The Public Safety and Governance Committee did not approve releasing $275,000 that had been held for an Advance Peace-style community violence interruption program. Vice Mayor Jan Kearney, who presented the proposal to immediately release the funds for a local partner, said the program focuses on a small group of people at the center of retaliatory gun violence and pointed to data from other cities.

"We have something that we know has worked across the country, and we need to be courageous enough to get this going here," Vice Mayor Jan Kearney said, citing declines in gun homicide rates reported by Richmond, Calif., and other cities where similar models have operated.

Opponents raised questions about program design and fairness. Council Member Mark Jeffries said he supported interventions and job training but opposed unconditional stipend payments to people with prior convictions. "I don't think it's right ... to give a thousand dollars a month to people who've been convicted of gun felonies for their good behavior," Jeffries said, calling that approach unfair to law-abiding residents.

Council Member Ann Albee and other members asked for more operational detail, cost breakdowns and confirmation of local partners. Kearney said the administration and proponents had been fundraising and would partner with a local group called Saving Our Kings and Queens after another potential partner declined the funding. Kearney described the model as intensive: full-time, 24/7 credible messengers who have repeated contact with participants, provide life-skills support, therapy and incentives for positive behavior.

The committee vote failed on a 2–2 roll call: Chair Scotty Johnson and Vice Mayor Jan Kearney voted yes; Council Members Mark Jeffries and Ann Albee voted no. Following the defeat, a committee member moved under committee rules to forward the proposal for a full-council vote; the solicitor noted that moving the item directly to the full council would also require mayoral concurrence.

Proponents said they will continue private fundraising and outreach to community partners to finalize implementation details; opponents said council should require detailed budgets, performance metrics and governance arrangements before releasing city funds. The committee discussion left key questions open about the program's consulting and operating costs, partner responsibilities and how the work would align with existing city initiatives such as Act for Cincy and Job and Family Services.