It is not a secret that Black and Brown economic development and upward mobility has been stymied heavily by local government in African American neighborhoods and communities. This started with redlining that concentrated poverty and continued with highways razing majority-Black homes and businesses in neighborhoods such as West End and Avondale. Inequality has further developed through unchecked and underregulated development which drastically increases home prices and rents, gentrifying communities and forcing black families out of their homes. We need to help curb this by intentionally promoting and supporting black and brown economic development. This includes: 

• Working with private and public partners as well as our labor partners to ensure workforce development such as apprenticeships and job training. This will create equitable opportunities for people of color.
• Implement government funding allocation accountability to ensure sustainable resources are directly and transparently contributed to communities of color.
• Raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
• Increase broadband access across Cincinnati. During the pandemic too many children were unable to keep  up in the classroom because they did not have access to the high speed internet in their homes. This was especially felt in communities of color. We need to work with public and private partners such as Cincinnati Bell, Spectrum and CPS to expand broadband accessibility so this does not happen again. Not only will this benefit the children, but it will benefit the entire family.
• Set a goal to increase the total city spending on contracts with black owned businesses to 20%. This is more representative of MBE participation in the Cincinnati economy.