Salon Weekly
.
~ In 4 Color Coded Sections:
- Table Notes
- Announcements Articles Books,
Reviews, Magazines
A Weekly Email Publication of The Lloyd House
Circulation: 525
Growing out of the Monday Night Salon
For info about the Salon, see the bottom of this email
Join us at the Lloyd House every Monday of the year at 5:45 for pot luck and discussion.
3901 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Section One: Table Notes
NOTES MAY NOT BE ACCURATE AND HAVE NOT BEEN PROOFED.
(PLEASE NOTE: These notes have not been edited by the speakers and should not be taken as an accurate expression of the speakers¹ meanings. ellen)
At the Table on Monday, 2/27/06: Lisa Haglund, Dan Hershey, Janet Kalven, Shari Able, Judy Cirillo, Mira Rodwan, Ilya Stein, Mr. G. Steve Slack, Londo Slack, Chad Benjamin Potter, Gaia, Marlene Snyder, Spencer Konicov, Ellen Bierhors, Neil Anderson,
(Welcome Marlene!)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes tonight taken by Lisa Haglund. Thank you Lisa!)
Ellen: Shanti: A Journey of Peace, Indian musical piece, written by (UC prof. of business)
March 25, Sat. at Aronoff.
Gaia: Wed March 1 at 11am will sing Bonya Shur¹s ³Hallel²
Janet: actress Hannah Devere-Smith March 15 at XU Cintas Center, sponsored by Cincinnati Women¹s Club
Chad: climbed the Carew Tower yesterday (so did Spencer), and he is the 3rd fastest climber in Cincinnati. Fundraiser for the American Lung Assoc.
TOPICS NOMINATED:
Dubai Port Authroity deal
Ellen wishes to brainstorm ideas on how to improve Lloyd House and maintain forever
MS. GAIA TO PRESENT ON SEARCH: AN ACRONYM meaning something like Sustainable Environmental A... Renewal of Cincinnati¹s Heart.
Gaia (Foundation): In October 2001, she saw a notice that Ralph Nader would speak in a Cleveland Suburb, met and spoke with him for half hour. Early November that year, she participated in a Walk-a-thon to raise money for the Freedom Center, met a young man who lived in Over the Rhine and who invited her to walk the streets of OTR. Ralph Nader¹s assistant accompnaied, she thought about the beautiful houses that are now empty, homeless people, started walking around, eating in soup kitchens, trying to figure out what is happening there. About a year and a half later, she began to have some ideas about what could be done. She became frustrated over lack of politician attention. (She read here poem by Olden) SEARCH: proposal for 5 neighborhoods (heart-shaped on map) that have urban blight. Phase 1: complexes of buildings on Race Street across from Findley Market, to be renovated ³green,² as efficiently as possible, with glass roof over commons to be called Olden¹s Place. She would like to persuade City Council to allow her to renovate buildings and prevent sale for parking lot. Work force will come from marginally housed people who would like to work for a place to live when the project is completed: (³sweat equity²).
Ellen: A beautiful vision, she would love to see this plan implemented. In order to gain credibility of entities such as City Council would help to have collaboration with someone with experience in rehabbing big old buildings, to lend credibility. Prerequisite
Chad: Very supportive of ides, however, from viewpoint of a City Council member: while you are very assertive and confident, it comes across as aggressive and defensive, so allow people to finish talking and listen to them. As a Clifton Heights resident, one might resent hearing one¹s neighborhood called blighted, and resentful of an outsider coming in and telling the neighborhood what they need. Until acquiring buildings, please allow flexibility and ³community² interests to figure in your plans.
Spencer: Who else is involved? Restoc, Damon Lynch, lawyer, architect, volunteers from Joseph House. Cost per square foot recent of renovation? May be less because of selected nontraditional labor force; Spencer¹s experience with using this type of labor force not successful.
Judy: asked details of corporation
Ilya: Make it happen in a short time! Risk of losing buildings to parking lots for short-term goal of crime reduction but long-term loss of neighborhood.
Lisa: Homeless Coalition topic tomorrow¹s meeting about alternatives to temp labor for homeless, Gaia should propose this project there.
Steve: Great dream and great idea, start small and work bigger, achieve one building and get people living there to establish that it can be done. Demolition, pulling wires, certain tasks non-skilled; still need Master Electrician and appropriate supervision. Heat pumps, anything that is out of the ordinary makes construction more expensive, although it may pay off in the long run.
Mira: Congratulates Gaia on her dream and will support. Mira lives in redone old building, thinks
Sherry: Commends Gaia, suggests she go through script and get rid of the word I, say we. Remind that rehabbing old buildings, cost usually doubles.
Dan /Tipping Point/creative solutions to air pollution, homeless and police violence: an awareness that these kinds of ³impossible to solve² social problems must be tackled intelligently by concentrating on the extremes (the 5% of cars that are responsible for most of the pollution, the 5% of homeless that have expensive behavioral problems, the 5% of police officers who respond with excessive violence), although it appears that individual civil liberties are not being respected by doing this. Malcolm Gladwell
Spencer: The socialization of quality control and manufacturing, brilliant
Gaia: This is the Gaia-Oasis concept from the very beginning.
Ellen¹s house: needs $50,000 for modest update, really needs $200,000 to fix roof, gutters, electrical and plumbing systems, (supply & waste lines; heating hot water lines), driveway and parking area in rear. Replacing windows with double or tripple glazed heat conserving windows would be many thousands.) . Zoned SF-20, up to 5 unrelated individuals and one kitchen. 6800 sq. feet
Chad: this is a registered Historical Landmark; so tax abatements on repairs but no other funding. Could the Lloyd House become a Museum? Sell some furniture to unclog first floor for meetings.
Gaia: City of Cincinnati has a one-stop resource center for housing assistance on Central Parkway halfway between the Auto-wash and the Frisch¹s
Steve: Lloyd Library is alive and well, could be approached for funds to rehab downstairs to hold meetings here.
Mr. G: ask subscribers for donations, throw a party.
Sherry: Form 501-C3 so that donors could deduct donations off their taxes
Spencer: would cost ~$200 per square foot to rebuild.
:
~ end of table notes ~
Hugs to everyone,
Ellen
Section Two: Announcements
2/25
Hello All,
Our very own, Chad Benjamin Potter, UC-CCM student and regular at the Potluck is going to Louisiana over Spring Break to help the National Relief Network in their continuing efforts to clean up the mess left by this year's meteorological menaces. Check out the website ( www.nrn.org <http://www.nrn.org> ) to get a view at some of the experiences he has in store. He will be sure to give a full report of his adventures upon returning.
To fund the trip, he needs to collect $399.00 by the week of March 6th. That's about two weeks from today. If you would like to contribute a tax deductible donation to this trip, please bring a check (payable to National Relief Network) to the Monday Night Salon, or mail it to Chad Benjamin Potter at 228 Klotter Ave #3 Cincinnati, OH 45219. He needs to send the funds no later than March 10th, so please contribute what you can as soon as you can.
Thank you in advance.
Lloyd House has Space Available
2/18/06 So Matthew has a new romance, so suddenly I have his beautiful space available as well as the small single on third floor. I'd like either to find two new housemates or else form a group who wants to co-own the property and live in a co-housing style here helping me to handle the maintenance and utilities.
Matthew's 2 rooms on third floor. NE corner of house. One E facing window, 2 small N facing windows. Private full bath. Furnished with beautiful teak queen size bed and dresser, desk, wood and glass dining table for 4, coffee table, chaise longue, two beautiful dhurrie rugs. Room adjoins spacious and beautiful zendo turret room used for meditation, yoga, drum circle, etc. Shares third floor kitchen with 3 other housemates. $420.
Jason's room, small single on third floor, one W facing window, double bed size suspended sleeping loft, large closet. Bathroom right outside the door in the hall. Shares third floor kitchen with 3 other housemates. $350.
Also, first floor room for office, studio, ...? This is a large oak paneled room with Rookwood fireplace. Currently furnished with king size loft bed platform, sofa, arm chair, Dhurrie rug, long oak library table. Could share the living room with me as a waiting room. Has its own outside entry door. A very handsome room. Terrific for massage practice, for instance. $320?
And come summer barring a miracle job for Alan in the city, we will have his beautiful two room suite available on second floor, plus sleeping porch.
Other Perqs: off street parking, free laundry, high speed internet, living room with piano, TV, DVD, VCR, community iMac Computer. Dining room seats 16+. Veranda off dining room with Hatteras swing, furniture. Easy access to Monday night salon pot luck, Saturday morning Dharma Study group, Sat. evening drumming circle, and ....
The Lloyd House is a stimulating, friendly, multi-cultural environment. Good vibes are required, as is a rock solid financial responsibility. Housemates can be as private or as friendly as they wish. Know anyone who might like to explore this? No undergraduates, no pets, no smoking. Prefer someone who would be interested in participating in the Salon and/or other activities here. Call me: 221 1289
P.S. It feels like something new might be about to happen with regard to the use of the Lloyd House. Help me dream that up. 221 1289 or email Ellen ellenbierhorst@lloydhouse.com
2/26
Hey Lloyd House Drumming Circle!
