Top Stories at The Cincinnati Beacon

Good coverage, bad coverage: 3CDC and teen suicide in The Enquirer
Saturday, September 04, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

I have mixed feelings about The Enquirer today.  In an item entitled “Over-the-Rhine protest decries prosecutor’s decision on death in Washington Park,” the paper really gives some ink to perspectives contrary to 3CDC.  This is a relatively new thing for the paper to do, as previously they only advanced pro-3CDC propaganda without even disclosing their publisher sits on that organization’s board.  (For more on that, read this.)  But I also see they have published this item, showcasing how a teenager committed suicide with his vehicle.  Media coverage of suicide is a real issue, and I disagree with how the Enquirer handles it.

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (2) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Chick-Fil-A:  What do chicken sandwiches have to do with gay people?
Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Back2Stonewall has posted this item, which showcases how Chick-Fil-A has decided to sponsor an event for the anti-gay CCV.  I am disappointed.  I mean, I always knew Chick-Fil-A was a “Christian” business—but I didn’t know they did anything particularly crazy with their “Christianity.”  So I was willing to overlook that given how delicious I find their food to be.  But I will not overlook this.  Certainly businesses have the right to support whatever political cause they desire—just as I have the right to support a boycott of Chick-Fil-A due to their disgusting behavior. 

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (23) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Is human tragedy a spectator sport?
Friday, August 27, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Is human tragedy a spectator sport?  Someone at The Enquirer seems to think so!  By now you might have seen the police cruiser cam video of a Mason teenager’s car basically disintegrating into a bridge.  But what you may have missed is the quick editing job over at The Enquirer’s web page in the item where they link to this footage!  The change-up is timely, given a recent CityBeat column by media critic Ben Kaufman on the very issue of “unpublishing.”

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (5) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Elementary schools, reading comprehension, and myelination
Sunday, August 22, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Ever since I started reading Endangered Minds:  Why children don’t think, and what we can do about it, I have been struck by the concept of “myelination.”  I think the easiest way to understand myelin is to imagine “insulation” around a “wire” that is a neural pathway in your brain.  Once your brain gets “hardwired” into a certain way of behaving, mental patterns and habits can become “myelinated”—which means they have become a physically permanent part of your brain’s structure.  It turns out this has a huge impact on how we should think of things like reading comprehension, and what schools are doing to young children.

Read More »

Posted by Jason Haap
Comments (8) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

7, 8, 9 - How Steep is Vine?
Monday, August 16, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

After all this time one would think that there wouldn’t be any question as to how steep the Vine Street hill actually is.  Alas, that isn’t the case.  Depending upon what city document one uses, the maximum slope is either 7%, or 8.12%, or 9%.  Due to the relatively slippery nature of steel wheels on steel rails, the difference is very important.

Read More »

Posted by Michael Earl Patton
Comments (49) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Sen. Sanders distances himself from PCRM after Beacon runs Mayo doc’s letters
Sunday, August 15, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Photo:  PCRM president Neal Barnard MD, sculptor Dorothy Frankel, and PCRM Director of Public Affairs Elizabeth Kucinich, 8/7/10

From “Of Chimpanzees and Candidates” by Jon Margolis, Vermont Newsguy, August 13, 2010

Earlier this week, Sen. Bernie Sanders chose as his friends an organization called the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), which inspired him and two other senators to introduce legislation to phase out taxpayer-supported scientific experiments on chimpanzees.

Read More »

Posted by Cincinnati Beacon Staff
Comments (2) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Is the Enquirer healthy?
Thursday, August 12, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

To this day, newspapers take great pride in journalistic independence and keeping an arms-length relationship with the institutions that they cover. Not the Cincinnati Enquirer. As we’ve reported here, publisher Margaret Buchanan’s service on the executive committee of the Cincinnati City Center Development Corp. (better known as 3CDC) has coincided with the Enquirer’s glorification of 3CDC gentrification efforts in Over-the-Rhine, to the exclusion of coverage of the impact of mass displacement on poor people. But Buchanan’s extracurricular involvement extends to the University of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Business Committee and the Commercial Club of Cincinnati, all of which puts her in cozy boardroom settings alongside powerful industrial barons who tend not to like intrusive news coverage.

