The Charter Committee fully supported the initial plan to renovate both Union Terminal and Musical Hall. The plan, a result of countless hours of research and collaboration was squandered under the disguise of fiscal responsibility. The people should have been given an opportunity to vote their conscience and that opportunity was denied.

The private and philanthropic sector got it right, but our county government got it wrong. The City of Cincinnati administration got it right, but our county government dropped the ball. Decisions of this magnitude should be decided based on data, not fear or ideology. They should be debated in public, not in recess. Fiscal responsibility in government is exemplified when there is a mix of public and private accountability to get things done. We had that in our sight and the opportunity was wasted.  The people deserved an opportunity to vote as it was originally presented.

While the verdict is disappointing, it should strengthen our resolve to find solutions to carry on the momentum and progress that our region is experiencing. While we are frustrated with the lack of leadership shown by our elected officials, we should use this as motivation to get involved and make our voices heard. We should expect better and it starts with each and every one of us, today.

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The Icon Vote: Poor Governance at its Finest

The Charter Committee fully supported the initial plan to renovate both Union Terminal and Musical Hall. It's disappointing that the County Commissioners voted to remove Music Hall from the plan. It was poor governance at its finest.

Continuous Improvement & Data-Driven Solutions - How were the numbers from the single icon plan developed? Were they based on quality data?  Was the expertise of the publicly commissioned, professional Cultural Facilities Task Force (CFTF) utilized? Or the expertise of Hines, Inc., the internationally respected real estate firm hired by the County to vet the Cultural Facilities Task Force plan or the Tax Levy Review Committee who agreed that best practices were used in developing the estimates, and suggested that now was the time to move forward with the combined plan.  Ironically, Hines recommended adding $1.1m to the Union Terminal plan yet Commissioners Monzel and Hartmann reduced the amount of funding in their plan.  Decisions of this magnitude should be decided based on data.

Transparency – The recess to consider the Union Terminal-only plan, the details of which still have not been disclosed publicly, offline and out of sight was inappropriate and causes distrust of government. Decisions should be debated and decided in public.   

Fiscal Responsibility - It's unclear if the Monzel/Hartmann Union Terminal-only plan is financially responsible or if any construction or financial experts have vetted the numbers.  In addition, it puts at risk tens of millions of dollars in private investment, including the possibility that no private dollars have been committed to the Monzel/Hartmann plan.  It also jeopardizes the City’s financial commitment to because its approval was contingent upon approval of the CFTF plan.

Regional Cooperation – With leadership from Mayor Cranley, the City and County had been working cooperatively on a compromise solution. Instead of providing an opportunity to create a solid working relationship moving forward, yesterday’s vote strengthens the notion that there is a constant battle between the city and the county, instead of moving us towards a regional mindset.

The vote yesterday was not equitable.  It does not give citizens the right to decide for themselves if these two icons are a priority for this region.  It showed a lack of accountability in governance.  The Cultural Facilities Task Force worked in good faith for nine months to develop a comprehensive plan that balances the needs of Music Hall and the Museum Center with the financial ask of the taxpayers.  By waiting until the last possible meeting to make a decision or even present an alternative of their own, the commissioners eliminated the ability of the public to explore other options.  Neither citizens nor the Task Force ever asked the County Commissioners to endorse a sales tax increase to support Music Hall or Union Terminal.  They simply asked that the item be placed on the ballot to allow the taxpayers, residents and voters of Hamilton County to determine if they wanted to pay an additional tax.

Commissioners Monzel and Hartmann’s vote puts a plan on the ballot that lacks the basic principles of good government, risks millions of dollars in private investment and threatens future public-private partnerships between the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and private sector. 

Finally, the Commissioners sited a number of items yesterday that are, in their view, more pressing needs for the County.  We look forward to plans to address those needs, including how the County suggests paying for them, being presented soon for the public to review and provide input.