The Inside Story of the “Ice Cream for Votes” Scandal

Organizing for America (“OFA”) is a project of the Democratic's National Committee that closely coordinates its activities in southwest Ohio with the Ohio Democratic's Party and the Hamilton County Democratic's Party.  The official address for OFA in Hamilton County was Hamilton County Democratic's Party Headquarters.

This is the group which arranged for Cincinnati Public School students to get Graeter’s ice cream in exchange for their votes for Democratics in November’s election.

You are invited to hear the entire story of Democratics' deception on Wednesday, March 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Anderson Government Center, 7850 Five Mile Road, 45230.  Food and drinks will be provided. (Please click here to RSVP)

You will recall the explosion of media that occurred when the Brinkman Campaign discovered this deception in progress.  First it hit the Cincinnati.com web site, next it was placed as a top story on the Drudge Report, then discussion on Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Michael Savage, followed by several FOX NEWS segments.  While the focus of all this media attention stopped the program dead in its tracks, the inside story has never been told.

That will change on March 16^th when lead attorney Christopher P. Finney in the Brinkman et al. v. Cincinnati Public Schools law suit will describe step by step the breath and width of deception in this coordinated effort between “OFA” and Cincinnati Public Schools in their attempt to use recently registered Cincinnati Public School students as pawns in a game to provide votes for Steve Driehaus, Ted Strickland and the entire Democratic's ticket.

2011-02-28 4:11PM Grammatical corrections in red above.

Most voters think streetcar is a bad idea

Streetcar Survey Data

When polled, 2/3 of Cincinnatians said the streetcar is a bad idea. Fully 3/4 of Hamilton County residents hate it too, but don't get to vote on it, even though their tax dollars will be paying for it.

Ohio's Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) recommended [lines 10 + 39] that $51.8 million of your tax dollars be given to the Cincinnati Streetcar.

The state has an $8 BILLION deficit. To fill the shortfall, drastic cuts to schools, universities, Medicaid and public safety are expected. Local levies will seek increases to makeup for state reductions. That's right, your taxes are going up to pay for a streetcar that nobody needs and few people want.

Public comments on TRAC's recommendation are being accepted until 5:00 PM today. If enough people tell them that the streetcar is a bad idea, the money can be saved.

1. CLICK HERE to send your comments to TRAC. A new message will open in your email program. If asked, allow it permission.
2. Fill in your name and mailing address at the bottom of the message.
3. Edit the body of the message to tell them what's most important to you.

Stop streetcar tax hikes

Ohio's Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) recommended [lines 10 & 39] that $51.8 million of your tax dollars be given to the Cincinnati Streetcar.

The state has an $8 BILLION deficit. To fill this shortfall, drastic cuts to schools, universities, Medicaid and public safety are expected. Local levies will then seek increases to makeup for state reductions. In other words, your taxes are likely going up to pay for a streetcar that nobody needs and few people want.

Public comments on TRAC's recommendation are being accepted until February 11th. If comments prove Ohioans don't want the streetcar, these bad outcomes can be avoided.

1. CLICK HERE to send your comments to TRAC. A new message will open in your email program. If asked, allow it permission.
2. Fill in your name and mailing address at the bottom of the message.
3. Edit the body of the message to tell them what's most important to you.

Feel free to use the following facts as background:

• The Cincinnati Streetcar project will run only 3 miles (6-mile loop) (from National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to top of Vine Street Hill, Corryville);
• It has an initial projected cost of $128 million for construction only. The City already has identified cost overruns of $15 million for Duke Energy to move utility lines, bringing total projected costs to $143 million. More cost overruns are sure to follow. All cost overruns must come from the City's budget.
• The City has absolutely no plan, no idea how it will fund the operations of the streetcar, which former SORTA Board Member Stephan Louis estimates to be $10-$12 million per year.
• The City has no room in its operating budget for this additional cost, having papered over a $52 million deficit this year and facing police and fire layoffs by as early as this summer.
• 12 community organizations and numerous elected officials have united against this project the Cincinnati Tea Party, COAST, the Cincinnati Chapter of the NAACP, The Baptist Ministers Conference of Cincinnati Vicinity, the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, the Hamilton County Green Party, Westwood Concern, the FOP, the Firefighters union and the CODE Labor Union.

You may also send comments by regular mail to:
Ohio Department of Transportation
attn: Ed Kagel TRAC Coordinator
1980 W. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43223