WEBVTT 1 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:08.759 My Billy Cunningham, the Great America and of course writes 2 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:11.000 Baseball off today, back at it over the weekend with 3 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:13.679 the Cubs and towns, plus the taste so much more. 4 00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:17.199 But until then in the studio with me is Tom Gableman, 5 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:20.399 who was the point man from Frost Todd to the 6 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:23.960 lawyers representing the county and also doing their best for 7 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:26.399 the last twenty five to thirty years getting this deal done. 8 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:29.359 And Tom Gableman, welcome again to the Bill Cunningham Show. 9 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:31.480 And first of all, Tom, when you were relieved to 10 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:33.600 your duties kind of like a general of the army, 11 00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:35.920 you were relieved to your duties like Patton was relieved 12 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:39.560 of his duties by Eisenhower last week. What was the 13 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:42.159 status of the Bengals deal at that point when you 14 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:43.439 were relieved last week? 15 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:46.159 I would say Willie that we were in the red zone, 16 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:48.920 to use a football analogy, because we had about ninety 17 00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:52.600 percent of the terms and conditions of a comprehensive agreement 18 00:00:53.640 --> 00:00:57.479 agreed to in concept between the Bengals and the county, 19 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:01.119 and those terms and conditions, by the we're all aligned 20 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:04.519 with what the Board of County Commissioners had given us 21 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:08.640 as policy parameters dating back a year prior to those 22 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:11.079 intense negotiations that we had, so. 23 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:12.079 We were in the red zone. 24 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:14.599 We thought we could easily make the June first date 25 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:17.359 for a business term sheet and June thirtieth for a 26 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:18.000 new agreement. 27 00:01:19.239 --> 00:01:22.599 Were you, shall we say, surprised or shocked? Were you 28 00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:27.519 any indication ahead of time you were about to be relieved? 29 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.079 Absolutely not, So there was nothing there. I received a 30 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:37.519 call from the Prosecutor's office around nine ten am the 31 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:38.879 day of the termination. 32 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:42.200 The board meeting was at ten nine ten am nine. 33 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:44.959 Ten am was a Prosecutor's office, the administrator, Jeff Aludo. 34 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:48.239 There was no explanation given for the termination. 35 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:50.799 Who fired you? Who was was it? Jeff? 36 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:54.000 My understanding is that Connie Pillage did because she wanted 37 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:56.079 to go in a different direction. That was the only 38 00:01:56.840 --> 00:01:59.640 explanation that was given. Of course, I've been working for 39 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:02.879 the Count for over twenty eight years now and certainly 40 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:06.560 expected that at a minimum we would have had some discussion, 41 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:08.039 some indication. 42 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:09.759 Some unhappiness something. 43 00:02:09.639 --> 00:02:12.240 But you know, Willie would I had presented to you 44 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:13.800 and I'll stand on this record. 45 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:14.400 I have it here. 46 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:17.599 I'll stand on this record. We have represented the County 47 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:20.800 for twenty eight years. There was some allegation in an 48 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:23.520 inchoir story. It might have been also an interview in 49 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:28.080 which you were contacted directly or indirectly by Connie Pillage's 50 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:30.840 campaign when she was running for prosecutor, and there was 51 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:34.439 an implication that you did not pay the piper. Well 52 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:39.280 during the campaign, Willie, I made a ethical decision after 53 00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:43.960 going through the city council fiasco when three city council 54 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:48.960 members were ultimately sentral sentenced to jail through the Federal penitentiary, 55 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:51.960 in which I did work with the US Attorney's Office 56 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:53.159 and the FBI. 57 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:55.879 I tried to talk to you during that and you 58 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:57.039 did not return my calls. 59 00:02:57.120 --> 00:02:59.159 Well, I could not talk to you at that point 60 00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:01.759 because it was an ongoing investigation, as they say, Willie. 61 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:03.919 But I'll tell you what as a result of that, 62 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:04.840 where we're. 63 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:07.319 Basically a council member was asking for a bribe when 64 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:10.479 I'm representing Hamilton County, representing the board. 65 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:13.439 Which council member was it? This was Tamaya Denard. She 66 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:15.280 wanted a bribe. 