Citizen Watchdog – Todd Zinser June 19, 2026
A lot of talk about the City’s $2 billion FY27 budget, including the Farmer Music Center, the “non-profit industrial complex, ” and an update on the railroad money
Citizen Watchdog – Discussing Cincinnati’s Budget Issues
In this episode, Todd Zinser, the Citizen Watchdog, joins the show to discuss the City of Cincinnati’s budget and the lack of transparency in their spending. Todd shares his findings on how the city is handing out millions of dollars to non-profit organizations without clear accountability. He also talks about the city’s decision to fund the Farmer Music Center with $8 million, despite the city being $30 million in debt. Todd’s investigation reveals a complex web of city funds, NGOs, and potential conflicts of interest. This conversation sheds light on the need for greater oversight and accountability in local government.
Citizen Watchdog – The Rising 15 Motions, Reparations, & Their Implications
In this episode, Todd Zinser discusses the Rising 15 neighborhoods in Cincinnati and the proposed reparations program aimed at addressing historical injustices related to housing discrimination. He explores the historical context of Cincinnati’s housing policies, the various motions related to the Rising 15, and the implications of the reparations motion introduced by city officials. The conversation delves into the funding sources for the reparations program, the challenges it may face, and the importance of understanding the historical context behind these initiatives.
Todd Zinser – Citizen Watchdog on 55KRC (February 5, 2026)
This morning, on Brian’s show, we discussed the decision by city council to fund the Center Hill Landfill Solar Array in the amount of $12 million (so far); the nearly $300 million in funding under the Amercian Rescue Plan Act (COVID) and what the city did with those funds; concerns about the city depositing millions in unspent Railway funds into an investment fund of its own; and the practice of the city council to enact city ordinance as emegency ordinances 75% of the time.
Todd Zinser – Citizen Watchdog with Brian Thomas (12.18.25)
https://omny.fm/shows/brian-thomas/todd-zinser-citizen-watchdog-8
We oped with a discussion of Mayor Pureval’s ethical challenges, incuding his memebrship on the Boards of Directors for two non-profit organizations that has received funding from the city as “levereaged partners.” We also discussed the repossession of Mayor’s Pureval’s car on two different occassions, I believe two different cars.
We also discussed the report by Local 12 about the failure of the city to put the railroad money to use. According to Local 12, the city has only expended 6% of the distribution of funds from the Railway Trust. This is an issue I raised to the Board of the Railroad Trust in February 2025. The Trust should keep money in the investment fund until the city can actually use the money. I followed up with a letter to the Board of the Railway Trust to repeat my recommendation.
WCPO I-Team latest report on Cincinnati’s contract with Iris Roley LLC (December 11, 2025)
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HN29FS3qg/
This is the WCPO I-Team’s December 11, 2025 report about the third amendment to the city’s contract with Iris Roley LLC.
Aside from the ever increasing value of the contract, now at $664,000, a new provision, “Exhibit D,” looks unusual. It is labeled, “Collaborative Agreement Commitment Standards.”
Exhibit D does not specify any deliverables. Instead, it seems to establish expectations about the relationship between the contractor and the city. It it is written in such a way that the City Manager will have the sole discretion to interpret Exhibt D if enforcement of the provision is ever necessary.
My sense is that Exhibt D is the city manager’s response to the FOP’s complaint about Ms. Roley inserting herself in police business, which was caught on body-worn camera footage earlier this summer.
In other words, the city manager may not make a determination on the merits of the FOP complaint but instead will cite Exhibit D as the resolution to the complaint. We will see if my speculation is correct.
I have a pending records request for the disposition of the FOP’s complaints and will report out if/when I receive a final response.
55KRC with Dan Carroll sitting in for Brian Thomas (12.9.25)
On December 9, 2025, I visited with Dan Carroll who was sitting in for Brian Thomas on 55KRC. We spoke about the “Railroad money;” the $8.1 million settlement by the city concerning a class action lawsuit stemming from the 2020 riots; the latest contract with the city’s “Collaborative Agreement Sustainability Consultant;” the GCWW lead pipe scandal; and the repossession of the mayor’s car(s). In other words, we covered a lot of ground!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A5gbbwGfw/
Labor Department looking into money missing from 401(k) plans at NKY construction company
Dan Monk with WCPO’s I-Team reached out to me about a lawsuit in Northen Kentucky. It involves issues about the mishandling of employee 401(k) contributions, which could have both civil and criminal implications. Dan was aware that I once served as a federal Labor Investigator and asked me a couple questions about the case.
October 17, 2025 Citizen Watchdog on 55KRC with Brian Thomas
Here is the podcast of today’s show with Brian Thomas.
We covered Iris Roley LLC contracts and invoices; the Mayor’s lack of transparency concerning the $6 million that Norfolk Southern spent on the railroad campaign; and the mayor’s conflict of interest by sitting on the Board of a non-profit receiving money from the city.
Thank you Brian, Joe and IHeart Radio!
https://55krc.iheart.com/featured/brian-thomas-wkrc/content/2025-10-17-todd-zinser-citizen-watchdog/