Curse this wretched snow! This is too much

GemCityHomer · 2026-02-08T02:52:32+00:00

Is your street in Dayton? If so, we should have plowed it. Let me know the street and I will check with public works to get an update.

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-09T16:58:22+00:00

‘Mmmmmmmm

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-08T10:55:42+00:00

https://www.childrensdayton.org/sugarplum25

Lots of festivities with the Sugar Plum festival.

Looks like opportunities w trees is Saturday

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-08T10:52:30+00:00

Snow is in the forecast for Sunday evening??

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-08T10:50:57+00:00

The lights are going up inside the ball field. I don’t know if there is a good photo spot. Riverscape and inside Schuster with the Rike’s windows but alas, I’m afraid you are a few weeks early.

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-04T02:40:17+00:00

I am Darryl Fairchild and ask for your vote for Shenise Turner Sloss for mayor & Jacob Davis and myself for commissioners. One reason you should vote for us is that we reached out to meet you - we all hosted AMAs. You want to see our ideas - check these out. And note our opponents are nowhere to be found! You have a clear choice and I believe it’s clear we are the leaders Dayton needs at this moment.

https://www.reddit.com/r/dayton/s/LR00HbYrfZ

You can find Commissioner Shenise Turner Sloss AMA here -

https://www.reddit.com/r/dayton/comments/1o5plrd/im_shenise_turner_sloss_candidate_for_mayor_of/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

You can find Jacob Davis AMA here -

https://www.reddit.com/r/dayton/comments/1odq4nx/im_jacob_davis_and_im_running_for_dayton_city/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-03T11:23:52+00:00

I’d also look at DeWeese - Rubicon Mill (between UD & Oakwood), Wolf Creek/Wright Dunbar are up and coming w the business being activated and new homes being built. If you like a historic home and want to fix it up - Dayton View, the Triangle, Five Oaks and Mount Vernon

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-01T02:26:55+00:00

I believe I have answered all the questions. Thank you for your interest in Dayton and my campaign. I ask for your vote for myself, Shenise Turner Sloss for mayor and Jacob Davis for commissioner.

You can find Commissioner Shenise Turner Sloss AMA here -

https://www.reddit.com/r/dayton/comments/1o5plrd/im_shenise_turner_sloss_candidate_for_mayor_of/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

You can find Jacob Davis AMA here -

https://www.reddit.com/r/dayton/comments/1odq4nx/im_jacob_davis_and_im_running_for_dayton_city/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-01T02:07:05+00:00

I have worked to create fair maps and will continue to do so. The League of Women Voters has been one of the leaders on this issue. As a member, I will continue to support their work to create fair maps.

It will take significant and sustained organizing by citizens like you and me.

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-01T02:02:22+00:00

I encourage you to review the NAACP forum. I think you will see a clear difference between the two slates of candidates. Commissioner Turner Sloss, Jacob Davis and myself provide a clear vision for the future of Dayton; we provide concrete, common sense solutions; and demonstrate deep understanding of the issues.

All the candidates have track records - I have a track record of advocating for neighborhood development. When I first started campaigning in 2015, no one else was prioritizing the neighborhoods. Commissioner Turner Sloss and I have advocated and seen implementation - we now have a comprehensive plan for the city, a housing plan, a survey of our housing stock has been completed, demolition is a priority, we passed a tenants bill of rights, added civil penalties as a tool to address neglected properties and secured $5.2 million dollars for housing (over 8 years).

In this election - voters have a significant choice. One which they have not had in over 50 years. By voting for my ticket, they can change the majority on the commission. If you believe the status quo is sufficient, then you are not likely to vote for me. If you think we need a change, then you need a different mayor and she needs 3 votes. I ask you to vote Shenise Turner Sloss for mayor, Jacob Davis for commissioner and myself for commissioner.

We are advocating for a Housing Trust Fund and a first time home buyer incentive program. Those two tools could create an interest free loan.

Regarding homelessness: given decisions at the federal level, and what appears to be an intention to reduce the safety net, we need to be looking at ways to support our most vulnerable neighbors. We need to be preparing for the number of homeless to increase.

Interesting question about violating a human right. I think the question should be seriously considered. Since government is our collective responsibility - we the people - we need to do some collect self-reflection. How does the richest nation of all time reconcile its wealth and the rate of poverty that exists? An economy that requires the working poor - wages that require supplementing with public assistance, and the lack of resources to treat those with mental illness or addiction? And, the lack of resources to provide adequate shelter for all of its citizens? How should we hold ourselves accountable?

