I Stand with Cincinnati Council and Against DOGE's Chainsaw Politics
Brian Griffin, executive secretary-treasurer of the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, wrote the following Op-Ed for the Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati doesn’t have to choose between fiscal responsibility and standing up for working people. We do both, and we do them well. Yet, a recent guest column argued that the Cincinnati City Council's unanimous resolution recognizing federal workers and opposing the Department of Government Efficiency is somehow a distraction from local financial concerns ("Cincinnati's focus should be on local fiscal responsibility, not vilifying DOGE"). That's backward thinking.
Protecting workers, especially those in public service, isn't a detour from good governance; it's an essential part of it.
DOGE isn’t just another wonky budget initiative. It’s a calculated, ideological attack on public service itself − one that threatens the livelihoods of millions of dedicated federal employees, including thousands right here in Cincinnati. These workers aren’t abstract numbers on a spreadsheet; they are air traffic controllers, VA nurses, Social Security clerks, IRS agents, researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and postal workers. They are the backbone of our economy, ensuring stability and prosperity for all of us.
The resolution passed by Councilwoman Anna Albi and her colleagues is not political theater. It’s a necessary defense of our neighbors, our local economy, and our shared values.