League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2005 Election
	Jeff Berding Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Cincinnati

Questions & Answers

1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit)

I have a long track record of bringing people together and improving our community through over 10 years of volunteer efforts at the United Way, Chamber of Commerce and other non-profits. I have leadership experience in impacting neighborhood development as the chair of the Vibrant Neighborhoods Vision Council's Allocation Committee. I have been a leader in the effort ......

2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit)

Reduce crime: I support our police and believe they must be viewed as partners in the fight against crime. I would initiate efforts to get anti-crime cameras in every neighborhood hotspot and a stronger police presence on the streets.

Service excellence: We must reform our service delivery to better remove snow, clean streets, fill potholes, and remove nuisance properties. The City has many too many managers. This is not an efficient way to deliver services. Our City workers are committed to providing excellent service, and we must provide the good management and strong political leadership where we are all accountable to the citizens for results.

Reform government: I have committed to put an electoral reform initiative on the ballot in 2006. I will develop this plan with community leaders and .....

3. What steps would you take to ensure that all public facilities are accessible to people with disabilities? (100 words limit)

I think we need strict enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Public buildings should be, by definition, available to the entire public, not just those that can physically get in. I would support efforts to enhance enforcement of the ADA.

4. What specific steps will you take to expand recycling services in your community? (100 words limit)

First, I think we need to determine how many residents are currently using recycling services and if not, why not. The answer to that question should drive any effort to expand to make sure the strategy is effective and addresses the primary reasons why people are not recycling. For example, if we find out that people are not recycling because they don't know whom to call to get a bin, then we should launch a campaign to make sure they have that information (for example, through direct mail or telephone calls.) If we find out there is another reason people aren't doing it, then we could adequately address that reason.

5. What steps would you take to provide affordable housing for all residents of your community? (100 words limit)

Affordable housing is going to be a key component of turning things around in Cincinnati. The City could better utilize a tax abatement program for prospective homeowners. We need to increase our home ownership rate, and this is one immediate step we could take. I would support greater city support for community development corporations (CDCs), the non-profit organization of neighborhood leaders working to revitalize their streets. We also need to hold absentee landlords and slumlords accountable for their rental properties. I Have proposed a full-time housing court to deal not only with these issues but also with issues of code enforcement, etc. Not only do people have the right to affordable housing, but they also have the right to live in clean, safe areas.