible and safe voting procedures that will prevent any interruptions in this November's election cycle. Powerful opposition to their initiatives already exists. Although no evidence or research supports his claim, the President is publicly attacking voting by mail as "a terrible system that leads to widespread voter fraud." Meanwhile, Republican legislators in a number of states continue to promote legislation that makes it more difficult for people to vote. Thus, major grassroots efforts on voting rights and election protection will have to be mounted in the coming months. So, if the best we can do now is stay home and practice social distancing, we can also stay informed and prepare for needed civic action in the summer and fall.

By Mikhaila Fogel and Samantha Searls 4/20/20 Update: Alexis has been released! Thank you Gov. DeWine for commuting Alexis’ sentence! Original Article: In 2015, a teenage victim of sex trafficking was sentenced to 21 years to life in prison for a crime that occurred during an attempt to escape from her trafficker. Alexis Martin was 15 years old at the time, and despite Alexis’s age, she was tried in the Ohio court system as an adult. Alexis was kidnapped at the age of 14 and forced into sex trafficking by a man named Angelo Kerney. Kerney threatened to hurt her and her family if she tried to leave him. Alexis was able to tell her parents, friends, and probation officer that she was being sold for sex by Kearney, but no one did anything to help her. According to Ohio’s Safe Harbor law passed in 2012, minors under the age of 16 do not need to prove that they were compelled to engage in commercial sexual activity; they are automatically considered victims of child sex trafficking. The statute requires juvenile courts to appoint a guardian ad litem for child trafficking victims. This means that the defendant is assigned a professional, other than a parent or attorney, who is responsible for advocating in the best interest of the child on trial. Neither the juvenile court nor Alexis’s attorney knew about the Safe Harbor law when she was transferred to adult court, so the juvenile court did not follow the procedures or consider sentencing alternatives that reflect Alexis’s status as a trafficking victim. While we continue to advocate for Alexis’ release, we turn to look at how Ohio’s Safe Harbor laws can be better. Currently, Ohio is only state left in the country that does not consider 16 and 17-year-olds as victims of child sex trafficking. Advocates in Ohio are trying to pass Senate Bill 13 to provide extended protection under the law to 16 and 17-year-olds who are thought to be victims of child sex trafficking. The bill passed the Ohio Senate unanimously in July of 2019, but is now stuck in an Ohio House committee. To be part of the movement to protect kids in these circumstances, sign IJPC’s informal petition in support of Ohio SB 13. Visit the IJPC website at ijpccincinnati.org

By Amanda Lynn Barker During this historical moment, we are all subject to the uncertainty of a crisis situation. Drones fly through cities, broadcasting empty streets across social media channels. We live day by day, or perhaps week by week, waiting for news of reassurance that our lives will return to what we recognize as normal. Some of us might feel hopeless, fearing for the instability that follows two, three, and four weeks without a paycheck. Some of us might feel a certain peace, surrendering to the unknown that none of us can control. For others, who lived on the margins before this pandemic, who survived day to day while the rest of us rushed along fulfilling our business as usual, this crisis illuminates the deep chasm of Cincinnati’s housing crisis. Now more than ever, we need to stand in solidarity as a city, and push forward to secure safe, stable, and accessible housing for all. Imagine this. You live in your car. You have been lucky to find a safe and hidden spot to park it, out of the purview of the authorities who sometimes tap the window and shine the flashlight in the middle of the night. You have a lead on a place that is becoming available in three months. This is a temporary situation, and you know you can get through it. You have a monthly gym membership, where you shower every morning and prepare for work. You have a coffee shop that you visit after work before returning to your car. You have a community through your workplace, your gym, and your coffee shop. Suddenly, an unprecedented pandemic of a highly infectious virus sweeps through your city. Your gym closes. Where will you shower? Your coffee shop also shuts its doors. How will you access your social network? Your job says you can work from home. Unfortunately, you live in your car and don’t have a home office, and the community spaces offering access to WIFI are closed. Your job lays you off. Now what? Imagine this. You live on the couch with a friend who has been helping while you save money to secure an affordable apartment. It’s taking more time than you thought because the steering belt in your car broke and it took the last of your meager savings to have it towed to the mechanic. You ride public transit to and from work, but the inefficiencies of the bus line takes up time that you could be using to view apartments. Additionally, the apartments in your price range are very far from the city center, and require multiple bus transfers. The $11 an hour you earn is not stretching very far. Your friend is understanding, but you can tell you are starting to encroach on their space. Suddenly, the state issues a stay-at-home order to protect the community from an unknown infectious disease. You work at a supermarket, and are considered Essential. Fortunately, you get to keep your $11 an hour job. Unfortunately, landlords have