Applied Information Resources, established in 1981, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, public policy research and community information organization dedicated to citizen education on public issues.

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Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

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(513) 381-4994

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 Christ Church Community Forum on Thursday, May 22, 2008, Noon

THE PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORDINANCE: A MODEL FOR PROTECTING VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS

Christ Church Cathedral, The Undercroft, 318 East Fourth Street

Cincinnati could soon be the model city for establishing a policy that protects low-income neighborhoods from environmentally hazardous impacts. Currently before City Council is the proposed Environmental Justice Ordinance. At the next Community Issues Forum, D. David Altman, co-chair of the Environmental Justice Working Group, and Rocky Merz, Chief of Staff of Vice Mayor David Crowley’s Office, will describe the ordinance and why it is needed. This luncheon discussion takes place at 12:00 noon, Thursday May 22nd, Christ Church Cathedral Undercroft, 318 East Fourth Street.

Older Cincinnati neighborhoods are the most vulnerable areas in terms of health problems caused by pollution. In existence prior to zoning laws, these neighborhoods included industries and factories as well as apartments and houses. Furthermore, low-income neighborhoods usually possess less political clout in opposing new industrial developments. The Environmental Justice Working Group has spent three years both studying the problems and then coming up with an ordinance that seeks to prevent projects that would create new health problems for neighborhood residents. As usual, time will be set aside for questions and comments from the audience.

Come join us for this Forum, and do bring a friend. Lunch can be purchased for $5.00, or you can bring a brown bag.The Next Forum is Thursday June 5th ^-Topic and Speaker to be announced.

Bob Edgar, president and CEO of Common Cause, spoke at AIR’s annual dinner on Thursday, April 24. 2008. 

Bob Edgar, CEO of Common Cause, arrived at Common Cause in 2007 with a long history of leadership and public service that included 12 years in Congress. Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970 by John Gardner as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest.

At the dinner, attended by 65 people, Bob Edgar explained that  Common Cause is championing a number of critical issues and reforms, including the public funding of political campaigns at all levels, election reforms that make voting more accurate, secure and accessible, improved ethics at all levels of government and a diverse and open media.

Also, at the dinner AIR honored Richard Bozian and Pat Clifford for their work in the community.

Who Rules Cincinnati?

We invite you  to come to

……… imPACT TOWN HALL MEETING on Judicial Independence will take place on Thursday May 15th at 12:30-2pm at the Taft Research Center's Lecture room at 2526 Clifton Avenue. The Taft Center will provide the room, drinks, lunch, and parking for people coming from outside UC. Parking is directly behind the building and a directions map is on our website: http://www.artsci.uc.edu/taft/  This event  will begin sharp at 12:30 and offer lunch from 12-12:25 (any one coming over for 12:30 will still be able to get something).  Co-sponsors: Taft Research Center, CommonCause Ohio, League of Women Voters, Ohio imPACT

Watch the video about the State Supreme Court Justices in Virginia  Justice

CITIZENS STRONGLY SUPPORT THE CITY’S FUNDING OF HUMAN SERVICES

Cincinnati residents overwhelmingly approve the City of Cincinnati’s long-standing policy of financial support for human services. Ninety-four percent of the city residents who took part in a recent telephone survey said that it is “very important” or “somewhat important” that the City provides funding for these services (70.9% very important). In addition, eighty-seven percent of the survey participants favor the practice of spending a portion of the City’s general revenue on human services either “strongly” or “somewhat” (53.4% strongly favor).  See the video of the human services press conference.

Picture: Courtesy of Cincinnati Herald Newspaper

Conducted by the University of Cincinnati’s Institute for Policy Research, these survey questions were part of the Institute’s Greater Cincinnati Survey that took place this June. Representatives from AIR, Inc. and interested non-profit organizations and local human service agencies worked with Institute staff to develop a series of questions focusing on human services and the City of Cincinnati’s policy of supporting them with tax dollars. Beginning with the submission of the 2005 City budget, Council has cut the percentage of dollars traditionally allocated for human services (1.5% of the general budget) , and the question arose whether residents cared about city government’s funding of these services and whether they were aware of the City’s reduction of support. Read more about the report.