At our weekly Sat. night drumming circle we have a blast. Djembes, other drums, shakers of all descriptions, flute, recorder, animal sounds (!), Dancing, .. now trying it on the first floor where we can also use the grand piano and won't have to schlep drums up to the third floor. Come!
Just two hours, not long, refreshing, healing, ... Come join in this.
Love and kisses,
Ellen
Please Note this: if you have an email list of drumming people (or dance people, or chant people or instrumental improv. people ... folks who would love this) would you please send this announcement to them and ...
If you are getting this announcement SECOND HAND from a friend, not from me, Ellen, would you PLEASE send me an email
ellenbierhorst@lloydhouse.com
and ask to be subscribed to the drum list? Just send an empty email message and put in the SUBJECT LINE the words "subscribe drum".
...............................................................................
OK, so get yourself here ( 3901 Clifton Ave, Cinti.) Saturday, and any/every Saturday night at 7 pm. Let's keep t his building. Keep happy during winter. Heal yourself.
Logistics: Lloyd House 3901 Clifton Avenue zip 45220, use mapquest.com if you don't know your way here. Park on Lafayette ave. after unloading drums. Do NOT block the driveway. Remove shoes in foyer. Walk up rear stairs (pass the big front staircase) to third floor. Bring snacks or drinks if you like. Bring love and good vibes, any musical instruments or any kind, etc. etc. All children welcome.
Love and beats,
Ellen
03/07/2006:
Since silliness is a Jewish religious obligation for the Feast of Esther (Purim), come to
UC Hillel's Annual Latke-Hamantash Debate
Tuesday, March 7th @ noon.
Witness the passion felt for Jewish foods, as Dr. Jason Kalman of HUCat jessica@hillelcincinnati.org <mailto:jessica@hillelcincinnati.org> .
battles Dr. Yonatan Eyal from the history department at UC to determine
which Jewish food rocks in this Purim extravaganza. Free lunch (including
Jewish treats) for all students, $5 for community members. RSVP to Jessica
3/7 - 1 1
Women¹s History Month 2006 women's FILM FESTIVAL
Tuesday March 7, 2006 7:00pm 9:00pm Women¹s Networking Panel 400 A B C TUC Co-sponsored by Sigma Phi, Student Government and Mainstreet
Come network with successful women who work in the Cincinnati area. Join us for an open forum of questions and answers from some of Cincinnati¹s leading women.
Victoria Morgan - Artistic Director for the Cincinnati Ballet Ashley Young- Director of Communication for Cincinnati Area Chapter American Red Cross
Jennifer Manders- Physician UC Cancer Research Center/ The Barrett Center
Linda Bates Parker- Director of UC Career Development Center
Barbara Rinto- Director of UC Women's Center Evelyn Collazzo- Director of Medical Education in Sales Training & Development, Ethicon Endo Surgery Institute
Rebecca Fellers- Owner of Rebecca Fellers Interiors
Barb Link- Consulting Engineer General Electric
Women¹s History Month 2006 (continued)
Wednesday March 8, 2006 12:00pm 2:00pm International Women¹s Day: Food for Thought Silenced Shame: The Fistula Debate 571 Steger Student Life
The WHO (World Health Organization) has called fistula ³the single most dramatic aftermath of neglected childbirth². In addition to complete incontinence, a fistula victim may develop nerve damage to the lower extremities after a multi-day labor in a squatting position. Fistula victims also suffer profound psychological trauma resulting from their utter loss of status and dignity. Too few people know about obstetric fistula and the tragedy it brings to approximately 100,000 women each year. It is estimated that there are 100,000 new fistula cases each year, but the international capacity to treat fistula remains at only 6,500 per year. Join us in discussing the plight of women living with obstetric fistula, the most devastating aftermath of unattended childbirth.
Thursday March 30, 2006 5:00pm 7:00pm Iron Jawed Angels Film Viewing and Discussion 571 Steger Student Life
Katja von Garnier's "Iron Jawed Angels" tells the remarkable and little-known story of a group of passionate and dynamic young women, who put their lives on the line to fight for American women's right to vote. This true story has startling parallels to today, as the young activists struggle with issues such as the challenges of protesting a popular President during wartime and the perennial balancing act between love and career.
Profiles of Outstanding Women Faculty, Staff, and Students displayed in TUC Atrium and the Women¹s Center throughout the month of March
patricia.carroll@uc.edu
3/8 Green Construction Expo
³The one place where the entire industry can meet to discover and share leading edge ideas, applications and technology²
Wednesday March 8, 2006 Sharonville Convention Center
Product Show: 5:00 pm 8:30 pm Workshops: 1:00 pm 5:00 pm
Construction Products Showcase
Presented by:
The Cincinnati Chapter of
The Construction Specifications
Institute
Free Admission
Door Prizes All Night
Free Food and Beverages
$1000 Grand Prize!
(Must be present to win)
Join hundreds of industry professionals at The 27th Annual CSI Construction Products Showcase, as you experience growth in product and professional knowledge, and benefit from networking with your peers.
See, touch, and learn about the latest products and technology from more than 100 of the industry¹s leading companies. They¹ll discuss business and technology advances and look for ways to help you become more efficient and profitable.
Select your targets, chart your course, leave room for discovery, stop and ask, and chose your literature carefully. We are sure your visit to The CSI Construction Products Showcase will be profitable and rewarding.
Also at Construct CincinnatiŠ
Most Innovative Building Practices
VisionaryProductSolutions, Inc
8:30 am -12:30 pm
and
The ACI Annual Meeting
Contact AIA Cincinnati for details
BuildGreen Workshops
Presented by
The Committee on the Environment of the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Ohio/Kentucky Chapter of the International Interior Design Association
1:00 pm 2:00 pm
High Performance Workspace
Haworth
The economic and design viability of creating environmentally sustainable commercial office interiors
Advanced Exterior Wall Systems and Moisture Control
Centria
The key performance criteria for advanced exterior wall construction, how the design and construction rules are changing, and how metal cladding systems can provide excellent performance and moisture control
2:15 pm 3:15 pm
Investing in Sustainable Interior Environments
Lees Carpet
Current sustainable design practices and concepts and methods to develop healthy interior environments
Daylighting Research and Design
Advanced Glazings
Current research methods and findings to successfully incorporate daylighting design
3:30 pm 5:00 pm
Peeling back the Ecolabel
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)
Evaluating environmental claims, the truths and myths behind the countless eco-labels in today¹s market and advantages of obtaining third-party product certification
Register to Attend the Green Build Workshops
through AIA Cincinnati.
Contact Pat Daugherty
by phone at (513) 421-4661
by email at aiacinti@fuse.net
or go to www.aiacincinnati.org.
Workshop Registration
$25.00 (pre-registered)
$30.00 (at the door)
Student attendance is free.
Register now and save!
3/11 This event achieves Lift Off every year. Linda Tillery is a hurricane! ellen
Muse: New Spirituals Concert
Cathy Roma, Muse,
w/ Linda Tillery
March 10, 11
8:pm at House of Joy in College Hill
Tickets $15 online: musechoir.org
Shakit Records in Northside
Local Forest Habitat Restoration Events
Burnet Woods March 11th 9:00 to 1:00 Meet at Trailside Nature Center - Info. Steve 961-7711
Green Up Day and Great American Cleanup combined April 22 Burnet Woods
Info. Cindi Nugent 861-8970
Rawson Woods April 29, 10-12. garlic mustard pull and trash clean up. Meet your neighbors at the corner of Middleton and McAlpin. Info. Joy at 221-8285.
All events are with the Cincinnati Park Board.
Dress for the weather, bring your own water, and gloves.
Questions? ask Steve Slack slack@fuse.net
2/25
Scorecard: The Pollution Information Site
Concerned about issues with your water and air?
Enter your Zip code at http://www.scorecard.org/
This will alert you to the major polluters in your area.
See also information on chemicals, watersheds, superfund sites, and animal wastes.
And then ask yourself, "What am I doing to make this situation better or worse?"
Blessings
3/12
Rabbi Tom Heyn and his band MAMASH are making Jewish spiritual music! Visit his website at http://www.rabbitom.com/ <BLOCKED::http://www.rabbitom.com/> to hear samples. Tom's debut CD will be on sale soon.
There will be a Reception and Concert (aka CD RELEASE PARTY) on Sunday March 12, 2006 from 7:00-9:00 pm at the Mantra Wellness Center in Blue Ash, 4677 Cooper Road, Cincinnati OH 45242 (one block west of Kenwood Road) (513) 891-1324. This event is FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC - there will be food and drink as well as music! Tom's CD will be on sale! A map to MWC can be found at http://www.mantrawellnesscenter.com/location.html <BLOCKED::http://www.mantrawellnesscenter.com/location.html> . This event is co-sponsored by the Jewish Spirituality Network of Southwestern Ohio http://www.jsnswo.org <BLOCKED::http://www.jsnswo.org> .
