Build, Create New Wealth, Prosper

There was a time when Cincinnati was audaciously confident, as we were a city of many firsts (professional baseball, night baseball, concrete reinforced skyscrapers, the nation's first contemporary arts museum, etc.). In the mid-1800's we were known as the "Athens of the West" for our considerable arts and culture--institutions that we still enjoy today. No small city in the country can boast of so many big city amenities. We should be cocky about this.

How do we re-capture this Can Do spirit? Do we say "no" to street cars that will generate over $1.5 billion in new wealth--an over 15 to 1 return on investment? Development, jobs and growth cluster around transit. As seen in other cities, the evidence is conclusive.

Do we say "no" to the Banks because it is not want everyone wants it to be? Let's not make the perfect the enemy of the good. A deal is imminent. Let's sign it. In neighboring cities like Indianapolis, we see the effect that new residential development has had on their downtown. Unlike Newport on the Levee, the Banks will include a critical mass of residential properties that will make this economic development sustainable (as opposed to cyclical like the Levee).

Regional and international perception of our city is based largely on our downtown and urban core. We build the Banks and street cars, Cincinnati will become America's comeback city.

It's expensive to build the Banks and a street car system, for sure. But the costs of not building are so much greater. A city with so many incredible assets has no excuse not to leverage them.

There are currently 98 acres of parking lots downtown. Street cars will not only unleash new development on this cement, but embolden developers to rehab properties in downtown and Over-the-Rhine. By building the Banks South of downtown, and propelling redevelopment in O-t-R while reinforcing downtown's current expanding housing market, we we will grow the population of our core and generate the resources needed to combat the most pressing problems in all 52 of Cincinnati's great neighborhoods.

A prosperity agenda anchored in riverfront development, historic renovation, and transit, will grow the city's wealth and allow City Hall to deliver basic services and invest throughout Cincinnati while holding the line on taxes. Let's not have a future defined by cuts, defeatism, and timidity. Cincinnati can and must recapture the confidence, boldness and Can Do spirit of those who built the Queen City.

Greg Harris on City Hall and Cincinnati Public Schools

Q. In the past when I have raised concerns about the public school system to council members, I have always been told that is an issue for the board of education. It seems once candidates are elected to City Council, the priority of our public schools is passed off to the board of education. If you are elected, what is your specific plan to have City Council to be more directly involved in the public school system issues? And will you regularly attend the board of education meetings? (Garry Smith, Madisonville)

We may have reached an era when a part-time school board served by members who receive only token pay does not cut it anymore. A recent performance audit of Cincinnati Public Schools by McKinsey & Co revealed a good deal of dysfunction between the central office and the board, including a lack of long-term planning, inefficient budgeting and human resources, lacking role clarity, etc. (Disclaimer: my employer, KnowledgeWorks Foundation, played a role in facilitating this independent performance audit.) Of course, the current school board's "discovery" of a $79 million deficit represents an oversight of such magnitude that it is nearly impossible to comprehend.

We may have to revisit the issue of State or mayoral takeover of Cincinnati Public Schools. Now please know, this does NOT mean CPS would be run by City Council. What it means is that a State appointed local board that is paid real salaries for their time is charged with CPS's overhaul via clear benchmarks and clear chain of command. (Earlier in my campaign I proposed that such a board be formed of corporate and community leaders to conduct a performance audit of City Hall to streamline operations, improve performance, and shine light on a culture of entrenchment that aways seems to outlast reform-seekers.) Now that such an audit has been performed on CPS (the McKinsey report), we might consider empowering an emergency independent board to remake CPS' central office--especially if the levy fails this Nov. (which would put the district in crisis mode).

Of course, there are ways City Hall can work with CPS. Our city-supported community centers house after-school programs (my son is bussed to one such program when school lets out). We can beef up truancy patrols. We can ensure that new school buildings or rehabbed building are consistent with neighborhood land use plans, and engage the communities that house them. It's a cop out to pass the buck when it comes to our public schools. City Council can and must be critical partners in ensuring their success.

Our teachers teach the hardest to teach in a city that is third in the nation in poverty. We must bolster their ability to do their jobs with community centers equipped to provide quality after school offerings, truancy patrols to ensure students aren't cutting class, and school facilities that are designed with neighborhood input and that serve as centers of community.

