Cincinnati Enquirer, November 1, 2015

Parks levy: What is the truth?

The Enquirer examined some of the arguments used by both proponents and opponents and attempted to find out the facts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Save Our Parks, October 30, 2015

There is not enough money to keep parks promises

At 3% percent interest on 30 year bonds, the payments each year on the $85 million debt would be $4.3 million, leaving NO new money to address the $55 million in deferred maintenance at existing parks and NO money for “improved patrols” as claimed by tax proponents, unless, of course, the Mayor drops some of the projects from his wish list. In short, the Mayor has made more promises than he can keep ... read more

 

Cincinnati Business Courier, October 29, 2015

Issue 22 opponents: Council majority will fund this project even if levy fails

Opponents of Issue 22, the charter amendment and property tax increase to fund improvements and additions to Cincinnati’s parks system, pledged that a City Council majority exists to fund the Wasson Way bike trail project even if the measure fails at the ballot box on Tuesday.

At a news conference, council members said they would find the $7.5 million to $36 million needed to construct the bike and hike path ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 29, 2015

Another lawsuit threatened related to park levy

A state representative from Mount Lookout Thursday threatened a taxpayer lawsuit over city Parks Director Willie Carden's authorization and disbursement of park foundation funds to pay for the production and design of a website in support of the Issue 22 parks levy ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 29, 2015

A promise to do Wasson Way, but money an issue

n the same day Wasson Way -- a long talked about east side bike path -- lost out on a $17 million grant, four members of city council stood of the steps of City Hall and pledged the project would get done, even if Issue 22 fails next week ... read more

 

WLWT 5, October 27, 2015

Sierra Club urges no vote on Cincinnati Parks Levy

Add another pro-parks organization to the list of those opposing Issue 22, the Cincinnati Parks Levy. The Sierra Club has informed Mayor John Cranley by letter it is urging a no vote next Tuesday ... see more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 27, 2015

Opinion: People should be priority, not parks

When I first heard about a new tax for the parks system, my first inclination was that Hamilton County and Cincinnati finally found some common ground on good policy. Then to my dismay, I discovered that this “permanent tax” called Issue 22 was only a city-based initiative that was going to be controlled by a few of the elite rather than from the citizens most affected, or even by City Council ... read more

 

Sierra Club, October 27, 2015

Thank you for meeting with representatives from the Sierra Club (regarding) our concerns regarding Issue 22 ... At our most recent Executive Committee session, Sierra Club voted to oppose Issue 22 ... read the letter

Sierra Club opposes charter amendment on the Parks Levy

read more

 

Soapbox Cincinnati, October 27, 2015

Soapdish: Cincinnati parks deserve better than Issue 22

Over the past month, Cincinnati citizens have experienced a remarkable rollercoaster of news events featuring the controversial Issue 22 parks tax (or “levy,” depending on which side of the issue you’re on). The news cycle could give one whiplash trying to keep up with the heated debate and steady stream of stories revolving around the tax — the personalities, the pratfalls, the scandals and the missteps ... read more

 

FOX 19, October 26, 2015

Parks levy debate heats up

In the final days before the election, Issue 22 continues to cause debate across Cincinnati ... see the interview with Derek Bauman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City Beat, October 26, 2015

Park Board gives endowment perks to top executives

The Cincinnati Park Board is using private endowments donated to the board nine years ago by a private individual to give its top executivessome pretty sweet perks. Records obtained by The Enquirer show that executive director Willie Carden is given a car allowance of $12,000 a year from the funds, with second top-ranking official Marijane Klug raking in $4,800 a year for her set of wheels. The endowment, which was previously used to pay the board's top executive more than $100,000 in annual bonuses, also paid $48,500 of Carden's credit card expenses for the last three years, covered his membership to a private, exclusive club and covered thousands in food there ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 24, 2015

Park levy: How we got here

It's Mayor Cranley’s park levy. That's a statement John Cranley owns, even if it hasn't been a key point in the campaign characterized as a “citizen-led” ballot initiative. To those surprised, or who consider it unusual, Cranley asks this: What’s wrong about it?

