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S2 Ep40: That's So Cincinnati: Local TV veteran Courtis Fuller on 40 years of covering protests and the idea of possibly running for mayor again Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

It's moments like this in our history when a journalist's experience, perspective and credibility are critical for viewers and readers.
WLWT-TV anchor and reporter Courtis Fuller has been a trusted voice for Greater Cincinnati for nearly four decades, and his institutional knowledge really pays off in major news events like the recent racial inequality protests.
He was on the streets covering the protests the past few weeks, just like he was in 2001 during the civil unrest in Cincinnati. And even then, Fuller had experience covering such an event, having started his career as a radio reporter in Milwaukee in the early 1980s.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week, Fuller recalled covering protests in Milwaukee after 22-year-old Earnest Lacy died while in police custody.
"He died because a police officer put his knee on the back of his neck," Fuller said. "That's 1981. Up until now, it was the largest protest I had seen. People flooded the streets." The experience of covering "that is something I've carried with me over the years."
Fuller detailed the process of him going from covering the 2001 civil unrest for Channel 5 to running for mayor against Charlie Luken later that year.
"I'm doing great in my career," Fuller recalled. "I was the main anchor. I had just gotten married. Life is going pretty good."
He added: "I just didn't feel like I was doing enough personally."
Fuller won the primary, but lost in the general election. Will he consider running for mayor again in 2021?
Local political watchers have been wondering whether an African American candidate will get into the race against David Mann and P.G. Sittenfeld, who hasn't officially announced yet. Fuller has been mentioned as a potential candidate.
Fuller said "it's not something on the radar," but the Pittsburgh native didn't completely rule out the possibility of running again.
"It's an interesting question," Fuller said. "I love David Mann. I love P.G. I think they are good servants for the city. David knows the ends and outs of this town as well as anyone and is committed to all communities. Both of them are very, very good candidates. But you do wonder if now is that time. It was the same way in 2001. I believe that there probably will be an African American candidate that emerges."
Also on That's So Cincinnati, Fuller discussed the progress of the Cincinnati police department over the past 19 years and how he views the idea of "defund the police."
On the police progress:

"Fortunately for our department, when you step back and try to be as objective as possible, we are doing an amazing job compared to where we were in 2001. And when I hear what other departments are doing, I think, wow, Cincinnati really has made tremendous strides, thanks to the Collaborative Agreement. Could more be done? Oh, absolutely. I think the chief is sincere and folks working in the department are sincere that they want to be the best department they can be. They're willing to listen; willing to work with the community."

On "defund the police:"

"As soon as I heard the term 'defund' floated, you immediately think that's probably not the best choice of words to use. I believe people want reform. But to use the term 'defund,' that just shifts the conversation to ... are you going to get rid of the police department? I don't believe that is the overall goal. I do believe people want changes. And they want things very similar to what we've attempted to do here in Cincinnati."

S2 Ep39: That's So Cincinnati: Police leader details his takeaways after crossing barrier, listening to protesters Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

It'd be hard to find a law enforcement officer anywhere who understands police-community relations better than Cincinnati assistant police chief Paul Neudigate.
The 30-year policeman last week climbed over a barrier during a racial equality protest and took the opportunity to talk with and listen to peaceful protesters. And he quickly realized: There's work to be done to bridge the relationship between police officers and a younger generation of Cincinnatians.
What protesters were saying "it hurt a little bit," Neudigate told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast, because the police department has greatly improved its relationship with the community since the 2001 riots.
"We have always said we have to work on our relationships with the community every single day," Neudigate said. "We had thought that we were getting close. That if something bad went down, the community knew that we're a new police department. We were much more responsive. We were much more transparent. We were much more engaging. And I think what we saw is we're just not there yet."
Neudigate on June 2 crossed a barrier and began having conversations with protesters, a moment captured on video. He exchanged phone numbers with some of the protesters and has remained in touch with some of them, helping to answer their questions.
He's been a leader in helping the department improve its relationships and reputation in neighborhoods across the city. It was part of the Collaborative Agreement that came out of the 2001 unrest, and Cincinnati police have been nationally recognized for its relationships in the community.
But Neudigate acknowledged that many younger citizens don't remember what happened 19 years ago, and some weren't born yet. The department needs to improve its public relations efforts, said Neudigate, who does a good job sharing news and positive stories on his Twitter feed.
"What I'm finding out from those conversations is a lot of the things that (protesters) want, a lot of the things that they think that we should be doing, we're already doing," Neudigate said. "We're just not doing a good enough job of making sure that the community is aware of all the different pieces that we've got moving."
Neudigate's podcast interview offers candid insight into the Cincinnati police, including how the department's response compared to 2001.
Neudigate's interview begins at the 21:15 mark in the episode.

