WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:09.480 All right, Billy cunning in the Great American Welcome. This 2 00:00:09.560 --> 00:00:12.400 floor is Tuesday afternoon in the Tri State Reds Baseball 3 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:14.800 believe it or not. Off today they have a three 4 00:00:14.839 --> 00:00:17.760 game set against the Houston but it's Monday, and then 5 00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:20.480 off today they're still in town and then Wednesday Thursday 6 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:24.440 Business Special and Bengals of course starred on Sunday Jamar Chase. 7 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:26.920 As of this a moment is not signed. We'll see 8 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:28.879 what happens down the road. But the person more or 9 00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:31.440 less in charge of the Bengals new stadium as far 10 00:00:31.480 --> 00:00:35.439 as the taxpayer contribution is Alisha Reese and she's joining 11 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:38.119 you and I now this Tuesday afternoon. Alisha, welcome again 12 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:41.000 to the Bill Cunningham Show. And there's been some reporting 13 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:44.000 that you had a meeting with Governor Mike Dwine on 14 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:48.039 Friday afternoon, and I would imagine this subject came up 15 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:50.960 of the state funding of the Bengals stadium. Can you 16 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:53.520 tell the American people the results of that and where 17 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:54.240 we go from here? 18 00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:59.039 Yes, well, Willie, thanks for having me back on. It 19 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:01.920 was started off as a rough day. 20 00:01:01.719 --> 00:01:04.480 My Facebook page has been hacked and so I was 21 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:07.799 dealing with that trying to get Mark Zuckerberg to shut 22 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:10.560 this mess down. But then I said I had to 23 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:12.760 go because I had to get to a meeting with 24 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:18.200 the governor. And he came and met with myself. Jeff 25 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:21.840 Aluno was in the meeting, our attorneys as well as 26 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:25.640 his top folks from around the state that deals with 27 00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:29.640 the budget and financing. And it was very important to 28 00:01:29.719 --> 00:01:33.400 us to have a meeting with the governor because you know, 29 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:37.799 as you well know Cleveland, they had headlines saying Cleveland 30 00:01:38.439 --> 00:01:43.000 ownership and Cleveland folks were meeting elected officials as well. 31 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:48.280 They're county folks meeting about the stadium in Cleveland. And 32 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:51.959 coming from the state legislature where I serve for eight 33 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:54.359 and a half years, I know that a lot of 34 00:01:54.359 --> 00:01:57.799 the money always goes up north and we get the crops. 35 00:01:58.159 --> 00:01:59.680 And I said, wait a minute, we've got to get 36 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:02.400 a meeting we're the governor, so that we can get 37 00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:06.120 to the table early and not be stuck with the crumbs. 38 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:10.000 So anyway, I had a meeting with him on Friday. 39 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:12.520 Of course, so what are the first things I talked 40 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:14.039 to him about. I said, wait a minute, we've got 41 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:16.840 to get these property taxes down. As you know, I've 42 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:19.280 been trying to get him to put a freeze on 43 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:24.080 property taxes so they can get it the reevaluation mess 44 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:27.960 put together in the legislature. But I did tell them, 45 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:29.560 I said, I've been calling you. I've got to get 46 00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:32.759 these property taxes down. So that was the first thing 47 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:38.159 I said. But then we talked about the Bengals Stadium 48 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:41.759 belief that's going to be up in twenty twenty six. 49 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:44.599 We're the first lease in the state that will be 50 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:48.000 up before the Browns. But then also letting them know 51 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:50.759 that we also have the RADS lease will be ten 52 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:54.319 years right after that, and so we need to come 53 00:02:54.360 --> 00:02:58.000 with some type of funding model. We're the only deal 54 00:02:58.159 --> 00:02:58.680 in the. 55 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:02.719 Entire country that has a lease that is at. 56 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:07.120 Ninety five percent all the costs on the local taxpayers 57 00:03:07.639 --> 00:03:11.240 and only five percent on the ownership. There's no other 58 00:03:11.319 --> 00:03:13.400 deal in the country, and I don't even think they're 59 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:17.319 offering those type of deals from what I've seen, and 60 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:19.919 told them that we really got to work out of 61 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:24.360 this because the average cost is about thirty three percent 62 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:29.080 of local taxpayer money and the other that's what other 63 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:29.879 states are doing. 64 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:32.639 But when you get to Cincinnati, where. 65 00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:34.800 At ninety five percent, and we got a stadium that's 66 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:38.919 that's in good shape, but as it gets older, you know, 67 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:41.120 it's like an old car when you don't have the warranty. 