Crowley, Qualls, Monzel Team up on Heritage Events

Due to a policy recommendation last year from the City Administration, the futures of many long-standing cultural/heritage events are in jeopardy. A tri-partisan coalition of Council Members including Vice Mayor David Crowley and Council Members Chris Monzel and Roxanne Qualls announced a proposal that would ensure that these events will continue with support from the City.

Specifically the special events policy will be amended so that the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Black Family Reunion and the Juneteenth celebration will be permanently made 10% cost share events. This reverses a previous decision to require that these events pay 100% of the City services needed to hold the event.
While Crowley, Monzel and former Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell interceded earlier this year to exempt some of the events in 2007 a long-term solution has not been discussed leaving many event organizers concerned about how future events will be funded.

Crowley, who plans to bring the proposal to the Arts and Culture Committee, which he Chairs said, “These events are something we do well and something we should all be proud of. It is a real shame that every year the City has to scramble to figure out how to support these events, which celebrate our heritage and bring thousands to the downtown area. This proposal lays out a framework for moving forward.”

Councilman Chris Monzel said “there are several distinctive cultural events that take place in our city that reflect and celebrate our heritage. Events like the Opening Day Parade truly help identify and define the image of the Queen City and losing them to the suburbs or even Northern Kentucky would be unacceptable.”

Roxanne Qualls commented, “"These special events celebrate Cincinnati's history and people. They are about our unique identity as a city. They set us apart from other cities and bring us together as a community.”