NAACP: Yes on schools, no on sales tax

Local NAACP president Christopher Smitherman thinks companies should have donated more money to the campaign to pass the Cincinnati Public Schools levy. But instead, it appears they donated it to support issue 27, the sales tax increase to fund a new jail and public safety programs. Smitherman's not happy about it and lets his membership know in an e-mail. He also urges a Yes vote on the schools, and No vote on sales tax.

Here's the e-mail:
Dear Membership,

I would like to share with you the public records on who is giving big money to support the jail tax in Cincinnati. These same contributors are not giving big money to support Yes on 22 which is the school levy for our public schools. I am not sure if members are aware that 70% of the children that are in public schools are African Americans. However, disproportionally the number of people filling our jails are African Americans. When you have been listening to the different ads by African American citizens trying to convince you that jails are the answer I just wanted you to know who was funding them and behind their voice. The message from these corporations and wealthy citizens is clear. I think that the message is let's over invest in jails and under invest in education.

What is most chilling is the $15,000 contribution from Children's Hospital to support the building of a new jail. I wonder if Children's Hospital's Board is aware that their hospital is out funding a jail. Also, I want you to know that the infant mortality rates in Hamilton County for African American babies is 20.4 per thousand. The infant mortality rates in Hamilton County for White babies is 6.2 per thousand. The difference in infant mortality between African American babies and White babies in Hamilton County is over 300% higher. This is why I found it particularly chilling to see Children's Hospital while facing Third World Country infant mortality rates in Hamilton County supporting a jail. The Cincinnati Branch of the NAACP continues to urge its members to VOTE NO on ISSUE 27 and VOTE YES on ISSUE 22.

--President Smitherman
Cincinnati NAACP Branch