[music] [music] [music] [music] [music] Nah. [music] >> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Good afternoon. Welcome to today's public comment. You'll have two minutes to address council as I call your name. Our first speaker is Bishop Sunonny James. Welcome, sir. Good afternoon. Uh first and foremost, God has spoken through the people and it is time for us now to come together to come together on many fronts to come together to first and foremost show God that we reverence what it is that he allows. And so for all of those who desire to serve the people, continue to have that heart, continue to strive to advocate for the people. And then for those of you who God has saw fit to continue in the journey, do so. But this time around, let us all have a heart to come together. And he's not sitting there now, but if he is listening or if you can relay the message, Mr. Nolan came to our come together event and I know his schedule was packed like many of you. It was election time and when it got time for him to leave, I said, 'Well, I'm I'm glad you came. I know you have to leave. And I told the the crowd that he'd be leaving. And it was so good. He said, "Bishop, I'm going to have to stick around a little bit longer." Some of you all know how I operate, but next Wednesday or before next Wednesday, I'll be announcing our next come together. It's no longer about our differences, folks. It's now time for us to walk in what God has called us to do, and that is come together. God bless you all. >> Thank you, Jonathan Norton. Welcome. The violence we create abroad is destined to return to its source. Right now, the violence we pay to produce in Palestine has resulted in a genocide estimated to have killed more than 600,000. the continued demolition of more than 80% of Gaza. In a partite state where more than 9,000 Palestinian men, women, and children are held hostage, held without charge, trial, or contact. Held in Israeli concentration camps where people are tortured and raped to death. In a partite state where the scandal isn't that these actions were caught on tape, but instead that an investigator allowed footage to be leaked and the outside world to know what happens in these prisons. Our involvement in these atrocities is not limited to our funding. This apartheid state has been allowed to murder Americans like Rachel Cory, Shireen Abu Alay, and Sepha Musellet. They've been allowed to still hold his cous his cousin hostage, another American, 16-year-old Muhammad Ibrahim, allowed by our politicians continued denial and defense. It is weaponized and institutionalized racism that guides these crimes. The same racism and Zionism that fuels our own abduction forces here as ISIS has been deployed to kidnap people who speak out against Israel like Makmoud Khalil, Mosen Madawi, and Romea Ozurk. American identities and legal statuses did not protect anyone here or in Palestine. It's the racism that leads these mass thugs to to kidnap what is a majority of the people who haven't committed any crime. The racism of this nation to try to manufacture consent for invading Venezuela with our politicians lying about ties to Hamas. Israel's tools of violence are not just the bombs we send, but the surveillance tech as well. The drone company Skyo was instrumental in Israel's genocide in Gaza. The AI and software by Axon was tested and perfected in apartheid and genocide. These are now the trusted partners of Cincinnati's police drone program, the largest in the Midwest. Did these drones spare you from criticism? Did they spare the police chief that was so proud of them? No. But their billionaire owners got their deal, so you've done your job. When it's time to campaign, you'll say what people want to hear. That you'll work for racial justice and equity. But the decisions you make and the actions you take tell a different story. This council will vote to expand the surveillance state fueled by racism. You'll prioritize donors over voters. And instead of bringing change to our community, you'll bring the tools of the most violent forms of racism, apartheid, and genocide. Stanford Pool. Welcome. >> The first time this city council people who came here had a chance to do the right thing. But I see that one thing you were doing for the rich white agenda, you made sure you took care of that. Uh, black and brown people that came here and asked you for help. Palestine, they ask you to stop the giving money and take some of your money out to help them from uh funding this war. But do you care about people dying and children dying? Apparently not. In the past, city council took money out of funds and and held it to the side of a part tie. But y'all can't do that. We got black and brown people. Mary, you brown. But it seemed like we just got a a white agenda program and every one of y'all without saying you need to listen to the people do more. But you got to do some action. You'll listen to them with this two minutes. Look at your phone and that. But you won't do no action. We're tired of this stuff. You come in here and get this paycheck every two weeks and your benefits and then you're glary. I told you before, just because you got the most vote or took the test and came out number one, don't make you no leaders. You getting a paycheck, you got a title. If that's all you want, you should told us that's all I want. That paycheck and that title. But real estate people, black people that came told you what your building department doing, your law department, and you turn your head. We're tired of that. You a white agenda. You give the airport to the rich guys. You go, you got a 2525 program just like Trump. You have rich people sitting there coming up scheme for the poor people and give them $2 million to do it. And now if they rich, why you give them $2 million? That's a criminal thing. Now if you don't do right, FBI going to be in here and and put somebody in jail. >> Our next speaker is Stefon Prior. Welcome. [applause] >> Congratulations. Y'all got reelected. Y'all get a second chance to get it right. Yeah, buddy. All y'all new council members. Uh, don't feel new now. Y'all can do it now. Help the people. You can even rehire the chief back if you like to. Y'all y'all got your election in? Why not? Oh, Anna Albby, you over there. Put a smile on your face. Girl, you won. This food truck uh curfew. You said they got blindsided. Y'all need to uplift that curfew cuz if y'all got blindsided, y'all didn't know nothing about it. So, if y'all didn't know nothing about this curfew that got that's in effect, y'all need to get rid of