Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The Start on Closing the Health Gap

From:Cole, Laketa

Date:
Wed, 30 Jul 2008 1:15 pm

Dear Citizen,

Roughly six years ago Council voted to support the Center for Closing the Health Gap (Center) as the result of a lawsuit settlement, which was negotiated by the previous Health Commissioner. The Solicitor has indicated that applying for the formation grant for an Office of Minority Health would be duplicative of the Center’s services. Council voted to not support the Health Department’s application for a formation grant as it is duplicative of the Center’s services and we could lose millions from the private sector.

It is important to note the potential funding is not “free”, rather it would cost the City, as the grant requires matching funds from the City, as well as requiring new office staff to implement the program.

It has been broadcast that “264,000” in grant had been awarded to the Health Department and the City forced the Department to return those funds; this is simply not true as the Department never received any funds. However, as stated by the Health Commissioner in a memo dated July 18th, 2008 there was “potential funding that could come to the city through the establishment of an Office of Minority Health at the Health Department”, which is also untrue. In fact, the Health Department only ever requested to apply for $69,023 from Council (Council item #200800228).

This grant is a 2 year grant which states that the potential funding is up to $100,000 per year, which means only a total of $200,000, may be realized; therefore it is not possible for the Health Department to secure $264,000 in funding. In fact other cities have only received a total of $69,000 from this grant.

I believe and hope that you can agree that the Center for Closing the Health Gap is doing a great job of working toward reducing health disparities. It is not necessary for the Health Department to set up an office to deal with health disparities as they should already be doing this, especially as they receive a total of $32,065,400 ($32 million) per year, $20 million coming from the City.

I hope this e-mail helps in explaining Council’s position and our support towards combating health disparities in our city. Please note, Council’s position is to ensure we do not waste the taxpayer’s dollars by providing duplicative services and we have asked the Health Commissioner to work with the Center in their efforts to reduce health disparities.

Sincerely,

Councilmember Y. Laketa Cole

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Cincinnati Change beliefs.

CINCINNATI CHANGE is moving forward on our agreement between us and the residents of the cities Empowerment Zone.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes that America must lead the world through progressive internationalism -- the bold exercise of U.S. leadership to foster peace, prosperity, and democracy. Working with allies from Cincinnati and international institutions makes us stronger, not weaker.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes that recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom and in the faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, justice and peace in the world.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes that America must lead the world and through its cooperative domination create solutions that serve the needs of Americans and those people who join in the freedoms enshrined in our constitution. The central mission of our time is to make the world safer and defend America's security with the ideals and aspirations enshrined in the creation of the United States of America and the ideals embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes that it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between people and that through this organization the founders will create the capacity to be an instrument in creating the initiatives that will make it happen.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes that we in Cincinnati must work together to make a change. In this regard, Cincinnati Change encourages increased economic stability in a given community through the creation of businesses where the owners have an understanding of the financial marketplace and these for profit community sponsored businesses are in part owned by a non profit enterprise that would invest in the people, families and communities of Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes that one of crucial root causes of crime is poverty and that we can change the conditions from which crime takes root. It is a mission of Cincinnati Change to change the conditions in which children live so that they can grow up and become adults in a nurturing and supportive community environment.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes that once its economic development programs are in place, that the number of those who break the law as a survival tactic will be reduced. We are specifically putting place programs that help ex-criminals get a job and or start a businesses as well as prevent the culture that aids in the creation of a lawless society in Cincinnati through the creation of centers of assistance that support reentry, business creation and employment.

CINCINNATI CHANGE subscribes, in part, to the theory that there are about 38 million people who are the movers and shakers in today's economy -- the so called Creative Class. In general, they are software developers, scientists, successful executives and the many others who lead their respective professions in new directions through creative thought and have the ability to see their thoughts into action. Cincinnati Change will put into effect a program to support those who have the skills to join this creative class. We will organize other programs to draw from all segments of Cincinnati to train a new Cincinnati Creative Class through alliances with schools that will produce the workforce that grows businesses enterprises profits.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes the heart of this new class is the super-creative people: architects, engineers, cinematographers, game developers, poets and novelists, professors, software engineers, high-tech workers, health care and researchers. Then come the creative professionals who work in marketing, advertising, public relations, branding, legal professions, and those in business management in charge of sales. Next are the musicians, dancers, artists and others who create content. It is not a new idea that creativity comes from human beings and that they are mobile. We believe that we can increase their stay in Cincinnati through their childbearing years. We will through the development of high quality apartment and condominium living for high-income singles increases the stay from this class above the national average of 3.1 years. We will bring, and or develop, 10,000 creative class workers under 30 in Cincinnati by 2010 for a stay of at least three years, for many well into their childbearing years, in jobs created because of Cincinnati Change partners with the hope that they will stay.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes that many want to be, can be or are teachers who through Cincinnati Change will stay in Cincinnati beyond today's average worker stay at a job if we can put in place the resources that nurture their development. Through Cincinnati Change, young families of the creative class will have access to world-class schools and research centers in subjects that lead to inclusion in advanced employment by employers of this class.

CINCINNATI CHANGE is committed to the vision of creating strong African American and other families, individuals and businesses who live in a multicultural, multiethnic and multiracial society successfully. We have licensed a business process that we believe can be applied to Cincinnati to grow citizens who are fully educated, employed, empowered and who have access to world-class quality health care services who will be able to live in safe neighborhoods in lead free quality housing.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes that if you are poor in the rural setting where everyone is working but poor, its different. It's tougher to be an urban dweller and poor, because rich people can be seen all around.

CINCINNATI CHANGE knows that in the Tristate many poor Cincinnati residents have a high degree of desperation and hopelessness along with the belief that things can't change. Cincinnati Change was created to change this perception by action; we will walk the walk, not talk the talk - join us in changing Cincinnati in our lifetime.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes that it can implement a multi year community development process through which an individual, or a family, and or a community service institution can be made part of a coalition to support communities develop and successfully sustain themselves to change Cincinnati for the betterment of all its citizens and thereby the region.