COLUMBUS (AP) — An organization representing Ohio big-city mayors is urging Gov. John Kasich to establish a dedicated emergency operations center to coordinate the state’s response to the opioid crisis and appointment of an opioid czar. In a letter dated Monday, the Ohio Mayors Alliance commends the state’s work but suggests seven potential improvements based on observations gathered from local communities. “We are witnessing an unfolding catastrophe, unparalleled in our state’s recent history, and more needs to be done by all of us to confront this deadly epidemic,” members of the group wrote. The group’s top idea is to establish a joint operations center similar to what might appear during a disease outbreak. “As we surveyed our member communities to understand what was being done on the ground, it became clear that insufficient information flow between different levels of government was impairing our collective ability to make sound policy decisions,” the member mayors wrote. A spokesman for Kasich, a Republican, said his administration will give serious consideration to the mayors’ recommendations. “We welcome all ideas that can provide those on our front lines with new tools and resources to help,” spokesman Jon Keeling said. The five members who make up the group’s board signed the letter: Democrat John Cranley, of Cincinnati; Republican Lydia Mihalik, of Findlay; Democrat Tim DeGeeter, of Parma; Democrat Andrew Ginther, of Columbus; and Republican Don Patterson, of Kettering.