To get a flyer for this event, please email Holly Robinson at hollyrob@earthlink.net
Quantum Wellness Partners
www.5pillars.com <http://www.5pillars.com/> #838192700
END THE WAR
STOP THE NEXT ONE NOW
Rally and March
Sunday, March 19, 2006
2pm
Burnet Woods Lone Star Pavilion
(off Clifton Ave. directly across from Hebrew Union College)
Sponsored by the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center
Peaceful, legal, family-friendly event
Many people in the United States now question whether the war ever
should have happened, and calls for withdrawal of all U.S. troops from
Iraq are growing. People are demanding the truth .
We are making a difference.
Make your voice heard on Sunday, March 19 ,in
We are going to end this war.
solidarity with people across the nation!
For more info , call 513-579-8547
or see www.ijpc-cincinnati.org
3/11
Sing Along at Ginny Frazer's / Steve Shoemaker's:
Bring songbooks, food or drink to share as we celebrate Women’s Herstory Month thru Song at Steve & Ginny’s 1539 Glen Parker Avenue (Off Hamilton Ave. in Northside). Potluck at 7:00, singing starts at 7:30 or so. Please RSVP or call 513-541-5361.
(This is my type of thing. Unfortunately, I'll be in Denver visiting my daughter! ellen)
2/18
Good Odd Jobs Man!The third anniversary of war in Iraq is fast approaching. People around the United States and world are organizing . . . The tide is turning!!!!
Philippino American new arrival. LIves Clifton. Transportation by bus. $8/hr. Experienced housepainter, carpenter, cleaning, etc. etc. A good man. ellen
Noli Tobias 861 0933
3/20 Cincinnatian and Muslim American leader Karen Dabdoub to join us at the Salon Table on Monday 3/20 to answer common stereotypes and dialogue with us. Be there!
4/8
SPAN Ohio to sponsor all day conference on
Single Payer Health Care for Ohioans
Sat. April 8 10 am to 4 pm
Holiday Inn City Center 175 E. Town St. (614-221-3281)
Columbus, OH
This is the group that Dr. Don Rucknagel supports, the doc. who gave us that great power point presentation a couple of weeks ago. Let's throw our energy behind this initiative. I am looking to form a car pool-drive up and back same day. Call me, ellen: 221 1289.
To register ($15 fee, includes lunch) see www.spanohio.org or email spanhealthcare@aol.com
SPAN Ohio tidbit: Myth: "Universal Health Car will cost too much." Reality: not more, less! 25 to 30 cents of every dollar spent on health care currently goes to the insurance companies and HMOs. Compare this with only 2.9 cents for every health dollar that goes to Medicare. Look at that difference! If those billions were used for patient care instead of to the insurance and HMO companies, that would provide much of the funding required to cover the medical needs of all Ohioans. Learn more at www.spanohio.org
3/18
The majority of people in the United States now question whether the war ever should have happened, and calls for withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq are growing. People are demanding the truth .We are making a difference. We are going to end this war. Join us!
There will be a statewide antiwar rally and march in Columbus on Saturday, March 18 and a local spirited anti-war arlly and march on Sunday March 19 at Burnet Woods Lone Star Pavilion. More details below…Also, find some information about an important march from Mobile, AL to New Orleans being organized by Veterans for Peace and others .
MARCH 18, 2006
STATEWIDE RALLY AND MARCH TO STOP THE WAR IN IRAQ
2:00-3:00 pm.
Marchers gather at 12:30 at the Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, OH.
http://www.cpanews.org/march18/
Planning on going to Columbus on March 18th?
Need a ride or willing to take someone along?
IJPC will be happy to help make the connections for you. Call kristen at 513-579-8547or email kristen@ijpc-cincinnati.org
Sun, MARCH 19
END THE WAR STOP THE NEXT ONE Rally and March
(on the third anniversary of war in Iraq in solidarity with events happening around the world)
2pm
Burnet Woods Lone Star Pavilion (on Clifton Ave. directly across from Hebrew Union College)
Peaceful, legal, family friendly event.
Sponsored by the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center
Download flyer and handbills at http://www.ijpc-cincinnati.org/
For more information, contact kristen@ijpc-cincinnati.org or call at 513-579-8547
VETERANS’ AND SURVIVORS’ MARCH FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
March 14-19, 2006
Mobile to New Orleans
EVERY BOMB DROPPED IN IRAQ EXPLODES OVER NEW ORLEANS
Veterans For Peace (VFP), Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW), Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), and Gold Star Families for Peace (GSFP), at the call of the Mobile Veterans For Peace Chapter #130, will conduct a march between Mobile, AL, and New Orleans, LA, from March 14-19, 2006 -- the third anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
This historical event highlights the connections between the economic and human cost of war in the Middle East and the failure of our government to respond to human needs at home, especially the needs of poor people and people of color.
The government's negligent and often hostile response to hurricane survivors is mirrored by that same government's continued commitment to an illegal, immoral war fought at a staggering cost.
These are twin disasters, and the veterans of wars abroad along with the survivors of Katrina and Rita are joining together for this march and caravan to establish ties of material solidarity between those who oppose the war abroad and the social and economic costs for working people at home.
http://www.vetgulfmarch.org/index.php
3/4 from True Majority.org, an online opportunity....
Women (and men) of the world uniting for a common goal...... Peace.
It's easy to add your name to the outcry.
Peace is not just for women
CodePink and a delegation of Iraqi women will deliver a Global Call for Peace to the White House on March 8.
Put your name with theirs.
Dear Friends,
Since before the Iraq War began, TrueMajority members have been raising their voices for peace. News stories, polls and editorials show that the majority of Americans are coming around, and we should be encouraged as we get our second wind to continue this struggle.
Our friends at CodePink have been leaders as well, with a constant flow of bold, creative actions spreading the message that Americans of all stripes do not want Iraqis killed in our name. They¹ve offered TrueMajority members the chance to join in on their latest campaign a Call for Peace in honor of International Women¹s Day, which will be delivered by a huge crowd in Washington D.C. along with a delegation of Iraqi women. We think it¹s a great idea, and hope you will, too. ANYONE can sign, whether you're a woman or just the child of one.
To have your name put on the Call for Peace, click the link below:
Or visit:
http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/womensayno/w38uwx5205bb83n?
You can also join the march in Washington on Wednesday, March 8th, or hold a support rally in your hometown; CodePink has more info on how at their website (below).
Matt Holland
TrueMajority Online Director
Here¹s the message from our friends at CodePink:
This week we have seen escalating brutality in Iraq claiming the lives of 1,300 people, a poll exposing the desire of 72% of the U.S. soldiers to leave Iraq, and George Bush¹s approval ratings plunging to the lowest levels of his presidency. We must act now. We must join together across the borders to end this madness.
Next week, in celebration of International Women's Day, a courageous group of Iraqi women will converge in Washington DC. They represent Shias, Sunnis and Kurds, religious and secular women. They are united in their horror at the killings, and their determination to stop the violence.
We owe it to them to stand with them in solidarity. You can do that by signing the Urgent Call for Peace, circulating it, and participating in an anti-war action on International Women's Day. Click here to find an event in your community.
One of our delegates told us that in Baghdad these days, there are dead bodies on the streets and pools of blood on the sidewalks, that parents are keeping their children locked inside their homes. Fear is everywhere.
As we say in our call, "This is not the world we want for ourselves or our children. With fire in our bellies and love in our hearts, we women are rising up - across borders - to unite and demand an end to the bloodshed and the destruction."
And if you don't see one, pull something together--fast. It can be as simple as downloading a copy of our Urgent Call for Peace, representing the signatures of tens of thousands of women worldwide, and taking it to your Embassy or congressperson. Click here to download.
Join us,
Dana, Farida, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Nancy, Rae & Tiffany
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Section Three: Articles
Contents:
- Peace demonstration April 29, New York City
- Todd Portune on The Banks project; mystification clarified.
2/18
Next Major Peace Demonstration in D.C.
April 29
PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM, THE EARTH: JOINING THEM ON APRIL 29
For the first time, an important part of the environmental movement and an important part of the antiwar movement, as well as the National Organization for Women and others, are joining to bring an end to "global scorching" and the Iraq War as well as to end attacks on the Constitution and on the poor and the middle class by the present US government.
This broad coalition is calling for a major march in New York City on April 29.
Says the call to this march:
· No more never-ending oil wars!
· Protect our civil liberties & immigrant rights, and end illegal spying, government corruption and the subversion of our democracy.
· Rebuild our communities, starting with the Gulf Coast. Stop corporate subsidies and tax cuts for the wealthy while ignoring our basic needs.
· Act quickly to address the climate crisis and the accelerating destruction of our environment.
Among the initiating groups are ---
United for Peace and Justice
NOW
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
US Labor Against the War
Friends of the Earth
Climate Crisis Coalition
Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund
Readers of The Shalom Report will be especially interested to know that UPJ has decided to refuse any further alliances with "ANSWER" in organizing any demonstrations, etc.
The UPJ steering committee did this by a two-thirds majority, out of its experience both of deep political differences between ANSWER & UPJ in organizing the antiwar actions last September, and of serious failures by ANSWER to adhere to and carry out commitments the two groups had agreed to beforehand.
You may recall that The Shalom Center was so indignant about the involvement of the bitterly anti-Israel ANSWER in the September 24 antiwar rally that we held an independent pro-peace Shabbat service during the rally time of that weekend,and then took part in other aspects of the weekend when ANSWER had no role.
