Protect the Environment

By Greg P Harris

From championing new bike trails to initiatives to clean Cincinnati's polluted air, Councilmember Harris is a strong environmentalist.

From advocating for new bike trails to initiatives to clean Cincinnati's polluted air, I'm a champion of the environment.

A) The Federal Stimulus & Our Environment

I supported the allocation of federal stimulus funds for several green projects here in Cincinnati. This includes funding to:

--Employ the Cincinnati Energy Alliance to retrofit buildings for energy efficiency--a program that will pay for itself many times over.

--The Mill Creek Restoration Project's Mill Creek Greenways to expand pedestrian/recreation trails throughout the city's core neighborhoods.

--A 54 mile Ohio River Trail for cyclists and pedestrians which will run along the river from the Little Miami Scenic Trail to the new Cincinnati Riverfront Park.

B) Environmental Justice

I support Vice-Mayor Crowley's proposed Environmental Justice (EJ) Ordinance. This ordinance will ensure that no group of people bears "disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects." The measure would protect low-income neighborhoods from pollutants that could exacerbate already high levels of heart disease, cancer, asthma, lead poisoning, and low-birth weight, by requiring and EJ Review of all proposed projects within a mile of communities with high low-income populations. The EJ Ordinance would be the first such city ordinance in the nation + bolstering Cincinnati's growing environmentally-friendly reputation.

C) Lead Hazards

In October of 2008, the Health Department was alerted that several buildings in Price Hill with outstanding lead hazard control orders were still occupied--mostly by families with very young children. I co-sponsored a motion that requires a series of steps to protect families living in rental housing from lead hazards. The motion specifies Health Department alert families directly about lead hazards, provide relocation assistance, and make sure that the property remains vacant until all lead hazards are abated. The motion also provides for the prosecution of negligent and willfully noncompliant landlords of properties with known lead hazards.

D) Spring Grove Avenue Bike Lane

I introduced a motion to consider including a dedicated bike lane in the Spring Grove Avenue street improvement project. This bike lane would be easily accessible to the neighborhoods of Spring Grove, Northside, Clifton, Camp Washington, West End, Price Hill, and Downtown. I would like to see this Spring Grove Bike Lane developed and connected to the Mill Creek Bike Trail--a proposed 3.4 mile Mill Creek Bike Trail linking North Avondale, Clifton, Spring Grove, Northside, and South Cumminsville.