The 'strong' mayor did the city in during the April, 2001 riots. I was in a truck at the time and had the radio on. The report was like:
"The rioters are marching down Walnut Street breaking windows and throwing rocks. The police are following. The rioters are marching east on 6th street breaking windows, the police are following. The rioters are marching north on Main Street breaking windows and overturning vending carts, the police are following."
Why didn't Charlie call in cops to block them off and arrest them at any time? I lost a business because of his ineptness that day.
I live in Columbus but follow the news in Cinci.
Mayor Lukens appears to have no backbone.
Charlie Luken did absolutely nothing to protect the business owners downtown, he has absolutely no spine whatsoever. It amazes me that this guy is still holding his job.
Other than my husband having to work downtown, we will not go there, regardless of what festivities are going on (although I did make an exception to go downtown for the Bush rally).
No city like Cincinnati should've had to impose a curfew; the Police should have arrested the criminals, instead of apologizing to them.
I hate the fact that as a KY resident we have to pay taxes to Cincinnati just to be employed there, yet when my husband leaves work at night, he is hassled by aggressive panhandlers and the like.
Hopefully, as more and more businesses move out of the city, people will begin to wake up and realize the problems stem from a totally inept city management.