He is an attorney who served several 2-yr. terms on city council before resigning in 2009 to take on a building/revitalization project which could have been a conflict of interest had he remained. He himself asked for the ruling and aboded by it when it was given. He is a Harvard graduate and from a family of community service- his mother served on the city Board of Education; another was a well-regarded physician. He has a wife and one son.
Like many Midwestern cities, Cincinnati has had budgetary problems in recent years, although many areas near the downtown are being revitalized with restoration and some new building, especially condos. The previous administration had contracted for a 3.8 mile streetcar, with rails, to be built from downtown to the revitalized area called Over-the-Rhine. The streetcar is being built in Spain, and the first pieces of track have been laid.
Meanwhile, costs have escalated and there is no way this project would pay for itself. Even though the citizenry voted for this project in the past, it has come into disfavor because of higher costs and the thought of subsidizing it far into the future. Mr. Cranley campaigned against the streetcar, and in his acceptance speech, promised to get out of obligations and substitute another, less costly form of transportation - perhaps a wheeled bus.
The city has all but finalized the leasing of the city parking garages and meters to Xerox and another company for 30 and 50 years. Parking would be strictly enforced, and prices raised significantly, which could be a hardship for businesses dependent on street parking. The public showed it is against that by electing a number of council persons who had announced they were against the parking leases as well as the streetcar.
This DUer is happy with the outcome.
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