1 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: Ato Mine the fifty five Garrise De Talk Station, A 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: very happy Friday to everybody. Brian Thomas right here hosts 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: the fifty five Caarasee Morning Show, reminding you fifty five 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: Karasee dot com get podcasts and please download that. iHeartMedia, 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: get all your content whatever you happen to be at 6 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: any time. And it is so nice to look up 7 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: and see Todd Zenzer in studio. Citizen Watchdog is the 8 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: name of his podcast, produced by Joe Strecker. He's always 9 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: following what I will just boil down to call shenanigans 10 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: in the city of Cincinnati. He looks for records, he 11 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: follows the money, He asks for documents that are supposed 12 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: to exist. He finds out that, well, we don't have 13 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: a very transparent administration in spite of the fact I 14 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: believe have to have prowoll Ran on transparency. We will 15 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: get to a con and a point on that later 16 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: in the program. Todd Zenzer, it is a pleasure to 17 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: have you back in former Inspector General for the United 18 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: States of America. Good to see you. Thank you, Brian, 19 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 1: and thank you so much. And I sang your praises 20 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: this morning. I don't think the city of Cincinnati knows 21 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: how blessed they are to have you and your understanding 22 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: of how things work behind the scenes, coupled with in retirement, 23 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: your willingness to go after and look for all these 24 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: things and do all this leg work, and have you 25 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: lifting to get the answers that you're looking for for 26 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: the residents of the city, Like, what the hell are 27 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: tax payer dollars being used for? 28 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that's what people want. My view is 29 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 2: if people don't mind paying taxes as long as the 30 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: taxes that they're paying are being used properly and for 31 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 2: things that are needed to be done, right. 32 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, in the private industry world, we 33 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 1: get to pick and choose who is going to be 34 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: the recipient of our hard earned dollars. We don't get 35 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: any choice in the matter. At minimum, these people should 36 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: have some measure of understanding or some concept of a 37 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: fiduciary obligation that it owes to you, me and everybody 38 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: else who works and pays taxes to keep them well, 39 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: keep them in their salaries and all these other programs 40 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: that we fund. 41 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's exactly right. And actually that's one of the 42 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 2: big issues I have with the way that iris Rollie 43 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: was contracted with and the way they manage that contract. 44 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 2: I have to believe that the contracting staff and the 45 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 2: management staff at the city are better than that. Did 46 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 2: they They let they let a very lax process go 47 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 2: through and you know, make all these payments to this contractor, 48 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: and the paperwork is terrible. 49 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: Terrible, And if you're scratching your head going, wait, huh, 50 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: who iris Roli is? Well, it was involved with the 51 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: establishment of the Collaborative Agreement after the riots back in 52 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: what was it two thousand and one? Yes, long time ago. 53 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: She has been a constant presence in activism, if I 54 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: can boil it down in the city since that time. 55 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: She has been under contract. She's like a a ten 56 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: ninety nine employee of sorts, right, I mean she does 57 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 1: she doesn't have a direct job with or for the city. 58 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: She's not a city employee. She's a subcontract the city, 59 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:55,679 Speaker 1: like an NGO that we're paying to do work in 60 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: the community. 61 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 2: Correct. 62 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 1: So her current role is is what what she's getting fed? 63 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 1: I fought how many what's the terms of her contract? 64 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: How many years? And how much money is she gonna 65 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: to make it? 66 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 2: Well, the current contract is a is a three year 67 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 2: contract that was signed off in two thousand and twenty four, 68 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 2: and that was an amendment to a twenty and twenty 69 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 2: three contract. But the current contract is for three years, 70 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 2: and that includes a salary for miss Rowley that is 71 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 2: over three hundred thousand dollars. And then the contract also 72 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: includes money for a initiative on Government Square. They call 73 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 2: it the Government Square Initiative, and that's another I believe 74 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: it's two hundred and twenty five thousand. The math on 75 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 2: it that I calculated was the value of the contract 76 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 2: was five hundred and seventy thousand dollars. 77 00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: Right, is there a job description in there, like you normally, 78 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: here's what you're expected to do? And also is she 79 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: paid an hourly rate? Is how does she charge the city? 80 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: Because we're going to talk about some of the bills 81 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 1: that she submitted to the City Cincinnati invoices. So what 82 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 1: within the contract explains how these invoice processes work, how 83 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: much she's supposed to get, what her day to day 84 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: responsibilities are. I mean, are we getting an eight hour 85 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: work day in return for all of this money? That 86 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: kind of thing? 