Dispatch: Kasich stepping on toes because he's doing what's right

The Dispatch's Joe Hallett analyzes the style and substance of John Kasich, here.

It's not the cheer leading from the right, or the sloppy excuses from the left, that we are used to.  Hallett shoots straight about a straight-talking Governor.

We are not a "Good time Charlie"

"Let the good times roll," so the saying goes.  Throw caution to the wind, borrow and spend like there's no tomorrow.

"Good time Charlies" abound in politics,

• Those who promise a pension to municipal workers tomorrow, but yet fail to fund that pension today; 
• Those who will buy you a toy streetcar with borrowed money, promising billions in economic development as a consequence; 
• Those who would put a $4.4 million glass roof on City Hall, with no business pro forma even run to ascertain how much money we will lose on the venture.
• Those who consciously invest millions in restaurants on the riverfront without a clue as to their financial viability.

Well, that's not COAST.  We know there is, ultimately, no free lunch, no easy way out.  We know that there are consequences to bad behavior. 

Those consequences finally started rolling in this week, read here, here, here and here.  There are many more to come.

Fiscal restraint is the answer: Spend no more than what you take in; promise no more than you can deliver; plan for tomorrow; don't over-burden the citizenry.

We can learn these lessons the easy way; we can learn them the hard way.  It's entirely up to us.

Mallory's fiscal irresponsibility yields deficit, tax hike

Ahhh, we love to say it:

"We told you so."

Years of fiscal insanity at City Hall are finally yielding the entirely predictable results COAST has warned about for years and years.

City Manager Milton Dohoney today announced that the City has a claimed $34.3 million deficit next year, and plans a property tax increase for already beleaguered Cincinnati homeowners.  (It should be noted that Mayor Mallory, whose reckless policies have yielded this result, is dodging comment, hoping to distance himself from his own failed decisions.)

Council member Christopher Smitherman indicates that the structural deficit, excluding tax increases and one-time resources, in reality will exceed $40 million for the coming fiscal year.

Tomorrow's Enquirer will report that former Council member Chris Bortz says that “the public ought to be outraged” by the property tax increase and Council member Smitherman says projects like the streetcar and atrium are “reckless spending” and proof of “misdirected priorities.”

COAST will join with others opposing the property tax hike, and continue to point out that this Bat Shit Crazy Council and Mayor are leading Cincinnati on the road to ruin.

Cincinnati's voters are reaping precisely what they have sowed by their poor choices on Council for the past decade or more.