Removing the "Health Care Handcuffs": A Summary of the Change We Helped Enact

A couple months ago, I was thrilled to announce a change that our Criminal Justice Commission and County had successfully pushed for at the state level. And it was a change that I first advocated for right here on this blog (ie. suspending Medicaid, rather than terminating it, while someone is incarcerated, so once they leave jail, they can get the medical care and medicines they need so they don't commit another crime--which is especially important for those battling mental illnesses that lead to their criminal behavior).

A Cleveland Plain Dealer Op-Ed ran yesterday that explained much better than I ever have why this change will be so important in reducing crime and ultimately saving taxpayer dollars, and it recognized our County's contribution to the effort.

Wilmington: Coming Together at a Challenging Time

Tuesday, I had the honor of speaking at a dinner in Wilmington. Among others, I met the Mayor, David Raizk, who has been such a force of resiliency and persistence in helping his City and region cope with as serious an economic challenge as any town in this Country.

As I shared with the guests, my hope is that Wilmington will not just be seen as "ground zero" of our nation's economic troubles. As it copes with the crisis by coming together, taking care of its impacted citizens, and envisioning and realizing a new economic future, my hope is that it will ultimately be seen as a model of how communities can find opportunity out of even the greatest of challenges.

Continued Progress in Preventing Foreclosures

Today we announced results from the County/City foreclosure prevention effort, which links troubled homeowners to free counselors who guide them through the steps needed to avoid foreclosure.

Through these efforts, the Homeowner Preservation initiative prevented 756 homes from being foreclosed upon in 2008 (with still others in process). In 2007, the number of foreclosures avoided was 436. That means almost 1200 families have been spared the trauma and impact of foreclosure, and broader communities have been spared the blight and lost property value (totalling tens of millions of dollars collectively) that would have resulted from those foreclosures.

In addition, while it contintues to increase in communities across the state and nation, the number of properties that ultimately went to Sheriff’s sale stabilized in 2008 versus 2007 (3081 versus 3076), and the % of initial foreclosure filings that resulted in sales declined (from 62.19% to 57.25%). These results indicate that our efforts to avoid foreclosures are really making a difference in the ongoing housing crisis.

The County will continue to fund these efforts in 2009, and we are looking for ways to expand them to save more homes. More to come shortly.

For more information on this effort, go to the partnership's website.

Take the Survey: Your Community's Priorities

Several weeks ago, I asked local government leaders across the County about their priorities, challenges, and opportunities, and how we can work together for the betterment of our citizens.

Now I hope to hear directly from residents about what is happening in YOUR COMMUNITY. What are your priorities for your neighborhood? What are your biggest challenges, and biggest opportunities.

I hope you can take 5 or so minutes to fill out this survey -- by clicking here.

Giving Dog Owners Another Month

It's a small item . . . unless you own a dog and have not yet obtained your license.

Today, due to the several weeks of cold and snow we've experienced that made just about every task difficult, the Commission passed a resolution giving dog owners until the end of February to obtain their dog licenses for 2009. Ohio law generally sets a January 31 deadline, unless circumstances justify extending it. We believe they did.

By doing this, owners can still get their license for $13, as opposed to paying double that to get it, or facing a fine almost ten times that if they are found not to have a license. Especially when our purpose is to increase the number of owners who get licenses (helping assure the safe return of their dog if it gets loose), we didn't want to penalize people who weren't able to get it done in the last two weeks due to weather and associated hassles.

So you still have a month to get it done. Go to www.spcacincinnati.org or the Auditor's site to get your license.

And thanks to the SPCA and the County Auditor staff for their hard work to help get as many dogs licensed as possible.

Making Work Pay: Helping Working Families Get Back on Their Feet

This morning, I was thrilled to help kick off our annual Make Work Pay partnership free income tax preparation program, which helps provide working families in our community with a real economic boost.

By the time I got to Elder High School (one of our sites) at 10:00 a.m., dozens of residents were already working with our team of volunteers to file their taxes (for free), and to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. Applause broke out at one point when a hard-working woman learned the good news that she was eligible for a sizeable credit, which she will receive in a few days. (And, every one who came to the clinic also received a County Prescription Drug Discount Card.)

Under the program, volunteer tax preparers make sure applicants file for eligible earned income tax credits (EITC) and child tax credits (CTC). The EITC is a bipartisan program designed to help working lower income families get out of poverty. Filers are eligible for a credit of up to $4,716. Our program not only ensures that eligible citizens claim the credit, but it avoids costly fees and interest rates charged by private, storefront tax preparers.

Last year the program, which offered 33 sites across the region, filed 9,200 returns and garnered almost $9.2 million in refunds for applicants, with $7.7 million of that going to Hamilton County residents—and into the local economy.

I was proud to initiate this partnership while on Cincinnati City Council, and to have brought it to the County once I arrived here. And given our current economic climate, it is especially important that we bring these dollars back to Hamilton County residents, and back into the local economy.

Tax preparation sites this year include Elder High School, Xavier University, the Hamilton County Public Library, the Madisonville Community Center, and the Cincinnati Community Action Agency. And the key global partners in the program are the City of Cincinnati, the United Way, the Legal Aid Societies of Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio, and many other site partners such as Elder, National City Bank, Children's Hospital, and our Library.

But the key to it all are dozens of volunteers who greet residents, sit down with them, and then work with them side by side to file their taxes. These volunteers undergo a lot of training to be able to do this work, but it's worth it. Today, I spoke to one volunteer who has volunteered every year since we started the program six years ago, and he still loves the work.

It's a fantastic program, and part of our larger effort to help local families through this challenging time. Thanks to all in the partnership who make this happen.

To find out more information on eligibility, site locations and times, or how to volunteer, citizens should contact the United Way by calling 211 or visit http://www.makeworkpay.com/.

Stepping Up: Governor Takes on Education Challenge

I just left a press conference with the Governor and local education officials at Withrow High School, and watched as he shared his vision and plan to remake Ohio's schools. I applaud him for being willing to take on--in a serious and substantive way--the topic that so many talk about but ultimately do so little on.

As the Enquirer said at the end of its editorial today, if he succeeds, "it is likely that Ted Strickland will have been one of Ohio's most consequential governors."

You can read his whole State of the State speech here. Key parts of the education plan include: all-day kindergarten, lengthening the school year by 20 days, moving to a system where all students take the ACT, the state taking on a greater share of the funding (relieving local property taxpayers), upgrading the curriculum to comport with 21st century demands, accountability and transparency (including for Charter schools), better teacher and principal training, and more.

It was fitting that this took place at Withrow, where with great leadership and strong students, as well as some of the reforms Gov. Strickland proposed today, this historic high school has seen tremendous improvement and excellence in recent years.

This will be a much-discussed topic in the coming months in Ohio. And its outcome will impact this state for years to come.