Councilman apologizes for comments to Plush family amid calls for resignation

CINCINNATI — A Cincinnati councilman is apologizing for comments he made to Kyle Plush’s family while the county’s republican chairman has called for his resignation.

Democratic Cincinnati City Councilman Wendell Young implied Plush’s family may seek financial compensation for the teen’s death in a Tuesday special council meeting, saying, “But there’s no amount of money that’s going to make you happy.”

Kyle Plush suffocated in a van last week despite calling 911 twice.

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“The choice of words I used, while not intending to cause hurt, allowed them to misinterpret what I was trying to say,” Young said at Wednesday’s council meeting, according to our partners at WCPO. “My fault entirely.”

Alex Triantafilou, chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, called for Young’s resignation, according to WCPO.

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“I was offended and hurt for the family,” Triantafilou said. “I think our community has been so affected by this tragedy, and to have an elected leader in government make remarks that were so cross and painful — I was sad. I was saddened by the whole thing.”

Young's colleagues on city council said the exchange was embarrassing.

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"You have to be ultra-sensitive and supportive of the family, and he definitely missed the mark there," Republican Amy Murray said. "It was shocking to me."

Democrat Tamaya Dennard also called it "shocking," while fellow Democrat Greg Landsman called it "awful."

"I don't know how to explain it. It was a terrible, terrible thing," Landsman said.

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Tim Burke, the county's Democratic Party chairman, told WCPO by phone that calls for Young's resignation were unjustified.