Post-Issue 3: Building A New Coalition to Address Affordable Housing in Cincinnati

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, May 7, 2021 ― Cincinnati: On the heels of the defeat of Issue 3-City Charter Amendment, and the heightened awareness it raised of the challenge of affordable housing in greater Cincinnati, the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council is reaching out to government, business, faith-based, non-profit and community leaders to form a new, diverse, inclusive and broad-based coalition dedicated to building and implementing an Affordable Housing strategic plan.

Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Peter McLinden said, “Most of us involved in Keep Cincinnati Safe/Vote NO on Issue 3 Coalition recognize and are strong advocates for a sustainable solution to our very real affordable housing challenges. Greater Cincinnati’s affordable housing issues are not going away – not without a concerted, regional effort,” said McLinden.

“Our opposition to Issue 3 was based on its language, not its subject – its lack of structure, specificity, and failure to identify new, dedicated funding steams while not endangering peoples’ jobs and sacrificing essential City services. To that end, a new initiative is underway to coordinate and restructure an alliance of advocates representing the places where we live, learn, work, play, and pray, dedicated to solving this issue; a coalition that will bring all stakeholders to the table to work collaboratively on a true, long-term, and sustainable solution,” McLinden said.

Over the next few days and weeks, a new coalition will be formed whose sole purpose is to bring together public and private sector leaders across Cincinnati to define and communicate a regional vision, build partnerships, and mobilize action to advance a shared vision for our future and solve our challenges with affordable housing – To put forward an inspiring, comprehensive, and audacious vision that improves Cincinnati’s economic future and quality of life so as to eradicate our affordable housing challenges by addressing them at their root causes.

“We are not alone in this fight.  Cities all over the nation are grappling with this challenge, and many are getting it right. We don’t have to recreate the wheel, just be open to change and doing the right things.  We are always stronger when we work collaboratively together, and like the African proverb says: If you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go together!” said Mclinden. If you are interested in participating in this new coalition – one that epitomizes leadership through partnership – and join with leaders and organizations dedicated to creating and achieving a new vision for the future of Cincinnati, contact us at info@cincinnatiaflcio.org.

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About the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council – One of more than 500 state and local labor councils of the AFL-CIO, Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council is at the heart of the labor movement. We are a democratically elected body dedicated to representing the interests of working people at the state and local level. We mobilize our members and community partners to advocate for social and economic justice and we strive daily to vanquish oppression and make our communities better for all people—regardless of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin. For information on the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council, or questions regarding this release, contact Brian Griffin 513.421.1846 or email mailto:info@cincinnatiaflcio.org.