Moreno Returns to Cincinnati for Follow-Up Visit About Crime

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, is not done with Cincinnati after a recent attack there made national headlines. Earlier this month he met with local leaders and hosted a press conference, appearing alongside one of the attack victims, Holly. Moreno signaled he would return, doing so on Aug. 19.

A press release from Moreno’s office highlighted how he “has led the way in working with local officials to reach solutions to reduce crime, give law enforcement adequate resources, and safely secure the streets of Cincinnati to protect bystanders and allow local businesses to thrive.”

Attorney General Dave Yost and Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Director Andy Wilson on behalf of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine were also present. The governor received praise, especially for offering state resources to Cincinnati.

During his remarks, Moreno referenced “Holly’s Law,” the idea for a state law involving minimum mandatory sentencing and minimum bail. He expressed a hope for “traction” when the Ohio state legislature starts up again next month.

Moreno blamed Democrats for why he’s aiming to pass a state law.

“It’s a lot easier to get stuff done at the state level than it is to get stuff done federally. We have a razor thin majority in the House and the Senate, and unfortunately, a lot of my Democrat colleagues have turned their Democrat Party, sadly, into the party that’s pro-crime,” he shared.

Moreno acknowledged “it is not normally [his] role” and he “wouldn’t want to get ahead of state legislators,” though he “can certainly be somebody who encourages something like that to happen” and is “very optimistic… to get something across the finish line.”

Overall crime would also come up. While Moreno acknowledged the presence of the National Guard in the District of Columbia, including guardsmen from Ohio, he said he is not looking to have guardsmen in other cities.

Moreno also refused to accept high crime rates. He said he wants goals and objectives for 2030 in Cincinnati, “so that the community can hold all of us accountable.”

It goes beyond Cincinnati, though, according to Moreno.

“We can’t just agree that cities are just going to be high crime areas. Like I reject that premise, the idea that, ‘well, yeah, it’s these urban centers, they’re just going to have more crime or more violence.’ No,” Moreno emphasized.

Moreno said he believes local leaders “have gotten the message,” when it comes to how “they’re going to take this matter very seriously and move forward with a plan of action.”

But local leaders need to be willing to accept aid from the state, especially when it comes to a conversation on federal aid, he said. Moreno previously called for a review of federal funding for Cincinnati.

Moreno stressed how such aid being offered by the state is free.

“So this is the kind of the note I made to the city officials,” he offered. “You have the attorney general of the state, you have the head of Public Safety, you have the governor.” Stressing how “present” state officials have been, Moreno wondered, “what else do you need?”

“There’s no reason in my mind where the city wouldn’t say, ‘thank you, we will take it all and we’ll figure out how to make it work,'” Moreno continued, also acknowledging there “is legitimate concern among local officials.

Yost highlighted examples of “what’s doable in a way that preserves local autonomy.” Moreno then reminded how this ties into federal aid.

The senator said that “when you have cities asking for more federal aid, which I’m happy to consider to do, but you’re rejecting free aid from the state, and saying, ‘well, just give us money and we’ll figure it out ourselves,’ I kind of reject that premise. I think I come from an environment in the business world where, when somebody’s willing to help you, you take that help. And so I’m hoping that we get through those.”

Moreno offered that “as long as we’re making forward progress… then that’s going to sit on the sidelines” when it comes to Cincinnati losing federal funding. He even offered that “if they come up with a plan that makes sense, then I will absolutely work my tail off in Washington, D.C. to get the additional funding for Cincinnati.”

The senator “put an asterisk next to that,” though, again reminding how the state is offering free resources. “That becomes an impediment to me to have to convince my colleagues in Washington, D.C. as to why Cincinnati should get more money.”

That provided Moreno with an opportunity to rail against Democratic cities.

“We’re not trying to intervene on home rule. We are trying to do is draw a red line and say we will not accept the premise that our cities are just going to be dangerous places and that we’re going to give up on our cities. We have places like New York and Chicago and up until 10 days ago, Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, that have devolved into crime hell holes, and we’re just not going to let that happen,” Moreno pointed out.

There are other updates in the attack.

One of the Cincinatti attack victims, Alexander Tchervinski, has been charged with disorderly conduct. Fox 19 referenced how his lawyer vows to fight the charge.

Black community leaders called into question the investigation, wanting to know more about the victim’s role, while highlighting the racial component involved.

During Tuesday’s press conference, Moreno called out making the attack about race, focusing on rejecting crime rather than making it “another race-baiting exercise.”

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