Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, Heat. None. N Heat. Heat. I Don't gabble in. Do I? Good afternoon everybody. Welcome to city council. We're going to start with the citizens forum. We really appreciate you coming through that cold weather and coming down to see us. We might have some people on Zoom as well. I'm sure Mr. Barnes will let me know. We do have three people on Zoom as well. Okay. Um, so let me just I I know most of you know we we're not doing Q&A. So we this is your two minutes to to express yourself. Let us know your concerns. We're not answering questions because we want you to have your two minutes. And what happens if we start engaging and talking then some people get longer than others which isn't fair. So, don't think we don't care and that we're not listening. We are and we do care. We do have staff members around. I see Kawia walking around. Alex is here. There's Faith in the back. There's Lizzie. There's Shaka. Um Diana White, our our director of of human services. And so after you speak, if you do need attention from one of our offices, there are people here who will reach out to you and help you. Okay? So don't think we're ignoring you. All right. So that said, uh let's get started with the citizens forum. As I said, as I call your name, you will have the privilege privilege of the floor for two minutes. Our first speaker is Shante Stevenson. come on up. >> Good afternoon. >> Well, Miss Stevenson, I'm not sure that your speakers work. Is Is her speaker working, Mr. Bar? >> No. >> Okay. Thank you. Is she on? >> Am I on? Okay. Hello. Um, I'm here today because I had went to a meeting today and I was asking about my dump truck company getting involved because they mentioned something that was very um upsetting that they're going to be hiring other regencies to come here and do the work. And me being here is from Cincinnati, Ohio. As I said before, um it's upsetting because I shouldn't have to come down here. The work should be coming to me at this point. I show my face. I This is not my first time coming. And how it works is if we can the community and city hall come together and building jobs cuz I know you guys got a lot on your plate and we our company can help with hiring more dump truck drivers and everything, putting other people in positions to help you guys to help us because then that helps me be able to be like, "Okay, well I have now three dump trucks, but I'm I want to expand. I want to put people into work and I want to make a difference in families. And I also want to say, hey, city hall helped me with that. So today, I'm coming here to see how we can do some partnership and everything to make a difference with everybody because at the end of the day, it starts home. So I believe work should be for the people that's already here. Thank you guys. >> All right. Thank you so much. Okay. The next speaker is uh Stephvenson Acor and I'm I'm sure I totally messed that up. So >> business name. Sorry. >> Please. >> That's the business name. >> That's the business name. Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. So, thank you for coming, young man. We appreciate it. >> You're very courageous to come and speak. Um >> No, I'm speaking. I'm speaking. >> Oh, you're speaking. Okay. Yes. >> Okay. >> This is my son. >> Oh, you have to speak into the mic, sir. Thanks. >> This is my son, Jara Stevenson. I was here last week and I kind of gave you guys um just what my sister just talked about piggybacking on that. And this is why I'm doing it. And I just want you guys to understand that we are trying to do the right thing. and we're trying to show these young guys like my son and this this young man back there that it's not all bad people out here that we're trying to work and we're trying to do the right thing. Um yeah, but I did get some good news from you guys' office. So, I appreciate that. I'm not taking anything away from you. I just think that we need to uh collaborate a little bit better. you know, come out to the communities and talk to these young people because right now they feel like there's no hope. The administrative administration that's um that's in the White House right now, they are scaring people to death. And as you could see, it's a lot of uh it's a lot of problems in these neighborhoods. And some of it is is some of it is um because we don't have the guidance and some of it is just off of to total ignorance. But we want to come together for the these these people. These are the the the future. So this is what I'm here for and like I said, I appreciate you guys' time. Thank you and have a good day. >> All right. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. And thank you for bringing your son. Okay. Our next speaker, Mr. stand for pull. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. And just just FYI that that's our clerk of council, Mr. Anthony Coington, and he just wants to remind you all that don't touch the mic when you when you come on. Um Mr. Barnes is handling the mic, getting the mic on and off. So, Mr. Pool already, >> you say don't touch the mic. Well, just don't you can touch it, but just don't touch the button. The onoff button is what I'm saying. You got it, Mr. Pool. You understand that already? >> Well, yeah. I've been down here last 70 years to expose what criminal activity that this city doing. Um, we understand what Trump doing, the corruption, the racism, and that, but we got to look at Cincinnati. What you're doing here, if you're a black or brown person, you get the short end of the stick. Even though we got some brown people on on on board and some white people on there that said when they were running for these spots that they going to listen to the people and do stuff. It don't do no good and you just listen and don't do nothing. And I have seen that for seven years that this