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Government shutdown impacts more than just local government employees

42 views · Published 30 January 2018 · 3:22 · Indexed 22 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The government shutdown, as short as it was, still rippled through the local area.

The streetcar was back downtown on Monday morning after a maintenance related shutdown all weekend, but the government shutdown was still on, which was impacting some who came downtown to the federal building.

“I was coming to pick up my social security card but she told me they were shut down due to Congress trying to come to a decision,” said Tayanna Bell from Roselawn.

Across the river in Covington, parts of the city that was usually busy and alive looked like a ghost town. A huge government facility which was pretty dead as well.

The Internal Revenue Service is across the street and also above “Nick and Tony's Cafe.”

Usually, the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On Monday, it was just lunch.

Nick and Tony's was relatively empty, too. Usually, there are nearly 4,000 IRS employees nearby who are potential customers, but on Monday, with most on furlough, there was only a handful.

“If everybody was working now the dining room would be full. We'd have a long line waiting. I'd have more employees here. I did send home about four employees today,” said the owner of Nick and Tony’s, Ryan Kassis.

One of those who stayed was Monica Johnson. Monica Johnson worried in Covington and about her cash flow.

“I got an electric bill due Friday, rent due next Friday. It's trickle down. I don't work for the government but I depend on government employees. Last time in 2013 we were closed 16 days and it cost me about 80 percent of my income,” said Johnson.

On Monday afternoon, the Senate okayed a short-term deal to keep the government open for three weeks.

At Nick and Tony's, they want a longer solution.

Many other government agencies were open on Monday. Several people at the federal building said they had no problems getting the services they requested.

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