City Clicks #1: March 20, 2020
Free restaurant carry-out parking at meters in front of Taglio, 12th Street, OTR Photo -- City Ombudsman
City Clicks is a list of articles, blog posts, podcasts, and other curiosities and useful stuff for you. Mostly related to problem-solving, city living, unusual takes on interesting issues, &/or generally making life better.
This is the first City Clicks feature. The links will usually be more random, but a COVID-19 version made sense for today.
The story behind the Flatten the Curve graphic. “I thought it was a beautifully clear and simple illustration of an important concept.”
Cincinnati Parking Services designated some meters as free parking spaces for carryout food. Look for the signs in the photo above. I’ve seen them in OTR. Have you seen the spaces in other business districts?
It’s hard to be the first. A Cincinnati friend’s story about assessing her risk, bureaucracy, and trying to get a COVID-19 test in Cincinnati. Update: Connie got confirmation of a negative test result yesterday. Good news for Connie; still a great read.
Should a new disease name be associated with a place? “Identifying a new disease by its place of origin seems intuitive, but doing so can have serious consequences for the people that live there.”
Is it OK to take a walk? Should you take a walk? From the New York Times. Spoiler alert: the answer to both is YES.
Has anyone called the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) COVID-19 hotline? The number (1-833-4-ASK-ODH) is staffed by registered nurses and public health experts. Comment below if you have experience with the hotline.
The official ODH website is https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/
All locations of the Hamilton County Public Library are closed through at least April 3. Did you know you can apply for a library card online so you can access the eBranch, which includes books, audiobooks, music, movies, and magazines?
Economist Tyler Cowen has so many thoughts on his website about COVID-19, including excerpts of longer economic articles.
Cowen and I both liked this round-up from Slate of items not disappearing from supermarket shelves.
Are you working remotely? Here’s a link to a round-up of articles about working from home. More tips for working remotely here.
Some designers/influencers make recommendations for things to watch, listen to, read, and cook while you’re home.
How to stock your pantry for emergencies and 14-day meal plan, from Epicurious. Article here and a short interview with the author here.
Can you imagine going through this without the internet? Or would you prefer it?
On City Ombudsman:
You’re home. Please sign up for Smart911 to make your home safer. My goal is to encourage 500 sign-ups in 2020. Read more here.
The Case of the Sloshy Beer Vault
Have you read the Friday Ombudsman, where we meet Cincinnatians and problems they tackled or a local tip or hack? Read these posts and then be the next Friday Ombudsman here.
Fred Neurohr — Traffic calming in Northside and a beef with Izzi’s
Rachel Hastings — Case study in crime reduction in Covington and that Cincinnati question
Regina Carswell Russo — Real talk on diversity and the dish that is “addicting, delicious, soothing, and medicinal”
Dr. Amber Kelly Pro networking tips using Cincinnati’s strengths and the question I really should have asked her
Steve Ramos Animal control and his favorite “urban, egalitarian Jewish community” leader
Jeffrey Miller Food waste reduction through the tax code and York Peppermint patties
Geralyn Sparough What neighborhood felt like home for this Californian and how she weaves this city together