Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: petition

  • Council Continues to Choose the Most Expensive and Damaging Option for Parking, Ignoring Other Options – with No Explanation Why

    Council Continues to Choose the Most Expensive and Damaging Option for Parking, Ignoring Other Options – with No Explanation Why

    Make your voice heard about this issue using petition link below

    by Lauren Enda,

    For the last several months, I have been speaking at council about the need for more conversation, study, and transparency about the parking garage proposal. Loveland needs to do something about the parking issue, that much we can all agree upon. The proposed garage is one of many, many options available to Loveland. Every other option is less expensive, less permanent, less damaging to the environment and less jarring to the landscape. And every other option would enhance, rather than detract from, Loveland’s brand as a quaint and historic area.

    Here is a high-level overview of just one option that would be free to Loveland taxpayers, drastically cut down summer traffic levels in Loveland, provide Loveland businesses even more customers and clients, and maintain our natural, peaceful downtown landscape. The Miami Riverview Park is approximately one mile away from Loveland and it sits on the bike trail. There are hundreds of spaces available – all free of charge. Loveland could mount a marketing and communication plan, teaming with Miami Township, to divert cyclists and walkers coming from 275 to park there and then ride or walk into Loveland – which on a bike takes about a minute. Cyclists or walkers from the east or Route 48 could park there as well without entering Loveland’s downtown area at all. 

    To get the word out about the parking alternative, we could post temporary signs on the trail directing people to Miami Riverview next time they are in Loveland – we could even include a QR code with a map directing them. We could make up information cards to put on windshields and for businesses to give to their customers. Loveland has a Marketing and Communications Coordinator on staff who could design more ways to get the word out about this idea. If cyclists parked at Miami Riverview, it would free up dozens, if not hundreds, of parking spaces downtown for Loveland residents, and reduce traffic. Miami Riverview is just one option of many. And it is free, easy, available now, with no construction, no environmental damage, and no controversy. Let’s pursue this option first.

    A parking committee could outline further options, weighing cost, return on investment, environmental damage, number of spaces, etc… Residents would be happy to talk through more options with members of council at any time. We do not have to choose the most expensive option. In fact, why would we choose the most expensive option? Choosing to spend millions of dollars unnecessarily shows a lack of respect for taxpayers and their money. Council needs to explain their course of action when other options are available. Let’s spend our precious dollars on other higher priority issues – our aging water system, traffic issues, or sorting out the Chestnut property. There are plenty of priorities to choose from that would benefit everyone.

    “I chose Loveland as my retirement home. A large part of my decision to move here was the bike trail and the downtown area and I am determined to protect that. I will fight to protect it.”

    Lauren Enda

    To make speeches and write articles takes a lot of work – and a lot of courage.  Partnering with and learning from a wide variety of individuals and organizations helps to learn about the garage and its detrimental impacts. Two of those organizations spoke at City Council on February 8th – the Sierra Club and the Citizens for Rights of the Ohio River Watershed. Both organizations acknowledge that parking must be addressed but saying the issue must be fully studied and the Council must give residents the ability to vote on a parking garage. Contacting Ohio’s Environmental Protection Agency, The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, multiple elected officials, and The Economic Development Administration has also widened my knowledge of the issue. 

    I chose Loveland as my retirement home. A large part of my decision to move here was the bike trail and the downtown area and I am determined to protect that. I will fight to protect it. I want Loveland to succeed. I want Loveland businesses to succeed. I want visitors to enjoy my town as much as I do. And I want everyone to have a place to park. Together, let’s find ways to provide that parking using a rational, systematic approach. 

    If you want to show your support for a more reasoned approach to the parking issues in Loveland, sign this petition. Council needs to hear from us that we want more data on the parking issue. Thank you.

    Petition · Stop the Loveland Garage · Change.org

    Lauren Enda lives in Loveland at Hidden Creek.

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  • Loveland parents: “Hey all, It’s time to take our combined effort and show our Superintendent and School Board what is important.”

    Loveland parents: “Hey all, It’s time to take our combined effort and show our Superintendent and School Board what is important.”

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland parents Leah Marcus and Becca Moates say, “Hey all, It’s time to take our combined effort and show our Superintendent and School Board what is important.” They wrote a template letter, a petition, with the help of who they call a super IT friend to solicit support to help them protect school children, teachers, and the community by performing the following COVID 19 related steps.

    1. Read the below letter.
    2. Open your email client and start a new email by clicking this link.
    3. Copy the contents of the below template and paste it into the body of the email message. 
    4. Add your name and additilal comment to the bottom of the document.
    5. Share your voice by hitting send.

    Moates adds, “I can’t stress enough how important it is as a community for us to come together around this. Our healthcare systems are drowning and we are hurting our most vulnerable if we don’t act.”

    Dear Superintendent and School Board Members,

I am writing as a resident of the Loveland City School District to urge you, our Superintendent and elected School Board members, to maintain the all staff and PreK through 6th grade universal indoor masking requirements, scheduled to end January 18, 2021. I am also writing to request that the current universal indoor masking requirement be expanded to include students in grades 7 -12.

This request is being made in consideration of the recent COVID-19 Omicron variant case surge, which has been shown to be more transmissible and contagious than previous variants.

The Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Department of Education, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and locally, the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, recently provided clear guidance for universal masking in schools and in the community. Universal indoor masking, in addition to vaccination and boosters for those eligible, are strongly recommended as the best tools, especially when used in tandem, for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and the current variant.