stopped showing new units. At the same time, your friend gets concerned about their health, because you are exposed to the virus on the bus and at work. They need you to find another place, like, now. You tell them not to worry about you, and toss a few items into a backpack and head out. Now what? Homelessness does not always look like what is portrayed in the media. At the Homeless Coalition, we recognize six types of homelessness. Couchsurfing is when people stay with friends or a relative. Doubling up is when multiple families live together and share space out of financial necessity. Couchsurfing and doubling up may or may not be allowed on the lease, and typically creates overcrowded living situations. Living in a car is another form of homelessness, as is living in a tent or on the street. Shelter life is available to some people, but the shelters are typically overcapacity. Without access to a transition into safe and stable housing, many people from shelters stay until their time limit expires, and then return to the typically dangerous situation they left. Finally, many children and youth experience what is called “homeless at home.” They have shelter, but no food, no space to call their own, and no guidance. In this current pandemic, social service providers have been organizing and collaborating tirelessly to secure funding and hotel space for families and individuals in the overcrowded shelters. So far, the foundations have generously supported this struggle. The City has been less willing to provide the necessary funding. Progress has been made, but the need is still high. Additionally, new camps have appeared and are increasing in size. The pandemic is forcing individuals who have been couchsurfing and doubling up to leave their housing. Without a statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, it is impossible to predict how many others in currently stable housing today will lose it in the near future. At the Homeless Coalition, we are still here. We are still advocating. Our work has not been put on pause. Although our campaign efforts are temporarily moved into the digital space, we are still mobilizing efforts for our Affordable Housing Trust Fund ballot initiative. This ballot initiative will create city legislation to resource the already established citywide housing trust fund with $50 million per year. This will fund infrastructure development projects to build and maintain affordable housing for 5000 families, seniors, and working individuals who earn less than $24,000 each year. You might not see us in person for a while, but we are still organizing! And we still need your support. This pandemic has further illuminated the need. Let’s start now to rebuild the new post-rona world so that the next time an unfamiliar disease pummels our streets and sidewalks, no one will be living on them.

By Press Release In response to the growing realities and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Produce Perks Midwest has increased its support for Ohio’s vulnerable populations. We are coordinating with local, state and national partners to help individuals access healthy food, and to support Ohio farmers, farmers’ markets and grocery- retailers. In order to better support Ohio’s families and farmers, the Produce Perks program will provide an UNLIMITED match on SNAP purchases during the Covid-19 pandemic. This means that any amount spent with SNAP/EBT at participating markets will be matched dollar-for-dollar ($1:$1). Produce Perks matching dollars can be spent on fruits and vegetables. This unlimited match is currently offered through April 30th, 2020, though it may be extended as needed. Updates will be posted on the Produce Perks Midwest website at https://produceperks.org. Produce Perks, Ohio’s Nutrition Incentive Program, provides SNAP consumers critical financial resources to purchase healthy, nutritious fruits & vegetables from Ohio farmers, farmers’ markets, and small-business retailers. Operational at over 125 locations across the state, Produce Perks generated $988,676 in healthy food sales by SNAP consumers in 2019. This program supports Ohio farmers and strengthens local economies – all while putting healthy food on the tables that need it most. The unlimited match is available at all participating Produce Perks locations, except for Dave’s Markets in Cleveland, OH, where it is not yet available. Find a location at https:// produceperks.org/locations/. Tevis Foreman, Executive Director – Produce Perks Midwest: “We are determined to get ahead of the forthcoming challenges and provide practical, systems-level solutions that serve all Ohioans (families, farmers and retailers) – as an immediate response and in preparation for the months ahead. Additionally, I commend the leadership of Gov. DeWine and Dr. Acton, we as Ohioans are in a better position for their critical thinking and decisive action.” Produce Perks is serving as a critical resource for Ohio’s rapidly growing vulnerable populations during these challenging and uncertain times. Produce Perks Midwest will maintain a webpage with information about market changes and closures, as well as resources for customers, farmers’ market managers, and farmers at https://produceperks. org/covid-19-resources/. This information will also be shared via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Farmers’ markets and grocery stores are classified as essential businesses in Ohio’s Stay at Home Order, and will remain open unless otherwise noted. Many farmers’ markets are exploring online ordering options and implementing other best practices to ensure the highest levels of health and safety during this time. Customers should contact their local market to understand any changes to operations or hours before visiting.