group Cranley and them same thing. And as we look at these people supposed to be leaders. I wouldn't say you're a leader unless you do something. Have a record. If we look at what y'all did, you're not doing very good. We got we got people coming here asking for help and you don't help them. You listen to them. I'm going give you enough get my aid and nothing happened. Now you're stealing h houses from uh the black neighborhoods. You had a black contractor. The only one went to the federal court with PG and pastor and them stealing money from them. Wherever you getting for every month, every year ain't enough for them. And here we got your building department and law department admitted that they racist and targeting the black neighborhood at this spot. Scotty, Miss Kernney, the mayor, and some of other heard what they said. Scotty said they need to go to jail and then he stood up then he got down like a lamb. We tired of coming down here electing these people voting for them and they don't do nothing. So these people back here only good for them to vote for you to get you a paycheck. >> Thank you Mr. P. Okay, our next speaker is Stefan Prior. Thank you. >> She go back right there. >> You choose one and it'll go on. >> Talk me over, man. You be cheating my time, man. You can't be doing that. All right, ladies and gentlemen. I'm down here contesting one, two, loud and clear. I'mma keep speaking about it. The VBML, VBR, fines and taxes. OTR do was here before. Danny Clinger, Miss Anna, you know about that. And he said he partnered up with the daughter about 1648 Vine Street, but that's a lie. Never partner up with that. They wind up selling the property as a receiver and made $247,500. And they give it didn't give her no money at all. So they still in property. This is this is the new era of stealing property without giving people anything for their property they stealing up under this receiver ship. And it's it's sad. It's real real sad. I I asked myself, what would Jesus do? What would Jesus say about stealing property being taken up under receiverhip? Jesus would likely infamize that the importance of honesty, integrity, and all dealing. He would encourage those who have taken property upon the receiverhip to return it. That's what Jesus would do. Y'all Christians, y'all allow this on y'all clock. Sher alone, city manager, welcome back to see you in a while. But it's sad that this receiverhip people been getting their properties taken. Y'all know about it. Y'all need to help the people. Tell them give them the properties back. It's dirty. It's wrong. It's corrupted. Y'all supposed to be some Christians that love God. How you think God feel about this? Mr. Scotty Johnson, you preaching at your church sometime. You got to preach to these inspectors. They dirty. They making up their own rules to do what they want to do. And y'all not checking them, Mark Jeffrey. Check they ass. They dirty for what they doing. It's wrong. Ma Owens. So y'all got to do your job up on this receiverhip because guess what? One of your family members might be next and it's dirty. Okay, thank you. The next speaker is Jonathan Nortman. Alex Prey and Renee Good were not the first to be gunned down by ICE, and they won't be the last. people dying in ICE concentration camps and people in our streets delivered the death penalty for the crime of existing. People like Keith Porter Jr. and Seario Gonzalez, both fathers to two children. Where is the condemn condemnation for all of this political violence? I'm glad this council can condemn the execution of Renee Good. And I'm glad that some of you are starting to understand what we have been saying in here for more than a year. Condemnation can only be the first and smallest step in combating these crimes waged by our government. This is not an organization carrying out essential work. This is an unnecessary secret police of power- hungry thugs tasked with ripping families and communities apart. Instilling fear in anyone they say doesn't belong. Doesn't belong because of the color of your skin. Doesn't belong because of an accent. Doesn't belong because your willingness to exercise the First Amendment. The people carrying out these crimes don't deserve condemnation. They deserve prosecution. The people locking families and children in cages deserve cages of their own. The institution that directs this, that runs cover and lies to protect murderers, deserves abolishment. What Americans deserve is opposition that isn't full of cowards. Politicians that are more concerned with how their response will affect their next election instead of how the response could protect their constituents. It is this irredeemable default to centism and constant capitulation to the donor class that has paved the way for all of this violence. Routine killing has been normalized by Democrats afraid to take a moral stand. We've been made to watch a genocide and told unfettered unaccountable murder is acceptable. That criminals can investigate themselves. that people documenting violence like Alex Prey are excusable collateral like the more than 270 journalists murdered in Gaza. That it's ordinary to abduct and rip people from their homes like the more than 37,000 Palestinians displaced this last year in the West Bank. That companies making all this violence possible can be partners in a better tomorrow. Like the city giving 30 million to Axon and Skyio to deploy its surveillance tech built and tested in apartheid and genocide. Tech that will be used by ICE. We need more than words. We need action. Free Palestine, divest, refuse to work with ICE, and grow a damn spine. