Mayor Mark Mallory has unveiled a new series of billboards across town, intended to encourage citizens to get involved in making Cincinnati safer.  Check out the billboard below, and please answer our poll question about its effectiveness.

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1. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) says:
   19 Jul 2006  at  04:03 pm | #

   Will products of the Cincinnati Public School System be able to read and comprehend these Billboards? It’s a whole lotta words when you’re “drivin’ by”!

2. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) says:
   19 Jul 2006  at  04:22 pm | #

   What do you care, Blue Gill.  You live in Anderson.

3. funnelcake says:
   19 Jul 2006  at  07:12 pm | #

   “Mayor Mark Mallory says Stop the Violence!  Stay Out of the Crossfire”  This is vague & somewhat intimidating in appearance.  And suggests you be a chicken.  It probably reinforces the “no snitch’n” mindset more than anything else.  Time to find a new advertising agencey.

4. Peter Deane says:
   19 Jul 2006  at  09:14 pm | #

   It tells me to stay the fuck out of whereever this guy is Mayor!

5. Anon says:
   19 Jul 2006  at  09:33 pm | #

   Dean, as a suggestion, I’d keep the poll running for about a week, 10 days. Then give the results to Mallory.

   This is a rather crafty idea conducting the poll. Thanks!

   When I saw this in this morning’s paper, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. For a moment, I thought it was April Fool, seeing the tent city jail ran on the same pages.

   I don’t believe these billboards will be effective. Some residents out there might give the process a go, but they’re more inclined to call CrimeStoppers if they so choose to get involved.

   The City faces budget problems daily & somewhere there was a pot of money or a grant that was detoured to pay for these billboards. I don’t recollect reading that an advertising company donated time, materials & space for this folly.

   And this is a portion of Mallory’s crime plan?  No wonder families are bailing out of the city limits like its a leaking canoe! If this is what I can expect in the form of a solid crime plan in the future, I think I need to go home-hunting elsewhere.

6. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) says:
   19 Jul 2006  at  09:36 pm | #

   According to the press release I received, Norton’s donated the space.  The billboards were not being used.

7. Anon says:
   19 Jul 2006  at  09:47 pm | #

   Thanks for the info, Dean. In looking at your pics of the boards, it seems that the Bar & the hospital might have underwritten part of the costs.

   Regardless, think about keeping the poll going for a bit of a stretch & give the results to Mallory. As you said, he claimed he wanted to give an equal nod to those out of the mainstream media. Let’s see if he’s going to stick to his word & give your statistics careful consideration.

   Thanks again! Great idea!

8. Mina says:
   19 Jul 2006  at  10:42 pm | #

   Dean, great story, I had missed this one in the mainstream media. Peter Deane, you are a nut, but not really. Dean I hope you keep the poll up and forward the info to the Mayor’s office.

9. one advocate says:
   20 Jul 2006  at  02:41 am | #

   i think odell owens should start his own crime prevention hotline separate fromthe police and the city and the county.  i think his persona and passion could be an inlet for those inthe community who want to be a part of solving problems but are distrustful of the authority figures. 
   i think owens is ding a bang up job for the white and black communties.

10. Anon says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  02:47 am | #

    I would like to stay out of the crossfire as the billboard suggests.  Unfortunately, in my neighborhood, that can be tough. 

    What if we changed the campaign to something a little more impactful!

11. judge says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  08:55 am | #

    ugly.

12. komarek says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  10:38 am | #

    There is no single solution to reducing gun violence. What works is a combination of enforcement and prevention efforts. The billboard campaign is just one part of the prevention effort.

    I don’t think anyone expects that these billboards alone will “make you feel safe.” After all, billboards are not 100% effective for car dealers, radio stations, schools, banks, fast food restaurants or jewelers.

    All billboards do is deliver messages. But billboards do have some effect—they change the environment. That’s why tobacco companies used them, and that’s why tobacco advertising on billboards has now been banned. Maybe a few people will call 211 and get some help. That’s for the better. It’s just part of the mix.

13. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  10:45 am | #

    You are right;  billboards are part of the mix.  But what part does the design of this billboard play?

    I think it says that the neighborhood in which the billboard appears is unsafe.

    I admit I’m no expert, but I have done some light reading on marketing and I have friends in the graphic design business.

    Effective marketing campaigns pay attention to design focal points and how those draw the consumer towards a particular message.

