Responses from last night's forum....

MIDDLETOWN —
Public safety, the city’s infrastructure, the number of Section 8 vouchers and economic development were the hot topics Wednesday night during the candidates’ forum for the Middletown City Council.

Each of the four candidates — vice mayor Dan Picard, council members Ann Mort and Josh Laubach, and Dora Bronston — gave a two-minute introduction, answered questions that were submitted from the Public Affairs Committee or the audience, then finished with a one-minute conclusion during the forum that was broadcast live on Middletown TV and held in the Council Chambers.

There were about 15 people in the audience, including City Manager Judy Gilleland, council member Anita Scott Jones, Maj. Mark Hoffman from the Middletown Division of Police, and the Rev. Greg Tyus, who’s running for school board. The other people attended to support a particular candidate, they said.

The forum was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and TV Middletown commentator Lenny Robinson moderated the forum. It also was supposed to include candidates for the Middletown City School Board, but since not enough candidates responded they’d attend, it was cancelled, said Rick Pearce, executive director of the Chamber.

There are four candidates running for the two open seats on the City Council after voters decided to eliminate the ward system and reduce the size of council from seven to five members.

On the issues addressed, most of the candidates agreed that additional money needs to be spent, but they were unsure where to get the money since the city’s revenue has remained flat recently.

When asked about the roads, and how improve them, Laubach said the city was “well behind” having “credible roads” because only about $2 million in budgeted for 2014. Mort said as the city repairs the roads, it also needs to improve the aging sewer system. Picard called repairing the streets “a very tough project” and said the city needs to seek state and federal assistance.

The candidates were asked if they consider the city’s “best days” over.

Picard said the whole perception of Middletown “is wrong” because over the last four years, while he has been in office, more than $750 million in manufacturing has been invested, Cincinnati State has opened a branch campus and enrolled more than 600 students, and retail stores are opening or expanding downtown and on the East End.

“We need to continue to grow,” he said.

Bronston said while Middletown is aging, there is “hope for the city…we can change.”

Laubach said he was more concerned with the city’s budget than its perception. He said if changes are not made to improve its finances, the city will go into default.

Mort said she’s impressed that more young people are deciding to make Middletown their home. She said the city has “a great deal” to offer in the future.

“I have a lot of hope for the Middletown,” she said.

All four candidates said the city needs to continue looking at the number of Section 8 vouchers that are distributed in the city. Mort said the number has dropped from 1,700 to 1,400, what she called “a good step in the right direction.” She said too many vouchers creates “stress” on the police and fire departments

"There were about 15 people in the audience, including City Manager Judy Gilleland, council member Anita Scott Jones, Maj. Mark Hoffman from the Middletown Division of Police, and the Rev. Greg Tyus, who’s running for school board. The other people attended to support a particular candidate, they said."

THE APATHY CONTINUES. DOES ANYONE REALLY CARE WHO SITS BEHIND COUNCIL'S DESK?

"When asked about the roads, and how improve them, Laubach said the city was “well behind” having “credible roads” because only about $2 million in budgeted for 2014. Mort said as the city repairs the roads, it also needs to improve the aging sewer system. Picard called repairing the streets “a very tough project” and said the city needs to seek state and federal assistance"

BUT IT WAS THE FORMER COUNCIL IN THE 80's THAT REMOVED THE MONEY FOR STREETS AND NO COUNCIL MEMBER SINCE THAT TIME HAS PROPOSED REINSTATING THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET. WHY? WOULDN'T NEED STATE AND FED ASSISTANCE PICARD IF YOUR COUNCIL AND THE ONES PROCEEDING YOU WOULD HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE MONEY IN THE FUND. WHY WASN'T THIS DONE ALL THESE YEARS?

The candidates were asked if they consider the city’s “best days” over.

Picard said the whole perception of Middletown “is wrong” because over the last four years, while he has been in office, more than $750 million in manufacturing has been invested, Cincinnati State has opened a branch campus and enrolled more than 600 students, and retail stores are opening or expanding downtown and on the East End.

“We need to continue to grow,” he said

CINCY STATE, WITH 600 STUDENTS, PROBABLY HALF ON-LINE AND NOT IMPACTING ACTIVITY IN YOUR DOWNTOWN AREA, DOES NOT MAKE CREATE MEASURABLE GROWTH. RETAIL/EXPANDING BUSINESSES? A FEW ARTZY SHOPS AND OVER-PRICED FINGER FOOD RESTAURANTS IN PLACE, BUT MORE VACANT STOREFRONTS BY A 3:1 RATIO. STILL ALMOST A DESOLATE AS IT WAS DURING AND RIGHT AFTER THE CITY CENTRE MALL WAS TORN DOWN DANNY. THE "EMPTINESS" OF DOWNTOWN GOES BACK ALOT FURTHER THAN 4 YEARS. THIS GROWTH YOU SPEAK OF IS, AT BEST, A SNAILS PACE THAT, AT THE CURRENT RATE, WILL NOT COME TO FRUITION FOR DECADES IF IT IS SUCCESSFUL AT ALL.

Mort said she’s impressed that more young people are deciding to make Middletown their home. She said the city has “a great deal” to offer in the future

IF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE, AS MORT STATES, THEY ARE ATTRACTED BY THE AMOUNT OF HOME THEY CAN GET FOR THE PRICE DUE TO A DEPRESSED HOME MARKET. MOST LIKELY, THEY BOTH WOULD LIVE HERE, BUT BOTH WORK OUT OF TOWN AT BETTER PAYING JOBS. I WOULD IMAGINE MOST DO COMMUTE BASED ON WHAT MIDDLETOWN HAS TO OFFER IN THE DECENT PAYING JOB CATEGORY.

AND THEN THIS FROM MORT.....

All four candidates said the city needs to continue looking at the number of Section 8 vouchers that are distributed in the city. Mort said the number has dropped from 1,700 to 1,400, what she called “a good step in the right direction.” She said too many vouchers creates “stress” on the police and fire departments

THE VERY COUNCIL THAT YOU ARE A PART OF MORT, APPROVED THE VOUCHER INCREASE AND, AT THE TIME, DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE HOW MUCH OF A LOAD IT WOULD PLACE ON THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS. DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT WHAT INFLUENCE IT WOULD HAVE ON THE SCHOOLS EITHER. JUST SAW FED DOLLAR SIGNS TO BUILD UP THE MONEY FLOW FOR YOUR LITTLE PROJECTS IN TOWN. TUNNEL VISION AT IT'S BEST LADY. NOW, WAY AFTER THE FACT, YOU FINALLY SEE THE DAMAGE THIS INCREASE HAS HAD ON THE CITY? DO YOU READ THE POLICE BRIEFS EACH DAY? DO YOU SEE THE INCREASE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND TIE THIS TO THE TYPE OF PEOPLE YOU ARE INVITING TO THIS CITY THROUGH THIS PROGRAM? SECTION 8 PEOPLE, STEREOTYPICALLY, INVITE THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT. WHERE THERE IS LOW INCOME AND POVERTY, THERE IS CRIME/DRUG SATURATION.....IN ANY CITY. WHY DID YOU SANCTION INVITING MORE IN? NONE OF YOU CURRENT COUNCIL PEOPLE CAN BE SEEN AS FRIENDS OF THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPTS. YOU'VE MADE THEIR JOBS WORSE THAN BEFORE. IF IT WAS SUCH A GREAT IDEA, WHY DIDN'T MORE COMMUNITIES INVITE SECTION 8 IN IN ABUNDANCE? JMO

Wasn't a very encouraging evening, was it?

From MJ:

Acclaro,

Acclaro,