67 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:18.520 She wanted a bribe in exchange for two votes that 68 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:20.879 were coming up in front of city council to you 69 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:25.960 directly directly at the coffee emporium on Central Parkway. How 70 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:30.960 much The initial request was fifteen thousand and two payments 71 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:34.639 ten thousand and five thousand. The second one came later 72 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:38.000 for five thousand in cash. All of these were being 73 00:03:38.039 --> 00:03:41.280 recorded by the FBI, and all these I didn't know 74 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:43.080 what the origin of it was. I had never talked 75 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:44.840 it to my ad An Art before. I didn't know 76 00:03:44.840 --> 00:03:48.159 how she had my cell number. But the bottom line 77 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:50.000 in all of this, what I had to do, which 78 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:53.800 was the ethical thing, and reported it to the US 79 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:57.919 Attorney's office and they started an investigation. So Ever since then, Willie, 80 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:04.639 I'm extremely sensitive about any candidate during a campaign contacting me. 81 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:08.159 When I represent the Border County Commissioners, I don't represent 82 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:11.439 the Prosecutor's office, but the prosecutor's office, and at that time, 83 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:14.840 Melissa Powers was the chief lawyer for the county. So 84 00:04:14.919 --> 00:04:16.800 I'm not gonna I'm not going to engage in that. 85 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:20.240 That was my ethical decision not to do it. After 86 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:24.279 Connie Pilach was elected, I contributed to her campaign because 87 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:25.759 she's now in office and you're gonna be so. 88 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:29.079 One thousand dollars, right, But you're gonna be supportive of that. 89 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:31.480 But I never heard from her after that, nor did 90 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:33.879 I expect to. And you've had Roger Freeman on your 91 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:35.360 show a number of times. 92 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:39.800 Roger Lawyer and the prosecutors right assistant prosecutor, and I've 93 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:42.040 worked with Roger for twenty eight years. I talked to 94 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:45.319 Roger every other day, sometimes multiple multiple times a day, 95 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:48.879 as I do the administrator County administrator. And I've gone 96 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:53.480 through now was it four prosecutors, four prosecutors, Joe Dieters, 97 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:56.600 Mike Allen, Joe Dieters then came back, and then we 98 00:04:56.680 --> 00:04:59.879 had Lissa Powers, and now we had Connie Pillach. It's rarely, 99 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:02.959 rarely do you hear from the prosecutor. They've got one 100 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:05.519 hundred and ten assistants and that's who we deal with. 101 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:08.120 And Roger's always been the point person on the bank. 102 00:05:08.199 --> 00:05:10.639 So at this point, the lack of a donation to 103 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:14.199 the Pillage campaign you think had nothing or something to 104 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:15.279 do with your discharge. 105 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:18.439 You know what, at this point, it doesn't matter. It 106 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:21.879 has happened, it's done. The board has the absolute discussion 107 00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:23.839 to do what they want to do in terms of council. 108 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:25.800 Same thing with the prosecutor. 109 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:28.319 We think that our record, We think that our record 110 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:31.519 and what I provided to you yesterday, Willie demonstrate you, 111 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:34.079 I mean rock solid what we brought back to the 112 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:38.160 county and our services as Project Council. It's approaching a 113 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:41.319 billion dollars. You can take it to a CPA and 114 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:44.279 have them audit it. It's a billion dollars now over 115 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:47.279 that twenty eight Over that twenty eight years, it did 116 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:49.560 cost the county twenty six million. You know what the 117 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:52.240 return on that investment is. It's the highest return on 118 00:05:52.279 --> 00:05:54.600 investment than any anything that we've done in the banks. 119 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:56.879 It's three seven hundred and forty six percent. 120 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:00.439 And money paid to you and Frost Todd and there 121 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:03.560 was paid to me. I would have liked I would 122 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:06.519 have liked to had twenty six million. I wouldn't. Let's 123 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:08.079 go back a little bit. I've had the Nise tree 124 00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:10.800 House on repeatedly, and each time I have her on, 125 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:14.560 she tells the American people things are going well. She 126 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:16.759 thought the deal was going to get done. The Nise 127 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:18.879 tree House, who really is your employer more than the 128 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:21.720 county prosecutors that you worked for, the commissioners, and you've 129 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:25.639 gone through various groups and commissioners. And so when she says, 130 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:28.160 and I think she believes this, that this deal is 131 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:32.120 close to being done. So why would the commissioners relieve 132 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:35.439 you of your duties when the Nise tree House, the 133 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:37.639 president of the commission says things are going in the 134 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:40.399 right direction, We're getting close. There had to be a 135 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:42.240 triggering moment last week, was there? 