S2 Ep38: That's So Cincinnati: Top Cincinnati restaurateur worries about Over-the-Rhine's future May 26, 2020

Show notes

Cincinnati chef and restaurateur Jose Salazar chuckles about a conversation he had with his wife in early March.
"Everything was just starting to click," Jose Salazar said about his three restaurants, the most popular being Salazar in Over-the-Rhine. "My wife about two weeks before the shutdown said, 'I feel great. I feel like for the first time in years I'm not worried whether I'm going to make payroll next week.' "
Some 10 weeks later, Jose Salazar is fighting to stay in business.
He talks in-depth about the challenges of reopening Salazar, Goose & Elder at Findlay Market and Mita's in Downtown on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast.
Salazar also worries about his peers as the restaurant industry tries to recover from the two-month pandemic shutdown. He has been part of Over-the-Rhine's renaissance in the past decade, and he worries what this pandemic will do to all the small businesses who've gone all in on the neighborhood.
"God, if all these restaurants don't survive, what's it going to look like again? It'd be hard to imagine it going back to a bunch of boarded up storefronts again. But I don't know. It's kind of scary. It's kind of scary to think that a good portion of our retail and restaurants might not survive all of this."
Will Salazar's restaurants make it? And what does he think about Gov. Mike DeWine's decisions to shutdown restaurants for two months?
Find out on this week's That's So Cincinnati episode. Click the Audioboom link at the top to listen for free. Or listen to the episode for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and other listening platforms.
Salazar's interview begins at the 13:40 mark in the episode.

S2 Ep37: That's So Cincinnati: Councilman Chris Seelbach talks streetcar, text message scandal and FC Cincinnati May 19, 2020

Show notes

Before the streetcar was shut down to passengers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, there was a plan on the table to make it fare-free.
Yes, free. Finally. Supporters have long said such a move would bolster weak ridership.
Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Seelbach told The Enquirer’s That’s So Cincinnati podcast that the Cincinnati Bell Connector was going to be free to ride starting July 1. (Click the Audioboom link at the top of the article to listen to the podcast episode for free.)
It would have been free even sooner than that, Seelbach said, but there was concern about any discussion of the streetcar interfering with Cincinnati Metro’s levy.
Now – with the streetcar still closed to passengers and the city facing gaping budget deficits – no one knows what will happen, Seelbach said.
If Cincinnati doesn’t get some federal aid, he said, the streetcar may never open back up at all, let alone without fares.
It was a shocking statement from one of the streetcar's biggest proponents.
“That’s just the reality,” he said. “In addition to it not reopening, we will likely be shutting down all parks, all health centers, rec centers, your garbage is only getting pick-up once a month. I mean, that’s the dire situation we’re looking at if we don’t get assistance from the federal government. And so far we haven’t.”
The streetcar launched in September 2016. It had a successful start – with more than 133,000 riders that first month – but it has been plagued by troubles since. Ridership quickly dropped, falling well below projections, and the streetcar has struggled to gain revenue from advertising and fares.
With the breakout of COVID-19, under the orders of the Cincinnati health commissioner and Mayor John Cranley, the streetcar has been closed since April 1.

Rather than shutting down completely, though, the streetcar has been running without passengers. Officials said it would cost between $300,000 and $1 million to bring the streetcar back into service after a complete shutdown. Running it empty, save for a skeleton crew, costs roughly $138,000 a month.
Travis Jeric, interim deputy director of the streetcar, did not return a message seeking comment about a potential plan to make the streetcar far-free.
David Mann, city council’s budget and finance committee chair, said he’s not sure where the July 1 date came from.
Mann has long advocated for a fare-free streetcar but said he was unaware of any concrete plans.
“I had not heard a definite date, and I haven’t heard anything about it since the stay at home orders and the temporary closing,” he said. “It’s pretty obvious, I think, that we’re going to have a heated debate about what to do about the streetcar, ranging from close it to bring it back the way it was to free service.”
Mann is worried now about the city’s overall budget, which has a projected $15 million deficit this fiscal year and a projected $90 million deficit next fiscal year, recently upped from an earlier $80 million projection.