“This is how democracy is supposed to work,” Cranley said ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 24, 2015

Mara, Mooney: Park Board should’ve stuck to 2007 plan

The Park Board ... should dust off that 2007 plan and stick to it, rather than take direction from the mayor to “transform” our parks

The Issue 22 scheme is a radical departure from the 2007 plan which was produced after two years of thoughtful community engagement ... read more 

 

WCPO, October 24, 2015

Local leaders worry Cincinnati parks tax could hurt county

A permanent tax proposal that would generate new funds for the city’s park and trail system could confuse voters and thwart a future county parks levy, some local leaders worry ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 23, 2015

Cincinnati Park Board using endowments for cars, food

The private endowments once used by the Cincinnati Park Board to pay its top executive more than $100,000 in bonuses are currently being used to pay for a car allowance that now totals $12,000 a year, according to documents obtained by The Enquirer ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 23, 2015

Church won't sell land for park levy project

One of 16 projects proposed to be completed with dollars raised by a permanent parks levy is now a scratch ... read more

 

Cincinnati Business Courier, October 23, 2015

Key parks levy project in limbo after church refuses to sell land to the city

New Prospect Baptist Church, the site of one of the projects Mayor John Cranleyproposed to fund using the proceeds from Issue 22, will not sell its land to the city, parishioners and the Rev. Damon Lynch III decided Thursday night after an impassioned town hall meeting.

The church’s vote means that the proposed Roselawn Neighborhood Center, which could include swimming pools, baseball fields, a gymnasium and an urban campsite, will have to be funded privately ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 22, 2015

Group now against parks levy: Nine members ask for a revote, cite 'improprieties' by Mayor Cranley, a councilman and others.

Amid accusations of improper interference from the mayor, the Charter Committee of Greater Cincinnati has overturned its neutrality on the Cincinnati parks levy. The group now is against the charter amendment ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 22, 2015

Park Board bonuses raise questions

In 2013, the two top public officials overseeing Cincinnati parks reached a well-publicized but partially confidential settlement with the Ohio Ethics Commission for receiving nearly $100,000 in improper bonuses between 2004 and 2010 from the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, a private, nonprofit organization. A new Enquirer investigation, however, finds the nonprofit paid an additional $104,000 worth of bonuses in 2010 and 2011 to one of those officials, Cincinnati Parks Executive Director Willie Carden ... read more

 

Cincinnati Business Courier, October 22, 2015

​Cincinnati’s largest companies dig into their pockets to back parks tax campaign

Some of Cincinnati’s biggest corporations are kicking in major dollars to back Mayor John Cranley’s proposed property tax increase to maintain and improve the city’s park system. Citizens for Cincinnati Parks reported raising $847,535 in a pre-election campaign finance report released on Thursday, with most of the large donations coming from the city’s largest and most-powerful businesses. The campaign also reported a large number of paid staffers and consultants, indicating a high level of sophistication for the Issue 22 campaign ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 22, 2015

Corporate sources back parks measure

A who's who of Cincinnati businessmen and philanthropists helped Citizens for Cincinnati Parks, the group backing the 1-mill property tax to support parks on the November ballot, raise more than $670,000 through Oct. 14, according to the group's campaign finance report.

The campaign doesn't have as much as the $847,000 the documents show, because Enquirer reporting prompted the campaign to return a contribution of $200,000 ... read more

 

91.7 WVXU, October 22, 2015

Park Levy Supporters Raise $647,000 For Issue 22

To say the proponents of Issue 22, which would place a one mill permanent tax levy in Cincinnati’s charter, are out-spending the opposition would be the understatement of the century ... read more

 

Cincinnati Business Courier, October 21, 2014

​Hamilton County parks chief: City broke off talks on joint parks tax

The city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County’s Great Parks negotiated into the spring over whether to do a joint tax levy campaign in 2016 or 2017, but the city ultimately decided to pursue Issue 22, Great Parks executive director Jack Sutton said ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 20, 2015

Cranley: County/city park tax considered

Mayor John Cranley, during a Tuesday night forum, for the first time explained why the city and county are asking for separate park levies.

The city is seeking a new, permanent 1-mill property tax this year. The county plans to pursue a renewal of its park levy in 2017 ... read more

 

WCPO Cincinnati, October 20, 2015

Will Cincinnati parks tax 'help neighborhoods' or be 'bad government'?

One side argued a permanent property tax would unfairly burden city residents for parks used by thousands of suburbanites while also giving Cincinnati's mayor too much power over the city’s park system ... read more

 

WKRC-Local 12 News, October 20, 2015

UC holds forum on Cincinnati Park Levy

There wasn't a seat left at Niehoff Urban Studio Tuesday night, Oct. 20, as Mayor Cranley pleaded his case for Issue 22 ... read more
 

October 20, 2015

Pave the Parks? by Michael Earl Patton

It’s often the details that really matter.  There are so many things wrong with Issue 22, the so-called “Preserve Our Parks” levy, that it is hard to know where to begin.  I’m going to begin by pointing out that the language on the ballot when you go to vote is not the same as the language of the actual charter amendment ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 20, 2015

Who gave $1,000 to anti-parks tax group?

