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Candidates outline housing, safety and engagement priorities at North College Hill forum
Summary
At a Cincinnati NAACP–moderated forum, nine candidates for North College Hill City Council presented openings and answered audience questions on housing affordability, developer requirements, tax compliance, public-safety levies, youth programs and a proposed Metro bus terminal.
David Whitehead, president of the Cincinnati branch of the NAACP, moderated a candidates' forum in North College Hill in which nine people running for council and council president gave two-minute openings and answered audience-submitted questions. Whitehead opened the forum by explaining the format and time limits and urged voters to pay attention to how candidates' proposals aligned with council duties such as ordinances, resolutions and the annual operating budget.
Candidates framed common priorities around housing, public safety and civic engagement. Mary Jo Zorbb pointed to the recently passed comprehensive plan and advocated a rental licensing program to hold negligent landlords accountable. Several candidates—including Annalisa Clear and Victor Wilson—said the comprehensive plan gives the city a framework for new development and zoning updates. On public safety, multiple candidates urged voters to support levies on the ballot; Zorbb referenced a 12% fire levy and a 5.4% police levy.
The forum included a discussion about tax compliance after the city's finance director reported roughly 4,000 residents had not filed city taxes; candidates favored education, welcome packets for new residents and improved rental registration to capture missed revenue. On youth issues, participants proposed more recreational programming, mentorship and community partnerships with schools and police. When asked whether they supported a proposed Metro bus terminal in the city, most candidates said yes; Zorbb said she needed more budget information and abstained.
Whitehead closed by urging voters to confirm voter registration and by thanking volunteers and officials for organizing the forum. The forum aimed to give voters direct, time-limited answers to inform their choices in the November election.