He thinks city council needs to tackle that budget first – “which is going to be misery” – and then it can take up the streetcar issue.
The streetcar's operating budget is $5 million a year, but it's set up to be self-sustaining. The money is to come from fares, advertising naming rights and developers who benefit from proximity to it. But it was falling short even before the pandemic.
Last year, Cincinnati City Council had to cover a $1.4 shortfall in that budget with operating budget money. The same struggles this fiscal year, coupled with the pandemic shutdown mean that amount will likely climb.
Also on this week's That's So Cincinnati episode, Seelbach discussed:

City Council's Gang of 5 text message scandal
FC Cincinnati's new West End stadium
Gentrification of Over-the-Rhine

S2 Ep36: That's So Cincinnati: Police union boss Dan Hils ready to 'call out stupid' at City Hall May 13, 2020

Show notes

Concerns are growing inside the Cincinnati Police Department about the possibility of officers being laid off as City Hall faces a monumental $80 million budget deficit in the upcoming fiscal year.
Police union President Dan Hils, never one to back down from a political fight, is ready to "call out stupid" if City Council attempts to prioritize any pet projects at the expense of public safety.
After years of saying they'll make basic public services a top priority, the politicians "have to mean it this time, because they have no choice," Hils told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast.
"If they go out there and do stupid pet projects," Hils added, "we've really elected the wrong bunch of folks."
Click the Audioboom link at the top of this article to listen to That's So Cincinnati for free. It's also available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and most podcast listening platforms. Hils' interview begins at the 2:25 mark in the episode.
The city's budget has been hit hard by coronavirus-related economic shutdown. City Hall must figure out how to deal with the budget crisis before the next fiscal year begins on July 1.
The poster child for pet projects is, of course, the streetcar, which sucks at least $1.4 million out of the annual operating budget. Streetcar ticket sales and advertising revenue continues to be off projections, and the rarely used rail line could require more taxpayer money out of the upcoming operating budget.
The streetcar is closed to passengers during the health emergency, and the question lingers whether it'll ever be reopened. Hils said he supports the idea of the federal government waiving a requirement that the city must pay back $45 million in streetcar construction grants if it's shutdown permanently.
"They're stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the federal funds," Hils said. "City Council got themselves into it, and I hope they can figure it out. I would love if the feds could say, 'Because of the COVID stuff, we're going to continue to send what we're going to be able to send you (for non-streetcar related projects), but shut that dumb thing down.' "
Hils is prepared to work with the city administration on finding ways to help them save money in the police department. He hopes the city can work with officers nearing retirement as a way to avoid laying off younger officers.
"If you could find some sort of way to buyout or encourage or help people make the decision (to retire), that could save the city an awful lot of money," Hils said.
"And then they could restructure, look at some of the reduction of command officers or higher ranks so you could leave the people that are down there on the street dealing with the violence each and every day," Hils added."That would be a wiser move, if it comes down to it that they have to reduce the amount of Cincinnati police officers that are on the payroll."
Hils discussed other issues and topics on That's So Cincinnati.
His future: Hils has been the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police president since 2015, and he made a splash in his first two-year term by advocating for big wage hikes to make the Cincinnati police force salaries comparable to those of officers in similar-size cities. His efforts led to bigger-than-anticipated raises in 2016, costing taxpayers $25 million over three years.
Hils was re-elected to a new two-year term in December. It could be his last term because he has to retire in May 2022, due to parameters of his retirement agreement with the city.
He'd like to stay longer as union president. That would require FOP members to change a rule to allow a retired officer to run the organization, meaning the union would pay the president's full salary instead of the city. The membership will be making the decision as Hils heads to negotiations on a new police contract, which expires in May 2021.
"I think I still have a lot of support," Hils said.
Beyond that, Hils said, he's keeping the door open to possibly running for elected office someday. The Republican briefly jumped into the 2020 Hamilton County commissioners race, but dropped out a week later when he realized it would be a conflict with his job as FOP president.
"Can I ever see myself in politics in the future?" Hils said. "Yeah, I find it attractive."
Sheriff's race: Hils originally kicked around the idea of running for sheriff this year, but gave way when his long-time colleague and friend Bruce Hoffbauer decided to run.
Hoffbauer, who recently retired Cincinnati police lieutenant, faces Democrat Charmaine McGuffey in the November election. It's expected to be a highly competitive race after McGuffey crushed incumbent Jim Neil in last month's primary.
Local political watchers believe Green Township's Hoffbauer will win over many of Neil's strong base of Republican and independent voters on the heavily populated West Side.
"Bruce Hoffbauer is an outstanding leader," Hils said. "He's tough as nails when it comes to following the rules and making his officers be professional. He's also very wise. He knows the community and knows how to deal with big problems. Hamilton County is going to be blessed to have Bruce Hoffbauer as the sheriff. I believe he's going to win."