that. Let them food truck make some money. That sound good, don't it? That's better than feeding the people, huh? All right. Okay. Mayor Adab, you're the new mayor for 2026. I know you're happy. You got drunk last night. I don't know if you did or not. I'm just joking. Well, Mayor Mayor Ev, you have the power to actually help the people from this government shutdown. You can actually help with the water and evictions or help them with their rent. You can put that memorandum in to make that happen. I know you can do that. You can do the power of that. You should do that to help people out. You I mean you you you made you made it. I know you happy. You need to put a smile on your face, too. You looking like you're sad about something, but nah, you made it, man. So, you got a an opportunity to help the community for real. You said gun violence is coming from property. You said that. I played it for you last week. So, help the people, the black people in the community, the home ownership. Be about it. Mary Ab, come on. You can do it, man. You can do it. Believe in yourself, man. We need the old Abtav back from the clerk of court. You clean house. We need you back, man. All right. You can do it. You're going to be all right, champ. It's going to be all right. Oh, I love you. Nothing you can do about it. >> I Kamura, welcome. In January of 2025, Anthony Blinkin announced that the United States had come to the determination that the rapid support forces are committing genocide in Sudan. This determination was absolutely correct. Yet, the United States continues to sell arms to United Arab Emirates. As I've said here before, the UAE is known to be arming and supporting the rapid support forces to fuel this genocide. And many NOS's have been clear on stating that action and arms embargos to stop the genocide must include the UAE. 15,000 people are believed to be trapped in Alasir, the capital of North Darur, and have been forcibly starved under an 18-month siege. There's a complete media blackout in Alashir, and thousands of those who are believed to have fled are now completely unaccounted for. Those who have escaped have reported mass executions, torture, and sexual violence. The US has continued to denounce his genocide through to the Trump administration. Yet, our tax dollars continue to fund it. The Israeli Knesset passed a draft bill two days ago, making the death penalty mandatory for Palestinian detainees convicted of murder with no possibility of commutation. The death penalty is abhorent and unjust in all circumstances. But in this case in but in the case of Israel Israel's military courtrooms where Palestinians are tried, this law is a tool of genocide. This law in context lowers the legal threshold previously needed to convict detainee and is particularly concerning given the Knesset passed legislative amendments two years ago allowing the Israeli government to deny Palestinians a fair trial and given that many Palestinians are unjustly detained. Islam passing is one more piece in the web that is designed to exterminate the Palestinian people and we continue to fund it all. Palestine, free Sudan, and divest Cincinnati from genocide now. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] Moving to our Zoom speaker, Mike Ulehorn. Welcome. >> Hello. Can you hear me now? >> Yes. Go ahead, Mike. >> Yes, I'm here once again. And I'll tell you, I would have voted for that Stefon prior, dude, if I could have, but I'm not in Cincinnati, so I can't. But I'm still being victimized by the city of Cincinnati. I tried to get the word word out about how city of Cincinnati council is victimizing people and violating Ohio Revised Code 2913 by charging people through just Greater Cincinnati Waterworks when they're providing absolutely nothing. When the water department has the water turned off at the meter, what are they providing? Nothing. Oh, a potential. That's right. We talked about that before. Potential to provide water to people. But and I try to call in. I've called into all your offices, but your aids usually hang up on me as soon as I mentioned Greater Cincinnati Waterworks or even my name. All except for one, Scotty Johnson. I like your aids. They talked to me and they actually said that they talked about it and you said you couldn't do anything because the property I'm talking about is in the city of Forest Park. However, because Greater Cincinnati Waterworks serves the city of Forest Park, I'm subjected to this criminal act that the city of Cincinnati commits against people when they're stealing money and providing nothing. I don't know how they get away with it. I tried to get the word out and maybe get some new people voted in, but I guess I didn't reach enough people. Well, I know thousands of people have seen my reviews about this fraud, but I don't know what else to do other than to cheat keep coming here every week. I know they say you can't fight city hall, but I'm just having fun giving my message out every week and listening to all these wonderful people trying to push you guys to do something. Maybe with this term, you'll get off your butts and do something and stop the fraud. I know I would appreciate it and so would everybody else in Cincinnati that the waterworks steals money from when they have the water turned off at the meter and are providing absolutely nothing. So hopefully this next term will be better. I'm going to keep coming. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Paul Bean. Welcome. So where we go from here with my problem? Don't none of you talk. You got silence. It don't make sense. And we still hear cries at night. What's wrong with the program? It it's not making sense that you have something that I gave you and you don't want to use it because it cost too much money. But it look like it comes to a point where you you going to have to use this now to better lives in this city and around the world too. See see see the see it now. You said it cost too much money. How much do a life cost? You hear cries every night and it's going to remain that same that same way until you try this new life program. It'll it'll walk through every every community. You won't hear no more cries on the hour. At least on the hour. Won't that make sense? And I I'm not getting no justice. Nowhere. I ain't committ no crime. I I've been in accident. Y'all say I jumped the curve. This is in y'all writing. I've been a construction worker for over 20ome years. I've been with a minority construction company that's moved the statue right down Fountain Square. First minority company. Acme Reck. Y'all know Scott Smith. All you old ones that's here see I've been around a long time working in this city did a lot of projects channel 9 remove that and some more projects in this city. