No one has talked much lately about the city's efforts to raise $600,000 in attorneys' fees for the three lawyers who sued the city over alleged racial profiling.

        And that's starting to worry the plaintiffs' lawyers.

        “We've been inquiring about where the money is, and if we're going to see it soon,” said lawyer Al Gerhardstein. “We expected it awhile ago.”

        The arrangement on lawyers' fees was the 11th-hour compromise that helped bring about a historic settlement on police-community relations last month.

        The city refused to spend taxpayer money to pay the lawyers, who also include Scott Greenwood of the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and Cincinnati defense lawyer Ken Lawson. Mr. Lawson represents the Black United Front, which is advocating a boycott of the city.

        Instead, city officials promised, they would help raise private money.

        Jerry Springer pledged $25,000. Bill Cosby ponied up $0.

        With fund-raising apparently going poorly, the city's special counsel — Washington, D.C., lawyer Billy Martin — reportedly sent a letter to the plaintiffs last week.

        Though city lawyers have refused to release the letter, it's obviously making the plaintiffs nervous.

        “I think we have a disagreement about what will happen if they don't raise the money,” Mr. Gerhardstein said.

        Now, the $600,000 question is: will that disagreement derail the agreement?

        Staying put: Minette Cooper handled last week's loss in the Democratic primary for state representative about as well as any politician could.

        She almost seemed relieved.

        She's never denied that she would much rather keep her current job on City Council than commute to Columbus every week. But with term limits, she didn't have much choice but to look at other options.

        Facing former Councilman Tyrone Yates, her campaign for the 33rd district Ohio House seat was, to be honest, lackluster.

        Her father, Curtis Norris, died three weeks before the primary. And recurring health problems kept her off the campaign trail.

        “I have multiple sclerosis. I have had it for 33 years. I have done everything I have done with MS,” she said.

        Ms. Cooper talked openly about her health, saying she wants to reassure constituents who have seen her starting to use a cane to get around City Hall.

        Clinton watch: It's no secret that Mayor Charlie Luken wasn't exactly thrilled with the Enquirer's report that former President Bill Clinton had an interest in visiting Cincinnati.

        Nonetheless, he's moving slowly — very slowly — to determine what Mr. Clinton's interest is.

        “He never really called. We called him. My office talked to his staff,” Mr. Luken said. “I don't know whether the ball is in his court or mine.”
City Hall reporter Gregory Korte can be reached at 768-8391 or gkorte@enquirer.com.
       

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