68 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:43.879 You certainly don't want the engine to go out, and 69 00:03:43.879 --> 00:03:46.520 you're stuck with repairing the engine, you know. 70 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:48.360 So we were able to. 71 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:53.280 Articulate that to him and also talk about like we're 72 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:57.479 cut ahead of of what Cleveland's trying to do or 73 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:00.800 what they potentially are proposing they're to propose. 74 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:03.479 You know, he said, well could you could you, you know, 75 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:03.919 do a. 76 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:04.960 Tiff in the area. 77 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:08.240 Well, they're going to the area they're looking at moving 78 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:12.560 and going to an area that is underdeveloped. We're we're developing, 79 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:17.240 have developed the banks, and we're using tiff dollars we've 80 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:18.800 used on the. 81 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:20.920 Parking we also used. 82 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:23.959 Unfortunately, and I was not in favor of this, we 83 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:27.680 took one of our tools off the table by giving 84 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:31.319 away our hotel, motel tax, all of that going to 85 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:35.959 uh the convention center face list. I was against that 86 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:39.319 because that's a tool the Tennessee used and we needed 87 00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:42.199 we needed to keep that on the table as well. 88 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:43.920 So I thought it was a good meeting. 89 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:46.720 I thought it was very important because he said I 90 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:49.360 had not heard from Cincinnati. I said, well, you hear 91 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:52.959 it from us now, because we can't let Cleveland get 92 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:56.560 all the all the funds and where where with the crumbs. 93 00:04:56.839 --> 00:04:58.839 So I thought it was a very good meeting and. 94 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:02.319 We were able to show the we've got a master 95 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:07.360 plan that mister Ludo said will have showed to the 96 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:10.319 public in the next two weeks. We're looking at two 97 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:12.720 weeks to be able to show that and what this 98 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:14.560 thing is really going to cost. Well, we got to 99 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:16.720 get to the exits and o's and we've got to 100 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:21.279 come with something that will be both Cincinnati and Cleveland. 101 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:23.399 I don't think we'll be able to do any type 102 00:05:23.399 --> 00:05:25.519 of deal that will be a loaner deal, but we 103 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:26.480 got to dig out of. 104 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:28.920 As hole, and it's a pretty big hole. 105 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:32.480 It's because the tax players have spoken that you know, 106 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:34.480 we've got we can't have this type of deal with 107 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:35.160 we Well. 108 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:39.079 Alisha rees I met with John Baron on other issues 109 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:41.839 on Friday. He pointed out to me the chairman CEO 110 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:45.360 of Western Southern that you see, for example, has eighty 111 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:49.240 percent of the attendance of Ohio State, but gets twenty 112 00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:52.319 percent of the money that Ohio State gets so Cincinnati 113 00:05:52.399 --> 00:05:54.959 and Covington wall. If you're Covington deals with Frankfurt and 114 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:57.879 Cincinnati deals with Columbus. Both of them are short at 115 00:05:57.959 --> 00:06:01.160 repeatedly from Columbus, don't have the steams, don't have the power. 116 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:04.319 The money goes to Columbus and Cleveland. Now, according to 117 00:06:04.439 --> 00:06:08.480 the Gensler report, the report that put together the stadium 118 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:10.920 means about four hundred and ninety five, say, five hundred 119 00:06:10.920 --> 00:06:13.839 million dollars in improvements, and the Bengals have already put 120 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:16.079 up about one hundred and twenty million. Do you have 121 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:19.480 a sense that the Bengals lease, which is up in 122 00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:22.360 twenty twenty six, have they extended the lease yet for 123 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:23.800 another five years? Yes? 124 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:24.120 Or no? 125 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:24.959 Have they. 126 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:26.439 Not? 127 00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:30.040 At this point that is an option under this old deal. 128 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:32.639 And as I talked to you before, you know that 129 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:35.720 old deal was a really good deal for the Bengals 130 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:38.319 because you know, lew else in the country's got a 131 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:42.279 ninety five percent of the local taxpayers paying all the 132 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:47.399 Beals and then they get all the revenue, and nobody 133 00:06:47.399 --> 00:06:49.399 else has those kind of deals. So you know that 134 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:52.480 is a very I mean, if you're the Bengals, that's 135 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:55.000 you know that's a good deal for you you're. 136 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:56.319 The ownership of the Bengals. 