Jim Tarbell is the nemesis of every homeless advocate who's ever marched with Buddy Gray or lamented the effects of gentrification in Over-the-Rhine.

        But it's a rare homeless advocate who will confront the Charterite councilman directly, on his home turf.

        Enter Alicia Beck.

        The director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless doesn't shy away from appearing before council, even though she knows it will result in a patented Tarbell tirade.

        Tuesday, Mr. Tarbell once again questioned how long Ms. Beck has lived in Cincinnati (more than three years) and where she lives (Hyde Park).

        He took exception to “newcomers who seem to come to Cincinnati with preconceived notions of the problems of our community, and how they're going to solve them.”

        And then he blasted the Homeless Coalition's September study that found there were 25,000 homeless people in Cincinnati, noting that the entire population of Over-the-Rhine is 7,000.

        “You're telling me that every single one of them — plus three of their friends — are homeless,” he said. “That is so inappropriate that the only definition that is deserving is "fraudulent.'”

        An unflappable Ms. Beck held her own, saying her tenure in Cincinnati had nothing to do with her credibility. And she defended the 25,000 figure, which includes people “doubling up” with friends and family.

        “Whether you agree with me or not is up to you,” she said. “The federal government doesn't agree with me, either.”

        Legal eagle: The last time Solicitor Fay Dupuis gave City Council a legal opinion how to spend city money, Councilman David Pepper tore it apart. He said the opinion on the city's $770,000 contract with an Over-the-Rhine housing group “lacked the rigor, balance and legal support necessary for council to come to a responsible decision.”

        So when Mayor Charlie Luken began to differ with the city administration on how the city should spend its $50 million “windfall” from Anthem Inc., Mr. Luken joked that he would put his best legal mind — Mr. Pepper — on the case if he didn't like the solicitor's opinion.

        It won't happen this time. Ms. Dupuis has hired an outside law firm to research the question.

        It's Squire, Sanders & Dempsey — Mr. Pepper's own firm.

        E pluribus Luken: City Council had its annual “Youth in Government” day last week, with high school students playing mayor and council for a day. Some of them may have been smarter than the elected ones.

        Mr. Luken handed out pens inscribed with the city's motto, “Juncta Juvant,” which he interpreted — loosely — to mean: “Unity in the community is a good thing, and good luck to all.”

        Bobby Oakwood, a Latin scholar from Cincinnati Country Day, corrected the mayor on his pronunciation and his translation. He translated it as, “They help the things that are drawn together” — much closer to the “official” translation of “Unity Assists.”

        “Easy now,” Mr. Luken shot back. “One of us is the real mayor.”

        Notable: The “business manager” helping Marjean Wisby find a new home for her Blue Wisp Jazz Club is former mayoral candidate Bill Brodberger.

        City Hall reporter Gregory Korte can be reached at 768-8391 or gkorte@enquirer.com.
       

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