87 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 2: The basic conditions, Yeah, well, a lot of that I 88 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 2: can't answer, but the scope of services in the contract, 89 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 2: there were three basic scope of services. One was to 90 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 2: kind of refresh the what's called the management Advisory Group, 91 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 2: which was established under the Collaborative Agreement and which iris 92 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 2: Rolli was a member of that management group, and I 93 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 2: believe she either is still a member or is responsible 94 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 2: for kind of managing that group under this contract. The 95 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 2: second one is to engage the community one way or 96 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 2: the other. Uh, it's not very specific, but there's community 97 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: engagement that that she's required to to to engage. 98 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: And you and I could go all day long on 99 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: what in the hell that means? Right, community engagement. 100 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 2: Well, it's spelled it is spelled out a little more 101 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: in the contract itself, but when you look at the invoices, 102 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 2: it gets much broader. 103 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're we're going to get to that, folks. Just 104 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: wait wait for that bomb. That's the bomb that's going 105 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: to drop in. 106 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 2: And then there's a there's an aspect of the collaborative 107 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 2: Agreement called problem The big thing about the Collaborative Agreement 108 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 2: is this problem solving community problem solving, and they use 109 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 2: a technique called SARAH, which stands for scanning assessment or scanning, analysis, response, 110 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: and assessment. So and she will she'll train groups on 111 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 2: how that works. You know what can be accomplished with 112 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 2: that method. And those are the three big ticket items 113 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 2: in the in the contract. 114 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: As to the latter, since the collaborative agreement dealt with 115 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: policing in the city, this scanning and reviewing or whatever 116 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:26,560 Speaker 1: this protocol is that it relates to individual police interactions 117 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: with the community, arrests and issuance of citations and things 118 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: like that, or does it go outside of police activity. 119 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 2: Oh, it definitely goes outside of police activity. It's it's 120 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 2: to identify problems in the neighborhood or in the community. 121 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: Like the breakdown of the nuclear family for example. 122 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 2: Well, I don't know if it goes to that point, 123 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 2: but I'm sorry, I go there, and you know, how 124 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: do we how do we deal with this problem that? 125 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 2: And so the police are involved the community. It's supposed 126 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 2: to be kind of a collaborative of effort. 127 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: Okay, But at its core, does it relate to crime, 128 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: like getting ahead of things that cause or create problems 129 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: that result in criminal activity? I guess I'm I think 130 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: a collaborative agreement. What started it? The riots, the accusations 131 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: of racism, the accusations of pulling over people are for 132 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: driving while black. I mean, we know all the genesis 133 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: behind it, but it had to do with law enforcement. 134 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: It sounds to me like she's been hired in a 135 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: role that's much broader than her initial involvement. 136 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 2: If you look at her invoices, they answer that, yes, 137 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: it's much much broader than what it looks like in 138 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 2: the contract. 139 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: But here we go. Can we tell from the invoice 140 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: is exactly what she's doing out in the world on 141 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: a day to day basis? 142 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 2: I would say, no. 143 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: Okay, let's talk just you got a whole bunch of them. 144 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: You looked into this. Yeah, and she submits a monthly 145 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: invoice correct, correct, and to best of your knowledge, it's 146 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: all been paid correct. 147 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 2: Yes, So. 148 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: What what are we talking about here? I mentioned you 149 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: when I was an attorney billing hours, you had a 150 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: certain oblig to put enough information on your billing form 151 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: to justify the hourly charge you were going to do. 152 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: Like I reviewed documents, you know X through Y, you 153 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: know tax years nineteen eighty to nineteen eighty five. You 154 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 1: had to put a sufficient explanation of what you did 155 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 1: to justify the bill you're sett into the client. Does 156 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 1: her invoice show any of that kind of detailed information. 157 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 2: Well, the contract requires a detailed timekeeping and an activity log, 158 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 2: so the invoices don't reflect any time keeping. The invoices 159 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 2: identify maybe seven or eight different areas or things that 160 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 2: she devoted time to, there's no details to it, and 161 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 2: there's no time associated with any of those activities. And 162 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty three, for example, there are five invoices, 163 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 2: five monthly invoices that say the exact same thing. And 164 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 2: so without those kinds of activity logs, you don't know 165 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 2: whether those five things are duplicates, or whether there's different 166 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 2: activities under each of those categories. There's just nothing there 167 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 2: to really determine what she worked on. 168 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: Well, you indicated also your research determined that five of 169 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: the seven invoices also had identical misspellings, meaning the only 170 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: thing that's different between them is maybe the date that 171 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: it was sent out. 172 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 2: Yes, that's the only difference. And you know the real 173 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:42,439 Speaker 2: problem is that there's no information underneath each item, each 174 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 2: of those seven items on these invoices to say how 175 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 2: this month is different than last month. Because if you 176 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 2: can't differentiate between the activities on each of the invoices. 