BY xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Cincinnati Enquirer
After years avoiding a vote on where to put a new Reds ballpark, Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI) will soon jump into the fray.
The group's board of directors will meet Oct. 2 and is scheduled to vote to endorse a site, said Rick Greiwe, chief operating officer for the downtown marketing group.
Hamilton County voters will face the choice Nov. 3 with Issue 11.
For weeks, DCI's seven standing committees have been hearing presentations. Bob Schneider, who helped develop the Main Street entertainment district, has been making the case for Broadway Commons, at Broadway and Reading Road.
John Schneider, a former DCI staffer, has been making the case for the riverfront site known as Baseball on Main. He is chairman of the campaign working to defeat Issue 11.
Fisher as protector
A toddler singing a lullaby to her baby doll opens Democrat Lee Fisher's latest commercial.
Then Mr. Fisher -- wearing a plaid shirt -- appears on the screen and says, "Nothing is more important than protecting our children." The 30-second spot is his fourth commercial.
Mr. Fisher tells viewers what he already has done for children: "As attorney general, I cracked down on child abuse and closed unsafe day care centers."
An announcer tells what he will do if he's elected governor: "Lee Fisher will enforce mandatory criminal background checks of school and day care workers, and demand zero tolerance of guns and drugs in our schools."
The ad started Thursday.
Commons concern:
Cincinnati City Councilwoman Jeanette Cissell is urging the city planning commission and council to rethink endorsements of Broadway Commons for a new Reds ballpark.
Hamilton County voters will have their say Nov. 3. Issue 11 would create a county charter in order to force officials to build at Broadway and Reading Road.
Hamilton County and the Reds have a deal to build at the rival site on the riverfront, known as Baseball on Main or the "Wedge." A council majority endorsed Broadway last year, and the planning commission has endorsed Broadway twice.
In a statement, Ms. Cissell, a member of the planning commission, urged the commission to ask city planners for a detailed analysis of both sites.
"Our community and much of its political leadership really lacks the fundamental fact base to fully grasp the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on our riverfront and the problems with siting a ballpark at Broadway Commons," she said.
The Campaign Notebook is compiled by staff of The Cincinnati Enquirer and runs Tuesday-Saturday.
