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Rise in violence proves police needed more than ever

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Betsy Sundermann Guest columnist

Over the past few months, there has been a national conversation about law enforcement. The notion of “defunding the police” has gained momentum in some pockets around the country.

An organization called People’s Safety Reimagined has brought that debate to the city of Cincinnati in the form of a proposed charter amendment. They were able to collect about 7,000 signatures to put their proposal on the ballot in November. Despite this effort, they failed to get the required number of valid signatures for the 2020 election.

I have been, and remain, prepared to fight against the notion of defunding the Cincinnati Police Department. I also believe that supporting law enforcement and advocating for safe and secure neighborhoods is not a partisan issue.

Defunding the Cincinnati police Kevin Grasha Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

LaRosa’s franchises are facing multiple lawsuits filed on behalf of delivery drivers who allege they systematically are not being paid enough for deliveryrelated expenses.

Three separate lawsuits, all filed this year in federal court in Cincinnati, involve 27 LaRosa’s locations. The cases are seeking class-action status.

Nearly identical lawsuits have also been filed against Domino’s, Papa John’s and Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, including in other states.

Recently, a case involving more than 900 drivers for Domino’s franchises in

Police in Downtown Cincinnati. SAM GREENE/THE ENQUIRER

would not lower crime rates, but would result in an increase in crime and violence in many of our Cincinnati neighborhoods.

It is critical that police have the tools to be proactive in their jobs, cutting off crime before it can happen. By defunding the police, it would be virtually impossible for the police to do this important work. They would instead operate more like firefighters, only able to reSouthwest Ohio settled for just over $1 million.

Last year, in another local case, 172 Domino’s drivers settled for $1.42 million.

The law firm representing the drivers, Biller and Kimble in Kenwood, is “well-versed in pizza delivery driver litigation,” according to documents filed in one of the settlements

The most recent lawsuit involving LaRosa’s franchises was filed Aug. 21 by a driver who worked at the Pleasant Ridge location. It names Michael LaRosa, one of founder Buddy LaRosa’s children, who heads an entity that owns 12 stores. The other two lawsuits involve different franchises that own 15 other spond when the house is aflame. Residents of the city would be forced to fend for themselves, and the deterrent for criminals to break the law would dramatically decrease if police are pulled out of neighborhoods.

If this charter amendment is proposed again in the future and becomes law, Cincinnati will lose over $17 million in grants for CPD. Policing as we know it will be obliterated. Social workers and mental health professionals will be responding to calls that should be handled by trained law enforcement officers. This will put those, and the general public, at risk.

There is always room for reform, and that’s something the Cincinnati Police Department has taken very seriously, becoming a role model for other departments around the nation. Some of the proposed changes identified by those wanting to defund the police are already policy, including demilitarization, deescalation training, banning chokeholds, etc.

The men and women in uniform in Cincinnati get up every day ready to sacrifice everything for our safety. They stores.

Documents say Michael LaRosa owns and/or operates, in whole or in part, a number of other entities that make up part of the LaRosa’s operation. The number of stores could increase as the case proceeds.

The lawsuit naming Michael LaRosa alleges drivers are not adequately reimbursed for their expenses, and, therefore, do not earn the legally mandated minimum wage for hours worked.

A LaRosa’s spokesperson said they don’t comment on legal matters.

According to the lawsuit, drivers are paid about 6% of each order they deliver. But reimbursement payments, the lawsuit says, are not related to the actuheld the line against the protests that turned into riots, looting, and destruction earlier this summer. At a time when we need them most, this proposal sends the opposite message.

The violence in our city in 2020 has been overwhelming. We are on pace to have over 100 homicides this year, which would make it the most devastating and violent year in Cincinnati’s history.

In one recent weekend, we saw over 18 people shot and four killed in a single night. That’s something you see in other cities, but it’s something we should never have in Cincinnati.

This is proof that we need the police now, more than ever, protecting our neighborhoods.

Though People’s Safety Reimagined failed to get their proposal on the ballot this year, we will be ready to support our police officers and advocate for safe communities if they attempt to get their radical proposals on the ballot in 2021.

Cincinnati Councilwoman Betsy Sundermann lives in East Price Hill and is a Hamilton County probate court

Lawsuit: LaRosa’s systematically underpays drivers

magistrate. al expenses the drivers incur using their vehicles.

The lawsuit says delivery drivers should be paid the IRS standard business mileage rate, now 57.5 cents per mile. LaRosa’s reimbursement policy, however, results in drivers receiving an average of 25 cents to 35 cents per mile.

The drivers are owed the difference between what they actually received and the IRS rate, plus additional damages, the lawsuit says.

“These guys drive thousands of miles, and they’re minimum-wage workers,” said Phil Krzeski, an attorney representing the drivers. “These cases make real monetary difference for a lot of people.”