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Home Rule On Trial
Tomorrow Ohio's cities get to make a case for preserving their ability to craft policy at the local level. The SCO will hear arguments from the cities of Akron, Lima and Cleveland on whether a State law prohibiting municipal residency requirements should be overturned. Cleveland was allowed to join in after flubbing the filing. The court consisting of seven Repubicans will hear arguments from two seperate cases revolving around the residency issue.
While residency rules for city employees is at the center of the court arguements the real threat is whether or not the court will allow further erosion of the home rule provision of the state consitution. It's no secret that there's some animosity towards or at least a lack of concern for granting localities the discretion to forge policy as they deem necessary. The negative vibe is worse for any cities named Cleveland or Akron.
There's no telling what the court will decide, uphold the lower court ruling striking down the state law (good) or overturn the lower court ruling (bad). The future of how cities govern themselves is in the balance. There's no indication on how long the court will take to render an opinion but a few points should be kept in mind.
The State law was crammed through the General Assembly cheifly as a result of one State Senator, Tim ' got his hands in everyhting' Grendell who was considering a run for Attorney General in 2006. Why not solidfy a large voting block from the F.O.P. and the Firefighter Unions by granting them something from their perenial wish list? Long story short, Grendell didn't run AG but the law was passed anyway. Another example of former township trustees dictating what is good and bad for cities.
The police and fire organizations hate residency requirements and that passion has kept the anti-residency law movement alive. I've found that most big cities myaors have a somewhat adverserial relationship with their safety forces. Fighting residency laws is a great way to stick it to the admnstration if there is a contentious relationship to begin with. The public safety employees can always find supporters in Columbus. Lawmakers are willing to take up the cause even after cities like Akron have had residency requirements approved by voters more than once. So much for the citizens having a say.
The impact of upholdng the State law will have a corrosive effect on urban neighborhoods. Scores of police and fire personnel (aside from those already skirting the residency law) will move out of their repsective cities. Losing the residency requirement would probably have a greater impact on a City like Cleveland that has more to lose through the exodus of resident police, fire and EMS employees.
While residency rules for city employees is at the center of the court arguements the real threat is whether or not the court will allow further erosion of the home rule provision of the state consitution. It's no secret that there's some animosity towards or at least a lack of concern for granting localities the discretion to forge policy as they deem necessary. The negative vibe is worse for any cities named Cleveland or Akron.
There's no telling what the court will decide, uphold the lower court ruling striking down the state law (good) or overturn the lower court ruling (bad). The future of how cities govern themselves is in the balance. There's no indication on how long the court will take to render an opinion but a few points should be kept in mind.
The State law was crammed through the General Assembly cheifly as a result of one State Senator, Tim ' got his hands in everyhting' Grendell who was considering a run for Attorney General in 2006. Why not solidfy a large voting block from the F.O.P. and the Firefighter Unions by granting them something from their perenial wish list? Long story short, Grendell didn't run AG but the law was passed anyway. Another example of former township trustees dictating what is good and bad for cities.
The police and fire organizations hate residency requirements and that passion has kept the anti-residency law movement alive. I've found that most big cities myaors have a somewhat adverserial relationship with their safety forces. Fighting residency laws is a great way to stick it to the admnstration if there is a contentious relationship to begin with. The public safety employees can always find supporters in Columbus. Lawmakers are willing to take up the cause even after cities like Akron have had residency requirements approved by voters more than once. So much for the citizens having a say.
The impact of upholdng the State law will have a corrosive effect on urban neighborhoods. Scores of police and fire personnel (aside from those already skirting the residency law) will move out of their repsective cities. Losing the residency requirement would probably have a greater impact on a City like Cleveland that has more to lose through the exodus of resident police, fire and EMS employees.
The other downside is the long-term detriment to the concept of community policing. The mission to serve and protect is weakend when the very men and women who are asked to patrol our streets have no vested interest in the community other than earning a paycheck. As a resident of one of the cites represented I strongly believe that the safety forces are not hired mercenaries but an important piece of the community at large.
I understand that police and fire place themsleves at great risk to keep us safe and that service is probably the most important one provided by cities. As a residents and taxpayers we have a stake in the way those services are provided and the way in which our elected leaders govern our localities. Funny how no one is ever concerned if the accountants or garbagemen are happy with residency requirements.
I understand that police and fire place themsleves at great risk to keep us safe and that service is probably the most important one provided by cities. As a residents and taxpayers we have a stake in the way those services are provided and the way in which our elected leaders govern our localities. Funny how no one is ever concerned if the accountants or garbagemen are happy with residency requirements.
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