Now we can take whole-hearted part, especially since our other concerns Oil, Global Scorching, the US Constitution are also on the agenda.
###################
The Climate Crisis Coalition has just installed a Climate Crisis News Engine on its website (www.climatecrisiscoalition.org). Each morning from its various ³newsfeeds,² CCC identifies a dozen or so stories to post on the site. They get rotated on the home page. (To see all the stories click Climate Crisis News Engine
http://www.climatecrisiscoalition.org/climatenews/
###########
Shalom, Arthur
Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director
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3/4/ Salonista and Cincinnati activist Jenny Edwards sends in this on
Todd Portune talks about the Banks
Dear Friends, Hamilton Countians/Cincinnatians:
Many times the subject of THE BANKS stirs up a whirl because theThe Cincinnati Beacon
historical understanding, including the players and motivators/detractors, seem to change on the scorecard weekly. A history of confusion on a local matter(s) has never been greater.
A little past 2 pm today the Dean of Cincinnati posted the following BANKS PRESENTATION by one of our most candid and clear voices, Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune. Link to www.cincinnatibeacon.com <http://www.cincinnatibeacon.com> in order to both read and come to a clearer understanding of what is faced on many fronts by the elected officials in this matter. This airing out of the overall matter is long needed.
Thanks, Todd for creating this presentation and challenging us to learn from it.
Sincerely,
Jenny Edwards
The Cincinnati Beacon <http://www.cincinnatibeacon.com/index.php>
The Banks: Presentation by Commissioner Todd Portune <http://www.cincinnatibeacon.com/index.php/magaddiction/comments/the_banks_presentation_by_commissioner_todd_portune/>
Thursday, March 02, 2006
The Banks: Presentation by Commissioner Todd Portune
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Guest column by County Commissioner Todd Portune
Introduction
To understand why the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County have encountered such difficulty in getting the mega-project known as The Banks off the ground requires a detailed understanding of the entire history of the project. Too many statements, positions, opinions and postures have been taken and written that evidence a misunderstanding of where we are and why we are where we are on this project.
There are very few people involved in orchestrating the approach to the project today who were intimately involved with it at the beginning. From the standpoint of elected officials, there are only two Hamilton County Commissioners Phil Heimlich and Todd Portune. It is not surprising then that in many key respects, including the all-important approach toward financing of the project, both Phil and I are virtually aligned. As will be demonstrated throughout this document how we finance this project; what resources are used; where they come from; who has what responsibility; and the like, will determine our ability to get the project done.
The lack of institutional memory has, to many degrees, proven to be problematic and has resulted in a number of missteps by the bodies of government and in various misinterpretations by the public, all of which have helped to contribute to delays; strained relationships; and increased costs. In order to move ahead however it is important that we acknowledge the past and facts of history.
But to get the project done also demands that all of the present day parties to the effort candidly, honestly and accurately discuss and acknowledge the present day realities that impact our collective ability to get the project done. This includes more than the governmental bodies of the Cincinnati City council and Hamilton County. It includes the Port Authority of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. It includes the opinion shapers and editorial Board writers at the Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Post, Cincinnati Business Courier and The Herald. It includes key business leaders individually and collectively through such organizations as the Cincinnati Business Committee, the Cincinnati Center City Development Company (3CDC). It includes Cincinnati¹s two most recognizable citizens the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals. And lastly it includes those Developer voices that have consistently either been a part of the evolution of this project, or have expressed an interest in being a part of the project, such as Bill Butler, Rob Smyjunas, Neal and Arn Bortz, Tom Humes and Jack Rouse.
The various issues and complexities to the project are larger than the ability or capacity of any single individual or entity to control. It is for that reason that I have been outwardly critical of the various efforts by our Board President to try to handle the negotiations and process in a manner that is characterized as largely a secret one involving only Mayor Mallory, Commissioner Heimlich and respective staffers to both of their offices.
The posture adopted by Commission President Heimlich is not representative of the entire Commission nor can it be considered to be representative of the county.
Phil has No authority.
Has been given no parameters.
We have not, as a Board, met to determine what our approach will be, nor have we voted to accept or reject any proposal or posture etc..
Accordingly, it is a process that has been doomed to failure from the start. It has bred distrust. It has allowed exterior forces to gain undue leverage in shaping the debate. It will, unless immediately reversed, run the risk of scuttling the ability of City and County to put the project together in a way that maximizes the positive potential of The Banks and does so in a way that keeps taxpayer¹s costs and risk to minimal levels.
In the Beginning:
In the beginning there was no such thing as The Banks project. The existing documents evidence a clear understanding of the relationship between the city and the county to be this: The County was to build stadiums while the city was to do the development around the stadiums. The City had an economic development department county did not. The City held the development rights county did not. The City owned much of the land while the County did not. And the City held control over the all-important Air Rights above the ³podium² in the Banks area of development.
In 1996 the Stadium Sales Tax was placed on the ballot with the intent of covering the cost of two stadiums and the cost of building both the public infrastructure and public parking to support the activities that would be hosted by the two stadiums. The total cost of two stadiums and parking was slated to be $544 Million. The tax was declared by public officials and supporters of the project to be a sales tax that would be eliminated in no more than 20 years.
Those parameters of the cost of the project and the bright line defining responsibilities of the city and the county got blurred over time. But to understand The Banks and the difficulties the city and the county face today we must begin with this basic understanding of the stadium sales tax and of ³who was going to do what.²
After the Stadium Sales Tax passed in March of 1996, the city, in the Fall of 1996, expressed its interest in developing the riverfront with more than just stadiums. The county¹s original plan was to rebuild one stadium on top of Cinergy Field and build the other stadium just to the west of the Roebling Suspension Bridge. [See the attached initial rendering of the two stadiums, attached] However, by building two stadiums next to one another at the location of the Suspension Bridge made it readily apparent that to do that would have resulted in nothing other than stadiums being developed along the river. In essence the city would be walled off from the rest of the world with stadiums.
This lead to the creation of the Riverfront Advisors. Don Carter and UDA Associates from Pittsburgh Pa. came in the fall of 1996 and presented several concepts of what could happen. Those concepts included one in which the baseball stadium or football stadium would be built at Broadway commons. UDA Associates also presented a concept known as the ³Big Bang² theory, which had the stadiums, spread apart and all sorts of development crammed in between them.
The City rejected the Big Bang too much public money would be spent. The general theory was that once the basic infrastructure was in place the opportunity should be great enough that any developer would want to make it worth its while in that this would become the most attractive land for development purposes in the Midwest if not the country. In other words, the feeling of the elected officials in 1997 and thereafter was that spending public money to build the public infrastructure of parking and streets and the like was all that should be required of taxpayers. The private development opportunities at the location of the Banks are so extraordinary that private developers should come in with their own financing for the so-called private development.
There has been no formal reversal of that policy at any time by either the City of Cincinnati or by Hamilton County.
The Riverfront Advisors became the Port Authority. The Port Authority was created via Resolutions and Ordinances that were passed into law in the Fall of 2000. The Port was an entity created, in part, for the purpose of removing some of the ³political² influences from the process. Nonetheless the creation of the Port Authority was surrounded with all kinds of political influences, and remains so today.
The Port Authority also came into being with great emphasis placed upon its ability to capture or access dollars and savings that purportedly could not be realized via existing governmental structures. That, too, remains the unaltered policy of the city and the county regarding the need for, and usefulness of, the Port Authority and its involvement in this project.
The elimination of those overriding features quite frankly eliminates the need for the Port Authority to oversee The Banks.
Why Has Almost Six Years Gone By With Little Discernable Progress?
During this time, of the Riverfront Advisors and then the creation of the Port Authority, the city and the county met regularly in what was known as the City-County Riverfront Steering Committee. It was comprised of all three county commissioners and the city¹s Intergovernmental Affairs, Environment and Development Committee plus the Mayor. A total of 7 representatives from the city were officially a part of the Committee, though all 9 Members of City Council could attend any meeting. The Committee worked at attaining ³consensus² on all issues. I don¹t recall a single instance where there was a roll call vote on a matter.
The City County Steering Committee met dozens of times through 2000. Despite calls to do the same, no meetings were held and no reasons were ever given for the failure to meet. The last effort at scheduling a meeting failed in November 2001. An agenda was prepared for that meeting; it was continued several times; and then people simply quit trying to re-schedule.
I would argue the failure to meet is one of the reasons why there have been delays in advancing the Banks. The reality is that during the time frame when the Steering Committee met the city and the county entered into an era of considerable cooperation on some of the most problematic and thorny issues imaginable. The committee ushered in a new standard of cooperation that directly resulted in the development of a plan for The Banks and the adoption of the same.
There were numerous concerns and hurdles along the way but they were all worked out. None ever rose to the level of being an absolute deal breaker and you actually got the sense that no matter what the issue it would be worked out because we were committed to doing so. The very public meetings that were attended by all of the parties and that were closely scrutinized by the news media put all of the elected officials under the gun to work together and not hold up progress. The openness and transparency of the process demanded that we work every thing out.
And then that all ended.