136 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:44.399 Not that I'm aware of at all, because I can 137 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:48.000 tell you Willie, and if you remember, there was last summer, 138 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:50.560 and towards the end of last summer, the Bengals had said, hey, 139 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.160 things are not going well at the upper levels of 140 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:57.240 the county in with the Bengals organization. But notwithstanding that, 141 00:06:57.959 --> 00:07:00.959 our team at Frost, my team that I was working with, 142 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:03.800 we continued to meet with the Bengals almost every day, 143 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:07.360 and part of that was to advance the necessary capital 144 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:11.600 repairs and maintenance and operations of that stadium, as well 145 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:15.399 as planning for a comprehensive renovation. We met with them 146 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:18.519 almost every day, and in the last several weeks we 147 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:21.160 were meeting with them every day. We were meeting, we 148 00:07:21.160 --> 00:07:24.079 were talking to them at night through weekends. The MoU 149 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:28.360 that was entered into which was another significant step forward. 150 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:30.879 Ten days ago, two weeks ago. Yeah, right before our 151 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:33.879 termination had on the nation. She said things are going great. No, 152 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:36.399 and they are going great, and so the Bengals agreed. 153 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:40.480 Now here's what's interesting. The Bengals in twenty twenty four 154 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:44.000 put in forty five million into the stadium. The county 155 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:46.560 put in forty million, but we came in on a 156 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:49.480 budget because we were managing that process. We came in 157 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:53.600 under budget by six million dollars. Fast forward again, the 158 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:57.439 MoU that was just passed by the board and approved 159 00:07:57.480 --> 00:08:01.279 by the Bengals. Have the Bengals putting in one hundred 160 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:04.160 and twenty million to redo the East and West Club 161 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:07.439 lounges and to redo the suites one hundred and twenty million, 162 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:10.160 put in about sixty Well, but here's the thing. The 163 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:12.199 county put in thirty five million. 164 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:16.120 They put in thirty five million to do the work 165 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:20.360 that was necessary to match the one hundred and twenty million, okay, 166 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:25.560 and that involved the vertical transportation, seats, electrical upgrades. Those 167 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:29.800 were all necessary things because the escalators and elevators they're 168 00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:31.959 twenty five years old, are terrible. They've they've got to 169 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:32.519 be replaced. 170 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:34.399 Let's break it down to this eight nred so called 171 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:37.200 eight hundred and thirty million, that there was a piece 172 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:38.799 in there the state had to come up with like 173 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:41.399 three hundred and fifty million. Right when I had on 174 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:43.320 the Speaker of the House, had on the President of 175 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:46.440 the High Senate, they all said that money's not available. 176 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:49.080 That's what they said. It's not coming out of the 177 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:51.480 general revenue fund. It's got to be something off to 178 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:54.240 the side. And so the eight hundred and thirty million 179 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:57.720 the NFL was putting in money, I think one hundred 180 00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:59.960 and some million had the Bengals putting in money. Attack, 181 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:02.720 assuming the three hundred and fifty million from the state 182 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:04.840 doesn't happen, what does that do to the deal? 183 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:07.559 Well, in that case, if it does not happen at 184 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:10.679 all at all, which we don't expect, all right, we 185 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:14.080 don't expect that because of what has already happened in 186 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:17.480 the legislature, where the House approved six hundred million to 187 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:21.360 the Cleveland Browns six hundred million based on a projection 188 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:25.720 that Cleveland can build a banks project out by the 189 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:29.279 airport over the next thirty years thirty years, over the 190 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:32.120 next thirty years, and as part of those projections, they 191 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:35.559 also said every single Cleveland Browns game will be sold 192 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:38.120 out for thirty years at eight hundred dollars a ticket. 