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| Photo By Matt Borgerding |
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Kristin Barker holds a sign at Garfield Park before going to welcome President Bush April 3
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One evening in early April 2001, I was standing at Race Street and Central Parkway, behind a line of riot cops, when one of them pointed to the angry crowd on the other side of the street and ordered me to join the "rioters," saying, "For all I know, you're an infiltrator." I thought of that moment while reading
Peter Bronson's new book,
Behind the Lines: The Untold Stories of the Cincinnati Riots, which praises the police department's protection of innocent citizens during those events.
Like other CityBeat personnel covering the uprising in Over-the-Rhine, the only problems I encountered were with the police -- not the protesters. Bronson's book argues that the police were faultless in the uproar that swept over the city and that politicians prevented the show of force necessary to quickly restore order.
The book has its weaknesses -- for example, asserting without evidence that snipers were in the crowd attending Timothy Thomas' funeral and suggesting that a Louisville teacher injured by a police beanbag after the funeral wouldn't have gotten hurt if she'd stayed home, where she belonged. But it's a provocative account of police perceptions of the action on the streets.
To buy a copy, visit the Enquirer columnist's Web site, www.peterbronson.com.
President Bush stayed off the streets when he visited April 3 for Reds Opening Day. Maybe he wouldn't have gotten heckled if he'd participated in the Findlay Market Parade -- after all, he didn't get heckled when he approached the mound to throw the game's opening pitch.
Of course, it didn't hurt that Bush was accompanied by two injured military veterans and the father of a U.S. soldier killed last month in Iraq. Who's going to boo under those circumstances? A small group organized by the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center kept vigil outside the ballpark, carrying signs saying, "Double Play: Support the Troops and End the Occupation."
Even the president's opening pitch caused disagreement. The Cincinnati Enquirer online described Bush's throw as "a high-and-outside floater." But Michael Fletcher of The Washington Post saw the opposite: "The pitch had some zip, but would have been inside -- maybe even a brush back pitch -- to a right-handed batter."
Mallory Looks the Other Way
Mayor Mark Mallory took the passive-aggressive approach to legislation with the city's new law carrying a 30-day jail term for possession of marijuana; a repeat offense carries a possible six-month term. Recognizing a bad law when he sees one, Mallory declined to sign the ordinance, passed 6-2 by city council, allowing it to become law without his approval.
He refused to veto the bill, however, saying to do so would be a "waste of ink," given the size of the majority that supported it. Mallory knows better than that: A veto would have extended the debate and allowed him to try to change council's decision.
Last year Mallory supported a medical marijuana bill in the Ohio Senate. But by looking the other way while the new city ordinance passed, he showed how deep his convictions on this issue run. If you're a cancer patient in Cincinnati and smoke pot to relieve your pain, you can now go to jail for it, and Mallory did nothing to stop it.
You could already be voting. The Ohio primary election isn't until May 2, but a new state law allows anyone to cast an absentee ballot for any reason up to 35 days before Election Day. Voters still need to request an absentee ballot in writing.
The request must include name, address, date of birth, phone number, signature and one of the following: drivers license number, last four digits of your social security number, a copy of a valid photo ID or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that has your name and address. Indicate which ballot you want to receive: Democrat and issues, Republican and issues or issues only. Mail requests to the Hamilton County Board of Elections, 824 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202 or fax them to 513-744-9038. Forms are also available at www.votehamiltoncounty.com.
Boosted by support from the AFL-CIO and the Hamilton County Democratic Party, the Ohio Minimum Wage campaign is building momentum. The goal is a ballot measure that would raise the state's minimum wage from the current $4.15 an hour to $6.85 (see "The Minimum We Can Do," issue of Jan. 4-10).
Organizers circulated petitions last week at four locations in Cincinnati. The effort continues from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, with petitions available in the vicinity of Jefferson Avenue and Vine Street. For more information about the proposal, visit raisethewage.org.
Porkopolis TIP LINES: 513-665-4700 (ext. 138) or pork(at)citybeat.com
