Mayor’s Letter to the Cincinnati Enquirer Editor – Turning Division into Opportunity - April 2025

Early in February, our communities faced a profound challenge when Neo-Nazis brought their hatred to an overpass on I-75. The impact of that day continues to ripple through Evendale, Lincoln Heights and our neighboring communities leaving many feeling hurt, frustrated, and uncertain.

As Mayor, I want to be clear: hate has no home in our region. Our commitment to justice and equality must not just be a call to action but a promise we continually make to each other. As leaders, we cannot simply acknowledge the pain, the rage or the fear of these events —we must actively use those feelings to transform our world. This moment demands that we choose a new path forward that emphasizes trust, inclusion, and shared outcomes.

From the outset, we have known that rebuilding trust would require transparency and accountability. That’s why we took the deliberate step of hiring 21CP Solutions, a nationally recognized and diverse team of experts, to conduct an independent and thorough review of the events of February 7th. We are committed to full transparency throughout this process. When the 21CP review is complete, we will release the findings in their entirety, and we will work alongside our neighboring communities to address the recommendations.

We have also known that rebuilding trust would require us to address the impacts of these events. This is why our Village Council is actively working with elected leaders from within the Princeton School District They will be meeting for the first time as a group in the coming days. Child safety, trauma mitigation, and educational advancement concern all the Princeton communities, and I believe these conversations will pave the way for understanding and cooperation which will benefit everyone.

In addition to these steps, our Council is engaging in numerous private conversations to include business, faith, and community leaders in the process of rebuilding. By fostering understanding and collaboration on issues ranging from safety to shared opportunity, we are trying to create a future we all desire. As we continue to rebuild the trust that was damaged, we will need to respect the diverse experiences, aspirations and concerns of our neighbors and be supportive of their efforts to realize their dreams.

We recognize that the events of February 7th not only caused pain but also raised questions about how we, as leaders, chose to respond when faced with such vile actions. We needed to be connected, empathetic, accountable and, when necessary, contrite. We were not. In the aftermath of the events, we focused too heavily on getting to the facts as quickly as possible. We should have first demonstrated our concern and our caring, qualities our community has in abundance. We apologize for this and are committed to learning from this experience.

February 7th does not have to be remembered only for the pain and division it caused. We can use the ugliness of that day to help transform our communities in tangible and lasting ways. This journey will not be easy, nor will it be quick. But our futures, and the futures of our neighbors, require it.