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Less than a week from Election Day, proponents and opponents of Issue 3 squared off in an Enquirer debate, pleading their case to voters.
The two sides went back and forth for about an hour on Thursday about the proposed charter amendment that would require the city to devote at least $50 million a year toward affordable housing.
On the pro- Issue 3 side were Mona Jenkins, director of development and operations for the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition; the Rev. Nelson Pierce Jr., senior pastor of Beloved Community Church in Avondale; and Josh Spring, executive director of the homeless coalition and co-chair of Cincinnati Action for Housing Now.
Enquirer editorial board
Voters will face a pivotal decision about the future of low-income housing in Cincinnati on May 4. Issue 3 is a charter amendment that would require Cincinnati to set aside $50 million every year for new construction of affordable homes and renovation of existing affordable homes.
Advocates of the ballot initiative say it is a long-overdue and much-needed investment in everyday citizens who are being priced out of the Queen City. Opponents of Issue 3 say it will cripple the city s budget and result in deep cuts to critical services such as law enforcement.
The Enquirer will host a virtual debate on Issue 3 at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 29. The hourlong debate can be viewed live on Cincinnati.com and The Enquirer s Greater Cincinnati Politics Facebook group.