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Price Hill merchants tell city ICE raids and street crime have cut customers and left owners fearful
Summary
Business owners and community leaders from East Price Hill told the Healthy Neighborhoods Committee that recent ICE activity near Warsaw Avenue and recurring street-level theft and vandalism have driven away customers, reduced daily revenue and prompted requests for coordinated city support and outreach.
Business owners and neighborhood leaders from Price Hill told the Cincinnati Healthy Neighborhoods Committee that recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity near a Kroger on Warsaw Avenue and recurring street-level theft and vandalism have reduced customers, cut daily revenue and left some storeowners fearful of delivering services.
Amber Cassam, president of the East Price Hill Improvement Association, said business owners have privately funded building stabilizations and facade improvements but now need more city support as foot traffic and customer visits have dropped. ‘‘I came down here on my lunchtime ... I hope our community can be supported and protected by you,’’ Cassam told the committee.
Don Dreehaus, a West Price Hill board member and Community Action Team representative, introduced several Hispanic business owners and said enforcement actions by federal immigration authorities in recent weeks are affecting the local Hispanic workforce and customer base.
A restaurant and grocery owner who spoke through Pam Dixon, an interpreter present at the meeting, said sales fell dramatically the Saturday after ICE conducted detentions near the Kroger: ‘‘On any Saturday, we’re going to be making $1,200, $1,300 just normally. That Saturday after they had the detaining, we only made $249,’’ the owner said in translated remarks.
Manuel Perez, an organizer with the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center, said many immigrant workers stayed home after the ICE activity rather than travel to work or run errands. ‘‘I consider myself a Cincinnatian,’’ Perez said, and he urged the city to ensure the Cincinnati Police Department does not cooperate with ICE in ways that would undermine trust between police and immigrant communities.
Business owners also described repeated vandalism and disorder along Warsaw Avenue, including groups of teenagers who they said ripped out planted flowers, banged on signage and at times struck customers. One speaker said staff had repeatedly called police when incidents occurred and reported stolen equipment seen on surveillance video.
Council members and staff pledged to follow up. The committee said it will work with the East Price Hill Improvement Association, connect neighborhood leaders with police liaison Officer Anthony Johnson, and compile and circulate a single, link-ready resource document summarizing city services and business-assistance options.
Vice Chair President Pro Tem Victoria Parks and Council member Anna Albee expressed regret about the reported incidents and emphasized follow-up. Council members said the city has previously used small-business assistance funds (for example during the COVID-19 period) and that staff would explore options, but no formal funding decision was made at the meeting.
Committee members agreed to file the city manager’s report on immigrant community supports and to convene a special neighborhood meeting to develop a coordinated response plan with business owners, police and service providers.