S2 Ep35: That's So Cincinnati: First family of goetta, and protesters need to get a life May 05, 2020

Show notes

Supermarkets are limiting meat purchases as outbreaks of the new coronavirus has shutdown meat-processing plants across the U.S.
But never fear, Greater Cincinnatians.
"There won't be a shortage of goetta," Glier's Goetta CEO Dan Glier told That's So Cincinnati podcast.
Glier's Northern Kentucky-based plant is equipped with a state-of-the-art sanitation system the company installed last year.
Dan Glier also talks about the unique history of the company his dad started in 1946 and whether there will be a Glier's Goettafest on the riverfront this summer. Hint: He's very optimistic.
Also this week, That's So Cincinnati cohosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge discuss protesters outside Dr. Amy Acton's house, 50 West Brewing's new burger bar and the joys of reconnecting with friends.

S2 Ep34: That's So Cincinnati: Top GOP lawmaker dishes on DeWine, Acton, reopening economy, November election Apr 30, 2020

Show notes

Bent on reopening the economy, Ohio Republican lawmakers are returning to Columbus next week united around one message:
Convincing Republican Gov. Mike DeWine to start listening more to elected officials in the Statehouse and less to non-elected state medical Director Amy Acton.
Ahead of the Legislature returning to session on Tuesday for the first time in six weeks, Ohio House Majority Leader Bill Seitz of Green Township joined The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast to talk about the role GOP lawmakers, DeWine and Acton are playing in reopening the economy.
Listen to the episode for free by clicking the Audioboom link above. It's also available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and most other podcast listening platforms. The Seitz interview begins at the 30:15 mark in the episode.
Seitz, the long-time state lawmaker from Cincinnati's West Side, didn't mince words, either. House Republicans are frustrated with DeWine and Acton over their decision to slowly reopen the economy– too slowly, in their view.
Asked if DeWine is leaning too heavily on the guidance of Acton, Seitz said: "I do. She has tunnel vision, and that's appropriate. Her job is director of the Department of Health, so she's looking at this through the lens of what is optimal for public health. But I think she is not sufficiently cognizant about the damage this has done to our economy."
Seitz, the No. 3-ranking member of the House, added: "She's got a job to do, but it can't be the sole determinant of what we do. It's time to walk back the heavy hand of government – which is ill-suited to ordering the entire economy around for any length of time – and realize that we are not going to cower in our basements forever. It's time to get on with life. People have to earn a paycheck."
House GOP leaders also weren't happy with Acton's decision to close the polls for the March 17 primary, leading the House to decide voting would be done by mail-only and extended this past Tuesday.
Eventually, the Legislature could take a look at the law that allows the state medical director to have such powers, Seitz said.
"Amy Acton probably had the legal authority under this overly broad statute written 100 years ago to order the polls to be closed," said Seitz, an attorney. "I think it was a mistake, but she had that legal authority. When this is all over, we will be looking very carefully at that statute to see what lessons we learned here and see if it's not appropriate to require some curbs on the power of the Ohio Department of Health Director."
Seitz added: "Otherwise, you've given pretty untrammeled power to an unelected. bureaucrat. I think that's a dangerous thing. The problem that I have with it is the total lack of formal legislative input or oversight over the process. I'm not trying to fault Dr. Acton unnecessarily here. I'm simply saying that down the road, when this is all over, we will probably be taking a long, measured look at that statute and see how it can be updated."
Here's a sampling of other topics Seitz discussed on the podcast:
Back to normal in November