177 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 2: It looks like you're paying for the same thing five times. 178 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: Well that's the appearance. So that's what I came away 179 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: with after I was looking at your analysis on this. 180 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 2: Right and see I had to be. I waited to 181 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 2: disclose all these invoices because I was hopeful that the 182 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 2: city would come through with some additional documentation and some 183 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 2: additional information to give us a better picture of it. 184 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 2: But it's been over a month since I had since 185 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,319 Speaker 2: I had received the initial a batch of documents, and 186 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 2: I don't know how long I'm supposed to wait before 187 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 2: I report out on this stuff. So I just reported out. 188 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: Right, which means if they have additional documents that fill 189 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: in the missing information back behind the scenes, they can say, oh, 190 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: todds In's or you jump to conclusions. Here's all the 191 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: details supporting the monthly bill, which contains literally no information 192 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,199 Speaker 1: we can use. Yeah, well, you don't expect that day 193 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: to come. 194 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 2: I unfortunately I don't, but I would be happy to 195 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 2: take that information and revise what you know my conclusions here. 196 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: I know you will. We have much many more shenanigans 197 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: to reveal here with Todd Sen's or Citizen Watchdog in 198 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: the fifty five CAREC Morning Show. He'll be in studio 199 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 1: for the full hour. Please do not go away. Fifty 200 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: five KARC dot com lead station. They take twenty here 201 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 1: fiftybout car City Talk Station. Citizen Watchdogs the name of 202 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 1: the podcast. Todd zenz Er, host of that podcast and 203 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: the one that's doing all the work to gather the 204 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: information that he talks about with the Citizen Watchdog podcasts 205 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:21,599 Speaker 1: and our podcasts and also talking about here in the 206 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 1: fifty five krsee Morning Shoe and Studio Today. Now, Todd 207 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: going back to this IRISROLLI contract paid a handsome amount 208 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: of money to be a some sort of outside contractor fine. 209 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: The contract requires detailed timekeeping. That's in quotes from the contract, yes, 210 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: as well as in quotes activity logs. So when you 211 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: submit an invoice under this contract, you must have detailed 212 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: timekeeping where you were, how much time you spent, what 213 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: you did, as well as the activity logs. You say 214 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 1: there are no activity logs. No, there's not, clearly from 215 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: what you told me, like for example, quote police chief 216 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:06,439 Speaker 1: sir close. Quote does not sound like detailed timekeeping either. No, 217 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 1: no hours specified for example, correct just detailed timekeeping. What 218 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:12,559 Speaker 1: was the invoice? I mean, what are these invoices run 219 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 1: like four or five, six or six thousand dollars? 220 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 2: Or the monthly payment that she received initially was eight thousand, 221 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:23,599 Speaker 2: three hundred and something, and then this contract what the invoices? 222 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 2: Monthly invoices are eighty seven fifty. 223 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: Okay, Now I don't believe and I've never heard it 224 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: said that Iris Rowley has the City of Cincinnati's checkbook 225 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: so she can write herself checks. Someone has to approve 226 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 1: and authorize these payments. She submits the invoice. See I'm 227 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:47,559 Speaker 1: going real slow, and I'm mansplaining. I see, I'm recognizing it. 228 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: Who signed off on these? Considering it does not meet 229 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: on its face the contractual requirements. 230 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 2: Right well, under the contract she reports directly to the 231 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 2: city manager or an assistant city manager. And most of 232 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 2: the invoices that I've I didn't see any invoices that 233 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 2: share a long initial off on. It's usually a assistant 234 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,599 Speaker 2: manager the best I can tell. But there's only initials. 235 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 2: Somebody will initial it or say good to pay or 236 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 2: something like that. 237 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: But if the buck stops at the head of the 238 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,839 Speaker 1: head of the class's desk, Like the buck stops here, 239 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: that will be Cheryl Long. This is under her watch. 240 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:32,079 Speaker 1: She bears ultimately responsibility for these invoices being paid. 241 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:33,559 Speaker 2: Correct, she signed the contract? 242 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: Well does it one really kind of puzzle over? I 243 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: know you're puzzling over it. I'm puzzling over it. Have 244 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: you asked that question of the mayor or anybody else 245 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 1: in the administration. 246 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 2: Well, I did send them a letter back at the 247 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 2: beginning of October, like I don't know, ten days ago, 248 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 2: twelve days ago, and I lined out all of my 249 00:13:56,280 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 2: issues with the contracts and I all suggested things that 250 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 2: they need to do to fix them. And I haven't 251 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 2: heard anything back. But that's not unusual either. 252 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 1: Okay, Well my recollection, and I know it's right because 253 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: you just showed me the quote from have to have 254 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: Pervoll when he was running for mayor back in twenty 255 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: twenty one. Didn't he promise and pledge to ferret out 256 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: corruption and to be transparent? I mean you can feel 257 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 1: free to read his own words. 