BY LISA DONOVAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A month ago city officials said it couldn't be done, but on Monday organizers will announce a framework for a downtown African street festival during the weekend of the Coors Light Festival at Cinergy Field.
POLICE AWAIT WORD
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Rank-and-file cops are upset that the city hasn't yet decided whether police are expected to show force or back off.
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UNRULY CROWDS
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The people who attended the Coors Light Festival at Cinergy Field last year were not the problem, police say. It was the thousands of others who skipped the music event to hang out and cruise downtown streets whom police blame for creating chaos. Crimes last year included:
 The shooting death of Arvie Jenkins, 21, of Woodlawn, a former Princeton High football player, college student and father of three.
Shootings of three other adults and one teen-ager.
The rape at gunpoint of a 14-year-old boy.
A man beaten with boards.
Teens shooting guns in the air at Fountain Square. Police collected 15 shell casings.
Four misdemeanor assaults.
One menacing arrest.
Seven thefts from cars.
Five other thefts.
Six reports of criminal damage to property.
97 other arrests -- including 64 vending violations and arrests ranging from felonious assault and rioting to aggravated robbery and urinating in public. Source: Cincinnati
Police Division
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Preliminary plans for Ujima-Cinci-bration July 24-26 will be unveiled by City Safety Director Kent Ryan and others, The Enquirer has learned. It will be just blocks away from the weekend music festival at the ballpark.
City officials hope the downtown street festival, billed as a family event, will be the answer to the problems of violence and loitering that occurred during last year's festival weekend. On Monday, officials from the city and the African American Chamber of Commerce will recommend:
The nonalcoholic event be held on Fifth Street between Race and Sycamore streets.
Vendors operate along that stretch of Fifth Street until 1:30 a.m., with a half-hour after that as wind-down time.
Entertainment on Fountain Square end at 11 p.m.
Closing off streets in the downtown core, bounded by Eggleston Avenue, Fourth Street, Central Avenue and Central Parkway;
Operating shuttle buses within that core.
"I think council will find a great number of these proposals acceptable," said Councilman Tyrone Yates, chairman of council's law and public safety committee.
"The result is a jazz festival that will be safe, meet the requirements of our ordinance and provide for a good time and strong foundation for future planning."
During festival weekend last year, throngs of youths gathered in downtown and the outskirts, clogging the streets and sidewalks. By the end of the weekend, a young man had been shot to death, a young boy raped and 97 arrests made.
In late May, the administration recommended virtually closing off the downtown to deter loitering. Included was a proposal to shut off all vending in the downtown by 7 p.m. to avoid attracting crowds. The idea, officials said, was to focus on one event: the music festival at Cinergy Field.
But entrepreneurs -- particularly black vendors -- balked at the limited hours and areas in which to do business, saying festival weekend is their bread and butter because it traditionally draws black crowds.
The African American chamber estimates that $30 million is pumped into the region's economy that weekend.
James Clingman, executive director of the local African American Chamber of Commerce and a lead organizer of Ujima-Cinci-bration, said vendors had hoped for a 2:30 a.m. closing time, but likely would be willing to compromise.
He said that there may be some concern about shutting down the music on Fountain Square as early as 11 p.m.
Mr. Ryan, initially in the position of calling for no downtown events during Coors Light Festival weekend and now helping organize the street festival, said he has been happy with the coordination of Ujima-Cinci-bration.
"I think everyone is feeling very positive about it," said Mr. Ryan. "There's a high level of cooperation."
Mr. Ryan didn't know how many hours had been devoted to planning, but said many city departments including economic development, public works, police and fire have been involved.
The Ujima-Cinci-bration, which may stretch into neighborhoods, will include music and other entertainment. Ujima, a Swahili word, is one of the principles of Kwanzaa, stressing collective work and responsibility.
Preliminary plans will be discussed during city council's law and public safety committee Monday afternoon.
Councilman Yates said he'd like the full council to review the proposal at its July 1 regular weekly meeting so event organizers and the administration can use the time to "fine-tune" the recommendation. Mr. Ryan pointed out that some details have to be worked out, including exact times, street closings and access to the downtown for hotel guests as well as downtown visitors.
Mr. Clingman said other points to be addressed are advertising the event and public safety at the street festival, which he is hoping will draw crowds of about 100,000 during the weekend.
