The Blood Is on Their Hands: Cincinnati’s Mayor and Council Ignored the Root Cause—Now They’re Drowning in the Consequences

Cincinnati is in crisis, and the people who were elected to lead are now trying to dig themselves out of a hole they helped create. While violence surges and community trust erodes, Mayor Aftab Pureval and the majority of city council continue to act as if the chaos fell from the sky. But the truth is, they had the chance to address the root cause years ago—and they arrogantly passed on it.

Back when things could still be prevented, an organization led by trauma activist Ronald Hummons—called the Childhood Trauma Emergency Group—presented a powerful and proactive plan to the city. The proposal was bold: declare a State of Emergency on Childhood Trauma, and implement a strategic, city-wide trauma-informed infrastructure. The plan laid out exactly how to train institutions, support mental health services, and rewire how the city handles youth behavior, violence, and emotional breakdowns. It was a chance for Cincinnati to become a national model.

But when the proposal reached Mayor Pureval, his response was shockingly dismissive. According to those present, the mayor said—to their faces—that he had no interest in the plan and that he didn’t believe trauma was the problem. Not only did he shut the door on the conversation, but he reportedly did so with visible disrespect. No curiosity. No collaboration. Just cold rejection.

Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney was the only official who showed leadership. She met with the group and invited Licensed Professional Counselor Lashanda Sugg to give a formal presentation. Sugg explained in clear, clinical terms how trauma rewires the brain, affects behavior, and connects directly to the violence plaguing Cincinnati. After hearing it, Kearney was convinced. She saw the dots connect. But when she tried to bring her colleagues along, she hit a wall of political ego and shallow thinking.

Councilwoman Meeka Owens is a perfect example. She reportedly claimed that hosting a few trauma-related events each year was “enough” to address this generational issue. That kind of thinking is why Cincinnati is unraveling. Events don’t heal trauma. Deep policy and cultural shifts do. And that’s exactly what the city turned its back on.

Now, in a cruel twist, the same city officials who dismissed trauma as a root cause are watching Republicans step in with policies that criminalize trauma responses. Instead of offering healing, these laws will escalate punishment—disproportionately targeting Black and brown youth who are already carrying the scars of untreated trauma. It’s a cycle that Cincinnati could’ve disrupted. Instead, its leaders helped reinforce it.

The Democratic majority had the power to choose people over politics. They were handed a plan. They were told what would happen. And they didn’t just ignore it—they ridiculed it.

This goes beyond a simple policy failure — it is a profound moral failure. As city officials rush to cover their tracks and manage public perception, real damage continues to unfold. Children are suffering quietly, their emotional and psychological needs ignored. Entire communities are in mourning, grappling with loss and fear as violence becomes an everyday reality. While the mayor and council engage in political blame games, deflecting responsibility from one office to another, their inaction and negligence have real, devastating consequences. The issues they were warned about are no longer hypothetical — they are happening right now, affecting the most vulnerable among us. Leadership means more than holding a title; it means being accountable when it matters most. But instead of stepping up, those in charge have allowed bureaucracy and ego to outweigh duty and humanity. Let there be no confusion: every delay, every ignored warning, every missed opportunity to act has contributed to this tragedy. The crisis didn’t come out of nowhere — it grew in plain sight, under their watch. So while they may continue to point fingers, the public sees the truth. The damage done is irreversible, and the responsibility lies squarely with them. The consequences are bloody — and they are responsible.