The Cincinnati Beacon - Harper Opposes the Jail Tax- It Won’t Help Cincinnati

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Harper Opposes the Jail Tax- It Won’t Help Cincinnati

Guest article by Andre Harper.

It’s Cincinnati City Council election season and several candidates have jumped on the jail tax bandwagon proposal by two of the Hamilton County Commissioners to institute a $900 million sales tax increase to fund a jail. Perhaps candidates feel that supporting this measure makes them look “tough on crime” in the eyes of Cincinnati voters. I oppose the proposed tax because the voters defeated it last November. Furthermore, I am not convinced that we need a new jail.

Last November, Hamilton county voters soundly rejected the tax increase for a new jail. You could blame flaws in the proposed plan or the man on the moon, however, there is no one to blame. THE TAXPAYERS DON’T WANT ANOTHER TAX INCREASE! We are already being hit hard enough and I applaud the tax payers for standing up. I believe that citizens elect officials to conquer problems with the resources given. Raising taxes should be the last resort and not the first response. If a politician isn’t willing to be creative or explore all other options before raising taxes, he should find another job.

Recently, I read an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer which casts further doubt in the need of a new jail. Perhaps things aren’t as bad as we are being told. Instead of taxing to build a new jail I would recommend cutting costs and saving to build a new one. Once the government proves that it can be responsible stewards of other’s money, perhaps it can request a taxpayer match. Personally, I don’t believe jail should be a pleasant experience. The conditions should be as uncomfortable as possible so that criminals think twice about returning.

Having been raised in section 8 housing and eventually graduating from college with honors gives me a unique perspective as a candidate. In fact, I lived in West Palm Beach’s notorious Dunbar Village where the recent gang rape occurred. I survived a world of crime and despair; a subculture that most so-called political pundits don’t even know exists. I watched people get attacked and robbed for fun. Many candidates who claim to be tough on crime don’t have a clue how the streets really work. These forces have to be taken into account when developing strategies to combat crime.

Cincinnati’s crime problems won’t be answered by building a new jail. It won’t be answered by getting “tough.” Aggression begets aggression. Observation teaches us that the traditional model of fighting crime is failing. As elected officials, we must set a vision and create an atmosphere of achievement where even the most challenged among us is equipped with the confidence and support to succeed because there is no power more determined than the human spirit. I created The Harper Manifesto which provides vision and a holistic approach to the goal of making Cincinnati the best city in the world. If this atmosphere is created, our law enforcement budgets will decrease, our criminal detainment costs will decrease which will provide funding for more enjoyable things as well as lower the tax burden on the hard workers.

It is important for the citizenry to analyze each candidate’s ideas and vote based on ability instead of how many times you heard their last name. Cincinnati deserves strong, visionary leadership that has the political will to make tough choices. Remember to vote HARPER for Cincinnati City Council!

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funnelcake says:
25 Jul 2007 at 07:38 am | #

Why are city council candidates making the jail tax part of their platform? They have no power in this area. I call bullshit on any candidate that makes a big deal of their platform either for or against the jail tax.

I want to see what they plan to do with the powers that will be placed with them. Not what they would do if they were Hamilton County Commissioners.

says:
25 Jul 2007 at 09:45 am | #

Why are city council candidates making the jail tax part of their platform? They have no power in this area. —from funnelcake, #1

The reason city council candidates (like myself) are taking a public stand on the jail issue is because the current council members have been introducing ordinances and resolutions on the subject for over a year. For example, see the minutes for June 21, 2006. Item #200600629 was a motion to continue the city’s collaborative efforts with Hamilton County to build a new jail facility (part 11). All 8 council members present—Tarbell was absent—voted in favor of this motion.

Also, in July of last year, Ghiz and Berding tried to get the city to commit to spending $6 million for a temporary jail which consisted of tent-like structures* surrounded by a fence.

*Their proposal called them “Sprung structures,” after the manufacturer from which they intended to buy them.

Anon says:
25 Jul 2007 at 01:38 pm | #

Funnelcake,

Since you appear to have your head so deeply imbedded in your ass that you may never see the light of day. Or perhaps, in someone elses because you are in the dark about this. Your thinking is the result of your education and your paycheck. When we are in denial it is impossible to find the truth.

This discussion is about people. Something that you have no concept of so I will attempt to enlighten you.

