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Heroes Staff Picks
(cont. page 2)
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Best Argument That Hamilton County Politics Is Broken
People have complained for years that the Republican Party runs
the county like its own personal fiefdom, but no one's been able
to quantify exactly what was so wrong with that system (besides
the occasional scandal or screwup). Then the 2000 elections approached,
and 11 of the 17 countywide races for judges and officials featured
a single unopposed candidate two Democrats and nine Republicans.
In order to protect their two judges up for election, the Democrats
made a deal with the Republicans not to run against nine of their
candidates (not that the Dems could have scared up many candidates
anyway). Didn't like Prosecutor Mike Allen's heavy-handed support
of the death penalty? Didn't like Sheriff Simon Leis' out-of-touch
crusading? Didn't like the way the Coroner's office was being handled?
Too bad. You had no choice. Like it or leave it. By the way, all
the unopposed candidates won. How 'bout that!
Best Argument That the City Can Be Saved
Victoria Straughn is a one-woman antidote to the apathy, complacency
and cynicism that offer strangles Cincinnati. CityBeat named her
Greater Cincinnati Person of the Year for 2000 for her dual roles
as AIDS activist (her work at UC's Infectious Diseases Center) and
social activist (in her free time). As one of the organizers of
the annual Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS,
she attempts to educate and rally Cincinnati's black community to
fight the explosive spread of AIDS and HIV among African Americans.
Best Arts Rebel
Student poet Nina Caporale didn't back down after ArtWorks took
away her $500 scholarship at the summer program's Aug. 15 closing
ceremonies. Caporale's poem "You Ass" was considered inappropriate,
and her work was branded as vulgar in a bitter Cincinnati Enquirer
editorial. Caporale took her complaints to the public, eventually
getting the scholarship money back. Through the debate, she became
a thoughtful, articulate spokesperson for artistic freedom of speech.
Best Example of Politics and Arts Not Mixing
Office politics pushed CAC Curator and local artist Kim Humphries
to leave the Cincinnati arts scene. Luckily for Humphries, he found
a more lucrative position in St. Louis. What's unlucky for Cincinnati
is that the man responsible for hip, clever, performance art like
Gillombardo's Hams no longer calls the Queen City home.
Best Arts Administrator
As the director/president of Happen, Inc., the eclectic arts education
program for children and adult mentors, Tommy Reuff is a one-man
staff who rallies an army of dedicated volunteers. He's the life
force behind Happen, Inc., giving and giving and still insisting
it doesn't hurt.
Best Jewish Chef and Cookbook Author
Zell Shulman has inspired and encouraged so many people, either
around her table of interesting people from all parts of Cincinnati
(and beyond) or with her frequent interviews and conversations with
Jimmy Gherardi on WVXU. A regular recipe contributor to The American
Israelite, Shulman's energy and verve about food, entertaining and
life in general will be illustrated soon in her newest cookbook,
Latsa Latkes.
Best Event Planner
Joe Rigotti is being hired out of town for tons of weddings and
corporate events. The rest of the country knows him, but does Cincinnati?
Best Fighters
The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless links all local
agencies, helps anyone in need and runs Streetvibes, the homeless
advocate newspaper that helps men and women down on their luck make
money from selling it. The coalition is not at all profitable but
keeps plugging away.
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