258 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 2: Okay, Yeah, the WKRC interviewed all the candidates running for 259 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 2: mayor back in twenty twenty one. I guess it was 260 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 2: just a mayor of Pervall and mister David Mann. But 261 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 2: they asked him four city council members have been indicted 262 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 2: on felony charges, including three for corruption charges, what will 263 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 2: you do to restore trust in local government? So part 264 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 2: of his response he says, I think we've got to 265 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 2: be laser focused on finding the corruption before it starts, 266 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 2: and that means more transparency. And then he ended saying, 267 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 2: I think we've got to raise the level of our 268 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 2: ethical standards, make them more transparent so we can weed 269 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 2: this corruption out before it begins. 270 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: How's that working out for you? 271 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 2: Well? I think I mentioned that. A big issue is 272 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 2: I did send him a letter earlier in the summer 273 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 2: to help get disclosure on what Norfolk Southern spent that 274 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 2: six million dollars. 275 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: Oh, Todd Sensor, Yeah, you're doing great with a tease, 276 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: because wow, do you have a mom sittle drop about 277 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: the Norfolk Southern money? And this is folks. It just 278 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: keeps getting better and better. The hits keep coming. We'll 279 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: do more with Todd Zinzer on Norfolk Southern Shenanigans. Oh yeah, 280 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: I think Provol's got a problem on his hands. I 281 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: just wish it was more widely reported beyond Citizen Watchdog. 282 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. It's eight twenty five. This is 283 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: fifty five KRC and iHeartRadio see talk station. Brian Thomas 284 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: with former US Inspector General citizen Watchdog for the residence 285 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: of the City of Cincinnati, trying to ensure that your 286 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: taxpayer dollars are being well spent, but revealing day in 287 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: and day out with what he does. Apparently they're not 288 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: Todd Zenzer. I know we're going to get the Norfolk 289 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 1: Southern craziness here in a second. But since we were 290 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: talking about Irish Rolly, that contract, one of the components 291 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: of it, as you laid out, I believe it was 292 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: roughly two hundred or so thousand dollars. Of this north 293 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: of five hundred thousand dollars contract relates to some program 294 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 1: or something at Government Square. Now. Government Square has been 295 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: making into the news a lot lately, and it's become 296 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: a hotbed of crime in downtown Cincinnati. That's where the 297 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: kids hang out, that's where the fights break out, a 298 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: lot of terrible things, and of course people who are 299 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 1: going back and forth from the various businesses. Steve Gooden 300 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: commented on this. His law firm is real close by, 301 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: they're afraid, Yeah, what did she do or what it 302 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 1: looks like things have gotten worse over the past several years. 303 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: If this is part of her responsibility, what does she 304 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 1: have to show for it, and what's being done right? 305 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 2: Well, back in twenty twenty four, I think they that 306 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 2: was the first time they initiated this Government Square initiative, 307 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 2: which involves in the specific case of Iris Rolly's contract, 308 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 2: they have four I think they call them community counselors 309 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 2: or community collaborative counselors or something like that. They have 310 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 2: those those individuals positioned at Government Square for certain hours 311 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 2: when the kids will be a changing buses or whatever 312 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 2: it is they do down there. 313 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:43,400 Speaker 1: In lieu of a police presidence. 314 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 2: Correct, And they they have snacks and drinks that they 315 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 2: give to the kids. I guess they have some type 316 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 2: of interaction with the kids to talk to them and 317 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 2: get to know them and things like that. And it's 318 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 2: another one of these alternative approaches to policing that if 319 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 2: they interact with these kids in a certain way rather 320 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 2: than in a law enforcement way, they're going to reduce 321 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 2: they're going to reduce attentions. And the issue is really 322 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:18,639 Speaker 2: whether this whole collaborative agreement really is working, because it 323 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 2: sure doesn't seem like it. 324 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: No that, I mean, that's my point, right, there's a 325 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 1: specified component in the contract that it talks about the 326 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:30,400 Speaker 1: problems we're having a government square. Again, I don't think 327 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: anybody can say anything, but it has gotten worse. So 328 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: do those people have a special hat or something that 329 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: they're issued easily identifiable government square, you know, civil service. 330 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 2: I do think they have T shirts or something like that. Yeah, okay, 331 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 2: But the real problem is the way they contracted that. 332 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 2: The original contract with IRIS was for consulting, and when 333 00:18:54,480 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 2: they amended the twenty twenty three contract to include the 334 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 2: Government Square initiative, that should have been a separate, competitive contract. 335 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:07,360 Speaker 1: Absolutely, the sole. 336 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 2: Source justification to begin with is deficient. But it's especially 337 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:17,679 Speaker 2: deficient to say that only Irish Roley LLC can carry 338 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,439 Speaker 2: out the work at Government Square. I liken it to 339 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 2: the Authorization for the Use of Military Fish. It's like, 340 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:29,400 Speaker 2: we can use this for anything we want to use anything. 