'We have hippos here more famous than their entire city' and other opinions you read most

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08-02-2025

(In this column, Opinion Editor Kevin Aldridge briefly recaps the most-read letters to the editor and guest columns on Cincinnati.com this week in case you missed them. You can read all these opinions in their entirety by clicking on the links.)
Rapper Kendrick Lamar's popular diss track, "Not Like Us," not only won Song of the Year at the 67th annual Grammy Awards (more on that later), it was the overarching theme of Cincinnati comedian Mark Chalifoux's clap-back to a guest column in the Salt Lake Tribune that made a harsh case against the Queen City possibly becoming the new host of the Sundance Film Festival.
Chalifoux took no prisoners in his comedic take defending Cincinnati and explaining exactly why Park City, Utah, the current home of the film festival, is "not like us." His op-ed making the case for why the Sundance Institute should choose Cincy over "a glorified ski resort" topped our most-read opinions for the week.
"To start, let's acknowledge that Park City is neither a park nor a true city. It's a glorified ski resort so small it must share the festival with Salt Lake City. That would be like if Cincinnati became the new host city and sent half the festival to Batavia, a suburb of less than 2,000 people," Chalifoux wrote in his takedown of Park City.
"Park City advocates tout their 'film tradition' but let's remember that actual movies are filmed in Cincinnati every year," he continued. "The last notable movie filmed in Park City was 1994's 'Dumb and Dumber.' While the movie is an all-time classic, dumb and dumber is how an objective observer would assess Park City and Boulder as the future of Sundance.
"We have hippos here more famous than their entire city."
Aside from being a must-read, Chalifoux's guest column is a stern warning to those who would try to make a joke out of the Queen City. I guess we will have to wait and see who gets the last laugh when the future home of Sundance is decided.
I'd love to hear your thoughts about Cincy's chances of landing the film festival and what it could mean for the region. And were you, too, offended by the shots fired at our town in the Salt Lake Tribune guest column? Drop me a letter to the editor or op-ed with your thoughts.
Now back to the Grammys. Not everyone agrees that Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" is a hit no matter how many Grammys the talented rapper collected. In fact, Mike Hauer of Villa Hills, Ky. was pretty much disgusted by the entirety of the awards show.
In his Feb. 5 letter to the editor, Hauer criticized Lamar's "unsuitable" lyrics, which he reminded readers that "the Enquirer would not print," and the "repugnant" attire of some of the celebrities and performers in attendance. (Rapper Kanye West's wife, Bianca Censori, wore an "invisible dress" that made her appear nude.)
"How much more disgusting 'entertainment' are we expected to endure?" Hauer wrote. "Are we so numb to good taste that anything goes? Someone needs to set reasonable standards for these folks because they obviously are going to push acceptability to the lowest levels."
And the award for the Most Appalled Viewer goes to...
So tell me, do you agree with Mike Hauer about this year's Grammys being "the best example of societal decline (he's) seen in many years?" Should we be more concerned about the images and content some entertainers are producing that's being consumed by younger generations, as Hauer suggests? Let me know what you think.
Perhaps one of the most stunning news events of the week was President Donald Trump floating a proposal for the United States to take over Gaza in the wake of Israel's war with Hamas. Hardly anything Trump does these days is surprising, but this announcement caught many people off-guard. Despite Trump's claim that "everybody loves" the plan, the rebuke of it was widespread and swift − particularly in our Opinion section.
U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman of Cincinnati called it "an unserious plan" by "an unserious person." Local Palestinians Mohammad Ahmad of Covington and Leila Shaikh, a student at UC, and Lisa Beshara Saia of Hyde Park, whose maternal grandmother was Palestinian, said Trump's plan disregards "the fundamental rights of Palestinians" and is nothing more than a "money grab dressed up as diplomacy." They declared "Gaza is not, and will not be, for sale!"
But it was Temple Shalom rabbi Ari Jun's guest column that resonated most with readers. Jun wrote that he has spent the past year and a half combating lies and half-truths concerning Israel's war in Gaza. He said he's been quick to forcefully explain why terms such as "genocide" or "ethnic cleansing" were wrong when equated with the Israel-Hamas war. So when he heard Trump's proposal, Jun said he couldn't remain silent.