I do not know why then Mayor Luken and Commissioners Dowlin, Neyer, and now Heimlich, have never called for such a meeting to take place. I know that I did, repeatedly. I don¹t know where Mayor Mallory sits on the issue. But the reality is that since 2000 there hasn¹t been a joint session of the city and the county working together on a common agenda of riverfront related issues and I would argue that the lack of progress on the Banks speaks volumes to what the failure to convene such a session has wrought.
With Money All Things are Possible
Given the lack of structured cooperation all other factors that have contributed to delay in starting The Banks, or to problems in accomplishing it, have become magnified. Perhaps no single problem is greater than the lifeblood issue of the effort that involves money and whether there exists adequate financing to complete the project. So far there has been a concern about whether there exists adequate funding to do the same. Key reasons for the concerns are:
The Demands on the Stadium Sales Tax have substantially exceeded what was originally intended. This is perhaps the one area where the biggest source of financial difficulty has been created. At present, and in order to meet all existing financial obligations that are being paid out of, and supported by, the one-half cent stadium sales tax adopted by the voters of Hamilton County in 1996, the county is facing a $191 Million present value deficit over the life of the obligation. Let¹s go back to what was promised. The sales tax was designed to pay for $544 Million of capital improvements that was broken down as $460 Million for two new stadiums and $80 Million for the necessary and related public parking and public infrastructure to support the stadiums. The tax was also designed to support the county¹s half of the joint city and county pledge to Cincinnati Public Schools that was to raise $200 Million over 20 years for the schools¹ capital building construction and rehabilitation needs. The tax also was designed to provide a rollback to county property tax payers.
After the fact, however, several things occurred that were different from what had been discussed and what people relied upon when making their decisions, not the least of which were the voters who went to the polls. First, the city and the county overreached by deciding to spend the sales tax money on virtually anything related to the riverfront. Any time an issue came up about the riverfront and there was a need for money the stadium sales tax one-half cent came up as the answer. This included, among other things, paying for the cost of land for stadium construction [we¹ll get into the amount in a minute] and the cost of the decking over Fort Washington Way.
The schools overreached as well. I know it may not be politically popular to discuss this issue but the reality is the Cincinnati Public Schools are currently receiving about twice as much stadium sales tax money from Hamilton County than what was originally contemplated. In 1995 and 1996 when the city and county elected leaders met to develop the Memorandum of Understanding between the city an county around the whole stadium issue and the sales tax, both sides were looking to develop a revenue stream that would raise about $5 Million a year from both the city and the county. Such a revenue stream would produce a total of $200 Million collectively from the city and the county over twenty years. The purpose of the money was to cover the debts service on bonds that would be issued to raise money for repairing the aging facility infrastructure of Cincinnati Public Schools. As of today CPS is receiving $5 Million per year from the city. Over twenty years that will yield $100 Million from the city. But when the stadiums had cost overruns, and when the land needed to construct the football stadium was overpaid for, the school system obtained a windfall of over a $100 Million increase in payment. Again, it is undoubtedly political unpopular to discuss reforming this arrangement to be consistent with the original intent. Many will argue that they would prefer the schools get money instead of stadiums, or developments like the Banks. But I think it is fair to raise the issue especially when the Cincinnati Public Schools facilities master plan has undergone several revisions downward in terms of scope and cost with those downturns reducing the amount of money the State of Ohio contributes and reducing the money CPS is contributing. While every other aspect of the plan is a reduction in dollar amount is it fair for county taxpayers¹ obligation to increase? Is it fair for such an increase to occur when we are faced with the financial uncertainty of the Banks? And is it not better to modify the capital dollars contributed by the county here because of the demands on the sales tax revenue stream instead of considering a corresponding reduction in human services funding that is general fund supported for children¹s services because the general fund will have to make up a sales tax shortfall that is due, in part, to this schools¹ facilities capital fund windfall?
The landowners of the property needed for the football stadium received about $70 Million for floodplain property that had been valued at less than $10 Million by the County Auditor Dusty Rhodes. A close examination of the land purchase reveals that it was not the result of an objective eminent domain court proceeding or arms length transaction. Instead the purchase of the land, and the price paid for it, was a sweetheart deal reached between the county and the property owners (who just so happened to be represented by the law firm of the then Chairman of the local GOP).
The Teams have also benefited beyond original expectations. The Reds, while having been great to work with, still received a stadium that was paid for by taxpayers to the tune of $40 Million more than envisioned when the sales tax went to vote. Admittedly, however, when the report was issued by Don Carter and UDA Associates on January 16, 1997 about possible locations for stadiums and their respective costs, the Reds Stadium did not go up a penny in price. It was pegged back then to come in at $281 Million. The final cost to taxpayers upon completion in 2003 was $280 Million, or $1 Million less than the Carter/UDA estimate. The Bengals, on the other hand, in addition to all of the stadium lease elements and obligations, received a stadium that, together with land costs, was $254 Million more than its estimated cost when the sales tax was voted upon in 1996. Carter and UDA¹s estimate, including the cost of all of the riverfront land needed to be bought, was $251 Million, or about $200 Million less than the actual cost of the stadium.
The Bengals, when they sold the Charter Ownership Agreements, told their fans and prospective purchasers that their purchase of a COA would yield money for the cost of the stadium ³on top of² an existing Bengals contribution of between $44 Million and $48 Million. [copy of the Bengals¹ developed and approved script available on request] There has been no such contribution in those amounts made by the Bengals to apply against the cost of building Paul Brown Stadium.
The Bengals have also said repeatedly that they wanted a Baltimore style arrangement and that they have been, somehow, aggrieved for not having received such. Attached to this paper is a letter dated June 1, 1995 from the Maryland Stadium Authority, first seen by the county when it was obtained during discovery in the county¹s litigation with the Team, that details the Baltimore deal. A close examination of the letter reveals the many ways in which Hamilton County taxpayers [and accordingly the county¹s available resources for The Banks] have suffered diminished resources under the existing arrangement with the team in contrast to what taxpayers would have had the Team been willing to simply be satisfied with a Baltimore Style agreement. The county would likely gladly reform its arrangement with the team to be equal to the Baltimore deal and should ask that the city join in asking for a reformation of the deal in an effort to aid in the completion of the Banks.
The enormity of the above alterations to the original concept envisioned by planners and leaders alike when the Stadium Sales Tax was proposed has been substantial and impacts considerably the ability of city and county both to complete The Banks. Modification of any, all, or some combination thereof, will contribute greatly to our ability at this stage to complete The Banks in the manner and form appropriate to the magnitude of the opportunity the Development provides.
A simple recap reveals that over $562 Million is at stake.
Cost of Stadiums: Originally contemplated to total $460 Million. UDA Associates Plan [land included] $$531 Million. Actual cost of both stadiums: $734 Million. Differential to sales tax: $274 Million more expensive;
Lost contribution to cost of stadium from the Bengals due to lack of full realization of Team capital contribution: $48 - $73 Million;
Baltimore Style Arrangement: County loses a minimum of over $7 Million per year. Total for twenty years: $140 Million, minimum.
Incremental Demands on Sales Tax. The total capital costs originally slated to be covered by the sales tax was $544 Million. To date it exceeds $940 Million. Total cost to taxpayers of incremental costs are over $400 Million.
Windfall PILOT Payments to CPS. The dollars being raised from both the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County for the capital infrastructure needs of Cincinnati public Schools were designed to cover debts service on $200 Million of improvements to be paid off over twenty years. The CPS Facilities master Plan has already been downsized several times with the most recent downsizing having been just announced within the past week. With each downsizing the amount paid by CPS and by the State of Ohio [which has primary responsibility] has been reduced. Hamilton County Taxpayers¹ contribution, however, has increased in real dollars and substantially increased as a percentage of the whole. With the recent announcement county taxpayer¹s percentage share will dramatically increase as it comes at a time when, unless adjusted, county taxpayers¹ gross contribution will double from about $100 Million to over $200 Million. Impact to county sales taxes available for riverfront development such as the banks is a loss of over $100 Million.
The total impact of the altered landscape from what was originally contemplated is an incremental burden on the Stadium Sales Tax in excess of $562 Million.
Downturn in sales tax collections; By now it is common knowledge that the percentage rate of collections of the one-half cent stadium sales tax have not met projected levels that were relied upon by the county. Taxes were projected to rise at a 3% rate per annum. They have averaged less than 1% and this year are tracking, again, at less than 1% [January 2006 came in at -0.43%] the actual figures are attached.
Stadium cost overruns and increases in price; I don¹t need to belabor the point. But as the attached articles demonstrate the original sales tax and discussions were based upon a capital budget for two stadiums and related parking of $544 Million. The stadiums ballooned to $734 Million while the parking has yet to be completed
Cost of land for stadium development; for example, one of the parcels of land was valued by the auditor in the neighborhood of $7 Million to $10 Million was ultimately settled for at over $35 Million. Total land purchase was in excess of $70 Million with the same kind of consideration applying.
