Cranley: I Don't Regret It

In January at a finance committee meeting during a discussion about money, John Cranley uttered the words: "...we're going to keep our word today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and forever."

That half sentence was oft repeated at Monday's meeting of the same body, particularly by Laketa Cole, who used it to blast those she accused of changing their minds on a plan to divide $4 million evenly between the Cincinnati Art Museum, Music Hall, Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Cincinnati History Museum. When Chris Bortz put forth a resolution last month to spread the money that way, five others signed it with him, including Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell and Cecil Thomas.

But Monday, Tarbell and Thomas went with Tarbell's newer plan to divide $3.8 million five ways - $800,000 to each of the big four institutions, with an extra pot of $600,000 for smaller arts institutions. Part of that extra pot would pay for parades and festivals too.

Cole and the others who support the Bortz plan say parades and festivals shouldn't count as "arts facilities," which is what the budget says the $4 million was intended for.

We'll see what happens Wednesday at City Council. Mayor Mark Mallory, to whom both options were referred, said he didn't plan to do anything with either. Some negotiating was going on, he said, and he hoped it would result in council coming up with their own compromise. Bortz and Tarbell weren't so sure about that. Both of them said they were unaware of any compromising.

But Cranley said Tuesday he didn't regret using the phrase, even though it became a bit of a stick to beat others with. He wasn't one of the six who signed the Bortz resolution, so he wasn't among those Cole could accuse of breaking his word. (On this point alone, that is. The Bortz supporters still think anyone who doesn't vote for the $4 million is breaking his or her word because they all voted for the budget, which contains the $4 million in it, albeit without explanation of where the money would go and where it would come from.)

"I said it," Cranley said. "And I'd say it again.
"Today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and forever."