City West residents urge council to forgive debt, halt sale and speed safety fixes after 11-year-old’s killing

City West residents, family members of a slain child and community leaders called on the Cincinnati City Council to block the sale of City West, forgive a reported debt tied to the property and accelerate park- and street-safety measures after the recent killing of an 11-year-old.

Pastor Leslie Jones asked the council "to adopt the Queen Aerie Reid Safe Parks and Playgrounds initiative," saying that symbolic acts such as renaming parks "are not enough" without funding and active co-governance to make parks safe for children. Multiple residents said they had long pushed for cameras and lighting in West End parks and neighborhoods, and they demanded clearer communication from city staff about where equipment has been placed.

"We don't know what is fully going on or how we're gonna get answers," said Janae, who identified herself during public comment as the victim’s older sister, asking city staff for "accurate information" and follow-up. Other speakers said the city had the money to install cameras but had not prioritized West End neighborhoods. "It takes for another child to get killed for you to roll a camera in there," one resident said.

Speakers tied the safety concerns to a broader housing fight over City West. Barbara Smith, a City West resident, told the council she and her neighbors "did not make this debt" and asked how a future buyer could assure current residents they would be allowed to return and that rents would remain affordable. Several speakers demanded the city "forgive the debt" and keep the property publicly owned, warning that a sale could convert 104 affordable units into luxury housing near the new stadium.

Stanford Poole, who identified himself as a community coordinator for Neighborhood United, described personal trauma tied to local gun violence and urged the council to protect existing residents from displacement. Others called for a community benefits agreement that would guarantee returning rights for displaced tenants if development proceeds.

At the start of the council’s business session, the council approved the published minutes and agenda and held item 34 for one week. Later in the meeting Chair moved the council into executive session "to consider the employment of a public employee pursuant to" a cited section of the revised code; roll-call votes were recorded and the motion passed.

City Manager Long responded to repeated public concerns about cameras in the West End, saying CPD has "installed 6 new cameras in the West End since September with the funds allocated by city council" and that "an additional [SIST] cameras will be installed in the next 30 days." He added the equipment was operational at the time of the tragic shooting that led to the 11-year-old’s death.

Speakers also pressed the council on other related issues, including maintenance problems at City West (mold, failing locks, and delayed repairs), resident communication plans, and requests for explanations of housing programs such as RAD or related acronyms. Qte Evans read a list of residents’ questions about housing options, whether households pay more than 30% of income for rent and how resident councils are formed.

The meeting concluded after the council moved into and returned from an executive session; no further votes on City West were recorded during the session. The business portion of the agenda was completed and the meeting adjourned.

What happens next: Several residents said they want formal commitments from council to preserve affordability if a sale is negotiated and to provide a clear timeline for planned camera installations and further safety work. City Manager Long’s statement sets an operational timetable for additional cameras within 30 days.