We the People, is the family of man. Living, breathing, feeling, sentient beings. We planted this garden and it flourished. Year after year, good and bad, we harvested the bounty and gave Thanks for what we had been given. Along the way weeds crept in but the people managed to uproot them and the garden continued to provide. One day, long ago, a vine appeared and the people thought it pleasing. They watered it, and fed it, occasionally cutting it back to prevent its takeover. The fruit it produced was intoxicating and the people soon became addicted to its fruit. It gave them a sense of security, freedom, prosperity and the ability to become completely self absorbed. In their euphoric state they made up stories of how free and proud they were. How brave and strong they were. Placing their flag on everything in sight along with yellow ribbons. While they were patting each other on the back and congratulating themselves for having arrived. The vine grew large blocking he light and destroying all the other crops and the people remained content to be deluded in their fantasy. Pride goes before the fall and when people could no longer feed themselves they avoided the hard decisions by borrowing from their neighbors. During this period the false prosperity was similar to the original but this was easier. Nobody had to work pulling weeds and they pretended all they had to do was talk because all their needs were met. Only a few people remained awake enough to recognize the danger they faced. They kept trying to awaken the drunkards but the result was ridicule, humiliation, expulsion and death. To avoid the abuse of the majority the few that were awake kept silent.

The silent majority is beginning to wake up and do they have a hangover. The vine has all but taken over the garden and the credit line is maxed out. The seeds were planted or genetically modified long ago and crops are not sustainable. Labor sits around on its fat ass or hangs with the dudes on the corner. Jackass the movie is what America has become. It is time for an intervention and it will happen. The freedoms we have taken for granted are going away. The Light of Liberty and Rights given to us by our Creator are being blocked by the vine that now has us in a choke hold.

Before I breathe my last I intend to see the fraud exposed and the Blessings of Liberty restored to All My Family. This includes you and everyone that is breathing my air. Jails are a bandaid on the hemorrhaging patient. We need to get at the root cause and not patch the effect. The end of secrecy is a beginning of Freedom.

cincysue says:
25 Jul 2007 at 05:43 pm | #

How can you vote for Harper when Smitherman has said that we should only cast one vote--for him. Yes he did say it Dean. Oh, yes he did.

Librariangrrl says:
25 Jul 2007 at 05:58 pm | #

WOW!!!Am I permitted to reprint comment #3 ????

Interested voter says:
25 Jul 2007 at 06:16 pm | #

Every city council member is a Hamilton County voter and affected by the issue. When we look for leadership we need to get an idea of what candidates stand for on important issues. The city and county are related and city ordinances like Cecil Thomas’ marijauna ordinance cause overcrowding in our jails.

This is a fair question and we should hope that candidates will have the courage to take a stand one way or the other. We have a right to ask and they have a responsibility to give an honest answer not dance and dodge important issues.

avon says:
25 Jul 2007 at 06:26 pm | #

cincysue, who said the Dean was voting for Harper? There’s not many people worth voting for and your vote is more powerful if you only vote for the candidate or candidates you really like instead of feeling like you have to vote for 9.

funnelcake says:
25 Jul 2007 at 08:20 pm | #

Let me paraphrase for Anon#3:
“Insult. Blah blah blah blah blah Windbagged long-@ss post blah blah blah blah blah.” -Anon-using-a-generic-handle-so-you-can’t-enter-an-honest-debate-with-me

CincyJeff says:
26 Jul 2007 at 03:11 pm | #

I appreciate Andre Harper’s intelligent analysis of this jail plan and crime issue. He raises a number of good points and brings a perspective that most of us don’t have. Keep it coming Andre!

cincysue says:
26 Jul 2007 at 04:08 pm | #

I’m trying to grok that analogy. Is the vine supposed to symbolize Smitherman?

says:
26 Jul 2007 at 06:27 pm | #

Candidate Andre Harper presents for an outsider, as am I, an interesting brew of commonplace political ideas blended together with perhaps the intention of snagging every citizen who believes in the worthiness of democratic process.

Harper is against the effort of the “Hamilton County Commissioners to institute a $900 million sales tax increase to fund a jail”, while he states, “Personally, I don’t believe jail should be a pleasant experience.”

One has to wonder how unpleasant an experience jail would be without a jail?

Harper similarly gives us this bit of wisdom, “If a politician isn’t willing to be creative or explore all other options before raising taxes, he should find another job.”

But, with the severe lack of jobs out there, and the stigma of having served time in some political position, perhaps not making license plates, but just the same who would hire all these people he suggests should find another job?

Harper states his credentials thus: “Having been raised in section 8 housing and eventually graduating from college with honors gives me a unique perspective as a candidate.”

While I have learned over the years the value of a college education, something usually gained not quite before puberty ends and responsibility begins, and having learned to discount its commonly attributed esteem steeply, I must admit how impressed I am that this candidate admits before the world that he grew up in section 8 housing. I would be more impressed however, were he to declare his intention to continue to live in section 8 housing, if elected.