Greg Harris: Do Not Succumb to Sticker Shock

David Wells' post on the cost of street cars is well-reasoned. But my gosh, if we don't find the dollars to fund this system, the city will bypass an opportunity to generate so much new wealth over the long-term.

I'm confident our corporate citizens and philanthropic sector will step up to the plate to help raise the $20 million in private dollars needed. We can also raise money through selling development rights along the street car lines--indeed, in other cities developers helped fund street cars. And while it's understandable that Duke cannot contribute all $20 mill, I'd be surprised if they don't contribute a sizable sum. Duke would significantly profit from street cars. For they would not only provide the power, but the compact development spurred by street cars helps offset the tremendous costs of sprawling development that costs electric and gas companies a great deal of money.

Ultimately, we have to determine what kind of future we want for our city. Do we want to be a Can Do city that leverages and inter-connects its tremendous assets? Do we want to be a green city that attracts and retains talent? The economic and environmental dividend of street cars would help us realize this vision.

We currently devote 2/3 of the city budget to public safety. Our ability to fund items that improve the city's livability (arts, recycling, street maintenance, festivals, health centers, etc.) is increasingly shrinking. The street cars offer incredible return on investment--Cincinnati's shot to generate hundreds of millions in new revenue. If we don't take a bold step to grow our prosperity as a region, our future will be a continuous cycle of defeatism and cuts, cuts, cuts.

Greg Harris: Bring Back Street Cars

Today's Enquirer asks readers to contribute our thoughts about bringing back street cars in Cincinnati.

I strongly believe Cincinnati should implement cost effective transportation alternatives that in other metro-areas have proven pennies to the dollars in terms of their return on investment. As your Councilman, I will advocate for the re-implementation of a street car system in Cincinnati. Other medium-sized cities (with less assets than Cincinnati) like Tucson, AZ., Little Rock, AK., Birmingham AL., and Trenton, N.J., have enjoyed tremendous dividends through adoption of streetcars. A recent USA Today article (see below link) states that their charm and cost effectiveness is “so appealing that some developers are helping pay for the systems.”

In Cincinnati, similar public-private partnerships should be pursued to leverage our compactness as a city by re-activating street car lines that will make transportation safe and seamless and will dramatically spur economic development. In fact, a recent estimate projects $15 in new economic activity for every $1 invested(see second link below). Street cars are good for the environment, good for the economy, and will help counteract years of sprawling development trends by unleashing new development and new wealth in the urban core.

Cincinnati can and must recapture the boldness and confidence of those who built this city. The symbols of the Queen City’s “can-do” spirit abound, including wonderful neighborhoods, incredible arts and culture, a great parks system, and historically significant architecture. Street cars will help us leverage and inter-connect these tremendous assets, harnesses our rich past, and become a Can Do Cincinnati again.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-01-08-streetcars_x.htm

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/city/downloads/city_pdf16341.pdf

Greg Harris: Build the Banks

Do you consider the Banks deal to be the city’s number one development priority and do you expect to support the deal the Banks Working Group has been negotiating? Does it matter to you if the deal is finished before or after Election Day?

Yes, we need to build the Banks and empower the Banks Working Group to do the job they were appointed to do. I also happen to think getting the deal completed before election day is important. My fear is that if it is put off until after election day, certain politicians will feel it buys them more time and may even be inclined to go back to the drawing board (as some have been pushing to do). We must stop making the perfect the enemy of the good. Let’s get this deal done and go with a master developer who will develop the riverfront with an emphasis on green space and architectural continuity, with significant new residential development and entertainment offerings.

The Banks will help Cincinnati entice a much larger slice of the region's 2 million population to make Cincinnati an entertainment destination. And its residential base will grow the critical mass needed to reinforce the momentum of our downtown. Cincinnati cannot tax itself into prosperity, and needs to grow its wealth as a city if we are to generate the revenue to proactively address other major urban issues (safety, home ownership, transit, etc.).

