Cincinnati ― Mayoral Support Despite Escalation

April 2013

According to the www.bizjournals.com site, Cincinnati's top two elected officials still support the streetcar project even though the project's capital cost projection has risen by $15 to $17 million. Mayor Mark Mallory pointed out the project had survived the withdrawal of $52 million in state funding several years ago, so he pledged to find a solution to this funding issue as well.

Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls, who is a candidate to replace the term-limited Mallory in November, called for a full review of capital costs and the expense to terminate the project at a special Budget and Finance Committee meeting called for April 29. She said it would be difficult for her to vote for additional money to build the first phase of the streetcar line.

Her principal opponent in the mayoral race, former city councillor John Cranley, has advocated terminating the project.