Read More »

Posted by Cincinnati Beacon Staff
Comments (1) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Getting specific with the Cincinnati Tea Party?
Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

We recently posted this item about the Cincinnati Tea Party’s apparent refusal to articulate specific positions.  Those critical of our piece said we tried to pigeon-hole the Tea Party, attempting to force them to take a position on a controversial issue not at their focus.  Though I disagree, I wondered if there were something specific and totally in line with their thinking about which I could inquire.  That’s when I thought about the “War Is Making You Poor Act”!

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (2) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

What happened to million$ in fed funding from CDC to SALF?
Saturday, July 31, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Photo:  Anderson Hospital CEO Keith Page, Carol J. Spizzirri & Rep. John Shimkus (holding check), January 14, 2005

July 29, 2010

To: The Hon. Tim Johnson, Mark Kirk, and John Shimkus

Dear Congressmen:

I’m reporting a story about whether or not millions of federal dollars – funding the recipient says you helped arrange – were properly administered.

Read More »

Posted by Cincinnati Beacon Staff
Comments (3) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Are homeless advocates in Cincinnati paranoid or proactive?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Yesterday, dozens of advocates for homeless children came out to express their passionate support for Project Connect. The school board and superintendent Mary Ronan played confused, acting like they didn’t know where anyone would get the idea they’d cut a program that brings needed services to our most at-risk children.  In today’s Enquirer, the story goes that Ronan and the board had never considered such a cut—but we’ve got documents that show otherwise!

Read More »

Posted by Justin Jeffre
Comments (9) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Project Connect:  Take Action for Homeless Students!
Friday, July 23, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Among the proposed cuts for Cincinnati Public Schools, two are of great concern for our community as they affect the educational services and enrichment opportunities currently being provided by Project Connect (P.C.) to our children and youth experiencing homelessness. As outlined in the Superintendent’s recommended consolidated budget cuts for 2010-2011, the consolidation of Customer Service and P.C. would save the district $110,000 and the layoff of all School Community Coordinators (unrepresented) would be an additional savings of $1,309,726.

Read More »

Posted by Media Release
Comments (14) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

What’s behind the push to get rid of Cincinnati’s Water Works?
Saturday, July 17, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Dohoney’s and Rager’s Drive to Sell Threatens our City and our Communities

Guest article by Dan La Botz*

A year ago it appeared that the Cincinnati City Council and the people of Cincinnati had rejected the idea of selling of the city-owned Water Works in order to create a new regional water district. Virtually every major citizens group in the city opposed it, left, right and center—from Cincinnati Progressive Action (CPA) and the AFSCME union council, to the NAACP and COAST. Thousands of citizens signed a petition to stop the sale of the Water Works. Cincinnatians didn’t want to give up their water. After all, the Water Workers, run by and for the people of Cincinnati, represents one of our city’s great assets and one that functions well for all of us.

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (29) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Planet Aid?  Panty Raids?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Have you ever seen those yellow donation boxes around town from “Planet Aid”?  Like those you might see from other organizations, these purport to be collecting items to provide for charitable international relief.  You can find out more at their web page.  But have you ever gone back to your computer, and done an internet search on that organization’s name?  What sorts of details are out there regarding Planet Aid?  In short, what’s the deal with these yellow boxes?

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (8) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Gannett Supervisor:  Buchanan will now disclose 3CDC on web Opinion page
Friday, July 09, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

For some time, we have raised concerns about the fact that Enquirer stories featuring praise of 3CDC fail to disclose how publisher Margaret Buchanan sits on that organization’s board (on the executive committee, to be precise).  After exchanging emails with Buchanan, in which she refused to do anything different, I took the matter up with Michael Kane—Gannett’s interstate regional supervisor for this region.  Check out his response, and the new changes to the Enquirer’s web page!