    What is the focal point of this billboard?  The crosshairs.  Because our eyes are trained to go right to left, we read “Stop the Violence” before we focus on the crosshairs.  Next, we read “Stay out of the crossfire,” and after that our eyes are likely to wander through the rest of the words in no particular order.

    So, to sum, the design encourages us to read the message “Stop the Violence” as our eyes are attracted to crosshairs.  Then we see “Stay out of the crossfire.”  This, against the backdrop of old bricks—reminding us of a back alley, or something.

    Intellectually, we may be able to reason as to what the billboard intends.  But its intent is not necessarily the same as its effect.  Why do we want people to associate stopping violence with getting out of the line of fire? 

    What does that mean?

    Flee the neighborhood in which the billboard appears?

    These concepts may not work upon a consumer in a linguistically cognitive capacity, but I believe the emotional affect can be subliminally damaging and very real.

14. Peter Deane says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  11:40 am | #

    Good reasoning Dean.  I look at these billboards and think they will stop good people from going into a neighborhood in Cincinnati to help.  If it says stay out or you will be shot, in which the billboard is intending, alot of the good people will.

    Mayor Mallory should think twice about this… no make that alot more then twice… maybe get rid of them.

    It’s tells everyone that the thugs won.  O and the brick wall?  To me it conjures us images of an execution.  Looks like someone has just been dropped execution style.

15. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  11:46 am | #

    Too many words! Billboards must be brief and catchy (Advertising 101). These are not easy to read nor are they catchy. Looks like a decent idea ruined by a committee!

16. Billboards says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  01:23 pm | #

    Billboards are fine.  How about a message that actually tells you why you might call 211, as opposed to scaring you to death—and giving no explanation of why you’d call 211.

    “Want a Mentor?”  “Need Help with []?”  “Looking for [whatever]?”  All of that would be more positive than “get out of the crossfire.”

17. komarek says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  01:33 pm | #

    I agree this is not your classic “positive” message.

    Did the United Way approve the design? After all, 211 is their service.

    —pk—-

18. Scooter says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  02:54 pm | #

    The Mayor’s Plan is not even his, it was stolen from a businessman (Marvun Butts of Mr. Bubbles) who sent out letters December 27, 2005, to the Mayor, all City Council Members, Police Cheif, Police Captains,other business owners, The United Way, and Cincinnati Public Schools (School board and all principals.)

    Cincinnati Bell, The United Way and Mr. Butts where shocked by the lack of response from city hall & CPS (except Withrow High School of loved the idea).

    All of a sudden when see that Mr. Butts program as proposed was divided up and claimed as ideas from the Mayor, and Ms. Ghiz and the police.

    What a joke, you get these folks asking for citizens to step up and when they do, the powers that be shoot down the ideas, and the use the idea and claim them as their own.

    How sad!  All these ideas from City Hall about giving teens a way to stop the violence report crime and get help are not even their ideas.

19. Mina says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  03:20 pm | #

    I agree with Dean that the billboard message says, ‘get outta here, quick’. I also agree with one advocate that Dr. Owens should have his own program. I really believe the impassioned plea he made after the murder in Fairmount resulted in the arrest of the suspect.

    I know this may not be directly on point with this post, but how many murders are we up to in Cincinnati now? There have been several in just the last couple days. It’s like the thugs saw the billboards and said ‘try get out of this crossfire - not!’

20. Peter Deane says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  06:10 pm | #

    It says,  “The thugs own the streets!”

    Tear those fuckers down!

21. one advocate says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  06:33 pm | #

    means by which to addressthe violence is a part of this strand - i think - and i believe mina is right - they got the guy because a trusted member of the community - owens - humbly asked for their help.
    is owens tied up with the mallorys?
    i am really impressed with him-  he has wide appeal - black , white, rich ,poor- i think he is the rising political star as long as he just keeps doing his job and staying out of the fray.

22. Peter Deane says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  07:22 pm | #

    Owens for Mayor!

23. westbender says:
    20 Jul 2006  at  11:47 pm | #

    First of all it looks like someone designed this in powerpoint but I do give them major credit for the clever use of the “o” in out. Crime is certainly ugly… but so is this poster, as it will likely scare more people out of the city. Invoking more fear is never good.