341 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, don't give her any ideas. We gave the drone 342 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 1: strikes lawn drone strikes launch. And then there's the other 343 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 1: nefarious component in here, and I'm not suggesting that all 344 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: nepotism hires are always bad in all times, but they 345 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: do draw an eye of scrutiny, like, wait a second, 346 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: how did their son or daughter or best friend end 347 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: up in that particular role. Do they have the requisite 348 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,919 Speaker 1: skill sets to bring about whatever it is they've been 349 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 1: charged with doing right? Enter Ily's son, I believe, and 350 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: he's a convicted felon correct, Yes, does that qualify him 351 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 1: to work on Government Square project? 352 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 2: Well, they don't line out the qualifications, but they should 353 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 2: be considered subcontractors. They're not employees of Iris Rolely LLC. 354 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 2: They're subcontractors, and under the procurement rules, the contractor is 355 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 2: supposed to get permission from the city manager for any subcontractors. 356 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 2: I didn't get any of those documents either, so I 357 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:36,479 Speaker 2: really don't know what who knows what about who Iris 358 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 2: Roly is hiring. Her son is not the only one 359 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:44,440 Speaker 2: that's had trouble with law enforcement. There's another individual who 360 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 2: and this individual's brother also is one of the four. 361 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 2: He was prosecuted for tax issues about ten years ago 362 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:02,680 Speaker 2: or fourteen years ago, and that involved tens of thousands 363 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 2: of dollars that were withheld from this person's employees that 364 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 2: he didn't remit to the IRS, and then. 365 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 1: I takes their tax dollars out and he doesn't hand 366 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:15,360 Speaker 1: him over to the IRS. Right. 367 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 2: I think that is a very common problem with some employers. 368 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 2: But the other issue is he apparently still owes hundreds 369 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 2: of thousands of dollars to the IRS. Probably a lot 370 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 2: of that is penalties and interest, But a couple of 371 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,639 Speaker 2: years ago it was like eight hundred thousand dollars. 372 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: Well, and getting money directly from the City of Cincinnati. 373 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: It sounds to me like she submits the invoices as 374 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 1: lacking in detail as they are, gets paid the eight 375 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: thousand dollars or whatever, and then pays her son and 376 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: the other people that are on this government square board. 377 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 1: The money is flowing from Iris roly LLC. 378 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:54,719 Speaker 2: Yes, one of the invoices that was provided by the 379 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 2: city includes copies of four canceled checks paid to these 380 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 2: four individuals, and that that was the extent of the 381 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,919 Speaker 2: paperwork provided in connection with those four people. 382 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 1: Well, that's you know, that's a lot of process and 383 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: the idea that this could go on and this could happen. 384 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:14,639 Speaker 1: And then going back to the idea that the invoices 385 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: were specifically signed off on while they lacked all this information. 386 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: There's multiple layers of violations and built into this from 387 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: what I hear. 388 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, and what I can't What I can't figure out, 389 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 2: is it it is common for bureaucracies to do catch 390 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 2: me if you can, where they go ahead and they 391 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 2: bend the rules or even break the rules, and if 392 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:37,919 Speaker 2: you catch them, they say, oh, we're sorry, well we 393 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:41,160 Speaker 2: won't do it again. But in this case, I don't 394 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 2: know if it's really you know, catch me if you can. 395 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 2: I think it's just you. 396 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: Know, set up intentionally loose so this kind of thing 397 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:48,879 Speaker 1: can happen. 398 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 2: Well, yeah, that's what I would look for. 399 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 1: That's why we've got Todd Zinzer. That's why we need 400 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: to keep him around. And if you vote Corey Bowman, 401 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 1: maybe we'll get him as city manager. I'm praying for 402 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,439 Speaker 1: that day, don't. I'm not hanging you out to dry there, Todd. 403 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,120 Speaker 1: I think you would help us out immeasurably. Eight thirty 404 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: five we are going to talk about the get ready folks. 405 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:10,440 Speaker 1: I think it's getting worse as the conversation draws longer 406 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 1: in terms of how bad things are, in terms of improprieties. 407 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: A thirty five right now if you have Kersite talk 408 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 1: station fifty five krc DC Deep talk station, Hey thirty 409 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,160 Speaker 1: nine if you have Kersite talk station, Happy Friday. Brian 410 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:28,760 Speaker 1: Thomas Swift, Citizen Watchdog, Todd Zinser and Studio just Man. 411 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: And the more I talk to Todd and the more 412 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 1: he reveals, the worse I feel about the city of 413 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: Cincinnati under the current administration. And since we do have 414 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 1: an election coming up beginning in November, early voting going 415 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: on right now, we have a choice on mayor. And 416 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: I know Corey Mowment's fighting an uphill battle as a 417 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 1: Republican in a very blue city. But so many of 418 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: the residents of the city seem to be so upset 419 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: about so many things, and we're just adding multiple layers 420 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:53,119 