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (9) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

UPDATE:  3CDC, The Enquirer, and “conflicts of interest”
Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Last week, I posted this item, detailing Gannett’s ethical code of conduct with a letter to publisher Margaret Buchanan.  In short, I can find no evidence the Enquirer has ever disclosed its publisher sits on the board of 3CDC—which has meaning when the paper issues unsigned editorials granting fervent support to 3CDC’s projects.  Today, I have a series of emails, copied below, to update those following this story.

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (2) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

At the courthouse steps:  Homeless Coalition speaking on lawsuit against City
Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Posted by Justin Jeffre
Comments (9) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Recovery Dollars in Cincinnati
Saturday, July 03, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Has anyone actually gone to Recovery.gov, to track how recovery dollars have been distributed by the US government for the benefit of local regions and job creation?  To the right you’ll find a screenshot of the Cincinnati map, with dots representing local companies that have received recovery dollars.  (Click the image for a larger view.)  In some cases, you can click on the dot and get a snapshot, where you’ll learn exactly how much the company got, and if the money has already been utilized it will sometimes say how many jobs have been created.  Here’s a sampling, of sorts, from exploring the site.

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (6) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

3CDC, The Enquirer, and Gannett’s policy on “conflicts of interest”
Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Today, the Enquirer posted an unsigned editorial articulating total support for 3CDC’s plans in Washington Park.  And, as recently reported in City Beat by Ben Kaufman—a veteran local media expert and part-time professor of media ethics at area universities—the paper has never disclosed to its readers the fact that its publisher, Margaret Buchanan, sits on the Executive Committee for the board of 3CDC.  So what does Gannett’s ethics policy have to say about matters like this?  Turns out they have a pretty specific set of guidelines.

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (9) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

A Different Streetcar Route: Avoiding the Slide on Vine
Monday, June 28, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Is there another way to run a streetcar out of the Basin to Uptown other than Vine Street?  After all, Vine Street is quite steep: 7 - 9% according to the HDR Streetcar Feasibility Study (see last paragraph of Appendix C).  Although I’m not in favor of using streetcars unless most of the route runs in their own right-of-way (otherwise I prefer electric trolley busses), I decided to see if I could find a way.  I think I did.

Read More »

Posted by Michael Earl Patton
Comments (35) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Watch out, 3CDC!  Here comes my3CDC.org!
Saturday, June 26, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

As reported today in The Enquirer, opposition to 3CDC has started to become organized, unveiling my3CDC.org—a new initiative designed to track and provide alternate viewpoints on the corporate control 3CDC has exerted on the City of Cincinnati.  The site looks like it has great potential to serve as a clearinghouse for information!

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (5) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Smitherman on minority pass-through schemes
Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Thanks to Media Bridges’ video-on-demand service, local public access television content now streams across the internet.  Recently, Christopher Smitherman went on television to discuss the details of minority pass-through schemes which he say pervert real attempts at minority inclusion on important City projects.  Here’s the program.  Smitherman says it’s one of the “hottest programs” he’s ever done!

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (21) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Cincinnati NAACP with anti-public-school far-right half-brained “reforms”
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Recently, the Cincinnati NAACP has correctly criticized the Cincinnati Public Schools for not hiring enough minority contractors in its new building program.  However, the local branch and its president, Christopher Smitherman, have refused to explain what logical connection exists between this issue, and any potential future operational levies, which the local branch has vowed to oppose for the next several years.  By opposing operational levies, Smitherman has aligned himself with far-right interests such as those of COAST (and as many already know, a white COAST co-founder serves as Smitherman’s right hand man and the local NAACP legal redress chair).  Now that Smitherman has opposed operational levies for the public schools, he’s advocating half-brained so-called “reform” efforts of which he has no useful knowledge. 

