Blame is on all the politicians and the lame brained "leaders" who can't budget their own time let alone a city budget. City pools stay open and cops/fireman get laid off? How about having people in the city pay for their trash pick up. They can pay for Rumpke/CSI. Council should volunteer their services to cut costs as should the mayor and his boys. Those that don't have a choice to take furloughs.....sorry, unionize ! Would you risk your life for less money in a city that doesn't value/respect you ? Let the city fall on its face ! I am sure King Obama will make it rise from the ashes. Those at the helm are incompetent and fail to lead/manage on a daily basis. I say "huzzah" to the cops/firemen.....stay strong and if need be take further "action". The city will screw ya'll if you let them. To all public safety professionals I SALUTE YOU and RESPECT YOU ! Happy 4th of July and remember there is strength in numbers. Look what the numbers were able to accomplish in getting your city in its current state. If ALL else fails you are always welcome in KY where law and order still stands and means something. You don't see 5 murders occuring in KY in less than a 24 hour period do you?

Sorry to hear there will be more police and fire layoffs than what we might have expected. The public safety budget, which includes police and fire accounts for nearly 50% of the total city budget. With City finances looking the way they are for the remainder of 09 and even worse for 2010, how can the FOP believe the decision to vote down the mandatory furlough is a good one. It is better to give up a little pay than to be laid off. If these people were really concerned about public safety, they would not be acting in the manner they are. Many City employees are taking the mandatory furloughs and do not have a choice in the matter. Contrary to the George Bush type scare tactics, maybe we dont really need all the people that are on the force. I say get rid of the old ones that have been around a long time, that are comfortable with the status quo and make the most money. I am sure there are a lot of younger guys and girls that are doing a really good job out there and it would be said to lose those that have the most to offer.

hooray for the officers. they voted the right way and now maybe the dapper mayor (i forgot we don't know where he is) and laketa cole will have to cut some of the mamby pamby social programs that give away the taxpayer hard earned money to further their political agenda. the people are tired of working for the lazy and no good, and certainly don't need a michael jackson amusement ride thru OTR for the thugs to play on.

The cops, who put their lives on the line every day, are asked to give up bux to balance the budget. Yeah...that's a plan. Give the guy who came up with that one a nice fat bonus!

Over the Rhine was ranked as the #1 most dangerous neighborhood in the country last week.

If you think crime is bad here or the worse place ever, you never have traveled.

Let's spend millions on a trolley that goes through the most dangerous 'hood in the USA, but cops gotta take furloughs??

Why should the cops have to take days off just because Council and the City Manager are a bunch of no-talent a$$clowns??

So, Cincinnati has the most dangerous crime ridden areas in the country. Here's a great idea, lay off a hundred cops,and please do not build more jails. I'm sure that will help attract more people to move closer to the city. By the way, when you ride the Trolly are you furnished with a bullit proof vest or do you bring your own?