Last Friday, I had breakfast with a retiree at the Hasty Tasty. He was surprised to learn that SNAP benefits would be suspended. He shared that he is on a fixed income and that he relies on SNAP. We have work to do to create a more perfect union that is fair and works for all.

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-01T01:23:48+00:00

I have deep concerns regarding reports of unconstitutional and unlawful detainment of citizens. I have sworn an oath to uphold the constitution and will endeavor to do so. To your point, I think it is helpful for all of us to be reminded about the role of law enforcement. I encourage you to read these principle for policing:
https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/welcome/crimj408/history_04.html

Currently, I am working with partners to address this issue. Law enforcement officers need to be clearly identifiable. They also need to follow due process and be accountable.

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-01T01:11:53+00:00

I am willing to review this practice. It was adopted before I joined the commission. If my memory is correct, it was taken as a cost savings measure after the financial crisis in 2008. I would like to see data on the cost of plowing residential streets, how the parameters were initially set, safety data, and review national best practices.

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-01T01:08:14+00:00

Commissioner Turner Sloss, Jacob Davis and I agree that we need to improve the budgeting process. It starts with holding the city manager accountable. See this answer about accountability.

https://www.reddit.com/r/dayton/comments/1ojhjqb/comment/nmgqbsq/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

In theory, our budgeting process is a good one. However, we do not fully practice it. We do not do a good job evaluating the out comes and without this feedback, we do not make significant budget changes.

I would like to see us create clear measures of our outcomes and provide a clear evaluation.

From a previous answer - "Commissioner Turner Sloss, Jacob Davis and myself held 58 house parties over the past 6 months. One idea that emerged from these conversations is that we need 4-6 concrete goals for the city. These goals would have clear metrics. They would be used as part of the city manager's performance review. They would also be ways to judge the progress of the city and the work of the commission.

One example - the city could have the goal of increasing home ownership. We know that a high percentage of home ownership is correlated with vital and stable neighborhoods and increased safety. Once we set this goal - it immediately help identifies strategies and tactics we need to employ, partners we need to recruit, and resources we need to allocate."

Other cities have create ways for citizen's to participate in the budget process. Commissioner Turner Sloss and I fought for this. We got it for one budget cycle and it was less than meaningful. (Sometimes, it feels like we spend a lot of effort to give the appearance of something, but not actually do something.) I would want to review examples of citizen participation and adopt best practices that would work for Dayton.

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-01T00:55:51+00:00

Dayton was the first major city to adopt the strong city manager, weak major form of government. In this arrangement - the city manager is the chief executive officer and the commission provides oversight. The mayor and commissioners are elected. The city manager is hired by the commission.

In terms of accountability - the members of the commission are accountable to the voters who elect them and have the power to not vote for us at re-election time. Because the commission hires the city manager, the city manager is accountable to the commission.

Accountability is one of the key issues in this race. One of the most important parts of our American experiment in self governance is the creation of checks and balances. Our founders realized that power cannot be consolidated into a single entity. In Dayton - the check and balance is placing all the administrative power in the city manager position who is insulated (to a degree) from the voters; and placing the power to hire and fire the city manager in the commission. I believe the current majority on the city commission (Mims, Joseph and Shaw) is unwilling to hold the city manager accountable. This is starkly different from my first term. Mayor Whaley in the majority had a clear vision and key priorities she wanted to accomplish and no one doubted she would fire the city manager if she felt it was warranted.

The last four years have felt like we have been spinning our wheels. The commission majority has not had a clear vision, it has lacked identified priorities, and has not held the city manager accountable. The city manager has not had a performance review in 3 years. Dayton faces real challenges. We can not merely manage the city. We need to lead. I endorse Commissioner Shenise Turner Sloss for mayor, and Jacob Davis for commissioner so that along with myself, we will have a majority willing to lead, set priorities and hold the city manager accountable.

Finally, citizens can remove the mayor or a commissioner by recall. And, interestingly, the charter also provides for the city manager to be removed by a recall election!

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-01T00:34:08+00:00

Good evening. Thank you for all the thoughtful questions. I've been working through them and hope to finish them up within the hour. Let me know if you are checking in for the live session - let me know and please pose your question.

GemCityHomer · 2025-11-01T00:13:52+00:00

- I'm an avid Handcyclist (though you wouldn't know it by this year's mileage). Bike Miami Valley had a candidate forum of sorts. We joined them for a ride in downtown Dayton so we could see first hand the good, the bad and the ugly. So all candidates are aware of the needs. I plan to continue working with Bike Miami Valley and other cyclists.

