World Builder

Interesting video with a "traditional" streetscape.

Parents YP Cabinet Brainstorming

A guest blogger today. Lets try to give him some positive feedback:

First off I want to thank Mike for both the opportunity to provide this guest post and for doing the blog. As a relatively recent transplant to Cincy, a parent (1 + 1 on the way), and an urban planner, Citykin has become one of my regular reads.

My goal in posting is to tap into the experience and ideas of the Citykin’s readers. I am a new member of the Mayor’s Young Professional Kitchen Cabinet for 2009. Specifically, I’m on the Parents and Young Families Committee. If you’re not familiar, the overall goal of the YPKC is to attract and retain young professionals in Cincinnati and our committee is, obviously, targeted at, well, parents and young families. Other committees focus on specific topic areas (e.g., housing, education, arts and entertainment); ours cuts across many topics and we are allowed/encouraged to team up with the topic-specific committees if appropriate.

At this point, we're focused on identifying the key issues and brainstorming projects. I live in the city (Mt. Lookout) and have my own reasons for moving into the city. But I've also only lived here 2 years and can't say that I've had the opportunity (job and family) to explore the entire city and think about this issue in depth. I would like to make this opportunity as productive as possible and would like your help in brainstorming the key issues/projects that we should take on this year. Sooo…

-What do you think are the reasons young parents/families leave the city or are unwilling to consider moving to the city?

-What have been your pet peeves as a parent living in the city?

-Are there any city policies that, if changed, you think would improve the city’s attractiveness to young families?

-Any events that our committee could host or use to promote the city to young families?

Note that the YPKC is focused on the entire city (and beyond actually), so it’s not just about downtown. Also, note that we only have a year and have no money (unless we find it somewhere), so I’m not expecting to solve world hunger, so to speak. That said, we do have the ear of the Mayor and I believe that he truly wants us to provide him with new ideas.

So, please post any comments/suggestions here or you can email me directly at dprevost1@yahoo.com.

Thanks! Dan Prevost

Breastfeeding While Driving

A woman in Dayton got a ticket this past Thursday for breastfeeding a child while driving the other kids to school:

..."I tried to say something to her. She literally has the little girl on the steering wheel and I said, 'I can't believe you have that kid in your lap and she said, 'You want to pop your titty out and breastfeed this kid?' That's what she said to me. I'm like, 'You can feed your kid when you stop.'..

Terry's on a Cold Sunday