137 00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:00.279 If you're the taxpayers, it's a terrible deal what we've 138 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:02.399 been trying to do if you're looking at getting a 139 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:06.759 new lease. I wasn't there for the original deal, and 140 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:09.839 there were some other commissioners that were there and signed 141 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:14.439 off and signed away the money of the taxpayers and 142 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:19.240 handcuffed future county commissions. So when I show up, I 143 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:22.040 got an old lease that I'm tied to and we're 144 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:24.519 trying to get out of it, and we've got to 145 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:27.079 get a new lease. And i'd like to see if 146 00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:29.199 you're what you're saying around the country is fifty to 147 00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:35.959 fifty partnerships and you're seeing the upkeep off the backs 148 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:37.000 of the taxpayers. 149 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:38.920 You know, we like to see. 150 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:41.800 Something like that. But you know, also, as you know, 151 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:48.759 the NFL allowed for an equity component. Had our team 152 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:52.759 voted no, our team ownership voted no. They don't want 153 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:55.680 equity because they saw that as a way because the 154 00:07:55.800 --> 00:08:00.839 NFL is also having requirements for stadiums to to you know, 155 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:01.839 look a certain way. 156 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:04.399 And so you know, when they come in. 157 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:08.920 With this this deal, this this one hundred and twenty million. Uh, 158 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:11.959 you know, my my questions that I'm going to pass 159 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:15.079 those questions in public in a public forum. That one 160 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:18.120 hundred and twenty million that's being mentioned, is. 161 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:21.279 That on ticket sales? 162 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:26.240 Is that on season ticket holders? Is that only six 163 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:29.480 how much is coming from the NFL? You know because 164 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:32.159 or is it only sixty million coming from the NFL 165 00:08:32.200 --> 00:08:36.720 and sixty million from you know, season ticket holders? 166 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:37.519 You know. 167 00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:39.720 So we've got we've got to get down to the 168 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:42.360 to the nitty gritty. You could throw numbers around all 169 00:08:42.440 --> 00:08:45.320 day long. That's what happened with the taxpayers. They went 170 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:48.600 to the polls, voted for two stadiums, right, but then 171 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:51.480 they got screwed behind the They got screwed in all 172 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:54.919 the fine print in the least well, Mike. 173 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:57.799 Mike Brown beats the irs and tax score. Mike Mike 174 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:00.240 Brown knows that going back thirty some years you were 175 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:02.000 probably too young at the time, but there was such 176 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:05.480 a feeling in nineteen ninety four, nineteen ninety five, Mike 177 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:08.480 Brown goes to Baltimore, comes back here. Okay, we voted, 178 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:12.000 but the devil's in the details, the devils and actually 179 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:14.639 who pays the upkeep? Here we are now, and do 180 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:17.000 you have a sense that Bengals. I guess you're dealing 181 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:20.039 more with Katie Blackburn than you're dealing with Mike Brown. 182 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.440 He's almost ninety years old, for God's sakes. But do 183 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:24.080 you have a sense that the Bengals are going to 184 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:26.600 be willing to have like a fifty to fifty split, 185 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:29.159 much less thirty three sixty seven? Do you have a 186 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:32.960 sense that they're going to agree to have the Bengals 187 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:35.600 and the county I have a fifty to fifty split 188 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:36.720 or is that a pipe dream? 189 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:42.080 Well, I think coming out of a ninety five percent 190 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:45.840 five percent deal that would be tough, that. 191 00:09:45.799 --> 00:09:46.639 Would be ideal. 192 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.480 But that doesn't mean that we don't go to the table. 193 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:52.320 I mean, when you start negotiating, you never come in 194 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:57.200 negotiating from the compromising position. You've got to go in 195 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:01.200 and our client is the tax Now, let me say this. 196 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:05.399 I am a huge Bengal fan. People know I love sports. 197 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:09.399 I'm pushing for a youth amateur sports facility that would 198 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:12.480 be privately owned, but would be something that we can 199 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:15.799 bring in amateur youth sports ninety three billion dollar industry. 200 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:20.559 We're losing out. I love sports. However, when I am elected. 