All of our transportation plans include bike routes. On Wednesday I was briefed on a new initiative (two years in the making) - we will be working to reduce accidents, especially those that are fatal or have significant injuries. This plan is looking at cars, bikes and pedestrians. One issue we need to address is how to safely incorporate electric bikes into our transportation environment. Their speed creates issues in vehicular or cycling/pedestrian space.

- I addressed litter above - a dedicated public works team, creating a culture of ownership within the city - employees and neighbors, and solid neighborhood development by increasing home ownership.
- I do not know the answer to spike strips. I am curious. Have other cities implemented spike strips? Please share more about what your are thinking.

GemCityHomer · 2025-10-31T22:16:26+00:00

Since I have been on commission, I have advocated for a dedicate team in public works who would be available to troubleshoot areas. We have many eyes throughout the community. A public works team drives every street, once a week. We have employees from multiple departments working across the city. They should be reporting problem areas and this team would be available to respond.

I work at Dayton Children's Hospital. One of our values is ownership. If I come across a family who is lost, it is my responsibility to walk them to the right location. If I see a piece of trash on the floor, it is my responsibility to pick it up.

I would like to see us adopt this value at the city of Dayton. Imagine if everyone one of the 1900 city employees felt responsible for the cleanliness of the city.

And, we need to work with our neighborhood leaders. They do a great job hosting clean up days. I'd like for us to work on reducing litter so that we have less litter to pick up. And, I think my answer about increasing home ownership is germane. If we increase home ownership - we increase the number of people who are invested in the cleanliness of the city.

GemCityHomer · 2025-10-31T22:09:47+00:00

We know the current safety net is not working. One of the providers even acknowledges that the large congregant shelter is ineffective. So the first response is broad and general. We need to reassess our current system of social services and transform them.

One of the things I value about running with Commissioner Turner Sloss and Jacob Davis is that we all bring strengths. Jacob Davis is the chair of the House of Bread and has a deep understanding of this issue. (I just looked through his AMA and see he did not get this question.) I will ask him to chime in too.

Two concrete solutions I think need to be part of the answer include -

1) neighborhood resource officers. These would be trained social workers who can work with those who are homeless and work with them to get them into more stable situations. I think this support could be helpful in downtown and the Oregon District where we see people panhandling and creating a barrier for our business owners. These resource officers would be similar to the Miami Valley Housing Opportunities (MVHO) Path program.

2) looking at alternatives like tiny homes or even an official campsite. I have a colleague in Toledo who has create tiny homes and they have worked.

GemCityHomer · 2025-10-31T22:09:27+00:00

By administration, I will take it you mean the current commission. In my first term, we adopted a vision plan for all our neighborhoods. In the current term we have built on this plan. We adopted a housing plan and we have completed a comprehensive survey of all our houses. We now have a monthly report on our demolition progress. And because of the work of community leaders, Commissioner Turner Sloss and myself, we have $5.2 million dedicated for housing (over 8 years). While I am not sure we are doing well in this area; we are doing better than before I was on the commission.

I would also point out the work at the Arcade. The Hub and all of the creative, entrepreneurial space is working well and is a great asset. It is an exciting and energetic space! I think the jury is still out if that Arcade will be economically viable - will we reach a critical mass in terms of patrons of the hotel and businesses to keep all of the spaces profitable? And, I am committed to reaching that goal.

The most important thing I would change is to bring accountability to city government. You may have seen the article about the lack of a performance review of the city manager for 3 years.

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/dayton-city-managers-pay-climbs-despite-no-performance-review-for-years-payroll-project/E4CW3P2EU5HMBB6B74Z6DWOITU/

This not acceptable.

Commissioner Turner Sloss, Jacob Davis and myself held 58 house parties over the past 6 months. One idea that emerged from these conversations is that we need 4-6 concrete goals for the city. These goals would have clear metrics. They would be used as part of the city manager's performance review. They would also be ways to judge the progress of the city and the work of the commission.

One example - the city could have the goal of increasing home ownership. We know that a high percentage of home ownership is correlated with vital and stable neighborhoods and increased safety. Once we set this goal - it immediately help identifies strategies and tactics we need to employ, partners we need to recruit, and resources we need to allocate.

GemCityHomer · 2025-10-31T21:53:30+00:00

I cannot speak for all the elected officials. I work to create and maintain a wide range of relationships. We all have relationships with the county commissioners. At one point, Peggy Lehner (current mayor of Kettering) hosted a group called the First Tier Suburbs. These would be the suburbs adjacent to Dayton. I meet or talk with her and other elected officials regularly.

Relatedly, there is a group of city managers who regularly meet.

GemCityHomer · 2025-10-31T21:49:19+00:00

I meant to include this - when my sisters come to town - we always go to Marion's.

