'There are 2 sides to every story': Cincinnati grapples with image after brawl
From outrage over public safety and city leadership to calls for accountability and concern for the city's national image, these letters to the editor reflect a community wrestling with fear, frustration, and sharply divided views on what the incident means for Cincinnati's future.
The downtown brawl was ugly, but so is the overreaction
There are two sides to every story. The most recent incident was deplorable, but hurling racial slurs, kicking cars and slapping a person's face will never end well for the instigator.
The Cincinnati Music Festival has a long, proud and peaceful history, with no record of violence. To insinuate that Reds and Bengals game attendance may suffer is fearmongering and an unnecessary negative.
In a perfect world, this wouldn't happen. But as we are all well aware, nowhere is perfect.
John McIntosh, Green Township
Cincinnati can kiss its tourism and downtown businesses goodbye
Dear Mayor Aftab Pureval: What has happened to my once beautiful Cincy? Prayers for this poor woman (in the viral photo), who was sucker punched and kicked. Cincy, you used to be the Queen City. You have now gained worldwide notoriety. You can kiss your tourism industry and downtown businesses goodbye.
More: Workers 'freaking out' after violent brawl, says CEO moving business out of Cincinnati
I know when I visit "home," I'll be sure to stay on the Northern Kentucky side. Florence, for instance, has a lot to offer and it is safe.
Joy Shepard, Plymouth, North Carolina
Our mayor's priorities are self-centered
With comments from our mayor, city leaders, and the police chief indicating that the July 25 fight downtown had nothing to do with the Cincinnati Music Festival, it appears they are more focused on protecting their reputation than addressing the real issues. Further, our mayor did not bother to show up in the city for more than three days after the incident.
The published Cincinnati crime statistics that our mayor cites in his press conferences are staggering. His pointing to slight percentage changes is a cover for the real truth. His statistics show the sheer volume of crime over the past five years, which is proof that there is a major crime problem in this city.
The mayor also needs to change his priorities. He and city leaders are planning to do things like spend $5.5 million on a proposed day center for the homeless amid community concerns and comments by many nonprofit leaders who do not see the need to spend this money. Instead, the mayor and city leaders should be using this type of funding to hire badly needed and understaffed law enforcement.
More: Mayor Aftab Pureval to address concerns over Downtown brawl on Friday. What we know
We also need a significant change in accountability. Judges and juvenile magistrates need to be pushed to start strictly enforcing the law and fully enforce prescribed sentences. Our mayor and city leaders need to step up pressure on this group.
Can change be achieved? Not with our current mayor, who is more focused on his future political career beyond Cincinnati.
Tom Dorger, Oakley
The mayor did the right thing by being a father first
It's a mighty weak argument to complain about Mayor Aftab Pureval being out of the city in the aftermath of the Downtown disturbance. Whatever other responsibilities he has, being a father to his small boys should take precedence. With remote access being what it is, he did what he could to be involved with the city's problem. Not so with being a missing father to little boys.
Good for him.
Bob McElroy, Anderson Township
Cincinnati must protect its image by ensuring people feel safe
It is strange how one incident, no matter how serious, can change the image of downtown Cincinnati.
My wife and I have attended Blink, Taste of Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati games, etc. We dine regularly in Over-the-Rhine, despite living in Montgomery. We frequently go to Washington Park for the Monday evening jazz events. We frequently go to Music Hall for concerts. I know of relatively few incidents, even at some very highly attended events.
Downtown and OTR constitute a significant part of our city's commercial and cultural life. Our image is essential. More important is the success of the businesses in the area, which employ thousands of our citizens. We do need to continue a strong emphasis on making sure people feel safe and comfortable coming to these areas.
Walter Frank, Montgomery
Brawl participants should've asked: 'What would Jesus do?'
I was not in Downtown during the brawl, so I really don't know what happened. However, I can't help but think why all involved didn't ask themselves: "What would Jesus do?"
Margaret Albert, Groesbeck
As an older woman, I don't feel safe even driving through Cincinnati
I saw what happened in Cincinnati on July 25. My son and I drive through Cincinnati several times a year to visit my other son and his family. The last time we drove through there, we had a terrible experience. Traffic was backed up for an hour and a half.
I had told my son that we should check out Cincinnati next time through. I thought it was a nice city to visit because my brother had gone to school there and loved it. I had visited my brother while he lived there, going to school. But after this fight that has gained national attention, I would not feel safe staying in Cincinnati.
Being an older female, I saw what happened to that poor woman. That would have killed me. If the people who live in Cincinnati think it's OK to beat women, that city isn't safe for women. I will be taking another route from now on.
Cynthia Brandt, Lexington, Illinois
Instead of helping Cincinnati, Moreno threatens his constituents
Is Bernie Moreno deliberately trying to be America's worst senator? Instead of lending a hand to Cincinnati in the wake of an overhyped brawl between drunkards, he threatens to cut off federal funding to his constituents. And for what? To throw some red meat to the MAGA crowd?
More: Moreno on Fox News threatens to seek halt to federal funds to Cincinnati in wake of brawl
Heads-up, Senator: You're elected to represent all of us. So start taking the job seriously and stop playing politics.
Joe Rosemeyer, Westwood
Myth vs. fact on crime rates and 'dangerous cities'
The July 31 opinion page highlights competing views on the recent viral video of a vicious brawl. Enquirer sports columnist Jason Williams repeats the "dangerous cities" myth that has stoked fear for decades − but relies on misguided theories (the super-predators that never appeared) and misinformation.
Opinion: Ohio politicians use Cincinnati fight for their agenda. Tougher issues ignored
Thankfully, Columbus Dispatch opinion editor Amelia Robinson provides the facts that crime, overall, is dropping. In fact, two of the cities that Williams name checks, Chicago and New York, have significantly reduced youth crime rates with the kind of programs Cincinnati is beginning to implement.
Martha Viehmann, Anderson Township
Brawl is being used to make a Democrat-run city look bad
So there was a brawl the other night, possibly involving drunken participants, that has captured the news. What has not been highlighted is the 84,000 peaceful participants of the Cincinnati Music Festival.
Why is Cincinnati getting blamed for the behavior of these brawling individuals, instead of blaming them for their behavior? Why isn't the success of the music festival getting the same attention?
Are U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and Vice President JD Vance just stirring the pot? Will they next be advocating for the National Guard to invade Cincinnati? Is this another excuse to make a city run by Democrats look bad?
Diane Shuler, East Price Hill
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Readers sound off after Cincinnati fight goes viral | Letters
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