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Virginia Roads. >> Good afternoon. I just wanted to come to council on the rare opportunity that was here anyway. And um first welcome Ryan James as the new council member. Really proud to see that you won your election and to thank you for all the work that you do to protect communities in Cincinnati and to ask you to keep protecting immigrant communities, black communities, um people in poverty, those who need help in any way. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is James Applebee. If you try it and uh Mr. Barnes will make sure it works and you can stand. >> Okay. >> Thank you for your time. Members of council, fellow citizens, I'm holding the picture of a man I've never met, but I too once was a young man in uniform. looked a lot like this man. He's not here today. I grew up in uh South St. Louis. Uh a troubled son. Uh lucky to be alive today. Lucky that I didn't make worse decisions than I did. Lucky that I didn't put myself in a situations that could have turned out much worse than they did. Um there are many, many issues that all come together with one human life. And every human life is very valuable. I believe you know that these are incredible times we live in right now. Things that are beyond our control, but not everything is beyond our control. I live in a very nice neighborhood and I get to go around and visit some people who don't have the opportunities that I have today. And to to put a lot of our troubles in one neighborhood or two neighborhoods um is a death sentence. You know this, you know it. Please be mindful. your actions. You have more power than most people in this city do. I ask for you to exercise the wisdom and the compassion for this young man. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Our next speaker is E. Wayne Sloan. Sorry. Uh to the council. Yes. Uh thank you for your time. Um my name is E. Wang Sloan. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, young man. Um this is my my um grandson Markeel. I am here um representing Mrs. Abdullah of uh of the muscle care association. I had met her about three or four years ago when she was starting her organization. Um I do commercial insurance and I am supporting her business with with the uh professional liability insurance that she needs um to run her nonprofit organization. Uh from the time I've met her, she's been extremely committed to her to her goal of nonviolence. As you know, her her uh son was killed and so uh that is her life's mission to um to help the community u to understand and to stop the nonviolence. But um my role has always been to just uh support her with my my my uh business, please. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay, we have some speakers on Zoom. Uh let's start with Michael Olhorn. Mr. Ohhorn, can you hear us? >> Yes. Can you hear me? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. I'm back. I appreciate you telling people not to touch me. Ha. Anyway, what I was calling on here again about is Greater Cincinnati Waterworks taking money from people when they have the water turned off at the meter, providing absolutely nothing, stealing money from people. I had no idea when I bought a house in Forest Park that the city of Cincinnati would steal money from me. I've been coming here week after week, month after month, calling all of your offices, and not once had anybody contacted me back about what is being done about Greater Cincinnati Waterworks committing a crime. It's a violation of Ohio Revised Code 2913. Look it up. It's fraudulent to be taking money from people without their approval, without notifying them or disclosing to them that you're going to take it and for taking money without providing anything of value. The only thing of value they're providing is just being ready to provide something and people having access to it. Well, I know it's I notice a lot of people that are there get referred to other people in the room to talk about their problem that they're having. Well, I'm not there. So, I guess somebody would have to call me, but that's not happening. I guess nobody there cares about Greater Cincinnati Waterworks stealing money from people month after month after month when they have the water turned off at the meter. They're providing absolutely nothing of value. I don't know what else to do. I don't know who else to talk to. I've tried to talk with the Ohio State Attorney General's Office. They say that it's the Public Utilities Commission. Public Utilities Commission says it's the Attorney General's office. I've also been told it's the city of Cincinnati mayor who's supposed to take care of this, but he won't return my calls either. I see he's not even here today. Guess he's too busy doing other things. Maybe finding other ways to steal money from people. Hopefully, somebody will call me, get back in touch with me. I'll keep calling and leaving. >> Thank you. Our next speaker online is Miss Vanessa Spars. Miss Sparks, are you there? She's not there. Okay. She's not there. Okay. Our next speaker online is Derek Blasting Game. Mr. Blessing Game is not there. Okay. I see Reverend Daniel Buford has just come. You're our last speaker. Thank you. And Reverend Buford, you have the pleasure of the floor for two minutes. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Cington. Thank you, Reverend Buford. I'll make sure you get this back. So, okay. >> Please. Okay. Okay. First giving honor to God the beneficent and the merciful one. The one God to whom praise is due forever. To the distinguished mayor and vice mayor and all the elected officials before me. Um my name is Reverend Daniel Buford. Um, I think I can count at least half of you up there as being personal acquaintances as and friends because we worked together on stuff in the past and even on the current thing that I'm here before you on, uh, we've had some communication. So, what I'm here to talk about, I'm talking about I want to talk call for an end. I'm going to raise my voice. Don't take it personally because I'm upset. And I am upset because Cincinnati is allowing itself to become a militarized zone for ICE. So we got to look at racism and militarism in this city from the standpoint of who is getting paid and who is getting played because the Cincinnati cops cannot get away with the type of brutality that ICE is going to visit on the people. ICE is going to make more money and the city of Cincinnati is going to be stuck with the bills afterward. Just look at the difference in the budgets for Cincinnati, Minneapolis, and Oakland comparatively for the payouts for police misconduct and police pensions. What you'll see is that Oakland over a 9-year period paid out over $3 million. Minneapolis paid over nine $990 million. How much did Cincinnati pay in that same time? So then what is being sold to you as national security is really civilized evil. It's civilized evil. They want you to enforce laws that are based on >> M >> I'm sorry. >> Reverend Buford, I am so sorry, but it's a strict two minutes. my two look yave patrols hunt down. >> Thank you, >> Reverend Buford. With all with I know with all due respect, I have to stop you, >> Reverend Bufort. Reverend Buford has been killing our people. >> Reverend Buford, with all with all due respect, >> I have to ask you to stop. Now they're coming in first before >> Reverend Buford about >> Reverend Buford. >> Reverend Buford. >> He's He's okay. All right. >> Reverend Buford, we understand. and we we're gonna and we're going to address it. I appreciate you. >> Okay, we understand. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um Okay, so this concludes this portion of the citizens forum. We stand in recess until 2 o'clock, which is in three minutes. So everybody gets a three minute break and then we will adjourn. We will come back at two o'clock. Hey. Heat. Heat. Okay, everybody, we are going to get started. We'll begin today's business portion of Cincinnati City Council, and the clerk will call the role. Vice Mayor Kernney >> here. >> Council member Nolan >> here. >> Council member Owens >> here. >> Council member Walsh >> here. >> Council member Alvi >> here. >> Council member Kramering >> here. >> Council member James >> here. >> Council member Jeff >> here. >> Council member Johnson >> here. >> And we will stand for a moment of silence followed by 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. I should point out the mayor uh is representing us at a meeting and he will be back next week to city council. So moving to Oh, and the minutes from the previous meeting will be approved and filed without objection. Hearing none, they will be approved and filed. Moving to our agenda. Item one as indicated. Item number two, the appointment of Shauna Daniel to the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. We'll have a roll call confirmation of appointment. >> Vice Mayor Kernney? >> Yes. >> Council member Nolan? >> Yes. >> Council member Owens? >> Yes. >> Council member Walsh? >> Yes. >> Council member Albi? >> Yes. Council member Karding, >> yes. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Item number three, appointment of Timothy C. Miller to the Income Tax Board of Review pursuant to section 311-97A of the Cincinnati Municipal Code to temporarily replace board member Matthew Lake due to a conflict of interest. Roll call on confirmation of the appointment. >> Vice Mayor Kernney, >> yes. >> Council member Nolan, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albi, >> yes. >> Council member Kramering, >> yes. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Item number four, as indicated. Items number five through six, as indicated. Items numbers seven through 14, the reappoint of Van Lee Sullivan, Rion Blackman, Kylie Johnson, and the appointment of Michael Roman, Yasmin Allen, Carla D. Walker, Megan O'Keeffe, and Brian Masalini Blanchard to the Environmental Advisory Board. Without objection, we will have one roll call vote on items number seven through 14. hearing. None. Roll call confirmation on items number 17 through 14. >> 7 through 14. Thank you. >> Vice Mayor Kernney. >> Yes. >> Council member Nolan. >> Yes. >> Council member Owens. >> Yes. >> Council member Walsh. >> Yes. >> Council member Albby. >> Yes. >> Council member Karing. >> Yes. >> Council member James. >> Yes. >> Council member Jeff. >> Yes. >> Council member Johnson. >> Yes. Thank you. Okay. Items number 15 through 27 as indicated. Item number 28, a motion by council member Jeff that the administration issue a report within 60 days that outlines traffic citations overall and by neighborhood for 2025 and update the same for the previous four years. >> Council member Jeff, would you like to speak on your motion? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Um, so when we came uh four years ago, most of us to the council, we had a priority of what's called vision zero, which is zero deaths, pedestrian deaths. Uh, and we made that a priority, investing in, uh, pedestrian safety. Uh, and enforcement is a part of that. And over the last three years, we've made progress. So, uh, two years ago, the number of fatalities pedestrian auto were 15. Last year, there were or two years ago, there were six. And last year, there were three. So pretty substantial reduction. We're not there. We're not at zero. Uh but there were 66 serious uh incidents three years ago, 45 two years ago, and 35 last year. So the measures are are definitely making progress, but enforcement is a a part of that. And so every year we have asked CPD to report on uh what they're doing around traffic enforcement uh overall and by neighborhood. And this is asking them to update that. >> And this is really great news. from 66-3 and we're moving towards zero. Uh zero is is our goal. Uh but 66 to three is huge. So great great reduction >> to be fair. Just it was 15 fatalities to three. So 66 serious to 35 serious just to make sure that we're we're uh being >> okay. Thank you for that clarification. 