Cincinnati may spend $5M on housing discrimination reparations

(The Center Square) – The Cincinnati City Council this week could consider a proposal to spend $5 million in tax revenue from marijuana sales on reparations for housing discrimination in the city.

The program would be called The Cincinnati Real Property Reparations Program under the proposal by Vice Mayor Jan-Michell Lemon Kearney and council member Scotty Johnson.

The purpose would be to “create the opportunity for Cincinnati’s residents to build wealth by having the means to own and preserve ownership in real property,” the proposed ordinance states. The funds could be used for commercial or residential property, for down payment assistance, delinquent property taxes or emergency repairs.

It would be available to residents in 15 neighborhoods, low- to moderate-income residents or “to any individual or family members of an individual who was prevented from buying a home due to discrimination.”

Cincinnati has a long history of discrimination in housing, the legislation’s sponsor said.<...