Only the Legislature can make significant changes to elections, and Seitz said he doesn't expect any this fall.
"We need to have in-person voting in November," he said. "I don't see us changing the Nov. 3 date. I do think there will be a renewed attention on absentee voting. I do agree it probably makes sense to allow people to request their absentee ballot online as long as we can verify appropriately that they are in fact a registered voter."
Going to bat for small businesses

Gov. DeWine on Monday unveiled the first phase of his plan to reopen the economy. It calls for retail businesses to reopen on May 12. But there's no date yet for the reopening of restaurant dining rooms, barbershops and beauty salons.
"I am hoping that we will certainly have all of those facilities open by mid- to late-May at the absolute latest," Seitz said. "I am encouraged that the governor is moving in that direction. We want to get it going a little quicker than he does. That's where the fight is."
Trusting the citizenry

Seitz expressed general frustration about government not trusting citizens enough to reopen the economy.
"The reality is we the Republicans of the House believe that it's time to start trusting the common sense of the people of Ohio," Seitz said. "If you feel sick, stay home. If you are sick, stay home. If you are afraid, stay home. If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. But if you want to take a chance and live your life as a free American the way we've lived since 1776, a lot of us say, 'Let's do it.' "
He added: "Most of these rules aren't any different than we learned in kindergarten. Cover your cough. Don't spit in your classmate's mashed potatoes. Don't be too touchy feely with people. I think many Ohioans – most of them – are willing to be voluntarily compliant with common sense measures."
Football this fall?

Asked when he thinks people can start going to big events again, Seitz said: "I'll tell you one thing, if we roll around to early September, and they say that there will be no pro or college football, at that time there will be an insurrection no matter what Amy Acton says."

S2 Ep33: That's So Cincinnati: Jerry Springer sounds off on Donald Trump and networks for airing president's daily pressers Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

Jerry Springer knows television and politics — and the proud liberal can't stand Donald Trump.
So how do you get "Judge Jerry" fired up?
Ask Springer whether the networks should be airing Trump's daily coronavirus press conferences.
"There is no excuse now that we know what they're like for just turning on the cameras," Springer told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. "The reporters should be there, and then write their reports or report it on the news that night. But to just turn the cameras on Trump for an hour and a half. that's not journalism. That's technology. I blame the journalists for this now. I could see the first couple of days – or maybe even weeks – doing it."
Springer, the former Cincinnati mayor and one-time Channel 5 anchor, continued: "But now that we see what the routine is – that Trump gets up there and spews his stuff and then finally the doctors get up there and basically refute what he's saying – the public is not being helped."
Stuck at home in Sarasota, Florida, Springer is waiting to return to the NBCUniversal studios in Connecticut to record more episodes of "Judge Jerry," a syndicated, reality court show that debuted last fall.
Springer, 76, also continues to record his weekly Jerry Springer Podcast with Greater Cincinnatians Jene Galvin and Maria Carelli via conference call. Once life gets back to normal, Springer plans to resume his weekly trips into Cincinnati to record the podcast.
In a wide-ranging interview on That's So Cincinnati, Springer didn't mince words in criticizing Trump and Trump supporters. Springer also discussed:
About flirting with running for Ohio governor in 2018

In 2017, Springer told The Enquirer "I could be Trump without the racism" amid rumors swirling about him running for governor. He opened up more about considering that race.
"I was pretty close (to running), because there were people in the party who were very supportive," Springer said. "I hadn't thought about it in years, and all of a sudden, they send me a poll. I could see why I was in the discussion, simply because I'm well known."
He added: "It wasn't that easy a decision. I'm pretty glib about it now. I had to think: Do I really have the energy? The adrenaline can keep going when you're in a race. But then what if I had won? And now at this age, when I take naps in the afternoon ... I have to be honest: I think I would have the energy, but I don't know that for sure."
Tale of two Republican governors