15 to three is still really really good. Uh zero is what we're looking for and we're getting there. So, thank you to all the work um of council that go and do and uh police department, everybody and our drivers in Cincinnati, all the work that together we can reduce injuries and fatalities. They're very important. Any comments? Okay. Roll call on adoption of the motion. >> Vice Mayor Kernney? >> Yes. >> Council member Nolan? >> Yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. Council member Albi, >> yes. >> Council member Kramering, >> yes. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. >> Okay. Motion. Thank you. Okay. Item number 29. This is an amended motion by council members Jeff and Johnson that within 60 days the Cincinnati Recreation Commission identify two to three sites in the city of Cincinnati that can be dedicated for youth football leagues practices and games as well as any funding that may be needed. The report should include consideration regarding the feasibility of hosting games and/or practices at the Cincinnati Police Department's training academy within when the field is not in use. Council members Jeff and Johnson, who would like to speak first? >> Council member Jeff. >> Yeah, thank you, Vice Mayor. Um, so, uh, we offered this about two years ago. This is a a tough nut to crack. Uh this is uh if you think about youth sports they are it's not just about sports it's about giving kids uh access uh to something productive to do about mentoring about coaching and uh if you think about soccer uh FC Cincinnati has been investing a fair amount we have dedicated soccer fields if you think about baseball we have dedicated baseball fields and the Reds have been investing a lot when it comes to football we do not have any dedicated football fields uh and So, uh, this is asking the administration to work with the CRC to identify two to three sites. Uh, and Councilman Cranbering offered a friendly amendment to also, um, see if we need to have any funding to build any of those sites. Uh, and, uh, this would ask for a report back, um, so that we can then take action. >> Okay. Thank you, Council Member Johnson. >> Thank you, uh, Madame Chair, and to my co-sponsors, Mr. Jeff. Thank you for your uh commitment to making sure that this is something that is definitely looked at. Um youth sports, we know um how that can be a bridge builder to all type of positive uh things in the city of Cincinnati. And um once again, I want to make sure we as a council are doing everything we can to make sure that we're providing opportunities to uh for young people. As I stated yesterday in committee, we we uh you football was huge. It was huge back in the day and it was something that we I mean we've got lifetime I've established lifetime friendships from that. Went on to play junior high football, high school football, and so it was just an amazing bridge builder to for people. And we want to make sure that this generation of young people have an opportunity to uh engage in that camaraderie and teamwork. And we as a council, I hope that we can do everything we can to get that established to where young people have uh the opportunity to go into a safe environment and um and and play the amazing game of football. as it was pointed out also yesterday, flag football a very very positive uh uh entity and like I said I'm going to sound chauvinistic but a lot of the young ladies are even playing flag football. So this is engaging for a lot of young people. So thank you Mr. Jeff for co-sponsoring me on this. >> Yeah, you don't sound chauvinistic at all. I think that's great. We've got women out there playing football. It's fantastic. Um, we also have women football leagues, um, that are really exciting to go see their games. So, um, you know, really, really wonderful. Okay, Council Member Nolan, uh, did you want to mention the flag football piece? >> I think I've said enough in committee. >> You said enough. Okay. All right. Thank you so much. Okay. Any other comments? Okay. Council member Kramering. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor, and thank you for the sponsors that did allow me to do a friendly amendment. Yeah, I fully support this. Uh I am an advocate think that CRC and the city and and council should look at uh sites where we can do an artificial uh an artificial surface. Uh that would not include PIFA. So it' be environmentally sound. Uh but the artificial surface has got the benefits that it's more accessible to a number of people. It can be used year round. There's no maintenance costs. It can be used for football and soccer. Uh depending on how it's built, it can also include a walking track which is great for youth, very important, but also seniors. a great way to introduce get seniors out there walking and be active in our city which is also important. >> All right, thank you. Any other comments? Okay, roll call on adoption of the motion. >> Vice Mayor Kernney? >> Yes. >> Council member Nolan, >> yes. >> Council member Owens, >> yes. >> Council member Walsh, >> yes. >> Council member Albby, >> yes. >> Council member Karing, >> yes. >> Council member James, >> yes. >> Council member Jeff, >> yes. >> Council member Johnson, >> yes. Okay, that concludes the business portion of our agenda. >> That was quick. Okay, so now I'd like to recognize council member Albi for a presentation, a special recognition. >> Awesome. Thank you. Thank you. And Rakia, if you can come on up and bring whomever else you would like to stand with you. Um, for those of you who might not know, this week is National Gun Violence Survivors uh week. We've celebrated this in the past and this is really a time to hold space to recognize those we've lost to gun violence to really keep their stories alive and also recognize those who are left behind in the devastation and and the work that they've done. So I I want to introduce my friend Rakia here. Raya and I met um probably close to five years ago through Mom's Demand Action. You can face whichever direction you want. I'll follow you. Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. Uh so we met probably five years ago at a Mom's Demand Action event and I was just so taken away. I'm going to let Ria speak here uh shortly and to hear her her energy and her passion when she talks about her son and her lifelong mission inspired by his loss. So Rakia, I'm going to let you say a few words and then we'll do the proclamation. Okay, here you go. My name is Rukaya Zafrad Mutakaleim and I am the CEO and founder of the Musketeer Association. My son was the catalyst for why I even started the organization the association in the first place because you already have enough organizations out here. But when I came to them with a request that we do something that is far innovative than what we have been doing for the last 60 years. I was turned down. They could not see the vision. My son brought that vision. It came about from his time. It came to an end here in your community. I know I'm not from here, but that isn't the part part of what's important. I am of you and you are really of me. And my son purposely moved here to help a community that was in and still is feel falling from the pandemic of violence on June 29th, 2015 at 10:00 at night thereabouts. That time, three asalants walked up behind him and shot him in the back of the head. They didn't say, "Stick them up." They didn't say, "Give me your money." They did not do anything that you may be accustomed to seeing on TV or in some social media. grab attention. They just simply shot him in the back of the head. He was still alive when he fell into the gutter. He was simply coming home to take food to his family, walking because he chose to walk in that neighborhood. He moved there purposely to help them. two years. And on that night, on that Sunday night on the 28th, at that time, for reasons that I know now why it was, it happened. His life came to an end. And I know the reason why it came to an end to wake us up because we are sleeping and we keep kicking the can down the road as if somehow it'll eventually stop this gun violence. I join Mom to Demand Action because they at least listen to me. I brought to them the Flower Pot Restorative Justice Program. the flower pot right here. And it's not just a flower pot. But if we don't remember our dead for whatever reason, especially our children, which are our future, we are not the future. We will never be the future. When children are born, they are given the future to take mankind higher, not lower. And we are not teaching them how. We are not touching their hearts. The day my son decided to move to that community, I helped him, but I did pull him to the side because I didn't want to embarrass anyone in that neighborhood. There were many people around. And I asked him, Sue Lemon, how long do you plan to stay in this neighborhood? I feel nothing can grow here. The sun is shining, but I feel no positive hope here. And he looked at me with those brown cow eyes that melts a heart. And he said, "Mommy," which means mother. How better to show them what you taught me, that being poor just means being poor. You can clean your streets. You can be kind to each other. You can smile and it will change a person's whole personality that day you taught me. So how better to show them than to live among them? And that sign tells you he was on a rescue ship in the war. He talked the military into not carrying a gun. And he was a marksman. you have to pass their test. He was a marksman but he didn't want to carry a gun. So with everything and I know I need to end this because you're not here to hear my coili in this manner. His light is being carried by all these people and you haven't seen the sea of people that are carrying this message around the world. So to for you to honor him this day and place him canonized in Cincinnati is his right. He paid the price to wake us up because he wasn't in the streets. He wasn't from the streets. He didn't do drugs. He didn't smoke. He didn't drink. He didn't do any of those things. But he cared about people. And if you think I'm lying, ask your police department. They did the research on his life as they were trying to find who killed him. And they found out, they called, they told us, detectives told us, "Your son has done nothing in this community but good. So, I'm not lying about this. And we have more children out here who are doing wrong and they're looking for ways to do even better. But we are not reaching out to them as we should. We're not providing the programs that really help them and their parents because we got children raising children. We've got to stop But in this day, I'm not pointing the finger to any of you. I'm saying us, we must stand together. So, I do truly appreciate you recognizing him cuz all our military people, every last one of them, they have made the sacrifice. He made three sacrifices for his country, for Cincinnati, and he was a organ donor. So even in his death, he helped other people to live. And that's what it's about. Because our children are living to die. They're not living to living. And it's got to stop. So my gratitude absolutely to all of you. This is not an easy job that you have. But please don't give up the fight. >> Thank you, Miss Rica. That was that was beautiful. Thank you for for sharing your son with us. So hopefully you all can see why it was important to share uh Solomon's story today. And the reason we're doing it this week is because by this week in the year already the United States has lost more people to gun violence than the rest of the world will for the rest of