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (21) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

R.I.P. Big Butter Jesus
Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Read More »

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Comments (0) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Homeless Coalition Suing the City!
Monday, June 14, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless will file suit in federal court this Wednesday, June 16th to block an unconstitutional panhandling rule adopted by Cincinnati City Council.  The Homeless Coalition will hold a press conference just prior to the filing at 2pm on Wednesday, June 16th in front of the Potter Stewart Courthouse (100 E. 5th).

Read More »

Posted by Media Release
Comments (0) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

BEACON SPOTLIGHT: Scamazon, part II: The shill is gone!
Thursday, June 10, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

In what looks like a reaction to a recent Beacon report, Amazon.com has deleted 72 five-star book reviews. They were all posted by Rachel Friedman, whose scores of glowing write-ups failed to mention that she’s a public relations professional working for a high-profile agency in Clearwater, Florida and that her company had issued press releases hyping the same books.

Read More »

Posted by Cincinnati Beacon Staff
Comments (8) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

A Matter of Conflicts: Full Disclosure Is Not Enough
Sunday, June 06, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Today’s Enquirer has an unsigned editorial entitled:  “A Matter of Conflicts: Full Disclosure Is The Key.”  The piece addresses the controversies surrounding Councilmember Chris Bortz, and the Enquirer comes down in support of Bortz, while advocating full transparency.  Interestingly, The Enquirer continues to ignore how publisher Margaret Buchanan sits on the board of 3CDC along with Neil Bortz, Chris Bortz’s father.

Read More »

Posted by Cincinnati Beacon Staff
Comments (11) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Homeless Man Saves Wedding!
Thursday, June 03, 2010

Posted by Justin Jeffre
Comments (1) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

Cincinnati 9/12 Project Stands Up for Waste, Fraud, and Abuse, while plagiarizing left wing blogger!
Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Guest article by Coleman Kane

So I decided to partake in my weekly dose of Wingnutistan flagellation from “the right” and came across this Gem on the website of the Cincinnati 9/12 Project during my dumpster dive.  It delves into a criticism of tightening of government screws in the tax laws in an attempt to eliminate what many consider to be one of the bigger fraud/abuse/waste contributors in our antiquated system: Non-qualifying, tax-exempted “expenses”—for instance, when an SBE owner buys a new laptop for his college-bound daughter and writes it off as a “business expense.”

Read More »

Posted by Cincinnati Beacon Staff
Comments (4) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

LAWSUIT: Was UC Clermont coach axed for defending black players against “institutionalized racism”?
Saturday, May 29, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

Text excerpted from “UC Clermont embroiled in racism suit - Nearly two years later, branch campus continues to defend decision in coach choice from directly” by Gin Ando, The News Record, May 23, 2010.

Allegations of racism at the University of Cincinnati Clermont branch are stretching a civil rights lawsuit close to two years. The lawsuit, which involves individuals from both the Clermont branch campus and UC’s Main Campus, revolves around the ability of athletes - particularly black athletes on Clermont’s basketball team - to access student services.

Read More »

Posted by Cincinnati Beacon Staff
Comments (4) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly

 

BEACON SPOTLIGHT: Amazon.com rave book reviews - too good to be true?
Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Photo courtesy of here.

shill (noun): a person who publicizes or praises something or someone for reasons of self-interest, personal profit, or friendship or loyalty.

Ever read a book review on Amazon.com that was so rah-rah and uncritical that you wondered if the reviewer might have connections to the author or publisher? That’s what happened to us recently. A few mouse clicks later, we found ourselves asking serious questions about scores of five-star book reviews posted by one Amazon user and her connections to a prominent national PR company in Clearwater, Florida.

Read More »

Posted by Cincinnati Beacon Staff
Comments (10) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend • Printer Friendly