Where the Sidewalk Ends . . – Episode 19

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City budgets aren’t just about numbers; they’re arenas where power and transparency clash, especially when sidewalks are on the line.

With the clock ticking towards a June 30 deadline, we’re breaking down the complex labyrinth of Cincinnati’s budgeting process. We highlight the slippery slope of leveraged support and the arbitrary adjustments by the mayor and city council—adjustments that are ripe for corruption without clear criteria or conflict-of-interest safeguards.  It’s a dive into the murky waters of city politics, where the absence of accountability raises more than just eyebrows.

We’re also shining a spotlight on a contentious new twist in the sidewalk saga. Vice Mayor and Councilwoman Albi have thrown a curveball with their proposal for a Sidewalk Repair Pilot Program, stirring controversy by tapping into railway funds. This proposal isn’t just a bureaucratic shuffle; it challenges the city’s equitable spending plan, Cincy on Track, and evokes fears of misuse of resources.

As complaints pour in, we question the fairness of a rail-funded fix. Will this pilot program be a boon for the citizens or a backdoor for favoritism? Tune in as we unravel these budgetary plot twists and their potential impact on Cincinnati’s streets and its residents.

The Great Cincinnati Train Robbery – Episode 18

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I told you so. . . . Nearly $6 million has been funneled into the shadows, and the integrity of the city’s campaign finance system hangs in the balance.

Join us as we unravel the strings of alleged corruption surrounding the 2023 railway election, where Norfolk Southern, the city council, and Mayor Aftab’s roles have sparked controversy. The lack of transparency and manipulation of campaign finance rules have raised serious questions, and our recent op-ed in the Enquirer zeroes in on the city’s broken promises regarding anti-corruption reforms, shifting the narrative beyond Sittenfeld’s pardon.

We’re demanding accountability and transparency like never before. The clandestine operations of the Norfolk Southern Steering Committee, especially regarding the sale of a public asset, are under the microscope. Why is there so little clarity about the committee’s composition and their dealings with Aftab? And what about the staggering funds channeled into a related campaign—were they used responsibly? Our conversation doesn’t just stop there; we propose legislative reforms to tighten the reins on corporate contributions to ballot issue campaigns in Ohio, calling for stringent campaign finance rules to ensure the integrity of public asset sales.

 

Look what we found! The Missing Audit. – Episode 17

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Todd unlocks the secrets of effective city governance as we expose the tangled web of a missing audit report and the story behind it.

Navigate with us through the perplexities of audit management, from the bombshell draft by Crowe LLP in December 2022 to the final report’s emergence nearly two years later. Despite the clear and valuable recommendations from Crowe—like improving council member recusals and managing conflicts of interest—the city has remained stagnant, leaving crucial improvements untouched.

You’ll learn why transparency is more than a buzzword and hear firsthand why action on these findings is desperately needed. As tensions rise over the unaddressed audit findings and a hefty $150,000 price tag, we question the city’s priorities and oversight capabilities.  With ongoing issues in vehicle procurement and financial allocations, the city’s new fleet plans are shrouded in controversy. Join the conversation as we unveil our plans to create a website dedicated to hosting key documents such as audit reports and city budgets, empowering you with the evidence to hold governance accountable. This episode promises to elevate your understanding of city governance challenges and the urgent necessity for transparency and accountability.

 

 

 

 

 

Cincinnati’s Fleet Audit – Episode 16

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City leaders are failing their responsibilities, leaving essential services vulnerable and residents unprotected. With nearly half of the city’s fleet, 685 vehicles, way past their prime, one might wonder if flashy goals like carbon neutrality are distracting from urgent needs.

In this episode, we dissect the city’s mounting $1.3 billion fiscal headache, including pension liabilities and neglected infrastructure, exacerbated by an ignored internal audit. The stark $82.7 million needed to replace these outdated vehicles demands attention to prevent another fiasco like Winter Storm Blair. Todd tackles the perplexing choices of city council members, who seem to prioritize long-term visions over immediate necessities. While the ambition for a greener future is commendable, the current cracks in fleet management can’t be overlooked, especially with the looming threat of regionalizing the waterworks. Listen as we scrutinize the city council’s fiscal decisions, the passivity of the mayor, and the seeming inaction of the city manager despite the audit’s alarming revelations. Critical questions are raised about where the city’s priorities truly lie and the lack of effective oversight in addressing these urgent challenges.

 

 

Vehicle Purchase and Replacement Audit (1)

Reforming Cincinnati’s Funding Framework – Episode 15

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This week on “Citizen Watchdog with Todd Zinser,” is a discussion of Cincinnati’s 200 non-profit and other external grantees.

Our examination is just beginning, but we have already found 2 potential conflicts of interest and over a million dollars paid to a private venture capitalist over the past several years. It is not common for a city to pay public funds to a venture capitalist.

One important development is a recent report from the city’s Internal Audit Manager issued on April 27, 2025. She audited a “Leveraged Support” partner that has been receiving $250,000 a year from the city for many years. The report includes serious findings, especially for an organization that has received more than a million dollars from the city over the last several years.

1. Contract management review and oversight need improvement. Among the findings is missing documentation for $14,000 spent during the two years audited.

2. Payroll journals contain insufficient information to determine whether contractual terms are upheld. This is a major finding. This means that the non-profit is not able to support its reimbursement claims for the time its employees spent working on city-related matters

3. A 3rd party is unable to verify the terms of the contract. This is a major finding: This essentially means that the non-profit is “un-auditable.”

4. The contract language should be updated. This suggests that the terms of the funding contract between the city and the non-profit has simply been copied from one year to the next without being updated.

Remember that this is only 1 audit of more than 200 non-profits and other external organizations that have been receiving city funding for many years.

