Cincinnati is the only city in Ohio with its own nursing home inspection program, yet despite $220,000 a year spent on it, there's no evidence Cincinnati's nursing homes are any better than those elsewhere in the state.

In fact, an analysis by Councilman David Pepper found Cincinnati fared poorly on key quality measures in a new Medicare pilot project that measures the number of patients with bed sores, infections and pain and other criteria.

But Mr. Pepper's analysis included all 75 nursing homes with a Cincinnati mailing address - about half of which are outside the city limits - and weighed the 28-bed Jean Byars Care Center the same as the 256-bed Drake Center.

An analysis of the 39 nursing homes by the Enquirer found no significant difference between Cincinnati nursing homes and the state average.

Mr. Pepper said he'd still like to get a report back from the Health Department.

And he said that with all the city is spending, our nursing homes ought to be significantly better than the state average.

"I want to believe that we are spending money to do it better. I want to see that we're better than these other cities. We're spending money that they're not to do things they're not. We have to measure their success."

Where are they now? Monday was a reunion of sorts for the "Jerry Springer Alumni Association.''

As the former mayor spoke at a get-out-the-vote rally in Bond Hill, many of his former City Hall staffers were on hand. Mike Ford is now a political strategist in Washington. Gene Beaupre is the director of community and government relations for Xavier University, and a political science instructor. Jene Galvin is a radio talk-show host and well-known political activist. And Mr. Springer, we hear, has a talk show in Chicago.

Former Springer staffer Tim Burke was there, too. As rally host Steve Reece, himself a former aide to Mayor Ted Berry, introduced them, Mr. Burke said, "I guess the point there is that all these other guys went on to great success, and I'm the chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party."

The ink is hardly dry on Tuesday's election results, and already folks at City Hall are talking about new ballot issues for next year.

Councilman Chris Monzel is floating a proposal that would cut City Council salaries in half, to about $23,000. Salaries are now set by charter at three-fourths of a Hamilton County commissioner's salary.

And Councilman David Crowley would still like to see Article XII of the city's charter repealed. That amendment prohibits council from passing a gay rights ordinance.

Your tax money: The city's special counsel in the Justice Department investigation, Billy Martin, has billed the city $952,744 so far, according to a recent report by City Solicitor J. Rita McNeil.

But Mr. Martin is not the city's priciest lawyer.

Christopher Buckley has billed the city $962,435 since 1998 on environmental issues surrounding the Millcreek Treatment Plant and the Center Hill Landfill.

Those fees are paid by water and garbage users, not taxpayers.

Look out, Jean-Robert: Look under "restaurants" in the 2003 Cincinnati Bell Yellow Pages, and there, on page 1,310, is an eatery called "Tarbell for Council."

The number has been disconnected, and Councilman Jim Tarbell, owner of the defunct Grammer's Restaurant, said he doesn't know how the mix-up occurred.

But come to think of it, "Tarbell for Council" would be a good name for his next venture, he said.

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com