Speaker 1: onto that. You got to be a weed dweller to 421 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: talk about engage in the level of detail that Todd 422 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: Senser is working with. But as we're talking about these 423 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 1: this is actually going on behind the scenes. Have processes 424 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,400 Speaker 1: in place for contracting and the like, they're not following them. 425 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,879 Speaker 1: They have contractual obligations built into that contract. For example, 426 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: with Irish Roley, they're not being followed that's a huge 427 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 1: red flag. And I'm just wondering as we move over 428 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 1: to Northfolk Southern, Todd anything by way of civil or 429 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 1: criminal statutory violations that are suggested by what you're revealing 430 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 1: on this. 431 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 2: Well, I think I think that there are opportunities to 432 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 2: file lawsuits under Ohio code for their you know, their 433 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 2: breaching their fiduciary duties basically. 434 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 1: Okay, so this might have legs along some lighte because 435 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:44,120 Speaker 1: I know we have some really you know, activist lawyers 436 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: out there who are usually more than happy to see 437 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: the city for a variety of reasons. 438 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, the question, the reason I was hesitant in writing 439 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:56,679 Speaker 2: about this is because there should be additional documentation and 440 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 2: it's not forthcoming. So maybe the only way to get 441 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:01,119 Speaker 2: that is through some kind of. 442 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 1: Lawsuit, discovery request pursuing litigation. Todd Zens are pivoting over 443 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 1: to Norfolk Southern. Now, there was this swirling issue about 444 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:12,320 Speaker 1: the money that was involved the marketing campaign, wasn't it. Yeah, 445 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 1: we were deciding whether or not we're going to sell 446 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: the railroad. Christopher smithm was a big no. A lot 447 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 1: of members accounts were big As we ultimately sold it. 448 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,640 Speaker 1: Oh my god, everything's great one point six billion dollars 449 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: an interest bearing account. But lots of people were wondering 450 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,639 Speaker 1: who in the hell funded the six million dollar ad 451 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:30,919 Speaker 1: campaign for this one issue. You got the bottom of 452 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:31,679 Speaker 1: that too, didn't you. 453 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:38,159 Speaker 2: Yeah. The sole contributor to the to Build Cincinnati's Future, 454 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 2: the Political Action Committee. The sole contributor was Norfolk Southern, 455 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 2: and they contributed six million dollars. And the reason they 456 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 2: were able to do that is because under Ohio law 457 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:55,679 Speaker 2: on ballot issues and those campaigns, there is no limit 458 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:57,159 Speaker 2: on corporate contributions. 459 00:25:57,640 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: So and there is no thing such as a common 460 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,880 Speaker 1: inflictive interest. Norfolk Southern is entitled to do an AD 461 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: campaign that operates in its best interest. 462 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 2: Yes, and early on it certainly looked like both the 463 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 2: city and the Railway Board was just going to step 464 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 2: back and let Norfolk Southern handle the campaign. That's basically 465 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:21,679 Speaker 2: what happened, except that Norfolk Southern engaged the mayor to 466 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 2: appear in a set of TV commercials on the sale 467 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 2: of a public asset that is going to benefit Norfolk Southern, 468 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:34,160 Speaker 2: And it was just kind of outrageous. And when PG 469 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 2: Sittenfeld got pardoned and there was a big hoopla over that, 470 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 2: I wrote an op ed and I said, well, that's fine, 471 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 2: but what has the city done about all the anti 472 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:48,480 Speaker 2: corruption efforts that were made under the previous city council, 473 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:51,439 Speaker 2: under the previous mayor. Have they followed through on it? 474 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:55,160 Speaker 2: And the answer was no. So in June I sent 475 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 2: a letter to the city Council and to the mayor, 476 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 2: and I asked the city council to take all the 477 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 2: anti corruption recommendations that had been made prior to them 478 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:07,359 Speaker 2: coming on board, line them out, and tell us what 479 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:10,920 Speaker 2: the status is. So that was the request to the council. 480 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 2: To the mayor, I asked him for help in going 481 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:20,400 Speaker 2: to Norfolk Southern's pack and getting greater disclosure on how 482 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 2: the pack spent six million dollars on that campaign, because 483 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,400 Speaker 2: I do not think it cost six million dollars five 484 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 2: point four million, ninety percent of that Here we go, 485 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 2: folks went to a consulting firm in Washington, d C. 486 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 2: Called sk D Knickerbocker, and they are a big time 487 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 2: consultant in DC. They happened to be on the Democrat 488 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 2: side or Republican consultants just like that. Sure for example, 489 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 2: they were big from what I understand, we're big on 490 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:52,880 Speaker 2: Hillary Clinton's campaign, and they were given five point four 491 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 2: million dollars by the pack and the description of what 492 00:27:56,600 --> 00:28:00,439 Speaker 2: that money was used for was basically described in a 493 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:07,280 Speaker 2: handful of words advised consulting, printing, and apparently under the 494 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:10,879 Speaker 2: rules because I did consult with an attorney under the rules, 495 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 2: that's that's complying with the campaign financial rules. 496 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 1: That's less disclosure than IRIS were rely supposed to require. 497 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 1: When she's submitting her invoices under her contract. 498 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:22,879 Speaker 2: It's not much different. 