The Cincinnati Dealer - As Minorities Move In, Neighboring Areas See Growth

As Minorities Move In, Neighboring Areas See Growth

By Gerard Oh | Dealer staff writer

Wed, Aug 31, 2005

WEST CHESTER TWP. - New U.S. Census estimates indicate that minority population growth rates are booming in suburban Butler and Warren counties. For example, Lakota East High School now boasts at least two Asian students.

Lifelong county resident Pat South appreciates the change, citing all the new exotic restaurants. "I love Mexican food now. The restaurants are so ethnic. My favorite is Don Pablo's."

In related news, while the minority population of the beltway suburbs is increasing, exurban areas further out are seeing an almost identical increase in white homeownership. When asked why he moved his family recently further from the city, new Middletown resident Ken Adams said, "Why did I move out of West Chester? Um, I don't like those... um, I mean... better schools... up here. Yeah, that's it."

Quick Poll

A weighted voting system, Proportional Representation (PR), may be on the ballot. How do YOU feel?

	This poll is invalid since I can't rank my choices.
	Leslie Ghiz is my #1, but I can't decide who to rank #2, Pat Fischer or John Eby.
	I can understand why the NAACP supports PR, since Charlie Winburn would likely replace Laketa Cole on council in 2009.
	I prefer the current model of electing the same 9 people every two years.
	I'm torn about PR. I would love to rank Sam Malone in dead last on a PR ballot, but I don't know if I could stomach voting for him.
	Does this mean Justin Jeffre and Michael Earl Patton will stop running for Council after they discover they still can't win under PR? Then I'm all for it.
	This system will only encourage more crazy people to run for City Council... and so I support it.
	Call me old-fashioned, but I would prefer it if the candidates with the most votes win.

What Grinds Your Gears?
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