How Cincinnati Can Weave Opportunity into Public Safety
By Crystal Kendrick, President of The Voice of Your Customer & Publisher of The Voice of Black Cincinnati
Cincinnati City Council recently approved a $5.4 million public safety package. Most of these dollars are directed toward technology, police overtime, and downtown visibility. I wholeheartedly support the Cincinnati Police Department and believe they must have all the tools and resources to protect our beloved city.
However, safety requires more than cameras and curfews. It also requires investments that create opportunity, strengthen families, and revitalize neighborhoods. As a researcher and publisher, I propose a few strategies that could make Cincinnati’s safety plan not just reactive—but transformational.
1. Collaborative Agreement Sustainability Initiatives
This work, particularly the initiatives related to youth violence, policing, public safety, and community-police relations, must continue and be strengthened with measurable objectives, metrics, trend data, and reporting.
2. Year-Round Youth-to-Work Programming
Extending this program throughout the school year would recycle local dollars, bring real relief to households, and help small business owners who desperately need staffing to grow. Intentional job matching by skill, aptitude, and proximity to home will also improve both youth and employer retention.
3. Transformational Grants with Shared Metrics
City grants for youth engagement tied to uniform metrics— improved academics, in-demand credentialed training, and avoidance of the justice system — would yield desired outcomes citywide.
4. Turning Blight into Opportunity
Addressing Cincinnati’s nearly 20,000 vacant residential units could deter crime, create jobs, train apprentices, and expand affordable home ownership opportunities.
5. Pipelines to Work for Small Businesses
The federal government, the State of Ohio, and Hamilton County offer a variety of on-the-job training programs, tax abatements, grants, rebates, and wage reimbursements that can benefit both employers and residents. Helping small businesses understand, comply with, and implement these initiatives can create more work opportunities for those with barriers to stable employment.
6. Preparing Students for Careers of the Future
Partnering with local schools to reconnect online-only students to classrooms, foster credit recovery, and identify opportunities for youth to have greater access to vocational education with career-ready credentials upon graduation would create a direct pathway to stability and success.
A Final Word
We cannot police and imprison ourselves to safe streets. While these aren’t the only answers, investing with intention, recycling dollars into the community, and measuring rigor can create a safer and more vibrant city
The Voice of Black Cincinnati is a media company designed to educate, recognize, and create opportunities for African Americans. Want to find local news, events, job postings, scholarships, and a database of local Black-owned businesses? Visit our homepage, explore other articles, subscribe to our newsletter, like our Facebook page, join our Facebook group, and text VOBC to 513-966-3328.
