Behind the scenes of the NAACP sales tax vote

The Cincinnati NAACP voted overwhelmingly Thursday night to oppose an increase in the Hamilton County's sales tax to pay for a new jail (read the Enquirer story).

Although chapter president Christopher Smitherman said nothing at the meeting about his stance, his behind-the-scenes discussions (and opinions) were apparently enough to get County Commission President Todd Portune, who'd proposed the sales tax, pretty fired up.

Portune said Smitherman earlier said he would not take a stand on the sales tax issue and would let the organization decide on its own whether to support or oppose it. However that apparently did not happen, according to Portune.

Smitherman sent a memo to the executive committee prior to the Thursday vote outlining why he opposes the sales tax increase.

Portune, after learning of that memo sent his own letter to Smitherman expressing his disappointment.

The organization voted 95-14 to oppose the sales tax increase, an "important vote," Smitherman said afterward, given the group's mammoth effort to force the tax increase on the ballot. The issue of the memos did not come up and Portune did not attend the meeting because Commissioner David Pepper was already scheduled to be there. By law they would have had to announce before hand that two of the three commissioners were going to be there.

This morning, Smitherman sent out this release:

Dear Membership and Executive Committee,

Last night our membership voted to not support the proposal to build a new jail. I think the membership did an excellent job listening to both sides of the
argument. The membership overwhelmingly voted on Thursday, August 23, 2007
to oppose the building of a new jail. The membership as you are aware
makes the public policy direction for the NAACP.

Our membership is very concerned with the funding mechanism of a sales tax to
build the jail. This is a regressive tax which disproportionally impacts the poor. This was one of many issues that the membership expressed concern.

The membership has charged me to defeat this proposal on November 6,
2007. I will do everything within my power to represent the interests
of our membership. I am asking each of you to be prepared to vote on
November 6, 2007. We want 100% of NAACP members to vote in the
election. We also want to make sure that we influence our friends
and family to oppose this jail tax. Remember we would not even have the option to vote on the issue if it were not for the leadership of the NAACP Executive Committee and Members. VOTE NO ON THE JAIL TAX!

President Smitherman