Parking guarantees and revenue implications; Hamilton County has already paid $62 Million for Parking improvements and enhancements to serve the riverfront along with the needs of the Reds and the Bengals. The total infrastructure needed to support The Banks exceeds $200 Million. In addition to the capital costs are revenue guarantees to the Bengals. At several times over the past five years plans to jump-start The Banks were evaluated. At each stage the Lease issues between the county and the Bengals over parking revenue guarantees became a financial impediment. The costs of these issues invariably totaled between $4 Million on the low side to as much as $10 Million on the high side. In one scenario the County was required to contemplate purchasing property for the purpose of providing alternate temporary parking at a cost of between $10 Million and $15 Million. Regardless of the approach the city and county must resolve the financial implications of the parking revenue guarantees upon the financial ability of the city and the county to construct The Banks. Absent reforming the existing lease with the Bengals on this issue adds costs to the cost of completing the Banks without getting anything of value in return. It potentially takes away dollars that are needed to cover the cost of other features of the banks, including the Public Park, or the decking over Fort Washington Way.
The economy; the general state of the economy has had a tremendous impact upon the generation of revenues that the county needs to rely upon for the Banks especially sales taxes. There is no doubt that the Nation slid into a recession in 2001 with Ohio being one of the hardest hit states, losing over 250,000 manufacturing jobs alone in the last four years. The impact of the economy upon sales tax collections is reflected in the document attached.
Nine Eleven. September 11, 2001 is a date that will burn in all of our collective memories forever more. With the airlines grounded and the nation¹s economy thrown into a tailspin, 9-11 contributed to the downturn in our local economy and, as a consequence, to our collective loss of revenues that we had counted upon for the Banks. It is no one¹s fault. But it is a fact and it is a mistake to act as if 9-11¹s impact on revenues counted upon to satisfy existing riverfront obligations and future plans did not occur. It is also an issue that offers a strong equitable argument to both the city and the county in seeking reforms to the Original Lease Agreement and Amendments thereto that each has with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals, after all, approached both the city and the county, beginning in November 1993, for reformed Lease Agreements upon the premise that changes in the NFL business model and market made it economically difficult for the Bengals to remain in Cincinnati under the existing Lease arrangement and in the existing Stadium. The City first responded and renegotiated its lease with the Team in 1993 that resulted in, among other things, the city making annual ³revenue payments² to the Bengals in the Millions of Dollars. Subsequent to the December 1993 lease renegotiation the Bengals sought yet another modification in 1995 resulting in, among other things, the construction of Paul Brown Stadium and the execution of the existing may 1997 PBS Lease between the Bengals and the county and subsequent amendments thereto, some of which include the City of Cincinnati. At no time did any of those leases and the financial obligations generated within each contemplate a change in the economy; much less a change as extraordinary as that occasioned by 9-11. County taxpayers have had to respond to a spate of new obligations and expenditures for public safety as a consequence of 9-11 and have had to pick up the tab for other obligations, including those that are sales tax supported, because of the economic downturn occasioned by 9-11.
Just as this community generously responded to the ³ask² of the Cincinnati Bengals when it had no legal obligation to do so, so too it is fair, reasonable and equitable for the Team to similarly respond at this time to both the city and the county¹s ask for reformation due to the extraordinary impact of 9-11 and the global conflict that has ensued upon the local economy and revenue collections.
Advertising Earnings losses. As with several other items discussed above this involves a matter that was not envisioned nor contemplated when county taxpayers adopted the Stadium Sales Tax. The loss of this revenue stream, while not as significant as several of the items discussed above, nonetheless impacts one revenue stream helpful to the ability of city and county to construct The Banks. The original game plan that called for the construction of stadiums and garages had the stadiums next to one another on either side of the Roebling Suspension Bridge. There was no original vision that they be separated.
When the notion of separating the stadiums gained acceptance it also opened up the possibility of constructing additional parking to support the newly contemplated development in order to bring it out of the flood plain. By doing so, however, it also brought the garages within the identifiable ³Stadium Complex² area and with it all of the revenues generated from any advertising in the Garages. This is an issue that had not been contemplated by the parties at the time and results in a windfall to the team along with the loss to city, county or both and their attendant ability to construct the Banks.
Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth
A third reason for delay involves project impediments stemming from entangling agreements that govern the development guidelines of the Banks. When Hamilton County voters adopted the Stadium Sales Tax there was no such thing as The Banks. People hoped that the construction of stadiums would lead to the construction of restaurants, night clubs, housing and the like around the stadiums. But the concept that has become The Banks was not envisioned. The attached initial renderings clearly reflect the status of thinking at the time.
Subsequent to that the city, taking on the mantle of leading development, began to push that the stadiums be separated. That led to the creation of the Riverfront advisors and ultimately the creation of both The Banks and the Port Authority.
This chronology had certain impacts that are now impediments to the Banks. The first of these was the creation of certain development guidelines that became a part of the Bengals Lease with Hamilton County that was executed in May of 1997. When that Lease and those guidelines were developed there was no such thing as an approved plan for The Banks. Accordingly, the Bengals had an interest in ensuring that quality development would arise next to Paul Brown Stadium. The intense process of the next three years that included the Bengals and the Reds via the city-county steering committee process ultimately led to the detailing of The Banks plan. That plan was then adopted as THE Urban Design Plan for Cincinnati¹s riverfront by City Council in the summer of 2000. That plan should control. It is the master Plan that both the city and the county are guided by. It makes no sense to include a third party in all of the approval processes yet the Bengals¹ unwillingness to simply allow the Banks guidelines to control has created a potential impediment in developer interest as communicated to us. If we want a streamlined process for the development of The Banks then this added layer of bureaucracy should be removed. The county should call upon the city to join with it in seeking the agreement of the Bengals to voluntarily remove this unnecessary layer of bureaucracy from what is needed to move The Banks along.
If We Aren¹t Speaking the Same Language We Cannot Communicate
A fourth reason for delay involves idea and approach conflicts between Hamilton County and the Port Authority. Clearly Hamilton County and the Port Authority reached a point of impasse in their relationship last year. Those failures of communication include the Port conveying proposed financing schemes that were untenable from the county¹s standpoint. They also included differences in approach that added cost to the county and which the county was unwilling to do because with the added cost came no increase in value only expense.
In the summer of 2001 I asked for the help of the Port Authority to restructure a number of financial issues that affected the county¹s ability to advance the Banks. A copy of my July 2001 letter to the port is attached. The Port¹s response [also attached] involved a financially risky strategy that could have exposed county taxpayers to substantial financial risk. The Port¹s proposal, along with the county¹s analysis of it is also attached. As can be seen the Port¹s proposal added decades of time in paying off the debt and exposed the county to a larger risk of deficit.
Had we accepted the Port¹s proposal in 2001 Hamilton County taxpayers would today be subject to a stadium fund deficit exceeding $400 Million. County taxpayers would also be staring at a debt that would take until the year 2043 to pay off when the voters were promised in 1996 with a sales tax that would be retired within 20 years [or by 2016].
The next year the county and the Port failed to see eye to eye again. Had the Port, however, have agreed to what the county proposed we would have already begun the construction on the garages needed to complete The banks. Attached is a copy of a Resolution adopted by the County Commission in April 2002 designed to jump-start the banks. The Port refused to act upon it and with that the project was stalled. The Port had wanted to begin by developing the more costly blocks 1, 2, 5 and 6. Doing so triggered all of the parking guarantees to the Bengals and added a minimum of $4 to $6 Million of expense plus the possible necessity of having to purchase the Hilltop site in order to provide temporary replacement parking during the period of construction at millions more of expense. The inability to obtain cooperation in the form of waivers of these costs made any option other than the one selected by the county too expensive to do.
Later on during the Convergys debacle the Port abandoned The Banks plan altogether and proposed a campus style environment on The Banks to land Convergys. Until the Convergys deal was resolved the County was unable to affect any interest in the Banks.
Recently (as in late 2004 and early 2005) the county and the Port appeared to have different points of view vis a vis transportation interests and the full use of the transit Center. The difference of opinion was of some concern to the Ohio Department of Transportation. The county¹s intervention and take over of the project provided comfort to ODOT and has resulted in the county securing a firm financial commitment by ODOT to the project.
We in the County are not Without Sin
A fifth element of delay has been, unfortunately, the conduct of Hamilton County. I have been dismayed at the tired old cliché¹s used by Commission President Heimlich in the Sunday column entitled ³No Wonder the Banks is not Duck Soup² and at other times of late. In the one column referenced above we were treated to the assertion that the Banks Plan of ³restaurants, nightclubs and housing on the riverfront was promised by the county to get voters to pass a half-cent stadium sales tax.² That is just a pure fabrication. The Banks plan did not come into being until 2000 and was adopted by the city as its urban design plan for the riverfront in that year. The sales tax was passed in 1996 for stadiums purportedly to keep Cincinnati a major league city with the hope that the stadiums could interest developers in the city¹s riverfront, but never that the sales tax was to pay for the riverfront.
The Sunday column was equally disingenuous in that it chose to reassert all of the tired, worn out, overused and overstated stereotypical accusations about the City of Cincinnati. Our Commission President should know better and I have urged him to act like it. His job should be to reduce conflict. Even if what he says is true it is his job to diffuse the potential for conflict and controversy. He needs to rise above the temptation to simply resort to calling the city names.