the year because in the US on average 130 people are shot and killed each day. So since the mayor is not here I have the honor of uh doing this proclamation in honor of your son. So be it proclaimed. Whereas Solomon Ahmed Abdul Mutakaleim was spiritually driven, selfless loving generous thoughtful funny gentle gentle helpful playful forgiving, and hardworking. Whereas Solomon lived worked for more than four years for the US Navy to keep his country and the people safe from harm. His sense of duty, honor, respect, perseverance, uprightness, and love for the world he lived in led him to be an avid reader, researcher, explorer, taking him to many different parts of the world on all modes of transportation. Solomon's proclivity for walking enabled him to engage with people people from all walks of life. and he would say, quote, "How better to get to know someone and to lend them a helping hand, but to be among them, showing them how to be better in their life and be with them in their challenges in life." And whereas Solomon Ahmed Abdul Mataleim brought the light of hope, love, sharing, forgiven, encouragement, patience, mercy, and a smile that came from deep in his heart for each person he met. On June 29th, 2015, his soul took flight, but his spirit remains with us so that the light he brought to the neighborhood of South Cummingsville will be reflected by a flower pot bearing his name and his family surname. So now, therefore, on behalf of the mayor, Afab Puraval, today we proclaim proclaim January 28th, 2026 as Sulman Ahmed Abdul Monteim Day in the city of Cincinnati. Thank you so much. Let me give council members a chance to comment. Thank you all of you from the bottom of my heart. I truly do appreciate this. If you knew him, met him just one time, you would know why what you have agreed to do shall reach the heavens. And you will have it on your good scale on your scale of good deeds for doing something that will remind people every time that day comes up. This is why we fight against violence, racism, and fascism. >> Thank you so much, Council Member Walsh. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. in in moments like these. And Council Member Albby, I appreciate you bringing this forward. I'm so sorry. >> No, it's >> I just want to recognize the incredible um strength that you have in moments of, you know, such hardness and sadness and the ability to find a way to move to the next level to be able to actually make, you know, use this for good in the world when so many people can use it to turn inwardly on themselves. Your story is an inspiration. and uh your son, he his name will live on, his legacy will live on because of the work that you do. And thank you for coming here today to share that legacy with us. I know I know it causes so much pain, but I appreciate having the opportunity to hear this story and to see you and meet you in this microphone. This is I know that we have the challenges today more than ever, but this is the time that proves who we are. Our mistakes do not define us. What defines who we are, what type of people we have become, what type of people our young, our future will become is how we handle the mistakes that are made. So your words touch me, sir. so deeply and may you stay in that seat a long time. >> Thank you. Any other comments? Council member Owens, >> thank you for sharing your son with the world. Um, thank you for sharing your tragedy and pain. And yes, as my colleague said, it's remarkable that you are able to carry such resilience and strength in this moment. But what I am also recognizing right now is that you are bringing such humanity to this issue. But you are also reminding us that there is hope when we all come together and tackle the greatest issues that affect us all. There is trauma and we know that this is not uh a conversation that ends on this day but that the work has to continue with all of us in that conversation sharing our pain sharing the trauma sharing all of the things and as council member Albi will say sometimes we we are a community of survivors because this is happening so much and so it's people like you that continue to give us hope that there is a better today and this work is not easy but it's necessary and we will continue to stay on the front lines to make sure that tomorrow is absolutely better than today. So thank you for being a part of that. >> Madam chair put down your sign come and let's show them how we stand together. This is how we stand together. The strongest chain the chain is locked in. Try to make this and watch. So let us stand together this way. Please lock arms. No hands. They can break the hands. Lock arms. When they push one of us, they push all of us. And when we push back, we push back with good force, not equal because we're not standing here. what you just said. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you all for for the opportunity to do this proclamation. Thank you, Rakaya, for for all your work. We're going to send you home with a copy of this proclamation. >> Okay. Thank you. >> We appreciate that. Um, so let me ask uh, city manager Long, do you have any announcements? >> I have no announcements. Oh, other than I just want to commend the public department of public services in addition to all the other um, city departments on how they handled the storm. Great job. I hope they take the weekend and get some great rest. So, thank you. >> Thank you. And I was going to say the the mayor's office um wanted to make sure that we also um thank uh all the city employees across departments who helped to operationalize our warming centers. Uh in particular Brooke Lipkcom, the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, Department of Public Services and 311, the fire department, the Cincinnati Health Department, and countless other partners. Uh, the mayor also wants