201 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:23.440 I'm elected on behalf of the taxpayers of Hamilton County, 202 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:26.799 and we've got to be very we've got to understand it. 203 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:31.480 I don't think the people who were in office during 204 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:35.879 that time as county commissioners, no one was there on 205 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:39.120 behalf of the taxpayers. Everybody was at the table, and 206 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:42.440 it was a lump sided situation. And I'm saying that 207 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:45.840 as we know to the table, I'm going as here's 208 00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:49.159 what the taxpayers. You know, what's the best deal for 209 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:51.519 the taxpayers? How do we come out of there with 210 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:52.279 a win win? 211 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:54.360 And I'm willing. 212 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:56.240 If people say, well, this is not what the people want, 213 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:58.600 I'm willing to take it to the ballot and hear 214 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.000 directly from the peace. 215 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:04.240 Now without happening in Kansas City, you might you know, 216 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.120 the Chiefs went to the went to the people in 217 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:09.960 Kansas City. Is the dominant franchise not just in Missouri 218 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:12.639 or Kansas, but maybe in the entire nation. When the 219 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:17.000 Kansas City Chiefs taxpayers after they won two consecutive Super Bowls, 220 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:19.159 went to the ballot a few months ago, how what 221 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:21.159 the taxpayers say in Kansas City. 222 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:25.480 Well, the taxpayer said no, they had to go back 223 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:26.639 to the drawing board. 224 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.639 And now they might move but. 225 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:33.320 Well, we'll we'll see what happens with with that situation. 226 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:36.799 But I my goal is we like to keep our 227 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:40.840 teams here. We want to get a better deal. And 228 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:42.080 there are. 229 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:45.240 More tools that weren't available then that are available now. 230 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:48.000 The NFL's got to put a lot more skin in 231 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:53.240 the game like they're doing around in other other other areas. Uh, 232 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:57.039 you know, and we just can't do the ninety five 233 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:01.159 five percent now on the same lease. They have an extension. 234 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:03.639 They have not indicated whether. 235 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:04.840 Or not they're going to utilize it. 236 00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:08.000 But I think we're preparing just to try to go 237 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:10.120 to the table and see if we're going to do 238 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:13.039 a new lease, then we've got to get some we've 239 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:15.960 got to get some things changed or be able to taxpayers. 240 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:17.799 I mean, will these people are out here trying to 241 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:20.200 hang on to their homes right now, right you know, 242 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.279 they're getting killed out of here. 243 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:24.799 They're trying to hang on to their homes. 244 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:27.240 They're trying to be able to buy eggs and bacon, 245 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:30.360 you know, if they want to be able to hold 246 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:32.639 on to the stadium, but they also want to be 247 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:35.039 able to hold on to their homes, and as you know, 248 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:38.240 one of the things they advertised. 249 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:40.399 But never put in the lease. They never put it. 250 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:44.000 In writing, but they advertised that the people were supposed 251 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:47.799 to get a thirty percent privaby tax rebate. They were 252 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:49.639 supposed to be a win for the homeowners and a 253 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:52.919 win for the team as well, and the homeowners got 254 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.799 the taxpayers and homeowners got screwed. 255 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:58.440 It never happened, but three times in twenty plus years. 256 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:02.440 I was elected twenty twenty, came in in twenty twenty one. 257 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:04.200 I was able to get in twenty twenty one. 258 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:07.639 But every year it's a struggle because we have to 259 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:11.120 vote on it every year. It's a struggle, and you know, 260 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:15.120 the taxpayers are not getting what they were promised. Everything 261 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:17.200 else was in writing, and I'm trying to get the 262 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:21.279 taxpayers to get their stuff in writing, so now everybody 263 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:24.159 has a fair deal. So that's what we're trying to do. 264 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:29.480 I'm hopeful. I've asked the administrator and I think two 265 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:32.679 weeks we'll get to the master plan that was asked 266 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:36.840 before I got elected. They started on this master plan 267 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:39.440 and they're supposed to give it to us. But my 268 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:44.840 thing is to the administrator. There is a proposal that 269 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:49.039 you know, they've talked about an executive session, so I 270 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:51.279 can't talk about it. But I'm trying to get stuff 271 00:13:51.320 --> 00:13:54.960 out of executive session, out into the open, get a 272 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:58.320 timeline for the taxpayers, so we don't have what happened 273 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:01.759 last time, where a lot of meetings behind the closed doors, 274 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:07.039 behind the curtains, and the taxpayers got screwed for I 275 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:07.759 wanted out O. 276 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:10.360 At least you're Race County Commissioner. Are you ready for 277 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.039 the big question? 