So this brings me back to the theme of this section, that being the county¹s fault and responsibility. So long as the county is in denial over its role in the lack of progress in The Banks we will never be able to work cooperatively with the city in finding the solution. The first aspect of the county¹s complicity in delay arose out of the county¹s unilateral announcement of June 10, 2006 and the selection of the county¹s preferred Master Developer, the Banks Development Company, consisting of Rob Smyjunas and his Vander Kaar Holdings, and Bill Butler and his Corporex. I was a party to that action and announcement. Notwithstanding its good intentions we have to confess that it contributed to delay and to the predicament we find ourselves in today.
The BDC was afforded an exclusive 180day time frame within which to complete the execution of a master Development Agreement. The 180-day time frame did allow a variety of other issues to be resolved, not the least of which has been to firm up state funding commitments. Nonetheless, the withdrawal of Corporex and with it the resultant failure of the BDC to materialize as the preferred developer directly led to the current delay in progress.
The second component of County contributed delay can only be attributed to the process engaged in by the County since December 6, 2005 that has resulted in the lack of sharing of information; the failure to meet with all necessary players, including primarily the Cincinnati City Council; the unilateral release of the RFQ without sharing it with the Cincinnati City Council and/or convening in session with the Council to discuss the RFQ and make certain that the city and the county agreed to its essential terms; and the failure to convene sessions of the Board of County Commissioners to discuss the status of the issue and to obtain both a clear consensus of direction and the authority to carry it out.
Closing Challenge and Opportunity
Having discussed the history of the project we now have before us the historic opportunity to commit that we will not repeat the mistakes of the past. We have a chance to pledge to the Greater Cincinnati community our commitment to collaborate in a meaningful way that ensures the best results at every step along the way. And, importantly, we have the capacity to seize the moment and the momentum and begin the project, together, through demonstrative steps that result in digging the first blade of dirt that in turn will lead to the earlier, and not the later, completion of the project.
So, what then do we do? In spite of the county¹s own failures of late there remains the inescapable conclusion that the Ordinance drafted makes it somewhat unworkable, from a practical standpoint. I understand the reasons that Ordinance came into being. I hope that some workable approach, less cumbersome, yet allowing for a full and meaningful process to occur, will take place from this point forward.
I believe that the city and the county must agree to sit down in joint session and develop a list of issues that help to guide our action. We need to work on a consensus building approach. We need to place a premium on private and outside revenues before first looking to taxpayers. We must consider the original framework that guided the visioning process in the first place. We must agree to identify the shortfall and how we will work together to come up with the money
Hamilton County must approach the City of Cincinnati in joint session and ask initially for the city¹s help in procuring:
Reformation of the Lease Agreement between the Cincinnati Bengals and Hamilton County and/or the City of Cincinnati that will:
Remove the Bengals as a signatory on any development issues and result in the adopted Year 2000 Urban Design Plan of the Banks to be the controlling development guideline for all riverfront development;
Allow for all advertising revenue generated from parking garages built to support the Banks development to be used exclusively by the city and/or the county for Banks related costs;
Eliminate Parking revenue guarantees during the time period of Banks construction;
Modify all County-Bengals Lease obligations regarding revenues and expenses to be consistent with a ³Baltimore Style² agreement;
Require the Bengals to make a capital contribution to Paul Brown Stadium construction costs equal to the amounts promised voters and Charter Ownership Agreement purchasers
Modify the County PILOT payment obligation to Cincinnati Public Schools to be equal to the City of Cincinnati¹s $5 Million per annum for 20 years agreement;
Reconstitute the City-County Riverfront Steering Committee and schedule a discussion on the above elements as the Agenda for the initial meeting.
Commit to reserving any and all revenues generated from the items above for the specific purpose of addressing the areas of The Banks public infrastructure costs for which there is no financing secured to date.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________
Todd Portune
Hamilton County Commissioner
Blog participants write in and Todd answers, below:
1. Dave says:
02 Mar 2006 at 08:18 pm | #
Commissioner Portune,
Thank you for the time and energy you have expended in preparing this document. This is the first time in memory any public official has been considerate enough to candidly discuss a transaction regarding the use of public funds. I hope this will set a precedent for future leaders to follow. Having read your letter the complexity of this project becomes more apparent, and the challenges clearer.
I request your office encourage the County Auditor, Dusty Rhodes, to submit his opinion, based on current demographic and revenue trends about the financial wisdom of proceeding with this project. Nearly everybody in government is anxious to get¹er done and I understand the frustration. I make this request because Mr. Rhodes cautioned about the scenario we are currently in. He appears to have a grasp of the future implications that our children and grandchildren will inherit.
Thank you again for your forthright letter.
Dean,
Are the attachments mentioned in this letter available?
2. Tail of the Dog says:
02 Mar 2006 at 08:41 pm | #
Dean - I suggest you extend public invitiations to Commissioners Heimlich and DeWine to publish their own position papers on the Banks Project here.
If they choose not to do so, please follow-up with their offices and request an explanation.
3. Bearman says:
02 Mar 2006 at 11:26 pm | #
Here is the part that I never understood with this project:
The general theory was that once the basic infrastructure was in place the opportunity should be great enough that any developer would want to make it worth its while in that this would become the most attractive land for development purposes in the Midwest if not the country. In other words, the feeling of the elected officials in 1997 and thereafter was that spending public money to build the public infrastructure of parking and streets and the like was all that should be required of taxpayers. The private development opportunities at the location of the Banks are so extraordinary that private developers should come in with their own financing for the so-called private development.
Has there ever been a formal Request For Proposal from the city/county to developers? Or are only hand selected developers from the county been allowed to even consider developing the land.
It seems hard to believe that with the public infrastructure being taken care of that there is NO developer out there who can build a viable solution on the banks. Someone help me here.
4. Robert Wilson says:
02 Mar 2006 at 11:55 pm | #
I am extremely impressed that someone that busy would take the time to write such a detailed document to the public. Awesome.
5. Peter Deane says:
03 Mar 2006 at 11:33 am | #
In spite of the county¹s own failures of late there remains the inescapable conclusion that the Ordinance drafted makes it somewhat unworkable, from a practical standpoint. I understand the reasons that Ordinance came into being. I hope that some workable approach, less cumbersome, yet allowing for a full and meaningful process to occur, will take place from this point forward.
I believe that the city and the county must agree to sit down in joint session and develop a list of issues that help to guide our action. We need to work on a consensus building approach. We need to place a premium on private and outside revenues before first looking to taxpayers. We must consider the original framework that guided the visioning process in the first place. We must agree to identify the shortfall and how we will work together to come up with the money
Hamilton County must approach the City of Cincinnati in joint session and ask initially for the city¹s help in procuring:
Reformation of the Lease Agreement between the Cincinnati Bengals and Hamilton County and/or the City of Cincinnati that will:
Remove the Bengals as a signatory on any development issues and result in the adopted Year 2000 Urban Design Plan of the Banks to be the controlling development guideline for all riverfront development;
Allow for all advertising revenue generated from parking garages built to support the Banks development to be used exclusively by the city and/or the county for Banks related costs;
Eliminate Parking revenue guarantees during the time period of Banks construction;
Modify all County-Bengals Lease obligations regarding revenues and expenses to be consistent with a ³Baltimore Style² agreement;
Require the Bengals to make a capital contribution to Paul Brown Stadium construction costs equal to the amounts promised voters and Charter Ownership Agreement purchasers
Modify the County PILOT payment obligation to Cincinnati Public Schools to be equal to the City of Cincinnati¹s $5 Million per annum for 20 years agreement;
Reconstitute the City-County Riverfront Steering Committee and schedule a discussion on the above elements as the Agenda for the initial meeting.
Commit to reserving any and all revenues generated from the items above for the specific purpose of addressing the areas of The Banks public infrastructure costs for which there is no financing secured to date.
I agree with Mr. Portune¹s list on things to do to help the Bank¹s get developed. But there is one more thing I believe that we need to doŠ Take Phil Heimlich¹s backdoor key away from him. All he has done with the Banks is fill the piggybank of his consulting friends. Take away the back door keyŠ If that doesn¹t happen then I hope Mallory changes the lock.
6. Influence Peddler says:
03 Mar 2006 at 05:58 pm | #
Peter,
I agree with your point in the last paragraph of your comment, however, I object to your use of cut and paste to fill space. The middle section is something we already read in order to get to your comment. You wear me out by the time I reach what you have to say. I respect your thoughts and enjoy what you say, so, all I ask is that you get to the point.
7. Peter Deane says:
03 Mar 2006 at 07:03 pm | #
I agree with Mr. Portune¹s list on things to do to help the Bank¹s get developed. But there is one more thing I believe that we need to doŠ Take Phil Heimlich¹s backdoor key away from him. All he has done with the Banks is fill the piggybank of his consulting friends. Take away the back door keyŠ If that doesn¹t happen then I hope Mallory changes his office door lock!
There hope that¹s better!
8. Influence Peddler says:
03 Mar 2006 at 07:20 pm | #
Great...Thanks
9. todd portune says:
04 Mar 2006 at 12:59 pm | #
"Bearman² wrote a question about whether a request for proposals had ever issued by the city and the county before, given the construction of the infrastructure. It is a great question and the answer to it helps shed more light on why we at the county lost faith and confidence, not to mention trust, in the Port Authority leadership.
