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Biography
Jeff Berding is a fifth-generation Cincinnatian, born and raised in Westwood. In November 2007, Jeff was re-elected to Cincinnati City Council for his second term in office. As a Cincinnati City Council Member, Jeff has focused his efforts on public safety, neighborhood quality of life and government accountability. Jeff is the proud father of three young children and they live in the Linwood neighborhood. Councilmember Berding attended St. Catharine Elementary School, St. Xavier High School, and graduated with honors from Miami University. He received his MBA with honors from Xavier University.
PRIORITY AREAS
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Jeff led successful efforts opposing the demolition of Westwood and Rothenberg Public Schools in an effort to renovate both buildings rather than rebuild. Jeff continues to push for strong CPS reform efforts and will work to support the CPS Board to ensure that the next Superintendent is a proven, dramatically successful reform leader. Jeff will continue to push for increased financial accountability and more collaboration between CPS and the City of Cincinnati in school facilities planning.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Jeff is a strong supporter of our Police and Fire personnel. He continues to work with County Commissioners and the County Sherriff to solve both the short-term and long-term jail crises. He has been a strong advocate of increasing police visibility, and successfully passed a two-year budget that brought over 60 additional officers to our streets. Jeff also worked to create a new coordinated Youth Violence and Gun Intervention Initiative to bring a comprehensive approach to juvenile crime on our streets. Jeff has been an active supporter and participant of CeaseFire, a community-based solution to gun violence. During this term, Jeff plans to do more to listen to and communicate with young people in our City, expanding work, education and recreation opportunities.
NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY
Council approved Jeff’s Chronic Nuisance Property Ordinance that targets landlords whose buildings have excessive police calls for service. He has also worked to ensure that over $1 million new dollars for demolition, hazard abatement, and code enforcement, for a total of $3.3 million dollars. Jeff also authored and passed a motion restructuring the City demolition process for nuisance properties. The new method cuts City processing time from thirty days down to two. Jeff has worked with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful to re-establish the Safe & Clean Neighborhood Fund for grants supporting one-time neighborhood capital projects. Jeff is bringing a national campaign, Don’t Borrow Trouble, to Cincinnati to expand public awareness and counseling to the victims of predatory lending in an effort to address the damaging consequences of home foreclosures.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Jeff worked with Councilmember Chris Bortz in taking the lead to create the Banks Working Group (BWG). Jeff was very involved in successful efforts by the BWG to reach agreement on a Master Development Agreement with the Carter Dawson Real Estate group so we can finally break ground on The Banks. Along with leaders in the business community, Jeff and Chris Bortz also started the GO (Growth + Opportunity) Cincinnati Initiative, to create a long-overdue strategic plan for our City, and is supportive of the Chamber of Commerce’s creation of a Shared Civic Agenda. Jeff worked with Councilwoman Laketa Cole to create a new Youth Employment and Workforce Development strategy that will leverage the recommendations of the GO (Growth + Opportunity) Cincinnati Initiative and support programs that give young people job skills and a path for a hopeful future.
REINVENTING GOVERNMENT
Jeff’s “City Hall Works” initiative is ensuring that citizens’ tax dollars are being spent efficiently and effectively. Working with a consultant, the advisory committee reviewed government operations and made recommendations to the City Manager and Council to improve the structure of government and service delivery. The City Manager is now implementing the recommendations. Jeff sponsored new legislation requiring that the City Manager undergo annual performance evaluations. Jeff helped draft the performance measures that guide the City Manager and Department heads, making them accountable to citizens.
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