    P.S. Hire a real graphic designer

24. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) says:
    21 Jul 2006  at  01:11 pm | #

    I bought my first home a year ago in Evanston and this week I put it up for sell… I hate my neighborhood. The Bill boards will not enhance my community… They are not inviting. I think a series of things need to happen collectively and agressively. For instance get officers out of their cars and in order to work for Cincinnatis’ finest (CPD) then you should have to live in Cincinnati. I would like to see stricter littering laws, make citizens maintain their property. Id like to see city council get involved with communities other than West end. Where are the Jobs?

    Oh well! My boxes are already packed… Cincinnati is well on its way to being another Detroit… and that is not a compliment… neither are the Bill boards…

25. Jesus Christ says:
    21 Jul 2006  at  04:00 pm | #

    I think these send a positve message.

    Stay out of the crossfire!  Don’t get hit by a hail of bullets!  As long as you are walking the streets of this neighborhood you are a target!  Get your ass out while you are still alive!

    Will the last family leaving Cincinnati please remember to bring the flag.

26. Anon says:
    21 Jul 2006  at  09:58 pm | #

    I’m with Working Mother. On my way home from work this evening, one of those confounded billboards are within one block of my house. I’ve just witnessed the value plummet, due to the fact it’s been advertised I live in a dangerous neighborhood.

    In my free time, I’m going to look for civilization & buy there. I know I won’t find it in this city, nor in Hamilton County.

    Thanks a lot, Mr. Mayor.  Unlike you, I’m still living in the house I grew up in. I didn’t bail out because the community got a little run down & a bit uncomfortable. Mr. Mayor, you’ve made it a destination spot for criminal activities.

27. Dominique F. says:
    22 Jul 2006  at  10:48 am | #

    Advocate,
    3M laid claim to Owens during the mayors race. In a debate with Pepper he revealed that he was the leading Democrat to bring Owens into the Dems boat to run for coroner against Parrott.

28. David E. Gallaher says:
    23 Jul 2006  at  08:29 pm | #

    I’m assuming it’s because Jim Tarbell is our neighbor that we regularly see large groups of folks doing “community service” in the form of picking up litter around here.
    This was before, during and after the “Don’t trash the ‘Nati” billboards.
    Once they get all the NEW billboards up, am I to assume there will be squads of folks doing “community service” by coming down here and collecting the bodies and putting them in body bags?
    Maybe they’ll be doing that from midnight to dawn while most of us are trying to sleep here… an undercover operation?

29. Nasty, Brutish & Short says:
    25 Jul 2006  at  11:34 am | #

    Of course the billboards won’t help.  At best it is just bad P.R. for the city.  At worst, it will create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

    Criminals are not going to respond to PSAs.

30. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) says:
    26 Jul 2006  at  10:25 am | #

    Dear Citizens:

    It is my impression that the billboard strategy as a stand alone effort will not yield great results for reducing gun violence. I am working on a comprehensive piece of legislation at the state level in the Ohio General Assembly. The issue of gun violence has been around for some in a very bad way since the 1990s-connected to a national gun culture of manufacturing and illicit sales as the Republican Congress sought, frankly, to weaken the national legislative mechanisms which worked to control illegal gun sales and distribution to inner cities. Now the twin elements of gun and drugs have infected our urban cores. Our citizens are afraid to confront our young teens who have obtained guns. Tabitha Soren of MTV News did a wonderful documentary on gun violence titled ” A Generation Under The Gun”. She focused on several American cities including Los Angeles, New Orleans and Boston, Massachusetts. Boston had a unique program that vastly reduced gun homocides there and that program should be re-introduced nationally and here in Cincinnati. The Clinton Administration ATF Gun Tracing Program should be heavily utilized.The Urban League and NOBLE did a very fine forum on gun violence recently.

    I hope to keep you updated on the issue.

31. David E. Gallaher says:
    27 Jul 2006  at  08:53 pm | #

    “Now the twin elements of gun and drugs have infected our urban cores.”

    State Representative Yates,
    Guns and your War on Drugs go together like a horse and carriage, or more aptly, like stink on shit.
    What has “infected our uban cores” is your War on Drugs.

    State Representative Yates,
    Tear down this (your) War on Drugs!
    Then watch peace take root.

32. Mary Jane says:
    27 Jul 2006  at  10:12 pm | #

    Prohibition has never worked. Look what it did for Al Capone.