 

REDI Cincinnati Contract Compliance Audit (1)

Financial Dilemmas in the Pursuit of a Green Agenda – Episode 14

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Can Cincinnati truly afford to go green in the face of monumental fiscal challenges? We’re putting the Green Cincinnati Plan under the microscope, scrutinizing its ambitious pursuit of carbon neutrality amid a staggering $824 million pension liability and $400 million in deferred maintenance. With public service vehicles, like fire trucks, in dire need of updates, we question whether the plan’s focus on equity and carbon neutrality truly serves the city’s most vulnerable populations—or merely adds to their burden.

Join us as we dissect the financial intricacies and weigh them against the potential environmental gains, all while pondering the impact of federal climate policies like Justice 40 on local initiatives.

Our conversation takes a turn to ethics and transparency within city governance, where we face the tangled web of relationships between city officials and nonprofits. With a lens on a nonprofit board that the mayor once served, alongside city funding, we raise critical questions about ethical boundaries and transparency. The temporary prohibition list, birthed from the 2021 corruption scandal, comes under fire as we debate its actual impact in preventing conflicts of interest. We challenge whether these measures are enough to restore public trust and ensure that city officials remain accountable. Tune in for a candid discussion on the balance of ethical governance and civic duty.

 

Cincinnati’s Green Ambitions: A Budget Mysteries – Episode 13

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Unlock the secrets of Cincinnati’s ambitious journey towards sustainability with our latest episode on the Green Cincinnati Plan. Explore the intricate evolution of this environmental roadmap, beginning with the pioneering Climate Protection Plan of 2008, courtesy of Mark Mallory, and how it has morphed through the years into a complex, far-reaching strategy for 2023.  From the target of 100% renewable energy for city operations by 2035 to encouraging a shift towards plant-based diets, we dissect the bold visions and the challenges of maintaining consistency and accountability.

Join us as we spotlight Mayor Aftab’s unique focus on equity and climate, and the transformative goals driving the city’s environmental ambitions. Yet, the journey isn’t without its mysteries. We unravel the enigma of the missing $5 million originally meant for green initiatives, now puzzlingly rerouted to the city’s fleet needs, with no clear explanation in sight. Despite poring over Cincinnati’s epic 186-page Green Plan, we find it conspicuously empty of cost indicators, raising questions about the financial transparency of these initiatives. For those eager to understand the broader implications and priorities of the city’s environmental strategies, we recommend a visit to their website for a more digestible perspective. This episode is just the beginning, with more revelations and discussions promised in upcoming installments.

Cincinnati’s Missing Audit – Episode 12

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City corruption exposed: the forensic audit Cincinnati didn’t want you to see. Our latest episode brings you inside the tangled web of local governance, examining the unfinished forensic audit that was meant to shed light on murky economic development projects between 2018 and 2020. We unravel the story behind the critical draft report by audit firm Crowe, which the city dismissed as unsatisfactory, likely due to its damning insights into current practices.

The episode questions the city’s transparency and accountability, with a spotlight on the secretive use of emergency ordinances and discretionary funds, drawing connections to historic corruption scandals in Washington D.C. and Columbus.

Exploring the realm of forensic audits, we highlight their necessity in providing a thorough investigation that goes beyond balancing the books to ensure no stone is left unturned. Our discussion underscores the importance of completing such audits to uncover unresolved issues and the need to hold city officials accountable for leaving this particular forensic investigation unfinished. With captivating insights into the Economic Development Reform Panel’s recommendations and the continuing influence of lobbyists and developers in Cincinnati, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the mechanics of city governance and the public’s quest for transparency.

 

 

Secrecy in Cincinnati Government – Episode 11

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Greater Cincinnati is shrouded in political secrecy, but the truth can no longer stay hidden. This episode exposes the clandestine forces at play in the heart of local governance, where sales tax dollars intended for public landmarks are ominously repurposed by shadowy 501c4 groups. With insights from Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus, we peel back the layers of obfuscation surrounding a controversial new arena proposal.

The discussion doesn’t stop there; we draw parallels to Norfolk Southern’s murky railway sell-off and scrutinize Mayor Aftab’s entanglements in this political quagmire. The stakes are high as we highlight the influence of undisclosed donors and question the ethical fortitude of decision-makers in the region.

Accountability in city politics is not just a necessity—it’s an urgent call to action. We spotlight the glaring lack of oversight from key city institutions as mega-million-dollar projects proceed without transparency. With upcoming elections on the horizon, the demand for reform is more pressing than ever. The conversation challenges the status quo, urging a re-evaluation of how political funds are handled and advocating for public scrutiny at every level of governance. We consider reaching out to the city’s ethics officer to shed light on these covert initiatives, stressing that the citizens of Greater Cincinnati deserve nothing less than honest and transparent leadership.

 

Fraud Hotline – Struggle Against Public Misconduct – Episode 10

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Creating a more transparent and accountable city governance as we uncover the findings from our recent review of the city’s Ethics Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline. Expect to learn about the critical privacy issues and transparency concerns that have emerged since the hotline’s oversight shifted to the solicitor’s office in 2022.

With 176 complaints filed over the past three years, the hotline’s potential to effectively tackle fraud and abuse remains significantly stunted due to a lack of a structured process. Drawing on my expertise with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, I offer insights into the importance of a trustworthy tip line for employees and highlight some eye-opening complaints, including political contributions and donor disclosures.

We raise critical questions about the vulnerability of Cincinnati’s public funding landscape. Despite the existence of a fraud hotline, skepticism remains about its effectiveness in preventing similar corruption. Join us as we explore the need for decisive action by the city solicitor’s office and the hope for a more vigilant city council to champion fraud awareness and prevention in the future.