COAST, AFSCME and NAACP join against Water Works sale

COAST joined with AFSCME and the NAACP last week at a public hearing called by City Manager Milton Dohoney on the sale of the Water Works.  The objections:

1)      Ratepayers are being asked to pay $475 million to the City of Cincinnati for assets we already own “because they need the money.”

2)      The new entity created in the transfer would have eminent domain powers

3)      The new entity created in the transfer would have new taxing powers (in unelected officials!)

Once again, COAST has reached across the left-right divide to create powerful coalitions against wasteful spending and excessive taxation.

A copy of the COAST/AFSCME/NAACP brochure is attached.

Would You Pay $475 Million for Assets You Already Own

NAACP, AFSCME Place Waterworks Sale On the Ballot

Why would we pay $475 million for something we already own?

City Council remains coy during this election year
on sale of asset owned by taxpayers

Really, do politicians think we are stupid enough to stand for paying $475 million in higher water rates for assets we already own?

For months now, COAST has been questioning the proposal by City Manager Dohoney to transfer the assets of the Cincinnati Waterworks to a new Regional Water District, and charge the new entity and its ratepayers (that’s us!) $475 million for the asset transfer. City Council members remain coy about whether they will approve the plan.

The NAACP and the municipal workers labor union – AFSCME – have gathered enough signatures to force the asset transfer to a public vote.

COAST has not yet taken a formal position on the Waterworks Petition, but is deeply skeptical of charging ratepayers $475 million for something they already own, and entrusting our entirely untrustworthy Council with that kind of additional money.

City manager Milton Dohoney admitted in a speech in June before the NAACP that the City is pursuing the plan simply “because we need the money.” COAST gently suggests maybe stopping its profligate waste of tax resources might be a better approach.

COAST will take a formal position about endorsing the Waterworks proposal at its September endorsement meeting. All COAST members (paid memberships) will be polled before such endorsement.