“I said something wrong. I said something, I’ll admit, if you want to look at it as being racist, but I’m not a racist person,” said Young. “I apologized during the meeting, I admitted my fault and I asked for forgiveness. I did that several times. That’s all I can do, that’s all I will do.”
Young used a racial slur in a Facebook comment, responding to a post on the recent brawl in downtown Cincinnati.
“There was a time I was watching what was happening in downtown Cincinnati, and I was appalled by how it happens repeatedly downtown where people get beat up. People are not respectful for other people for going out and enjoying themselves,” he said.
During a special meeting Thursday night, his fellow trustees asked him to resign.
Russ McGurrin, fellow Ross Twp. trustee, said he was “horrified” at Young’s comments.
“It is not acceptable in today’s age or any age for racial slurs to be used,” he said.
“For a public official to state something like that...we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard, not only for ourselves but for our community.”
McGurrin said the community can expect all three trustees to “work together for the best of the community in spite of the issues that Mr. Young has created.”
Just after 3 a.m. on July 26, Cincinnati police officers were dispatched to a fight at Fourth and Elm streets in downtown. Police Chief Teresa Theetge said all of the people injured in the fight remained at the scene, but many fled the scene, according to our news partners, WCPO.
Victims and suspects have been identified and five have been charged. Two of those charged were in court earlier this week. A third person turned himself into police, according to WCPO.
The Cincinnati police chief is calling for others involved to turn themselves in.
Young said that fighting is not new in Cincinnati, and he’s frustrated with what’s happening.
Young was born and raised on the west side of Cincinnati. He’s been a Ross Twp. resident for decades, and a multi-term trustee — serving from 1987 to 2002 and then being elected to an unexpired term in November 2023. He’s up for re-election this November.
“People are not going to go down there for a long time until Cincinnati addresses their problem,” he said, which includes an understaffed police force. “They don’t do anything. It’s been going on for several decades. They won’t deal with it.”
Ross Twp. police department said there have been no reports of any threats or comments made toward Young.
McGurrin said he and fellow trustee Keith Ballauer will treat this situation “professionally” and “put aside the issue that we dealt with last night and continue to do what’s best for Ross Twp.”
In Thursday’s emergency trustee meeting, McGurrin said he hoped the people of the township would find a replacement for Young. The deadline to file for a political office on the November ballot is 4 p.m. Wednesday.
“I want Ross Twp. to vote for the people who they think will best serve Ross Twp.,” he said.
There will be a regular trustee meeting on Aug. 7, and anyone who has further questions and concerns can attend.