499 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 1: So ad bys, printing and quote unquote consulting whatever. That 500 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: is five point four million dollars, Yes, on a single 501 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,439 Speaker 1: issue campaign. Now you're in Hamilton County. 502 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 2: Now there's two big coincidences. Number one is that f 503 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 2: tab Purvol's campaign treasurer was also the treasurer for Norfolk 504 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 2: Southern's Political Action Committee. And I actually filed a complaint 505 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 2: with the Elections Commission about disclosures there and how can 506 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:57,480 Speaker 2: you have one person being a treasurer for both parties. 507 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 2: There's something called coordinated communication between campaigns, and the Election 508 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:08,800 Speaker 2: Commission couldn't handle that issue, so they denied my complaint. 509 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:12,480 Speaker 1: Well, you don't have to have any coordination if you're 510 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: the same guy exactly. It's not like you're writing yourself 511 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 1: a letter exactly, so damn well what you're planning on doing. 512 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 2: So what happened is the treasurer did produce an affidavit 513 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:24,479 Speaker 2: where he claimed he had nothing to do with who 514 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 2: appeared in those TV commercials. It was the PAS steering committee. 515 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 2: But we don't know who's on the steering committee. We 516 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 2: don't know whether those folks are all campaign contributors to 517 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:42,160 Speaker 2: mayor Provol or whether they're just one person from Norfolk Southern. 518 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 2: They don't have to disclose that. So I asked the 519 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 2: mayor for help and identifying those people too. 520 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: And what did mister transparency say in response to. 521 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 2: That, Well, he has not responded. That was June one, 522 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 2: so that was several months ago. 523 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 1: Several months ago. That'd be have to have Provol's way of, 524 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:00,719 Speaker 1: you know, basically doing what my dad, who say, I've 525 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 1: got two words for you, and it ain't happy birth. 526 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 1: The other words no to your response for the information. 527 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:08,040 Speaker 1: So just by ignoring it you get the same effect. 528 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 2: Yes, and that's basically how they treat a lot of 529 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:13,800 Speaker 2: people that come to them with issues. 530 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 1: Well, we know how they treat everybody, look at the 531 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 1: residents of Hyde Park, bond Hill. Yeah. One more with 532 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 1: todds ens or Citizen Watchdog. Get his podcasts and definitely 533 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 1: listen to it regularly. Eight forty six Right now fifty 534 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 1: five KR CIT Talk station fifty five KRC and talk station. 535 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 1: All apologies. Eight forty nine if you have KR City 536 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: Talk station. One more segment here with Citizen Watchdog Todds 537 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,320 Speaker 1: inz Or Todd we were having a conversation off I 538 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 1: we I think you and I can agree, and probably 539 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 1: people who have been paying attention to where the city 540 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 1: dollars are going can agree. We're funding a lot of 541 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 1: non governmental organizations. Yes, and we've been down this road before. 542 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 1: The mayor and the city manager have a huge amount 543 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 1: of discretion to pick and choose which NGOs get taxpayer dollars. 544 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:07,640 Speaker 1: Is that a fair statement. 545 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 2: Yes. 546 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 1: Among these NGOs is an NGO called Centrifuse, Right, they 547 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:19,440 Speaker 1: have a board of directors. What is Centrifuge being paid 548 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 1: by the city to allegedly do? 549 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, that's a good question, Brian. It's really 550 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 2: it's it would definitely be spelled out in like an 551 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:32,160 Speaker 2: application for funding. But I haven't tracked that down. But 552 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:35,680 Speaker 2: what Centrifuse does is they help businesses start up. They 553 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 2: help start up businesses. 554 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:39,320 Speaker 1: Okay, So if you a young person entrepreneur, you go 555 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:41,880 Speaker 1: to Centrifuse I need some help starting a new business. 556 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:44,000 Speaker 1: They provide you with some resources or send you over 557 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 1: to some folks that can help you out, maybe hook 558 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 1: you up with a financial lending company, that kind of thing. Right, Okay, fine, 559 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:52,280 Speaker 1: we can agree that the purpose may be noble. Whether 560 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 1: or not there should be an NGO out there with 561 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:57,440 Speaker 1: taxpayer dollars doing it is another thing. They're getting. How 562 00:31:57,520 --> 00:31:58,720 Speaker 1: much money from the city. 563 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 2: They've been get ivan two hundred and fifty thousand a 564 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 2: year for the past four or five six years. Well, 565 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:09,160 Speaker 2: it's well over a million dollars over that period. 566 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 1: Of time, okay. And those board members have a fiduciary 567 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 1: obligation to serve the interest that they are being paid 568 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 1: to do. 569 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:18,800 Speaker 2: That's right. 570 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 1: Who sits on that board among the members of the board. 571 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:24,160 Speaker 1: Who is on the board at Centerviews. 572 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:26,960 Speaker 2: Well, I found out earlier this year that the mayor 573 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:29,760 Speaker 2: have to have provol sits on the board and has 574 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 2: sat on the board for his entire term. And what 575 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:37,600 Speaker 2: was surprising is that last year, at the beginning of 576 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 2: the year, the city Council actually went through this issue 577 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 2: of council members sitting on the boards of directors of nonprofits, 578 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 2: and the city mayor, supported by the city solicitor, wrote 579 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:52,640 Speaker 2: a memo that said that is not a good idea. 580 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:55,480 Speaker 2: It's possible to do that, but there are so many 581 00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:59,480 Speaker 2: things that you would have to accommodate to comply with 582 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:03,000 Speaker 2: the ethics rules that it was not recommended that the 583 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:06,080 Speaker 2: members of city council sit on the boards of directors 584 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 2: of nonprofits. And all the while the mayor is sitting 585 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:13,160 Speaker 2: there overseeing this deliberation. He got a copy of the 586 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 2: city manager's memo like everybody else. And as far as 587 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:19,600 Speaker 2: I know, there's been no disclosure by the city by 588 00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:21,320 Speaker 2: the mayor that he sits on this board. 