Vote NO on Issues 1 and 9!

COAST encourages you to:

** Election Day is November November 6th **

We Demand a Vote! Locations to Sign the Petition

Hamilton County Commissioners Todd Portune & Denise Driehaus feel that the only way county government can continue existing in its current form is by raising taxes.  We not only disagree, but we feel that raising the sales tax is far too important for just 2 out of 3 commissioners to decided.  Therefore, we have joined with several organizations and community leaders to demand that it be put to a vote!

However, we need your help to get it on November's ballot.  We are currently gathering the necessary signatures and need your help.  Please visit one of the locations below to both sign and get a petition that you can encourage your friends & neighbors to do the same.

The following locations have petitions to sign:

• Ready Line Shooting - 3761 Round Bottom Rd., Newtown
• Deer Park Barbers - 8004 Blue Ash Rd, Deer Park
• Kemper Pond Office Park - 1329 East Kemper Rd. Suite 4105, Springdale
• Robin James Jewelers - 6593 Glenway Ave., Cincinnati
• Vonderhaar CPA - 1848 W. Galbraith Rd., North College Hill
• North College Hill Gun Shop - 1849 W. Galbraith Rd.
• Cleaner Concepts - 7857 Beechmont Ave, Anderson Township  
• Cleaner Concepts - 3396 Erie Ave, Hyde Park
• Village Quick Lube - 7101 Main St., Newtown
• Not Your Father's Barber - 260 Northland Blvd

 Obtain blank petitions at the following locations:

• Hamilton County Republican Party - 700 Walnut St Suite 309, downtown Cincinnati
• East Side GOP Victory Office - 5268 Beechmont Ave.
• Fountain Square Group - 220 Findley St., Over the Rhine

  #WeDemandaVote

Your tax dollars at work... [not]

The headline says it all:  HUD AWARDS $37 MILLION TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

Yes..........Your tax dollars at work…entrapping citizens and businesses!

This week U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced 3 types of grants: education, growth and “enforcement.” A local Cincinnati organization Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) received $125K for education and outreach – money to be spent on helping people understand and comply with anti-discrimination laws.  This is how politically correct speech is taught.

The second grant HOME received for twice as much - $300K for entrapment of local business owners.  This is nearly a quarter of million dollars of priming the pump money paid to lefties to FAKE issues, disabilities, and even family members, in order to initiate a lawsuit and settlement – which results in more money for a slush fund of ongoing “enforcement.”   This is the epitome of funding for left wing initiatives, with funds traceable to activists and supporters directly engaged with left-wing politicians.

When will Conservatives stop funding the socialists?

Annual Christmas Party 12/11

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Please RSVP to: irishrose1225@gmail.com

The Chicago Way comes to Cincinnati

The Chicago Way comes to Cincinnati

We would like to think the recent attempted shakedown of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital by community groups would be the exception of the way business is done in Cincinnati, but if City Council and the Mayor’s office are taken over by politicians doing the bidding of shakedown artists expect it soon and perhaps permanently to become the “Cincinnati Way.”

Here’s how the shakedown works: Either self-appointed “community organizers,” or – worse – those leading non-profits already funded with tax dollars claim historic oppression of their community, their constituency, that can only be remedied with huge infusions of cash from developers otherwise trying to grow the tax base, bring jobs, and bring a new or expanded business to town. They make similar demands of cash from the City and County governments themselves.

Thus, these community organizers use their political clout to extract cash from elected leaders and to block the needed governmental cooperation to achieve the progress such as a zone change, a building permit or a street improvement.  In the past, in a professionally-run city like Cincinnati, these things were largely “ministerial” matters handled by bureaucrats on a routine, non-political basis.  But under this new way of doing business, the elected political leaders, and their now hyper-political administrative appointees, block the needed governmental approvals until their extortionate demands are met.    

Simple zone changes become pitched political battles, or silent means of killing projects for developers who have not paid off the right people.

For more than 50 years, they have done business like this in Chicago and the locals know it is wrong, but they laughingly call it the “Chicago Way.”  In order to get anything done you must make a political contribution to your alderman and payoff powerful community groups.

We read with some amazement that the Obama Presidential Library is the focus of one such shakedown right now (read here).  President Obama has committed to bringing this economic development windfall to Chicago’s economically-troubled south side.  (This article claims that the Bill Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock bought a $1 billion real estate boom, and the George W. Bush library is worth $50 million per year to the Dallas area.)

But rather than thanking President Obama for bringing this important development that any community would welcome with open arms, community organizers are demanding a “community benefits agreement” from the Library organizers to allow the project to go forward.  They want a commitment of “jobs” and a commitment of cash to “permit” him to bring his official papers into their neighborhood.

Even more amazingly, the community organizer-in-chief has declined their offer and stood up to the new generation of community organizer bullies.  He said “no.”