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Bina Harold. Welcome. >> I should sit. >> Whether you you can sit or stand up to you, your preference. >> Okay. >> And just um is this your first time? >> Yeah, >> no problem. So, you'll have two minutes. Uh as soon as you start speaking, you'll see the green light. You'll hear a beep after one minute and the yellow light. Uh don't don't stop. That just means you're halfway through. When you see the red light and the beep, that means your time is finished. >> Okay. Good afternoon everyone and thank you for giving me a few minutes to speak. My name is Beina Hero. Not just an innovator, but someone who's stretched a dollar, fed a family, and still kept faith when the system fell short. When the government shut down and SNAP was delayed, people were panicking. I remember saying to myself, "Lord, they really about to give us these same old food boxes again." And let's be honest, nobody wanted that. People don't want handouts. They want freedom, dignity, and a chance to choose their own groceries like everyone else. That's where Ethan was born. The Emergency Food Assistance Network. A simple idea with a powerful purpose to make sure no city, no family, no child ever has to wait weeks for help when help can be delivered instantly. We're not asking for millions of dollars. We're asking for a chance, a pilot program right here in Cincinnati to show how local funding, partnerships, and community trust can come together to do some incredible, incredible work. Um, EPHA connects city resources, private sponsors, local business into one trackable system that delivers immediate relief when families need it. It doesn't replace the government. Um, it just fills the gap the government can't reach feds. Right now, food banks are doing all they can. But imagine if instead of prepacked box that might not fit a family's need, we could offer food credits that families use right in their neighborhood stores. That means they choose what their kids actually eat. That means local stores thrive and every dollar stays right here in Cincinnati, circulating through our economy. Okay, I see I got a few seconds. Um, I've already spoken with hundreds of residents through surveys and the messages consistent. If I just had a little more food help, I could breathe again. Ethan is how we make that happen. Um, I um, thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks very much. >> Okay, >> that concludes our public comment. Uh, we will uh begin the business portion of our meeting at 2 p.m. Thank you. Come on. >> [music] [music] >> Hey, N >> [music] >> Number Heat. Heat. Take your time. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. Please take your seats. Please take your seats. About to begin the business portion of our meeting. Nobody's listening to me. Here we go. Good afternoon. and we'll begin today's business portion of Cincinnati City Council. And the clerk will please call the role. >> Council member Parks >> here. >> Council member Walsh >> here. >> Council member Albby >> here. >> Council member Kramering >> here. >> Council member Jeff >> here. >> Council member Johnson >> here. >> Vice Mayor Kernney >> here. >> Council member Nolan >> here. Please stand for a moment of silence. And now the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. The minutes from the previous meeting will be approved and filed without objection. Hearing none, they'll be approved and filed. Council member Owens is excused from today's council meeting. Moving to our agenda, we have a very brief agenda. Items one through five are as indicated. And that concludes the business portion of our agenda. Uh, one second. Give me one brief moment. Oh, I'm sorry. Items one through six. Um, let me uh correct the record. I misspoke earlier and said items 1 through five. um when in fact it is items 1 through six are as indicated. And now that concludes the business portion of our agenda. City manager Long is not here. Administration, any updates? >> Uh no updates. >> Thank you, Mr. Brazina. Council members, any updates or announcements? >> Okay. Well, I have just one. Um we had an election last night. Congratulations to uh the candidates who were successful uh both on this deis and not on this deis. Um congratulations and thank you to the many candidates that stepped into the arena uh and ran campaigns and spent this last year talking about ideas and visions um and priorities. Elections are important uh not just for our form of government but also uh important for us as a community to come together uh to debate ideas in the public forum to challenge each other um to disagree and uh really proud of this city despite the challenges that we have no doubt had this year. Uh we were able to have a spirited and professional and respectful debate over the past year about the vision for this city and overwhelmingly Cincinnati voters uh came out and uh endorsed and supported the vision that so many of you have been working on for the past four years. And so we are of course grateful to everyone no matter who you voted for that you took your responsibility and your civic duty seriously and you turned out to vote. I was heartened to see that our turnout was higher than expected. We still have more work to do on that front. Uh and that is principally our responsibility to make sure every day that we are making our government relevant to people's lives so that they see themselves in their government uh and that they are convinced that their government sees them and are fighting for them. And so I'll end by saying it's wonderful that so many of us were successful, but we are here not to run for elections, but to govern. And that work starts now to make sure that we're continuing to focus on the most vulnerable amongst us to continue to grow our city, both our uh economy, our housing stock, our population, our opportunity, uh to achieve that dream that no matter what you look like, where you're from, or how much money you have, Cincinnati is a place where you can in fact achieve your dreams. Uh, I know that so many of you were excited last night and this may very well be a dream of yours, but now it's time to put that dream into reality and start making people's lives better. Thank you all so much for all of your hard work and I look forward to the next year working with you on our shared priorities. That concludes this meeting. Thank you.