I went down to cover this City Hall story on my own mostly because i was personally interested in the issue. I wasn't sure if i could even find an outlet for the work, but the combination of a packed public council meeting to decide if the city would continue with its controversial streetcar project coupled with the very first day in office for our new mayor, John Cranley, piqued my interest. One of Cranley major campaign promises was that he would kill the streetcar if elected.
I probably would have published it here earlier, but i had sent a few of the images along with some other shots i made of John Cranley for an article on him for Cincy Magazine that just came out in February. I figured they might be able to use some shots of the new mayor in action on his first day and i didn't want to publish them myself before the magazine had its chance to publish first. I would always rather get paid than not for the work i do. But in the end they didn't use them. So, old news or not, here is the picture story. It may not be newsworthy, but hopefully it is still interesting to some and serves as an example of what i can do in these situations.
(click any image for an enlarged gallery view)
©David Sorcher 2013
©David Sorcher 2013
The earlier part of the public hearing was overseen by members of the Streetcar Committee with Vice Mayor David Mann at the helm. Newly elected councilman Mann had been hand-picked by Mayor Cranley to be his second in command and at this point in the proceedings seemed to stand with Cranley in opposition to the project continuing. Whether the project continued or not, it was still going to cost the city tens of millions of dollars. The question was whether the difference between going forward and having a streetcar was really significantly more expensive than halting the project after already having spent millions and having nothing to show for it at all.
©David Sorcher 2013
A full house of citizen turned out to speak their mind to the council on the issue. It was, by far, a predominately pro-streetcar turnout.
©David Sorcher 2013
Community activist Heather Sturgill debates the pros of the streetcar with newly elected councilman Kevin Flynn, who at this time was on record as being opposed to the project. With the new council in place, what was once a sure thing during the previous administration now stood 5-4 with council opposed. But the pro-streetcar faction on council actually needed to pull two council members to their side to avoid an executive veto from the mayor.
©David Sorcher 2013
Mayor John Cranley ran strongly on killing the streetcar which he felt was fiscally irresponsible for the city at this time. He claimed a mandate from the people to move forward on ending the project, though many of his opponents have questioned whether such a mandate can really exist from an election that only drew 28% of the electorate.
©David Sorcher 2013
P.G Sittenfeld was one of the major proponents of the day for continuing the project even though he once stood opposed. Given the relatively small difference in the cost projections for either pro or con he now felt that it would be fiscally imprudent not to move forward.
©David Sorcher 2013
John Deatrick was the man of the hour at these proceedings. As the executive supervisor for the project he has unavoidably found himself at the very center of the debate.
©David Sorcher 2013
Councilman Sittenfeld exercises his media communication skills. He was perhaps the strongest spokesman on council that day for continuing the project.
©David Sorcher 2013
Vice Mayor David Mann has a hallway consultation with ex-mayor/ex-state rep. Tom Luken. Mr. Luken, whose son Charlie also served as a Cincinnati mayor, keeps his eye on City Hall even in retirement and the current mayor sees his family as close advisors.
©David Sorcher 2013
The chandelier and tall windows of council chambers are reflected in this woman's glass as she speaks with a man at the back of the room.
©David Sorcher 2013
Berta Lambert catches up on the news during a break in the session.
©David Sorcher 2013
Newly elected councilwoman Amy Murray speaks with an aide during a break in the session. Murray was one of the five council members who stood opposed to the streetcar that day.
©David Sorcher 2013
©David Sorcher 2013
©David Sorcher 2013
Though certainly meeting a strong opposition front to his commitment to kill the streetcar, Mayor Cranley remained adamant that the project would not proceed.
©David Sorcher 2013
David Mann and Charlie Winburn listened as citizens came forth to state their case for the project.
©David Sorcher 2013
Mayor Cranley directed questions to John Deatrick on the feasibility and costs of the project.
©David Sorcher 2013
As the central person on all things streetcar in Cincinnati, Mr. Deatrick was brought back to the table on numerous occasions to clear up points of interest for the council.
©David Sorcher 2013
Mayor Cranley reviews maps of the proposed streetcar routes during the public speaking session.
©David Sorcher 2013
©David Sorcher 2013
Christopher Smitherman is another councilman who was and remains opposed to the streetcar.
©David Sorcher 2013
P.G. Sittenfeld questioned John Deatrick on the streetcar, specifically the difference in the cost to the city between killing or proceeding with the project.
©David Sorcher 2013
©David Sorcher 2013
Kevin Flynn also questioned John Deatrick on the project. Flynn voted that day to postpone the project until an independent audit could confirm Deatricks cost findings. That postponement, however, only added to the over all costs in the end. But there was a more ominous deadline looming. The city had until Dec. 19th to restart the project or all federal funding would be withdrawn.
©David Sorcher 2013
A citizen watches the proceedings from the balcony.
©David Sorcher 2013
At the end of the day the council did indeed vote to postpone streetcar construction until an independent audit could report on the costs. About two weeks later they confirmed pretty much what John Deatrick had already reported. At that juncture two council members jumped ship to the pro-streetcar camp giving the streetcar a 6-3 victory in council. Vice Mayor David Mann and Kevin Flynn both made the decision to join four other council members to push the deal forward just ahead of the federal funding deadline. Both have received quite a bit of flack and name calling over their decision from the anti-streetcar camp. To be fair, David Mann had never come out in full opposition, always saying it was going to be down to a matter of numbers. The independent audit showed him the way. Flynn had gone on record previously as being definitely opposed, but also said that the numbers changed his mind along with a promise from the Haile U.S. Bank Foundation to help fund operations of the streetcar over the next ten years. Still, it is probably fair to say that this has left some sore feelings inside council chamber walls that will linger for some time to come.
So there it is folks, yesterday's news. And it's only 2 1/2 months past deadline. ;-)