278 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.240 Uh? 279 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.240 Oh, what is it? Willy? 280 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:17.720 Are you willing to let the Bengals leave Cincinnati if 281 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:19.799 the taxpayer doesn't get a good deal. 282 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:27.039 I always start a negotiation in a pot of light. 283 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:27.720 We want to. 284 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:29.320 Keep the Bengals. 285 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:30.759 We would love to keep. 286 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:34.080 Them here at any costs, at any cost. Well, you 287 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:35.159 keep them at any cost? 288 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:38.440 Well I would. I don't think. I don't think. I 289 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:40.080 don't go in thinking at any costs. 290 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:44.399 Everybody has a part where we've got to say that 291 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:46.200 this is this is the max. 292 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:46.799 But we ain't. 293 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:49.559 We haven't gotten there yet. But at the same time, 294 00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:52.200 don't want the people are able to keep their homes, so. 295 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:53.799 We've got to we haven't gone to the. 296 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:56.960 Table, so I can't really say what we would do 297 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:59.399 because we haven't gone to the table. I haven't had 298 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:03.000 a meeting at the table with their lawyers and our lawyers. 299 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:04.799 We had a meeting with the governor to try to 300 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:07.440 see if we can get some additional funds at. 301 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:10.679 The state level, but I haven't met with I haven't 302 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:11.759 met with Roger Goodell. 303 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:13.879 I'd like to meet with Roger Goodell before we get 304 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:15.360 to that point and find out. 305 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:19.559 You know, why is the NFL not given more to us? 306 00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:21.879 They told us we couldn't have a watch party in 307 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:24.600 our own stadium, so he's got to put in some 308 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.559 more skin in the game. 309 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:30.279 Here's a big question here. We are Tuesday afternoon. Are 310 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:33.000 you saying that you and your lawyers have not sat 311 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:36.080 down at the table yet with Kadie Blackburn and their 312 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:38.200 lawyers to hammer out a deal. You haven't got to 313 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:40.240 the point of even having a meeting yet in person. 314 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:41.120 Is that fair to say? 315 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.399 It's fair to. 316 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:45.519 Say that I am not, as the president of the 317 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:49.159 County Commission, been in a meeting with their lawyers and 318 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:52.639 our lawyers. I don't know if they've been tiptoeing behind 319 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:56.480 the scenes, but as far as from my perspective. I'd 320 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:59.320 like to have the same meeting I had with the governor, right, 321 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:05.360 you're eyeball to eyeball, and then find out also what's 322 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:08.840 going on with this NFL piece. But I'm saying, you 323 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:12.600 know the deal we got right now, if I had 324 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:15.480 to go and vote on it, the voters would not 325 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:18.600 want me to vote on this particular lease. Now they 326 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:21.720 have more options to keep it going. 327 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:24.799 And I don't know where they where. 328 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:25.240 They are on that. 329 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:28.519 It begins with a meeting. It begins with to sit 330 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:31.360 down with the power brokers at one table, sitting and 331 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:33.679 working out the deal. And you're saying, that has not 332 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:36.720 happened yet. And the time you know, they're going to 333 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:38.879 push up to the water the last minute, and then 334 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:41.519 here's the deal, take it or leave it at Leasta Reese, 335 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:44.799 thank you, you're like the taxpayer watchdog. Once again, thank 336 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:47.080 you for coming on the Bill Cunningham Show. Good luck 337 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:49.759 and try to get to mar Chase signed by Sunday 338 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:54.240 at one o'clock. Alisia Reese, thank you very much. Get 339 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:57.559 them signed all right, Thank you, Alicia, thank you. Let's 340 00:16:57.559 --> 00:17:00.000 continue with more. There it is Alisha rees the present 341 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:03.000 into the commission, says any deal will be approved by 342 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:06.799 the taxpayer, and that makes the Bengals very, very very unhappy. 