League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2005 Election
	Gerry Kraus Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Cincinnati

Questions & Answers

1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit)

Active in civic affairs for 45 years: North Avondale Neighbohood Association Coordinator; Cincinnati Board of Health (1998-2004); Cincinnati Neighborhood Zoning Task Force; Environmental Community Organization; Environmental Advisory Committee; Fair Share for Parks Committee; achieves results-see website <www.gerrykrausforcitycouncil.org>; a woman of integrity...creative...dynamic...tenacious...always advocating for the people.

2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit)

Give timely notice to neighborhoods on issues that affect them. Restore full NSP funding. Make fixing potholes, other street maintenance a high priority.

Insist that ALL city laws be equally and fairly enforced. City Ordinances are selectively enforced. We cannot expect respect for "The Law" if ALL laws are not enforced. Promote more effective policing as NYC has done. Reduce easy access to guns as Columbus has done. Address underlying causes of crime. Form city-wide Youth Council to develop positive activities, identify meaningful youth jobs and advocate city to implement Youth Council's recommendations.

Promote actions, not reaction, to support environmental health, healthy life styles, clean air; zero tolerance for litter, graffiti, building and zoning violations; adequate funding for city parks. Stop giveaway of public assets that finance these priorities.

3. What steps would you take to ensure that all public facilities are accessible to people with disabilities? (100 words limit)

Assign a city department to be responsible for enforcing this federal law by proactively inspecting public facilities and also responding promptly to complaints about non compliance with this law. Department will report regularly to Council on compliance actions. Support a PR campaign to inform citizens about provisions of Disability Act and where to report non compliance. I will personally follow up on any complaint not promptly and satisfactorily resolved.

4. What specific steps will you take to expand recycling services in your community? (100 words limit)

I would find out why some eligible households do not recycle and address their reasons for not partcipating. I would have administration develop and implement a plan to expand eligibility to apartments, townhouses, offices, public facilities like stadiums, restaurants. I would encourage creative and CONTINUOUS promotion of recycling-including incentives and information about Hamilton County Solid Waste District paying money to Cincinnati based on tonnage recycled. I would require City to give priority to purchase of recycled products. I would have Economic Development Dept. identify industries that use recycled materials and encourage them to locate in Cincinnati area.

5. What steps would you take to provide affordable housing for all residents of your community? (100 words limit)

First, I would find out how many residents who need affordable housing do not have such housing, and why not? Second, I would determine how many units are, or could be made, available to residents needing affordable housing. Third, I would have the administration work aggressively to identify and access state and federal programs to finance any additional housing units needed. Fourth, I would advocate for "home ownership affordability" to include ability to MAINTAIN as well as buy home. Finally, I would advocate for a city policy that no neighborhood is disproportionately impacted with low income housing.