John Eby on Starting our Future Today

In his autobiography, “God, Country, Notre Dame”, Fr. Ted Hesburgh wrote:

“One of the great modern heresies that I hear from time to time is that in our modern world one person cannot make a difference. Looking back over the years of my life, I can see clearly what we need most, and need now: faith, vision, courage, imagination and ingenuity. Optimism is often thwarted, hopes dashed and faith threatened, but we will never know what heights we can achieve unless we try. One person can make a difference. And no one knows what he or she is capable of until he or she tries.”

By now, most of you have seen my graduation photo from Saint William elementary school, the infamous “Blue Dot” photo. It is one of my favorite campaign props. That one picture clearly demonstrates how decisions made by past councils have affected our city. Of the 115 kids in my graduating class, only six still live within the city limits. They left for the suburbs for three reasons, clean-safe streets, great school systems and market rate affordable housing. We cannot allow that to happen with this current generation of Cincinnatians. We need "Doers" on city council. People who will do the work that is necessary to overcome the pessimism, the naysayers, the inertia that has caused us to think less of ourselves, less of our abilities to make a differences, and less of our city. I'm a doer. I believe in the greatness that was and can be Cincinnati. This is why I stayed in Cincinnati to raise my children. I will bring my faith, vision, courage, imagination, and ingenuity to Council.

IMAGINE a New Cincinnati. IMAGINE a city that has world class educational opportunities. IMAGINE a city that has clean safe streets where family and friends gather to talk with one another. IMAGINE a riverfront connected to the central city and our neighborhoods, where streetcars and inclines move people to work, movies, plays, concerts, and dinner reservations. IMAGINE Cincinnati living up to its name, “the Queen City of the West”. I’m running for city council so that we can STOP IMAGINING and START REALIZING our dreams.

Please visit www.johneby.com for information about me and my plans for Cincinnati.