Mayor Pureval pivots from dire warning about city's future to it's 'our moment to grow'

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval in Monday night's annual State of the City speech didn't unveil any grand new initiative, instead taking the opportunity to highlight work done this past year.

Among them: garnering final approval for the Brent Spence Bridge project, which is set to start construction in 2024, and championing the sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway, which was approved by voters last week. The sale will create a trust fund that will be used to repair hundreds of millions of dollars of crumbling infrastructure over the next decade.

Pureval, who is about to enter his third year in office, pivoted from his message during the railroad sale campaign that it would be "the path for the slow death of the city" or that the government footprint would have to be reduced if the railroad did not sell.

He said in the State of the City speech at the Aronoff Center the city is at a "turning point." And his message now: "This is our moment to grow."

"Cincinnati, it is my honor to join you at a turning point for our city," Pureval said. "This year, we have made undeniable history. With the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project, with the sale of the Southern Railway, and with the investments we are poised to make in the years to come, we have created the conditions to change the face of our city for generations.

"We now turn our attention to the question that will define our time in office: What did we do with this transformational opportunity? Cincinnati, this is our moment to grow, but to remember that it’s equally important how and where we grow."

Pureval kicked off the speech with what he called "culture and swagger," delighting the crowd of more than 200 people. Ed Thomas played the National Anthem on the saxophone. The School for the Creative and Performing Arts Treble Ensemble sang, the University of Cincinnati Dhadak International Dance Team performed, and Laurent Che did a spoken word poem set to a video with the city as the backdrop.

Density rules, financial freedom plan coming back

Pureval also teed up what's coming: A renewed effort to change the city's density rules so more housing can be built, a proposal Cincinnati City Council did not move forward with two years ago.

Pureval also brought up again his proposed financial freedom program that is supposed to provide savings accounts for children and pay off medical debt. He did not mention the third prong of the plan, universal income for 100 city residents, but did add in a new initiative before Cincinnati City Council that would give people access to legal counsel in the court system related to housing issues. Funding has been set aside for the savings accounts and medical debt relief, but not spent yet.

Pureval also mentioned the Cincinnati Futures Commission report is well underway and is expected early next year. Last fall Pureval tapped current P&G CEO Jon Moeller to lead the "Futures Commission," a group of business, labor, and community leaders tasked with reviewing the city’s budget, analyzing economic development and recommending future funding priorities.

Gun violence down, but no 'victory' yet

Pureval touted the fact that shootings are down significantly, noting homicides are down over 11% compared to last year at this time and 25% year to date since 2021.

"I think it’s tempting and dangerous for elected officials, for all of us, to use a number − a positive trend − as a crutch. Progress is something to be proud of, but it’s not the same thing as victory. Not when children in our city are falling victim to gun violence at an alarming and heartbreaking rate."

Pureval specifically mentioned Dominic Davis, an 11-year-old West End boy, who was fatally shot during a mass shooting on Nov. 3 just steps from a park and a walk away from his elementary school.

"The West End is a neighborhood of families, of young kids who should only have to worry about learning and growing," Pureval said. "But because of the epidemic of gun violence, they’re mourning a friend. They’re working through unimaginable trauma, and they’re wondering when they’ll feel safe going outside again. In our darkest moments, moments of shock and loss and fear, we see what communities are made of. And I couldn’t be more grateful for how our community has responded."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati State of the City: Aftab Pureval says 'a turning point'