193 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:40.600 Regardless of that, here's where we are. 194 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:42.399 I want to tell you about what is the most 195 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:44.440 positive thing, and that's where we're trying to get the 196 00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:48.919 support from Speaker Huffman and the Senate President McCauley, is 197 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:54.559 that we my team prepared a comprehensive sports gaming revenue 198 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:57.759 proposal and in short, Wellie, what that does. It does 199 00:09:57.799 --> 00:10:00.120 not take any money from the general revenue F one, 200 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:03.360 doesn't take a dime from education, doesn't take a dime 201 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:07.159 for mental health or any other soccial services. What it 202 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:10.600 does do is say Ohio is in the top five 203 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:14.360 in the country in sports gambling. Why because we have 204 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:18.440 professional teams in football and baseball, and we also happen 205 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:20.120 to have a higher state and you see every one's 206 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:23.600 when they're competitive. But regardless, we're in the top five. 207 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:26.440 We're not in the top five though, in what comes 208 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:29.000 back to the state. So here's what we said. We 209 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:30.840 said to the governor last fall. We met with the 210 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:34.279 governor last fall in our offices, and we present it 211 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:37.679 to him a gaming revenue proposal that would have an 212 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.159 incremental fee, and I'll tell you what that fee is 213 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:40.759 in a second. 214 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:44.600 That would be charged to draft Kings and fan. 215 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:48.759 Duel and bet three sixty five and bet MGM incremental fee. 216 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:51.600 We've now taken that fee down to two percent of 217 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:55.320 their gross revenue. So on one hundred dollars, bet two 218 00:10:55.399 --> 00:10:58.600 percent gets charged. It can either go back to the 219 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:02.000 better or they can just subsorb it. That brings in 220 00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:05.159 two hundred million a year in cash to the state. 221 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:09.159 Over ten years, that would bring a billion dollars back 222 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:14.639 to Hamilton County for both stadiums, potentially for tqol when 223 00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:16.679 you know ten fifteen years from now when that needs 224 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:20.000 to be renovated. Those are all dollars that would be 225 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:22.440 available in the same dollars. Could you also go up 226 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:26.240 to Cleveland, Columbus And we did it not just for 227 00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:28.879 the major league stadiums. We did it for the minor 228 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:32.200 league stadiums like in Dayton. In Dayton Toledo Columbus. 229 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:35.080 But Ton Gableman, what happens if that doesn't happen. Let's 230 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:38.120 talk because some of my politicians' friends say, we're not 231 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:40.679 going to do that either. That increases taxes, but it's 232 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:43.159 a fee charge only to the people who want to bet. 233 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:46.519 But what if that three hundred and fifty million doesn't happen, Well, 234 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:47.399 then what happened here? 235 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:49.159 I'm going to challenge you back on that. Though it 236 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:51.399 is not a tax, it is a privilege fee, and 237 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:53.960 it's the same thing to happen in Tennessee. They went 238 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.279 from a twenty percent tax to a one point eight 239 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:00.480 percent fee and the vetter doesn't necessarily necessary have to 240 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:04.919 pay for it. Bet MGM or draft Kings can absorb that. 241 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:09.960 Because Willie, they are making ten billion a year off 242 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:10.519 of Ohio. 243 00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:13.639 They don't have one employee in Ohio. They don't have 244 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:15.080 one employee, they don't. 245 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:17.440 Have sticks and bricks in Ohio except for bet MGM, 246 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.320 there's no investment in Ohio. 247 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:21.440 We'll ask you again, what happens if that doesn't happen. 248 00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:24.240 You're making the argument it should happen, right, What if 249 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:27.360 it doesn't occur and the state says none of that, 250 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:30.559 We're not going to do it. That question is answered 251 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:31.200 by saying what. 252 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:34.519 That question is answered by what we had put in 253 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:37.440 the termsheet that the Bengals had accepted. Is you take 254 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:40.519 this eight hundred and thirty million dollar program that would 255 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:43.919 be done over three years, and it gets moved back 256 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:47.279 downward again because if you remember, we started at one 257 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:50.840 point three billion, both the county and the team agreed, 258 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:54.919 let's focus on the stadium, not everything around it, different 259 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:59.039 from every other NFL stadium instead of increasing the cost, 260 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:03.720 so back so you reduce the amount until funds can't 261 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:06.840 come in and everybody's contribution then gets a There you're. 262 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:10.159 Ready for the big question. Yes, sir, you know more 263 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:12.720 about this than anyone. You deal with the Bengals directly, 264 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:15.279 Katie Blackburn and also her family and Mike Brown and 265 00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:18.480 Paul H. Brown and Troy etc. And although in house lawyers, 266 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:21.080 et cetera, do you feel in your heart of hearts 267 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:24.039 that the Bengals want to strike a deal and stay 268 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:27.559 in Cincinnati and not go to San Diego or Mexico City. Absolutely? 