Greg Harris on Workforce and Economic Development

Randall, Oakley, asked: Arguably, every one of Cincinnati's troubles can be traced to a core economic distress of disappearing manufacturing jobs. Any ideas? If this is a problem beyond your control, which is likely, how about any ideas on mitigating the damage?

Great question, Randall. No, this issue is not beyond our control. Through investment in human capital, we can transform Cincinnati's (and Ohio's) economy.

We live in an era when a skilled workforce is the single greatest correlate to economic growth for cities. As someone who makes his living in public policy and serves on the Governor’s Workforce Policy Board, I work with State public-private leadership to connect low-skilled workers to education and training programs that lead to good jobs. My day job as a Public Policy Officer at KnowledgeWorks Foundation is focused on workforce/economic development, especially bolstering educational opportunity for Ohio’s 1.2 million low wage workers. Many of these people are casualties of loss manufacturing jobs, including 25,000 loss manufacturing jobs in Cincinnati since 2000.

When elected to Council, I will apply my expertise to connecting unemployed or underemployed Cincinnatians to educational opportunities. This will include looking at ways to ensure Cincinnati effectively taps its share of over $400 million in available State education and training funds and applies these resources to funding vocational and certification opportunities for recipients of public assistance, low-skilled and/or or low-wage workers. We have the potential to work with education and training providers to develop fast track certification programs throughout Cincinnati that in only a few weeks time can help adult learners get certified in trades and occupations where there are major skills gaps in the region (healthcare, construction, advanced manufacturing, etc.).

This strategy should include brokering partnerships between education providers such as Cincinnati’s Great Oaks, the largest career and technical center the country, and community and economic justice organizations that can serve as conduits to at-risk students and the working poor.

Investment in apprenticeship, education and training programs can equip Cincinnatians with the skills needed to remain gainfully employed and enjoy a middle-class life, while also helping employers fill their job needs.

Thanks for the question,

Greg Harris
http://www.votegregharris.com/

Harris says end rollback; invest in home ownership

The property tax rollback has cost the city over $15 million since its implementation, but only saves the average homeowner $1 annually. I’d far prefer to see these dollars directed to programs to improve Cincinnati’s low home ownership rate.

This should include urban pioneer tax incentives. Cincinnati is a community with great but mostly older housing stock. I propose we grant up to $30,000 in low interest loans to buyers who will put up to $70,000 of their own money to purchase a property to rehab, and relieve these loans if the owner remains in the property for over five years. These loans would not apply to house flippers who wish to convert these homes into rentals.

These urban pioneer incentives would strategically target traditional residential neighborhoods with strong housing stock whose home ownership rates are declining (such as Price Hill and Westwood) and clusters of historic properties throughout the city in need of rehabilitation.

I would also like to see some of the rollback dollars set aside for increasing home ownership for the working poor. It is currently very difficult to grow home ownership rates among the city’s lower income communities because our nation’s major housing subsidies (public housing, Section 8 housing vouchers, etc.) are almost entirely for renting. As long as housing subsidies cannot be converted into ownership, they will have the effect of actually discouraging ownership. While Congress has authorized a home ownership option under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, few housing authorities have adopted the home ownership option because the regulations impose administrative burdens on housing authorities without a commensurate increase in administrative budget. As a member of Council, I pledge to work with Hamilton County to bolster capacity in this area so that the CMHA can become a conduit for transforming more renters into home owners.

A primary vehicle to stabilize neighborhoods, increase property wealth, and engender an ownership society among Cincinnati’s majority renter population is home ownership.

Greg Harris on Public Safety

If the sales tax to fund a new jail is overturned by the voters on Election Day, what do you propose council does to deal with the shortage of jail space? --Patrick Morrison, Finneytown

First and foremost, we need to do everything in our power to ensure the Comprehensive Safety Plan is approved this November. It's a plan that will keep hardened criminals off the streets, but at the same time fully funds case management teams staffed with proven service providers from several disciplines (vocational, substance abuse, mental health, etc.) to assess and develop personalized intervention strategies and monitored re-entry programs for inmates entering the correctional system so as to dramatically reduce recidivism rates. Today, 7 out of 10 prisoners return to prison. Reducing these numbers will improve public safety, transform lives, and save taxpayers considerable expense.

