[{"_1":2,"_105":-5,"_106":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85,95],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6017147,"mediaKeyId","5778350-d9c8462d174ed151b81dbb1c99b5ba93","parentId",5778350,"title","Cincinnati City Council unanimously backs Fair School Funding resolution","audioSeconds",328,"startMs",3250000,"endMs",3578000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778350-d9c8462d174ed151b81dbb1c99b5ba93&start=3250&end=3578","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6017147/Ohio/Cincinnati-City-Council-unanimously-backs-Fair-School-Funding-resolution","mediaUrl","author","City Council of Cincinnati OH","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously on May 21 to adopt a resolution urging continued implementation and full funding of Ohio’s Fair School Funding Plan as the state finalizes the fiscal year 2026–27 budget.

The resolution, introduced by Vice Mayor Kearney on behalf of all members of council, “express[es] the support of council for continued implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan and urging the Ohio senate and governor to ensure that the fiscal year 2026–27 budget includes continued implementation and full funding.” Vice Mayor Kearney told the council the 2021 statewide formula was adopted to reduce disparities tied to property values and to make state funding fairer across districts.

Why it matters: Cincinnati Public Schools and labor leaders told council that continued state implementation matters to the city’s students and finances. Michael Guston, assistant treasurer for Cincinnati Public Schools, said CPS “support[s] the full implementation of Ohio's fair school funding formula, which includes updating the base cost to 2024 levels and full funding of the state's own special education study.” He added that CPS currently receives “just 36¢ for every dollar that the funding generate[s],” a point he used to underline the district’s continued funding gap.

Several speakers from Cincinnati Public Schools and the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers urged council to back the resolution and to press state lawmakers to fully fund the formula. Julie Sellers, president of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, said, “We are losing funding from the state due to the higher property values within the city. This year alone, the first year of the 3 year average, we're losing $15,000,000 because property values in Cincinnati have increased.”

CPS board member Jim Crossett framed the argument in fiscal terms, urging the city to invest in public schools as the best return on investment and warning that charter schools and vouchers have not delivered improved outcomes. He said, “The best place to invest money is Cincinnati public schools.”

The council discussed, but did not include, local claims about whether city tax abatements reduced school revenue; Vice Mayor Kearney said the statements referenced by one council member were not part of the resolution. Council then adopted the resolution by roll call; every council member recorded a “Yes” vote.

Discussion versus action: The recorded action was a formal council resolution (Item 5) expressing support for continued state implementation and full funding of the Fair School Funding Plan. There was no separate local ordinance or direct appropriation tied to the resolution at this meeting.

Ending: Council members said they will support statewide advocacy to preserve or complete the Fair School Funding Plan’s implementation; council's passage is a symbolic and political endorsement aimed at state lawmakers as the FY 2026–27 budget is finalized.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Cincinnati City Council Meeting (May 21, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Cincinnati City Council on May 21 adopted a unanimous resolution urging the Ohio Senate and governor to continue implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan and to fully fund it in the FY 2026–27 state budget.","taxTitle","Cincinnati City Council, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio","taxId",72652,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6017138,"Multiple public commenters urge Cincinnati leaders to condemn Israel and call for divestment as U.N. warns of child starvation in Gaza",2038,351000,2389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778350-d9c8462d174ed151b81dbb1c99b5ba93&start=351&end=2389","/articles/6017138/Ohio/Multiple-public-commenters-urge-Cincinnati-leaders-to-condemn-Israel-and-call-for-divestment-as-UN-warns-of-child-starvation-in-Gaza","A series of speakers during the May 21 public comment period urged Cincinnati City Council to condemn Israeli military actions in Gaza, to call for divestment, and to take other local steps in response to a U.N. humanitarian warning that thousands of infants face imminent risk of death without immediate aid.

Multiple speakers referenced a U.N. statement cited in public comments: “Yesterday, May 20, the UN humanitarian chief warned that up to 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within the next 48 hours,” one speaker said. Bettina Ernst told council, “Your silence in the face of the suffering of your constituents and the death of tens of thousands in Gaza will be accounted for,” and called for moral accountability and an end to what she called “apartheid and genocide in Palestine.”

Werner Long linked local housing cases and the former Vision and Beyond owner to the conflict in Gaza and concluded: “Do the right thing. Condemn genocide in Gaza.” Lina Zharub said, “Today, words fail me. Right now, 14,000 babies in Gaza are at risk of dying.” Jonathan Nortman and other speakers connected the humanitarian emergency to what they described as U.S. financial and political support for Israeli operations and urged local divestment and advocacy.

One council member, after public comment, offered a brief statement: “I strongly condemn the possibility of 14,000 children possibly being starved to death in the next 48 hours,” and asked for grace and reflection on collective inaction. Beyond those remarks, no formal council resolution, vote or policy action on the international conflict was recorded during this meeting.

Discussion versus action: The comments were part of the public-comment period and did not trigger a council motion or recorded vote on a municipal policy related to the conflict. Speakers repeatedly asked council to speak out and to consider divestment or other measures; the mayor and council recorded a moment of silence and one council member expressed condemnation of the humanitarian crisis, but the record shows no formal policy action.

