BY BERNIE MIXON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The campaign that collected nearly 45,000 signatures to force a November showdown on where to put a new Reds stadium kicked off its election drive Saturday.
Citizens for a County Charter for Baseball at Broadway opened a storefront office at 400 Reading Road, across from its choice, Broadway Commons.
The office will be the center of volunteer activities for the grassroots campaign, and the "distribution central" for pro-Broadway Commons paraphernalia.
"Even though we've been here forever, we never thought about a campaign headquarters," said Baseball at Broadway Co-Chair and Cincinnati City Councilman Jim Tarbell. "We would meet in back of cars, in attics and basements and around campfires."
Hamilton County has a tentative deal with the Reds to build a $297 million stadium on the riverfront site next to the Crown that is known as Baseball on Main or the "Wedge."
But a measure on the Nov. 3 ballot asks Hamilton County voters to create a county charter that would prohibit county commissioners from spending any tax money on a stadium other than at Broadway Commons. County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus, leading proponent of baseball on the riverfront, promises a vigorous campaign to defeat the ballot initiative.
In addition, opponents of the ballot issue say they will challenge an affirmative vote in court.
Broadway backers got nearly 45,000 signatures on petitions to get the issue on the ballot. They expect to use those supporters -- especially the 1,200 volunteers who circulated petitions -- as the core of the campaign.
Opening a Broadway Commons headquarters -- behind what may become home plate, no less -- is the first step, backers say.
"We are using space that has been vacant for years. It demonstrates what we have been saying all along: Broadway Commons (encourages) development," Mr. Tarbell said.
The campaign to bring the message to voters will begin to take shape in the coming weeks with yard signs and T-shirts bearing the slogan "Yes! Broadway is Better."
Mary Lewis of East Walnut Hills stopped by the office to sign up to volunteer. She's willing to work the phones, pass out literature and help with mailings, anything to help make Broadway Commons a reality.
"We don't need another big building on the riverfront," Ms. Lewis said. "I would rather see more parks there. It would make the riverfront seem more alive."
Stadium story list