589 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,560 Speaker 1: Now, you're not he's not paid in this position. 590 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:25,680 Speaker 2: No, no, he's not. 591 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 1: But as mayor, a separate set of ethical and fiduciary 592 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:32,160 Speaker 1: obligations exist to the taxpayers. 593 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:33,000 Speaker 2: That's correct. 594 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:36,719 Speaker 1: How can he be in a position of deciding that 595 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:40,800 Speaker 1: his own NGO or on which he sits on the 596 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:45,080 Speaker 1: board anyway, gets money, right, Isn't that just an outrageous 597 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:46,000 Speaker 1: conflict of interest. 598 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:48,640 Speaker 2: It does seem like that, Brian. I don't I don't 599 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 2: think Centrifuse has done anything wrong, and I don't know. 600 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:52,480 Speaker 1: I don't want to suggest that, but. 601 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:57,160 Speaker 2: I think it's incumbent on the city to make sure 602 00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 2: that there's no conflicts of interest going on. In fact, 603 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 2: back in May, I think I went down to city 604 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:07,160 Speaker 2: Hall because of all the money they spend on these 605 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:11,080 Speaker 2: NGOs and nonprofits, and I said, the least you could 606 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:15,640 Speaker 2: do is everybody that submits, you know, input on how 607 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:20,600 Speaker 2: these NGOs should be funded, everyone should sign a certification 608 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:23,640 Speaker 2: that they do not have a conflict of interest. 609 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 1: Right, because here's how it might play out. Aftebs. I 610 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:27,279 Speaker 1: don't get any money from them. Yeah, I got some 611 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:29,399 Speaker 1: money going into this Centrifuse. Yes, I'm on the board 612 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 1: of directors parent. You had mentioned off era that the 613 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 1: head of centrifuse makes three hundred grand a year. 614 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:35,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, just about that. 615 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:40,400 Speaker 1: Okay, Now, what if he's looking for some campaign money 616 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:44,400 Speaker 1: he ends up sending money over to centrifew centreviews agrees 617 00:34:44,400 --> 00:34:46,360 Speaker 1: to pay. Maybe you have tab has no connection with 618 00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:47,960 Speaker 1: the amount of money that that guy pays. Maybe that 619 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:50,520 Speaker 1: guy's friends with atab pro Ball and maybe in return 620 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:53,440 Speaker 1: for getting a three hundred thousand dollars years paycheck from 621 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:56,799 Speaker 1: Centrifuse being doing NGO work, he decides that, you know what, 622 00:34:56,880 --> 00:34:59,400 Speaker 1: I Am going to peel off a few thousand dollars 623 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:01,560 Speaker 1: of my FATS salary and give it the mayor to 624 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 1: be re elected. So there is a money trail that 625 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:07,239 Speaker 1: could be easily created by virtue of the allocation of 626 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:11,359 Speaker 1: money to an NGO, upon which after that par Ball 627 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:12,160 Speaker 1: sits right. 628 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 2: And this is just one ease. This is just one 629 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:18,640 Speaker 2: example of all of this spending that they do with 630 00:35:18,719 --> 00:35:22,920 Speaker 2: these nonprofits. It's a very high risk area in terms 631 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:26,880 Speaker 2: of fraud, waste, and abuse because there's no internal controls. 632 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:29,359 Speaker 2: There's no oversight of what these folks are doing with 633 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:32,919 Speaker 2: their money. Some high level reports back about what we did, 634 00:35:33,880 --> 00:35:36,920 Speaker 2: but nobody's really looking at these and even the internal 635 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 2: auditor for the city has identified problems with these nonprofits. 636 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:43,920 Speaker 1: Well, and going back to this roly contract that involves 637 00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 1: government square specific work, I think we can all figure 638 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:51,720 Speaker 1: out perhaps that they haven't been able to accomplish anything. 639 00:35:51,800 --> 00:35:54,839 Speaker 1: So the return on our taxpayer investment for that one 640 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:58,520 Speaker 1: subset isn't paying off well. 641 00:35:58,600 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 2: I don't think it's paying off well? 642 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:02,200 Speaker 1: Need do I? I know it's a subjective conclusion. We 643 00:36:02,239 --> 00:36:05,280 Speaker 1: can't be held accountable for that. But crime and Government Square. 644 00:36:05,320 --> 00:36:07,960 Speaker 1: Government Square as a concept has been in the news 645 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:10,360 Speaker 1: time and time and time and time again. I have 646 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:12,040 Speaker 1: to have pear Wall has been talking about it. The 647 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:15,000 Speaker 1: police resource has been allocated to government Square. That sounds 648 00:36:15,040 --> 00:36:18,600 Speaker 1: like a bigger problem that they're trying to address than 649 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:20,600 Speaker 1: it was maybe several years ago. So I'm gonna call 650 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:23,040 Speaker 1: it a failure. Whatever they thought they were gonna accomplish. 651 00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:26,560 Speaker 1: Todd zinzer Man, we unloaded a hell of a lot today. 652 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:29,439 Speaker 1: I can't thank you enough for the work that you're doing. 653 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:33,200 Speaker 1: Maybe maybe maybe other local news will take the time 654 00:36:33,239 --> 00:36:35,279 Speaker 1: to report on all of this because it seems very 655 00:36:35,320 --> 00:36:37,799 Speaker 1: newsworthy and maybe, just maybe this will end up in 656 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:42,759 Speaker 1: court my hope. Anyway, Todd, thank you again. 657 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:43,600 Speaker 2: Okay, thank you, Brian. 658 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:46,400 Speaker 1: You're always welcome here, my friend. Always. We'll keep listening 659 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:49,239 Speaker 1: to your podcast, Citizen Watchdog. Folks, you can get a 660 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:49,400 Speaker 1: chance