By Bill Woods Cincinnati confronts a major affordable housing crisis. A recent study by LISC found that a 40,000 affordable housing unit deficit exists in this city and Hamilton County. What caused this crisis, and what can be done to effectively address it? Today's affordable housing crisis didn't emerge over night. In fact, the problem has been critical since the mid-1980s, and it has simply grown worse over time. While less and less money was allocated to public housing programs during this thirty- five year period, the shrinkage of affordable housing units exacerbated homelessness and poverty. Much of AIR's research since its founding in 1981 has focused on homelessness and housing. When it conducted Cincinnati's first homeless study in 1986-87, AIR found that housing related issues comprised the number one cause of homelessness among families. It also acknowledged "public welfare and housing programs" we're diminishing and the city was experiencing a loss of affordable rental units. A follow up report by AIR in 1989, "Cincinnati's Community Based Housing Efforts," dealt exclusively with this loss and what to do about it. "Almost all of Cincinnati's low- income neighborhoods," noted the report, "had a net loss of housing units from 1980 to the present." Depicting the major cuts in federal housing assistance programs in that decade, the authors concluded: "Until housing advocates succeed in persuading Congress to restore a strong federal role, the initiative for low-cost housing efforts has to come from non-profits, philanthropy, and state and local governments." By the time AIR researched its second homeless study in 1993, it included a section on the lack of affordable housing as a major reason for the further growth of homelessness in Cincinnati. "There are numerous factors involved in the housing crisis confronting the homeless," reads the report, "but most of these factors relate to the clients' lack of income and the absence of affordable units." The study cited that federal funding for publicly assisted housing programs shrank from $30-billion in 1981 to $8-billion in 1987. It noted that in Cincinnati, less than 30-percent of the households that qualified for some form of federal housing assistance received it. In addition to the second homeless study, AIR undertook a project for the Greater Cincinnati Foundation that focused exclusively on the affordable housing dilemma and how best to address it. This 1993 study emphasized the need for local responses to this growing "crisis." "Cities such as Cincinnati," reads the GCF-report, "we're simply not prepared when the federal government slashed funding for housing assistance by over 70-percent in the 1980s. Communities have been playing catch-up ever since, and local leaders have been slow to admit that the affordable housing 'buck stops here'." This review of AIR's research in the 1980s and 1990s reveals the longevity of the affordable housing crisis in Cincinnati. Although a number of factors created this crisis, the steady loss of federal funding for housing assistance over the years remains a primary reason. This longevity and the severity of the crisis today finally prompted Advocates For Affordable Housing and the Homeless Coalition to draft the proposed Charter Amendment that would require the City to adequately fund the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Even a well-funded Trust Fund would not be a panacea. It would, however, provide a substantial resource that with other funds could begin to address the crisis. Passage of the Amendment would finally require the City to accept the fact that at least a portion of the 'affordable housing buck stops here.' So once normal life returns to Cincinnati, look for the volunteers who will ask you to sign a petition to place the Charter Amendment proposal on the November ballot. Or better yet, become a volunteer yourself!

By Bill Woods Government and politics in this country has been anything but normal in 2020. The year began with the impeachment of the President followed by his acquittal in the Senate. At the same time, a diverse group of candidates representing a variety of views campaigned for the Democratic nomination for President. Four women, two African Americans, a Hispanic American, an Asian American, an avowed Socialist, a billionaire, and an openly Gay candidate were part of this mix. Finally, the arrival of the Coronavirus began to dominate public life and to disrupt the economy. When this Issue of StreetVibes hits the street, Cincinnati and Ohio residents will have voted in the primary for Presidential, Congressional, state, and local candidates and issues such as the transit levy. [Edit: The primary has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic] Meanwhile, during the last two weeks the number of viable Democratic candidates shrank to two white men in their seventies. Furthermore, results from Super Tuesday and the March 10th primaries give former Vice President Biden a big delegate lead over Senator Bernie Sanders. What caused this sudden voter shift to Biden, after Sanders showed such initial strength in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada? Although it is too early to be conclusive, voting patterns from the Super Tuesday primaries show certain trends. Starting with the South Carolina primary, Biden has won a large percentage of the African-American vote. Black voters in the South, East, Midwest, and West provided the former Vice President with overwhelming support. Bernie Sanders does have support from some young African-American voters who back his progressive policies to reduce growing