>BY JANE PRENDERGAST | JPRENDERGAST@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>Always good for quotes of pith and outrage, Hamilton County Prosecutor
Joe
>Deters has again turned his words about crime against Cincinnati and its
>leaders, writing in a magazine that he wouldnt even let his teenaged son
>go to the Main Street entertainment district.
>
>The countys top law enforcement official has for years repeated similar
>themes, including that the city was so much safer in the 1990s.
>
>Last fall, he likened riding on a proposed streetcar into Over-the-Rhine
>to Jurassic Park, the movie in which cloned dinosaurs chased and attacked
>people.
>
>
> This time, Deters thoughts come in the form of an essay published in
>Cincinnati Gentlemen magazine. Among his points: although
>well-intentioned people are spending millions to revitalize the citys
>core, it doesnt matter where you move the fountain. One punk with a gun
>can ruin everything.
>
>He refers to the streetcar proposal as the last in a long line of bad
>ideas from City Hall. He wrote that any streetcar money should instead be
>given to Police Chief Tom Streicher and then officials should stay out of
>the way and let him do his job.
>
>The topic, Deters general beliefs and his willingness to bluntly express
>them arent new. But the specifics this time triggered dozens of comments
>Monday on The Enquirers politics blog and drew reaction from some city
>officials. Many questioned the prosecutors motivations, prompting him,
>laughing, to say, No, Im not running for mayor.
>
>Deters did not come out specifically in favor of the jail tax levy, which
>failed with voters in November. He declined to do so because the three
>county commissioners, his clients, were divided. He did say, however,
that
>the county needs a new jail.
>
>In the essay, he wrote that the payoff for many city leaders lack of
>sup****t for the jail levy will be the continual decline of safety in the
>city. He added that the reason Northern Kentucky thrives is simple,
>people feel safe over there.
>
>There are a lot of people on City Council who I like a lot, including the
>mayor, said Deters, whos seeking re-election in November without
>opposition. But eventually, leader****p involves more than just cutting
>ribbons. he actually said this today, not part of the writing.
>
>Simone Green, an aide to Mayor Mark Mallory, said the mayor had no
>comment.
>
>Councilman Chris Bortz, the chief proponent of the streetcar idea, said
he
>doesnt entirely disagree with some of Deters comments, including those
>about needing a new jail. But he said the prosecutor missed the broader
>point that policing and locking up criminals dont work in a vacuum, that
>economic development is key.
>
>And, Bortz said, streetcars would bring a big economic development boost.
>
>I think its interesting, he said of Deters essay. I have a different
>opinion.
>
>Councilman John Cranley, like many others at City Hall, had not seen the
>prosecutors essay. Some had not heard of the magazine.
>
>Councilman Jeff Berding, who also sup****ted the jail levy, agreed that
>some city officials were invisible during the levy campaign.
>
>However, the solution isnt to point fingers, he said. I think the
>question is: How do responsible elected officials work together to solve
>the problems?
>
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080114/NEWS01/301140057/1056/COL02
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