The exact same “community benefits agreement” is what powerful political leaders were demanding from Children’s here in Cincinnati.  And lest we think Cincinnati dodged a bullet when a narrow majority of Council and Mayor Cranley rejected the extortion, the same shakedown artist – former Cincinnati Mayor Dwight Tillery – happens to be one of the largest donors to Denise Driehaus and Todd Portune, the democrats that are the new majority on the County Commission.

Read here how Tillery’s “Closing the Health Gap” has accomplished precious little for the enormous infusion of tax dollars it has received from City Hall for years.

But just last month – outside of the counsel from their official advisors on the Hamilton County Tax Levy Review Committee and the Elderly Services Advisory Committee – the new democrat majority on the County Commission jacked the Senior Services Levy up 37% and tucked in there a little gift for Dwight Tillery’s nonprofit.

Of course, the Senior Services levy is a favorite with voters – who would not want to help Cincinnati’s elderly?  But for Portune and Driehaus to give such a gift to their key political supporters, on top of the same shakedown artists demanding millions from the Children’s Hospital development signals a new and dangerous direction for our City and County – the new “Cincinnati Way.”

Issue 5 – the 37% higher Senior Services levy – and the Children’s Hospital shakedown are two sides of the same coin: a new way of doing business in Cincinnati.

Follow us on Twitter at @GoCOAST

 

COAST Christmas Party - Dec 12th

Mark your calendars!  Don't you dare miss the "see and be seen" event of the year as COAST celebrates Christmas and the end of 2016 with good friends, good food and good cheer!

Monday, December 12th, 6-9pm, DeSha's Tavern at Harpers Point.

Click on the flyer below for more details.

VOTE NO ON ISSUE 14 – Kings Local School District, Warren County

VOTE NO ON ISSUE 14 – NOV 8

COAST – Stands for limiting the rate of taxes and spending and stopping the abuse of power by Government officials

COAST Response to Kings:

Superintendent claims of outside group spreading misleading information - - NOT TRUE!

Kings community members are with COAST, so this effort is not being driven by an outside group

1)     TRUE – COAST was correct this levy will be a continuing levy, as are all of Kings current levies, which will increase taxes $217 per $100,000 of home value.

2)     TRUE – COAST was correct according to KINGS own documents, KINGS total revenues grew from $34.2M (2010) to $41.5M (2016).                 

COAST defines flat funding as a 0% increase.  Yet with the state funding and TPP (tangible personal property tax) reimbursement KINGS funding increased by 1%, not flat and they don’t talk about the reimbursement for the TPP, they only claim they lost money!

3)     TRUE – COAST was correct.  The 2016 cash balance by fund report dated 6/29/2016 shows a cash balance of $13.5M.  KINGS finance Summary Report and Kings Current Bank Reconciliation for month ending Sept 16, 2016 shows a beginning general fund balance of $9.4M with current available balance of $14.2 M with a grand total of all funds of $21.6M

The unreserved cash balances on June 30 listed are just projections beyond 2016.  KING’S                  practice has been to paint the worst case scenario because of conservative revenue projections in the October 2016 forecast, current cash reserves won’t be depleted until 2019.  Why does Kings need a levy now?

4)     TRUE – COAST was correct according to the Ohio Department of Education current 2015 district profile Report, KINGS has more Administration expenditure per pupil than similar districts.  KINGS recent actions don’t paint a picture of “Tightening the Belt”.  KINGS recently made the Public Relations person full time and replaced the business manager, these positions have full administration benefits and salaries which includes 100% of their retirement paid by the taxpayers, which equals 24% of their salary and 95% of their healthcare costs.

5)     TRUE – KINGS voted against adopting the Ohio Checkbook without ever seeing a demonstration of the Nations #1 ranked transparency program and again denied a demonstration after a formal request from the Treasurer’s office.  WHY?  The OHIO checkbook program has set new transparency standards, which provide interactive tools to search and compare spending data and empowers taxpayers to follow the money.  It’s a key to open government so KINGS claims of transparency don’t ring true.  Board docs, while a good tool, it’s just a program to post documents.  Why does KINGS refuse this transparency?  The Ohio School Board Association, the Ohio Association of School Business officials, and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators have all endorsed the Ohio Checkbook.com.

6)     TRUE – COAST questions, the concern for the abuse of special needs students,  with district’s claims, this horrible ordeal only cost taxpayers $5,000.  What about the $80,000 payout and glowing recommendation for the teacher involved??   What about the legal costs for the 9 depositions, and most importantly, where’s the district’s compassion and remorse for what happened to our most vulnerable children, those without a voice, who endured this treatment.  We still don’t know who knew what and when. 

7)     TRUE and SAD, again no concern or remorse for allowing an environment, where the former Board President stated, that he was threatened, intimidated and subject to harassing criticism.  How sad, he had to ask for the school resource officer to attend meetings.

