Elected officials have begun picking at the edges of some of these problems, but it's clear no coordinated strategy is being worked on or even contemplated. Obviously, our elected officials either aren't taking the riots and their root causes seriously or don't have the wherewithal to deal with them. But it's our fault, too, for letting them get away with doing nothing. The debate over City Manager John Shirey's future is a microcosm of what's wrong with our leaders. Some council members want to fire him, and others say he's unfairly being blamed for the recent unpleasantness.
Blame suggests an emotional, irrational response, while accountability evokes thought and reason.
He oversees the police division and city services, and both areas have failed black Cincinnatians. Blame him if you want, but he must be held accountable. That's his job. Likewise, Police Chief Thomas Streicher must be held accountable for what officers under his command have done. Looking at how police responded to the recent TransAtlantic Business Dialogue protests and last month's riots, a completely new approach has to be devised for how Cincinnati cops interact with citizens.