Forrest L. Buckley Answers Questions

Candidate for
Council Member; City of Cincinnati

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Hamilton County and asked of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. Detail policies/proposals you would advance and support to increase and improve the city's housing stock, as well as the rate of home ownership in the city of Cincinnati?

My campaign is advocating a 5 point Housing Plan that would give a tax credit for a one time major home improvement of owner occupied homes, would provide compensation for first time home buyers for student loans, establish a Housing Court, provide for "family-friendly" R-2 zoning to prevent overcrowded apartment complexes, and a neighborhood gateways program with annual housing inspections, police on foot or bike patrol, and regularly scheduled weekly street-sweeping and litter pickup.

2. Would you move to advance or halt regional approaches to the following: public transportation, Arts council(s), management of snow removal, air quality, and water quality?

I would support a regional approach to public transportation, currently the city supplies the lions share of local funding for SORTA, and I also support a regional approach to the issues of air quality. Snow removal is a local jurisdiction in my view. The Cincinnati Water Works supplies water to most jurisdictions in this region, including, in the near future, Northern Kentucky, so we have taken a regional approach to the quality of our water.

3. Should the Cincinnati Convention Center be expanded? If so, how should the expansion be funded?

The Cincinnati Convention Center should be expanded. It is my opinion that funding of the expanded center should be on a regional basis. Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana will enjoy the benefits of an expanded convention center in Cincinnati and should provide their fair-share of the funding necessary to expand the center.