The pandemic also continues to take a toll on our children’s and educators’ mental health. Since the pandemic began, rates of psychological distress among young people, including anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders have increased substantially. There is much to be done and each of us has a part to play. Supporting the mental health of youth will require a community effort to address challenges, strengthen the resilience of young people, support their families, and mitigate the pandemic’s mental health impact.

As a resident of the Loveland City School District, I am asking that you consider the following actions:

1. Maintain universal indoor masking for all staff.
2. Maintain Universal indoor masking for all students Pre-K through Grade 6.
3. Expand universal indoor masking requirements to include students in grades 7 - 12.
4. Identify a threshold for educator and/or student absence at which the district will move forward with a remote learning plan.
5. Increase the frequency with which you report to the public student and educator absences as well as individuals positive for COVID.
6. Create and promote safe, positive, and affirming school environments which are inclusive and supportive of student’s social, emotional, and cultural needs.
7. Provide key administrative, educator, and paraprofessional staff with the necessary training to recognize signs of changes in mental and physical health among students.
8. Provide Mental health gatekeeper training so that staff and peers take appropriate action when needed.
9. Support the mental health of all school personnel, including providing competitive wages, time off, access to well paid substitute teachers, regularly assessing staff well-being, and integrating measures to help personnel maintain their own empathy, compassion, and ability to create positive environments for students.

As superintendent and elected school board members, your roles include the evaluation of district operations, interpretations of public health policies, and health service delivery.

My role as a district resident is to help our district leadership identify the areas in need of protection, prioritization, and planning to keep Loveland City School District safe and in school: Universal Indoor Mask Requirements and adequate Mental Health Support for Students and Staff. 
 
Signature

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References for Information:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/omicrons-effect-wont-be-as-mild-as-hoped1/
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-coronavirus-cases-hit-record-high-2021-12-29/
https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-12-17/kansas-city-hospitals-are-full-again-omicron-has-arrived-and-doctors-are-begging-for-your-help
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/pdfs/mm7046a4-H.pdf
https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/omicron-propagates-70-times-faster-than-delta-in-bronchi-study-69540
https://www.med.hku.hk/en/news/press/20211215-omicron-sars-cov-2-infection
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/28/health/chicago-childrens-hospital-surge-doctor-vaccines/index.html
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf
https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/our-youth-are-struggling-with-mental

    If you choose, please go to the original post: https://theweis01.github.io/?fbclid=IwAR05yFIugYOv7X3FjgC2wfho59WggZB7-_75SPbS777LcLykpWTBDXqDINE

  • Repeal of Hamilton County sales tax increase inches closer to ballot

    Repeal of Hamilton County sales tax increase inches closer to ballot

    Hamilton, County, Ohio – On June 18, Democratic County Commissioners, Todd Portune, and Denise Driehaus, voted to raise the Hamilton County’s sales tax by 0.2 percent for 18-months to balance the budget.

    Today a group of Hamilton County Republicans presented petition signatures of 38,000 residents to the County Auditor hoping that voters in November will prevent the tax from taking effect. In announcing their success they said they needed 23,629 valid signatures to get the Referendum on the ballot. The petitions will remain in the Auditior’s office for 10-days for public inspection and them go to the Board of Elections where the signatures will be checked for accuracy.

    Alex Triantafilou, the Hamilton County Republican Party chairman said in a press release today, “While the counting and confirming of the validity of these signatures will take several weeks, we are very pleased with the overwhelming support we received from every corner of Hamilton County and from citizens of all political stripes.”

    Todd Portune and Denise Driehaus said the County faces a $28 million structural deficit and they were not willing to lead a county that cannot provide basic services. They blamed actions of the State House for their budget woes.

    Paxton’s Grill

      Relaxed atmosphere and friendly service welcomes you back time and time again! Located in the heart of the Historic Loveland District Just outside Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • [BREAKING] Board of Elections gives Loveland Mayor 5 days to resign or face recall

    [BREAKING] Board of Elections gives Loveland Mayor 5 days to resign or face recall

    Loveland, Ohio – In a statement to the Loveland Community Heartbeat PAC today, Sherry Poland, the Director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections said, “On August 4, 2017, the Hamilton County Board of Elections received a petition for the recall election of Mark J. Fitzgerald, and an election of a successor. We have completed the review of the petitions and determined the petitions to be sufficient.”

    Fitzgerald is the Mayor of Loveland and has two years remaining of his elected term of four years as a council member.

    Poland said that if Fitzgerald does not resign within five days, an election will be held at the next general election on November 7. She also informed the community group that attorney Doug Holthus, on behalf of Mark J. Fitzgerald, has requested a protest hearing on the validity of the petitions and that the board has scheduled a Special Meeting on Friday, August 11th at 8:30 AM to hold a hearing.

    Resident Neal Oury has collected signatures to run in the recall election against Fitzgerald, however, has not filed those petitions with the Board of Elections. He did, however, file a petition last week to seek one of the four-year-term open seats on council this fall. He told Loveland Magazine that if the recall petitions are certified, he will withdraw that petition and then file the signatures supporting his candidacy for the direct head-to-head vote against the Mayor.

    BACKGROUND:

    [VIDEO] Interview with Halie Rebeccaschild after turning in Fitzgerald recall petitions for 2nd time