Ohio's Mike DeWine has been lauded worldwide for his proactive and cautious approach to handling the coronavirus. On the other hand, few governors have been more criticized than Florida's Ron DeSantis, who was reluctant to shutdown beaches and was late to issue stay-at-home orders.
Springer offered his assessment of the governors in his former state and current state.
On DeWine: "I may disagree with a lot of his politics, but he's not a crazy person. He's a bright person and he's responding to what is obvious: If we don't have social distancing. If we don't do what the doctors and the scientists are telling us, this thing is going to come back again and destroy the economy for another five years. Yeah, he's Republican but he's a common sense kind of person. He's going to get a lot of credit and frankly he deserves."
On DeSantis: "Well, you know, he's horrible. He was going to be Trump's boy. Those were his (campaign) commercials. He was going to do whatever Trump said. So what he's doing is not surprising and it's dangerous."
Still loves Cincinnati politics

Springer has long maintained relationships with a handful of Cincinnati Democrats, including City Councilman David Mann and former local party Chairman Tim Burke. Springer and Mann served on City Council in the 1970s. In recent months, Mann has been considering a run for mayor in 2021 and he reached out to Springer for advice.
"I would support David Mann for whatever he ran for because there's no conceivable way David Mann would make an irrational decision," Springer said. "He is like if you ran to your father for advice. Add to his demeanor and his rationality, his intelligence and knowledge and, you know, that's pretty tough to beat.
"My text (to Mann) was, I think I said: "Hell yes!"

S2 Ep32: That's So Cincinnati: All you need to know about the strangest of elections Apr 15, 2020

Show notes

Some 50,000 absentee ballots have been cast in Hamilton County since the coronavirus sent the Ohio primary election to the mailbox.
Thousands more are still expected to participate before this unprecedented vote-by-mail only election ends on April 28. And lots of confusion and questions remain about how to vote and how to make sure your vote is counted.
The Enquirer has you covered right here.
Sherry Poland, Hamilton County Board of Elections executive director, addressed all you need to know about the stay-at-home election on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. Here's a guide based off her interview:
How to vote: Step-by-step

It's a rather cumbersome process, so here are the steps to follow to make sure you get to vote and it gets counted.
1. Fill out an absentee ballot application.
The application can be found on the Board of Elections website: votehamiltoncountyohio.gov. Print it out and mail it in. (Click here to download the application.) If you do not have access to a printer, contact the board of elections and ask to have an application mailed to you. Applications also can be picked up at the Board of Elections offices (4700 Smith Road, Norwood), 12 Kroger stores throughout Hamilton County and found in the Sunday Enquirer print edition.
2. Mail or drop off the application at the Board of Elections.
Either way, the board must receive the application by 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 25. If you don't have the application in by then, you will not be able to vote in the primary. If mailing, you have to pay for your own postage. Drive-up, drop boxes are available at the Board of Elections. Take note: You cannot email or fax the ballot. State law does not allow for the electronic distribution and submission of ballots and related documents.
3. Receive your ballot in the mail.
This is the only way you can receive a ballot. You cannot pick it up anywhere, not even at the Board of Elections.
4. Fill out the ballot and mail or drop off at the Board of Elections.
If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked no later than April 27. Postage is already paid for, so save your stamps. Or if you choose to drop it off at the Board of Elections, it must be done by 7:30 p.m. on April 28.
Don't forget to pick your preferred ballot

Republican? Democrat? Libertarian? Strictly a non-partisan issues voter? Regardless, you need to make it known on the application which type of voter you are in order to receive a ballot – and save yourself and board officials lots of headaches.
"We are receiving applications where a voter is forgetting to check the box to let us know what type of ballot they are requesting," Poland said. "This is a primary election, so voters need to tell us if they wish to receive a Democratic ballot, a Republican ballot or an issues-only ballot. For those voters living in the 1st Congressional (District), they also have the option of choosing a Libertarian ballot."
Did you forget to do this? No worries. The board of elections has been contacting voters who've sent in their applications without the box checked for a specific ballot. Or you can call the board to make the correction at 513-632-7000.
It's like FedEx for voting

You can track whether your application and subsequently your ballot have been processed. That can be done on votehamiltoncountyohio.gov.
There is no in-person voting.