Harper demonstrates his macro-analytical skills concerning the Big Picture thus, “Observation teaches us that the traditional model of fighting crime is failing.”

Mr. Harper would likely do better however, to analyze why the perennial political issue, “fighting crime”, is even perceived as an unsated governmental function in Cincinnati, a city that throws an otherwise disproportionate amount of its resources at “fighting crime”, with minimally effective results.

Harper give us this, “As elected officials, we must set a vision and create an atmosphere of achievement where even the most challenged among us is equipped with the confidence and support to succeed because there is no power more determined than the human spirit.” Well, hallelujah!

Any politician who starts in citing the merit and worth of the human spirit as a resource for revitalizing his constituents’ hometown, simply is of some other world and wholly inexperienced with human nature.

Perhaps, in his youthful enthusiasm for getting down in the
foul public trough to measure his leadership skills, candidate Harper might stand up and stop doing as the Romans do while he is in Rome.

Andre, all the problems Cincinnati faces are structurally social, and most are barriers imposed or entrenched as the immovable status quo by government, business and the citizenry of every economic class. And virtually none of these problems will be addressed by extolling the virtues of achievement. Education, the catalyst and prime-mover of achievement, is the constraint that makes all the change-necessities improbable.

It is a common ploy of politicians and candidates to prod the electorate toward some ethereal goal. Cincinnati is like an old garbage hauler’s horse that has been prodded without proper care the last time. The flies sense the long awaited feast for their young.

The likes of Detroit’s mess beckons Cincinnati with a long bony finger not unlike that of the grim reaper.

Andre Harper, any political candidate as are you that has as few solutions as you propose, should likely forget about his education, and seek out the old men in the community who can provide a real education about what is needed.

It’s certainly not anything like what was taught in that damned school that filled you so full of your puffed up self with that honors degree.

And to return to my opening paragraph here, I have not, and Candidate Andre Harper’s appeal here affirms for me, that faith in the “worthiness of democratic process”, is a wholly misplaced fantasy.

But as it does seem to work itself out, one could do worse than Andre Harper on the City Council, and it no doubt has plenty of times.

Don Robertson, The American Philosopher

says:
26 Jul 2007 at 07:46 pm | #

Overlit Glamour Shot (r) aside, I now will consider voting for Mr. Harper.

That he has articulated a position on this issue, whether one agrees with him or not, puts him head and turtlenecked shoulders above most candidates including incumbents.

Mr. Robertson: WTF?! STFU!

JFD says:
26 Jul 2007 at 10:07 pm | #

Mr Harper,
As I asked you before, what is your position on CityLink? This is an issue that threatens the entire urban core, and it’s redevelopment.

Fred Phlintstone, The American Philanderer says:
26 Jul 2007 at 10:43 pm | #

DR #11: “Andre Harper, any political candidate as are you that has as few solutions as you propose, should likely forget about his education, and seek out the old men in the community who can provide a real education about what is needed”

Are we to assume that you, D.R. are one of the old men who Mr Harper is to seek out?

1) You are not of this community. You live in Bedford Maine. You have stated in the past that you have an interest in living in Cincinnati, but continue to proclaim it as the next Detroit. As I see it, Detroit needs what you have to offer, much more than Cincinnati.

2) Does the real education you offer to purvey, have anything to do with the book written by the self proclaimed, “Worlds greatest living philosopher”, that you try to sell on blogs all over the internet?

D.R.#11: “And to return to my opening paragraph here, I have not, and Candidate Andre Harper’s appeal here affirms for me, that faith in the “worthiness of democratic process”, is a wholly misplaced fantasy.”

Maybe you should be looking at Cuba as a place to relocate, forget about Cincinnati and Detroit.

Don Robertson, The American Philosopher says:
27 Jul 2007 at 09:04 am | #

Speaking of Cuba… Is it still possible, as it was a hundred years ago, to book passage on a boat leaving Cincinnati headed to New Orleans? (Which would have led to the port of New Orleans and a possible oceanic booking to Cuba, and who knows where else?

If not, why not? I cannot imagine a more engaging way to see the rivers, the lay of the land as well as the broad cast of Americana between Cincinnati and the Gulf of Mexico.

Twain talked up Cincinnati as one of many river towns, the larger of which all put on airs and went to brick buildings. All those older brick buildings in Cincinnati were built from the river trade.

Is it even possible to book passage to New Orleans from Cincinnati anymore?

