Jury Duty: Just Do It.

(You'll Be Glad You Did)

For two weeks last month, I set aside almost my entire schedule to do something most citizens dread doing.  Jury Duty.

And I have to say, I'm so glad I did.  It's not only a citizen's duty-it's an eye-opening and educational experience that benefits every citizen who does it. 

I happened to serve on the grand jury (probably would not have made it onto a regular jury).  For two weeks, I and 10 other dedicated citizens from all across Hamilton County heard case after case, and deliberated about whether or not to indict fellow citizens for alleged crimes.  I can't reveal any specifics, but I can tell you how rewarding the experience was in general.

First, jurors are the key to the entire system working.  They are needed.  And when you sit on a jury, it really is a nice reminder just how much our system is citizen-driven.  In the end, the fate of each case was our call, and we took that responsibility seriously.

Second, your tax dollars are paying for the entire system.  So jury duty is a great way to see up close and personal those tax dollars at work-particularly the public servants (the prosecutors, the victim advocates, the police officers, sheriff's deputies, court reporters and others) that are working hard to create a safe and just community.  I must say, overall, I was encouraged by what I saw.

Finally, and most importantly, as we debate and deliberate how to make our community safe from crime, there are few better ways to understand the challenges we face than to be part of a jury.  While too many citizens experience crime in their own community, many others are fortunate to live in safety, and rarely experience crime face-to-face.  For them, the issue of crime is of course important, yet a little distant.

Jury duty changes that quickly.  Many mornings or afternoons were filled with our collective silence, or sadness, or confusion, or outrage, as we confronted case after case of addiction, dysfunction, violence and worse.  Broken homes and shattered lives, over and over and over. 

Newspaper headlines may cover the high-profile crime stories-but at grand jury, the sheer volume of troubling cases every day is what comes through most loud and clear, showing just how much work we have to do to improve things.  It also underscores the enormous challenge our public servants are up against when we ask them to make our community safer.  In the end, they are a small, dedicated team taking on an enormous set of problems that most of the rest of the community rarely sees.

Needless to say, the next time you get a jury notice, try not to groan.  Or grumble.  Or put it off. 

If you are able, just do it.  You won't regret it.

County Pushes To Boost Economic and Job Growth

At a difficult economic time, we need to do all we can to ensure government gets the job done in growing our economy and stabilizing our communities.

That's why this month the County unveiled plans to reform and improve the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority. The Commission's plan outlines how the organization's powers would expand to include the ability to issue bonds for development funding, the ability to take over abandoned and vacant properties and "land bank" them for redevelopment, and the potential to operate river and rail cargo terminals as a means to generate its own operating revenue. The port board's membership would also be reduced.

"The Port has been working hard with some good success, but we need to give it the authority that other ports in Ohio have," David said.  "We need to have it play an aggressive role in job creation, development throughout the County, and redevelopment of land, particularly in our more urban areas."

The City and County will now sit down to negotiate these reforms.

County Able to Expand After School Program Funding

Hamilton County announced this month that its after school support program will be extended and increased through 2009.  The County's after school support program is a new initiative that has helped thousands of students in numerous school districts in the past several years-supporting programs that are tailored to specific school and community needs.  Just several months ago, County officials were worried that state funding for such work would be cut, but commissioners urged the state to provide continued support. The state heeded this call, and we learned that the program will not only continue, but will see an increase. 

"This is a real boost to one of my top priorities," David said  "Engaging and challenging kids through after school programs is the one of the best ways to get them on the right track."

The program affects thousand of students from low-income families in districts such as St. Bernard/Elmwood Place, Mount Healthy, Norwood, and Cincinnati Public School District.  "This is one of the best ways we can support the critical mission of each of these school districts," David added.

Pepper Transportation Survey

• 84% of respondents drive themselves to work.
• 84% said they would or probably would use more public transportation if it were more readily available.
• 31% said they NEVER use public transportation
• The top three public transportation priorities for the region were: 1. Light Rail (72%), 2. Improved bicycle infrastructure (49%), and 3. Improved regional bus (35%).
• 78% said improved public transportation such as light rail and street cars would increase their interest in coming downtown.
• 89% said with the rising cost of airfare, they would be interested in shuttle buses to other airports or passenger rail.