There's no shortage of actions to take this week:  Redistricting, stormwater, and beer and tacos!

Cincinnati, Ohio - On June 10, Communities United For Action and our allies met with Hamilton County's Impervious Surface Fee Stakeholder Working Group to get updated on the progress toward sewer rate restructuring. It was the third meeting of the working group created by the Hamilton County Commissioners October 24, 2019 resolution. 

Cincinnati, Ohio - CUFA met with Senator Sherrod Brown Tuesday to talk about making the Child Tax Credit permanent, getting infrastructure funding to fix our sewers, and making utilities clean, and affordable for everyone.

Cincinnati, Ohio - On Friday, June 25, Communities United For Action lit up Carew Tower with a message for Governor DeWine: Stop Utility Shutoffs. Since being allowed to resume shutoffs by the Governor and Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Duke Energy suspended service to more than 21,000 households in its Ohio service area (October 2020 to March 2021). Check out the FB Live posts and pictures from the action!

Take Action: Tell Governor DeWine to stop utility shutoffs until people can get aid to catch up.

CUFA had a busy week last week, and there are more exciting events to come. Tell the Hamilton County Commissioners we can't wait for fair sewer rates. And then, join us at an upcoming event!

Attendees bring toilets to demonstration

Cincinnati, Ohio – On Thursday, June 17, Communities United For Action (CUFA) and its allies announced the launch of the Fair Sewer Rates Coalition and delivered demands to the Hamilton County Commissioners calling for restructuring sewer rates.

The 40 Coalition supporters delivered toilets to the Todd B. Portune Center for County Government. CUFA member Wanda Ball said, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the picture we want to portray here today is that our homes and their values are going down the toilet. Our hard-earned money is going down the drain.”

Ball, who emceed the rally, continued, “Water is a basic human need, and because of the unfair sewer rates, it has been difficult for me, at times, to pay my water. The Customer Assistance Program that was implemented by the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) was designed to limit who can qualify, and that’s not acceptable. I shouldn’t be told I don’t qualify for the program because I’m not dirt poor.”

CUFA has a few important events coming up that we want to be sure you don't miss. Check them out in this week's Activist Toolkit!

Cincinnati, Ohio - CUFA hosted Common Cause Ohio Executive Director Catherine Turcer and Fair Districts Ohio Speakers' Bureau member Christine Carli of the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area to discuss this year's redistricting. Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved two ballot issues to change the way our state and congressional districts are drawn. This year, Ohio redraws the lines. How do the ballot issues change the process for mapping Ohio's districts? How might it impact our votes? Learn more and discuss redistricting in this CUFA Popular Education event. 

CUFA is working to make our sewer bills affordable for everyone, and this week, we need your help to push your Ohio Legislature members to pass our bills to expand sewer customer assistance programs. 

Save the dates for our upcoming program on redistricting & Brink For A Cause. This is the last month to win our Membership Challenge! Plus, find out more about proposed Ohio legislation to restrict absentee voting & the latest changes to the eviction moratorium. 

Have you had a Sewer Backup? Did you get the help you needed to recover?  Under our sewer Consent Decree, the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) is required to help victims of sewer backups that are the result of a lack of capacity in the sewers. Find the Consent Decree exhibits 6,7, and 8 that mandate the Sewer Backup Response (SBU) and Prevention Programs (SBUPP) programs here. Watch this virtual meeting to learn more about what MSD is required to do and how to navigate getting help through the program. CUFA's Sewer Justice Team hosted Legal Aid attorney Matt Fitzsimmons to summarize qualifications, outline MSD's legal responsibility, and cover some tips for getting the help you need from the MSD backup programs when the sewers fail.

Important information shared during the meeting: 

• If you think you have experienced a sewer backup from the MSD public sewer, you must report your backup to MSD within 48 hours of discovery.
  There are two ways to report your sewer backup: Call MSD at (513) 352-4900, 24 hours a day/7 days a week - OR - submit your report online at: sbu.msdgc.org/sbu/
  
  

• To contact the SBU Ombudsman with the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati call (513) 362-2801

• For more information about our sewer Consent Decree, read CUFA's short Consent Decree 101 fact sheet here and download the full Consent Decree documents from MSD's website here.
  
  
• Read the Consent Decree agreement CUFA won to change reporting time for sewer backup victims from 24 to 48 hours. 

Election Day is next Tuesday, May 4. CUFA is supporting Issue 3.  We hope you will support affordable housing. Save the date for the May 6 Sewer Backup (SBU) Response Program 101, and take action to support requiring the City do meaningful public engagement. 

This week, learn more about the Issue 3 Affordable Housing Charter Amendment on the primary ballot May 4. Save the date for upcoming CUFA events, and get an appointment for vaccination if you are still looking for one. 

With the Mayoral primary fast-approaching on May 4, check out upcoming candidate forums.  The Pandemic has caused many people to fall behind on their housing & utility bills. Do you have a story about unaffordable housing or high gas and electric bills that you would be willing to share? 

Optional vs. Required:  We know the best way to get someone to do something is to require it. That's why we're supporting the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Charter Amendment. And it's why we are pushing City Council to introduce an ordinance that requires public engagement on major infrastructure and private development projects.  It’s our money; we need a voice.  This week, take action to support public accountability for our communities.

Cincinnati, Ohio - Communities United for Action members and supporters wrote 147 letters to Governor DeWine, asking him to end utility shutoffs until the pandemic is over. The Hamilton County Board of Health delivered the letters to Gov. DeWine's office. Here is the response we received today from the Governor's Office: 

The Musketeer Association 

Green Umbrella

Edwood East Community Association

Spring Grove Village Community Council

The Bethany House

Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church

Cincinnati, Ohio - Thursday, March 4, Communities United For Action hosted speakers from local utilities and agencies to talk about available assistance programs and how to apply. Watch here:

If you or someone you know are having trouble navigating available assistance programs, CUFA is doing a virtual Town Hall this Thursday with several speakers who will talk about what's available and how to apply. Help us spread the word about the Town Hall this week!