BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- While the eight Covington City Commission candidates think the city has a gang problem, they differ on how it should be addressed.
Some see the troublemakers as "wannabe" gang members, but all say addressing the problem ranks high on their list of priorities.
"Any gang problem's a serious problem," said Commissioner Jerry Bamberger. "It's our objective that the police department get all the officers and all the support that they need to combat this."
Mr. Bamberger and his fellow city commission candidates fielded questions on everything from gang activity to federal criticism of Covington's housing department in interviews this week with InterMedia News Director Wes Wright.
"I don't know if (gang activity's) serious, but I do know it's growing," said Commissioner Jim Eggemeier, who's vying for one of four city commission seats.
Covington police and city officials have expressed concern about violence on the city's east side. Two days in late July were particularly violent in Northern Kentucky's largest city, with the killing of a drug dealer the day after three boys and a man were shot in separate shootings.
Mr. Eggemeier, Mr. Bamberger and longtime Commissioner Butch Callery called for working together with police, the community and the city's gang task force, of which Mr. Callery is chairman. Challengers J.T. Spence and Craig Bohman, who each ran for city office two years ago, and Commissioner Pamela Mullins also called for Covington officials to support police in their fight against gang activity, and to work with police and neighborhood groups to stop troublemakers.
Mr. Spence, a former city planner, said city officials need to work with the community "to provide young people with positive alternatives to gang activity."
Challenger Tom Schadler called for stepping up Neighborhood Watch efforts and putting cameras in high-crime areas, while fellow challenger Toni Allender said the city needs "to stop the crud from moving in" from neighboring communities like Newport.
On another issue, Ms. Allender, a real estate broker, said embattled city housing director Howard Hodge and his boss, Covington City Manager Greg Jarvis, need to go.
"We have big problems in our housing department, and we have had these same problems for many years," said Ms. Allender. "In my opinion, Howard Hodge needs to go, (along) with some of the people in his department. . . . The city manager needs to be fired as well."
Last month, a report released by the Louisville office of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said inadequate documentation and faulty operational procedures raised serious questions about the city's ability to fairly operate two federally funded housing and loan programs.
Compiled in response to complaints from Ms. Allender and another resident last year, the report covered January 1992 to December 1997.
"The city commissioners, the city manager, the mayor, everybody should have kept their eye on the (housing) program to make sure it was cleaner," Mr. Schadler said.
"Responsible leadership finds out what the problems are, and you deal with them immediately," Mr. Spence said. "You don't let them fester."
While Mr. Bohman said improvements need to be made to restore the public's confidence in Covington's housing department, he said he had not seen any evidence that Mr. Hodge acted illegally. The incumbents -- Mr. Callery, Mr. Eggemeier, Mr. Bamberger and Ms. Mullins -- said they are awaiting a final report from HUD before determining what steps to take.
Last month's report "was an initial report," Mr. Eggemeier said. "When the final report comes from HUD with suggestions for the housing department, I think we should follow through with whatever suggestions they have."
Tune in
The interviews with Covington City Commission candidates will be replayed on InterMedia's channel 6, starting at 7 p.m. Sunday.
