Cincinnati City Council honors federal workers and approves a package of housing, grant and zoning measures

Cincinnati City Council on an afternoon session adopted a resolution expressing support for federal employees and approved several emergency ordinances, budget and housing motions, and zoning changes that city leaders said are aimed at helping residents and advancing development projects.

The council unanimously passed a resolution offered by Council Member Mark Jeffries that “extends its deepest appreciation to all federal employees who serve our nation with integrity, diligence, and professionalism, and reaffirms its support for their continued employment and service within our community.” Council members also approved emergency amendments to accept and use grants from the Ohio Department of Health and the Federal Bipartisan Airport Infrastructure Grant Program, accepted a county donation for downtown wayfinding signs, advanced a rezoning in Walnut Hills for an affordable housing project, and adopted motions on the vacant building registry, an apartment-listings technical feasibility report and the city’s FY2026 policy budget directions.

Why this matters: Council members framed the resolution as a local response to recent workforce reductions and federal agency layoffs, saying the cuts harm neighborhoods and public services the city relies on. Council also emphasized using available grant funds and local tools to support housing, infrastructure and city services as part of the next budget cycle.

Council action and debate Council Member Mark Jeffries introduced the resolution, saying the city should “express our deep concern and outrage, over it, with this resolution and support for, all the federal workers locally.” Supporters invited labor leaders to the meeting: Brian Griffin of the Cincinnati AFL-CIO told council, “These are the people who inspect our food, deliver our mail,…