Save Our Parks, the group campaigning against the Cincinnati city parks tax, has been vocal online and in the news media, but they don't have a lot of cash. The group's campaign finance report -- due Thursday, but already filed ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 19, 2015

Hopper: Parks levy a re-election gimmick

Anyone who loves our parks should agree that Issue 22’s $80 million property tax slush fund is wrong for Cincinnati ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 19, 2015

City created Smale Park without amendment

The other day, my wife and two of our grandchildren visited Smale Riverfront Park for the first time ... We also have frequently spent time at the recently restored Washington Park ... These two parks have cost many millions to create and restore. And the city has managed to provide both the vision and the funding for this work without the need of a charter amendment. The argument is made that we need to pass Issue 22 to preserve our parks and to develop new ones. Clearly, the city can do just fine without such an amendment ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 16, 2015

City needs better roads, not a marina

The city of Cincinnati ran an $18 million surplus in 2014 and $19 million surplus in this year (“Black wants surplus to go to police” Oct. 7).

Now Mayor John Cranley wants a permanent property tax for the parks written into the city charter that would not be subject to renewal or review ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October, 16, 2015

Seelbach, Young: Why we’re against park tax

We join colleagues Yvette Simpson, Charlie Winburn and Amy Murray as a majority of Cincinnati City Council in opposition to Issue 22, the parks charter amendment and tax increase ... read more 

 

Cincinnati Business Courier, October 15, 2015

​Parks director on project cost estimate: ‘I don’t know if you can even call it ballpark’

Cincinnati parks director Willie Carden said Thursday that the cost estimates for the various projects to be funded by a charter amendment and property tax increase will be subject to major revisions as community input is sought if voters approve the measure on Nov. 3 ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 15, 2015

Park board wrote $200K check before approval

A $200,000 cashier's check to the nonprofit Great Parks Great Neighborhoods was issued a day before the Cincinnati Park Board of Commissioners approved spending it, raising new concerns about transparency ... read more

 

WLWT-5, October 15, 2015

Group returns $200k contribution from Cincinnati Park Board: Contribution to Cincinnati Parks Levy returned

To focus on the essence of the levy, the group (Great Parks, Great Neighborhoods) said Thursday that it plans to return the contribution from the Cincinnati Park Board. The announcement follows allegations that the Cincinnati Park Board used taxpayer dollars to make a donation to Issue 22 supporters. The park board said the funding came from a private trust ... read more

 

WKRC-12, October 15, 2015

City parks levy campaign returns $200k

Hundreds of thousands of donated dollars are being returned after watchdogs claim that money had been misappropriated ... read more
 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 15, 2015

Cincinnati park board votes to ask for return of $200K contribution

The Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners gave $200,000 to the park levy initiative in July, but decided Thursday morning to reverse the action and the money was returned to them by the end of the day ... read more

 

Cincinnati Business Courier, October 15, 2015

Cincinnati park board votes to ask for return of $200K contribution

Attempting to douse a burgeoning controversy, the Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners voted Thursday to ask for the return of a $200,000 contribution it made to a political action committee that backs a city charter amendment and property tax increase on the Nov. 3 ballot ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 15, 2015

Editorial: Park board must take money back

Cincinnati's charter couldn't be more clear: City boards and commissions may not spend money on elections. It doesn't matter if the money spent is taxpayer dollars or comes from somewhere else. The charter states "from any funds whatsoever."So we're deeply concerned that the Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners feels justified in its decision to funnel $200,000 toward the campaign promoting a permanent park tax on the November ballot, a proposed charter amendment known as Issue 22 ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 15, 2015

State rep. threatens suit over parks donation

A taxpayer lawsuit has been threatened against the city of Cincinnati over the $200,000 donation from the Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners toward the park levy initiative ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 14, 2015

Raab: Parks already flush with cash

I thoroughly enjoyed attending the Enquirer-sponsored park levy debate at the Phoenix on Monday night. Both sides made compelling arguments, and both sides also agreed on a few points, most notably their love for our parks.

