By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken pledged Thursday to meet with police officers in every district of the city and focus neighborhood-by-neighborhood on "hot spots" to grapple with the city's escalating violence.

Mayor Charlie Luken delivers his second State of the City Address on Thursday at the Cincinnati Museum Center. (Michael E. Keating photos) | ZOOM |

In his second State of the City Address as strong mayor, Luken said crime is "the greatest impediment to our success."

"Crime is the No. 1 drag on our efforts to move forward at every level, and so we must focus our efforts, and our resources, on its reduction," Luken said in a speech delivered to about 350 people at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. (Read the full text.)

Luken also touched on his plans for economic development, the arts, fire safety and clean streets. But with two sergeants and 13 violent-crime squad officers in their dress uniforms front and center for the 42-minute speech, crime was the issue of the day.

"We must stand with our officers who put themselves on the front lines to defend our security against violence and drug dealing. I've talked to officers at District 4, I've told the command staff and I've had lunch with (Fraternal Order of Police leaders) Keith Fangman and Roger Webster," he said.

"I told them that when they use reasonable force in the exercise of their duties, I will stand with them publicly. And City Council has said they will, too."

Members of the Cincinnati Police Violent Crimes Task Force and other city officials listen to the State of the City Address. | ZOOM |

Luken did not tackle the issue of the so-called police slowdown head on. He referred obliquely to news reports that arrests are still down 30 percent, compared to arrest numbers from before the April 2001 riots. But Luken said there's reason for optimism.

"The tone is, those men and women are ready to do the job it takes to make Cincinnati safe," he said. "I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. It's dangerous work. They are professional in the way they conduct themselves. They do us all a great service."

Luken offered what he called "a simple strategy" for reducing crime. He called it the "CLEAN Initiative," which stands for communication, leadership, evaluation, allocation and neighborhoods.

Communication: "For the first time in history, the mayor, manager and police command staff will communicate ... to discuss the crime statistics, neighborhoods with hot spots, police responses and issues. The communication also comes between all levels of justice system - prosecutors, judges and probation officers. This is the highest level of accountability."

Leadership: "Leadership is necessary not only at City Hall, but at every level in the community - council, clergy, community leaders, residents. Everyone needs to stand up and work to end the wave of violence that has rushed over Cincinnati. It must stop, and it will take leadership at all levels."

REACTIONS

"He talked about the community working together, instead of individually, and that way you can accomplish a lot of things. ... I thought it was a wonderful, inspirational speech." Roscoe Fultz, Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners "I thought it was outstanding. I know there was a lot of impatience in Cincinnati in 2002. But it takes a long time of filling the pipeline before we see results come out the other end. The mayor wants to work closely with community leadership to target the problems instead of ducking around them." Mary Anne Lee, East Walnut Hills Assembly "It's basic services, stupid. Clean, safe neighborhoods. That's it. Charlie does a great job. He really does. You have to appreciate a guy who gets up after a tough year and gives a speech like that." John Eby, Citizen Complaint Authority

Evaluation: "We will continue our evaluation of our effectiveness. This year, council and I have worked to review crime statistics on a regular basis. The police chief will continue providing quarterly reports evaluating the progress of each district. We have to make changes, we have to be flexible enough to respond and respond quickly, and we will."

Allocation: "Allocation of resources is about funding our safety services. This year we have $250,000 more dollars in police visibility overtime. We provide the best level of training with our funding. We have added more officers - and I'm going to be honored to swear in 52 more of them tomorrow - and we will fulfill that commitment by 2004. And the command staff has assured me that district funding will be allocated in a way that addresses the levels of crime in each district."

Neighborhoods: "Finally, neighborhood involvement is critical as well. Citizens on Patrol is working. This ties together all facets of community-oriented policing."

The plan offered few specifics and no revolutionary ideas. "If there were an easy way to make crime go away, someone would have figured it out already," he said. "I'm not reinventing the wheel here."

Unlike last year's speech, which announced the mayor's Vine Street Project, there were few new initiatives. Instead, Luken said, it's time to deliver on old initiatives.

"Making our city better won't happen from passing motions, and it won't happen from holding press conferences. It won't happen by having people write reports, or even plans. Cincinnati will get better with focused and forward leadership."

In some ways, it was Cincinnati's first made-for-television State of the City speech, as Luken wore a wireless microphone to walk out in front of the podium to deliver well-rehearsed remarks.

"2003 will be a year of rekindled pride in Cincinnati," Luken said. He pointed to the scheduled openings or reopenings of the Great American Ball Park, the Taft Museum, the Contemporary Arts Center, the International Friendship Park and Findlay Market.

"We have no intention of allowing the `creative class' to pass Cincinnati by," he said, referring to a recent book by Richard Florida that argued that the "creative class" has become the primary engine for economic vitality in cities.

Luken pledged to create living spaces for artists and give them incentives to settle in inner-city neighborhoods.

"Imagine what over 200 artists living and working in that area can do for some of the things we're trying to do downtown and in Over-the-Rhine," he said.

Throughout the speech, Luken spoke of the need to produce results despite the tough economy.

He said the city would create by the end of the year a "one-stop shop" for developers to get permits and city assistance.

"I don't want to hear again that there's no single point of contact at City Hall. If you have even one job, one housing development, one opportunity for the city of Cincinnati, call 352-3250," he said. "That's my number."

Luken also promised to find money - in Washington, if necessary - to equip every fire station in the city with thermal imaging helmets.

"This year, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Cincinnati Fire Department - the first paid and professional fire department in the United States of America," he said. "We pledge to keep them the first and the best."

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com