Issue 22: Cincinnati to host railroad forums. 'It's too late,' opponent says
With three weeks to go before an election in which Cincinnati voters are being asked to sell the city-owned Cincinnati Southern Railway, city officials announced they will host three community forums.
For weeks opponents of the sale have been critical of the city for not being more open with citizens about the sale.
The board that oversees the Cincinnati Southern Railway voted last November to sell the railroad to Norfolk Southern Corp. for $1.6 billion, saying that was a better deal for taxpayers than signing another long-term lease with the same company. The vote came in tandem with an announcement by Mayor Aftab Pureval about the sale, which he supports. Pureval knew about the proposed sale for months, but negotiations were done in secret. Even council members weren't told until days before the announcement.
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The board's decision to put the sale on the ballot this November came July 13. A majority of Cincinnati voters must approve the sale for it to proceed.
Three groups have emerged to oppose the sale. One of them, Citizens for a Transparent Vote, was organized by Todd Zinser, a former U.S. inspector general who is retired and lives in Cincinnati.
"It's welcomed sure," Zinser said of the forums "I believe it's too late. We recommended in a letter to the mayor and board of trustees on Sept. 6, which is just about six weeks ago. People are already voting. Maybe better late than never." Early voting started Oct. 11.
Zinser said the mayor and board never responded to that letter or a subsequent one.
"Something that required a citizen's vote had zero engagement until now," Zinser said. "It has left citizens with the impression that the city and the board were trying to pull a fast one."
The other two groups have pressed for community engagement as well. The NAACP and influential Black pastors have opposed the sale, saying the money needs to be promised to Black neighborhoods.
Tuesday morning the city announced it would host three community workshops to inform the public, all three in neighborhoods with high Black populations. The city said the goal of the forums is to "learn about community budget priorities."
Cincinnati City Council two weeks ago approved a spending plan for the railroad money with little community input, outlining $250 million in infrastructure repairs. The spending plan was released on Friday, Sept. 30, discussed at council's budget committee on Oct. 2 and filed with the city Wednesday, Oct. 4 as the proposed plan. Because the city does not have the money yet, council did not vote on the plan.
People attending the community meetings will be asked to participate in activities and give feedback about what projects are most important to them. The money, according to state law, can only be spent on current infrastructure needs.
If you go:
Evanston
When: Saturday, October 21
Where: Evanston Recreation Center, 3204 Woodburn Ave.
Time: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Avondale
When: Thursday, October 26
Where: Hirsch Recreation Center, 3630 Reading Road.
Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Winton Hills
When: Wednesday, November 1
Where: Winton Hills Recreation Center, 5170 Winneste Ave,.
Time: 6 p.m. -8 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Last minute Cincinnati Southern Railroad sale forums scheduled
