Letter to the Editor from Councilman Carolyn Smiley-Robertson

Cincinnati Herald “Let’s Build Something Better—Together”

By Councilwoman Carolyn Smiley-Robertson

What happened on February 7th hurt a lot of people. It brought back fear and frustration for many, including many in my Village. This wasn’t the first time we’d felt unsafe. Being a Black woman, a long-serving Evendale Village Council member and the Chair of the Police and Fire Committee, I know how important it is to feel safe. . When a person’s safety is threatened, as elected leaders, we have to take those concerns seriously and respond. That’s something I’ve always tried to do—because safety and trust go hand in hand.

In the days since February 7, my colleagues and I responded. I have spoken with residents from Evendale, Lincoln Heights, and our surrounding communities. We didn’t just talk about one moment—we talked about many moments. Moments when residents and neighbors felt unheard. Moments when they didn’t feel their concerns were fully addressed. Moments when they didn’t feel they were a part of the conversation. What I heard over and over again was the need to change how we do things and how we relate to each other.

Real change is hard, though, because it requires commitment and action, not words.

This is why we brought in 21CP Solutions, a group of experts, to take a close look at what happened and how Evendale responded. Did we do well, did we not do well; can we do better; what do we need to do differently? Their independent report is coming soon. We don’t know what it will say, but we are committed to addressing its recommendations.

We are also changing how we relate to our neighbors.  We are rethinking how we lead, how we build real partnerships, how we include our schools, our businesses, our churches, and each other. This month, leaders from the Princeton School District will come together to start a new kind of conversation—one built on honesty, respect, and shared goals, discussing child safety, trauma support, and educational opportunities. We’re not gathering just to talk. We’re gathering to plan and implement changes..

Real change is not new to us in Evendale. After George Floyd’s murder, I led a review of our Police Department’s policies and procedures. We specifically evaluated our Use of Force and Firearms policies against recommended policies known as “8 Can’t Wait”. These improved policies are part of an effort to change the culture of policing by reducing police violence, increasing police reporting, and saving lives. With our Department’s support, we made policy changes where appropriate and aligned our training with national standards. Our Council Committee reviewed “use of force” incidents from the previous three years to ensure we didn’t overlook anything. We can change if we want to; we just have to remain committed.

That’s how we grow a future that works for all of us. That’s how we create lasting change. We don’t build better policies, we build stronger relationships, stronger connections, and stronger communities. We bring in new opportunities that support safety, trust, and economic growth—not just for Evendale, but for the Mill Creek Valley.

I’ve been privileged to serve our community for a long time, and I believe we can do great things together. We have this moment to begin to build something better. To turn a moment meant to divide us into a moment where we start to change the future we are building together.