Upon taking office in 2005, I made a commitment to focus on rebuilding trust between citizens and police. I also pledged to repair the strained relationship between City Council and the police. At the outset of my first term on Council I held a press conference to express total support for our safety services. This was the beginning of the effort to repair the strained relationship between the previous Council and our safety personnel. For me, it was also the beginning of an effort to boost overall morale. I am proud to report that under my leadership, for the first time in Cincinnati history, law enforcement representatives from the City, County, State and Federal governments have come together to form a coalition with the local community and various service providers to develop and implement a strategy against violence. On July 31, 2007, under the guidance of Professor David Kennedy, author of the highly successful Boston Project, the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) began operating in the City of Cincinnati. It is expected to become a permanent part of the institution of our City.

As I approach the end of my first term, I can say with assurance that Community/Police relations in our City are much better. I can also say that without a doubt law enforcement has developed a much stronger working relationship with City Council.

In union with these efforts, I am now prepared to focus more intensely on some key areas of my 2005 platform. My goal in the second term is to concentrate on growing the city’s population. I will achieve this by continuing to support the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence, work to create jobs through economic development, increase homeownership through tax abatements, protect our environment by supporting the work of the Office of Environmental Quality, and by increased collaboration with our County Commissioners and the Cincinnati School Board on issues of mutual concern.

My areas of focus for 2007-2009 are as follows:

• Economic Development - Create jobs, reduce crime and build stronger families
• Housing - New and existing housing in the central core and neighborhoods to encourage
  more people to move into the city
• Crime - A safe city gives people confidence to remain in the city
• Environment - A clean and safe environment provides a better quality of life