With a few exceptions.
Disabled and homeless voters will be allowed to cast their ballots in-person at the Board of Elections from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on April 28 only. Anyone who does not fall into those voter categories will not be allowed to vote in-person during the remainder of the election.
Again, voters who have received their ballots by mail can drop those off at the Board of Elections on April 28. But otherwise, elections officials are asking that others do not show up that day at the Board of Elections or polling locations.
"We're just asking for people to do what's right and follow the law," Poland said.
Election night: No waiting for precinct reporting

After the 7:30 p.m. voting deadline on April 28, election results will be released "no later than 8 p.m."
There will be some periodic updates throughout the night as other late-arriving ballots are processed. But since there won't be any waiting for each precinct to report results, it shouldn't be an hourslong process to find out who wins the election.
The results will reflect how candidates and issues fared by precinct, since that's how absentee voters are still are tracked.
Ballots postmarked April 27 may not arrive until a day or two after the election. But those ballots will be counted as part of the board's official count in early May.
Could this happen again in November?

Maybe, though no decisions have been made to change the logistics of the November general election. Still, an increase in absentee voting could be here to stay as part of the new norm when the pandemic ends.
"Even if we do still have in-person voting in November, I do think more people may decide to vote by mail," Poland said. "We are definitely collecting the data as we go through this spontaneous all-mail election to help us better prepare for November, in case we go to an all-vote-by-mail election or just more people decide to vote by that mechanism."
Ohio elections officials have had preliminary discussions about the possibility of an mail-only November election. If there is a change, she hopes it's decided by July 4 in order to allow voters and the Board of Elections to be fully prepared.
Listen to Poland's full interview on That's So Cincinnati podcast for free by clicking the Audioboom link at the top of this article. You can also subscribe and listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most other listening platforms.
Poland's interview begins at the 23:20 mark in the episode.

S2 Ep31: That's So Cincinnati: 'The handshake is dead,' don't forget about another crisis, top Cincinnati public health expert says Apr 09, 2020

Show notes

Dr. O'dell Owens wants us all stay focused on a public health crisis.
He's talking about the opioid crisis, Greater Cincinnati's leading public health expert wants everyone to know hasn't gone away amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"It’s falling off of people’s thought patterns," Owens told The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast. "That’s what bothers me. This issue was so big that the life expectancy numbers in our country changed."
Owens, president and CEO of Interact for Health, is concerned about what life is going to be like after the coronavirus is under control. He fears medical resources and funding will be diverted from tackling drug addiction, which could get worse if there's a recession.
More immediately, Owens said, what's going to happen when restrictions are lifted on international shipping?
"The supply chain has really been cut down," said Owens, the former Hamilton County coroner. "People have to get by with a little less than what they normally would use. That’s why I think the overdoses are down. But once China opens back up and the Mexican borders open back up, they’ve got a stockpile of (drugs) that they’re going to put in this market and it’s going to be cheap. It’s frightening."
Named one of the Great Living Cincinnatians by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber this year, Owens touched on several other topics on the podcast. Here's a further sampling of what he said:
On what life generally could be like after the coronavirus pandemic ends ...

This country will never be the same. The way we practice medicine. The way we educate people. The way we relate. The handshake is dead. Who’s hand are you going to shake and when? You going to shake somebody’s hand in June? You going to shake it in September when you’re still hearing about cases? And we’re going to wash our hands more. If they’re any silver lining, we’re going to see less cases of the regular flu this year. And we will have started a culture of people washing their hands more. This is going to be a good thing because it’s going to impact other diseases as well.

On whether he'll run for elected office again ...

Oh, no, no, no. I’ve had my share of public office, and I’ll never do that again. I’m more of an independent Democrat. I have a friend who’s a very, very conservative Republican, a very successful businessman in Cincinnati. He guaranteed … he would minimally raise $1 million for my campaign. He’s said that for the last seven years. I said, ‘No.’ I had my run as the coroner. We did some great things, but I wear my heart on my sleeves. As a politician, people can say anything about you that they want whether it’s true or not. You get a lot of unjustified criticism. I’ve done that. I’ve accomplished that. I think I can be helpful doing other kinds of things.

On what Owens meant by saying he's "not done yet" during the Great Living Cincinnatian ceremony in February ...

I was that poor kid from the West End who was written off. I was the one who was told by the counselor I was too poor and too stupid to go to college. So for me, it’s always been this strong sense that I have to give back. But more importantly, I have to inspire. I have to go talk to the people who don’t have a voice and say, ‘Hey, I’m not asking you to go to Yale and Harvard like I did, but at least give me high school.’ I just feel strongly that we have to leave this earth better than what we have.

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