income inequality and other economic inequities, and he recently received the endorsement of the Rev. Jesse Jackson. However, the groundswell of Black votes for Biden seems to stem from a deeper confidence in him because Barack Obama picked him to be his Vice President for two terms. Biden also connects well with African-American audiences, and he has a long Senate record of promoting Civil Rights legislation. The other voting trend worth noting is Biden's large percentages in the suburbs. Election analysts find that suburban women comprised a significant bloc of voters that voted for the former Vice President. This trend began in 2018 when the Democrats flipped some Congressional seats in suburban districts. Finding a candidate with the best chance of beating Trump appears to be the major reason for this sudden shift of Democratic voters to Joe Biden. Data from the primaries show this factor to be true among the various Democratic constituencies. In some local interviews by this reporter, this reason rings true. Even a number of people who advocate greater policy measures than Biden in terms of health care and closing the income inequality gap believe that defeating the current President is so critical for preserving democracy and public values that they plan to vote for the former Vice President in the Ohio primary. In conclusion, a few reflections on the local political scene are in order. Issue 7, the transit levy, appears to be picking up support in Cincinnati, and a large Democratic primary turnout may carry it to victory even if many suburban County residents oppose it. Further, it is also worth noting the number of impressive women candidates running in our local primary. Charmaine McGuffey, the endorsed Democratic candidate for Hamilton County Sheriff, comes across as a caring and brainy contender who wants to implement some needed and innovative policies. Meanwhile, Kelli Prather and former State Representatives Alicia Reece and Connie Pillich, candidates for Hamilton County Commissioner, revealed their credentials and platforms at a recent Community Issues Forum. At the same Forum, Kate Schroder and Nikki Foster showed how they would be able replacements for Congressman Steve Chabot in the First Congressional District. Finally, Cincinnatians await further impacts from the Coronavirus!

By Katelyn Lusher When I was growing up, my mom didn’t work. Until I went to college and my youngest sister was old enough to stay home alone, my mom stayed at home and took care of my three siblings and me. From 2001 to 2009, she was also homeschooling at least one kid and somehow managed to keep the house clean, take us to church youth group events and sports, and cook dinners. When I think about it now, I realize that my dad’s job granted us the privilege to have one parent at home, even though money was often tight. But I also realize that even if my mom had worked, almost all of her money would have gone to childcare. As a teenager, however, I didn’t understand these things and sometimes underestimated how much work my mom was actually doing on a day to day basis even though she didn’t technically have a job. I abhorred the idea of being a stay at home mom myself because I couldn’t imagine taking care of people all day and wanted to do work that I saw as more challenging. Over time, though, I realized that my mindset was toxic because care work—which is often considered “women’s work”—is consistently undervalued but indispensable. Often the phrase “care work” is used to describe occupations in healthcare (particularly nursing), child care, teaching, and domestic work. As many experts in psychology and education have noted, most care workers are underpaid and overworked since the vast majority of workers are women and people of color. Teachers in particular have to deal with constant abuse, degradation, and devaluing of their work despite the fact that their work is essential for developing children’s minds. When my mom was homeschooling, she created lesson plans and syllabi, bought textbooks, wrote assignments, and graded homework—partly with help from other homeschool moms with teaching degrees since she never went college herself—and she did an excellent job. Unlike teachers employed at a school, however, she didn’t get paid at all. Her hard work was indispensable, as is the work of most teachers. Teacher unions are some of the most active and powerful unions in the country because they are constantly fighting for better pay and benefits. According to an article published by The Atlantic last year (“The U.S. Teaching Population Is Getting Bigger, and More Female”), a survey conducted in 2015 showed that 76% of U.S. teachers are female. Why is it any surprise, then, that so many teachers are underpaid? In a different article by The Atlantic (“Low Pay Has Teachers Flocking to the Sharing Economy”), author Alia Wong states that K-12 teachers make an average of $58,000 a year but have to spend a large chunk on classroom supplies and have to earn side income by hosting through Airbnb or driving for Uber. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, it seems that some people are finally starting to see the value of care work as they struggle to homeschool their kids and rely on the hard work of healthcare workers to contain the virus. Without people in care work, we would be completely lost. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that recognizing care work is also recognizing women’s work. Without my mom’s care work, I would be a completely different person. Don’t ever underestimate the labor it takes to keep people alive, healthy, and educated.