They also agreed the city’s residents should have had a guaranteed say, written into the charter amendment, providing an avenue for community participation. Right now all we have is someone’s word ... read more

 

91.7 WVXU, October 14, 2015

Both Sides Of Issue 22: The City Of Cincinnati Parks Levy

Joining us to discuss the Cincinnati Parks levy is Manley & Burke attorney Tim Burke, who supports the levy. Tim Burke is also chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party and Hamilton County Board of Elections. Attorney and Partner with Ulmer & Berne, Donald J. Mooney, Jr., who, along with Tim Mara, organized Save Our Parks, an anti-levy effort; and,WVXU political reporter Howard Wilkinson ... Hear it

 

Cincinnati Business Courier, October 13, 2015

​Why this Cincinnati civil rights icon says she hung up on Mayor Cranley

Cincinnati civil rights icon and former vice mayor Marian Spencer said she hung up on Mayor John Cranley when he angrily called her after she withdrew her support for a plan to increase funding for Cincinnati’s parks system ... read more

 

Cincinnai Enquirer, October 13, 2016

Editorial: Why the hurdles for parks budget?

The budget for the Cincinnati Park Board should not be hard to get. But it is. The Park Board is a public entity, after all, funded by taxpayer dollars ... read more

 

700 WLW News Radio, October 13, 2015

Democratic Debate, Scam of the Week and More

Scott chats with Derek Bauman from Cincinnatians For Progression. Hear it.

 

1230 AM WDBZ Lincoln Ware Show, October 13, 2015

Fmr. Vice Mayor Spencer on Parks Amendment and Mayor Cranley's comments to her

Former Vice Mayor Marian Spencer Appears on 1230 AM WDBZ's Lincoln Ware about the proposed Parks Charter Amendment and about what Mayor Cranley said to her after withdrawing her support for Issue 22. Hear it. 

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 13, 2015

Is $200K to boost parks vote legal?

Cincinnati's Park Board of Commissioners voted to give money to the charter amendment campaign in July. Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley thinks it's OK.So does the financial manager for Cincinnati's parks department.But opponents of the permanent parks levy before voters in November are demanding that the Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners immediately return $200,000 it donated toward the levy campaign in July ... read more

 

WCPO, October 13, 2015

Opponent: Park Board make illegal $200,000 contribution to support charter amendment parks tax

Parties are sounding off over allegations that the city Park Board made an illegal $200,000 contribution to the campaign seeking to pass a charter amendment to fund the parks through a perpetual property tax ... read more

 

Save Our Parks, October 12, 2015

Cincinnati Park Board spends $200,000 in public funds to support Issue 22

This summer, park board commissioners unanimously approved a $200,000 campaign contribution toward the park levy initiative. See meeting minutes. 

 

Save Our Parks, October 12, 2015

Save Our Parks demands the return of $200,000 in public funds illegally donated to Yes on 22 campaign

The Cincinnati Park Board has made a $200,000 contribution to the campaign committee which is actively promoting the proposed charter amendment on the November 3 ballot known as Issue 22. If passed, the charter amendment would establish a permanent tax increase that would annually generate millions of dollars in tax revenue for the Park Board ... read more 

 

Save Our Parks, October 12, 2015

Save Our Parks challenges "Citizens" for Cincinnati Parks to Renounce Corporate Contributions

A group called Citizens for Cincinnati Parks is currently flooding Cincinnati's airwaves with slick TV ads featuring Mayor Cranley and promoting Issue 22 ... read more

 

Newsmakers, October 11, 2015

Local 12 Newsmakers discusses Issue 22 

Dan Hurley is joined by Brewster Rhoads and Donald Mooney, who debate Issue 22. Watch it.

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 9, 2015

Only 3 council members support parks tax

If it was up to City Council to put the permanent parks tax levy on the ballot, it might never have gotten there. An Enquirer poll of Council shows only three of the nine members are on record supporting the plan ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 8, 2015

Opinion: Cranley plan would hurt parks, not help

The proposed Cincinnati Parks Levy is, in actuality, a proposal which could devastate our park system. It is a scheme to open up our treasured parks to development ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, September 29, 2015

Opinion: Parks should be free for all

I join former City Council member and civic leader Marian Spencer in opposing the proposed Cincinnati Parks

levy. As a longtime public parks supporter my husband and I worked closely with Donald Spencer several years ago

to “Free Krohn,” a successful movement to insure that the Krohn Conservatory as well as other Cincinnati

Parks activities would remain free of charge to all Cincinnati residents ... read more

 

Cincinnati Enquirer, September 7, 2015

Marian Spencer: Parks levy is bad policy

It is with regret that after carefully reading the text pf the Parks levy that I cannot support it. This action is difficult for me ... read more