Ending: Several speakers warned council that history would remember local silence and urged Cincinnati leaders to use municipal leverage to oppose what they described as atrocities abroad. Council members acknowledged the comments but did not adopt any new formal local measures during the meeting.","Dozens of public commenters at the May 21 Cincinnati City Council meeting urged city leaders to condemn Israeli actions in Gaza, citing a U.N. warning that up to 14,000 infants could die within days without aid.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6017142,"Neighbors ask council to stop Burnet Woods dog park construction, allege procurement irregularities",117,1425000,1542000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778350-d9c8462d174ed151b81dbb1c99b5ba93&start=1425&end=1542","/articles/6017142/Ohio/Neighbors-ask-council-to-stop-Burnet-Woods-dog-park-construction-allege-procurement-irregularities","A resident and neighborhood advocate asked Cincinnati City Council on May 21 to halt imminent construction of a dog park at Burnet Woods amid allegations of procurement irregularities, removed accessibility features and a private fundraising requirement that she said was never met.

Cynthia McCarthy told council she had spoken against the project more than two years earlier, when the park board requested $300,000 in city funding for a universally accessible dog park at the Brookline entrance to Burnet Woods with “a prerequisite of raising $150,000 in private funding.” She said the private money was never raised, the plans were reduced and accessibility features removed, and bulldozing was scheduled to start that week.

McCarthy alleged procurement irregularities: she said all bids were rejected but that an entity named Proust was then invited to assist in altering plans and awarded the narrowed scope without a new bidding process. She described Proust as sitting “on the funding arm of the park board,” raising a conflict-of-interest concern. She also said the park board lacked environmental expertise and that neighbors within 185 feet of the planned dog park had not been adequately heard.

Her request to council was specific: “I am asking that today, you put a stop to the Burnett Woods dog Park construction until the irregularities surrounding the project have been investigated thoroughly.”

Discussion versus action: The statement was part of public comment; council did not take a recorded vote or issue an immediate order to stop work during this meeting. The speaker asked council to halt construction and to investigate. No formal motion or staff direction was recorded on the public record at this meeting.

Ending: The speaker urged council to investigate alleged conflicts of interest and procurement irregularities and to preserve old-growth green space, arguing that removal of trees and diminished accessibility options were contrary to public-interest and environmental stewardship.","A neighborhood resident asked Cincinnati City Council to halt bulldozing for a dog park at Burnet Woods, saying private fundraising requirements were not met, accessibility features were removed, and that procurement irregularities and conflicts of interest require investigation.",{"_33":96,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":97,"_41":98,"_43":99,"_45":100,"_47":101,"_49":50,"_51":102,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":103,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":104,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6017152,"Tenants in Prodigy receivership urge city to meet after reports of sewage in apartments",110,124000,234000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778350-d9c8462d174ed151b81dbb1c99b5ba93&start=124&end=234","/articles/6017152/Ohio/Tenants-in-Prodigy-receivership-urge-city-to-meet-after-reports-of-sewage-in-apartments","Tenants of properties in the receivership of Prodigy told Cincinnati City Council on May 21 that they are living in poor and unsafe conditions and asked the city to schedule a meeting with the company and tenant representatives.

Marcy Frazier, introducing herself as a tenant and representative of a tenant union formed across multiple buildings in the receivership, said, “Our goal is seriously discussing with prodigy and the city about our living conditions and the future of our homes.” She told the council she visited Kirby Avenue earlier that week and “saw the sewer coming into the tenants' apartments.”

Why it matters: Tenants said the receivership followed the collapse of Vision and Beyond and that residents — including elders, disabled tenants, children and working families — face hazardous conditions without a plan that includes tenant input. Tenant speakers said they represent more than 100 tenants across multiple buildings and urged the city and Prodigy to meet with the tenant union before the end of the month.

Brad Hearn, a union organizer who identified himself as a union representative with the Cincinnati Tenants Union, said tenants have taken the initiative to organize and “are ready to sit and negotiate as equals.” He told the council he looks forward to the city meeting with the tenant union and Prodigy so “we can reach fair agreements on the situation.”

During the public comment exchange, the mayor responded directly to the request: “I would be I'd be happy to meet with you and the union.” The mayor asked the speaker to share contact information with city staff (referred to in the meeting as Chaka) so staff could set up the meeting.

Discussion versus action: The comments led to a commitment from the mayor to meet and a staff follow-up request for contact information; there was no formal vote, ordinance or regulatory action taken by council on the record at this meeting. Tenants said they had already requested meetings with Prodigy and that Prodigy had not responded.

Noted claims and clarifications from public speakers: speakers described Prodigy as the successor/manager in a receivership tied to the earlier Vision and Beyond portfolio; one commenter asserted that criminal and federal charges connected to Vision and Beyond remain pending and that an earlier city case had been consolidated and is not scheduled for trial until October 2027. Those legal-status claims were made by public commenters and were not converted into records or motions by council during the meeting.

What happens next: The mayor asked the tenant speaker to provide contact information to city staff (Chaka) so the city can set up a meeting with the tenant union and Prodigy. The tenant union requested that a first meeting be scheduled by the end of the month.

Ending: Tenants said they are forming a union across multiple buildings in the receivership and pressed the city for prompt, tenant-inclusive planning; the mayor’s pledge to meet and the staff follow-up request were the only formal directions recorded during this meeting.","Tenants from properties now managed by Prodigy, formerly Vision and Beyond, asked Cincinnati City Council during public comment to schedule a meeting with the company and the city about unsafe living conditions and a plan that includes tenant input. The mayor offered to meet and staff were asked to connect with the tenant union.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cincinnati City Council unanimously backs Fair School Funding resolution

Multiple public commenters urge Cincinnati leaders to condemn Israel and call for divestment as U.N. warns of child starvation in Gaza

Neighbors ask council to stop Burnet Woods dog park construction, allege procurement irregularities

Tenants in Prodigy receivership urge city to meet after reports of sewage in apartments