to make sure that everyone knows that the downtown warming center at St. Anthony, 1615 Republic Street is open daily, including weekends, from 6:00 a.m. to 700 p.m. And then at 700 p.m., uh, there is free transportation by bus to the shelters for those who need it. So, um, any comments, >> Madam Chair? >> Okay, Council Member Johnson. Thank you. Um and and I thank you ma um madame manager. Amazing work. You and your administration. Fantastic job. Let me say this to the citizens in the drivethru and in Cincinnati. When you're cleaning your car off, and unfortunately we got some cars out front that I'm getting ready to comment on. You need to clean the roof of your car off. There was a very almost a horrible accident yesterday almost twice with that sheet of ice now blowing off the roof of people's cars that could cause a serious accident. So citizens, council people, when you're cleaning your car off, clean the roof off, too, because that that is melting and the wind is blowing. And if that ice hits and fractures a windshield or blinds somebody, it can be really, really bad. So once again, citizens and council people, clean your roof of your car off. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. very important. Count >> Oh, we will we'll take a picture. Absolutely. Thank you, Council Member Walsh. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I want to take the second to reiterate what was just said, but really raise this up. You know, last year we had what we considered a once in a 20-year storm that came in and it was almost the exact same timeline that we were experiencing this storm on. So we had to cancel budget and finance and then we basically lost the rest of the week. School kids, you know, couldn't get to school because the roads weren't plowed out. One year later, we get almost the exact same storm and under the leadership of Cheryl Long, Kathy Bailey, Mark Riley, um the incredible people at DPS who stepped up, everybody who was working long hours, you know, we had MSD sending people in to shovel snow out of downtown. Um it is night and day from last year and I I think that we need to really give a kudos to the administration on this one because they heard the challenge. They stepped up in a big way. Um we could have easily said it's a once in a 20-year storm. We'll see you all in 2044. But instead, we stepped up. We were ready. And then we got it the next year and we showed that we weren't just talk. We actually came through on this one. And so kudos to you guys. This is a huge moment for you. I'm I'm so overwhelmed and happy for you guys. And I think you guys deserve so many flowers and kudos for this. And I think we need to shout it from the roof. So congratulations. Thank you for that. >> And more more good things to come. We're using all that technology. We have weather stations about to arrive that can actually um tell us the depth of the snow and the the temperature of the street and show have videos of the of the intersections. We're really stepping up. City manager Long, thank you for that. We're doing it. lots of snow plow, 65 snow plows out there. So, we are we're doing it. And thank you everyone for being patient because even with all that technology and equipment, the snow when it comes down, it comes down and you know, mother nature, uh, you have to be patient with it, right? So, uh, we appreciate the people in in Cincinnati also for being so patient and driving carefully. Council member Kramer. Yeah, I just want to reiterate the thanks to all of our city staff, the city manager, her team all the way on down and throughout the snow event on multiple occasions. I was texting the city manager examples of that I was getting of a driver that got out of his vehicle and was helping a stranded motorist or a driver that was uh being very cautious to put snow in a spot that was not blocking driveways. So, uh the snow was cleared and it was very professional. So, thank you to all involved. It was it was great. So, thank you. Um, and on the uh also on the uh weather event, this is a bit of good news I think is relatively breaking that it's been announced that Cincinnati Public Schools will be open tomorrow. So, uh good news for for all parents involved. >> Okay. Any announcements about events or anything coming up? Council member Albby. Uh, this is an event one, but more kudos to the administration. In addition to the weather response, we also now have opt-in text messages for updates. So, if residents want to get updates straight to their phone about both emergency and non-emergency things, they can go to cyalert.org. Um, so I know I'm subscribed, so I was getting playbyplays about all the weather response. Um, but you can subscribe. Hopefully in the future we'll be able to use this as a tool to tell people when there's public engagement sessions and more. So, really excited about this. Uh it's through Smart 911 and you go through and pick whatever subscriptions you want. So, thank you to the administration. I know uh you all been working on it and I'm really excited. We have text messages. So, thank you. >> Okay. So, you know, February 1st kicks off Black History Month and so uh our our city uh Panaffrican flag raising is this Friday at noon. I know it's going to be super cold and so uh we invite you to come to the public's invited. Everybody's invited. Come to room 115. Um I'd like to thank uh Sister Kelly in my office and the Cincinnati Quanza committee led by Leah Saho in organizing this event. Uh it will be at noon. It will last for half an hour in room 115. And then for those who don't mind braving the cold, you can go outside uh after the ceremony in room 115 and see the actual flag being raised. Um but but the ceremony will be inside. So come on come on down. Okay. If there's no further business, then this meeting is adjourned. Thank you everybody.