8)     TRUE – current enrollment projections in KINGS for October 2016, 5 year forecast shows 2016 enrollment at 4,211 and growing to 4,506 by 2021, adding 295, these are the district’s numbers.   The latest propaganda from The Kings Citizens for Quality Education get a 23% by 2020?????  Where did this number come from?

9)     TRUE – According to the Warren County Auditors school district Rates, KINGS current school taxes on $100,000 home value are the highest in Warren County.  $1,348.65 School taxes on $100,000 home value.  If the Levy passes the millage will go from 36.7 to 42.9, a 17% increase forever.  The total taxes will be $231.81 higher than MASON.  KINGS general operating millage will be 42.9 mills, 8.3 mills higher than MASON.

10)  TO THE KINGS BOARD – What have you done to tighten your belt?  When most districts understand, given the current economy, not having funding cuts is the most they can hope for, and work hard not only to control spending but wait as long as they can before raising taxes on families and Senior citizens.  NOT KINGS!  They went to levy with almost $8 Million in their checkbook in 2010 and here they go again!!!  Only worried about the districts checkbook and forgetting about taxpayers, who are struggling!  The district has continued to hire at the top while threatening to cut Teachers and Programs for students, while you are sitting on a cash surplus of +$9 Million. This is wrong!!!

VOTE NO ON ISSUE 14 – NOV 8

Click here to see top 10 reasons to Vote No

Vote NO on Issue 44 - 7.93 mill Cincinnati Public Schools Levy

COAST Endorsements for the 2016 Election

The following individuals and issues have been endorsed by COAST in next month's election.

COAST urges you to remember these fine patriots & issue positions when you cast your ballot on November 8th!

Hamilton County Commission

• Dennis Deters
• Andrew Pappas

Hamilton County Recorder

• Norbert Nadel

Hamilton County Treasurer

• Rob Goering

Ohio State Representative

• Tom Brinkman (OH-27) *Highly Endorsed
• Bill Seitz (OH-30)
• David Miller (OH-33)
• Paul Zeltwanger (OH-54)
• John Becker (OH-65)

Cincinnati Public Schools levy - Issue 44

• NO!

Kings Local School District levy - Issue 14

• NO!

Top 10 Reasons to VOTE NO on the Kings School Levy

Before you cast your vote on the Kings School Levy, please note the TOP TEN REASONS you should VOTE NO!   (click below to enlarge)

Christopher Smitherman Takes to Airwaves to Expose Streetcar Funding Lies

As expected, Cincinnati's City Council voted this week to use general fund revenues to pay for operation of the Streetcar Named Deception.

Smitherman has been a fearless truth teller on the Streetcar and all matters fiscal throughout his tenure on Council.

Candidate Forum - Ohio House District 62

Please join COAST for the Ohio House District 62 Candidate Forum.  Incumbent Ron Maag is term limited in this Warren County seat.  Candidates Scott Lipps, Steve Muterspaw, and Ray Warrick will have the opportunity to convince you why they deserve your support.  We look forward to seeing everyone!

COAST Endorses Brinkman for Re-Election

In the Republican Primary for Ohio House District 27, the choice is clear: Tom Brinkman has served his constituents and his conservative principles well and is deserving of re-election.

Brinkman has been a champion for the taxpayers and has worked tirelessly to reduce the size and cost of government, and increase transparency.

Whether it is in the halls of the Capitol building, or in meeting rooms in the district that includes Anderson Township, Newtown, Fairfax, Indian Hill, Symmes Township, Hyde Park, Mt. Lookout, and Mt. Washington, Tom has been a tireless advocate for the causes near and dear to COAST's heart. 

COAST endorses Tom Brinkman for re-election to the Ohio House of Representatives.

Learn more about Tom or make a donation to his campaign at http://gobrinkman.com

COAST Christmas Party - you're invited!

Please join us for our annual Christmas Party.

Monday December 14th, 6PM
Desha's
11320 Montgomery Road

SORTA's relentless drumbeat for a tax increase continues

Make no mistake: It is coming.  The bureaucrats at and consultants for SORTA are constantly beating a drum for more of your tax dollars.

The latest comes in today's headline in the Enquirer: Study: 75K Cincy jobs unreachable by transit.

Now, the "company line" from SORTA is that, starved for resources, if only they had more of your hard-earned tax dollars they could provide quality transportation services for poor people in our fair City. 

The only problem is that we told SORTA and City Council all of this before they decided to spend $148 million building the Streetcar to nowhere and committed another millions per year to Streetcar operations.

Community-based organizations who make it their job to be concerned about these same poor people – the NAACP, the Baptist Ministers Conference, the Homeless Coalition – spoke vociferously and repeatedly about how the Streetcar would take scarce tax dollars that could be used to connect poor people to jobs, healthcare and shopping, and spend it on a useless amusement park ride for yuppies and urban hipsters.