If the plan fails, we will be forced to revert to a more costly, ineffective status quo that pays other counties to house our prisoners, and maintains facilities like the 107 Queensgate converted warehouse prison that contains no treatment programs.

Regardless if the levy passes, we can do more as a city and region to prevent incarceration. Last February I issued a plan built on innovative strategies to leverage existing federal, state, and local resources to increase educational, training and home ownership opportunities. It would tap over $400 million in available workforce investment and training funds in Ohio in support of strategies to:

• Tap Ohio's significant TANF reserves to fund vocational and certification opportunities in order to move people off public assistance into careers that fill major skills gaps in our region (healthcare, advanced manufacturing, etc.)


• Broker innovative partnerships between education providers such as Cincinnati-based Great Oaks, the largest career and technical center in the country, and the proven Fast Forward program targeting high school drop outs, with community organizations that serve as conduits to at-risk students and the working poor


• Work with local trade unions to expand minority participation in apprenticeship programs


• Cultivate an ownership society among Cincinnati's economically disenfranchised by
  converting more rent subsidies into ownership opportunities for low wage workers by bolstering Cincinnati's participation in the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program

• Work with regional partners and non-profits on more effectively directing Community Development Block Grant funds towards home ownership for low-wage workers
  

• Combat the high costs of being poor by working in partnership with effective consumer education non-profits like Smart Money in Over-the-Rhine to combat the fleecing of the working poor by check and go's; higher interest loans; and predatory lenders

Today at the Forum: Questions for City Council candidates

Today at the Forum: Questions for City Council candidates

How do you define community?

We have 52 recognized communities in Cincinnati. How do you define community? --Jenny Edwards, West End

Jenny,

You empower communities to define themselves. Cincinnati has not had a strategic plan since 1948. The time has come to empower Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods to identify their unique cultural, architectural and environmental assets that can be leveraged towards continued prosperity or revitalization (depending on the neighborhood).

The City's Economic Development Department can then work on developing long-term comprehensive economic development strategies built on leveraging and interconnecting neighborhood assets. (For example, it could be a street car line that connects Pill Hill to O-t-R would bolster the arts scenes and residential base in O-t-R, while serving as an enticement to attract and retain talent for CUH's research hub.)As a member of Council, I’d identify private and public sector resources to underwrite a new strategic plan led by the (re-established) Planning Department. The City could then finally develop a long-term, proactive economic development strategy that is based on leveraging neighborhood assets as defined by neighborhoods.

Can Do Cincinnati

On a daily basis, a Cincinnati renaissance is being fueled by developers, small business owners, and artists whose investments of resources, talent and energy are revitalizing neighborhoods in transition. My Council race is in many ways inspired by these new urban pioneers. It is my firm belief that Cincinnati has been mired in cynicism for too long, and we need to resurrect a "can-do" attitude. With pride in our city and optimism about its future, I created a web page dedicated to everyday people whose vision will help make Cincinnati the nation's comeback city:

http://votegregharris.com/candocincinnati.html

What's the most important issue for City Council to address immediately?

The Cincinnati Enquirer recently started a Forum blog (http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/forum/) to encourage greater discussion of the issues among readers and candidates during the campaign.

The current question: "If you are elected, what will you consider the most important issue for City Council to address immediately?"

My response, which is also posted on their blog:

at 6:36 AM, September 29, 2007 Greg said...

I believe the most important issue for City Council to address immediately is getting the Banks built. If we don't stall the momentum, we can get the plan to a vote before Council and the Commission as soon as next week, and then break ground.

The Banks will fill a necessary niche in our urban core: a suburbanite-friendly, sanitized, self-contained space that would entice a larger slice of the region’s 2 million people to make downtown a destination again. The Banks will help ensure first and foremost that a larger portion of the hundreds of thousands of folks who attend Reds and Bengals games remain on the riverfront after the game. We can’t capture this potential revenue with the current mud pit.I admit that save for the park, I personally probably would not hang out much at the Banks. But those of us who crave authenticity and want to support independent theatres, local owned shops, restaurants and bars can enjoy these things in dynamic neighborhoods (Northside, Clifton, O-t-R, etc.) throughout Cincinnati.