269 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:31.960 Absolutely, because, as I said Willie, we have been working 270 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:35.279 with them for years. We were not involved in the 271 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:38.480 original lease agreement that was done by the Prosecutor's office 272 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:41.159 and done by an out of town consultant. 273 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:43.679 Thirty we're talking thirty years ago. 274 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:45.840 Right, Rod Deck and Wolf. They hired a law firm 275 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:49.399 out of town. But every single modification of that lease. 276 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:52.320 Since then, I have been involved in and the first 277 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:56.559 modification came within seven months when we structured a deal 278 00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:59.600 with the Bengals and with the city to start the 279 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:03.279 whole development of the riverfront. That was in nineteen ninety eight. 280 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:06.840 In every single agreement since then, the Bengals have been 281 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:11.039 willing to modify that lease in order for development to proceed. 282 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:14.399 The Bengals have There's been some implication the Bengals have 283 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:17.480 not dealt in good faith. They have dealt in absolute 284 00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:21.519 good faith with an absolute passion to get a deal 285 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:24.480 done in Cincinnati. This family wants to stay in Cincinnati, 286 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:28.159 and Willy We've looked at deals all across the country. 287 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:32.919 The only time any any team, an MLB team, NFL 288 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:36.360 team leaves is when they've been invited to leave because 289 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:38.559 you didn't have the right people at the table that 290 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:42.679 were saying, what's in your best interests, what are your constraints, 291 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:45.840 what are my best interests, and what are my constraints? 292 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:49.519 And you build a bridge, and we had built that bridge. 293 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:52.480 So right now as we sit here this afternoon on 294 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:57.639 a Thursday, you're out and Densmore Shull is in George 295 00:14:57.720 --> 00:15:01.879 Vincent's in charge, I guess of Densmore. Where is the 296 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:03.759 deal as we speak this Thursday. 297 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:06.559 Afternoon, This Thursday afternoon, really, as I said when we 298 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:09.960 were talking originally, it is. We have positioned the county 299 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:12.120 extremely well to get this deal done. 300 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:15.879 Are you optimistic even though you're out. I am absolutely optimistic. 301 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:17.960 I am five weeks. I am hopeful. 302 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:21.600 I am hopeful as a lifelong Cincinnatian that we get 303 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:24.200 this deal done because it should get done because we 304 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:26.559 were on the right path, and it was a path 305 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:29.320 that said there are going to be fair and equitable 306 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:33.159 contributions from the team, from the county and from the state. 307 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:35.720 And if the state didn't come through, we're still going 308 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:39.480 to move forward and different, different than what's happening in Buffalo, 309 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:43.679 Nashville as well as you know other cities that are 310 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:47.440 building new stadiums. We don't have to spend two point 311 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:49.919 five billion. The Washington Commander Stadium is going to be 312 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:53.799 four billion, Chicago's at five. I mean, it's endless. But 313 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:57.200 the Bengals and the county said we can sustain this 314 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:01.000 stadium and it can go beyond ten, fifteen, twenty years, 315 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:04.440 but we have to invest now. We have been conservative 316 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:07.360 but it's been well maintained and you know the Bengals 317 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:09.159 management has maintained that building. 318 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:11.720 I'm ask you this, Tom gableman, have you thought about 319 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:14.559 suing the county commissioners for wrongful discharge? 320 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:19.919 No, Willie, you know, look, I've done this. We have 321 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:23.440 done this at a substantially reduced rate. I will tell 322 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:25.759 you that, you know, so the answer is no. So 323 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:28.360 the answer the answer is no because there's there. This 324 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:30.600 is first of all, I'll just tell you this from 325 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:34.919 the heart. And actually my son, my youngest son, reminded 326 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:37.399 me of this the other night when he said, you know, 327 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:42.679 you don't get an opportunity in your own hometown. They 328 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:45.399 have such an impact the way that you have had 329 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:47.600 on that river front. You're proud of what you've done. 330 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:49.840 I'm damn proud of what we've done. I'll stand on 331 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:52.399 what we've done. We have, we have the record and 332 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.000 it proves it. 333 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:55.600 Tom. We have to run. Time is always short. But 334 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:58.559 you also have leukemia CLL and we have about a 335 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:01.039 minute remaining as your health as I. 336 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:05.200 Speak, I am going through treatment right now, and I 337 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:11.119 think most importantly, the hours have been extremely long. We 338 00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:13.319 you know, I worked was out visiting my son in 339 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:17.920 Denver and his family, and we got the Bengals deal 340 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:21.559 done on the MoU that advanced this entire project forward, 341 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:22.920 agreed on the renovation. 