So, as far as COAST is concerned, SORTA has made its bed and it can sleep in it – without any more of our tax dollars!

And let’s never forget the words of the SORTA resolution on December 17, 2013, at the key moment in the Streetcar debate:

The Board of Trustees of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority has volunteered to assume responsibility for streetcar operating costs.

So long, farewell to Rick Bryan and Jim Sumner

COAST is shedding crocodile tears this morning at the loss of BlueAsholes Rick Bryan and Jim Sumner in yesterday's Blue Ash Council elections.

The very long-time Council members were well known for junkets to Germany on the taxpayer dime, a massive parks project that cost taxpayers millions, and of course bizarre and inexplicable support for the Cincinnati Streetcar of all things.  Both had attempted to use the Blue Ash platform as a launching pad toward higher office -- Sumner to County Commissioner and Bryan to State Representative.  Both failed as the Blue Ash schtick did not sell on a larger stage.  Both also supported every bad idea to emanate from Republican loins, such as Congressman Jean Schmidt and the Jail sales tax.

The defeats are as thoroughly welcome as they are surprising, which speaks to the need to recruit strong candidates in every race.

So Rick Bryan and Jim Sumner, we don't appreciate your years of service to the taxpayers.  Don't let the door hit you in the ass as you head out.  And please don't come back.

Public-private partnerships take "toll" on public

Remember Mayor Mallory's Parking Plot?  And proposed tolls for the Brent Spence Bridge?  These are all new-fangled financing schemes where the cash flow emanating from the use of public improvements is vested in private entities, who then float bonds payable with those revenue streams in exchange for an up-front public benefit today.

In the case of tolls, they are used to build roadway, bridge and tunnel projects that the public entities cannot afford, and in the case of parking revenues, they are being used to front millions in current dollars for capital projects.

Today's Washington Post highlights these public-private partnerships running off the rails and costing taxpayers dearly.  

Stepping back, why is one of the wealthiest nations on earth unable to fund its infrastructure without selling its income streams to for-profit entities?  Simply, because it can't control its spending.  At the federal level, entitlement spending -- medicaid, medicaid, ObamaCare and social security -- is gobbling so much of the federal budget, the government can't afford comparatively small amounts for crucial public improvements.  At the state level, the inability to say "no" to public employee unions -- salaries and pensions -- has bankrupted local and state governments, again preventing relatively paltry sums from being available for capital projects.

So, the "public benefit" to public-private partnerships is largely illusory.  Proceed with extreme caution.

COAST Endorses Ken Crawford for Norwood Mayor!

COAST is proud to support Ken Crawford for Mayor of Norwood

Ken is a young conservative ready to empower the people of Norwood with his plan to restore accountability and transparency in local government.

You can learn more about Ken Crawford's platform here. Get involved in the campaign and make a contribution here.

Remember to Vote for Ken Crawford for Norwood Mayor on election day.

We are excited to see the possibilities that will emerge with new and dynamic leadership in Norwood!

Vote "No" on Issue 22 Property Tax

The Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) urges Cincinnati voters to reject the permanent property tax increase that will appear on the ballot as Issue 22.

With proposed projects such as restaurants, beer gardens, roads, and golf course expansions, this tax hike arguably does more to destroy nature than it does to enhance it.

COAST opposes a permanent, costly property tax increase as well as the poor accountability of the funds that would be raised. Under this Charter Amendment, spending decisions would be made by the Mayor and his appointments to the Parks Board, largely removing our elected City Council from the process.

We are concerned that this lack of accountability creates a backdoor path for the Mayor and his appointees to approve unpopular projects that Council would otherwise not approve.

“Cincinnati voters should reject a permanent property tax hike that hurts our parks,” says State Representative Tom Brinkman, a long-time Cincinnati resident and COAST co-founder. “Please Vote No on Issue 22.”

It's Official: Ohio Supreme Court is overtly hostile in Sunshine Law cases

So, it turns out we are not paranoid after all and it's not just our imagination.

A group devoted to transparency in government in Ohio, the Ohio Coalition for Open Government (OCOG) has issued a report that confirms the view that the Ohio Supreme Court most often sides with government officials in cases involving government access and transparency.

COAST has pursued with vigor litigation involving open meetings and public records to assure that the public's business is conducted in the fresh air and sunshine, before the public.  Unfortunately, in decision after decision, the Ohio Supreme Court has chipped away at what surely is a well-written state and local public records law.  They have, in short, made mincemeat of what is a well-written statute, issuing rulings clearly contrary to statutory language to achieve their desired policy outcome.  It is truly shameful. 

The OCOG report goes even further, to name names of the offending Justices.  The worst offender: Justice Terrance O'Donnell.  The best: Justice Judith French.  

Read the OCOG press release here. And the OCOG full report here.