View Comments
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.
Issue 3: Will Cincinnati devote $50 million a year to affordable housing cincinnati.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cincinnati.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Some call affordable housing proposal an important investment. Others call it catastrophic for city s budget
Proposed amendment would allocate $50M annually for housing
Supporters of the amendment say it would be a major milestone in affordable housing investment, but critics say the amendment would bankrupt the city and limit emergency services.
and last updated 2021-04-27 07:06:59-04
CINCINNATI â If you take a drive around Cincinnati youâre likely to pass multiple new housing developments under construction. Some include affordable units, others donât.
And as the new units go up, the cost of living in the neighborhood can go up too.
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.
Explaining Issue 3, The Affordable Housing Charter Amendment On The May Ballot wvxu.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wvxu.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.