2007 Tailgate Bash

Last night before the Reds game, I took my family down to the 2007 Tailgate Bash. The centerpiece of the event was the world championship cornhole tournament. The marathon cornhole event was sponsored by the Easter Seals Work Resource Center. The Easter Seals Work Resource Center is a greater Cincinnati nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower people with disabilities and disadvantages to improve their lives through work. The event was well attended and it was good to see fountain square so active. My kids had a great time and a little rain in the afternoon didn’t dampen anyone’s spirit.

Chase School Festival

Today I helped the teachers, parents and administrators of Chase School with their back to school festival. The event was held in the parking lot of the schools swing space location at Kirby school. I arrived early to help anyway I could and with the help of the staff we had the entire festival set up within thirty minutes. Before long parents and their school age children were walking the parking lot enjoying the games and a few free hot dogs. I was impressed with the amount of community participation at the event. The Chase LSDMC committee helped plan and work the festival. Prizes for the games were provided by CAIN (Churches Active In Northside) and people from the neighboring community were helpful as well. I was thoroughly impressed with the dedication of the staff, parents and the Chase school LSDMC.

Lit Drops - Pleasant Ridge

This entire weekend the Eby for Council campaign will be in Pleasant Ridge. Today we walked three precincts in the sweltering heat. The people I met today were courteous and friendly ( sometimes people aren't so nice when you knock on their door). Most people that I introduced myself to were concerned with crime, the development of their business corridor and (believe it or not) the development of the Banks. One older women told me today, "They built the pyramids in less time." I had to laugh, after all she was just parroting what everyone thinks. "I don't think I'll live to see it," she sighed. By nature I'm an optimist so I assured her, "The Banks project is too important to the city and the county, it will be built."
When elected to city council I pledge to work cooperatively with the Mayor, the City Manager and the County commissioners to ensure that the Banks project is completed. We must set measurable and attainable goals for completion of the Banks. However, if we do not connect the Banks to the city center then one or the other will fail.
I have always been a supporter of Smart Growth Principals and in a recent visit to St Louis, Missouri; I have become a true believer. My sister moved to St Louis in 1973 and to say the least my parents were not impressed with her new home. The riverfront was in shambles, blighted buildings lined the park surrounding the new Gateway Arch and crime was rampant. Today the St Louis riverfront and the surrounding ten block area is booming, thanks to smartgrowth planning. One of the hottest development areas in St Louis is the Loop. The Loop is a six-block area that contains 140 different shops, restaurants, boutiques and condominiums. Located in University City the Loop was designated as an Arts and Entertainment Economic Zone. We can replicate that success here in Cincinnati, but we must have the political will.

Lit Drops - Hyde Park and Westwood

"Lit Drops" - those two little words are the life blood of any campaigns ground game. The "Up-side" of Lit drops is that you get to deliver your message to the voters door personally. The "Down-side" is that during the summer the long hours, steamy weather and the hills of Cincinnati take a real toll on your volunteers. The month of August has been exceptionally brutal this year, but we persevered.
This week we concentrated our efforts in Hyde Park and Westwood; two of Cincinnati's most beautiful communities. Whenever I walk the streets of Hyde Park I'm amazed at how similar the housing is to that in old Westwood. The large brick homes with the surrounding portico, amazing wood trim and the Rookwood fireplace. The old German builders really knew their craft and both our communities have benefited from their work ethic and attention to detail. Look for me and my volunteers in your neighborhood. Stop me and lets talk about how to make Cincinnati a better place to live together.

Here-a-Fest, There-a-fest, Everywhere-a-fest Fest

As everyone knows festivals and community events are good ways for candidates to meet the people of Cincinnati. Beginning in May with the first festival of the year, St Catharine of Siena, and running straight through to Oktoberfest. Festivals can be tough on campaigns. You spend every weekend during the summer traveling from festival to festival. This weekend has been especially tough on campaigns. This weekend there were four church festivals plus Blues fest and Goetta Fest. The Eby for City Council campaign hit them all, but it wasn't easy. Thank you to all of our volunteers and to all the great people we met at every festival.

AFL-CIO Endorsements

Today the AFL-CIO released their list of endorsed council candidates. Unfortunately I did not make the list. Although I was not chosen I want to thank my friends from the AFL-CIO for allowing me to interview before the endorsement board. For those who may not know I am a past member of Local Union #8. I hail from a union family as five of my six brothers belong to a union. My uncle, Vince Eby, was an international vice-president for the Pipe Coverers/Asbestos workers. My cousin Gary Eby is an attorney practicing Labor Law. I believe that unions are part and parcel of the fabric of American life. Unions play a vital role in business, civic and political life. It is my belief that we can improve unions, union productivity, union wages, and union benefits. Union work and Union membership is not a Democratic or Republican issue. It is a community, quality-of-life issue. I want to thank my good friends from the building trades, AFSCME, the retail workers and the transportation workers for their willingness to think progressively. For their willingness to look beyond party lines and rhetoric. For their willingness to take a chance on a moderate Republican.
I will post my answers to the AFL-CIO on this website. Take a moment and browse through my answers. Let me know what you think. Ask other candidates to show you their answers and let them know what you think.