Don Robertson, The American Philosopher

David E. Gallaher says:
27 Jul 2007 at 07:24 pm | #

Andre could gain a lot of credibility if he would simply jump in here and pretend he has read some of the comments. (It might partially offset the image of him looking like a doofus.)

My fundamental problem with the jail tax is: Why should we bind ourselves to fork over more money to the very same people who have failed to date to discover justice? Much less the solution to violence in our city.
Charlie Brown I am not.

cincysue says:
27 Jul 2007 at 08:26 pm | #

Nothing throws cold water on dialog more than a long, pompous, condescending mini-novel by Philosopher Don the pretend easterner with an unexplainable familiarity and interest in the personal squabbles of strangers in the Queen City. His outsider’s view is most probably coming from his apartment in Clifton. Yeah, and I’m in, uh, Barcelona.

JFD says:
27 Jul 2007 at 10:33 pm | #

#17 cincysue: “His outsider’s view is most probably coming from his apartment in Clifton. Yeah, and I’m in, uh, Barcelona.”

Ten minutes of googling DR will give you what you are looking for. He’s selling a book.

JFD says:
27 Jul 2007 at 10:37 pm | #

Mr Harper,
Are you a one issue man or are you going to answer the question about CityLink?

Fred Phlintstone, The American Philanderer says:
27 Jul 2007 at 10:49 pm | #

DR#15: “Speaking of Cuba… Is it still possible, as it was a hundred years ago, to book passage on a boat leaving Cincinnati headed to New Orleans?”

DR, don’t let the Gulf of Mexico hit you in the ass on your way out of the US.

CincyCapell says:
27 Jul 2007 at 11:38 pm | #

Jeff Capell, How many times do you have to be told about blogging while on County-and taxpayer-time?

The Face Of A Troll

says:
28 Jul 2007 at 11:08 am | #

About three weeks ago I watched a light-skinned black woman who was giving a lecture on local TV, most probably PBS. She was speaking on crime problems and spoke of Los Angeles. She told of how LA had dealt with a similar-to-Cincinnati argument over jail construction only it was twenty to thirty years ago.

They build the jail and the crime situation did not abate; it got worse. The woman seemed to be a civic leader and perhaps a LA council person. She was vary articulate and if anyone saw her and knows her name, I would be interested in having her inform us of her findings.

It seems that we would be better off if we were to quit throwing money at problems and find solutions that work.

says:
28 Jul 2007 at 11:20 am | #

Well this was fast!
I didn’t get the woman’s name but the content of what she said is at this site:

http://facts1.live.radicaldesigns.org/article.php?id=900

JFD says:
28 Jul 2007 at 12:52 pm | #

Andre, where are you? I don’t see much of a future for you in politics, if you can’t even answer a simple question.

anon says:
28 Jul 2007 at 01:30 pm | #

CincyJeff has been nuked. Game over.

says:
29 Jul 2007 at 09:01 am | #

Mr. Harper states, “I created The Harper Manifesto which provides vision and a holistic approach to the goal of making Cincinnati the best city in the world.”

Where can one view this manifesto?

And all Section 8 housing does not have to be the stereotype that Harper implies. While Section 8 has been notoriously exploited, there are many that enjoy good and decent housing as the program intended.

I am greatly impressed with the comments of Anon (#3 above) and Don Robertson (#11 above). Are we being sandbagged? Then on the other extreme is the philistine: Fred Phlintstone. Fred Phlintstone is why the problems, that the proposed jail is supposed to address, will never be solved. Fred Phlintstone is why our so-called democracy is so ineffective.

And I don’t care if anyone is selling a book, I just wish that we had more comments from those that have the ability to read a book.

Dieter

CincyJeff says:
29 Jul 2007 at 08:55 pm | #

Don Robertson - The American Windbagger.

Bertie the Butt Rooster - go ahead and file another complaint with Patrick Thompson, see how far it gets you.

As for Andre Harper, the alleged topic of this thread, I think it’s a good sign there’s still no substantive dispute towards his points. It shows us his points are right on the mark and further exposes The White Democratic Sales Tax Hike for the travesty it is.

CincyCapell says:
29 Jul 2007 at 09:27 pm | #

How’s it feel to be forcibly outed Jeff? BTW, you’re not the most photogenic troll are you?

CincyPepper says:
30 Jul 2007 at 11:51 am | #

CincyCapell, the only troll here is you. Everyone else is trying to have an adult discussion. Are you in the 8th grade or something?

Anon says:
31 Jul 2007 at 05:47 pm | #

CincyJeff says: “Don Robertson - The American Windbagger....Bertie the Butt Rooster”

Oh yes, a serious, sophisticated adult discussion.

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