342 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:23.759 Are you by this? 343 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:24.559 Oh? 344 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:28.000 Extremely No, this is Willie. This is heartbreaking. 345 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.799 This is heartbreaking because when you work as many hours, 346 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:34.319 and there are so many times that first deal in 347 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:37.319 nineteen ninety eight, everybody said, we can't get it done, 348 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:39.720 and the Bengals we're going to leave town because we 349 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:42.119 had to get a deal done with Norfolk Southern, the 350 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:46.319 Cincinnati City of Cincinnati on railroad and the Bengals and 351 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:48.759 the city one week. We got one week to get 352 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:51.119 it done. We got it done. The next deal that 353 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:54.880 we did was the was the Bank's deal, which Todd 354 00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:58.559 portun god rest his soul told me so many times, Willy, 355 00:17:58.839 --> 00:18:01.160 stop it, Tom. It's we're never going to g have 356 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:05.720 the banks. And now that banks. Here's what's striking. When 357 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:08.200 we said we were going to build two stadiums in 358 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:11.640 nineteen ninety six and the voter said sixty two percent 359 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.400 voted in favor of it, we said we will get 360 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.960 about three hundred million in. 361 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:16.880 Economic impact off those stadiums. 362 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:20.680 Today and U see's economic report, because we've been working 363 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:23.640 on that for about a year with UC it is 364 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:27.680 two point five billion a year. The Bengals put a 365 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:30.759 billion dollars in to our community, the Reds put a 366 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:33.319 billion dollars into our community, and we have another five 367 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:36.839 hundred million from that banks. It is bar none, Willie, 368 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:39.519 because we researched it. There is there is not another 369 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:43.720 urban redevelopment project in this country that throws off two 370 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:48.559 point five billion in economic impact. Bar none. Go to Dallas, 371 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:52.960 go to Charlotte, go to Austin, go to Green Bay, 372 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:55.839 wherever you want to go. This is the most successful 373 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:58.119 project and we weren't even done yet. 374 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:01.039 Right Well, Tom, thank you. I'll call upon you in 375 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:03.960 the future if hopefully your treatment goes well, and I 376 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.880 wish you and yours nothing but the best. Will He 377 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.960 loved being on your show. 378 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:09.519 You are a great American and I appreciate being here 379 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:12.319 and I will focus on my health. I have a 380 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:14.319 little more time to rest and I look forward to 381 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:16.799 being with my family and my first granddaughter. 382 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:19.920 Good luck and godspeed. Thank you. Well, let's continue news 383 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:25.480 next on news Radio seven hundred WLW. You know I've 384 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:28.079 known Tom Gableman for a long time, and normally he's 385 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:30.279 easy to talk to, but when all this stuff was 386 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:34.160 happening with the FBI, Department of Justice and tape recording 387 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:36.799 all these conversations with city council members, so he went 388 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:40.000 silent on me. I now know why because, according to 389 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:44.920 Tom Gableman, Tamaya Denard was recruiting him to pay thousands 390 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:48.319 of dollars in order to get votes on various stadium projects. 391 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:52.279 And the first thing Tom Gableman did was contact the FBI, 392 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:55.920 who laced him up or away we go, and that 393 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:59.039 resulted in at least three council members being caught dirty, 394 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:03.279 which you know the results of that. Now, to put 395 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:05.759 a finer point on this, some have asked me, how 396 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:08.559 come the county prosecutor in this case County Pillage is 397 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:12.160 involved in any of this. And it's because in Ohio 398 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:15.759 we have a bifurcated system that each elected county prosecutor 399 00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:20.519 has criminal jurisdiction over felonies and i indirectly misdemeanors, but 400 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:25.839 criminal prosecution. But also in Ohio, each elected county prosecutor 401 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:29.799