"What President Donald Trump has suggested for Gaza is nothing short of the dictionary definition of ethnic cleansing: 'the deportation or forcible displacement of persons belonging to particular ethnic groups' (per Britannica)," Jun wrote. "Suggesting that Palestinians will get a 'good, fresh, beautiful piece of land' does not make this fact better or acceptable. Similar proposals were made early in the Zionist movement when some suggested Jews should just find somewhere else to go other than the place they considered home for millennia."
What do you think of President Trump's idea? Do you support taking over Gaza and redeveloping it? Would you favor sending in American troops to make it happen? Do you agree with Rabbi Jun that such actions would constitute "ethnic cleansing"? We've received several submissions condemning the president's plan, but I'd like to hear from those who think Trump might be onto something. Keep sending me your views.
And in case you missed them, here's a chance to catch up on a couple more of the most-read opinions this week:
Letter: Kearney's plan to spend railroad money validates fears of those who opposed sale
Op-ed: Something must be done about the national debt. Elon Musk just might save us
Op-ed: Cincinnati Children's Hospital doesn't threaten minors. Anti-trans politicians do
In last week's column, I asked you to share your thoughts about Hamilton County's negotiations with the Cincinnati Bengals on a new lease for Paycor Stadium and the proposed redevelopment of Hyde Park Square. Here's a sampling of your responses:
"I can't stand the Bengals and wish they would lose every game they play. But in the meantime, I hope the people paying for this garbage get a better deal than the last one," wrote M. Wayne Sanford of Crescent Springs. "I just had to let off steam because everyday people are being screwed by a very rich family."
"The Bengals are owned by a rich person. No way should people who don't like the Bengals, or don't follow football be responsible to foot the bill," said Joseph Cittadino of Loveland. " Is Mike Brown ready to spread the wealth? If I'm paying for the stadium, then I want it to use anytime I need it, or simply share the profits with all of us in Cincinnati... I say let them move and become some other city's headache."
"The Bengals leaving would be a force multiplier in showing Cincinnati as a dying city versus a great place to work, live and play as all metro areas want to become," wrote Mark Landers. "The county commissioners need to understand the legal implications of their constant meddling in items such as lease negotiations where they are clearly outside their sphere of expertise. Move forward in good faith negotiations and a deal will get done. Remember, there are only 31 (other) NFL teams and many metros would welcome the Bengals."
Vicki Weber of Hyde Park wrote that the proposed redevelopment of Hyde Park Square threatens to permanently alter one of Cincinnati's most cherished landmarks.
"The planned boutique hotel and apartment building are 85 feet tall, with the apartment building stretching 400 feet − both grossly out of scale with the neighborhood, exacerbating traffic, parking, and pedestrian safety concerns," she said. "Approving this project would undermine zoning laws and set a dangerous precedent for all of Cincinnati's historic neighborhoods − the very foundation of the city's unique identity and appeal. While I support development that fosters thriving businesses and addresses housing shortages, our community's character and livability must be preserved in the process."
Bob Sheeran who owns property near Hyde Park Square said he has "deep concerns" about the proposed zoning change.
"While I welcome thoughtful improvements to our beloved Hyde Park Square, I firmly believe that the Planned Development zoning, which allows for greater density and increased building height, is not suitable for our community," he wrote. "I urge city planners and developers to consider the long-term impact of this zoning change. Let's work together to find a solution that enhances Hyde Park Square while preserving its historic character and charm. Development should be a positive addition to our community, not a detriment to its unique identity."
Marjorie Compton of Hyde Park added: "I am excited about the revitalization of Hyde Park Square. In the past few years, the vibrancy of the Square had declined. However, I am distraught that the developer wants variances to the current Hyde Park ordinances. What makes this walkable community so attractive is its charm. A huge (35 feet above the current limit) building will totally change the character of our beloved neighborhood. In addition, traffic will be adversely affected in an already heavily trafficked area, where two elementary schools fight for the safety of their students."
Look for these letters in their entirety and others on these hot topics soon on Cincinnati.com and in The Enquirer.
As always, you can join the conversation on these and other topics by sending your thoughts to [e-mail]. Letters of up to 200 words may be submitted and must include name, address, community and daytime phone number. Op-eds are submitted the same way except they should be 500-600 words and also include a one-sentence bio and headshot. Submissions may be edited for space and clarity.
If you need some tips on how to write an op-ed, click here.
Opinion and Engagement Editor Kevin S. Aldridge can be reached at [e-mail]. On X: @kevaldrid.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincy a no-brainer for Sundance Film Festival and other top opinions