By Staff On Wednesday, February 26, 2020 members and supporters of the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC) gathered alongside Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) to celebrate a federal district court judge’s decision to block a discriminatory policy enacted by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) that denied driver’s licenses and Ohio identification cards to 16- and 17-year olds with foreign-born parents because of their parents’ immigration status. “We take for granted how much power a driver’s license grants you, to be able to move freely and go about your life,” shared Allison Reynolds- Berry, executive director of IJPC. IJPC and six individual plaintiffs filed a class action complaint against the BMV in October of 2018 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio Eastern Division. The lawsuit was brought by ABLE, a nonprofit law firm, and Porter Wright, on behalf of IJPC and the plaintiffs, after IJPC learned that members of their Youth Educating Society (YES) program were being unlawfully turned away by the BMV. It was discovered that U.S. citizens and documented immigrant youth who were otherwise eligible for a driver’s license were being denied because BMV policy stated that their undocumented parents cannot serve as cosigners on the minor’s applications because they didn’t have a U.S. issued ID. IJPC’s Youth Educating Society program empowers immigrant youth and allies through support and education to cultivate social and legislative change for a more inclusive and just society. One YES leader, Karina, boldy shared her story as one of the main plaintiffs on this case. She shared, “I called my cousin and I told him the news. The reaction on his face was priceless. It seemed as if wings had regrown on him. He’s sixteen and now he’s able to get his driver’s license and so will his siblings.” This ruling will grant an estimated 3,000+ U.S. citizen or documented non-citizen children living in Ohio the ability to drive. “Going forward the BMV will not be able to require that parents present proof of lawful presence in order to cosign their children’s driver’s license applications,” said Emily Brown, co- counsel from ABLE. She continued, “The ability to drive...especially in a state of Ohio with limited public transportation is fundamental to accessing many human rights like working, attending school, caring for family members and obtaining medical care.” ABLE also received a ruling on a related lawsuit filed on behalf of three other plaintiffs, including Community Refugee and Immigration Services, a refugee resettlement agency in Columbus. That related ruling overturns another BMV policy, which effectively denied licenses to lawfully admitted refugees if those refugees have not adjusted their status to lawful permanent residence within two years of their arrival in the U.S.

By Bill Woods A tax levy to improve bus service in Cincinnati and Hamilton County will confront voters in the upcoming primary election. At the Community Issues Forum at Christ Church Cathedral on January 23rd, Pete Metz, Manager of Transportation Initiatives for the Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce, made the case for why this levy is so badly needed. After years of neglect, this proposal would, according to Metz, provide enough new revenue to make the current system more rider friendly while extending services throughout Hamilton County. A consensus exists among public transit planners and users that the current Queen City Metro bus system administered by SORTA is inadequate. Bus services and funding have needed a boost for years, and SORTA regularly faces fiscal problems. Consequently in the last ten years, METRO increased bus fares while reducing services and bus routes. As could be expected as a result of these measures, ridership has dropped. The Better Bus Coalition, comprised primarily of bus users, has effectively portrayed these inadequacies, and it's leaders have regularly put forward plans for improving the system. One major problem of the current system that was depicted by Better Bus Coalition leaders Cam Hardy and Mark Sanaan at a 2019 Community Issues Forum is the lack of bus services that go beyond Cincinnati's municipal boundaries. Few bus routes into Hamilton County now exist, and this fact prevents many unemployed and underemployed Cincinnati residents from connecting to available jobs in the suburbs. Providing better bus connections from the City to the County, according to Sanaan and Hardy, would help reduce the number of individuals and families in dire economic straits. What would the proposed tax levy accomplish? First of all, Issue 7 on the primary ballot would raise revenue from a .8-percent County sales tax. Pete Metz explained that this tax would bring in approximately $130-million a year, and it would replace a City of Cincinnati earnings tax that currently funds SORTA. Last November, Cincinnati residents voted that this special earnings tax earmarked for Metro bus services would end if Issue 7 won approval this March. Pete Metz then described the plan for new services and improvements if voters give a green light to Issue 7. First of all, noted Metz, eight new bus routes would be established. Many of these crosstown routes would better connect the City and Hamilton County, and bus riders would have access to 20,000 jobs that are now inaccessible. Furthermore, the plan calls for transit corridors that would speed up bus trips. The plan also calls for more frequent buses on twenty-six routes. Buses along these routes would be available every twenty minutes, while on major routes the wait time will be even less. Six routes will have 24-hour service, and riders will have access to more weekend service than now exists. Metz finally called attention to money in the plan that will be used for road and bridge infrastructure improvements. In the question and answer period, Metz received some thoughtful responses. One attendee questioned an over dependence on buses, and whether the levy would raise enough revenue to allow for long range planning for new transportation technology. The speaker acknowledged this need, and said that money would have to be put aside for developing the public transit of the future. He responded that no money from the levy would go to the streetcar, and that SORTA no longer had any responsibility for this entity. On an optimistic note, Metz concluded that Issue 7 faced no official opposition at this juncture of the campaign, and that many organizations including the Better Bus Coalition were actively campaigning for its passage.