343 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:11.640 Bill Cunningham, News Radio seven hundred WLW, I believe cunning 344 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:14.079 in the Great American with you this Tuesday afternoon. A 345 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:16.680 little bit of an odd situation with the Reds in 346 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:20.160 a three games set with Houston. They play Monday, They're 347 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:23.839 off today, Houston still in town, play Wednesday and then 348 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:27.160 Thursday's business special. A little bit unusual. I can't recall 349 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:30.400 the last time a visiting team was in Cincinnati in 350 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:33.599 between a series and didn't play baseball, So I'm not 351 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:36.480 sure what is the deal, but nonetheless, there it is. 352 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:39.880 Red's played last night, of course, did quite well. One 353 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:43.359 they don't play today, they backout at Wednesday, and then 354 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:45.880 also Thursday, then on a long road trip, so we'll 355 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:48.480 see what happens with them. Alisia Reese is one of 356 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:51.559 three members of the commission. She's the president, she's the 357 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:56.839 l presidente. She's in charge. And the impediment for the 358 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:59.359 for the Bengals is going to be that they do 359 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:02.319 not want its mite to the taxpayer because they think 360 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:04.160 they have a deal, which they do of a deal 361 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:07.480 at least for the next twelve years. That means the 362 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:10.880 deals not up to twenty twenty six. And then there's 363 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:14.799 two five year additions addendums to that that the Bengals 364 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:17.680 can keep the same deal they have right now. So 365 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:20.839 we're talking about if the Bengals exercise a five year 366 00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:23.839 that gets it to a twenty thirty one. Then if 367 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:27.640 they issue another five years addendum extension, that's twenty thirty six. 368 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:30.200 So all the cards once again are on the Bengal 369 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:32.839 side of the table. They're holding the aces and the kings, 370 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:36.559 and the taxpayer has the two and the three. And 371 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:39.720 this does not have to be approved because we've already 372 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:42.160 approved at one time, which is about thirty years ago, 373 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:45.640 we voted for this and that was a fairly wide margin. 374 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:49.519 And the tax continues, but the ability of the taxpayer 375 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:52.279 with all the other calls on the public treasury continues 376 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:54.880 to lessen. And so I kind of get both sides 377 00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:58.559 of the issues. But for the state to step up 378 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:00.720 would be a big deal. Of course, I'm going to 379 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:02.880 see Mike DeWine today, I'll mention it to him, but 380 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:05.079 he's always says the same thing. We have to put 381 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:08.240 it in the package on the capital Fund with Cleveland 382 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:12.119 and Ohio State. When I was with John Baron on Friday, 383 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:16.319 he mentioned to me that University of Cincinnati has eighty 384 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:20.559 percent of the student body enrollment of the Ohio State University, 385 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:25.200 but gets twenty percent of the money from Columbus. Cleveland 386 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:28.000 gets a lot more than Cincinnati gets. And when I 387 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:31.720 talked to Rob Sanders in Northern Kentucky and Tony Bender 388 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:35.000 and those who run Boone, Kenton and Campbell, they get 389 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:38.000 a small percentage of the money from Frankfort. The money 390 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:40.960 goes to Louisville and Lexington, and not to Covington, and 391 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:44.440 not to Newport, and not to a Boone county. So 392 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:47.519 the way things are, which I've said many times, if 393 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:50.880 the seven or eight counties around Fountain Square, maybe get 394 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:54.000 two or three in Indiana, get five or six in 395 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:57.160 Southwest Ohio, get five or six in northern Kentucky, we 396 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:00.680 could bear our own state. We generate this proportion of 397 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:04.839 moneys for Columbus out of Southwest Ohio, Boone, Kenton and 398 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:09.880 Campbell generates disproportion of moneys for Frankfort. But because of 399 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:12.440 the voting power in each of the state capitals, the 400 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:15.160 money goes the opposite direction. And when I speak to 401 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:18.680