Yeah, I've lived in Cincinnati for over a decade and have stepped foot in Clifton all of about 5 times and I don't think I've ever even been to Avondale, Bond Hill, University Heights or Corryville.
Of course there are bad neighborhoods, lots of them - every big city has them. You can manipulate the statistics to say whatever you want them to say. However between the river and the Gateway Quarter it is extremely safe and getting safer. When I think of Cincinnati, that's what I think of - obviously 99% of us are going to avoid Avondale, Bond Hill, and the bad parts of Clifton. The business district downtown, the banks, the areas around the stadiums, and now up into the Gateway Quarter are all extremely safe. Compare Cincinnati to Detroit - you can't even walk around the stadiums anymore without fear.