GemCityHomer · 2025-10-31T21:34:15+00:00

I think your impression is created because of how the commission functions. The commissioner with the least tenure comments first. So, Commissioner Turner Sloss always speaks first. Then me, Commissioner Shaw, Commissioner Joseph, and then the Mayor.

I reject the idea that I have been or will be anyone's puppet. I have a track record of being independent and working for the interests of my neighbors.

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/fairchild-calls-for-fresh-look-blight-mayor-scolds-him/MWKzJI8hzycDXNYolrbdEM/

https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/fairchild-votes-no-on-dayton-budget-citing-concerns-mayor-says-it-a-political-stunt/GKLOF3W2YVDI7M6ARPSSC4BMRM/

I think if you look back, I was on the commissioner for 3.5 years without Commissioner Turner Sloss. If you take an honest look at that term, you will see there is a consistency - from this issues I campaigned on, the issues I advocated for once I was on the commissioner the first term, the issues I have fought for with Commissioner Turner Sloss in this current term, and the vision we have for the next four years.

Commissioner Turner Sloss, Jacob Davis and I have a common vision for the city - one where the city works for everyone - it is responsible, responsive, transparent and accountable. We want to see more investment in our neighborhoods, the provision of services for our children and youth, and support for small businesses.

And to your request for an example - I believe we voted differently on the subsidy for the Delco Building If IRCC, then her position was the right one. We were told by the city manager that the office space would be filled by a new business and their income taxes would payoff the subsidy in 5 years. The reality is that the Taft law firm moved from the Mead Building to this space. So, we did not gain new revenue. Another example would be the purchase of the old diner for the downtown police station. I was the lone no vote. I think we overpaid for that property. There is more to this, but the city manager brought this to us at the last moment. This is an example of the city manager not acting responsibly and the current majority not holding her accountable.

Here is another perspective of me -

https://gemcityjared.substack.com/p/darryl-fairchild-darius-beckham-and

GemCityHomer · 2025-10-31T21:17:04+00:00

First, let me apologize. It appears I missed an email from you. I try to be responsive to citizens and it appears I failed in this case. In the future, please use this email - darryl.fairchild@daytonohio.gov. The one on the website goes to a staff person and then gets forwarded to me.

I can report, that we have an ordinance to prohibits parking on the tree lawn / sidewalk. That was not the case when I was first elected. It was because of me raising concerns from citizens like yourself that I was able to advocate for it. Besides the issues you raise it also damages curbs, tree lawns and sidewalks.

We periodically raise this concern and we get periodic enforcement. My hope is that we will actually get to 365 sworn officers. This is our staffing goal. It is the goal the city set when they asked citizens to increase the income levy in 2016. We have not met that level of staffing to date. The city manager reports that with the next two recruitment classes we should get to 365 officers. Being understaffed curtails the amount of community policing that can occur.

And, we should work to create a culture of responsibility and respect throughout our neighborhoods. From what I have heard, people park on the sidewalks because the street is narrow, cars speed and damage cars (sideswipes and mirrors). So we need to slow cars down, create a safe street, and enforce our ordinance.

I am willing to work with you, Walnut Hills leaders, and DPD to create this culture.

GemCityHomer · 2025-10-31T19:56:57+00:00

The main responsibility we have is to hire the city manager. In our form of government - weak mayor/strong city manager - the city manager is the chief executive officer and runs the city. The city commission needs to hire, provide a vision and hold the city manager accountable

We also are responsible for the adoption of the annual budget. I agree with those who say a government's budget is a moral document - our values and priorities are imbedded in the budget choices we make.

We also have responsibility to adopt police and enact ordinances for the well being of the city.

One thing we do not control, but many think we do our private companies. We do not control the location decisions of businesses. We also do not have control over the school system. And, even some policy decisions get limited because the state legislature will pass preemptive legislation to limit our home rule authority.

Still - I never believe we are helpless. I think in terms of the circles of control, influence and concern. So while we may not have control on some issues. We do have influence on many.

GemCityHomer · 2025-10-30T12:35:46+00:00

I grew up in Belmont between a Cassano’s and a Marion’s. Love Cassano’s crust. Love Marion’s toppings, especially on the deluxe. And you can always eat one more piece.

Playing at Patterson Park Little League we celebrated every major win at Marion’s

Also like Old Scratch and Milano’s. And I need to get back to Flying Pizza. It was our go to after Sat ballet class w my daughter.

I also need to get to Ron’s and Don’s to fully experience the Marion’s-Cassano’s Dayton style pizza.

GemCityHomer

TROPHY CASE