Practicing Visualization: If I Ran for City Council

If I ran for City Council, here’s what my website/platform might look like.

Heading
Unconventional Ideas.
Real Solutions.
A Cincinnati That Works.

Subheading
Championing community, creativity, and common sense leadership.

Introduction
Hi! I’m Bennett, a professor, designer, and unapologetic Skyline enthusiast with a wild passion for innovating solutions for everyday problems in Cincinnati. I believe city government could use a little more creativity, a little less bureaucracy, and a whole lot of Graeter’s ice cream-fueled brainstorming. I’m here to shake things up—not just talk about change, but actually design it. Let’s make Cincinnati the most innovative, community-driven, and livable city in the country—together!

A Quote by Me
“I look at Cincinnati the way a designer looks at a tough project: as a system that can be reworked, reimagined, and optimized. Whether it’s improving public spaces, making government work better for real people, or just making it easier to find parking in Hyde Park (seriously, why is that so hard?), I believe creative problem-solving is the key to a better city. And if my methods involve some unconventional thinking—well, that’s just part of the fun.”

On the Issues
It's time we stand up for our ideals—it's time we take on the status quo.

Issue 1: Designing a Better Cincinnati
Using design thinking to creatively solve everyday city challenges, from infrastructure to public services, with innovation, empathy, and community input at the core.

Issue 2: Mental Health Is Public Health
Championing mental health awareness, access, and destigmatization as essential components of a healthier, more compassionate city.

Issue 3: Community First, Always
Empowering neighborhoods like Hyde Park through grassroots initiatives, local events, small business support, and inclusive civic engagement.

Issue 4: The City That Works... and Plays
Reimagining public spaces, transportation, and local culture to make Cincinnati more livable, joyful, and connected—whether you're commuting, creating, or enjoying Graeter’s in the park.

What Cincinnati Wants to Change

I created a Reddit post asking Cincy natives, "If you were Mayor, what's one thing you'd change about Cincinnati?" Here are the results, distilled and categorized. If you have your own ideas, please feel free to contact me!

1. Public Transit Overhaul

• Expand and modernize Metro bus service

• Extend the streetcar route beyond downtown

• Improve accessibility and reliability

2. Affordable Housing & Homelessness

• Increase affordable housing units across neighborhoods

• Strengthen tenant protections

• Support wraparound services for unhoused residents

3. Infrastructure & Streets

• Repair potholes and improve road quality

• Implement traffic calming in residential areas

• Expand bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly zones

4. Neighborhood Equity

• Invest more evenly across all 52 neighborhoods

• Address disinvestment in historically marginalized communities

• Encourage locally led development initiatives

5. Environmental & Green Space Initiatives

• Protect and expand parks and greenways

• Prioritize sustainable development

• Improve waste management and recycling programs

6. Transparency & Civic Engagement

• Make city government more accessible and accountable

• Host regular town halls in every district

• Increase opportunities for youth and community voices

7. Crime & Public Safety Reform

• Invest in community-based alternatives to policing

• Support violence prevention programs

• Improve emergency response systems

Speaking Out About Mental Health in Cincinnati

Over the past few years, I’ve been traveling across Cincinnati giving talks about mental health and mental illness, partnering with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to help destigmatize conversations that are too often kept in the dark. From classrooms to community centers, I’ve been sharing stories, resources, and hope; after all, mental health deserves the same compassion, visibility, and advocacy as any other health issue. This work is personal, powerful, and just the beginning.

Giving a talk at a local hospital

Giving a talk at a local university

Reminder

Reminder:
Please go to my Contact page if you want to submit ideas on how to make Cincinnati even better.

ELECTrify Branding Yard Signage Mockup

I find political branding aesthetics to be quite fun

Welcome to Rethink Cincy.

This is a space for bold ideas, creative problem-solving, and reimagining what Cincinnati could be. I’ll be sharing thoughts, designs, and community-driven visions to make our city more vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking—one post at a time.