BY LISA DONOVAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
If there is a recurrence of the violence that broke out downtown during last year's Coors Light Festival at Cinergy Field, police not only should expect to enforce the law, but can count on the support of the community and its officials.
That's the message several council members want to send to the rank-and-file police who have raised concerns about what they consider the lack of a safety plan for the upcoming festival weekend, July 24-26.
"If someone violates the law . . . you enforce the law," Councilman Charlie Winburn said Monday, during council's Law and Public Safety Committee meeting. "This council must stand behind the police department 100 percent."
While Councilman Phil Heimlich is not supporting a planned street festival for downtown the same weekend as this year's music festival at the stadium, he said he would support the police.
Fraternal Order of Police President Keith Fangman said he appreciates the show of support from council members, but will reserve judgment until after the event.
"We are hoping there is no violence, but in the event that there is a repeat of last year's violence and necessary enforcement action has to be taken . . . then we expect the same amount of support."
He said police officers are often criticized for being "heavy-handed" or not doing enough -- he just wants some direction from council. While the 1997 Coors Light Festival itself wasn't a problem, throngs of young people flocked to the downtown area. By the end of the weekend, one man was dead, a young boy raped and 97 arrested on a variety of offenses.
Mr. Fangman's comments came after a 2 1/2-hour discussion Monday afternoon about plans for the Ujima Cinci-bration -- an African street festival to be anchored in the downtown the same weekend as the music concert at the stadium.
Ujima, a Swahili word, is one of the principles of Kwanzaa, stressing collective work and responsibility. James Clingman, executive director of the African-American Chamber of Commerce and one of the event's organizers, said he hopes the family-oriented event will deter youths from simply gathering and cruising the downtown area.
The city's safety department unveiled its proposed plan for the event during Monday's meeting. Among its points:
The non-alcoholic event would be on Fifth Street between Race and Sycamore streets, which would be closed through the duration of the festival.
Vendors may 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 ends at 11 p.m.
A contingency plan would call for closing off streets in the downtown core, bounded by Broadway, Eggleston Avenue, Fourth Street, Central Avenue and Central Parkway, should police determine that area has become too congested by traffic.
Shuttle buses are to be operated among parking lots in the downtown periphery and the four-block area of the event.
City Safety Director Kent Ryan said some details have to be worked out, including exact times of the event.
Meantime, event organizers are looking for volunteers to work at the event.
Anyone interested should call the city at 352-3368 for more information.
Today, council's Finance Committee will review several proposals related to the festival, including an ordinance to give $150,000 in city money to the African-American chamber to plan the event. Another calls for donating $250 to any group that recruits 25 or more volunteers; the money would be funneled to the group's designated not-for-profit organization.
The full council is expected to make a decision on proposals on the African street festival at its July 1 meeting.
