City leaders want to spend $650,000 in Over-the-Rhine to install new lights and pick up trash as a way to lure people back to the impoverished neighborhood following last week's riots.

Uptown TV Sales & Service has closed for good. From left, Richard Schneider, president of OTR Chamber of Commerce; Judith Osborn, executive director; and Councilman Pat DeWine. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        Cincinnati City Council members unveiled a proposal Thursday to hire a private contractor to remove litter from the neighborhood's main streets six days a week. That would be in addition to the city's daily runs.

        Some Over-the-Rhine merchants wonder whether the plan will do enough — or do it fast enough — to help them.

        The theory is that a clean, well-lighted neighborhood will help struggling Over-the-Rhine merchants recover business lost by last week's rioting. All nine council members signed the mo tion introduced by Pat DeWine and Jim Tarbell.

        People will think they're safer if streets are cleaner and brighter, said Mr. Tarbell, who lives in Over-the-Rhine.

        “Mr. Clean was born and raised here,” said Mr. Tarbell, referring to Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble's musclebound cleaner pitchman. “Somewhere, he got lost in our vocabulary.”

        Merchants say they need help quickly.

        Chip Deifel, owner of the Cincinnati Color Co. paint store on Vine Street, said his sales have nose-dived 75 percent since rioters first seized Vine Street 10 days ago.

        A customer drove by his store the other day but didn't stop. Instead, he called Mr. Deifel by cellphone to say he didn't feel safe enough to get out of the car.

        “If this takes six months, it could be too late,” Mr. Deifel said. “We need our streets back. We need our corners back.”

        The administrator overseeing the city's street-cleaning program said his crews are already picking up trash in Over-the-Rhine every day.

        Director of Public Services Daryl Brock said his crews operate mechanical sweepers on Vine Street as often as possible. Workers also pick up trash by hand every day, he said.

        “People think the city doesn't care,” Mr. Brock said. “This goes beyond public service. There are job needs, social needs and welfare needs” in Over-the- Rhine.

        City Council's proposal calls for a three-person team canvassing Over-the-Rhine's main north-south streets daily. The private crews would cost taxpayers $250,000 a year and would remove trash from Elm, Race, Vine, Walnut, Main and Sycamore streets.

        An additional $400,000 would be spent on new lighting, but council members didn't identify the type or location of the fixtures.

        The new programs would be paid for with Community Development Block Grants and neighborhood development grants set aside earlier to improve Vine Street.

        Mr. DeWine's motion calls for the contract to be awarded to a nonprofit or faith-based organization. Other Vine Street merchants wonder whether cleaner streets will translate to better sales.

        William Edwards, owner of the Millennium stereo shop on Vine Street, said he's had few sales since rioting broke out. His store wasn't damaged, but the uprising has virtually wiped out foot traffic.

        “I'm in day No.7 with no revenue,” Mr. Edwards said. “I've got a feeling this is a political game.”

        Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce president Bob Schneider has urged other neighborhood landlords to ease rent collections for struggling merchants.         The city's economic-development department continued to round up cost estimates Thursday with an eye toward getting assistance for business owners. The department estimated more than 120 businesses sustained physical damage during the civil unrest.

        Fire officials say arson damage in the city last week cost more than $290,000, but they haven't pinpointed the amount of damage tied directly to the unrest.

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