As you know from review of my Statement the Port Authority was created to eliminate the influence of politics or other interests from the decision-making around the Banks and to generate greater financial interest from private sources so as to reduce the local taxpayers¹ share. The Port Authority was the entity charged with the responsibility of selecting the developers. The Port did issue a request for qualifications from development teams. From that list of respondents they were then to ask for proposals and select a developer. The Port failed to complete the process and, to the extent they engaged in any kind of process, they did so in ways that caused concern.
The Port received a number of responses from potential development teams back in 2003. However they never narrowed the list, nor did they go on to solicit proposals for the development as everyone expected. Instead the Port took the position that they could not advance the process any further until all of the financing contingencies were nailed down.
That approach by the Port, however, worked to both delay the project and to probably make it more expensive from a taxpayer perspective because the Port was, in essence, telling developers that they need not come with any of their own money. The Process telegraphed that the project would be 100% publicly funded before any proposals were necessary. That, of course, flew in the face of the intent of city and county government. And it flies in the face of present day reality inasmuch as we have received a proposal from a private development team that comes with over $60 Million of private financing lined up. [as a side note it is a good question why the local media has not provided more coverage about that proposal, or placed more heat on people like Commissioner Heimlich who have failed to actively pursue it]
The Port has continued that posture, including the testimony of Jack Rouse before Council¹s Economic Development Committee on February 21st. Rouse echoed the testimony of Corporex¹s Tom Banta that the city¹s TIF money must be made available to subsidize portions of the private side of the development. That makes the project more expensive for taxpayers because every public dollar used in the private side is a dollar that is unavailable to complete the infrastructure, or to build the decks over Ft. Washington Way, or to build the Park.
The Port had also caused concern to the county about the RFQ and RFP process because when it obtained the various proposals from potential developers the Port took the position that those proposals were not public documents. The county repeatedly requested access to them and was denied. It was not a situation that produced any trust or confidence.
Other things came to light after we announced our preferred development arrangement with Corporex that confirmed our decision to break away from the Port was correct. We learned that in the 24 hours between the time when the county announced the June 10 Press Conference and when the Press conference took place that representatives from the Port went to Bill Butler¹s home and tried to persuade him not to go through with the arrangement with the county saying, in essence, Œwhy put in your own moneyu [$10 Million private contribution] when we [The Port] have this lined up to be all publicly funded?¹
That seemed to plant a seed with Butler that ultimately contributed in large measure to the arrangement breaking down between the county and Corporex as Butler got it into his mind that he had to make up for the $10 Million he was fronting the project. Accordingly we, for example, never got past certain sticking points in the negotiations with Butler on the issue of how e get back the development rights in the event Butler didn¹t complete the project. He insisted that the county [taxpayers] have to buy back the development rights at Market Value in the event he never built the Banks when Butler got those rights for free. We even offered him buying them back for what he put into the project and that was not good enough - he insisted that we buy back development rights that we would have given him for free at whatever the Fair Market Value of them was at the time. It would cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars had we done that.
Sorry - a bit more detail and history than you may have wanted, but I tend to think the more people know about what is really going on the better we as a community are going to be able to find the solution. The ³mainstreampress² seems to have its own agenda here. It seems to be promoting the notion that we can only do the Banks if the public provides a massive subsidy to the private side of the development. Pardon the expression, but as a Lifelong Cincinnatian I think I can say it, but that is ³sooooo Cincinnati.² It consinues the insanity of the approach to stadiums and of corporate welfare. And it reflects a real insecurity about ourselves - as if we have to beg people to do things here, which in turn, makes everything more expensive, unless, of course, you are one of the favored few in the local development commnity who seem to get every project they want with all risk eliminated by taxpayers. And it is the favored few - just ask a gentlemen named Ken Price about whether a level playing field exists given his experience with the proposal by the Urban One Development Team that tried to get on the Port¹s radar screen.
Thank you for the opportunity to shed more light on the project.
Todd
10. Bob says:
04 Mar 2006 at 05:04 pm | #
Mr. Portune,
It is quite refreshing to get this much context about a major development deal. Perhaps your colleagues and the Enquirer will be inspired by your open and candid dialog here at the Beacon. We need more brave officials that will talk about these issues in public forums. We¹re so used to back room dealings and you give us hope that we can have the good government we truly deserve. You¹ve gained much more respect and appreciation.
Thanks,
11. Peter Deane says:
04 Mar 2006 at 07:32 pm | #
It consinues the insanity of the approach to stadiums and of corporate welfare. And it reflects a real insecurity about ourselves - as if we have to beg people to do things here, which in turn, makes everything more expensive, unless, of course, you are one of the favored few in the local development commnity who seem to get every project they want with all risk eliminated by taxpayers. And it is the favored few - just ask a gentlemen named Ken Price about whether a level playing field exists given his experience with the proposal by the Urban One Development Team that tried to get on the Port¹s radar screen.
This is all about Corporate WelfareŠ every bit of itŠ It seems to me that Heimlich is playing closed door with Mallory to keep it alive. Reminding Malloy of the endorsements that came in to save him. The good ol boy network is alive and well in Cincinnati.
Oh and Convergy¹sŠ yea that was garbage and also Corporate promises never returned. I don¹t believe one of them
I hope the Dean can get an interview with Ken Price. That way the more insider milkers will be brought outŠ get ready to set up the gallows and not a dime more for those that sit on the Port Authority! Not a dime! They are looking for developers that will milk us more, freebees again from the tax base. Tell them to hit the road is what I say! These people are slugs and they use us only to pack their pockets! Seven years of Consultants and more consutantsŠ And what should the Bengals have a say about anything about developement? Brown has his free stadiumŠ that worm should let us go for the benifit of all people in Hamilton County.
The more I read about these leaches the more sick to my stomach I get.
Thank you, Mr. Portune, for keeping the public informed of the theives among us!
Heimlich, I hope that you¹re packing your bags. Pepper better start running running on a plateform of no more Convergy¹s deals or stinkin Stadium offers or Corporate Welfare of any kind when it involves no risk to the business in Hamilton County. Goverment going broke for the sake of the rich is bull and we all know it! Mrs. Dumas what do you think of all this? Where¹s Mr. Pepper! HeimlichŠ just pack your crap we¹re done with you!
12. Peter Deane says:
04 Mar 2006 at 08:26 pm | #
End stalemate, get Banks built
Enquire Dated: March 3 2006
Editorials
³County Commission President Phil Heimlich needs to relinquish control of the process. He and Mayor Mark Mallory have been negotiating over how to oversee the project for the past two weeks. Both sides have agreed to the concept of a steering committee of the three commissioners and the mayor and two members of City Council. The rub is that a majority of council, led by Development Committee Chairman Chris Bortz, wants the steering committee to actually control the development process, while Heimlich, backed by fellow commissioner Pat DeWine, wants the committee to make recommendations, leaving final authority on such key issues as the choice of the developer with the commissioners. The commissioners already have sent out a request for qualifications to prospective developers over objections from the city.²
How many people have to tell Heimlich to back off until he ³gets it²?
P.S. And for anyone that doesn¹t know the meaning of air rightsŠ The city retains control of the ³air rights,² meaning anything that will be built above the foundation parking garages. The city also controls the use of tax increment financing funds needed to help finance the project.
Section Four: Books, Reviews, Magazines
The Essential Wallerstein, Immanuel Wallerstin, New York, 2000. This guy is a brilliant, acclaimed, kosher economist/sociologist/historian. His study of the "world system" is exactly what I have wanted someone to explain to me. Thrills me, reading the beginning of his book. Quotes:
p. xviii, Introduction. ... two basic premises of my work--the world-system as a unit of analysis, and the insistence that all social science must be simultaneously historic and systemic.I hope that you can see from this why I want to study this man's work. It is the next step after the amazing, brilliant analysis of the rise of capitalism by Karen Armstrong in her book Islam. (Good on the history of Islam, but a brain orgasm on her world system economic analysis!)
p. xix: ...description of the historical functioning and development of the modern world-system, which I insisted was a capitalist world-evonomy. I sought to describe its institutional pillars, its historical origin, and the rreasons why I thought it had entered into a period of systemic crisis and therefore of chaotic transition to some new order. ... major institutional structures of this capitalist world-economy--the Kondratieff cycles**, the commodity chains, the income-pooling households, the interstate system and its hegemonic cycles, and the geo-culture....
.... ...five major cleavages of our modern world: race, nation, class, ethnicity, and gender.
...the question...: what to do. ...Resistance, Hope, and Deception.
Only trouble is that this is a hard, thick book. So I need a study chevruta*, a buddy or two with which to read it. Local or remote, doesn't matter. Just need that support. Somebody? Write me, subject line "Wallerstein". Ellen
------------
* "Chevruta" means, I believe, a study partner (Hebrew). In traditional talmudic study by Jews for centuries, study was never done in a solitary manner, but was always in groups of two or three, or clusters of more than one of these little partnerings. It works. e.
** Kondratieff cycles are long-time (200 years?) economic surges and ebbings. Fascinating. e.
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